Obama About To Make A Big "Class Warfare" Speech, And Echo A Republican President At The Same Time

[jefferson_dem]

President Barack Obama will travel to Osawatomie, Kansas on Tuesday to emphasize the need for Americans to pay their "fair share."

It's an argument that many in the Republican party reject as class warfare, but Obama will draw on a Republican president — Theodore Roosevelt — to justify his message.

Roosevelt's 'New Nationalism' speech on August 31, 1910 called for new government reforms to level the playing field for average Americans against a class of industrial barons.

"The essence of any struggle for healthy liberty has always been, and must always be, to take from some one man or class of men the right to enjoy power, or wealth, or position, or immunity, which has not been earned by service to his or their fellows," Roosevelt said. "That is what you fought for in the Civil War, and that is what we strive for now."

<SNIP>

"Here in Kansas there is one paper which habitually denounces me as the tool of Wall Street, and at the same time frantically repudiates the statement that I am a Socialist on the ground that is an unwarranted slander of the Socialists."

"I do not ask for over-centralization; but I do ask that we work in a spirit of broad and far-reaching nationalism when we work for what concerns our people as a whole."

<SNIP>

Roosevelt used his 'New Nationalism' speech to launch his failed bid for the presidency in 1912, and it's safe to say that Obama's speech on Tuesday will draw from Roosevelt to lay much of the intellectual framework for his reelection bid.

http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-is-about-to-double-down-on-class-warfare-and-echo-a-republican-president-at-the-same-time-2011-12#ixzz1fZeSXZWr

Here's the press release from the White House:

WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, December 6, President Obama will travel to Osawatomie, Kansas where he will deliver remarks on the economy. The President will talk about how he sees this as a make-or-break moment for the middle class and all those working to join it. He’ll lay out the choice we face between a country in which too few do well while too many struggle to get by, and one where we’re all in it together – where everyone engages in fair play, everyone does their fair share, and everyone gets a fair shot. Just over one hundred years ago, President Teddy Roosevelt came to Osawatomie, Kansas and called for a New Nationalism, where everyone gets a fair chance, a square deal, and an equal opportunity to succeed.

[sibelian]

1. A speech eh?

Well, that'll be nice.

[jefferson_dem]

3. The President's critics are funny.

They demand he "call out" the scumbags and use the bully pulpit to lay out a "progressive" vision. Then, when he does that, they fall back to the lame "just words" talking point. As if we should just unilaterally disarm and let the other side frame the debate.

People are silly to underestimate the power of rhetoric - "the art of persuasion" - in shaping public policy. Aristotle cleared that up around 300 BC.

[joshcryer]

6. People want a king.

It's finally opened my eyes to why the Bolsheviks fell for totalitarianism. For some reason the left wants a king, a prince, an almighty leader.

And when they don't get it because they live in a country that doesn't have real kings (with real, absolute power), they appear puzzled.

Note; I do believe we live in an aristocracy, but we don't have any kings with absolute power.

[eridani]

10. How about wanting a president to use his bully pulpit to advocate for public goods?

Instead he says that new employment has to come from the private sector.

[joshcryer]

12. I think in this speech he'll do that. But what good will it do? He's not that powerful.

He can say it all he wants, the Republicans know their best chance is full on obstructionism. If they pass his stuff then they will lose resoundingly in 2012, because the employment rate would drop to something like 7.5% or something ridiculous like that.

In fact he was accused of trying to 'buy' the 2010 elections because of the stimulus.

[eridani]

13. In saner times, 7.5% was considered a disaster

What I want from him is to use Elizabeth Warren's messaging, but I'm afraid he really won't.

[frazzled]

22. Those are "just words" though, eh?

Why are some people's words better than others in these discussions? It perplexes me.

[yodermon]

14. but presidential candidates campaign as if running for King.

It's the culture of presidential politics.. "I promise to pass xyz policy".. um excuse me genius but the legislature passes policy, all you get is a veto.
It seems to me that presidents should run on what their Constitutional job description actually *is*, ie head of the Executive, not Magical Policy Implementor Man.

And we, as activists in the electorate, should focus more energies (orders of magnitude more) on legislative races instead of the president. That is provided we actually care more about policy than personality.

Just my unpopular opinion.

[joshcryer]

23. Oh, no, I'd have to agree with that. But people don't like to hear the truth from politicians.

Remember, Mondale lost because he said he'd raise taxes.

"By the end of my first term, I will reduce the Reagan budget deficit by two-thirds. Let's tell the truth. It must be done, it must be done. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so will I. He won't tell you. I just did."

Reagan did raise taxes, but it wasn't Reagan, it was the legislature, as the country was reaching really bad deficits. Reagan merely didn't veto it, which is really what Mondale is saying here:

"By the end of my first term, I will be pushed by vote reduce the Reagan budget deficit by two-thirds. Let's tell the truth. It must be done, it must be done. Mr. Reagan will not veto a vote to raise taxes, and neither will I. He won't tell you. I just did."

Either way, the people don't like to hear this.

[bvar22]

15. Nope.

Those who are not screaming about the newly acquired Supra-Constitutional powers of the Unitary Executive
are the ones that are happy with a Pre-Magna Carta king.

"Strong and successful presidents (meaning those who get what they want - whether that happens to be good for the country or not) do not accept "the best deal on the table". They take out their carpentry tools and the build the goddam piece of furniture themselves. Strong and successful presidents do not get dictated to by the political environment. They reshape the environment into one that is conducive to their political aspirations."

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/17

"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed




Solidarity99!
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[joshcryer]

24. You just prove my point.

The political corollary of building "the goddam piece of furniture themselves" is sending a bill to congress (through another politician in congress) that he worked on himself with his team.

He has made those proposals with Health Care, with the Stimulus, and so on.

That's all he can do.

[certainot]

25. here's why they want a king....

they need certainty, fear uncertainty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnrfuTUlqVs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[Skittles]

34. no, they want a PRESIDENT

a REAL DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT

[SkyDaddy7]

7. +1000!!! nt.

[Pirate Smile]

17. As hair-trigger anti-Obama as the RW.

[Number23]

21. Yep. But whereas the right wing is all emotion and shoot from the hip idiocy

some on the left have convinced themselves that their hair trigger anti-Obama idiocy is somehow steeped in a profound understanding of the issues and what's at stake.

So it just makes you have to wonder which is worse, being naively stupid or arrogantly so?

[sibelian]

31. ...."hair trigger anti-Obama idiocy"

... :shrug: ...

If you don't want to listen, you don't want to.

Obama's policies are unpopular with substantial numbers of the left. If this displeases you, well, that's certainly sad, but it is very silly to mistake disagreements over policy with a personal dislike of Obama.

[Number23]

32. I'd ask if this was a typo

If you don't want to listen, you don't want to.

but considering it makes about as much sense as the rest of the stuff you typed, it wouldn't make any difference if you fixed it anyway.

[sibelian]

30. See, that's my problem with you people. It's not him as a person I'm complaining about.

It's what he does. But that doesn't fit your story, so you just move onto "you're a hater".

[Skittles]

35. they are very organized too

you can almost see the bulleted script they are reading from

[Hutzpa]

20. Please ignore whatever that thing said. nt

[sibelian]

29. I do not judge people on what they say.

I judge people on what they do.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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

[geckosfeet]

4. Cross post - what fair really means, and how to apply it in the context of taxes.

Class warfare my a$$. Asking someone who has far more than they need to support their country (ie: citizens, government etc. - the WHOLE country - not just their piece of it) is not class warfare.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2425803

[dkf]

5. The problems with our political system is that both sides think the other is undeserving.

and they spend all their efforts trying to take it away.

Where are the visionaries who want to do things for all mankind? Curing cancer, heart disease, diabetes and alzheimers, transitioning us to renewable energy, advancing technology... If we put all our efforts into bringing everyone forward instead of trying to take down the other guy wouldn't we be better off?

And in terms of fairness, why don't we ditch the loopholes first? Why isn't that the epitome of "fairness"?

[Enrique]

8. no, that's not the trouble in our system

that sounds like the talks of millionaire pundits who want us to sit back and sing kumbayah while the rich continue to drink our milkshakes.

[dkf]

27. Gee I wonder what your obsession may be.

[BeyondGeography]

9. John Brown's old stomping grounds

A fine choice of venue.

[Autumn]

11. A speech will do it

Consider his appointments and it turns into a joke.

[Pirate Smile]

16. Sorry - I didn't see your thread and posted the same thing. Whoops!

[Vanje]

18. This is good news .....

I think.
I've been hoping that Obama has been noticing OWS and its gathering support.
There was some surmiZing in the news this week, that OWS may choose to "Occupy" the 2012 DEmocratic Party Convention. I had been hoping that the president and his close staff had noticed that , and had decided that it might be time to start actively courting the votes of progressives and liberals , for a change.

If its true that Obama is going to make a go at emulating a Roosevelt , that is a very very good thing.
I hope it is true.
This might be good news.
Wish that he would consider the principles of BOTH president Roosevelts. I'm hoping he does.

Its silly to comment on a speech that has'nt yet been given.
But I am hopeful, and will watch with optimism.

[elleng]

19. Thanks. Discussed yesterday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2421169

[certainot]

26. in all discussions about bully pulpit, framing, etc., - team limbaugh is louder, longer

and as long as the left ignores that problem that's the way it's going to be and all analysis of obama is happening in a talk radio vacuum and his ability to do anything is way overestimated.

OWS is one of the few political entities the last 20 years that has been louder than talk radio. obama can do it while he's speaking and immediately after. but if anything starts sticking the think tank PR pros monitoring national media will devise a response to message over it and they really use those 1000 radio stations reaching 50 mil a week well. that is their best weapon and it is completely ignored by the left. there is no organized opposition to it.

[Knight Hawk]

28. To be honest I do not think

Obama likes being president.Whatever "fire in the belly"he may have had at one time is long gone.I SERIOUSLY think his wife would be a better president.

[FailureToCommunicate]

33. Effective or not, Obama's speech will likely be a humdinger!