Why Won’t Obama and Democrats Defend Public Sector Workers?

[Better Believe It]

Nicholas D. Kristof pointed out in his Op-Ed New York Times article on Wednesday that:

"For all their flaws, Congressional Republicans have been stunningly successful in framing the national debate. Instead of discussing a jobs program to deal with the worst downturn in 70 years, we’re debating spending cuts —"

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/opinion/14kristof.html?_r=2&ref=opinion

BBI



Why Won’t Obama and Democrats Defend the Public Sector?
by Roger Bybee
July 14, 2011

The fact that a Democratic president would place the three main safety-net programs on the chopping block should prompt a critical examination of how President Obama and the current crew of Democratic leaders put us here.

Particularly devastating has been President Obama’s unwillingness to recognize the importance of public employment in sustaining the economic recovery, in providing a lifeline to a fast-sinking African-American population, and in providing a crucial bulwark against Corporate America’s efforts to drive down wages for all workers.

The failure of Obama and other top Democrats to defend public spending and the public sector—along with their incessant repetition of other key pieces of conservative economic dogma—has allowed Republicans to divert America’s attention away from its most pressing problem: the prolonged, agonizing jobs crisis.

During his remarks about the debt ceiling, as with his timid comments on Wisconsin, Obama passed up the chance to defend the importance of public employment in supporting the recovery, in providing good jobs to people of color and maintaining middle-class living standards for people inside and outside the labor movement.

Read the full article at:

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/11642/deficit-ceiling_talks_ignore_cruical_role_of_public-sector_employment/

[Marrah_G]

1. I think they are just so far removed from real workers that they don't get it

They live in a bubble.

[vi5]

2. Simpe answer...

Union dues are decreasing. Wall Street profits are soaring.

Which group would someone inside the Washington DC "Cash Is King" bubble throw his or her lot in with?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Jobs, exports and stimulating growth

what we are getting is outsourcing, a few exports and little growth.

[xchrom]

4. Maybe because they want them to go the way of the dinosaur?

You have immelt on record as siding w/ Boeing over union labor as well.

[madrchsod]

5. our democratic governor screwed the afscme unions in illinois

we put him in office and he rewards us by not giving a 2% raise that he promised.

but.... the republican candidate was another tea party/kock stooge.

[fredamae]

6. What can they do?

Literally, what power do they have? It seems, this may be Our job, not theirs.

But, I am sincerely curious, What, exactly can they do? MSM seems to not be interested in what they have to say on that subject.

[Doctor_J]

7. They're also not defending SS. Medicare, Medicaid, and public schools

No wonder they're getting their asses kicked on election day.

[NorthCarolina]

8. Simple. Money talks...and nobody has more money than Wall Street. n/t

[global1]

9. They Have A Dem Mayor Now In Chicago That Worked In The White House That......

will be going after public service workers. They don't want to make him look bad.

[Better Believe It]

10. Isn't he a working class sort of guy?

[global1]

12. He Might Be - But He's Going To Be Faced With Hard Choices & Decisions As He Tries......

to help Chicago out of its debt crisis. He won't do it by selling bridges, parking meters or closing down airports. He's going to have to do it some other way.

[Better Believe It]

13. Will his "hard choices" be hard on him or hard on working people?

[scheming daemons]

11. Why won't the OP ever post an article that criticizes Republicans?

[emilyg]

14. k