|
Surprise! Obama Finds New Direction |
|
|
You're Joking, Right?
|
|
Written by Bob Sordahl
|
|
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 |
 So now President Obama wants to talk about jobs. Didn't he call a "Jobs Summit" last month? What was the result of that gathering of business leaders? Free lunch I think. Why the sudden concern for putting Americans back to work? He has squandered a year on Obamacare, he has traveled the world making a failed bid for the Chicago Olympics, and to hold the hands of European climate alarmists. All the while, in spite of the multi billions spent on the "stimulus", joblessness has soared to over 10% (17% real). Why now all the concern about American unemployment? Do you suppose it was the unthinkable loss of the Kennedy seat in Massachusetts? Could it be that with the Conservatives against him and the Liberals jumping ship, the only faction he has left to court is independents? You better believe it. This is a President coming off the ropes and trying to re-invent his image with America's Independents. Hopefully they will continue to be as smart in the future as they have been over the last several months.
This President seems baffled by the reluctance of America's businesses to hire or retain employees. Why do you suppose that would be? Could employers be concerned about a whole slew of costly regulations and taxes proposed by this administration? Could they be worried about increased medical insurance premiums or a punitive tax for lack of employee coverage? Might they be nervous about Bush era tax cuts being eliminated? Could it be that onerous cap and trade regulations would increase their cost of doing business with higher energy and supply costs? Are they absorbing higher costs passed on to them by their banks for the privilege of borrowing working capital?
If business owners in America, many of which operate as S-Corporations, co-mingling their business and personal income, suddenly find themselves in "at risk" tax brackets, why would they be in a mood to expand? It would be an interesting statistic showing how many people are unemployed not because they were laid off, but because their company gave up and closed it's doors. This President and Congress are about as anti-free market as any I have seen in my lifetime. It's no great wonder that businesses in this Country are running scared.
This new found empathy for the American worker is a charade. Obama is continuing his pattern of bob and weave. When one issue hits the wall as Obamacare did, he immediately moves on to the next thing, leaving the carcasses of his supporters in the ruins. In truth, if this President was really concerned about jobs lost, he would have been dealing with it in June when it surpassed 1.7 million, or in May when it hit 2.2 million, or maybe even in October when it topped 2.5 million, leaving 15 million Americans without work.
Clinton campaign strategist James Carville said "It's the economy, stupid". He was right then, and he is right now. Many of us have known it all along. If you can't support your family, nothing else matters. Obama is a day late and a dollar short on this one and I think the majority of the American people will recognize this. This President is spending his political capital at the same pace his is increasing the national debt and he is in danger of becoming politically impotent for the remainder of his long, long single term. Underestimating the American people is a mistake no President can afford to make.
|
