Obama is NOT “Caving” to Corporate Interests

[defendandprotect]

Obama is NOT “Caving” to Corporate Interests
by Jeff Cohen

In a campaign almost as frenzied as the effort to get Barack Obama into the White House, liberal groups are now mobilizing against the White House and reported deals that would cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. They accuse President Obama of being weak and willing to “cave” to corporate and conservative forces bent on cutting the social safety net while protecting the wealthy.

Those accusations are wrong.

The accusations imply that Obama is on our side. Or was on our side. And that the right wing is pushing him around.

But the evidence is clear that Obama is an often-willing servant of corporate interests -- not someone reluctantly doing their bidding, or serving their interests only because Republicans forced him to.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/24

[Why Syzygy]

1. You've got

more moxy than I have. I read this but decided not to post. :scared:

[polichick]

2. Well, that's the real problem - it's possible he's always been doing what he wants.

[roguevalley]

22. why else would he do it? He's dumbya with a bigger iq

[woo me with science]

3. K&R. The truth hurts. nt

[Ed Suspicious]

President Obama is a compassionate conservative? n/t

[ixion]

8. No, he's a corpratist

as they all have been.

[woo me with science]

30. +1

He's a corporatist.

[woo me with science]

9. "Kinder, gentler nation," "leaner, meaner government."

Same difference?

[defendandprotect]

11. "Compassionate" ... ?

The sad truth, as shown by Glenn Greenwald is that Obama had arrived at the White House looking to make cuts in benefits to the elderly. Two weeks before his inauguration, Obama echoed conservative scares about Social Security and Medicare by talking of “red ink as far as the eye can see.” He opened his doors to Social Security/Medicare cutters --first trying to get Republican Senator Judd Gregg (“a leading voice for reining in entitlement spending,” wrote Politico) into his cabinet, and later appointing entitlement-foe Alan Simpson to co-chair his “Deficit Commission.” Obama’s top economic advisor, Larry Summers, came to the White House publicly telling Time magazine of needed Social Security cuts.


What does it take to see a scam, folks?

Turn those BS meters waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay up -- PLEASE!!

[indepat]

17. Like cutting social security was the plan before the first day in the WH? Shocked, I tell you. Now

is it possible that extension of the tax cuts for the wealthy were but prelude to eviscerating social security? Every one really serious about getting the Federal government's fiscal house in order will start with (1) where the money is and (2) where the money goes: (1) by instituting fair and equitable taxation of the uber-wealthy and large corporations; (2) by paring MIC expenditures to what is necessary for the defense of our country, and, in the process, eliminating MIC expenditures solely associated with exerting global hegemony. :patriot:

[MessiahRp]

38. Do you have a link to the Greenwald article?

I want to reference this to the pro-Obama crew on my FB page.

Thanks!

Rp

[harun]

33. They quit needing to include "compassionate" years ago.

No one ever bought it anyway.

[girl gone mad]

4. Truth.

[RKP5637]

5. I agree with Bernie Sanders as ref'ed in the article.

"Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont -- widely seen as “America’s Senator” -- is so disgusted by recent White House actions that he called Friday for a challenge to Obama in Democratic primaries: “I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition.”"

I think some primary challengers would be a good thing.

[ixion]

6. Exactly. And not only Obama, but further

the US government as a whole, sees We, the People as a rolling threat in need of constant containment.

[defendandprotect]

13. True -- this won't end with Social Security and Medicare --

this is corporate/fascism - elitism -- on the march!

[truedelphi]

25. + my household. n/t

[guruoo]

7. "Truely wonderful

the mind of a child is."

unrec.

[demwing]

50. You know, you have a point

I don't know what it is, but I'm sure you have one.

[Doctor_J]

10. I have lost most of my respect for the president

He's adopting & promoting all of these right-wing economic policies even though the wingers hate his guts, call him names, wish him dead with all of their hearts. At least if he were serving us (Dems), we would be grateful and thank him and support him. I must say that continuing to serve the interests who despise him is really the dregs of self-loathing. By enacting far right policies he has lost the respect of everyone. He must have a terrible time sleeping at night.

[DirkGently]

12. It's been apparent for some time Obama is an effective, savvy, Reagan conservative Democrat.

[defendandprotect]

14. Obama is way beyond Reagan -- he's supporting wiretapping and torture ...

continuing rendition -- supporting two wars going into their second decade now!

Extended the Patriot Act -- !!

[bvar22]

24. Reagan had enough sense to pull US Troops OUT of Middle Eastern Countries...

where they weren't wanted.

Ronnie Cut & Ran when the Marine Barracks was bombed in Lebanon.
The smartest thing Reagan ever did.

[harun]

34. +1

[ChiciB1]

15. PEOPLE! All Of You, Keep Posting Your Distress. I've Tries For About 30 Minutes

now to put into words what I feel, but can't. Not only am I so disappointed and feeling betrayed, my hands are shaking and I'm crying. So writing what I'm feeling is pretty much impossible right now.

Too many games, and we're the pawns. I'm so sick of it all, but worse than that I NEVER really wanted to believe it is in fact THIS BAD!

[snappyturtle]

18. Do you have an extra kleenex? I feel as if i'm being toyed with by a predator

before the final pounce. We're being set up.

[JoePhilly]

16. I heard he kicks puppies competitively, for distance!!!!

Why does Obama hate America??

:sarcasm:

[Divernan]

19. Dismissive, derogatory and without substance - just like you're told to be

[JoePhilly]

20. Those same terms aptly describe the content the OP references.

Thanks for noticing.

[Flubadubya]

21. Well, it certainly clarifies the sense in this...

Seems Obama has already revealed himself for the neoliberal he really is when he was a senator:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1540315

[dreamnightwind]

23. Sadly I K & R this post

Wish it wasn't true, but it is.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. Caving? No. Collaborating would be more apt. K&R

[AverageJoe90]

27. Unreced. And I really like CommonDreams, too..........

[CoffeeCat]

28. I get frustrated when people assign ridiculous...

...motives to Obama and our politicians--as if all of this corporate kow towing is some kind
of big mistake, or the result of the Democrats being so weak and cowardly.

Please. These are US Senators and Congress members. They are intelligent, they've most likely
had money and connections their entire lives. And we're supposed to believe, that suddenly, when
they arrive in DC--they turn stupid and scared?

Our politicians are corrupt. The corporations own our politician like a pimp owns whores. They
don't care about us. The power games and the big deals are played and made in back rooms--and
"We The People" are not invited.

[Kablooie]

29. Caving interests aren't that influential. I mean how many spelunkers are there?

[we can do it]

31. Right and Santa Is On His Way

[swilton]

32. The only reason Obama didn't run as a Republican

is that they are such racists - as evidenced by their treatment of him and the few other people of color who end up being marginalized in that party.

[rhett o rick]

35. Welcome to the New-Democratic Party. Not as crazy as Repub's but just as corporatist. nm

[progressoid]

36. Well that was kind of apparent when he appointed so many corporate stooges to his cabinet and as

his advisors.

[cyberpj]

37. Maybe. But he courted us during his campaigning with MOSTLY anti-corporate rhetoric and

progressive promises.

Millions and millions of Democratic voters were roped in with all that talk of Hope and Change.

Therefore, millions and millions of voters were lied to.

Nothing new in politics, I know, but this time it was particularly important to counter and reverse Bush/Cheney policies and playing on that Liberal and Progressive emotion to lie about Hope and Change makes Obama's deception even more painful; to the young adults and the Black brothers and sisters most of all.

Think about his quotes on Unions and the wars and tax changes during the campaign.

We voted for an illusion hiding a sympathizer.

[Recursion]

40. Like what?

What did he say in his campaign that was anti-corporate?

Seriously; one of the reasons I liked him is because he didn't seem to have that "kill the new world order" baggage. What about his campaign seemed anti-corporate to you?

[cyberpj]

55. He said it without saying it in those words. Here are excerpts from his convention speech:

Sorry, but these parts of his many speeches led us to believe he would not continue policies that gave everything to corporations. In my mind, this "hope" was obliterated by his selection of many of his advisors --and the TARP bailouts at our expense.


snip-
This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he's worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

snip-
We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work.

snip-
It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

snip-
That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

snip-
Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

snip-
Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses; and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime - by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow.























http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/28/barack-obama-democratic-c_n_122224.html

[lark]

51. Obama is an enabler of pro corporate policies

not a sympathizer. That's why he got so mad when Boner didn't sign on for cutting SSI & Medicare.

Edited to remove typo

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bullwinkle428]

41. K&R. Why have Obama, the Gang of 6, and Paul Ryan all proposed

$4 trillion deficit reduction packages?

"What do Obama, the "Gang of Six" and House radical Teapublican, Paul Ryan, all have in common? They've all proposed a $4 trillion deficit reduction package. Does anyone think that is pure coincidence?

Obama's tactical move today, July 19, along with the Senate Gang of Six, is to hitch his (and the Gang's) proposed $4 trillion proposed cuts to the current negotiations simultaneously going on between Reid and McConnell in the Senate to immediately cut spending by $1 trillion to $2 trillion in exchange for raising the debt ceiling."

http://truthout.com/what-do-obama-gang-six-and-paul-ryan-have-common/1311350379

[JDPriestly]

42. K&R The Common Dreams article is great.

Lots of facts I did not know.

[on point]

43. BS. There are not even in the right area for discussion. Shouldn't even be talking about SSI etc.

[UrbScotty]

44. NO evidence to back this up. Just hysteria. And resentment of our very successful President.

[HomerRamone]

45. successful, but at what? nt

[FedUp_Queer]

47. Conservatives depise Obama because of Obama's race (there, I said it).

[lark]

52. Have you listened to him lately?

His words, his actions are all Rethug talking points. He sounds just like a Rethuglican, never like a Democrat. He's the one who put SSI & Medicare on the table, not the other party.

Or you can just keep drinking the kool aid and not pay any attention to reality, your choice.

[Beavker]

46. And yet he's still getting no where because the Tea Baggers

are racist.

Seems it would have been just better for him to appease his base, and go down that way.

[FedUp_Queer]

48. BINGO!!!

[democrank]

49. Re-read reply #35

[L0oniX]

53. LOL

[BobbyBoring]

54. Obama has done one thing no other POTUS has

At least that I know of. He has succeeded in making his base dislike him as much as the opposition. YES HE CAN!