Teamsters Joins AFL-CIO to Blast Obama as Timid

[Cali_Democrat]

By Paul Bedard
Posted: August 26, 2011

The Teamsters today joined the AFL-CIO in demanding that President Obama stop caving in to the GOP and offer a new jobs program that he will fight for.

"We want him to fight harder," said James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Up to now, he added, the president is "not fighting enough."

While labor isn't about to back a Republican in the election, Hoffa echoed the AFL-CIO's frustration that labor doesn't seem to be on the president's mind. Instead, he said, the president has been too willing to cave into GOP demands on spending and deficit cuts.

In an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Hoffa said: "I think he's got to draw a line in the sand. But to constantly keep backing up, and backing up, we don't want him to do that. We want him to fight and we will rally behind him. And the president also has to rally the base, come back to labor. You know when he was out there talking to the farmers , I had to laugh at that. Do you think the farmers are going to vote for the him? I mean, I don't think so. When he's standing out in that corn field—I love the president—I don't know what he's thinking out there. He's not going to get any votes out there. I guess it was good television."

Read more...http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/08/26/teamsters-joins-afl-cio-to-blast-obama-as-timid

I think this was a brutally honest assessment by Mr. Hoffa and I hope Obama gets the message. Timidity will NOT cut it as bold proposals are now needed. As Hoffa said, the base will rally behind him if he fights.

No more compromise.

See AFL-CIO post from yesterday --->>>http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x754761

[Ozymanithrax]

1. SOLIDARITY...

The man needs this type of constructive criticism.

[roguevalley]

8. Truly. Of course, his mindless followers will be along in a moment

RV, AFSCME, TEAMSTER, NEA, AFT, SEIU (checkered career) :)

[ProSense]

2. It's a good interview. Here's the clip

Teamster head: We want Obama to fight harder (video)

He called out Congress too: Teamsters President Jim Hoffa Urges President To Fight Harder, ‘Wipe These People Out’ In 2012

He went on to say that, if the President can’t get Congress to budge, he should take his case directly to the American people. “There’s going to be an election in ‘12, and maybe the answer is, we wipe these people out.”

<...>

[theoldman]

3. I wonder how many times Obama needs to get this message?

If it falls on deaf ears he will surely be a one term president. BTW, there is no such thing as a good one term president. A one term president is mediocre at best.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. The comments on the corn field show are telling.

The cheap theatrics that used to work just don't because the plot is lost. Attention has wandered from the hero's rambling monologs and lack of action, and all you can think of is all the really bad Hamlets you have seen and how this is even worse.

[SadPanda]

5. Brilliant political strategy.....

They know for a fact Obama has their back. They know for a fact he's been hamstrung repeatedly by an irrational Republican Party. They know that national headlines like these distance Obama from some independent voters who dislike labor. They also know that a 2nd term Obama would be the greatest gift to labor since, well, Johnson?

[Fuddnik]

7. !

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

Yeah, he sure was the greatest thing since peanut butter for the teachers unions.

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

And his new free trade agreements will create brazillions of jobs!

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

In Brazil

[Honeycombe8]

6. That will help Obama, I think, with someone named HOFFA criticizes him.

Besides,I don't think what he said was a "blast." I saw the statements live. They were merely statements, made calmly, expressing that he wants Obama to fight harder. Everyone knows Obama is calm, cool, across-the-aisle, and not a fighter. So the statements were no surprise. And it ain't gonna happen (unfortunately).

[rusty fender]

10. Oh my God--someone named Hoffa is criticizing the President!

He has a lot of nerve saying anything, with a name like Hoffa! Did someone with the name of Hoffa ever pass ground breaking legislation like Lily Ledbetter? No! Did someone named Hoffa ever suggest tax cutting measures and Korean trade agreements that ceate American jobs? No! That Hoffa has alot of nerve, he does...:sarcasm: (just in case)

[Honeycombe8]

11. True. Hoffa....synonymous with mafia...mob...like Chicago...and didn't Obama name Daly

as his new chief of staff?

Trust me. A criticism from a mafia name won't matter one little bit to millions.

[boppers]

9. Ah, yes, slag on farms.

Nice, Hoffa, real nice.

You know who works on farms? Ever heard of Caesar Chavez? The UFW? A FELLOW FUCKING UNION?

Oh, and FWIW, the Teamsters also sided with Reagan.... over Carter. That's just how committed they are to solidarity.

As far as "fighting" goes:
Myself, I'd rather actually get something done than fight. Not all people think that way, though, which explains professional sports like football, boxing, and pro wrestling.

[rury]

12. What is labor doing to provide the votes in Congress to pass a jobs bill

Over the teabaggers who will vote against it?
Never mind, they don't have a solution...they just want President Obama to "scream louder."
And I'm sure some Obama basher will start the crap about "well he had majorities in both houses of Congress...blah, blah, blah."
Did you know that he had to actually scale back the size of the original stimulus because conservative Democrats threatened not to pass it because it was too expensive?
The link below will explain that.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-26/you-think-obama-s-been-a-bad-president-prove-it-jonathan-alter.html
Teamsters and AFL-CIO, along with the "disgruntled progressives" on DU need to scream at Congress, not President Obama.
That said, I would like to see the president offer up a jobs bill even though it won't pass the Rethugs in the house, just so the public can see how obstructionist they are...oh, wait, that was demonstrated before the midterms and voters STILL put the Repukes back in charge...aided and abetted of course, by "progressives" who stayed away from the polls and pouted rather than vote.
They thought it would be smart to "teach Obama a lesson" since he didn't siglehandedly bring about heaven on earth.