I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but President Obama is finally doing “exactly” what so many of us Kos diarists have asked him to do. In the midst of this year-long debate over debt and deficits, he has come out with a serious trade program, an infrastructure plan and will release his jobs plan in early September.
Seriously? In the midst of this fake debt crisis? With a republican house?
This is great!!
Now folks, we have beaten this president to a pulp for “negotiating” progressive goals out of our lexicon in the name of compromise. I believe he heard us but needed to wait until the bloom fell off the shiny new house republicans before he could make his move.
NOW, is that time.
I’m appealing to you to let Obama do his thing and follow his lead because he knows exactly what he’s doing. According to WAPO, here’s what we know about his proposals so far:
1. “Obama urged the overhaul of patent laws and the passage of three trade bills — moves that congressional leaders have said they are preparing to make. These measures are likely to help employment only over the long term.”
2. “The president also called for an infrastructure bank to pay for roads and get construction workers hired. The bank would combine federal, state and private dollars to support construction.”
3. “Obama announced several measures aimed at increasing economic growth in rural communities. They would not require Congress’s approval. The administration said these measures would “leverage” existing programs, making it easier for small businesses to get loans and assisting people in finding jobs and training.”
An infrastructure bank?
That’s straight out of our progressive playbook!
Do you see what’s going on here people? Obama is changing the subject right before our very eyes and he needs our help. Yes we can lament the fact that he should have done this in January but if we’re completely honest, we know the political landscape was rocked last December.
So, let’s lead the conversation instead of following the meme that Fox and the right have already started. Obama is not “just” delivering a jobs speech in September, he’s telling all of America including us that we need to focus on jobs and that he has the plan.
So the only questions I will have from now on are about whether republicans will support the Obama infrastructure bank initiative. Will they say yes to the rural growth plan? Will they introduce a competing jobs plan? Will they try to change the subject back to deficits?
The ball is back in our court, and we need to take it and drive this thing home. Its good public policy; great politics and absolutely essential for the country.
Yes, Obama finally heard us screaming in the wilderness --now we need to help America hear him.
Thanks for reading my thoughts.