Richard Trumka had a statement regarding the President's speech last night and I thought I'd bring it here. While the President's speech clearly was the most pro-business speech by a Democrat in a long time (see Bloomberg News: "Obama Embraces Business Agenda on Exports, Taxes, Debt"), Mr. Trumka was generally supportive of the President and many of his proposals. After Mr. Trumka's statement, I have a comment from this morning (cleaned up for my typos and the deletion of one non-germane point) explaining my reaction.
Tonight President Obama called on the nation to look forward and spoke to our nation’s prospects and vulnerabilities: we are faced with opportunities for progress, but paralyzed by weak job growth and an economy that is increasingly out of balance for middle class families.
AFL-CIO Blog: Trumka: Obama’s Focus Must Be on Health of Middle Class, American Economy
We strongly support the President’s vision on infrastructure to create good jobs and succeed in a global economy, and working people are ready to work with him and hold him to his promises.
We look forward to comprehensive and substantial proposals to rebuild our nation’s schools, bridges, and highways and invest in high speed rail, a smart electrical grid, universal broadband and the green jobs of the future. We will join the President as partners to help build bipartisan support for a sustained and strategic investment in America’s future. Labor and business, Democrats and Republicans should all be working together to ensure that we make the investments we need now to secure our future. President Obama certainly understands our need to be competitive in manufacturing, new technology and skills. But he must also understand that last-century trade deals that reward and encourage corporations that outsource American jobs will do little to generate net new jobs in the United States or raise living standards here or abroad. Working people will continue to urge the President and his administration to stick to his campaign promises of reforming trade deals, so they do more than boost profits for multi-national corporations.
We firmly believe that we should not be cutting government spending when the economy is so weak. This economy is failing to create jobs at an adequate pace to dig us out of the hole we’re in, and a spending freeze at this time will slow down job creation and growth – further worsening the deficit. This is simply the wrong medicine at the wrong time. And it is essential that the President acts on the commitment he outlined tonight to strengthen and preserve our essential retirement security programs – Social Security and Medicare. All working people will continue to fight any proposals that aim to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits.
We must move boldly now to put 15 million Americans back to work and rebuild bargaining power and good jobs for our middle class. We believe the President is heading in the right direction– but as he outlined tonight, the yardstick must be the health of the middle class and the American economy.
AFL-CIO Blog: Trumka: Obama’s Focus Must Be on Health of Middle Class, American Economy
The Chamber of Commerce agrees with the AFL-CIO and President Obama on rebuilding infrastructure:
[The Chamber's quote to Greg Sargent]
Public and private investment in the economic foundation of the United States is critical for our long-term economic prosperity. The Chamber's focus is on jobs. Long-term jobs that grow where infrastructure is strong. Countries that aspire to compete with the United States know that. It's why they are building transportation, energy, telecommunications and water infrastructure systems to support their economies.
"We appreciate that the President recognizes the importance of infrastructure investment, but this Administration needs to focus in on the areas of greatest need. The Chamber looks forward to seeing if the President's budget contains more specifics with regard to reforming Federal transportation programs for transparency, accountability and focus; and boosting public and private investment to highways, public transportation, modernization of the air traffic control systems, and maintenance and expansion of ports and inland waterways.
[Greg Sargent] The Chamber, meanwhile, is casting such investment in similar terms, insisting it's critical not just in terms of job creation, but also for our global competitiveness and "for our long-term economic prosperity." Having the nation's most powerful business group endorse infrastructure investment in such terms should seriously undercut the case of those who want to tar all such spending as a drag on our economy.
U.S. Chamber praises Obama's call for infrastructure spending
Here's my fundamental view from this morning. There are things to disagree with in the speech, but I can live with it overall for now in light of political situation.
He was setting (2+ / 0-)
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a basis for consensus with all but the extreme Rs for a future, using nationalism and American exceptionalism for the basis of using gov't to aid business and people. It was supposed to be broad strokes. I think it worked politically, which was its main purpose.
Big Business is happy. Bloomberg: Obama Embraces Business Agenda on Exports, Taxes, Debt
That is what he wanted.
It is what it is. I think Obama is whom he always was, a slightly left of center politician who seeks consensus and "what works" with respect to a particular goal. With the Rs running the House and another election for president soon, this is probably what he needs to do. He is trying to split Big Business from the Tea Party. Even if he does not, the imagery helps with independents.
It could be far worse. I support his re-election, even if he does a lot that is "pro-business." I also thing we need to build a long term movement for change in conjunction with labor.
snip
Trumka: "Absolutely Insane" to Extend Tax Cuts for Millionaires
by TomP on Wed Jan 26, 2011 at 09:37:32 AM PST
My Comment
So I end up where I have been for a while. Qualified support and criticism at times based on policy differences.
I think one of the biggest problems in this nation is gross economic inequality. Changing that may take many of our lifetimes. But it is a project worth doing, a path with heart. And reforms along the way do help people.
I think left progressives need to build for the future while still being engaged on the issues of the day. We need a progressive majority in both chambers of Congress and a more left wing President to accomplish deep changes and we are a long way from there now. [I am not saying primary Obama; I support his re-election. That day I describe will happen after Obama and this Congress and how long after is up to us and others.]
That is the reality and expecting a slightly left of center president to overturn the system is irrational. It ain't happening. On the other hand, some reforms and preventing the extreme right from taking over will help some people. I see no easy answers or paths, and perhaps a multiplicity of approaches for long term change is the way to go. Others smarter than I am will help build that change and, I hope, join the discussion in the comments.
Solidarity.
Update I: From zenbassoon in the comments, a joint AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce Statement:
America's working families and business community stand united in applauding President Obama's call to create jobs and grow our economy through investment in our nation's infrastructure.
"Whether it is building roads, bridges, high-speed broadband, energy systems and schools, these projects not only create jobs and demand for businesses, they are an investment in building the modern infrastructure our country needs to compete in a global economy.
"With the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO standing together to support job creation, we hope that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will also join together to build America's infrastructure."