What does Obama have to do that is more important than standing up for labor?

[undeterred]

He's had 3 weeks to come out and take a clear stand in favor of the unions who are getting screwed by the "budget repair" bill in Wisconsin. 3 weeks to make a speech saying he will not stand by and watch the poor and the middle class be broken while the rich and the corporations walk off with all the money. He's had 3 weeks to come out and say that collective bargaining is a right that workers are entitled to and should not be written away by a Republican majority.

And he's had three weeks to come out in support of the 14 senators, including my state Senator Mark Miller, who are acting like REAL DEMOCRATS and standing up to injustice. If he doesn't do that now, then he has lost all credibility as a democrat as far as I am concerned and he is nothing more than the lesser of two evils. If I ever vote for this man again I will be holding my nose the whole time.

[JuniperLea]

1. He did take a stand...

Where were you that you missed it?

He's smart to stay home though... this is a state issue and it should remain such.

[joeybee12]

2. Oh yeah, "seems" like union bashing...

He said it "seems" like union bashing.

I tell ya, the guy is fierce!!!!!

[JuniperLea]

4. That's about as far as he can take it...

Without making this an Obama issue instead of an issue of the people. The day he sticks his nose in this is the day I rail against him. He knows his place even if you don't.

[Rex]

11. He knows his place?

Wow. Sad.

[AKDavy]

3. The assault on labor and workers isn't a state issue

It's a local battle in a national war against labor.

[JuniperLea]

5. Oh please...

This is a state governor fighting state workers. Give me a fucking break. Obama needs to keep his nose out of this.

[undeterred]

12. ...

[AKDavy]

16. Don't do that righteous indignation nonsense "Oh please"

Union bashing and attacking labor are national issues, and have been since corporations made it their national agenda. As a former AFSCME / AFL-CIO member, I've already sent notice to the unions that I'll support any call for a national strike of boycott.

You either see that, or you don't.

[undeterred]

6. Exactly.

Its just the first of many battles, and he should make his position clear right now, before protesters take over the national Capitol, because that's what will happen next.

[DFab420]

8. He already made his position clear

And I'm sorry but until Walker calls in the Guard or starts dropping bombs I'll go ahead and say that Libya and Bahrain are just as pressing for our Presidents attention.


I would much rather have this be Unions vs Walker, not Obama vs the Republicans.

[AKDavy]

19. This is workers vs bosses (Many vs Few)

Class war.

Obama has no choice but to pick a class.

[Sixty_cycle_humm]

17. None of his union employees have these rights either

My uncle works for the Social Security Administration, he's in the union there and they have no bargaining rights for either pay or benefits. I spoke to him this weekend, he supports labor in Wisconsin and regrets how the federal unions have none of these rights either. He believes this is one of the reasons that President Obama is not actively campaigning there, he knows they will use that fact to counter any argument he tries to make.

[dennis4868]

25. Get your facts put of here...

This is DU....gotta keep to the anti Obama narrative....

[patrick t. cakes]

7. push republican policy...n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

9. EVERYTHING else is more important than that!

To him, anyway.

[pinto]

10. Statements Feb. 28 (Obama), Mar. 1 (Labor Sec. Solis), fwiw -

The Obama administration’s voice of support for collective bargaining rights grew louder this week as President Barack Obama and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis publicly stated that workers in states deserve to maintain their bargaining rights.

Ms. Solis, in an article on the Huffington Post Tuesday, referenced job strikes her father participated in as a Teamster, and called collective bargaining “a cornerstone of our democracy and our middle class.”

These rights “shouldn’t be cast aside in hard times” and “can and should be part of the solution,” she wrote, referring to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation to curb collective bargaining. “But some state leaders have gone too far in the process. Budget sacrifices are one thing; demanding that workers give up their rights as union members — to take away their voice — is another.”

A day earlier, Mr. Obama told a gathering of the nation’s governors that while everybody should be prepared to give up something to solve the budget challenges, “I don’t think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/03/01/obama-administration-raises-voice-on-bargaining-rights/

[Rex]

Kewl, he should go there and say that in person to the farmers and unions.

It would win him a few more million votes...but that is what people here DON'T WANT, evidently. :eyes:

This garbage about it 'turning into all about Obama' is a right-wing talking point and a disgrace to see here on DU.

[DFab420]

14. +10000

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mmonk]

15. From their standpoint, re-election and division of duties and priorities

they have.

[nenagh]

18. I once thought that as well...

But I think Fox News and the MSM is salivating at the idea that Pres Obama gets involved..

because then the story will be laced with anti Obama propaganda and the reason for the protests will get lost in the storm cloud.

Just the idea of all the farmers joining in the protest makes my little heart sing with pride... :)

[nenagh]

21. Oops.. I see that my viewpointis in the minority.. and I'd like to think..

that Pres Obama would be dealt with fairly in the media..

But it is corporate owned.. and a lot is at stake in Wisconsin.

Good luck Wisconsin Dems... from a Canadian who has retirement benefits from a OPSEU... an Ontario Union for Public service Employees.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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

[spanone]

22. i think he has daily chores...i hear presidents are real busy.

[undeterred]

23. Yeah, I heard he has to walk Bo and pick up the poop.

He'd rather do that than come to Wisconsin anyway.

[Rex]

24. I guess not gain a few million votes?

Dunno, seems like a really stupid move not to go and stand with farmers and union workers. Is the M$M in charge of this country or is it the CIC? Some people here seem to believe it is Foxnews...funny that.

[polichick]

26. He's running for reelection now - his job is the one that counts. nt