Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Democrats In Congress Want To Have A Quiet Friendly Little Talk With Barack Obama... Before His Jobs Speech

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This afternoon, the chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus-- who seem to be speaking for over half the Democrats in the House-- have asked for a meeting with the president before the joint session-- although with more and more Republicans declaring they're not going to even bother to attend, I'm not sure how joint a session it really is shaping up to be. Here's the letter the chairmen sent over to the White House today:
September 6, 2011
 
The Honorable Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
 
Dear Mr. President:
 
As chairs of the Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus representing more than half of the Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we are requesting a meeting with you regarding your upcoming speech to the nation on job creation. With unemployment at 9.1% nationally-- approaching 12% in the Hispanic community, 16.7% in the African American community and with Asian American and Pacific Islanders remaining unemployed for longer periods than any other group-- we are in a national crisis. We have learned throughout American history that big, bold action is required to put people back to work and promote economic growth.
 
Throughout the month of August, we heard repeatedly from our constituents and neighbors that their primary concern is the state of the economy and chronic unemployment. The American people want us to pass emergency jobs legislation that puts our nation back to work now. Further, Americans know we cannot cut our way to prosperity. The best, most effective way to tackle our debt problem is to put people back to work.
 
We can stem the tide of mass unemployment and meet our long-term national commitments by being bold now. The chairs of the CBC, CAPAC, CPC, and CHC look forward to an opportunity to talk with you about proposals we would like you to consider before you address the nation this week.
 
Sincerely,
 
Emanuel Cleaver, II, Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus                

Judy Chu, PhD., Chairwoman, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
                                 
Keith Ellison, Co-Chair Congressional Progressive Caucus                        
 
Charles A. Gonzalez Chairman, Congressional Hispanic Caucus  
                
Raúl M. Grijalva, Co-Chair Congressional Progressive Caucus
               
If I were a congressman I'd be doing the same thing... trying to talk Obama into facing reality and making him understand that you can't have civic engagement with nihilists bent on your-- and, more important, the country's-- destruction. It hasn't done any good to meet these fascists half way. In fact, it has done irreparable damage. But I'm not a congressman and I'm done listening to Obama. I don't want to hear him any longer. I've heard enough. Let me know if he does something. Until then, I'll assume he's going to lose his reelection bid and I'll be working my ass off to help elect worthwhile progressives to the House and to the Senate. (Take a look; see if there's anyone you'd like to get behind.)

I just saw this post by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone. Looks like we're on the exact same Obama track:
Listening to Obama talk about jobs and shared prosperity yesterday reminded me that we are back in campaign mode and Barack Obama has started doing again what he does best-- play the part of a progressive. He's good at it. It sounds like he has a natural affinity for union workers and ordinary people when he makes these speeches. But his policies are crafted by representatives of corporate/financial America, who happen to entirely make up his inner circle.

I just don't believe this guy anymore, and it's become almost painful to listen to him.

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7 Comments:

At 9:33 PM, Blogger Timcanhear said...

If his speech yesterday is any indication of what's coming on Thursday, I'm right behind you. I'm done with Obama. My girlfriend has already signed off and she was a huge supporter, as was I.

 
At 11:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Obama and his people have brought it on themselves by, I believe, a combination of hubristic and surprisingly naive political gamesmanship and a profound misreading of the nation that there's some sort of imaginary urgent demand by the public for a leader who's above the fray at ALL costs. How could such smart people possibly believe that crap? There must be some other explanation for their behaviors. Or not.

Yet Obama's disillusioned and angry supporters, such as myself, who would drop out of the political game by not voting for Obama or dissuading others from voting for him in 2012, would make themselves dilettantes playing a fool's game, or, put another way, heedless dupes of fascistic GOP strategy.

Sure I'm pissed that we got fooled again (me too, but not very much actually), but I'd rather be a political fool supporting another incumbent President who has grossly underperformed for the people than a political idiot who's personally enabling the victory of a much much worse president, whose victory could well mark the rubicon for our democracy, when a functioning democracy could no longer be returned to and empire and domestic authoritarianism were to metastasize into permanent totalitarianism and even more imminent decline.

Just sayin'.

 
At 12:06 AM, Anonymous BK Wolfe said...

I'm all for Obama stepping down and letting Biden take over and run for 2012, perhaps with a tough, progressive female for VP. Biden has fought long and hard for the workers. The clip of him speaking in the Rust Belt on Rachel Maddow tonight was electifying and tough. I voted Progressive, I expect Progressive, not Obusha.

 
At 12:07 AM, Blogger John said...

Frick and Frack (err ... Boner and Cantor) also want a pre-speech meeting with Obama.

Any bets on who gets the audience and who get the "take or leave it" poke in the eye?

John Puma

 
At 2:35 AM, Blogger Bill Michtom said...

Voting for Obama is voting for Republican policies: wars, corporate tax cuts, "free" trade agreements shipping more jobs overseas, shredding of the Constitution, etc. Friends don't let friends vote corporate.

 
At 4:47 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sadly, I feel the same way. And wish I had voted for Hillary in the General Election. I doubt that she would have put up with this republican BS!

 
At 1:46 PM, Anonymous SnarkyShark said...

Yep, I hate listening to him also. You just know he doesn't mean a word of it.

 

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