OFA Tries to Get Supporters to Write Letters to Editor Praising A Federal Worker Pay Freeze

[amborin]

OFA Tries to Get Supporters to Write Letters to the Editor Praising a Federal Worker Pay Freeze

By: David Dayen Tuesday November 30, 2010 9:55 am


We’ve officially gone around the bend.

OFA, the organizing arm of the DNC, originally began its life as an organization trying to get someone elected on the platform of hope, change, and progressive policies. You had a public option in health care, cap and trade, a more progressive tax system, diplomacy abroad, and a belief in American values of equality and opportunity.

Here’s what OFA is reduced to. I just got this email:

A decade of irresponsible spending led to a projected $1.3 trillion deficit that President Obama inherited upon taking office — putting America on an unsustainable fiscal course.

From Day One, this administration’s top focus has been growing the economy and putting Americans back to work — and that will never change.

The economy is growing again, yet all across America families and businesses have been tightening their belts. The President knows their government must do the same.

Yesterday, he announced a proposal to freeze pay for non-military federal employees for two years — a plan that will lead to $60 billion in savings over 10 years. It’s one of many tough choices the President has made to cut costs in the upcoming budget to begin to put our nation’s fiscal house in order. And it follows directly from this administration’s dedication to stretching federal dollars and reining in the long-term deficit.

Now, if you listen to some talk radio hosts or a few of the talking heads on cable news, you’ll hear a very different assessment of our fiscal policies. These voices ignore the irresponsibility of the past while pinning the blame for “reckless spending” solely on this administration. It would make a good fairy tale if it weren’t so dangerously untrue.

But these voices — as loud as they are — are spreading bunk. Cutting costs and spending responsibly has been a cornerstone of this administration’s record. And we need your help to get the truth out there.

Will you take a few minutes and write a letter to the editor today to set the record straight?

That’s right, the organizing project of the Democratic National Committee wants you to organize in support of freezing public worker salaries.....

snip

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/11/30/ofa-tries-to-get-supporters-to-write-letters-to-the-editor-praising-a-federal-worker-pay-freeze/

[msongs]

1. as opposed to grovelling to republicans lol nt

[sudopod]

2. *angryface* nt

[CreekDog]

3. this should go over well with all the federal employees that are on the OFA list

or should i say, *while* they are still on the list.

:eyes:

[scarletwoman]

4. Un-fucking-believable!

Fuck the New Democrats and the neoliberal horse's ass they rode in on.

[Octafish]

5. Something's really wrong wit' dis pitcher.

Glad Wall Street's doing great or else everybody would be hurting.

[Newsjock]

6. All for a measley $6bn/year

That's just, what, one or two health company executives' (or bankers' or traders') pay.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

7. Yes, by putting less money into the economy by putting less

money into wages will make it grow. Explain?

[Danger Mouse]

8. Huh, that's funny. I figured we could save more money by, you know, cutting defense spending, or...

letting the tax cuts for the wealthy expire. Crazy stuff like that. But, no, I guess the REAL problem is those dastardly government workers. That'll show 'em!

[katandmoon]

9. OK, all you pro-freezers, here's your chance! Please share your LTTE's.

[struggle4progress]

10. A bit clumsy of the OFA. But Rs are muttering darkly about bloodbaths and government shutdowns

next year, so Prez will have to play some defense. He opposed this pay freeze proposed by Rs earlier in the year and pushed instead for a pay hike; looking towards next year, he's moved towards the R position, but of course the Rs, in now familiar obstruct-Obama mode, aren't hearing any of it and won't talk much about it now that it's coming from the Prez. In any case, it would require (I think) Congressional action, so it may simply be what the Prez sez it is -- an attempt to get real conversation started

[scarletwoman]

11. Right. OFA wants people to write LTTEs in support of a bluff.

I've got a better idea, let the GOP shut down the government.

[struggle4progress]

14. The shutdown back in the Contract-on-America era hurt a lot of folk

[amborin]

12. "an attempt to get real conversation started"

Obama had many golden opportunities to get a national conversation started; he could have seized this current chance by explaining to the public that, short-term, the deficit is not the feared monster it's depicted to be, and that creating jobs and stimulating the economy takes precedence over any deficit-reduction measures;

then, he could have explained (not that it's really necessary) why the real road to deficit reduction consists in cutting military spending, etc.....and especially, ending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy (which would not only cut a chunk from the deficit, but would be a tiny step toward addressing the obscene disparties in income and wealth distribution)

[eridani]

13. I have no interest in a conversation about fucking over working Americans n/t

[struggle4progress]

15. Those are reasonable messages. YOU should ask YOURSELF what YOU are doing to get them out

[amborin]

16. LOL

it's called "leadership," and that's what it takes to get those messages out and shape the national discourse

[pecwae]

17. Attempting to get

a 'a real conversation started' on the backs of some federal employees is woefully short on decency and political strength.