Where was "this" Obama for the past two years?

[whosinpower]

"The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent."

THIS Obama is the ever loved and fondly remembered campaign Obama.

The OTHER Obama knows full well that even though he may lose that 1 percent of wealthy VOTERS - he is not blind to listening to their powerful voice and influence in terms of policy. He cannot and will not ignore the simple fact that THEY DO CONTROL A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE ECONOMY.

This is reality. Voting for him, campaigning for him, canvassing for him, donating to him is not enough. Because, at the end of it all - that one percent will still possess 40 percent control. What am I saying....I am saying not to put all your eggs into one basket. Thinking that government can and will have the power to reduce that 40 percent to something more palatable - I fear is not going to get the job done.

They (the one percenters) are so vastly wealthy, they can easily sit on it all, stash it away on the Cayman Islands....and wait for rosier days ahead in China, or in India.

Only the American worker, citizen, and consumer COMBINED with government policy can and will address this abhorrent inequality. Obama cannot do it alone....and we should help him, not for him, but for all of us.

[villager]

1. Let's see if *this* Obama is the one who keeps inhabiting the Oval Office

many of us have been waiting...

[vaberella]

2. White House and Townhalls. He's been around....no one has been listening.

Now they are.

[whosinpower]

8. It isn't enough to just listen

And, in fairness - this is the first time I have heard him talk of the wealth disparity that has engulfed America. I have read many economists warning of it for some time - but no one in the White House....no one in the FED....certainly no one in the treasury.

Vabarella - even if one hundred percent of americans vote for him....if every single man and woman eligable to vote in the american election....that one percent would STILL MAINTAIN 40 PERCENT OF THE WEALTH.

No - voting for him, and investing in the democratic process IS IMPORTANT - but it is no longer enough.

[vaberella]

12. He was just talking now. He fought for it, but the American people & Congress did not act.n/t

[xchrom]

3. Campaign Obama - he's running for office again.

Immelt, geithner, Et al is who you keep your eye on.

[tekisui]

6. Exactly. He is a helluva a campaigner.

[bigwillq]

18. ....

:thumbsup:

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. He's been there all along. Some very immature political neophytes

and the leftosphere only give him props when he's in campaign mode, and then only grudgingly. Everytime a Republican farts, some think this president should address the nation. The PL have been so anxious not to be seen as "sheep" that they've become cannibals. Eat your own seems to be the order of the day.

[MNBrewer]

5. keeping the powder dry?

:shrug:

[LiberalFighter]

7. Try reviewing the following:

Promise Kept rulins on the The Obameter

[RBInMaine]

9. He has said much of this over and again. Try listening.

[whosinpower]

10. Show me.

Provide me with a link that makes this very remark in another speech -

"The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent."

I'll wait.

[whosinpower]

16. crickets

Yeah - that is what I thought. You got nuthin.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Faced with a unified Republican/Teabagger party backed by Koch Bros., Citizens United,

and Americans For Prosperity. Faced with a milquetoast Senate filled with Blue Dog/Corporatist Democrats and over 100 filibusters from Republicans.

Faced with an impatient base who irrationally expected him to fulfill ALL of his promises in less than two years or else they'll sit out the elections, and we get MORE Republicans/Teabaggers in Congress as a result.

That's where "this Obama" was for the past two years...

[Pisces]

13. Same Obama that took office has been working for us for 2 years quietly getting things done.

Too bad so many listen to the talking heads instead of looking at the work.

[WiffenPoof]

14. Hold On Here...

I also thought that it was a great speech. Where have I heard this before? Let's see...oh yeah, the campaign.

President Obama taught me a great lesson concerning the difference between words and action. I pray that he holds to the principles of his speech today. I really do.

-PLA

[lamp_shade]

15. Read Post #4.

[RichGirl]

17. Where are the thousands who said....

YES WE CAN. Emphasis on the "WE". Nobody said "yes YOU can". Our job was to support and trust. I recall right before the election... during the big economical crisis there were DEMOCRATS asking..."Why doesn't HE do something?. The complaining and expecting him to preform magic started before he was even inaugurated!

Few of us are as smart as Obama...NONE of us know more about any of the problems we face than he does...but we sure know how to sit at our computers and whine.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

19. He was getting things done. Where were you?

[treestar]

20. Whinging that it wasn't good enough

Notice also comments upthread about running for office.

Some people are so cynical and negative they scoff at anything good.

[polichick]

21. "This" Obama is the campaigner - the other one will be back after the election.