Clinton:"Middle class is the backbone of America. It's time to take care of the middle class again."

[bigtree]

Hillary Clinton's packing in four events today, stopping at St. Norbert College in De Pere, near Green Bay; at the Wausau Labor Temple in Wausau; then in Eau Claire, in the northwestern part of Wisconsin; and finally in Madison, the state capital. Some 1,200 showed up here at De Pere, the campaign said, though Clinton's staffers had to organize the crowd to make the space appear more packed. "Hey, folks, there are at least 15 more seats here on the side, if you want to move from the back," a staffer told the crowd.

Escorted by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton -- the first woman to hold that job -- Clinton talked about her economic policies. Earlier in the day, aides passed around a 12-page glossy brochure entitled "Hillary Clinton's Economic Blueprint for the 21st Century." It's detailed and heavily-bulleted, with plans such as "creating at least 5 million new green collar jobs by transitioning from a carbon-based economy to a green energy-efficient economy" and "ending tax breaks for companies that shop jobs overseas and investing those resources in the innovative potential of our own economy."

Clinton's been striking economic populist tones in stops in Texas and Ohio, but the campaign was such in a rush to release the brochure that typos were inevitable. On the second page, the brochure read: "Oil prices recently hit $100 a barrel, and consumers are feeling the increased cost at the pump and in their energy bills. Gas is over $3.00 a barrel... " They meant to say $3.00 a gallon, and corrected the mistake when they e-mailed the brochure to reporters later.

"The middle class is the backbone of America," Clinton said in her speech. "It's time to take care of the middle class again."

article: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/18/in_wisconsin_clinton_campaigns.html



read her full 12-page economic bluprint here: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/files/pdf/20080218_economic.pdf

[IndianaGreen]

1. When Hillary speaks of the middle class, she means the investor class

Not a word about the working poor and other members of the working class which the Clintons harmed so much with globalization.

[shenmue]

3. Sigh... more reading things into it and rephrasing it wholesale for her.

I guess she couldn't mean what she actually said. I mean, why would she say it so many times unless she didn't mean it? :crazy:

Then again, a lot of people think it's okay to hate the middle class. They don't want to talk about the middle class as if they are a vital part of American society-- not even despite the fact that they make up the majority of the country.

You can hear the chip on your shoulder.

[bigtree]

5. that's not correct. Speech, May 29, 2007

"For the first time in history, we have a truly global economy. Workers today think nothing of holding teleconferences with colleagues on three continents at once or e-mailing business partners across the globe. Companies also think nothing of shipping our jobs -- even entire factories -- overseas. Today, competition no longer stops at the water's edge. In fact, for many of our companies, that's where it starts. For example, New Hampshire provides $2 billion worth of exports to 140 countries a year.

At the same time, technology is playing an increasingly important role. It's really revolutionizing how we live and work. We're seeing U.S. telemarketing jobs done in remote locations far, far from our shores. Manufacturing requires fewer jobs as machines replace people both here in America and around the world. In part because India and China have begun to harness the power of technology, they are on their way to becoming economic super powers.

Like it or not, that is the reality of globalization. And it isn't going away. However, if managed properly, globalization may offer the promise of new markets, new growth, and new opportunities for broadly shared prosperity to young people like Colleen.

Unfortunately, we're not managing globalization properly. Instead of working for all of us, globalization is working only for a few of us.

Now, it is working for corporations. Corporate profits have grown an average of 13% a year since 2001, adjusted for inflation. It's working for CEOs who've seen their pay go from 24 times the typical worker's in 1965, to 262 times the typical worker in 2005. And it's working for Americans with incomes at the very top. In 2005, all income gains went to the top 10% of households, while the bottom 90% saw their incomes decline, in spite of the fact that worker productivity has increased for six years.

Now, in past economic expansions, that's not the way it was. In the past, about 75% of net corporate revenues have gone to employee compensation, and only 25% to profits. However, for the past five years, the comparable figures are 41% going to employee compensation and 59% going to profits. Think about this: last year, the share of America's national income going to corporate profits was the highest since 1929 -- while the share going to the salaries of American workers was the lowest.

The inescapable reality is that globalization, modern technology, economic policy, are creating new conditions that threaten our middle class families and make it harder to maintain a middle class lifestyle.

Now, during the second half of the 1990s, productivity growth led to rising incomes across the board.

But over the past six years, while productivity has gone up 18 percent -- that means Americans are working harder than ever and, by most indicators, working harder than anybody else in the rest of the world -- family incomes have gone down $1,300.

The global labor market may even be depressing wages for skilled and professional jobs. Since 2001, new jobs created in America pay, on average, 21 percent less than the jobs we have lost.

And back in 2000, child poverty was the lowest it had been in 20 years. Since then it has risen by 1.3 million. And today we have 12 million children living in poverty.

Now, given these realities, it's unsurprising we're seeing rising inequality and rising pessimism in our workforce.

Today more than 80 percent of Americans believe that our manufacturing jobs are at risk of being outsourced.

And let's be clear. It's not as if America hasn't been successful economically the past 6 years. But the measure of success doesn't relate what's happening in households across our country, because, while productivity and corporate profits are up, the fruits of that success just hasn't reached many of our families. It's like trickle-down economics, but without the trickle.

As a result, the gap between those who are enjoying the fruits of the modern economy and those who aren't is growing wider . . .

much more: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=1839

[IndianaGreen]

8. Globalization relies on exploiting workers and the environment

and it demands American hegemony, backed by American military might to work. Those that preach neoliberal globalization, are arguing for a slave planet in which the few profit from the work of the many.

[bigtree]

10. Obama said months back:

"We know that we can't put the forces of globalization back in the bottle. We cannot bring back every job that's been lost."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090702780_pf.html

[0007]

27. I agree and the 'working class' is the doormat for hate and contempt.

[polpilot]

49. Absurd comment from Bill, the NAFTA SIGNING PRESIDENT!!! Absurd

[rodeodance]

16. go drop your POOP somewhere else

[dkf]

2. She stole that line from Bernie Sanders!

This country needs to radically rethink our national priorities. The middle class is the backbone of America and it cannot be allowed to disintegrate. We need to revitalize American democracy, and create a political climate where government makes decisions which reflect the needs of all the people, and not just wealthy campaign contributors. We need to see the middle class expand, not collapse.

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/09/04_sanders.html

[shenmue]

6. Yeah, because no one has ever said that before.

"Salt of the Earth," "backbone of this country"... I guess people have to copyright phrases and no one else in a country of hundreds of millions can use them again.

Oh, the way she talks! :crazy:

:sarcasm:

[Araxen]

4. NAFTA

That really helped the middle class, Hillary. Thanks for nothing!

[bigtree]

7. Hillary didn't legislate NAFTA, Bill Clinton did. Obama voted to expand it when his turn came

. . . to weigh in.

[IndianaGreen]

9. According to Bill and Hil, they had a co-presidency.

Hillary gave us NAFTA, just as she did DOMA and DADT.

[bigtree]

12. you're misstating her position on NAFTA at the time of it's passage

some perspective on Sen Clinton and the passage of NAFTA:

"In August in '92, we had to make a decision," Mickey Kantor the former U.S. secretary of Commerce, Clinton adviser and free trade advocate recalled for the Huffington Post. "President Clinton had to make a decision as governor, whether or not he would support NAFTA, and of course he did. ... Hillary Clinton was one of the great skeptics in the discussion as to whether he should do. So she was always skeptical beginning in 1992 and onward."

Carl Bernstein, another Clinton biographer, echoed much the same tale during a recent appearance on CNN.

"'Bill,'" he recalled Hillary Clinton as saying, "'you are doing Republican economics when you are doing NAFTA.' She was against NAFTA. And if she would somehow come out and tell the real story of what she fought for in the White House and failed in a big argument with her husband she would end up moving much closer to those Edwards followers."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/14/did-hillary-clinton-reall_n_86674.html

[rodeodance]

41. same ol, same ol. another RW talking point.

[madrchsod]

11. tell that to your husband hillary

he`s the one who put the nail in the coffin of the middle class in the usa and the farmers in mexico.

[bigtree]

13. certainly there have been more pernicious influences on the U.S. economy

besides, workers have been abandoned wholesale by the Bush administration.It has been almost a decade since its passage. I would point to the tax breaks for the wealthy and the withering occupation of Iraq as the primary reasons our economy is in the tank. Less options and no attention at all from the White House. It always amazes me the lengths folks will go to criticize our own Democrats before they put the blame where it belongs, at the White House.

[madrchsod]

47. agreed---he signed it and he takes the heat

...but as you said bush and his thugs have done nothing to stop it and made it worse. i`m not overlooking the democrats who voted for it and still say nothing about it today.

[ProSense]

14. New Clinton economic message has echoes of Edwards

New Clinton economic message has echoes of Edwards

By Caren Bohan Sun Feb 17, 2:05 PM ET

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Reuters) - White House hopeful Hillary Clinton has a message for hairdressers in Wisconsin, postal workers in Ohio and autoworkers across the United States who are struggling financially: She cares.

The former first lady and New York senator is hoping blue collar workers will provide her with a crucial base of support as she tries to erode the lead her rival Barack Obama has opened in the tight race to become the Democratic nominee in the November presidential election.

Clinton is courting working-class voters with a new message of economic populism similar to the theme of John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator who dropped out of the Democratic race in January.

Edwards never gained enough momentum to be competitive with Obama and Clinton, but the New York and Illinois senators are trying to woo his followers, many of whom were passionate about his pledge to take on "corporate greed" and bring change to a government he said had sold out the middle class.

more

Tweak, tweak!

[rodeodance]

21. Yes--and it great. Smart gal isn't she.

[HeraldSquare212]

15. I'm middle class, but I'm not looking for a candidate who will only cater to me.

[rodeodance]

17. better than the Obama Pandering all the time.

[HeraldSquare212]

19. Right - he's pandering to rich and poor, black and white...

Damn him!

[hfojvt]

23. everybody knows - if you take care of the middle class

especially the upper middle class, this will trickle down to help the poor through economic growth, a rising tide buys a boat for all swimmers, or something like that. :eyes:

[HeraldSquare212]

29. No kidding - trickle down: pee on me and tell me it's progress.

[bigtree]

30. not so.

Hillary Clinton last year:

"Let's be clear. It's not as if America hasn't been successful economically the past 6 years. But the measure of success doesn't relate what's happening in households across our country, because, while productivity and corporate profits are up, the fruits of that success just hasn't reached many of our families. It's like trickle-down economics, but without the trickle.

As a result, the gap between those who are enjoying the fruits of the modern economy and those who aren't is growing wider.

In 1970, the top 1 percent of households held roughly 9 percent of our nation's income. In 2005, they held 22 percent, the highest level since 1929, a year that isn't exactly one of our best years in American history.

Now, our founders knew that inequality wasn't good for our country. They believed that vast concentrations of wealth were a threat to democracy. They believed America should give everyone, not just the children of the landed gentry, the chance to fulfill their God-given potential.

But today, that ideal is at risk. We are in danger of losing that uniquely American engine of opportunity that has created so much wealth and spread it so widely.

Believe it or not, today in some parts of Europe there is more social mobility than right here in America.

Well, now we haven't heard much from Washington in the past six years about how to solve this growing problem of inequality. In fact, the tax, investment, trade and budget policies of the administration and its allies in Congress have made the problem worse.

I believe people are fed up with the policies of the past six years. So many people I talk to just want to hit the restart button on the 21st century and redo it the right way. And I agree with them.

Now, after all, we started the decade with rising incomes, declining inequality, robust job growth and a surplus in our federal budget. Instead of building on policies that worked, the Washington Republicans reversed them with predictable but intolerable consequences.

I believe that one of the most crucial jobs of the next president is to define a new vision of economic fairness and prosperity for the 21st century, a vision for how we ensure greater opportunity for our next generation, and then to outline a strategy and then to implement it.

Today, I believe we need a new progressive vision for this new century. Now, I consider myself a thoroughly optimistic and modern progressive. I believe we can grow our economy in the face of global competition, and in a way that benefits all Americans . . .

much more: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=1839

[HeraldSquare212]

35. If she wants to benefit all Americans, why does she say she's from, of and for the middle class?

I wasn't aiming the trickle down remark at her - it was mere nostalgia for the eighties. But if you're poor, scraping by with nothing (and poverty is on the increase), would you really want to hear that your President was focused on the middle class?

[bigtree]

36. Her words . . .

"Will all due respect . . . it was America's destiny to create something new -- a middle class that provided upward mobility to the poor and opportunity to the many."

Clinton said that the middle class "made America great."

"My story of hard work that lifts self, family and community is the American story."

"We got there in large part because of the Democratic Party -- we asked individuals to take responsibility for themselves and also to help in their communities, and in return, we aspect people to expect that their government woudl take responsibility for spending their hard-earned tax dollars ensure the underpinnings of fairness and opportunity for all."

"It's time for Democrats to show how an agenda for change can turn this country around and bring the American Dream within reach."

"We can replace trickle down economics with rise up economics."

[hfojvt]

46. she and Bill have always done a good job talking about the problems

but not nearly as good talking about solutions. I would like to see the strategy. Supposedly that would be ready from day one.

All I have seen so far, is trickle down. Tax credits for people above the median income and unspecified increases in the EIC. We know that one of those will be easy to pass because Republicans will vote for it. The other will be a fight just like the stimulus package that sent tax rebates to upper income people but did not provide extra funding for the unemployed, for LIHEAP, or for food stamps.

[bigtree]

48. I posted a link on the op to her 12-page economic plan

It's a trickle up approach which focuses on health care, housing, manufacturing and innovation, rural assistance, child care, unemployment benefit extensions, and other comprehensive remedies.

[hfojvt]

52. Okay, I read that, after work, but it's the same old same old

there's nothing trickle up there.

I appreciate her talking about LIHEAP and unemployment extension, but that really should not be part of her campaign. We don't need those a year from now (hopefully), when she or Obama take office. We need them now. She should be in the Senate fighting for them (and so should Obama. Neither of them did much of a darn thing on this issue, and I have not heard from Edwards either.) However, she weakens the case for them by puffing up the current Republican stimulus package, claiming here, and in a speech in South Carolina, that that plan already provides help to those who need it most.

"She has consistently pushed for tax rebates for working families and seniors who need help the most, and was heartened that the Democratic leadership in Congress worked so quickly to deliver such rebates to American families."

That's just a load of crap. Seniors and working poor people get $300 whereas a single person making $70,000 a year gets $600.

The education tax-credit and the "American Retirement Accounts" were the things I was thinking of. Those will help families making from $50,000 - $100,000 and do nothing for middle class families making less than $40,000 a year. Looks like trickle down to me, except that, unlike Reagan, she will not be challenged by a Democrat who asks "what about the poor?"

[bigtree]

24. Her economic plan is geared toward different segments of society.

click on it

[JVS]

18. Hillary: Mmm mmm mmm kissing this bourgeoisie ass tastes so good. Do you make $60K or more? I want

you vote. *lick* *lick* *slurp* *slurp*

[bigtree]

25. why not? Does her rival want their vote?

[JVS]

28. Yeah sure. People who make twice the median income are the backbone of our land and need our help.

They're so fucking wonderful. Raise taxes on those who earn less, so that they don't lose those big houses they couldn't really afford. We understand, they were reaching for the dream for the glory of all of us.

[bigtree]

33. If you read her plan, you will see that she addresses ALL sectors of the economy

not just the middle class. The line you wrote about taxes is just completely false.

Hillary Clinton:

"For middle class Americans, I will extend the tax cuts including the child tax credit, the marriage penalty relief, and lower income tax rates that they currently pay. And I will reform something called the Alternative Minimum Tax, the AMT, to make sure it doesn't hit middle class families with higher tax rates. It was never intended to do that. I will also expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to help families that are struggling to join the middle class. And I will be providing tax credits to help small businesses pay for health care."
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=3626

Hillary Clinton on Taxes

She is in support of a fair and progressive tax system that forces those that make the most money to give back the most money as well. As part of her nine-point tax reform plan, Clinton would let Bush’s tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 expire in 2010. In addition, her plan would allow for the Bush-imposed estate tax cut credits to increase until 2009 when she would freeze them. According to Clinton’s campaign, these cuts to Bush’s current tax policy would pay for her proposals without increasing the national deficit. Clinton admits that the Alternative Minimum Tax needs reforming, but does not completely back the plan of U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., to repeal the AMT and implement a 4 percent surplus tax on a single $150,000 income or married $200,000 income.
http://blogs.lasvegassun.com/politics/hillary-clinton/issues/hillary-clinton-on-taxes/


Hillary Clinton describes her tax policy on NHPR's The Exchange.
http://www.prx.org/pieces/22192

[rodeodance]

20. Thanks for positive thread on Hilllary and todays events. Much appreciated

[bigtree]

26. It's zen

so much negativity to compete with, the odd man out is the informative post.

Check out the plan . . . great detail.

[rodeodance]

39. I did this am---printed it--will read more fully later. I also sent to all I know in WI. thanks

[rodeodance]

22. REC

[Avalux]

31. Oh Hillary. You now want to be a champion of the middle class?

Your DLC and corporate ties contradict your new meme. And you know what? As a member of the middle class, I don't want to be "taken care of"; I want to be empowered to have a say in what gets decided on my behalf. I want to participate, not let mommy take care of me.

[bigtree]

34. Of course, none of your rant actually applies to ANY part of her economic plan

why not read it and then critique it?

[rodeodance]

38. you obviously only have your RW talking points. nothing else!

[AX10]

32. I am pro-middle class too.

They are the backbone of this country and we need a strong middle class to prosper.

[rodeodance]

37. Clinton Appeals to Local [Green Bay Area] Voters on Presidents Day

related:


http://www.wbay.com/global/story.asp?s=7888186


Clinton Appeals to Local Voters on Presidents Day

Updated: Feb 18, 2008 12:23 PM

The snow only delayed Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign trip to De Pere.

The Democratic presidential hopeful spoke to voters Monday morning at a town hall-style meeting on the campus of St. Norbert College.

She answered questions about the struggling economy, and said it's time to take care of the middle class.

[bigtree]

40. "I think we should talk

. . . about the solutions to make our economy work better." --HRC

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. She's one smart lady and I wonder if Wes Clark is helping her with her Economic policies?

He Majored in Economics at West Point and he works for her campaign. He's a BRILLIANT man! She's lucky to have him involved in her campaign.:)

GO, Hillary!:thumbsup: I'm glad someone cares about the Middle Class in this country.

[bigtree]

44. He is powerful smart.

I wouldn't be surprised, though, Gene Sperling is prominent in the campaign.

[leftstreet]

43. Everybody thinks they're middle class!

It's a subjective term. Rarely do working class and working poor people understand they're not "middle class." It's a code word and politicians just use it to manipulate impressions.

[bigtree]

45. Her economic plans are specifically targeted, though . . .

. . . addressing several sectors of our economy.

[Beregond2]

50. Middle class...

The use of the term "middle class" in this country is interesting. Practically everyone thinks of themselves as middle class, when in fact most people are working class. So candidates can make these claims to be supporting the majority of people, when in fact they are doing nothing of the kind, and people buy it. Hillary is not alone in this.

[bigtree]

51. Actually, her economic plan covers several economic challenges

which impact the 'middle class' but affect other economic sectors as well.

[LadyVT]

53. Yes, it was a great speech!

[bigtree]

54. she really has an encyclopedia of knowledge in her head

very informative with just the right tone.

[Medusa]

55. What does she know or even remember of being middle class?

Absolutely nothing. To her "middle class" is someone who makes 100K a year, yet she gets these saps to vote for her who are truly lower middle class, without much of an education, etc.

[dysfunctional press]

56. "take care of them"...you mean like your husband did with nafta and the telecom act of 96...?

no, thank-you- duplicitous bitch.

[CorpGovActivist]

58. JINX! I owe you a Coke. I heard it exactly the same way.

[CorpGovActivist]

57. "take care of"? NAFTA II?