Robert Reich: Obama and Democratic leaders aren't responding to Republican big lies about jobs

[Better Believe It]

The Republican’s Big Lies About Jobs (And Why Obama Must Repudiate Them)
by Robert Reich
March 23, 2011

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was in town yesterday (specifically, at Stanford’s Hoover Institute where he could surround himself with sympathetic Republicans) to tell this whopper: “Cutting the federal deficit will create jobs.”

It’s not true. Cutting the deficit will creates fewer jobs. Less government spending reduces overall demand. This is particularly worrisome when, as now, consumers and businesses are still holding back. Fewer government workers have paychecks to buy stuff from other Americans, some of whom in turn will lose their jobs without enough customers.

What worries me almost as much as the Republican’s repeated big lies about jobs is the silence of President Obama and Democratic leaders in the face of them. Obama has the bully pulpit. Republicans don’t. But if he doesn’t use it the Republican’s big lies gain credibility.

Here are some other whoppers being repeated daily:

“Cutting taxes on the rich creates jobs.”
“Cutting corporate income taxes creates jobs.”
“Cuts in wages and benefits create jobs.”
“Regulations kill jobs.”

But nothing is more central to average Americans than jobs and wages. Unless the President forcefully rebuts Republican’s big lies, they’ll soon become conventional wisdom.

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/23-11

[DJ13]

1. I hope he's not holding his breath waiting for Obama to repudiate Republicans

I dont expect Obama to do such a thing since he is just as dependent on the same funding sources for reelection as the Republicans.

Controlling the campaign funding is how the corporations have gained power.

[msongs]

7. sorry democrats and working people, Obama is just not that into you nt

[Brickbat]

2. Of course they aren't.

That would be evidence of some kind of plan, backbone, principle and/or idea. And we can't have that!

[dennis4868]

3. Of course...

dems are too busy calling for Obama's impeachment for doing nothing wrong...dems attack theor own and never keep their eye on the real enemy....

[samplegirl]

4. I agree Dennis

I can remember when I first came to D.U. such posts would of been yanked.

[slay]

13. Thankfully there is not that kind of censorship here

now. I'm surprised someone who calls themselves a Democrat would be in favor of censorship rather than debate the point that Obama is not pushing back. Why do you think he's not pushing back - not standing up for the American People? Don't act like this isn't the first time he hasn't stood up for The People.

And how is it OUR fault that Obama is failing to lead as our president? Is he that afraid of the republicans and wall street?

This is DemocraticUnderground ya know - not DemocraticMainstream - we don't have to approve of everything Obama does just because he has a big ol (D) beside his name. There are Democrats out there other than him - actual progressive ones - who many of us find ourselves in much more agreement with - and then there is Bernie Sanders - Independent - one of the best voices in the senate - remember his EIGHT HOUR speech against extending the Bush tax cuts for the super rich? We all know what Obama did. Besides, he's the one who said he wanted to be challenged by the left. A challenge he has failed to live up to at every turn. More wars, no single payer, hell no public option, cover-up of the Bush war crimes, indefinite imprisonment in Gitmo, tax cuts to billionaires, etc.

[daa]

16. +1 and I am surprised someone who calls themselves

a democrat would defend Obama's record on Wall Street, jobs, tax cuts for the rich. more wars. Someone that supports that agenda should be over with the freepers.

[hifiguy]

20. +1 to both you and daa

I refuse to defend the spineless sellout who sold me a bill of goods in 2008 and then surrendered without a fight on every major issue.

[Newest Reality]

5. Welcome to America Incorporated, the new home of

the Underclass Serf'ers. The Supreme Board of Directors is now in session and forever will be.

I know it is not popular with people who still believe in the superficial aspects of our system, but the seems to be a disconnect on what is happening and what we want or think it to be.

In my opinion, (and that's my take) it could be likened to the good cop, bad cop routine. One cop comes in like a thug and treats you like garbage. The behavior is insulting and designed to break you down. The other cop comes in to "save you" from his obnoxious and aggressive cohort. He is affable, friendly and speaks to you with some respect as if to befriend you. He offers you a beverage, and if you smoke, a cigarette. He is going to work with you and help.

However, both cops want the same thing, and it is certainly not about your best interests or being let go. The good cop is not really your friend and is playing a role to get you to comply and the bad cop set you up for that.

[slay]

15. Excellent analogy

and you're right - we both know it - about the - new way of life - road we're on where most people in America become Underclass Serfs - the good cop/bad cop routine being pulled by the politicians - all of it. I wish I could see a path that avoids or gets us out of this mess, but considering that Obama actually has a favorable approval rating, and American's ain't exactly known for our intelligence, I instead see a long hard road ahead and a lot of soul searching among those who have failed to recognize the obvious changes that are occurring as the rich and powerful make their final money grabs before they achieve total control over every facet of our lives. it's happening now - as they try and privatize EVERYTHING from prisons to schools to even libraries - squeezing every last dime out of us. I wonder if at some point it will be like a switch going off and people will wake up and fight this new reality that is being forced upon us? Nah, probably not.

[CrispyQ]

17. This flag needs some serious updating. Most major offenders are not on it.

I would start with Enron & AIG. Monsanto's a monster. Halliburton deserves a place. Lockheed, GE & the other MIC co's. Oops, forgot big pharma. Oh, & my neighbor, Walmart. Neighborhood's gone downhill since they moved in. And how many fucking banks should be on it? All of them? Or should we pick one as an icon? That will be fun - picking the most putrid of the bunch. x(

Shit. We're gonna need way more than 50 spots!

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Because they're using those lies to further a critical strategy

"Who the &$%* else ya gonna' vote for, chumps! I screw working Americans less than the Republicans, so it's me or SarahPalinSarahPalinSarahPalinSarahPalinSarahPalinSarahPalin"

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. It worked for Clinton, but Clinton had a tax base, so big ass cuts

weren't necessary.

[dawg]

18. No big ass cuts are needed now, either.

Repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; add a 50% bracket for 10 million and above; and finish the damn job on health care reform.

Problem solved.

[Autumn]

9. I find the silence from Obama and the Democrats

very disturbing. The republicans keep pushing and pushing and no one speaks out for us. I can't understand why they don't.

[democracy1st]

12. Obama is totally corp owned I don't expect to hear anything from him,but I agree

with you and Anthony Weiner it's very unfortunate to see dems simply give up and not fight back.

[opihimoimoi]

10. The Obama is under attack 24/7...seige under these conditions result in mistakes

hopefully, they weather the storm

[somone]

11. What's a few lies between friends?

[slay]

14. Betrayal

n/t

[dawg]

19. Obama and the Dems have totally surrendered in the war of ideas.

That's why I see right-wing memes being spread here as conventional wisdom every single day.

No - we don't need a flat tax.
No - the current budget deficit is not a major problem.
No - the teacher's unions aren't ruining education in this country.
No - the fed isn't irresponsibly printing money.

Those are all lies spread by the right-wing in order to further their anti-worker agenda. But without effective Dem leadership challenging and debunking those ideas, even many of us on DU begin to believe them.

[MessiahRp]

26. I wouldn't call it surrender for Obama, I would call it victory.

They agree with Republicans' ideology and corporatism. This is all a win-win for them.

Rp

[Bandit]

21. Why would Obama refute something he apparently believes.

The silence from our elected Democrats in Congress is actually deafening..

[indepat]

22. BHO can rip pub assholes into shreds on just about every issue if he so choses: any silence is

deafening and most telling. :patriot:

[senseandsensibility]

23. They don't do strategy or communications.

Period. There's a reason for that.

[senseandsensibility]

24. They don't do strategy or communications.

Period. There's a reason for that.

[Rex]

25. In the game of 5 dimensional chess, you have to be in the 6th

dimension already before the first move occurs in the 4th dimension.