FDR Came to Wisconsin to Battle 'Economic Royalists,' but Obama Avoids That Fight

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/162788/fdr-came-wisconsin-battle-economic-royalists-obama-avoids-fight

President Obama is interrupting his long vacation to bus across the battleground states of the Midwest this week, on an officially “non-political” journey that his aides obviously hope will renew a connection with the people who overwhelmingly elected him president in 2008. It is an essential endeavor, as Obama’s uncertain tenure has frustrated voters who once saw him as a transformational leader but now wonder whether there is a point to his presidency.

The disconnect between Obama and his base has grown more profound this year, as he has focused on the compromises of Washington while working people in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and other states have engaged in “Which side are you on?” fights against a Republican austerity agenda that threatens the very underpinnings of civil society and democratic experiment.

Obama’s absence from the scene has raised questions about how the man who once promised to march with workers in defense of collective bargaining rights (“If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I’m in the White House, I will put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself, I’ll will walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States of America. Because workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner.”) could remain so distant from the struggles that matter most.

Nothing summed up the disconnection between Obama and the base so thoroughly as White House spokesman Jay Carney’s response to a question about last week’s Wisconsin recall elections. Even as the New York Times hailed the recall results as an “impressive” signal regarding voter opposition to unionbusting, while arguing that “voters around the country who oppose the widespread efforts to undermine public unions—largely financed by corporate interests—should draw strength from Tuesday’s success,” Carney said he did not know if Obama was paying attention.

[madrchsod]

1. yes and no...there`s an election today that he should avoid but...

there`s no reason...wait a minute..after last night i`m pretty sure he will not be welcomed in wisconsin.

[GillesDeleuze]

4. i guess he traded comfortable shoes for Wall Street donations.

power to the people..

[izquierdista]

2. He's so glad to be accepted

Just wait til the caddy day tournament, then he'll show them!

[_ed_]

3. FDR was an actual liberal, Obama is a conservative

Simple as that.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. This article reminds me of the phone call I just got from Obama's camp

They want people like me who worked hard to give $120.00. With that request came all of the baggage we've come to know as "Bush Era" and Republican causes.

I gave the camp an earful of what I might have done (in the swing state of Pennsylvania) for Obama's re-election, had Obama actually pushed through FDR bold action stimulus and meant to put on his comfortable shoes.

I had the money to give, which is good for me, but there for the grace of (fill in the blank) go I with the rest of America.

I hope more articles come to show the disconnection.


Are they listening? Someone here told me... "they are listening, but are enough Americans?"

[bvar22]

6. FDR was a "DEMOCRAT".

Support for LABOR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA9KC8SMu3o


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[emilyg]

11. Thank you.

[Karmadillo]

7. FDR didn't know how to play chess?

nt

[Doctor_J]

8. His walking shoes were at the repair shop

I can't think of any other good reason he would cower from that fight.

[Fearless]

9. Outsourced the job and the shoes are stuck in customs.... we need more free trade!!

:eyes:

[People for Polity]

10. Maybe...

...he lost his comfortable shoes.

[hay rick]

13. Maybe...

somebody will throw a couple his way a la George W.

[Hawkowl]

12. Herbert Hoover II

It really is sad. He resembles Herbert Hoover more than any other president. Widely regarded as brilliant but increasingly out of touch and paralyzed into a do nothing and hopes it gets better presidency.

He is the most anti-government Democratic President in history. His reluctance to use the power of government is tragic. Instead he parrots right wing themes of free trade, tax cuts, big oil, free markets and public employees are the problem.

He can not win. Not as a Democrat.