AFL-CIO, other Dem allies send Obama tough tweets ahead of Twitter town hall

President Obama's political adversaries aren't the only ones using today's "Twitter town hall" to ask the president tough questions.

Groups that typically align with Democrats, like the labor union organization the AFL-CIO, are using the event to press the president on a variety of issues from job creation to foreign policy.

Using the standard hash tag #AskObama, the AFL-CIO this morning posed the simple question, "Where are the jobs?" Republicans like House Speaker John Boehner quickly began re-tweeting the question.

The American Civil Liberties Union asked the president, "Will you honor those in gov't & military who opposed Bush torture policy?" The group linked to an article on its site calling on the president to honor whistleblowers who it says exposed the use and authorization of torture by the United States. The ACLU has in the past urged the administration to investigate members of the Bush administration for authorizing so-called enhanced interrogation techniques.

P.J. Crowley, the former State Department spokesman who resigned this year after criticizing the treatment of accused Wikileaks leaker Pfc. Bradley Manning, posed a tough question for the president regarding the Middle East uprisings: "#AskObama, having said #Qaddafi lost his legitimacy for attacking his people, given #Syria's crackdown, at what point does #Assad lose his?"

A variety of organizations that advocate for reproductive rights, such as Planned Parenthood, are retweeting a question from the group Raising Women's Voices that presses the president on extending his health care reforms. Mr. Obama's health care reforms included a provision to make preventive care free for patients, but these groups say that policy should include contraceptives. "Pls, RT! Women shouldnt have to pay xtra for preventive healthcare. Will u tell insurers to drop copays 4 contraception?"

Meanwhile, the conservation organization the World Wildlife Fund asks Mr. Obama, "How many Yellowstone River and Gulf oil spills will it take before you halt plans to drill in inhospitable Arctic waters?"

[phuyay]

All the Democrat constituent cry babies are mad at Obama. This incident is a perfect example as to why Obama can't lead; he has too many special interest groups to please. We need a president that makes decisions for the good of the nation. It is impossible to pander, let alone please, all of the special interest groups of the Democrat party all the time. This story show how true this is.

[Cru09]

Oh yeah, social conservatism for the good of the people sounds like a great idea ?_?

[Zann-Zel]

Did you listen to him answering the questions at all? You HAVE a President that makes decisions for the good of the nation!

[Cru09]

Let me guess, all questions about reducing crackdowns on medical marijuana dispensaries, or alternatively decriminalization, were screened out.

Better get to talking about it before next November or I might be too cynical to vote. I already know I'm not voting for my representative, Connolly again.

[retm-w]

Boehner is the one that should be asked where are the jobs, that's what the republicans ran on last election.

[slvrsurfer3]

Hey OneAmerican. The Democrats may have a slight numerical edge in the Senate but the threat of filibuster and the way the Rebuplicans wield it like a cudgeon prevents any forward movement of legislation. You keep spreading your half truths. I'll stick to the whole truth.

[mjts993]

They are doing what they can by fighting any tax increases. Vote in a Republican Senate and let them take the reigns or ... just vote independant. You cannot let reckless Dems take any more money out of the private sector. It's killling us.