Fri Feb 21, 2014, 08:15 AM

marmar (72,123 posts)

Does the White House Really Think People Are That Stupid?

http://www.workinglife.org/2014/02/19/does-the-white-house-really-think-people-are-that-stupid/#sthash.EM8STsW3.dpuf

from the Working Life blog:

Does the White House Really Think People Are That Stupid?
Posted on 19 February 2014.

C’mon, seriously, has it gotten to the point of such desperation to pass middle-class crushing, poverty-enhancing trade deals that drive inequality that the White House treats its allies, members of Congress and activists as if they are idiots? That’s a rhetorical question.

This is a head-slapping, WTF moment:

Michael B. Froman, the president’s trade representative, tried to reassure Democrats on Tuesday that the administration would be sensitive to their concerns about workplace and environmental standards in putting together the new trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. He noted that as a candidate, Mr. Obama promised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as Nafta.“And that’s exactly what we’re doing in TPP, upgrading our trading relationships not only with Mexico and Canada but with nine other countries as well,” Mr. Froman said in a speech at the Center for American Progress, a liberal research group in Washington.

That assertion drew scorn from critics. “I don’t think that expanding on the Nafta model and extending it to nine more nations was what the unions, environmental groups or Democratic Party activists had in mind when Obama said he would renegotiate Nafta,” said Lori Wallach, a trade expert at Public Citizen, a liberal advocacy group.

Uh, well, first, in case Mr. Forman and the White House cannot add, candidate Obama existed roughly six years ago. I think that campaign ended already, no? In the period since, the president has done nothing, zilch, nada to renegotiate NAFTA.The opposite: he continues to press for trade deals that as Lori Wallach points out above are precisely in the NAFTA-mold, including the TPP whose passage he so badly wants that he is willing to sacrifice the environment, which is precisely NAFTA-like.

And the Orwellian speak of Froman promising “upgrading our trading relationships” via the TPP is the exact opposite of renegotiating NAFTA.

It’s locking in that very model.

Stop lying.

Stop treating people–in theory, your on base, your supporters, the middle class, workers–like idiots.

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130 replies	Author	Time	Post
Does the White House Really Think People Are That Stupid? (Original post)	marmar	Feb 2014	OP
One Step Forward - Two Steps Back	cantbeserious	Feb 2014	#1
du rec.	xchrom	Feb 2014	#2
I read	ProSense	Feb 2014	#3
How can anyone here criticize the President in the face of what just happened in SC? Y	kelliekat44	Feb 2014	#9
Yes, exactly. WTF ARE we talking about?	mountain grammy	Feb 2014	#14
I don't see the relevance. We can't criticize bad policy?	WCLinolVir	Feb 2014	#102
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were two of only four to vote against Froman	MannyGoldstein	Feb 2014	#16
Yes, and I know	ProSense	Feb 2014	#22
I'm not always in love with Wyden	MannyGoldstein	Feb 2014	#56
so now it's bad to respect Senator Wyden?	grasswire	Feb 2014	#84
Congress mostly is bi-partisan when it comes to screwing workers.	lark	Feb 2014	#62
Are you for or against the TPP?	sabrina 1	Feb 2014	#128
maybe he doesn't know this video is a joke?	Enrique	Feb 2014	#4
No I don't think they do.	zeemike	Feb 2014	#24
No	Puzzledtraveller	Feb 2014	#5
That's exactly what they think	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#6
I gave	ann---	Feb 2014	#46
Me too, but	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#47
This message was self-deleted by its author	Th1onein	Feb 2014	#109
me too.	Phlem	Feb 2014	#89
There are very few	ctsnowman	Feb 2014	#7
+1 nt	clarice	Feb 2014	#17
They will do what they want, what we think does not matter to them.	Autumn	Feb 2014	#8
And they've picked Hillary.	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#41
Elizabeth isn't going to run, I really doubt Hillary will run. Biden will.	Autumn	Feb 2014	#44
And as soon as you	imthevicar	Feb 2014	#48
Then don't go into protected groups and ignore the rules. Then you don't get	Autumn	Feb 2014	#50
That a trap when you ask for an opinion.	imthevicar	Feb 2014	#74
It's not a trap. Those are protected groups where supporters of	Autumn	Feb 2014	#76
What about when a protected group comes out here and tries to treat a hapless participant	RC	Feb 2014	#81
Yeah but they can't block you from the main forums.	Autumn	Feb 2014	#82
Same with the BOG. That kind of discrimantory behavior is a real ugly and dangerous side of DU.	cui bono	Feb 2014	#63
That's what happened,	imthevicar	Feb 2014	#75
I never miss voting, but if my choice is Hillary or some Republican fool, both picked by the 1%,	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#60
You would be cutting off your nose to spite your face.	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#61
I'm in California. My vote for Hillary won't make much difference. But if I vote for her, I will	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#72
A decision not to vote is a vote for the Republican candidate(s).	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#79
Would normally agree with you. But Hillary? I don't see much about her that is Democratic.	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#108
She is pro choice, pro Obamacare, pro LGBT rights, pro women's rights.	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#111
Clinton-Sachs isnt the same as the Republican clowns. No one here is saying that.	rhett o rick	Feb 2014	#93
Agreed. n/t	cui bono	Feb 2014	#94
Agreed X2	bvar22	Feb 2014	#97
That is exactly what you are saying.	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#112
Some are making a mistake thinking that our enemy is the Republican Party.	rhett o rick	Feb 2014	#118
+1000000	woo me with science	Feb 2014	#120
Some would rather vilify Dems than blame Republicans.	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#123
Really? That's your post? I blame Republicans but they have had some help.	rhett o rick	Feb 2014	#124
LOL. Oooooh. Guess I hit a nerve.	SunSeeker	Feb 2014	#125
it's been a sham democracy for a LONG time.	tomp	Feb 2014	#115
I have just 1 question, why all the secrecy if you are pushing our interests?	Dustlawyer	Feb 2014	#10
Excellent question	erronis	Feb 2014	#92
Secrecy is good for presents. I'm sure the White House has a very nice present to surprise us with.	jsr	Feb 2014	#11
What is superlative CPI?	juajen	Feb 2014	#107
Who else you gonna vote for? Ha ha ha.	OnyxCollie	Feb 2014	#12
How about None of the Above?	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#15
Since the majority of the public	OnyxCollie	Feb 2014	#20
+1	jsr	Feb 2014	#35
+1 more.	QuestForSense	Feb 2014	#45
Just curious, are you advocating not voting? Just in case you want to weigh in.	Autumn	Feb 2014	#65
ROFL, I have no intention of dignifying that juvenile foot stomping	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#66
I gotta say, in terms of the conversation your remark seems to fit and I didn't take	Autumn	Feb 2014	#67
Right...reminding that there ARE other options	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#68
The beatings will continue until morale improves	Autumn	Feb 2014	#69
Evidently	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#70
Yep, that's exactly their thought process.	Lizzie Poppet	Feb 2014	#18
And, that's how they got the 2010 result	Glitterati	Feb 2014	#26
That's the Dem motto these days!	polichick	Feb 2014	#95
Our President probably reads DU:	MannyGoldstein	Feb 2014	#13
You never loved the President if you don't register your like there	jsr	Feb 2014	#21
I like the bumper sticker "We Suck Less".	L0oniX	Feb 2014	#29
We suck less...	Gary 50	Feb 2014	#55
And even accurate - most of the time anyway.	RC	Feb 2014	#85
That's what staff is for n/t	Fumesucker	Feb 2014	#36
Yes, sadly	Mass	Feb 2014	#19
we have voted for sociopaths to run this country	madrchsod	Feb 2014	#23
The old good cop/bad cop strategy.	jsr	Feb 2014	#25
Maybe the good corporatist/bad corporatist strategy? n/t	xocet	Feb 2014	#42
Yep.	jsr	Feb 2014	#43
If 'free trade' caused poverty and inequality, Europe would be the poorest and most unequal place	pampango	Feb 2014	#27
Actually, Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland?????	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#57
Spain's standard of living was improved hugely by the EU--it's in Sherrod Brown's book	Kolesar	Feb 2014	#87
Austerity is indeed stupid, terrible fiscal policy. It has nothing to do with trade.	pampango	Feb 2014	#90
At the time NAFTA was negotiated, I was teaching a class of high school	maddiemom	Feb 2014	#28
Well at least he isn't going to offer to sacrifice seniors anymore.	L0oniX	Feb 2014	#30
Social Security Cuts Still ‘on the Table’	jsr	Feb 2014	#33
That is not what Obama said. He is the master of double-talk, and people fall for it.	JDPriestly	Feb 2014	#59
Really makes you wonder, doesn't it?	X_Digger	Feb 2014	#31
IMO	Mr Dixon	Feb 2014	#32
I don't think the WH thinks you are stupid	treestar	Feb 2014	#34
It's certainly not stupid for members of his social class	Fumesucker	Feb 2014	#38
Any politician needs to consider no matter politics 2 conditions.	gordianot	Feb 2014	#37
Hey that's good. Quotable. n/t	Populist_Prole	Feb 2014	#40
Yes, and it's not just the white house	Populist_Prole	Feb 2014	#39
Ah, geez, COI?	proverbialwisdom	Feb 2014	#49
Yes	WillyT	Feb 2014	#51
sitting at home on election is not an option for me.	rbrnmw	Feb 2014	#52
Does that mean we'll get a free pizza? nt	valerief	Feb 2014	#53
Why does Paul Krugman think TPP is no big deal?	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#54
Because he didn't do his homework before commenting on the issue.	pa28	Feb 2014	#78
Pharma patents are owned by	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#106
What, you think Krugman is infallible? nt.	druidity33	Feb 2014	#83
No, but he is a Nobel prize winning economist	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#104
How do you feel about NAFTA?	druidity33	Feb 2014	#113
So, because experts aren't always right in their field,	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#114
No, it's better to evaluate the facts yourself. nt.	druidity33	Feb 2014	#116
I agree, but that doesn't explain why there	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#117
Well when the damn things a secret, what do you expect? nt.	druidity33	Feb 2014	#122
Well, first you told me to evaluate facts,	Progressive dog	Feb 2014	#126
The fact that it's SECRET is one of the facts i evaluated...	druidity33	Feb 2014	#127
All you need to know about Obama and trade is reflected in	cali	Feb 2014	#58
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.	Tierra_y_Libertad	Feb 2014	#64
In a word: yes.	DeSwiss	Feb 2014	#71
Yes - and I didn't even need to read you OP!	AAO	Feb 2014	#73
I agree with the point of the article -- But the headline is a bit too much	Armstead	Feb 2014	#77
recommend	frwrfpos	Feb 2014	#80
People are that stupid. We have a non-Democratically prinicipled man	truedelphi	Feb 2014	#86
You only heard the flawed rhetoric of the pals you were listening to	Kolesar	Feb 2014	#88
Yes, absolutely, without a doubt....	obxhead	Feb 2014	#91
DC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wall Street wolves.	blkmusclmachine	Feb 2014	#96
They don't think we are that stupid.	bvar22	Feb 2014	#98
What this does...	ReRe	Feb 2014	#99
Welcome home ReRe.	Phlem	Feb 2014	#100
+1	virgogal	Feb 2014	#101
I think they don't care.	WCLinolVir	Feb 2014	#103
just in case some are not aware>Michael B. Froman,wiki	lunasun	Feb 2014	#105
+1	jsr	Feb 2014	#119
They probably think the people that read Newsmax or watch Foxnews are total idiots.	Rex	Feb 2014	#110
Gotta go with Obama on this.	gulliver	Feb 2014	#121
kick	woo me with science	Feb 2014	#129
kick	woo me with science	Feb 2014	#130

Response to marmar (Original post)

Fri Feb 21, 2014, 08:20 AM

cantbeserious (13,039 posts)

1. One Step Forward - Two Steps Back

eom

Does the White House Really Think People Are That Stupid?

1. One Step Forward - Two Steps Back

2. du rec.

3. I read

9. How can anyone here criticize the President in the face of what just happened in SC? Y

14. Yes, exactly. WTF ARE we talking about?

102. I don't see the relevance. We can't criticize bad policy?

16. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were two of only four to vote against Froman

22. Yes, and I know

56. I'm not always in love with Wyden

84. so now it's bad to respect Senator Wyden?

62. Congress mostly is bi-partisan when it comes to screwing workers.

128. Are you for or against the TPP?

4. maybe he doesn't know this video is a joke?

24. No I don't think they do.

5. No

6. That's exactly what they think

46. I gave

47. Me too, but

89. me too.

7. There are very few

17. +1 nt

8. They will do what they want, what we think does not matter to them.

41. And they've picked Hillary.

44. Elizabeth isn't going to run, I really doubt Hillary will run. Biden will.

48. And as soon as you

50. Then don't go into protected groups and ignore the rules. Then you don't get

74. That a trap when you ask for an opinion.

76. It's not a trap. Those are protected groups where supporters of

81. What about when a protected group comes out here and tries to treat a hapless participant

82. Yeah but they can't block you from the main forums.

63. Same with the BOG. That kind of discrimantory behavior is a real ugly and dangerous side of DU.

75. That's what happened,

60. I never miss voting, but if my choice is Hillary or some Republican fool, both picked by the 1%,

61. You would be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

72. I'm in California. My vote for Hillary won't make much difference. But if I vote for her, I will

79. A decision not to vote is a vote for the Republican candidate(s).

108. Would normally agree with you. But Hillary? I don't see much about her that is Democratic.

111. She is pro choice, pro Obamacare, pro LGBT rights, pro women's rights.

93. Clinton-Sachs isnt the same as the Republican clowns. No one here is saying that.

94. Agreed. n/t

97. Agreed X2

112. That is exactly what you are saying.

118. Some are making a mistake thinking that our enemy is the Republican Party.

120. +1000000

123. Some would rather vilify Dems than blame Republicans.

124. Really? That's your post? I blame Republicans but they have had some help.

125. LOL. Oooooh. Guess I hit a nerve.

115. it's been a sham democracy for a LONG time.

10. I have just 1 question, why all the secrecy if you are pushing our interests?

92. Excellent question

11. Secrecy is good for presents. I'm sure the White House has a very nice present to surprise us with.

107. What is superlative CPI?

12. Who else you gonna vote for? Ha ha ha.

15. How about None of the Above?

20. Since the majority of the public

35. +1

45. +1 more.

65. Just curious, are you advocating not voting? Just in case you want to weigh in.

66. ROFL, I have no intention of dignifying that juvenile foot stomping

67. I gotta say, in terms of the conversation your remark seems to fit and I didn't take

68. Right...reminding that there ARE other options

69. The beatings will continue until morale improves

70. Evidently

18. Yep, that's exactly their thought process.

26. And, that's how they got the 2010 result

95. That's the Dem motto these days!

13. Our President probably reads DU:

21. You never loved the President if you don't register your like there

29. I like the bumper sticker "We Suck Less".

55. We suck less...

85. And even accurate - most of the time anyway.

36. That's what staff is for n/t

19. Yes, sadly

23. we have voted for sociopaths to run this country

25. The old good cop/bad cop strategy.

42. Maybe the good corporatist/bad corporatist strategy? n/t

43. Yep.

27. If 'free trade' caused poverty and inequality, Europe would be the poorest and most unequal place

57. Actually, Spain, Greece, Italy, Ireland?????