Obama plans to turn anti-Wall Street anger on Mitt Romney, Republicans

[polichick]

By Peter Wallsten, Published: October 14

"President Obama and his team have decided to turn public anger at Wall Street into a central tenet of their reelection strategy.The move comes as the Occupy Wall Street protests gain momentum across the country and as polls show deep public distrust of the nation’s major financial institutions.

<snip>

Obama aides point to recent surveys that show anger at Wall Street spanning ideologies, including a new Washington Post-ABC News poll in which 68 percent of independents and 60 percent of Republicans say they have unfavorable impressions of the big financial institutions.

But the strategy of channeling anti-Wall Street anger carries risks. Many of Obama’s senior advisers have ties to the financial industry — a point that makes Occupy protesters wary of the president and his party."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-plans-to-turn-anti-wall-street-anger-on-mitt-romney-republicans/2011/10/14/gIQAZfiwkL_story.html


This is getting interesting.

Do you think it'll work?

[geek tragedy]

1. Late is better than never. Fire Bill Daley. nt

[polichick]

2. I heard he's leaving AFTER the election - sooner would be better...

But the prez will really have to clean out his administration if he wants to walk the walk.

[izquierdista]

5. He has to get comfortable shoes too....

Must have hard-to-fit feet given how many picket lines he's missed.

[polichick]

8. Good point - I am very interested in how he's going to pull this off...

Obviously he is still the lesser of evils but I don't think OWS is in the mood for any more bullshit, so he'll have to be careful.

[OHdem10]

3. Could it be, this writer for WAPO does not want the Democrats

to grow their ranks. The WAPO carries water for the
Republican Party.

WAPO is owned by an important Republican Family, therefore
its OP ED and Editorial Pages are infused with Republican
Point of view. They do try to keep the remainder of the
paper balanced. The WAPO has never been a Liberal Publication.

[polichick]

4. You're shooting the messenger - try discussing the facts...

...which are: the prez is going to go after Republicans based on OWS anger but he has an admin. packed with financial folks.

btw Eugene Robinson's pieces are in WaPo - its worth a look just for those. I also enjoy Ezra Klein and EJ Dionne.

[randr]

6. Let us hope that the anti Wall Street demostrators

turn Obama to the left.

[polichick]

7. It's my hope too - I think OWS is the best kind of "primary."

[woo me with science]

57. Good way to put it.

It turns out the bully pulpit belongs to the American people.

[ellisonz]

60. Yes we can! Not Yes he can!

[orpupilofnature57]

9. Let them own it ,it's their meal ticket.

[polichick]

10. Who? Republicans, the Obama admin., or both?

[orpupilofnature57]

11. Republican Candidates

It's inevitable they'll work for the scum being protested ,let them have to talk out of both sides of their face ,and Dance. Let Shrub bushed Haunt them.

[polichick]

14. Funny how Romney is already tweaking his response to the protests...

He offered a call-out to the hurting middle class during this week's debate.

[orpupilofnature57]

17. Thats their trick, confusing who's who and what's what.

[polichick]

32. True - amazing how easy it is to do!

[Safetykitten]

12. And Tim could run the operation. Oh, wait! Get the Bernank too!

This would be awesome.

[polichick]

13. Yeah, it's going to be a bit tricky to draw distinctions given the current staff...

They'll have to be very careful - and have been so far.

[woo me with science]

58. LOL. Great minds think alike!

:thumbsup:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2078137#2083727

[otohara]

15. He Should Have Told John Hickenlooper

watching that smug asshole go on about how he's been getting calls from around the country on how to get rid of those icky protesters.

[polichick]

16. Time for the people to fire Hickenlooper!

[AtomicKitten]

18. Why do you have quotes around the excerpts you've posted? They are not quotes.

It appears per the article you've posted that the WH intends to use some issues echoed by OWS as contrast in the upcoming presidential campaign.

excerpt from the article:

And his campaign and the White House have distributed messages blasting GOP candidates and lawmakers for wanting to repeal Wall Street regulations pushed by Obama and opposing the confirmation of a leader for the consumer protection bureau created as part of the overhaul.

“We intend to make it one of the central elements of the campaign next year,” Obama senior adviser David Plouffe said in an interview. “One of the main elements of the contrast will be that the president passed Wall Street reform and our opponent and the other party want to repeal it.”

[bhikkhu]

55. Its appropriate MLA formatting, for a few lines of excerpted text

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/

...though your example of the use of blockquote and bolding is certainly more clear and effective.

[AtomicKitten]

62. good to know - thanks for the info /nt

[MNBrewer]

19. He's standing a little too close to Wall Street for that to be a winning strategy for him

[polichick]

33. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how they go about it.

[lunatica]

20. The Obama administration better be careful lest the OWS hands them their asses

And I'm an Obama supporter, but any politician trying to use the OWS is going to get their hand bit.

First of all, with all due respect Mr. President the OWS didn't materialize out of thin air suddenly without plenty of warning beforehand. This is what Progressive movements look like. How do you feel about that Sir? You know, those progressives you castigated and those your Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel called 'retards'?

You use the OWS at your own risk.

[FrenchieCat]

23. Corporate news thanks all for taking the bait of their hypothetical manderings

based on connecting some of what Obama has said (stuff that he's been saying,
even before there was ever any OWS movement) to conclude to the headline's
convenient finding based on the fact that Obama has had supportive things to say
about this movement (and apparently he's damned if he does, and he would be damned if he didn't).

That's is what is sorry; folks willing to jump on a bandwagon set up by the corporate media in their normal attempts to divide us in order to encourage us to take pot shots at this President...

Here's the point....

Simply put, the Occupy Wall Street Movement is Americans’ individual calls of shame on corporate greed, but done collectively. It represents the frustrations of millions of Americans who did everything right, but have been forced to realize that their hard work no longer brings with it the promised spoils of the American Dream. It is the father whose job was shipped to China while he watched a padlock put on his castle, now only one among millions of foreclosed houses. It is the teacher who dreamed of working on his long-yearned-for though ill-paid passion, only to be demonized and given a pink slip. It is the tale of a young college graduate who sacrificed to attain a degree and, saddled with massive student loans, is unable to find work in her chosen field, or perhaps any work at all. It is the young war veterans coming back to barely nothing. Or the owners of small businesses whose efforts were nullified for not being able to secure credit to weather the current business downturn. These and others scenarios are the diverse tales of 99% of us, those who aspire to achieve and yet have been let down at every crossroads.

Interestingly, there are various diverging interest groups who seek to mold this burgeoning movement into their own image....
<>
We should resist corporate media’s attempts to define for us what this movement is about, or even which political force it may help. The media would like nothing more than to be in full control of this phenomenon, and they won’t stop trying any time soon. Furthermore, although most of us are the 99%, even that doesn’t mean that, as individuals, we’ll get to dictate where this movement goes or what it will do. What’s reassuring is that it appears that the values of the OWS movement are based on a common goal of making the nation better at managing the collective general welfare. In other words, it is a protest movement which generally demands the betterment of this country, and that is what may make the difference; it is urging us to move toward something good for Americans… or at least for 99% of us.
http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2011/10/10/projecting-wishes-and-dreams-onto-the-occupy-wall-street-movement/

[lunatica]

42. I've always supported Obama, but not in every single thing. You're barking up the wrong tree

I'm an Obama believer, but I'm also of the opinion that sometimes politicians should be careful how they 'use' popular movements in election years.

A word to the wise.

Peace

[FrenchieCat]

45. I don't see the Obama campaign using the Movement.....

even if some of the concerns are shared....

I see them as using the issues shared....even if WAPO distorts that
to mean something nafarious.


In addition, I sincerely apologize for saying what I said about you in particular
as you said, "Barking up the wrong tree".

[lunatica]

48. I truly hope you're right.

I love the Obama family quite sincerely, but like the love I have for my family, I can see defects and shortcomings.

Keep up the great fight FrenchieCat. I'm a supporter of yours. :fistbump:

[FrenchieCat]

50. Thanks......

and we are her supporters......

[great white snark]

25. He castigated purists and Rahm called an idea "retarded". A supporter does not spread lies.

Always a victim.

[lunatica]

40. So you substitute the word purist for progressive. Interesting lie just to call me a liar

You twist and think you're clever, and no one will notice your ploy.

[Puglover]

65. There you go!

Insult and flush another Obama supporter down the drain! Way to campaign!

Happily I am sure the posters support for Prez Obama won't be eroded by your unending snark.

[Marnie]

21. Screw Obama. As soon as he taints it, the Republicans

will have the PR weapon they will need to keep OWS from being a truly populist movement by printing Obama all over it in the propaganda media and calling it a politically motivated action created and financed by the spineless dims.

[lunatica]

22. No. Or haven't you noticed how impotent their 'framing' has become

People are turning to the OWS because those people recognize they're the 99% the OWS represent. Finally!

[rug]

24. OWS is not a reelection strategy.

It's too bad he doesn't realize it.

[FrenchieCat]

26. You respond as though there is evidence that Obama or anyone in his admin

has actually stated what the headline infers.

Are you really that desperate to comment on an article
set up for those like you to make disparaging comments
against this President, simply because of being pissed off
that the OWS movement, no matter what, is still more in sinc
with the current administration stated goals than with
those running against this Administration?

How much does that bother you?
How badly would you prefer that the OWS movement
be more in line with the Teaparty and simply existed
to bring down this President so you could feel vindicated
after so many years on this board putting this President down,
and not much more?

there are the extremists on the fringe whose wish is a third party movement that shouts “a pox on both houses”. These folks envision their movement as the American Awakening that ends America as we know it. They demand nothing short of the entire system being turned on its head; a revolution, so to speak. Unfortunately, many of the 99% don’t have the luxury of waging a full-blown revolution, and many more understand that fighting for such a thing won’t necessarily translate into victory, however much it should. And the folks of no party, always dissatisfied with everything, going way back , don’t see that many of the protestors are seeking workable solutions that can be implemented effectively and immediately. They are already tired to death of waiting.

As I see it, the protestors have made themselves clearer than most of these interests would want to accept. The 99%, themselves, assert:

“We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we’re working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.”
http://extremeliberal.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/projecting-wishes-and-dreams-onto-the-occupy-wall-street-movement/

Sorry, but this movement is not made up of Obama haters....you just wish it was.
See that little girl? Her future can only be a better one if this President is reelected....
you know it, and I know it, and her parents know it. The difference is that you are not
willing to acknowledge it.

[rug]

27. Will Plouffe do?

“We intend to make it one of the central elements of the campaign next year,” Obama senior adviser David Plouffe said in an interview.

[great white snark]

28. The contrast of the two parties, not OWS.

Read.

[FrenchieCat]

29. Why shouldn't the issues that the OWS are out there taking a stance on

that converge with what this Administration has been demanding from Republicans
be an issue in the election?

Isn't that the entire point at the end of the day....
to have the OWS effect movement in the direction of their stated problems?

Does this upset you? and if so, why?

[rug]

31. The question is which dominates.

The reason for the protests or using the protests for a reelection.

It's not clear that they are complementary.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I don't think you get it.

It isn't just your movement.....

If your wish is of a movement that gets rid of Obama above all else,
than the movement you can admire is
the Tea Party, as it shares your goals on that. :eyes:

[rug]

39. You don't get it. It's not about Obama at all.

Or his reelection.

[FrenchieCat]

43. No. I've got that part......

Even if WAPO doesn't.

[Hutzpa]

30. What?

you scared.

I guess they've got you shivering in your boots.

Can you feel that breeeezeee :scared:

[Enrique]

34. this photo will help

[polichick]

36. Yes, but there are plenty of photos with the prez with his Goldman Sachs administration too...

As OWS knows, both parties serve the same masters.

[FrenchieCat]

37. Are both party equal on that?

Because one of those parties will be the party that comes out on top.

[polichick]

44. Both parties are beholden to corporate interests, yes - otherwise we...

...wouldn't have an administration filled with corporate tools.

imo Dems still do more for the people than Republicans do. Hopefully most OWS participants will vote Dem even as they hold both parties accountable for their whoredom.

[Enrique]

41. yeah, but it's not the same

there's this photo of Obama with UBS's Robert Wolf, but it doesn't have the impact of the money coming out of the ears.

[polichick]

46. Too bad that's not the only one...

There are tons of photos of Obama with his new appointees - Geithner, Summers, Daley, Immelt, etc.

[SHRED]

38. The ink isn't even dry on the "free trade" deals he signed

Wow...what a hypocrite.


--

[SHRED]

47. OWS won't fall for this political charade

OWS understand­s this pResident has done every bit as much for Wall St as his predecesso­rs.

[polichick]

49. I know what you mean. Still, it's likely most will vote. I wonder though...

...if there are only two choices - Obama and the Republican - will OWS make some demands before the election?

As a protest participant, I'd like to see the prez install a cabinet of public servants instead of corporate whores before I occupy the voting booth in 2012, among other changes.

[FrenchieCat]

51. She'd like for you to occupy the voting booth regardless.....

She states that her immediate future and that of her family is in our hands.....

It is possible that she prefers not being held hostage by any one group; Republicans
or otherwise!

[polichick]

52. If you think the 99% shouldn't make demands of our pols, you're crazy!

[FrenchieCat]

53. That's not what I'm saying......

What I do know is that Republicans are the ones currently holding
the American people hostage as well as our economy.....
the same in the way they've allowed the Iranians to hold our Americans hostage,
till after the election....but this is quite worse, imo.

The 99% are speaking.....and yes, there are demands:

“We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we’re working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.”

[polichick]

54. Those are facts about conditions but they're not demands - yet.

[totodeinhere]

56. I'm not sure if this strategy will work or not. Many OWS protesters have a pox on both of your

houses attitude and hope to shake up the entire system including both major political parties. Many of them see both parties beholden to Wall Street. I'm afraid that they might see this as a cynical attempt to use their movement for political gain by one side or the other. Even Romney is saying nice things about the OWS protesters now. His side might very well try to do the same thing.

[NorthCarolina]

59. I think this may backfire.

Nobody in the OWS protests are chanting "Obama", and I have little doubt that many in their ranks view him as much a part of the problem as they do Republicans and other Conservative Corporate Owned Democrats. Attempting to co-opt their movement for political gain MAY be ill advised. Bernie could do it, probably so could Grayson to an extent...but Obama is another story. It will be interesting to see how it play out nonetheless.

[FrenchieCat]

61. No one is co-opting shit! Other than you co-opting that piece of shit of an article!

:eyes:

Don't you wish you were the leader of the OWS, then you could order everyone to vote for a third party or stay home, and then you'd get what you really, really want; a 100% Republican takeover! Won't that be fun! :bounce:

[NorthCarolina]

67. Did you

perhaps forget to take your meds, or are absurd rants just your style? I did not post this OP, but I did comment on it and the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the Obama campaign giving thought to directing OWS anger at the GOP as indicated by David Plouffe. I have never advocated for a "100% Republican takeover", so you obviously pulled that from your ass to fit your agenda. What I "really, really want" is an end to the Oligarchy we have become, and a return to a government that works in large part for the benefit of the people. Won't that be fun! :bounce:

Have a great day.

[LittleBlue]

63. HAHAHAHA! That's a bit like Nixon using Vietnam protestors against his rivals

lol just lol

[Umbral]

64. Yes, and he's going to fire the bulk of his Cabinet to accomplish just that.

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

[SHRED]

66. He needs to fire Immelt and Geithner for starters and...

...push for a public health system.

Then maybe we will talk.




nevermind.