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Business

President Obama Pledges Fidelity to Union Leaders, Attacks the GOP and Right-To-Work States

Apr. 30, 2012 9:30pm Becket Adams

President Barack Obama & AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

President Obama reminded an audience of labor union officials Monday that he has always fought for their interests and emphasized this point by attacking the GOP and right-to-work states.

“I made a promise I’d always tell you where I stood, I’d always tell you what I thought, what I believed in, and most importantly, I’d wake up every single day working as hard as I know how — to make your lives a little better,” the president said at the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Department Legislative Conference [try fitting all of that on a business card].

And it makes sense that President Obama would take the time to out of his busy not-campaign schedule to remind union leaders that he’s on their side. After all, his 2008 presidential campaign relied heavily on the union’s “get out the vote” efforts and financial backing; he’ll need all their help he can get in 2012.

“And for all that we’ve gone through over the last three-and-a-half, four years, I have kept that promise,” he continued. “And I’m still thinking about you, and I still believe in you. And if you join me, we’ll remind the world why it is that America is the greatest nation on Earth,” President Obama added.

However, the president’s remarks quickly turned from high-minded musings on America’s greatness to sharp criticisms of Republicans for “obstructing his agenda,” as Susan Crabtree of the Washington Times puts it.

“Republicans in Congress would rather put fewer of you to work rebuilding America than ask millionaires and billionaires to live without massive new tax cuts,” President Obama said.

Republicans, Miss Crabtree writes, aren’t “willing to shift their priorities from protecting the wealthy from more tax hikes to making investments that will benefit average working Americans.”

Simply put, if it weren’t for those stubborn Republicans in Congress blocking his attempts to increase infrastructure spending, the country would already be on the road to recovery, or so says the president.

“If we’re smart about it, we can also afford to make the investments that will help our country and the American people in the short-term,” he said. “I think that’s a no-brainer. But apparently, Republicans disagree.”

See highlights of the president’s address via the Associated Press:

However, what’s left out of the AP video highlights is the part where the president criticizes states for offering right-to-work laws.

“I believe when folks try and take collective bargaining rights away by passing so-called ‘right to work’ laws that might also be called ‘right to work for less,’ laws, that’s not about economics, that’s about politics,” the president said.

“That’s about politics,” he repeated.

Watch the president’s attacks on right-to-work legislation at the 17:44 mark (via whitehouse.gov):

And that’s pretty much the thrust of the president’s entire address: Republicans are in the way, right-to-work laws aren’t fair, and unions give everyone a “fair shot.”

As a few pundits have already noted, it’s speeches like this that really emphasize just how much the president’s tone has changed since his days in the U.S. Senate. You know, the days when he used to talk like this: “The American people are ready for some hope, instead of fear! They’re ready for unity, instead of division! People want to be brought together! They’re tired of being driven apart!”

Apparently, the GOP and the 23 states with right-to-work laws aren’t included in the president’s 2007 vision of a “unified” America.

(h/t Washington Free Beacon)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (116)

kennebec
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:40pm
remarks for industrial areas foundation or ows for may1st?

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- hillbillyinny
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:59pm
  Definitely supporting OWS and rallying “the troops” on their behalf!
  
  Report this comment
- Detroit paperboy
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 12:17am
  All enemies foreign and DOMESTIC …………
  
  Report this comment
- Anamah
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 2:39am
  Disloyalty toward us. Simply and direct despicable attitude he did not show before elected. A sour surprise, very, very sad.
  
  Report this comment
- HKS
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 9:14am
  Spoken like the true socialist he is. His mother & Father would be so proud.
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:34am
  hOW IS THIS NOT MADE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT YET? The right to work without being forced to pay dues is a basic inalienable constitutionally protected right. How can a man be a President whose swore to protect the citizens basic civils rights and go against something as basic as a right to earn a living and support your family without being extorted.
  
  Report this comment
jmgair
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:38pm
If I were a Union THUG I would be very worried after hearing Obama say he will work as hard as he knows how to work for them, and since he has never worked a day in his life that is indeed reason to worry a lot.

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Gary S
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:37pm
Americas’ Choice; Romney —- or the Commie.

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- SgtB
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:17pm
  I believe you meant that Americans have the choice to either vote for Obama and be a member of the tyrannical communist state, vote for Romney and be a member of the socialist leaning and anti-gun/anti-Liberty party, or they can vote for the only person that is truly for Liberty and the Constitution.
  
  The way the November voting goes is this. In order for ANYONE to win, they need to establish 270 electoral college votes. If people will wake the hell up and stop voting along party lines that no longer stand for a difference of real political thought, then maybe we have a chance of regaining some of our heritage without having to replenish the tree with blood like our forefathers were forced to do. But, I guess to people like you, the thought of someone other than yourself actually having 2 brain cells to rub together is downright sickening.
  
  Report this comment
- Kisses6350
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 6:25am
  **********Smirks************** Thought of that all on you own, huh?
  
  Report this comment
- TEARS FOR AMERICA
  Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:34am
  Need that on a bumper sticker!!!
  
  Report this comment
Carlinpa
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:32pm
Ahh Mr President we as individuals have rights NOT “collective bargaining rights” That’s what “FREE association” is for. There is no mention of Collective salvation or collective rights.

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- glashole
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:38pm
  You are correct! The king thinks he will reign forever. Treason by any other name.
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:03pm
  I guess the next election will determine whether the US should exist for the sole purpose of funneling the country’s wealth to the super-rich (you know, the ones who are funding Romney), or whether this country should support all Americans, not just the super-rich.
  
  It’s funny, Wall Street, Oil companies, and other large companies are making record profits, but these “job creators” aren’t creating jobs. What’s with that? Maybe if we cut their taxes even further, they’ll start creating jobs? Of course not. Record profits isn’t creating jobs, but still we eliminate programs that support the poor and elderly and shift the playing field even further in favor of the rich.
  
  Will they create more jobs? Heck no, everybody is too poor to buy the products they make. Are you stupid? Why would they hire people to make products they can’t sell? We’ve robbed from the average citizen, especially the poor to support the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
  
  Report this comment
- lukerw
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:22pm
  @GLAS…
  Agreed!
  
  Report this comment
- brother_ed
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:50pm
  @JZS
  
  You make good points, and I’m sure they’re verifiable, however…
  
  A corporate head is not thinking about today or tomorrow, they are planning many years in advance.
  
  That being said, if the future is unknown, uncertain or foggy they cannot plan accordingly.
  
  President Obama has so muddied the future that it is difficult to make any moves with any degree of confidence.
  
  What will the corporate tax structure look like?
  Will I be forced to unionize?
  What is the future of health care?
  Will I be penalized for being successful?
  Will the Feds dictate my pay scale and profit margin?
  Will energy be cheap?
  
  I could go on, but you get the point
  
  Trust is vital to capitalism. Nobody trusts this president, therefore they wait.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 12:17am
  @JZS
  You ask why anyone would hire someone to produce a product they can’t sell. I ask you why you would produce a product you can’t sell. Anyone who does that is going to see their business fail. In addition, your argument implies that all jobs involve producing some kind of product to be sold. This assumption is entirely false. You completely omitted services as being part of the economic system. If I fix your car for a fee I have produced no product but I have earned an income. Your entire argument is based on the false idea that you need money to make money.
  
  You should study economics sometime because your knowledge is entirely lacking. Also, you should do some research to determine whether the “help the poor” programs you’re so fond of are actually helping before you start praising them. Most of the figures I’ve seen show that such programs produce dependency and increase poverty.
  
  Report this comment
- Therightsofbilly
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 1:35am
  Hey JZS,
  
  I have asked you repeatedly to answer a question, each time you refuse.
  Once again, please tell us why you think profits are up, and not jobs?
  Brother_Ed’s good post came very close to actually saying the words for you, but I wonder if you really know the answer. It’s quite obvious. Are you stupid?
  
  Why is everyone too poor to buy things? Think inflation and liberal policies have anything to do with it?
  
  Do you know how much cash the gov could have given to each man woman and child with all the stimulus that was wasted paying off unions and democrat cronies?
  
  JZS, this next election will determine if this nation can right itself and survive as the founders intended, or if it will spiral downward to the s*&%hole of marxism that you desire. My bet is on RED, and so is yours, albeit the wrong kind of red.
  
  JZS, somehow I think that the demographic you are trying to target with your relentless cries of class warfare are most probably not readers of the BLAZE.
  Do you think your efforts are winning any hearts and minds here, or do you just enjoy the act of mocking and ridiculing people as a hobby?
  
  JZS, what left wing site is most comparable to the Blaze format that I can sign up for?
  I’m thinking of becoming a conservative version of you. Maybe I have been missing out on some fun.
  
  Good article,
  
  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/04/30/president-obama-is-getting-desperate-and-it-shows/
  
  Report this comment
- Therightsofbilly
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 1:52am
  And JZS,
  
  Have you noticed how many of our resident kiddie atheists here have learned to use your favorite Alinsky tactic #4?
  
  Funny how they all think they are being original.
  
  Like we are going to read their post and suddenly say to ourselves……..Wow, I never looked at it like that before.
  
  Youth is so wasted on the young.
  
  Happy Mayday JZS
  
  Report this comment
- michael48
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 8:58am
  granny left the lemming pen open and out came comrade jzs….
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 10:25am
  brother_ed, you might have a point if history backed you up. Your point seems to be that if businesses trusted Obama, they’d start investing and creating jobs.
  
  So by that logic, when Bush was President businesses knew where they stood and so where able to make plans and grow the economy.
  
  But there’s a problem with your logic. It doesn’t fit the facts. Bush owns the title for the worst job growth in the last 100 years. Essentially no net jobs were created during the eight years he held office, despite tax cuts and the “confidence” you talk about. Zero job growth, although the population continued to grow at the normal rate.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms
  
  I think you need a new theory.
  
  Report this comment
I.Gaspar
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:29pm
Yeah…obama’s up at the crack of 9:30 am (somedays, when no golf or fundraisers are on the schedule) working himself to the bone for his peeps.
What an embarassment to this country this buffon is.

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- Kisses6350
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 6:32am
  His “Peeps”? Who are his peeps? Betting money on my thoughts! ****Smriks****
  
  Report this comment
ICRedifURBlue
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:28pm
Obama and the rest of those communist union mother flukers can go straight to Hell………I feel better now………

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- retiredchief800
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:59pm
  I wish it was that easy. It makes blood shoot from eyes everytime I see this unholy union. Well tomorrow is the commies big day. I am so disgusted by the management of this country and the repubs just stand by and will not begin the impeachment process, Obama has put this country in a coo the executive branch has run rough shod over the other two branches of the government. We need to hear some solutions start coming out of Romneys mouth he better start talking rescinding EO’s that are unconstitutional. I am sick of being sick. The repubs need to start stnding up to this fraud, he has so cheapened and degraded this country, I get sick to my stomach when I see him, I have to mute the tv and divert my eyes, he and his ilk has shamed this once fine nation. Commies aren’t cool folks. Thanks for letting me exercise my first amendment right that is now in danger. God bless America and God bless The Blaze.
  
  Report this comment
pattisu2u
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:21pm
Don’t worry…..this guy is so full of himself and this union stuff is just beyond me. Come to Colorado. Right to work state. My husband is an excavator, been in home construction since 1980. Hasn’t worked for 4 years due to this homebuilding dive in activity. Some idiot somewhere keeps talking about the “recovery” there is NOTHING new happening here in regards to home construction.

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- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:30pm
  no recovery here in North Carolina either…we rank #48 for unemployment.
  
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- gperky
  Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:33am
  The problem is that Colorado doesn’t need any government jobs! The only jobs Obama is creating are not real jobs but jobs for the Government agencies, like EPA, IRS, GSA, etc… Not real jobs that make real things. Your husband needs to turn his business over to you so it is minority owned and build government HUD housing or Offices for new Beaurac-rats!
  
  Report this comment
cassandra
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:20pm
the unions help fight for obama care yet they get a waiver out of it ?????????

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- MAMMY_NUNN
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:52pm
  Yes and with the unions everyone gets a fair shot just ask Jimmy Hoffa.
  They will step on anybody to get their piece of the pie even the disabled and children.
  
  Report this comment
conserve48
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:20pm
What else would you expect from a card carrying socialist. Someone has to stand up to this man and the union jackboots. Unions only ‘CONTROL’ 18% of this countries workforce. Obumer is giving the union thug LEADERSHIP most of the money. Wake up union workers – your leadership does not care anything about you. As long as you cough up your union dues they are fat dumb and happy.

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AJAYW
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:17pm
Yea Right pay a union so you can work and they funnel money to the liberals.

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- barber2
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:55pm
  Yes. The Democrats and the unions. I give you job security , benefits and security with my Far Left policies. And you give me campaign money and vote for me which gives me job security, benefits, and security. Democrats and the ( especially, public ) unions: a match made in Hell..for the taxpayers…
  
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cassandra
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:16pm
union workers anr NOT the average worker, and free Americans should have the RIGHT to join a union or NOT it’s called liberty

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cassandra
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:14pm
Trumka the communist how nice to see he has the support of the president

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timmihendrix
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:12pm
I’m a a public employee and the funny thing is that our retirement program just informed some soon to be retirees that in 2014-2015 they will be adding 10 years for your spouse to qualify for medical coverage due to an expected huge increase in premiums. Hmmmm, what on earth would cause a huge jump in premiums around that time? So our union gave obama millions to pass legislation that virtually crushes our retirement plan. “when you lie down with dogs…..”

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momrules
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:11pm
The thing is Obama has been telling us where he stands and what he thinks.

He has surrounded himself with the most corrupt people in America.
He has sided with Islam, OWS, the unions and Sharpton.
He destroyed oil drilling, coal plants and has usurped Congress at every turn with executive orders.
He has attacked religeus freedom.
He has turned his back on Israel.
He has demoralized our military……………the list goes on.

I do not think this man is stoppable with an election.

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- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:38pm
  took a voting pole today only 11% of people surveyed will vote for obama…85% blame him for the bad economy…our nightmare is soon to be over
  
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- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:51pm
  @momrules…don’t worry, look at all the social media’s 85% negative comments when speaking about him…the tide is turning hard against Obama now,by November he will be lucky if his wife votes for him.
  
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Goldenyears22
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:06pm
Never have we had a president that was so destructive to our nation. If he doesn’t go then we will never recover, we are done for.

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KangarooJack
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:03pm
Ahhh, what a wonderful speech! It went from the shoulders of CONGRESS onto the shoulders of REPUBLICANS as the cause of??? {insert what is wrong with your life-forget about the Country…just what is lacking in YOUR LIFE.}

Contractors are out of work because you can buy a whole friggin crew for 10cents on the dollar OUTSIDE your local Home Depot/Lowes vs. PAYING FOR an actual LICENSENED contrator. Only thing is-you need to be bi-lingual. Easy to pack 10 adults and 20 kids in a 2bd. apt. when SOME of them get food stamps and cash assistance-then you get the occasional job that pays you $20 to work an entire day.

I live in Michigan-State of the Auto Industry. I’m 46yrs old-I’ve seen SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN Union Auto Workers FAKE a “Medical” just to get the Summer off. Some trade off “Medicals” to get Bow & Gun Season {deer} off.
Meanwhile, MANY of us would love to ACTUALLY WORK at our jobs-yet, unless you go to Union School and pay the dues…you aren’t in the “IN Crowd”.

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possom
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:01pm
I wonder how long it will take before obama throw’s the union’s under the bus?

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- KangarooJack
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:25pm
  November 7th.
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:51pm
The Dictator has spoken.

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- momrules
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:13pm
  And he is that SNOW………this election means nothing.
  
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- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:15pm
  He is becoming more dangerous now,,he is a narcissist ,who can not accept ,the majority of the nation considers him a failure….he will try to damage us as much as possible on his way out..
  
  Report this comment
thegodfather
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:49pm
He’s a socialist

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Individualism
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:47pm
Right To Work is fair, you have the right to join a union if you want or you can work things out with your employer by yourself. i am not against unions only being forced to join one is the problem. Glad my state is right to work otherwise i would move. Social Darwnism would make America great and let the worthy thrive and the worthless be punished for what they do.

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- Gary S
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:21pm
  Union states endorse slavery.
  
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Laus Deo
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:47pm
I pledge to fight those who wish to transform my country until I expire, tooth & nail… And rifles/handguns, but I digress.

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disenlightened
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:43pm
…the brother is going down in flames…oops, forgot, no slave blood…Kenyan going down in flames.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:52pm
  Call him for what he is – radical communist going down in flames and bent on taking the nation with him if he can. He will rule all or destroy all, there is no inbetween with Obama.
  
  Report this comment
13th Imam
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:41pm
A backrub and a Lewinsky for Dickie from Barry.

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NHwinter
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:40pm
I’m so tired of seeing his face and hearing and reading what he is doing to destroy America. His agenda is very very clear and undeniable now. He should be tried for treason. This man is anti-America and a Marxist. I hope America understands what is happening.

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- nobama4ever
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:56pm
  Isn’t it scary that most Americans are so ignorant of what is happening to this great country of ours?
  
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- nobama4ever
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:59pm
  Isn’t it scary that most of the Americans are ignorant of what is happening to this great country of ours? Two things are destroying America, the socialist Obama and his mouth piece the lame stream media and the so called religion of peace. People need to wake up and throw this rascal and his minions out of our country.
  
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LiveforFreedom
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:38pm
For this statement Obama has opened himself for Impeachment!!!!

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:52pm
  I wish they would.
  
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- bigben357mag
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:00pm
  Unfortunately, no one in congress has the BALLS!! They are a bunch of school girls, afraid to get a little dirty!!
  
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- MCDAVE
  Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:26pm
  add this to the 28 other impeachable offenses ….the congress lacks the guts to do this…none of my congressmen deserve another term…take a good look at who your voting for in November and ask yourself what did they do to fight against this socialist attack on us
  
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