Commander in Chief or Community Organizer in Chief?
Supporting law-breaking workers undermines Obama's attempts to appear moderate.
This year, the economy has alternately added fewer or lost more jobs in every month compared to 2007. But what had been a troubling trend clearly became alarming in September and October, and simply awful in November. This occurred as the energy starvation and high-tax postures of Pelosi, Obama, and Reid continued, and the decades-in-the-making crackups at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac became obvious. Those Democratic-driven failures at Fan and Fred marked the beginning of the bailout mania, otherwise known as the SUCKUP (the Seemingly Unlimited Cash Kitty Under Paulson), which appears to have no end in sight. It is no coincidence that November’s wrong-direction swing of 947,000 — the worst since the early 1960s, even after adjusting for smaller workforce sizes — occurred in the month Barack Obama was elected.
But maybe the markets have misread him — or, more correctly stated, maybe Obama as president will bear no resemblance to Obama the candidate.
It’s easy to make too much of this, but there have been a few hopeful signs:
- Team Obama has deferred its plans to dramatically increase Social Security and other taxes. Abandoning them would be better, but it’s a start.
- The president-elect’s economic nominees, while not necessarily ardent free market cheerleaders, are mostly not the socialist flamethrowers some had feared.
- It appears that the Big 3 bailout of General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford, which to be sure shouldn’t be happening at all, will “at least” not be the open-ended $125 billion nightmare that some advocate.
- The domestic economic mess they have created, the need to ensure that the Big 3 somehow survive if bailout money is disbursed, and the growing worldwide resistance to extreme measures designed to combat so-called global warming that hasn’t been occurring for about 10 years may all cause Obama to back away from the worst elements of his fossil fuel-curtailing agenda. He has already reneged on his promise to impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies.
But in one statement Sunday, reacting to the factory sit-in at Republic Windows and Doors in his native Chicago, Obama set off alarms in the offices of entrepreneurs, businesspeople, and investors everywhere:
“Obama: Workers Staging Sit-in ‘Absolutely Right’”
President-elect Barack Obama is weighing in on behalf of workers staging a sit-in on the factory floor of their former Chicago employer to protest abruptly losing their jobs last week.
Obama told a news conference Sunday that Republic Windows and Doors should follow through on its commitments to the 200 workers, who say they won’t leave the plant until they are assured they’ll receive their severance and vacation pay.
“The workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned, I think they’re absolutely right and understand that what’s happening to them is reflective of what’s happening across this economy,” Obama said.
Regardless of the facts and circumstances, Obama’s statement is a dangerous, de facto endorsement of lawlessness that has the potential to shut business owners’ wallets nationwide. As IBDeditorials.com noted:
If he believes the workers deserve the pay they are demanding, he is free to say so. He has no place, however, to support anyone’s decision to trespass on another’s property. To advocate offenses against society is to legitimize them.
It won’t take very much of this before businesses conclude that putting employees on the payroll must be avoided as long as possible, if it’s to be done at all. They will more frequently use temporary agency employees as long as they legally can. They won’t replace employees who retire or leave. They’ll have more work done in other countries. They won’t pursue business ideas that require U.S. employees. The trend toward professional employment organizations (PEOs, or “leased employees”) will accelerate.
More such appearances by Obama as rabble-rousing community organizer in chief will go a long way towards ensuring that his “get worse before it gets better” prediction about the economy becomes tragically true.
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Tom Blumer owns a training and development company based in Mason, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati. He presents personal finance-related workshops and speeches at companies, and runs BizzyBlog.com.
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25 Comments
1. Cybergeezer:Can I suggest “Appeaser in Chief”?
Dec 11, 2008 - 7:04 am 2. Cybergeezer:Obama has a balm for the U.S. economy; He will apply it “liberally” with Pelosi and Reids help, and everybody will be comforted. Not even in office yet, but saving the world already! Are we lucky, or what? Let’s forgo the standards and award Him the Nobel Peace Prize now.
Just a little levity
Dec 11, 2008 - 8:20 am 3. The Historian:OBAMA TAX PLAN KEEPS POOR IN POVERTY
Raising tax rates on those in a position to invest will further impoverish the poor:
http://greensrealworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/obama-on-taxes-doctrine-vs-fact.html
Dec 11, 2008 - 8:26 am 4. Daedalus:Obama had previously worked as a neighborhood organizer. There is nothing wrong with that. However neighborhood organizing is used when normal methods of redress against government have failed. In their search for solutions, neighborhood organizers are confrontational against organized government, not conciliatory. It is troubling that Obama as an instructor of the Saul Alinsky method of neighborhood organizing will bring that attitude to the White House and government as a whole.
I would suggest for anyone who is interested in this background to purchase both of Saul Alinsky’s books, REVEILLE FOR RADICALS and RULES FOR RADICALS, which are available online through Amazon and others. Reading them will give you insight into our incoming President, how he thinks, and how he will govern.
Dec 11, 2008 - 8:27 am 5. tim maguire:In another one of those “off the teleprompter” moments that became infamous during the presidential campaign
Didn’t you get the memo? Obama ran a flawless campaign, all the major media outlets said so!
More seriously, I’ve read Rules for Radicals several times and am an Alinsky fan of sorts. Alinsky worked in the service of radical left-wing politics, but his central message is pragmatism–screw the idealists, you do what works. However radical left-wing Obama may be at heart, I think that’s the part of Alinsky’s message that sounds most strongly with him–you do what works. He wants to be remembered as a successful president and he will not be a martyr to left-wing causes.
I may be counting chickens here since he hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but Obama’s cabinet appointments have been responsible and defensible. The economic downturn gives him all the cover he needs to screw his supporters and govern more responsibly than we expected.
As for Pelosi and Reid, tar and feathers are too good for those two who consciously harmed this nation for short-term political gain.
Dec 11, 2008 - 10:21 am 6. Ann:It’s beyond belief that these so-called “journalists” can actually pretend to be amazed, intrigued or surprised by Obama being Obama. He has never said a single thing that gave me the impression that he has ever intended to be Commander-in-Chief, apply the laws or govern at all.
Since “community organizer” has always been his main resume claim-to-fame, community organizer it is, and the law be damned. He doesn’t like our Constitution and plainly said so.
It’s becoming apparent that journalism has turned into busywork–stating the obvious, asking stupid rhetorical questions and acting surprised.
Dec 11, 2008 - 12:01 pm 7. Cybergeezer:6. Ann
Dec 11, 2008 - 3:44 pm 8. James:Amen! Amen to your comment; I might add the Democrats are responsible for the “dumbing down” of the education system since the 1970’s. So now they can take responsibility for “dumbing down” the office of the President of the United States. And acting dumb is the Democrat operation handbook; look at the Freddie & Fannie debacle; They played dumb about any problems with them!
I can only hope these comments get enough exposure and educate a few good people. Other than outright civil protesting, this is our best method.
Oh my goodness…you are all RACISTS!!! An African man finally becomes President and all you people can do it TEAR HIM DOWN!! Shame on you all! By his personality alone President Obama will alter our racist, imperialistic, money-soaked war machine of a failed nation. President Obama will set the ground work to finally usher in a new age of prosperous socialism. He WILL end all war, He WILL end poverty, He WILL heal the divide amongst all nations, and He WILL bring Amerika down to the level of all peace loving nations, such as Cuba. He’s the greatest president we’ve ever had. Thank mother Gaia that He came in time to save us from the terror of Bush/Cheney, the most incompetent and evil men to rule since Hitler.
Dec 12, 2008 - 7:30 am 9. Perry:James:
“An African man”???
“He WILL bring Amerika down to the level of all peace loving nations, such as Cuba”???
“He’s the greatest president we’ve ever had”???
In your world, being “an African man” is a qualification to be President.
In your world tearing “Amerika” down is a laudable goal.
Obama has not spent one nano-second as President yet you have judged the Obama Presidency as the greatest ever.
James, with all due respect, it is because of pathetic left-wingers like you that a terrorist-friendly community rabble-rouser from the corrupt swampland of South Chicago has become President. You have clearly demonstrated for all to see thet it stems from a hatred of America.
Dec 12, 2008 - 8:39 am 10. Cybergeezer:8. James
Dec 12, 2008 - 8:47 am 11. Perry:Plain to see you are a blind fool; Are you on Obamas transition team or Cabinet?
PS:
James, it’s the sickness of your left-wing mind that you see yourself as an advocate for both peace and the destruction of America.
A world without America would be heaven for tyrants and terrorists everywhere. That is the goal of Osama bin-Laden – and you, James.
Allahu Akhbar!
Dec 12, 2008 - 9:11 am 12. Roy:I think James was kidding. I surely hope so.
Dec 12, 2008 - 9:27 am 13. Pat J:Lighten up James. Or at least have someone proofread your rants before you send them.
Dec 12, 2008 - 10:24 am 14. Paul_Unalaska:James, I’m betting your comment is an attempt at getting others, ‘Punk’d’. Didn’t get me!
Though, your comment on Obama being ‘African’ or the country’s, ‘1st African American President’. Actually, he’s bi-racial..
Dec 12, 2008 - 4:11 pm 15. myth buster:James, thinking any man will end poverty is equivalent to calling Jesus a liar, because he said, “The poor you will always have with you.” Now, I’m sure you didn’t know that, but don’t say that again for your own good.
Dec 12, 2008 - 6:07 pm 16. James:Dear fellow Contributors: I am appalled. First, President Obama is pure African: the black half outweighs the white half. That much is clear. It’s the ingrained “Eurocentric” male outlook that keeps almost all of you from recognizing that FACT. Second, just look at how much more the world loves our fallen nation now that President Obama has been elected. I foresee Him bringing an end to all war by 2011. If we are blessed enough to have President Obama serve a second term (undoubtedly, He will) I predict an end to worldwide poverty by 2014. I shake with emotion as I type. I cryed the night he was elected. Sobbed. He is the greatest thing to happen to since the founding of this country. He’s better than Che, better than Salvador Allende, greater than Betty Crocker. You all just can’t take it.
Dec 12, 2008 - 8:48 pm 17. a:James has a sense of humor. His commenters, not so much.
Dec 12, 2008 - 11:16 pm 18. Blue Collar Todd:I like how the Democrats only care about certain unions. I’m in the oil industry so it is ok to attack it because we actually make a profit.
Dec 12, 2008 - 11:22 pm 19. Cybergeezer:16. James
Dec 13, 2008 - 4:39 am 20. Patrick:Didn’t anybody tell you Bill Clinton was our first black President?
James and to every one else,
Did you forget he is not a african american. He is half american and half muslim/arab. But that aside, he may or may not be a good president. That remains to be seen. But if he follows in Pelosi and Reids step he may not. Well not to most americans. You lefties he will be a GOD!
Right now everyone hates Bush. I think 15-20 yrs maybe longer it will come out that he wasn’t a bad guy just a crappy hand he was delt.
Obama will get a free up swing when the market turns, and it’s not going to be due to anything he will have done. It’s the nature of the market. It goes up and down. It will stabilize and then it will go up 4 yrs from now when a Republican is elected!
Dec 13, 2008 - 8:38 am 21. venividivici:Right now everyone hates Bush. I think 15-20 yrs maybe longer it will come out that he wasn’t a bad guy just a crappy hand he was dealt.
I agree. Bush was definitely dealt a tough hand, although I don’t think he played it as well as someone more committed to small government would have played it domestically. On the foreign front, I wish he wouldn’t keep saying “Islam’s a religion of peace”.
There are little posters of Obama all around downtown Chicago saying, “Obama sides with the Congress hotel workers”, just like on this site
http://www.congresshotelstrike.info/
I guess this kind of small-bore community agitating is some people’s idea of the Presidency, but it definitely seems beneath the dignity of the office. Every minute Obama spends on that picket line is one less minute doing entitlement reform, which is really the most crucial issue of the day, not whether some hotel cook gets $9/hour or $10/hour.
IBD, as usual, makes the distinctions that seem to go over others’ heads.
Dec 13, 2008 - 10:36 am 22. Pat J:Commander in Chief or Community Organizer in Chief.
I’ll take the latter thank you. The former sounds too militaristic and that’s not what we need right now. We need a Community Organizer. One who’s going to bring communities together instead of divide them through war or other means. One that recongizes how communities must interact and intergrate for the common good. And not just for the good of our nation. But for the good of our planet.
Dec 13, 2008 - 4:05 pm 23. MDenis39:To Pat J: just a tip – when using sarcasm, you need to throw in a really wild assertion just so people understand you are kidding. Please read James’ posts above, you could learn a lot about sarcasm.
Dec 14, 2008 - 9:23 am 24. Blue Collar Todd:Don’t forget some are even calling President-elect Obama the first “Pastor in Chief”.
http://whyimnotademocrat.blogspot.com/2008/11/president-obama-to-be-our-pastor-in.html
Dec 15, 2008 - 4:14 pm 25. Pat J:23. MDenis39:
To Pat J: just a tip – when using sarcasm, you need to throw in a really wild assertion just so people understand you are kidding. Please read James’ posts above, you could learn a lot about sarcasm.
Dec 16, 2008 - 8:57 am———————
Oh I get it. YOU’RE being sarcastic. HA HA. Good one.