Candidate Barack Obama pledged to raise the minimum wage to $9.50/hour by 2011.

[El_Johns]

During the 2008 campaign, presidential candidate Barack Obama made a pledge to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 per hour by 2011. Promises like this one inspired a generation of young voters, excited long-neglected progressive voters and gave hope to millions of his supporters across the country.

President Obama ran a campaign of soaring rhetoric and uplifting ideas. Amidst two unpopular wars, a rapidly deteriorating financial crisis and the wildly unpopular presidency of George W. Bush, Americans were desperate for a change. He was viewed as a “transformational” candidate, a president who would turn the page on the stagnant politics of Washington.

It is now four (six) years later, and there has been no increase to the minimum wage. There has been no congressional vote, much less a whisper from the White House on the minimum wage.

...Had the minimum wage kept pace with inflation since 1968, today it would be at $10.57 per hour, instead of the current federal minimum wage of $7.25.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/07/24/where-is-obamas-promised-minimum-wage-hike/


I will be very glad if the minimum wage is raised to $10.10, because I'll get a raise. But I confess that I don't believe it will be raised to that, if at all.

Why didn't Obama bring it up when he had a Democratic Congress?

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. For the umpteenth time...he only had the Super Majority (of 60) for a couple of months...

during his whole Presidency....

Want to see things change...stop working against him...trying to divide the party....and work to get better Democrats elected in the Midterms....


Then is when you find out what a President can do...in his final laps...

[El_Johns]

2. He had 32-55 more Democrats than he does today, for 3 years.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html

[VanillaRhapsody]

3. he did NOT have the Super majority to override a Filibuster...

sorry chum...that's how it was.

This has been gone over a million times....

[El_Johns]

4. And he doesn't have it today, chum. He has even less. One can be forgiven for thinking that

perhaps he brings it up today, with even less Democratic representation, as yet another empty campaign promise.

To get more Democrats in Congress -- but never that magic "super-majority" which is apparently the only way Democrats can achieve anything but the continuation of R policies, even though Reagan managed to change the face of America with a R MINORITY during his entire term.

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. Right because we didn't win the LAST midterms!

Jeebus!!!!

So as it turns out...this is not a rant about the Minimum wage...but a rant about President Obama in general!


Right Gotcha!

[El_Johns]

6. It's not a rant. It's a question. Why didn't the President bring up minimum wage when he first

came into office, to get it done in his first term, as he promised.

He had three years of a D majority, and a lot of good will going into office. Plus there was public support (still is) for a hike in the minimum wage.

Why didn't he?

Do you have anything to say besides "elect more Ds"?

[VanillaRhapsody]

7. because HE cannot write law....

Congress writes laws...

and in Congress...there was a Super Majority for only a couple months...and THEN we lost the Midterms too...

The Republicans Filibuster EVERYTHING...therefore you need 60 votes to defeat the filibuster...

it is quite easy to understand.

And this is why THIS Congress...is more Do-Nothing...than the original Do-Nothing Congress! Quite the feat!

[El_Johns]

8. Why didn't he BRING IT UP? As he did last night, or in any of the many other speeches he made

during his first two years in office?

We all know that the President can also "bring up" legislation by getting people in his party to sponsor such legislation. Why didn't he? Why didn't he make minimum wage a priority by talking about it & getting legislation introduced?

"Today much of the legislation considered by Congress originates in the executive branch (although key members of Congress may participate in the formulation of administration programs). Each year after the President outlines his legislative program, executive departments and agencies transmit to the House and Senate drafts of proposed legislation to carry out the President's program or ideas."

http://postcom.org/public/publicaffairs/howabillbecomesalaw.htm

[VanillaRhapsody]

11. and it would do what exactly? It has been a priority....but what could be done?

convince the recalcitrant Teaparty Republicans not to vote against it? Or John Boehner to not refuse to bring it up at all? (more likely!)

Everyone knows...if he could have raised it himself he would have....he is NOT opposed to it at all!

[El_Johns]

12. "Today much of the legislation considered by Congress originates in the executive branch

(although key members of Congress may participate in the formulation of administration programs). Each year after the President outlines his legislative program, executive departments and agencies transmit to the House and Senate drafts of proposed legislation to carry out the President's program or ideas."


He had 32-55 more D's in Congress than he does today, and Boehner is still there.

So why now?

All the big impediments are still in place, only more so.

You have no answer.

It has NOT been a priority, very obviously. It's laughable to even say that. We know what the priorities have been.

War, bank bailouts, restructuring the auto industry to a lower-wage model, privatized national health care.

[Divernan]

22. You are absolutely right and on point, EJ.

There is no defensible reason Obama couldn't have taken exactly the same approach/SOTU/bully pulpit and pushed to raise the minimum wage (as he had PROMISED to do while campaigning) in his first year/first SOTU address. Vanilla R. doesn't dare raise the real reason O didn't do it, since it would not be considered a "good" reason by any true Democrat/progressive, and that is that raising the minimum wage would be anathema to O's corporate sponsors/puppet masters.

The maxim, words and deeds, has never been truer than with Barrack Obama. With growing public awareness of rapidly increasing wealth disparity, there may well be a ground swell demand from the voters to raise the minimum wage. The best that can be said about Obama on this issue is that he is belatedly trying to get ahead of the wave on this issue and take credit for it.

Pathetic.

[VanillaRhapsody]

45. Bullshit! Obama could say anything....but he CANNOT pass laws...

PERIOD!

[VanillaRhapsody]

39. Yeah right...when John Boehner is still Speaker of the House!

Yeah....Obama is pulling HIS strings...John Boehner decides what WILL or Will NOT be voted on. Period.


You need to do some research about how laws are made in this Country

[madokie]

42. That's all it is

Transparent too

[msanthrope]

51. It should ring a Bell. nt

[OilemFirchen]

27. That's a familiar Republican meme.

Wonder how it found its way here?

Whatevs. Reagan had a Republican senate for SIX of his eight years in office.

[El_Johns]

32. Obama has had a D Senate since 2009.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html

[OilemFirchen]

33. "Reagan managed to change the face of America with a R MINORITY during his entire term."

Last edited Thu Jan 30, 2014, 01:07 PM - Edit history (1)

I said nothing about Obama.

You were, to be generous, wrong. And your "error" was meant to foist a false equivalency.

Any more non-sequiturs you wish to add?

[El_Johns]

35. I was not wrong. Congress is not just the Senate. Congress had a D majority throughout reagan's

reign.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html

[OilemFirchen]

37. Lovely.

"I was not wrong." = "I'll just change the meaning of 'Congress'".

Any more non-sequiturs for us?

[VanillaRhapsody]

50. and the Senate Cannot do shit without the Congress...

please read up...

A "bill" is introduced when a member of Congress decides to create a new law. Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. Only members of the House may introduce bills that deal with taxes or spending. Before a bill can become a law, both houses of Congress must pass identical versions of the bill.

Once a bill is introduced in either house, it goes through almost the same process. Each bill is first assigned to a committee for review. The bill is tabled, or set aside, if the committee decides the bill is not worthy. The bill is sent to the entire house for debate if the committee decides the bill is worthy of further action.

If the bill passes, it is sent to the other house. A joint committee works out any differences the two houses of Congress have concerning a bill. When both houses agree on a bill, the Speaker of the House and the vice president sign it. The bill must be signed before being sent to the president.

In each two-year session, thousands

[VanillaRhapsody]

40. NOT a Filibuster proof Super Majority....which is REQUIRED

because Republicans filibuster EVERYTHING....

This is pretty easy to understand....though your refusal is starting to look bad for your Democratic "cred".

[VanillaRhapsody]

46. We KNOW this about the D Senate.. But they cannot MAKE the Congress pass their laws...

that's how it works....No matter what the Senate does...it has to pass Congress.

Your "infoplease" site leaves alot to be desired.

Here is some better information...

A "bill" is introduced when a member of Congress decides to create a new law. Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. Only members of the House may introduce bills that deal with taxes or spending. Before a bill can become a law, both houses of Congress must pass identical versions of the bill.

Once a bill is introduced in either house, it goes through almost the same process. Each bill is first assigned to a committee for review. The bill is tabled, or set aside, if the committee decides the bill is not worthy. The bill is sent to the entire house for debate if the committee decides the bill is worthy of further action.

If the bill passes, it is sent to the other house. A joint committee works out any differences the two houses of Congress have concerning a bill. When both houses agree on a bill, the Speaker of the House and the vice president sign it. The bill must be signed before being sent to the president.


Only the Senate can approve or reject treaties and presidential nominations for government offices.

[dotymed]

23. Sorry

But welcome to the President and Party First site.
Midterms are coming up and no matter how cogent your opinion, you Will be "run over" unless you say how great Obama has been for 6 years and how great the democratic party is. Sadly reality here has become welcomed just like on most RW sites...

[VanillaRhapsody]

41. Yes...its called "Democratic Underground" for a reason

Plenty of sites out there to complain ABOUT Democrats...shouldn't be hard to find if that is what you need!

[VanillaRhapsody]

59. This is NOT the "Hate the Democratic President Underground" is it????

didn't think so....

But there are LOTS of forums designed to do just that....Google is your friend.

[VanillaRhapsody]

55. Advocating would change what exactly?

is that all you expect? Platitudes? He is juggling alot of plates at the same time....but you demand that he stop spinning the others to just do some platitudes about things he cannot change. I'd say he is a little busy to do that...don't you agree?

[Freddie Stubbs]

57. It takes more than a couple of months to pass and sign a minimum wage bill?

[Fumesucker]

9. Campaign promises are like unicorns

They are really nice sounding things in the abstract but people who actually believe in them are a couple of Pampers short of a full box.

[solarhydrocan]

10. He also

said he was against mandated insurance

pledged to re-negotiate NAFTA

"We reject the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime." (2008)

"We will revisit the Patriot Act and overturn unconstitutional executive decisions issued during the past eight years." (2008)

"We support constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans." (2008)

"We reject the tracking of citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war." (2008)

"Often the best source about waste, fraud and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism . . . should be encouraged rather than stifled." (2009)

[dotymed]

25. Forget these inconvenient facts.

Mid terms are coming up. We are infused with centrists that believe in party first, no matter what....sad.

It's "the least worse option time." Not many here (these days) will tolerate any fact unless it is in the party talking points.

[VanillaRhapsody]

43. Those would be the MAJORITY of Democrats...not just THIS site!

[jsr]

38. Good times, good times

[pnwmom]

13. That supermajority lasted two whole months. And the big project then, while Kennedy was alive,

was trying to get a health care bill passed WITH A PUBLIC OPTION. Then Kennedy died and was replaced by a Rethug, and we were lucky to get anything through.

[El_Johns]

14. He had 32 to 55 more Ds than he does today, for three years.

[pnwmom]

18. And he used those D's to get the ACA passed. You don't seem to understand how things

work in Congress. You can't get multiple major bills through -- against great opposition -- at the same time.

But we have a chance this time. We're coming up on another election and if the Rethugs vote against a very popular increase in the minimum wage, they'll have to explain themselves to the voters - sooner rather than later. They might decide to cave. And if they don't, there could be a new majority replacing them.

[msanthrope]

52. It should ring a Bell. nt

[VanillaRhapsody]

44. BINGO! There's that truth stuff again...

some people just can't handle the truth...apparently!

[RandiFan1290]

15. They could have tied it to extending the Bush tax cuts for the rich in 2010

Or tied it to making the Bush tax cuts for the rich permanent in 2012

But the 'publicons are just TOO powerful

[joshcryer]

16. That's bipartisanship for you. Even had a record number of GOP in his cabinet.

Talk about bipartisan!

I would've loved for Obama to make some sweeping crazy legislation, and dissolve the congress (if congress disagrees then Obama gets to decide if it stays open). But such a reality was far too fantastical.

This is a guy who campaigned on putting Social Security on the table and reducing the deficit.

[Turbineguy]

17. He probably didn't realize that Americans would be dumb enough

to elect so many republicans.

[VanillaRhapsody]

47. Perfect!!!

[RC]

61. Many with a (D) by their names.

[davidpdx]

19. Oh fuck it

Just impeach the Kenyan Socialist

[BlueMTexpat]

20. Short memory indeed.

There were quite a few other crises needing immediate attention when Obama took office. As I recall, Dubya left behind the worst financial, political, economic, social and foreign policy messes since the Great Depression and WWII.

You can please some people all of the time and some people none of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Based on your post, you are a likely candidate for the second group.

It also takes a supportive Congress to accomplish things, which Obama didn't even have even during the VERY brief time he had Dem majorities in BOTH Houses. Given the totally relentless opposition and obstructionism (not to mention overt racism) he has encountered from a well-funded GOP, he has managed some amazing accomplishments.

Do I wish he had pushed for a more progressive agenda earlier and harder? Yes. Period.

But it is always easier to carp and complain from the outside, when one is not literally "in the trenches" every single day. As he is.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

30. +1

Sums things up quite nicely

[Cryptoad]

21. How Funny!

yet nobody can produce the transcript where he used the word "promise" . or "pledge". Sorry but working toward set-goals is not the same thing as making a promise. geeez!

[Tanuki]

24. Ah, from a blog by none other than Ralph Nader, trashing a Democrat.

Is there nothing new under the sun?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/ralph-nader-was-indispens_b_4235065.html
..."Karl Rove and the Republican Party knew this, and so they nurtured and crucially assisted Nader's campaigns, both in 2000 and in 2004. On 27 October 2000, the AP's Laura Meckler headlined "GOP Group To Air Pro-Nader TV Ads." She opened: "Hoping to boost Ralph Nader in states where he is threatening to hurt Al Gore, a Republican group is launching TV ads featuring Nader attacking the vice president [Mr. Gore]. ... 'Al Gore is suffering from election year delusion if he thinks his record on the environment is anything to be proud of,' Nader says [in the commercial]. An announcer interjects: 'What's Al Gore's real record?' Nader says: 'Eight years of principles betrayed and promises broken.'"

[reformist2]

26. Raising the minimum wage would be nice, but let's not kid ourselves. It's not much.

It won't affect the majority of people who make between $15-$25 an hour. Dems need to not just nibble around the edges, but to start helping the middle class and start talking about widespread wealth redistribution.

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. talk would be all they COULD do...

but it wouldn't change anything...it is what it is...

[stevenleser]

28. If we want to be at least marginally fair, here is a link to the Obamameter at Politifact

70% of promises kept or a compromise made that gets most of the promise kept
6% in the works.

That's pretty good considering the volume of promises President's make.


http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. Not bad at all considering what he has had to deal with

Now, if people can just stop electing Republicans and/or letting Republicans win by default by getting out to vote for Democrats or progressive minded Independents, we might be able to get even more done.

[msanthrope]

53. It should ring a Bell. nt

[struggle4progress]

29. Thanks for spreading RW disinfo! He has brought up minimum wage in the past:

Raising Minimum Wage Would Ease Income Gap but Carries Political Risks
By ANNIE LOWREY
Published: February 13, 2013
WASHINGTON — President Obama called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25 and to automatically adjust it with inflation ...

[SidDithers]

34. I don't where I know it from...

but your name rings a bell.

Sid

[JoePhilly]

36. The "How come he didn't do this yesterday" meme ... how novel.

[magical thyme]

49. I'm going to guess because he was preoccupied with the economy teetering on the brink

and bailing out Wall Street.

And then he couldn't bring it up because he needed to win his 2nd term, so couldn't afford the wrath of the banksters, who cry if you call them a bad name while handing them trillions of dollars to pay off their gambling debts.

Now, he can use it as a cattle prod going into the midterms because he doesn't need the banksters to finance another campaign.

[spanone]

56. you haven't heard a whisper from the white house on minimum wage?

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[bravenak]

58. Boy I'm glad DU was created to trash dems all day every day.

Gotta make sure to keep us divided and stir up the caca every day. Obama: " I call on congress/states/businesses to raise the minimum wage to 10.10"
Your response: Obama should have magicked us 9.50 per hour minimum wage 3 years ago.

Hey guess what? 10.10 is better than 9.50.
Guess what? We let the Tea party take the fuck over in 2010 so he couldn't get a minimum wage passed.
Know what? It's our MF fault for not electing sane individuals to congress.

All that divisive shit, that staying home and sitting on our asses, built this shit.

It sounds like you're trying to help us Nader the next election, awesome, thanks. Really appreciate that. Great job.

[NM_Birder]

60. federally contracted work raises to 10.10

that is not the same as "raising the minimum" wage to 10.10.

[geek tragedy]

62. Must. Bash. Obama. No. Matter. What.

trash thread

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

63. He's still looking for those "comfortable walking shoes".

[Arkana]

64. Candidate Barack Obama didn't have a Congress that refused to do anything

except pick its nose.