Robert Reich: Obama is losing the war of ideas because he won't tell the American public the truth

[Better Believe It]

Why the Right-Wing Bullies Will Hold The Nation Hostage Again and Again
by Robert Reich
April 9, 2011

.... he and the Democratic leadership in Congress refuse to refute the Republicans’ big lie — that spending cuts will lead to more jobs. In fact, spending cuts now will lead to fewer jobs. They’ll slow down an already-anemic recovery. That will cause immense and unnecessary suffering for millions of Americans.

The President continues to legitimize the Republican claim that too much government spending caused the economy to tank, and that by cutting back spending we’ll get the economy going again.

Even before the bullies began hammering him his deficit commission already recommended $3 of spending cuts for every dollar of tax increase. Then the President froze non-defense domestic spending and froze federal pay. And he continues to draw the false analogy between a family’s budget and the national budget.

He is losing the war of ideas because he won’t tell the American public the truth: That we need more government spending now — not less — in order to get out of the gravitational pull of the Great Recession.

Read the full article at:

http://robertreich.org/post/4467669419

[highplainsdem]

1. +1,000,000

[ladjf]

2. Dr. Reich is one of our smartest Democrats. We would be wise

to pay attention to what he is trying to tell us.

[emilyg]

13. .....

[ladjf]

18. Now that is a cryptic response. Care to let me in on what it meant?

[emilyg]

19. Just a lazy way to let u

know I agree with you.

[radiclib]

28. Some of us have been listening all along

Too bad the ones who matter don't.

[tonybgood]

36. maybe Obama doesn't have any ideas?

do you see any vision? Do you see a goal or any kind of destination? That "hopey, changey stuff" that all of us thought we were getting, anyone see where it's going?

[w4rma]

43. His economic team is full of DLCers. The good ones get fired or quit.

He has no good vision. Not on the economy, at least.

[dotymed]

46. It is going

straight to Wall Street. Look at President Obama's cabinet and advisers. The list looks like a "who's who list" of wall street thieves... in fact, it is.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

65. Smooth, smart, glib, and well spoken, but no ideas coming forth

You win the prize for the succinct analysis od Obama.

[howmad1]

51. Better yet:

this poor excuse for a Democratic president should start paying attention to Reich instead of Geitner and Goldman-Sachs.

[truedelphi]

57. Again and again, Obama has referred to Geithner as

"His good buddy." The man works down the hall from Barack - not over at Treasury like you might expect of a Treasury Secretary.

The fix was in the second Obama told "Sixty Minutes (Circa last Sunday in Nov 2008) that Bernanke was doing a good job.

That told me just about everything I needed to know about what to expect.

And unfortunately, Obama did not prove me wrong. I would have loved it if he had.

[MH1]

59. Dr. Reich couldn't get elected governor of Massachusetts

I have read one of his books and used to like his blog. But as much as his heart might be in the right place, he doesn't know much about political effectiveness.

He isn't smart at all about getting and retaining power. He's had all these great ideas for a long time, but what has gotten done?

I care about what can be changed in society, not about how things 'ought' to be in someone's utopian vision. I'd rather Dr. Reich spent his time working on convincing the masses of economic realities rather than tearing down a Democratic President.

[Mass]

64. He could not win a 5 way primary where nearly every candidate was more well known he was in the

state. He came second. By your standard, we should not listen to Barack Obama because he did not win the MA primary. What a weird standard!!!

I respect Reich a lot. Given his size, it probzbly took him a lot of effort to be respected in the stupid world of politics (try to run as a 4'10" man). He has good ideas and it would be nice if the administration was listening a little bit more rather than dismissing anything that will not please the DLC.

I feel sorry the administration has decided that cutting spending even when it hurts so badly is the priority. If they want to cut, however, why not start by FIGHTING for higher taxes for wealthy people.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

68. So what?

Elected office has little to do with intellect, ideas, or the ability to understand the problems we face. Case in point : tea baggers.

[ladjf]

71. Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin couldn't get elected

in Mass in the current political climate. In fact,I doubt that they would be allowed to teach in the public schools. Way too liberal and smart.

My comment about Dr. Reich's intellect did not pertain to his elect-ability, just his good advice and analysis of our current situation.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. It almost does not matter. the repukes tell lies better than most Dems tell the truth.

They know how to define the debate and set up the issues in such a way that the people "understand".

Most of the Dems do not say anything at all. The "Bully Pulpit" appears to be vacant.


I keep thinking about what David Frum said "The Republicans are afraid of their base. The Democrats loathe their base."

[me b zola]

5. +1000 for your comment

It should be a bumper sticker: "Republicans lie better than Democrats tell the truth"

:applause:

[Raksha]

20. Too true! I'd buy that bumpersticker.

Of course both are a matter of practice.

[mazzarro]

69. I think it might better this way...

"Republicans lie better than Democrats tell the truth clumsier"

[Lorien]

11. Very very true on all counts

well said!

[intheflow]

25. I don't think they're better at telling lies than Dems are at telling the truth.

I think it's that their lies are so outrageous and inflammatory that they get the news coverage. Truth doesn't sell in the CM. :(

[NewJeffCT]

29. Truth-telling Democrats don't get airtime

beyond Maddow, Schultz, O'Donnell and occasionally Hardball.

When was the last time true progressives like Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer, etc. were on a Sunday morning talk show unopposed?

[sandyd921]

4. We'll have to wait a very long time

if the expectation is that Obama (and most of the Dems) will tell the public the truth about our economic problems: government has to spend it's way out of recession + we don't have a taxation problem, we have a revenue problem (the wealthy and corporations have to pay more).

[movonne]

6. Maybe his chess move is to let the repugs do their thing until the

America people stand up and fight..we have got to stop expecting anything from are president, congress, or our senate...they are for the most part bought and paid for(corporation money) unless we take over and fight for it..we must start going for the corporations that is where it begins..

[theaocp]

7. ...and the reason he agrees with puke talking points is the fault of

the pukes themselves because WHY again?!?

Hold. his. feet. to. the. fire! LBeffinJ knew when to bow out gracefully. Oh, sorry, but President Obama reads REAGAN history! How silly of me...

[dkf]

8. Does anyone really believe cutting spending will create jobs in the short run?

I doubt it. But we all understand how being in debt is a bad thing, especially after all we have been through.

[RaleighNCDUer]

37. The difference is, whe WE are in debt we have to take a second job

or cut non-essential spending to deal with it.

When the government is in debt it can't just take a second job. OTOH, it doesn't need to. It can generate more income through tax revenues, and use those revenues to INVEST in the economy.

INVEST

Every government grant to education produces more highly educated students who move into, or create, more high paying work. That increaseas tax revenue to the government.

Every infrastructure investment is a money saver - if the government had spent 20 million repairing the I35W bridge, it would not have had to spend hundreds of millions in building a new bridge and paying for the rescue and recovery, and restitution for the victims, not to mention the cost of 35 lives. How many hundreds of millions more will it cost the government with the delaying or cancelling of infrastructure projects?

To claim that spending is the problem, and not include the cost of 900 overseas military bases, three acknowledged foreign wars - and any number of unacknowledged ones, as in Colombia and the Philippines - is worse than simple hypocrisy. I don't think there is an adequate word in English for it.

Debt is NOT the problem. Anyone who racks up 30,000 in student loans, then gets a job that starts at 60k after school, will tell you that debt is worth it - so long as there is a responsible plan for dealing with it. Of course, rack up 30k in loans and follow up with a career flipping burgers, and you're fucked. And THAT is the plan the repukes have - for us all to be flipping burgers after paying for a professional degree, because THEY own the loan.

[BetsysGhost]

54. that government grant to education

is all good except for the fact that HEAP was drastically reduced.

Hard to study when you're freezing night after night, let alone hungry because the Food Stamps got cut too.

America is screwed.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dionysus]

15. where have i heard teleprompter jokes before...

hmmmm

[kentuck]

10. The Democratic Party does not trust the people with the truth...

therefore...

[emilyg]

14. I lost my trust in them.

[Better Believe It]

16. I don't think that's the real problem. The problem is they agree with cutting social programs.

[xchrom]

12. Recommend

[amborin]

17. K&R

[andym]

21. Reich is right.

And leading Democrats, especially the President, need to counter this. Cutting spending during a weak recovery is foolish.

[Shiver]

22. Rec'd, mainly for finding a post of yours I agree with.

And because I can't disagree with Robert Reich on this. Or on much of anything. :loveya:

[Enthusiast]

23. Obama has embraced trickle down.

Real Democrats don't do this.

[Scuba]

24. This fight needs the evil Dr. No to be present...

...I said during the healthcare debate that we should be citing the salaries - and actions - of health insurance executives to help the American People understand that they were being taken.

Same goes here.... Let's call out the Koch's and the other wealthy - international and domestic - plutocrats who are manipulating our democracy for their own gain. I'm not sure we can get the attention of the People any other way.


(edited for spelling)

[fasttense]

26. I think Obama has bought into trickle down, "free" trade economic theory.

Look at who he picked for the important economic positions. He has "free" traders, Wall Street bankers and neocons all over his economic team.

That's why he can't tell the truth about economics, he doesn't know what it is.

[tomp]

27. truth? from the president of the u.s.?

what naive idiot would ever expect that? when did that ever happen? i mean, really!

[shanti]

30. reich is on a roll lately!

he was on bill maher a few weeks ago and was very impressive.

[Mason Dixon]

31. can someone explain to me

why the 2009 trillion dollar stimulus was insufficient

[RaleighNCDUer]

38. Because 2/3 of it was in tax cuts maybe? nt

[silver10]

40. Because it was used by states to fill in budget gaps.

Gaps caused by less taxes being paid, whether sales or income - due to fewer people earning and spending money like they did before the recession.

[kenny blankenship]

62. Because in the first place the hole to be filled was 1.5 trillion, according CBO estimates of GDP

and 1 trillion does not cover a 1.5 trillion dollar shortfall, just as a 2/3rds completed bridge will not allow you to drive your car over a river. And in the second place the stimulus wasn't even a trillion it was 800 billion, and in the third place over half of that $800B wasn't even stimulus, but taxcuts. In short approx 400 billion worth of concrete was poured into a 1500 billion dollar sized hole in GDP. And rich people got a 400 billion dollar tax holiday which they put into such worthy projects as GIVING FERRARI MOTORCARS ITS BEST NORTH AMERICAN SALES YEAR EVER.

And that is why the economy -for all but the richest folks connected to banks- is stuck in shit up to its ears.

[Mason Dixon]

70. not exactly

1 your bridge analogy is lame, what did you come up with that by hitting yourself in the head with a rock for inspiration
2 there was an addition to the 780 billion dollar stimulus, which pushed it to just under 1T. Miss that headline?
3 there were no tax cuts but tax credits. tax cuts last years or until there are tax increases. Tax credits last a determined abut of time and then expire. Such as the first time home buyer tax credit. But of course you have to qualify for these credits. For example a couple buy there first home who make more than 150k a year are not eligible for the 8k tax credit

[on point]

32. The big truth is Supply Side Economics is a proven failure and leading the country to bankruptcy!

[avaistheone1]

33. k&r

:kick:

[jwirr]

34. That isn't the only truth that he is not telling us. Oil depletion - climate

change, personal debt coupled with low wages and greed are underlying factors in the problems we have with our economy.

[somone]

35. The audacity of the path of least resistance

of a sellout

[silver10]

39. Obama is not a strong president

FDR was, that is how he got us out of the great depression - with the huge amount of government spending which created jobs. He wasn't bullied like this guy is.

[upi402]

41. Hey Reich - How's NAFTA workin out for ya?

IT SUCKS ASS FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS FOR THAT!

[inna]

52. he left the Cinton administration because of NAFTA and other crap.

definitely an enlightened character compared to monsters in charge now (such as Immelt, for example).

[indimuse]

42. KNR! n/t

[kenny blankenship]

44. He had to level with the people about our situation when he first came into office

and he didn't want to do that. He would have had to explain how bad things really were, how they got so incredibly fucked up and -critically- WHO was profiting from these nation-destroying policies, and the BIG IDEAS they used to cover the advance of their criminal enterprise. Of course that would mean going right to the brink. People who lie cheat and steal their way to a position of slavemasters over the strongest country in the world do not give up their undemocratic power without blood, just because somebody got elected to enact reform after their schemes blew up the country. The people at large were ready to hear that we had invaded Iraq under false pretenses and had shredded our own Bill of Rights in the course of prosecuting Bush's trumped up wars against shadowy forces everywhere on the planet. The people were ready to hear that Wall St. had hollowed out our national economy and converted the Treasury and monetary system into a funnel leading directly to their pockets and had rendered the majority of the country into debt slavery. But to broach any of this required exposing all of it, and that would bring a pushback from the ruling class not seen since the failed businessman's plot against Franklin Roosevelt. Obama simply did not have it in him to face what they are and what our national situation actually is. Ironically his cowardice has done nothing to stop the Chamber of Commerce and the other actors like the Kochs from trying to destroy him. So now as a result, Obama has trapped himself into essentially being a caretaker for the Reagan-Republican rob-from-the-poor-and-give-to-the-rich cataclysm. His self-limited scope consists of trying to mitigate its most dangerous civil-order threatening effects in the short term. But in long term he's challenging none of its causes. By continuing it, in fact, he is forced into actively covering for the plutocracy, and that ensures that it will only get worse.

Of course we are trapped along with him. Some of us are trapped into clapping frantically for every Bush-worthy abuse of civil rights and every Reagan worthy act of economic aggression against working Americans. But clapping or not, we are all trapped by his failure.

[L0oniX]

45. Poor and unemployed people don't contribute to campaigns.

Don't expect that anyone in gov is going to really care about us little people. Don't matter if they are dem or repuke. For that matter why would anyone expect the truth from anyone who doesn't go after war criminals and wall street thieves? ...who in fact has the thieves in his admin. ...and yet we only have a choice of the best liar of 2 rich people. Ideas only mean shit if there is a real expectation of the fruition of them. "the President froze non-defense domestic spending" Oh yea that's great ...I like how they call all military expenses "defense" like there isn't any offensive operations going on. So they take us all to be stupid idiots ...nice. Don't expect me to respect them cause they don't deserve any. They are ALL liars and manipulators. Capitalism has taken over Democracy. The only thing wrong with government spending is that an obscene amount is spent on wars, the MIC .........and campaign ads. Over a trillion this year ...what could we do with half of that every year?

:rant:

[humbled_opinion]

47. What really hurts is when

You have a President that campaigns:

1. against tax cuts for the rich and then signs an extension to the very same tax cuts he said caused all the problems in the first place....

2. A President that campaigns against war and involvement in foreign nations wins a Nobel Peace Prize and then dramatically increases troop presence in one war and starts a third war of choice.

3. Campaigns against the status quo of corporate interference in government and then gives Wall Street a minor slap on the wrist for screwing the American people out of Trillions of dollars, and then becomes best friends with many corporate CEO's some whom he gave government positions too, and has now partnered with Wall Street.

Bottom line Obama has been a disappointment a very articulate master politician who refuses to educate the American electorate on progressive principles and instead partners with and champions conservative regressive principles...

and he wants a second term....

[JHB]

48. He's losing the war of ideas because he won't fight it

I won't speculate on his motives, because ultimately they don't matter. The Republicans push for everything because there's little pushback, and even less planning of where, when, and how to do so.

[gauguin57]

49. Robert Reich for president.

I've been saying it for years. I'd vote to put our country in his hands in a heartbeat.

This country is too focused on good looks, though ... and his scruffy beard and height would do him in before the first primary was held. Unfortunately.

Personally, I think he's handsome ... and brilliant.

Paul "Eddie Munster" Ryan will probably be president someday ... he has that Kennedyesque look to him. That will drive the conservative ladies WILD (the same ladies who drooled over how fabulous Dubya looked in a pair of jeans (ick).

And yes, I WILL bite my tongue.

[Honeycombe8]

50. I DO think the govt budget is similar to a family budget in some ways.

Both federal and state govt. Basic principles are the same, I think.

If you have less $$$, for whatever reason, you have to spend less $$$.

This is separate and apart from a specialized stimulus program. The Dems passed one of those. It wasn't overly successful, and PR-wise not very smart, since it contained a lot of pork that was not for stimulus.

There is little chance of getting another stimulus program passed, I guess. But that's a separate issue.

The main issue remains: you have less income...then you have less $$$ to spend. You can borrow some, or even a lot, like before your income lessened. But still, you have to borrow less and spend less, commensurate with your income. It's a simple premise. If the govt always worked that way, we'd all be better off. And the economy is better, when the budget is balanced (think back to the balanced budget years of the 1990's).

[Bluesbreaker]

53. One caveat . . .

Robert Reich: "In fact, spending cuts now will lead to fewer jobs."

Yes, but it will lead to greater profits for the corporations who are funding the president's re-election campaign, as well as those of the majority of Congress. That's what counts to those guys.

You can always buy the votes if have a big enough war chest and advertising budget. Most voters don't research the issues, the bills involved or how their elected officials voted. They watch TeeVee spots and MSM news.

[wildbilln864]

55. k&r! nt

[lib2DaBone]

56. Next week.. we will have our last NASA mission...

NASA is going bust thanks to Paul Ryan and the Teabaggers. We will no longer be able to deliver a payload into space.

The USA will enter an era behind India and third world nations. Way to Go TEABAGGERS!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

58. "...the bullies...?"

Poor baby.

[ProgressIn2008]

60. Why on earth would he tell the truth? It's not in his interest to do so

And Obama always looks out for his own interests. We'll get nowhere by pretending Obama is the innocent victim of the big bad evildoers. That's not good enough anymore -- it's getting us stuck in the mud and giving the representatives who are supposed to represent us an eternal get out of jail free card. How that working out?

[patrice]

61. All true.

[lordsummerisle]

63. K&R n/t

[democrank]

66. K & R

[MissDeeds]

67. Y&R n/t