Obama warns against "second gilded age" in calling for ethics reform in Washington

[jefferson_dem]

Source: AP

Obama warns against "second gilded age" in calling for ethics reform in Washington
The Associated Press
Monday, July 30, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa: Democratic U.S. presidential contender Barack Obama accused the administration of President George W. Bush on Monday of pandering to the wealthy, creating what he called "a second gilded age" that ignores working families.

In a speech at a school named for Theodore Roosevelt, Obama cited the former president in calling for ethical changes. He said he would ban aides who work in his administration from dealing with issues involving former employers, and from lobbying for two years after they leave the administration.

Obama said he chose Roosevelt as an example because he took office at a time when wealth was concentrated in a very few hands and because he earned his reputation by going against the rich.

"It was an era known as the gilded age," Obama said. "Theodore Roosevelt decided not to play along."

He said the policies of the Bush administration have taken the United States in that direction.

"We can't settle for a second gilded age," Obama said.

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Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/30/america/NA-POL-US-White-House-Obama.php

[redqueen]

1. So... does he mean it's not already here?

:shrug:

[youngdem]

7. Yeah, no shit. It's here already.

[Benhurst]

2. "We can't settle for a second gilded age," Obama said.

I fear we already have.

[Acadia Blue]

6. Right. Its here now. And they still are not satiated. They want it all.

[bleedingheart]

10. I have said this multiple times here at DU...I have called this the Neo Gilded Age

the problem is that Americans are sometimes so happy with what little bread crumbs we do get...that we sometimes don't realize how much we are tightening our belt as the wealthy let less of those crumbs fall to the floor...

[eleny]

3. Good for him to use the exact phrase

Hopefully, it will get more and more attention. DUers know what's up. But middle America doesn't hear it often enough to sink in.

[sandnsea]

4. Make the White House the people's house

Promoting Open Government

Ethics Reform, empowering citizens, ending no-bid contracts, addressing earmarks and pet projects.


http://www.barackobama.com/issues/corruption/

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Barack, honey...We're already there.

[goclark]

8. At least he acknowledges it

The others are still saying, " Let Them Eat Cake."

Bravo for Obama

[stressfulreality]

11. no, he's not the only one...

Gravel
Ron Paul
others do completely acknowlege it, but obama gets the media

[bleedingheart]

9. until the American people scare the shit out of the politicians...the "ethical rules"

won't matter...

The problem is that we the American people have elected a bunch of greedy bastards that care more about lining their pockets and the pockets of their corporate buddies more than they care about the needs of the average American.

Call me cynical, but changing the rules isn't going to do shit until we start putting people in Washington who won't need stringent ethical rules because they will actually be there to do the right thing...