WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2009
Obama Looks To Boost Middle Class
Reintroduces Middle Class Task Force; Reverses Bush Orders Seen As Bad For Labor Unions
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Play CBS Video Video Obama On Shrinking Economy "CBS News RAW": President Obama called the U.S. recession a "continuing disaster for America's working families."
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President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks about the Middle Class Working Families Task Force, Jan. 30, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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One of the rules President Barack Obama planned to repeal Friday was approved by President George. H.W. Bush, removed by President Bill Clinton and reinstated by the second President George Bush. (CBS)
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Vice President Joe Biden gestures as President Barack Obama speaks about the Middle Class Working Families Task Force, Jan. 30, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Special Report First 100 Days Follow the Obama administration as it gets to work after the inauguration.
The president called the economic slump a "continuing disaster" for America's families during a White House speech Friday, adding that the nation's leaders cannot waste time finding solutions for ailing economy.
And although his task force centers on the middle class, Mr. Obama said that "we're not forgetting the poor." He said his administration wants to make sure low-income people "get a piece" of the American pie "if they're willing to work for it."
Vice President Joe Biden will lead the task force, comprising a panel of advisers and four Cabinet members.
"Quite simply, a strong middle class equals a strong America. We can’t have one without the other. … It is our charge to get the middle class - the backbone of this country - up and running again," Biden said.
On labor issues, Mr. Obama signed a series of executive orders Friday that he said should "level the playing field" for labor unions in struggles with management.
The orders Mr. Obama signed will:
"We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests," Obama said before signing the executive orders during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.
"I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution," he said, to a round of applause. "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."
Labor leaders visited the White House for a second consecutive day Friday for the announcements.Read full transcript of President Obama's address
Both were meant as a way for the new administration to connect with workers at the end of a week that has seen U.S. companies announce thousands more jobs cuts.
"Over the last 100 years the middle class was built on the back of organized labor. Without their weight, heft and their insistence starting in the early 1900s we wouldn't have the middle class we have now, in my view," Biden told cable channel CNBC on Thursday. "So I think labor getting a fair share of the pie is part of it."
The Democratic president, not even two weeks into his term, was already trying to balance the needs of one of his party's most reliable constituencies - organized labor - while he also reaches out to Republicans.
Mr. Obama doesn't necessarily need Republican support for his $800 billion economic stimulus plan and other initiatives to clear the Democratic-controlled Congress, but he has said he wants to transcend the usual partisan Washington politics as the country faces two wars and its worst recession in 70 years.
The government reported more bad economic news Friday. The U.S. economy shrank at a 3.8 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century.
On Thursday, Mr. Obama lashed out at Wall Street, saying it was shameful that employees were paid more than $18 billion in bonuses while their crumbling financial sector received a historic bailout from U.S. taxpayers.
Mr. Obama was responding to reports Thursday that Wall Street executives were paid billions in bonuses last year as Congress poured hundreds of billions into the financial system to address an economy reeling from souring debt, defaulting mortgages and choked lending.
With new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner at his side, the president said the payouts were "the height of irresponsibility."
"It is shameful," Mr. Obama said. "And part of what we're going to need is for the folks on Wall Street who are asking for help to show some restraint, and show some discipline, and show some sense of responsibility."
Labor leaders also visited the White House on Thursday, where Mr. Obama welcomed them to the East Room as he signed his first major piece of legislation, an equal-pay act that organized labor and women's groups championed.
Unions have been lobbying the Obama administration to repeal scores of executive orders they view as hostile to their cause. Officials gave administration officials their top 10 executive orders they wanted to see dismantled quickly.
Many executive orders are enacted and repealed based on which party controls the White House. One of the rules Mr. Obama planned to repeal Friday was approved by President George. H.W. Bush, removed by President Bill Clinton and reinstated by the second President George Bush.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From 100 Days: Economy
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- This world is made up of small business'' and small business owners and what is happening now is just awful. People having to lose everything because they can''t get a loan to keep their business open and having to lay people off. Why do you give money to banks to stay laive and we as business people can''t even get loans to stay open and keep running what we''ve worked for our whole lives.
Banks are not loaning money they are keeping it and using it for bonuses and worse credit card companies laying off workers and raising interest rates to ridiculous amounts that no one can even afford.
well I am not paying for anyone''s 50 million dollard jet or 35,000 toilet seat when I can''t even afford to feed my own kids and I still have a job for the meantime thankfully.
This country needs to send out the checks to the american people in order to survive. don''t blame the middle class for saving their money because in relaity we are not saving money we are using it to survive and pay bills and feed our kids.
We are not saving money because we are afraid to spend it its because we have to use our money to survive in these high priced times of food, gas, etc.
So when you think your lousy $20.00 a week extra will help it may or may not, in my case not much help at all.
The gov should provide small business with bail-out loans that are required to be paid back and stop this non-sense of big company bail-outs with no strngs attached. - Reply to this comment
- Obama''s approval rating has fell to 36%.
Posted by mr_2258 at 01:20 PM : Jan 30, 2009
Liar. Gallup has him at 70% approval. You like lying don''t you? You pop up on all these links trying to spout rubbish that has nothing to do with the topic.
Any way lets not forget your chimp who managed to squander a 90% rating after 9/11 down to what 18% on departure - Reply to this comment
- Without unions you would be on a pittance an hour with no benefits. get real! You need them to protect workers. they need to be watched too of course but to suggest that all unions must be done away with is naive. What if you are unfairly dismissed, harrassed or have your wages halved. Can you afford to take it to court? No. Thats what a union is for to protect workers rights.
You got a problem with that? If you do, don''t join a union. Simple. Now lets move on. - Reply to this comment
- The fastest way for the consumer to assist in helping economic recovery is to pay off credit debt and start saving more.
Paying off credit debts will help and contribute to 30% of funding employment.
Saving and investing more will help and contribute to 50% of funding employment.
Spending will help contribute only about 20% toward funding employment.
A saver and investor offers the same employment power as a spender and debt payer combined.
About 9-18 months is required to permit average debtors currently employed to pay off their debts.
Saving and investing while the economy is low, is what will offer the best profit for wise investment choices.
In 1980, President Reagan lifted the ban on Arab Investors in return for lower oil prices. They bought into our low economy 29 years ago, and the discounted oil revenues were offset by profits in our stock market.
The choice of which foriegn investors will finance our economic recovery is not popular with everyone, becuase some haven''t accepted our need to share, but welcome to global economics. - Reply to this comment
Posted by ROTFLMMFAO at 12:19 PM : Feb 01, 2009.....all they are doing is loading the pockets of the lobbyists with that spending.....it will not benefit the people...you are blind ..the people have to have money to spend to keep the economy running If all the money circulates within corporate America,,,,,,WHO IS GOING TO BUY THEIR GOODS? How can people with no money buy anything,,,,,,Maybe someday soon this crisis will hit home with YOU,,,,,,,I would almost bet you are wealthy and don''t really care what happens to the middle class.- Reply to this comment
- williamayer, I have a good idea: let''''s start taxing the people who can most afford to pay them agian!
Posted by Hakori at 11:45 AM : Feb 01, 2009.............that would mean not taxing the middle class,,,and collecting from CONGRESS whose members apparently DON''T pay taxes,,,,and All the people on Wall street and the banks...who have walked away from all this mess with BILLIONS,,,,,,, something is awfully wrong when those who do not pay taxes...get billions of tax dollars handed to them...because they were failures,,,,and those they cheated and failed ...will pay taxes for generations to pay for,,,,,,Washington is walking a fine line right now on very shaky ground,,,,,,How far can they push the people before they revolt? - Reply to this comment
Federal spending to stimulate the economy is a well established economic principle.
Republican don''''t want to support anything that might help our current crisis. Like their patron saint Rush Limbaugh, they want President Obama and the nation to fail. When things do turn around, President Obama and the Democratic Party will deservedly receive all the credit.
Posted by ROTFLMMFAO at 11:59 AM : Feb 01, 2009........................sure it is just like trickle down and any other government program,,,they do not directly benefit the people,,,,,,What turn around do you really think we will have if the middle class is destroyed?- Reply to this comment
- Funny how they had a story here last night on Obama''s Kenya half brother being arrested on charges of possession of marijuana.....but CBS did not include a blog page on it..interesting? Could it be because Obama has been ignoring the survey made on Change.org of what American citizens think Obama needs to do to turn our country around.....the number one idea ...was legalize marijuana, by a landslide.In a time where everyone says we need new jobs and industry...here is your chance Obama...and a green one at that. turn a lost cause into the new industry that will employ millions and create billions in revenue from recreational, medical, hemp fibers and oil,,,,not to mention stopping the overcrowding of prisons with non violent pot smokers.....we could use that space to jail those guilty of CORPORATE FRAUD instead,,,, i guess obama will know now how many Americans feel...when they have a relative or someone they know held in jail for possessing something completely natural that GOD put here for a reason...for us to use.
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- likeitis5050, and some politicians/adminstrations are not only corrupt, but CRIMINAL! Did you have such harsh words for the out going criminal adminstraion, or were you a good little GOPer and keep you mouth shut?
Posted by Hakori at 11:43 AM : Feb 01, 2009..........before you are so quick to defend the democrats.......look at their version of the bailouts....a barrel full of pork.I think YOU totally missed what like itis5050 was trying to get you to see......ALL politicians from BOTH parties are corrupt...NOT just the republicans......what makes you think EITHER parties bailouts are better than the others?....both bailouts are Robbery of the taxpayers money that do nothing for the people ...ONLY CORPORATE INTERESTS WILL BENEFIT...them and the white collar, suit and tie terrorists that occupy capitol hill...They are ALL committing TREASON. - Reply to this comment
- The middle class is eroding fast,,,,,,I hear the lip service ,,,but all i see is more robbery from the middle class.....How long can we tread water before we drown in debt? Obama you better start walking the walk..you have already talked the talk...remember the election promises?....or has the loud voice of the lobby dollar already got your undivided attention? so far the score stands...corporate America 700 billion and counting.....We the people....a promise 500 dollar tax break...after the new tax tables come out.....WOW this is really SOME CHANGE.
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- Posted by ROTFLMMFAO
So you can cut and paste...how many refused to pay taxes but still got jobs in the Administration? And here''s a news flash for you...bozo...if they are in politics...THEY ARE ALL CORRUPT. To be a politician is to be IN IT FOR YOURSELF...this includes the HEAVENLY HOST CALLED THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. - Reply to this comment
- Obama looks to boost the middle class. That''s the point, isn''t it? We just had a public retirement system in our state announce it had lost nine billion dollars of its investments last year. I just read an article about declining college endowments which means even more tuition for middle class children going to collge. Our own private retirement funds have dropped by the tens of thousands. The Grand Old Party succeeded. They created an environment where rich CEOs could get billions while laying off millions of people. Meanwhile Madoff and his ilk could ponzi while the SEC and other agencies sat on their hands and did nothing. And of course, the middle class was losing jobs, homes, health care and retirement big time. The Republicans are the party of the rich. They stabbed the middle class in the back and are still trying to obstruct so they can do stab the middle class in the back. People are hurting out here--truly hurting! It is time for someone like Barack Obama.
- Reply to this comment
- "You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."
Sure you can, if you don''t have a govt. that floods the labor market with foreign labor and illegal labor. - Reply to this comment
- Obama Looks To Boost Middle Class
By pushing U.S. into bankruptcy. - Reply to this comment
- This article should read like this.
Obama to give welfare checks to people who don''t pay taxes by taxing those who already do pay taxes.
Aka Socialsim - Reply to this comment
- The Republicans are a dying party too boot!!!!Lets have the funeral now...... then if we tax the rich fairly, we will pay off the debt in no time. Example, Bill Gates can help... he is only worth 80-90 BILLION!
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- I feel Bush and Cheney got exactly what they wanted, a 2 class society. The Rich & Poor! Bush and Cheney have destroyed the middle class, the backbone of the USA. It was the middle class that kept this country going. Congratulation Bush and Cheney you have succeed in your mission. How do you both feel now?
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- The worst nightmare of the bush years was his inability to veto even one spending bill as he doubled the national debt by adding another $5 Billion debt for all our future generations.
Where was your outrage when the GOP said deficits didn''''t matter as they doubled the national debt? As usual, the republiCONS are masters of hypocrisy!
Posted by cydygitt1
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Sorry, my silly mistake with the decimal point!
The bush/cheney regime added $5+ TRILLION to the national debt -- or doubling it in 8 years! - Reply to this comment
- Any "help" from the government will be at the expense of my grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Posted by payasyougo
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Seems as if you''re conveniently forgetting the GOP-led congresscritters giving the wealthy the Clinton surplus as soon as the bush/cheney scourge stole the 2000 election. Then these moronic republiCONS scrapped the pay-as-you-go budget, and bush''s budget deficits grew for 8 long, miserable years -- handing Obama the largest budget deficit in our history. The worst nightmare of the bush years was his inability to veto even one spending bill as he doubled the national debt by adding another $5 Billion debt for all our future generations.
Where was your outrage when the GOP said deficits didn''t matter as they doubled the national debt? As usual, the republiCONS are masters of hypocrisy! - Reply to this comment
- If the Republicans have no real leader or voice except coming from hate monger Rush!!!
Oh please.............lets plan for their funeral....
and let the two party system be the demo, green party, and that will be progress my fellow americans! - Reply to this comment
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