President Obama’s Latest ‘We Can’t Wait’ Initiative: Unpaid Internships
- Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:54am by
Becket Adams
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President Barack Obama has announced his latest job creation initiative: “Summer Jobs +” The program was created from two things: a) the president’s desire to invest $1.5 billion on summer and year-round employment for low-income people ages 16-2 and b) his failure to pass his “jobs” bill.
So, instead of relying on the “jobs” bill for funding, President Obama will defer to his trademark “We Can’t Wait” strategy and bypass Congressional authority.
“Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of executive actions the Obama administration is taking to strengthen the economy and move the country forward because we can’t wait for Congress to act,” a White House statement reads.
“America’s young people face record unemployment, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they’ve got the opportunity to earn the skills and a work ethic that come with a job. It’s important for their future, and for America’s. That’s why I proposed a summer jobs program for youth in the American Jobs Act — a plan that Congress failed to pass. America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” Obama said in a written statement.
The White House proudly proclaimed that — with help from the private sector – it’s gotten commitments for nearly 180,000 youth employment opportunities for next summer.
The “Summer Jobs+” program has three components (via Kansas City Star):
- Learn and Earn, in which employers provide paid internships or “permanent” jobs
- Life Skills, in which employers provide “soft skills” or job-readiness training
- Work Skills, in which employers provide job-shadowing or unpaid internships to prepare for future employment
“The president has been clear that where there is gridlock with this Congress, he will act,” said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. She noted that the unemployment level among those aged 16 to 24 is 16 percent, far higher than the 10.7 percent in 2007 before the recession began, according to The Hill.
Republicans charged the White House with taking credit for positions at places like CVS and Bank of America that were going to be created anyway.
“Everyone agrees internships are a helpful tool for youth, particularly in this economy. Yet rather than taking credit for programs that companies already had in place, a more constructive use of the White House’s time would be calling on Democratic leaders to act on the dozens of House-passed jobs bills still sitting idle in Democratic-run Senate,” a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a recent ABC News report.
In addition to the Speaker’s criticisms, there is another problem with the summer jobs program: many of the “jobs” are unpaid. In fact, only 70,000 of the “work opportunities” are paying positions.
Wait–what?
Yep, only 38 percent of the 180,000 summer jobs are paid “work opportunities.”
So, although the White House wants to boast that it found 180,000 summer positions for unemployed young adults, it may find out the hard way that most people are uninterested in a job bank where 62 percent of the listed positions are unpaid.
In short, “these ‘jobs’ aren’t jobs at all (one must get paid to be classified as holding a job and being employed, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics spokesperson),” writes Tom Blumer of Newsbusters.
Nevertheless, the White House believes “Summer Jobs +” is a worthwhile and noble effort.
“While young people who are currently disconnected from school or work are not contributing to our economy, we see these young people as ‘Opportunity Youth’ — because of the untapped potential they bring to the nation,” said Patty Stonesifer, chairwoman of the White HouseCouncil for Community Solutions, according to UPI.
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Comments (106)
OneTermPresident
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:59pmMore propaganda for the young minds who will turn 18 in an election year… Saul Alinsky and Albert Herlong Jr. would be proud of their star pupil.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:35pmthe job that wasn’t… wasn’t a job…
“you’re just a silly slave in a company with no pay and no benifits”
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:42pmI understood the payback to high buck doners by hiring their kids and the prestiage but Warren Buffets Grand daughter! This girl is worth a few billion in her trust when she becomes 27 – I guess her allowance isn’t enough.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:04pmmore smoke and mirrors from the empty suit president. Just like everything with Obama..it’s about appearance not substance. Heck..why doesn’t he hand out labcoats again also?
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:35pmThe only thing Obama “can’t wait” on, is for it to just be made official, that he is now our Fuhrer…..I wonder if he has started building the ovens yet? Just a piece of advice, if in the near future, someone from the government offers you and your family a “relaxing train ride”, run like crazy….
Report Post »bhohater
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 6:48pmWhat we can’t wait for is the Sickle Cell to kick in or for him to slip on a banana peel and break his neck while deplaning from Air Force One.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 7:04pm@ Turkey13
Report Post »Warren Buffetts’ granddaughter has a multi-billion dollar trust? Interesting. That is not consistent with Buffett’s preaching on the evils of giving big money to children and grandchildren.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 9:41pm.
I knew they were lying when I heard them talk about “Work opportunities.”
“Obama will create 2 million work opportunities.”
Did you think I heard “Job”.? I didn’t, did you?
A work opportunity doesn’t pay the bills.
Report Post »People want jobs, and Obama is a dismal failure at letting the private sector create jobs.
Cynic-clinic
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 8:13amBillions of taxpayer bucks have been spent, for years, on the Americorps/Vista programs to provide job opportunities for young people (and older, family support, social services blah, blah , blah) so Obama’s new (so called) jobs program is just another make-work scheme trying to pump up Obama, no one else.
When you are incapable of doing anything effective, create an ineffective program and send out a PR bulletin.
Report Post »ewoodard
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:53pmHold it- since when is an unpaid worker a “job?” Isn’t unpaid work just slavery? I’m a small business owner-how do I get one of these slaves? Is there a new “Department of Slaves” that I apply to?
Report Post »captaincameron
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:26pmYou misunderstand. This is not slavery.
Report Post »This will give the youth direction and focus, a feeling of pride, and a sense of unity.
Brown shirts are not far behind.
mrfunn
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:22pm‘since when is an unpaid worker a “job?”‘
Perhaps that is why the Jobs Numbers are looking better.
Report Post »yoni508
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:48pmEwoodard-
Report Post »Isn’t it amazing how Hollywood has no problem profiting off of work they don’t pay for, but is incensed when the very same unpaid interns use their work product (movies, music…) without paying for it.
The fashion industry makes millions off the work unpaid interns do to sell their overprice pocketbooks and shoes, but would be enraged to find out if one of their unpaid interns wore a counterfeit one.
At least slave owners had the decency not to charge their slaves rent. Some unpaid interns are paying universities for credits or pay business for unpaid internship placements.
I was an unpaid intern (the one and only time I will do that) at a law firm. I had enough of this growing exploitation and started a law firm solely focused on getting unpaid interns paid for their work. The law is on the side of unpaid interns, they just don’t know it. Check out my site at internlaw dot com.
Please help us spread the word
Chuck Stein
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 7:06pmLook, if a well-paying job can be called “volunteer” work, why not an unpaid work be called a “job”? The Left bends words to fit political agendas. Nothing new.
Report Post »Oldbutnotsenile
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 3:03pmIf you can get the youth off their high-tech equipment long enough to do an honest interview, they might find a real job. I am on my grand-children all the time because of the time they spend on their high tech phones, I-Pods, I-Pads that they have lost all their real social skills which it definitely takes to do a proper interview. I have also lectured my children of there could have been better use of their money, but I guess it came easier for them than it did for me in my youth. Of course needless to say he showed them the importantance of good work ethics, but the youngest of four just didn’t get it. Oh well, 75% is better than nothing.
Report Post »tgthompson
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:40pmAnd where does this $1.5 billion come from? Oh yea, he will add it to his 3 trillion dollar debt, hell what’s another $1.5 billion. Let’s just keep on digging that hole deeper. .
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:49pmHe has added 5 trillion to the debt in 3 years.
Report Post »Doris
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:55pmyeh, how is this helpful to anyone except the teen? Adults are paying thru the nose for a teens job. Thats how he creates jobs anyway. Pays big bucks for jobs from taxpayers or money stolen from Soc.sec.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:24pmA million seconds is 12 days.
Report Post »A billion seconds is 31 years.
A trillion seconds is 31,688 years.
JAMACAMECRAZYMAN
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:25pmI have a job for this idiot……………
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:48pmWow, My mother-in-law escaped from the camps during WWII. She was a child of 8. A German Shepard took a hunk of her leg, but they managed to dodge the bullets – except for her father. Her mother got her and her sisters safely out, and on a ship to America – a land free of dictators. She told me how they cried when they saw the Statue of Liberty…she is crying again…
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kqVZUCRth0&t=18m33s
Lucy Larue
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:38pm@IMPEACHBO,
Merci! Your post was succinct.Your post spoke the truth.
I know why your mother-in-law is crying.
Vox Populi Vox Dei. We are awake!
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:23pmI am 63 years old. This kind of stuff has been going on since I was a teenager. It sounds just like Job Corps without the residential requirement. Private business has been using unpaid and paid interns for years and getting government credit for it. Prior to my retirement, I was North American Director of Human Resources for Swiss pharmaceutical company. I promoted this kind of program because of the free to low cost. Most 16-18 year olds are prevented from participating in many businesses because of OSHA requirements.
POTUS is just another Democrate who can’t figure out how to balance his check book. This is all sound and fury signifying nothing.
Report Post »slr4528
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:15pmI am sure all of these jobs, especially the unpaid ones, will have some affiliation to Obama’s reelection campaign.
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:13pmHe is training the youth for the Obama re-election army…some will be paid and some will work for free.
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:48pmExactly right. The Obama army come election day: 180,000 strong with $1.5billion of our money in their pockets.
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:10pmThe caption under this picture of Obama should read “BWAAAHAAHAA!”
Report Post »ROMANS 10-9
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:07pm“I think Obama should wear a uniform like NASCAR drivers so we could identify his sponsors.”
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:17pmyes I agree and put GE and ACORN on his head
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:18pmI like that…great post! Might be a problem with him doing that though…wouldn’t be enough room on his skinny uniform for all his sponsers….or they may even weight him down so he would fall on his face…now that would be funny.
Report Post »Vic Tory
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:26pmHave the fat chick (Michelle) wear one too. She could fit a billboard across her @ss and still leave room on the sides.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:22pmVic-Tory – now I have the giggles. I can just imagine Mishelle walking away:
RE ELECT BARAK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN.
PLEASE RE ELECT fANCY NANCY PELOSI.
DEBBIE WASSERMANN-SCHULTZ AND SHEILA
JACKSON-LEE, BARBARA BOXER (SEN) AND
DIANE FIENSTEIN. DON’T FORGET ALL THE
OTHER DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES PLEASE
(REMAINDER OF THIS SPACE IS FOR RENT)
OMG
Report Post »PATRIOT802
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:04pmWith a smile like that…you should get a free bowl of soup………What a Beeeaauuttcchh !
Report Post »jacques.daspy
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:04pmWill the summer job candidates be required to fill out a job application or can they take it home for help. How about spelling their name the same way three times. There should be and “only job ever” plan for those that will never qualify for a job in the civilian sector.
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:47pmA Republican man is talking to his proud, Democrat neighbor and daughter. The Dem tells the man how smart and caring his daughter is. The Rep. asks her what she wants to be when she grows up, and she answers, “the president”. He asks, “what is the first thing you would do as president”? She replies,“provide them free housing and feed the hungry”. Her father was smiling ear to ear. The Republican says,”that is a nice idea, but you don’t have to wait to be president to do that, I will pay you $40 to rake all the leaves in my yard, it usually takes me about 5 hours, then I will drive you to the shelter and you can donate the money to them. She thinks about it for a while because she dosen’t want to waste her Saturday and then says, “why don’t you drive there, pick them some of them up and pay them to rake the leaves”? The Republican father looks at her Democrat father and says, “I see that she is a Republican after all”
Report Post »alpha2omega47
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:41pmObama looks like a Nazi mule.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:55pmThat picture is priceless. It must be the way he is laughing at all Americans.
Report Post »PATRIOT802
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:00pmAmen Brother !…………………GOD BLESS AMERICA
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 8:03pmHa! Now I know why their mascot is a donkey!
Report Post »JEANNIEMAC
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:37pmCongress is too timid to fight back against Obama, but millions of American citizens can do it.
We can issue a writ of “Quo warranto” to Obama and stop him.
A writ of quo warranto is not a petition, but a notice of demand, issued by a demandant, to a respondant claiming some delegated power, and filed with a court of competent jurisdiction, to hold a hearing within 3 to 20 days, depending on the distance of the respondant to the court, to present proof of his authority to execute his claimed powers. If the court finds the proof insufficient, or if the court fails to hold the hearing, the respondant must cease to exercise the power. If the power is to hold an office, he must vacate the office.
The writ is unlike a petition or motion to show cause, because the burden of proof is on the respondant, not on the demandant.
By itself, the writ does not seek the support of the court to order the respondant to cease the exercise or vacate the office. That would be an accompanying writ of prohibito or a writ of mandamus. All such writs contemplate enforcement by the people as militia, although that could include the sheriff or constable as commander of militia. The right involved is that of the respondant to present his evidence.
These writs are called prerogative writs because they are supposed to be docketed ahead of all other cases except other prerogative writs. The demandant represents the sovereign, the people, and anyone may appear in that capacity, even without a
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:07pmHow do we do this?? Lets do this!! FTPOTUS and his dicktatorship. Misspelled on purpose. O I maybe going to a fema camp after that one. Come and try it owebamabots.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:37pmI will sign that..Also start a petition for impeachment signed by millions of citizens…Congress won’t act…Maybe we should
Report Post »Kerri g
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:35pmto lynnissmart: Dictatorship
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:35pmI just hope that all of the Democrats that are so happy with all of these “executive orders”, will under stand when a Republican gets into office and does the same thing
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:30pmUnions will jump in and have them picket and believe they need representation. Search what happened at Hershey this past summer when they brought in employees for summer work. The unions were O.K. with the Help positions at first, which is odd, but then they had them picket looking for higher wages.
Report Post »This is just how they brainwash the youth, have the govt. put you into a private job, and have you believe they created it.
jacques.daspy
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:07pmYou have to instill in the youth at an early age the concept “that all things good and worthwhile, comes from the Union” It negates all that foolishness about having to be useful and productive>
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:27pmI hope those that accept these so-called “jobs” realize that what government giveth, the government will take away. So, I am asking – will they develop any skills that will make them worth a poop in the private market?
Report Post »CONNIPTION FITZ
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:20pm1. Training (Islamist/LBGT/illegal aliens/communist) Obama Regime Watchdogs?
2. Will get priority over others in new bureaucratic positions (the Fed. is still hiring big time go to Drudge, an Invitation specialist 100K per year with 5 weeks vacation).
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:16pmGreat, so when do the 16-20 year olds get their brown shirts?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:22pmMost “Brown Shirt” Troops… paid Dues…
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:54pmAbout the same time they get their jack boots.
Report Post »Khthulhu
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:16pmWhat planet is he living on? More importantly, what planet are the people who support him living on? Stupid id as Stupid does…
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:36pmWhy don’t we recruit welfarians for the non-paying jobs, let them earn their benefits and maybe instill a work ethic in them?
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 7:15pmKHTHULHU,
With respect KHTHULHU…,President Dunham does not wear the “Stupid is as stupid does” mantle.
It is the Citizens of this nation that wear it.
It was stupid ,spoiled,smug,lazy, Americans who voted for “Hope and Change” and “The Fundamental Transformation” of the greatest country the world has ever known.
President Dunham and his minions are not stupid. They are lethal.
We are watching the Transformation. President Dunham is doing exactly what he promised during his campaign. He kept no secrets. He told everyone what he was going to do. Some paid attention and said NON!
The “MAJORITY” of American voters paid no attention.
We did this to ourselves.
Will the “MAJORITY” wake up in 2012?
“We have met the enemy and HE is US”! POGO
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:08pmHow can anybody that’s been around for a while listen or read this garbage and think it makes sense? Since when have “shortcuts” ever worked long term???
The level of ignorance from the left is palpable. How can anybody support this nonsense? This is what turned me off about democrats when I was about 10 years old. I just couldn’t dumb myself down like they expected and then tow the company line.
Report Post »EthicsGirl
Posted on January 8, 2012 at 7:07amGreat comment about shortcuts. So true.
Report Post »speedyjerry
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:07pmIf residents of the White House can’t pass an FBI background check for employment what the hell are they doing running the country? http://speedyjerry.com/2011/12/06/forget-obamas-birth-certificate-issue/ Every day closer to the election just gets worse.
Report Post »Joisey
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:04pmYeah, get used to working for nothing under Obama–your slave collar awaits.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:03pmYeah these silly kids they’ll gladly vote for their slave master,they‘re participating in their own demise and the best part is they don’t even realize it. Over a century of assault on the constitution eventually produces mind numbing drones.Fast forward a century and voila the Marxist’s utopia is created,everyone is equally poor.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:03pmAmerica we are in real trouble!!!!!! There is no limit to this guy’s arrogance….he just keeps it going and going and nobody in Congress or the Republican party calls him out!!!!!! What’s next, what’s next, what’s next! I
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 2:16pmThe repubs are cowards and / or progressives, that‘s why they haven’t done anything. I for one, am getting into survivor mode at this point, as I see NOTHING changing or being done on both sides.
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