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Writers Articles And Opinions |
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30 January 2010 By Stephen Lendman
The response to Obama's
first
State of the Union address was predictable.
Democrats loved it. Republicans were skeptical to
critical, while the media tried to have it both ways.
The New
York Times called his tone "colloquial, even
relaxed" in quoting him stating "the worst of the
storm has passed," then The Times saying "Americans
are concerned, even angry." He urged Democrats not to
"run for the hills," called for an end to "tired old
battles," and focus(ed) intently on the issue of most
immediate concern to the nation, jobs."
A Times editorial headlined "The Second Year," saying
"The union is in a state of deep and justifiable
anxiety about jobs and mortgages and two long, bloody
wars.
President Obama did not create these problems,
and none could be solved in one year. (He) used his
(address) to show the country what he has learned and
how he intends to govern in the next three years. (It)
was a reminder (of his ability) to inspire with a
grand vision and the simple truth frankly spoken. It
was a long time coming."
A Wall
Street Journal editorial headlined "Staying the
Course (but) with a little more humility, and a touch
more bipartisanship....But whether this outreach is
anything more than rhetoric will depend on a change of
policy." It "could be a long year," concluded The
Journal.
CNN.com was more upbeat saying "Obama outlines
ambitious agenda for 'lasting prosperity,' noting that
the "president struck an optimistic tone and avoided
lofty rhetoric in stating that the cost of inaction
will be great."
The
Washington Post's
EJ Dionne called Obama "a conciliator (who's)
willing to fight."
The Post's
Eugene
Robinson called his rhetoric "determined,
patient, forceful, good-humored, at times even
mischievous. He looked relaxed and in control. (For)
the first time in months (he) reconnected with the
language and themes that got him elected."
Time.com
headlined "Confident Republicans Give Obama a Frosty
Reception." At the same time, columnist Joe Klein
called his speech "a terrific performance....easily
digestible, user-friendly....but it was also a
fighting speech....This was Obama at his best."
In its customary supportive role,
The
Nation magazine's
Robert Dreyfuss headlined "Two Cheers for Obama
on
Foreign Affairs," saying "it was a pleasure to
listen to (him), especially after eight years of his
predecessor's alarmist warnings and warlike thundering
(so) let's take a moment to appreciate Obama's speech
last night."
The Nation's Melissa Harris-Lacewell called his
address a "National Rorschach Test....given meaning by
the viewer more than by the subject. (Obama tried) to
break through this psychological angst....to remind
Americans of the situational constraints he faces; to
shift....despair back to optimism," and remind people
that the crisis began under his predecessor. "As he
has done exquisitely since the campaign, (he)
contextualized these difficulties within a broader
historical sweep (by) insist(ing) that the "American
story....is replete with examples of gritty
determination (to overcome) seemingly insurmountable
obstacles."
From the
Financial Times: "Obama pledges renewed focus
on jobs" as his "number one" priority (while) at the
same time pledg(ing) to right the economy and continue
pushing for healthcare and
financial sector reform."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi sounded the Democrat
response saying:
"Tonight, President Obama presented a vision to the
American people of a stronger union, a new
foundation for prosperity and a thriving middle class.
Working together, we will adopt a bold agenda for our
economic growth."
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch called Obama
"completely tone deaf (by) blaming all our problems on
George
W. Bush (and) doubl(ing) down on his commitment
to a Washington-knows-best strategy that will only
make matters worse."
From
House Minority Leader John Boehner: "The
American people were looking for President
Obama to change course tonight, and they got more of
the same job-killing policies instead."
As a candidate, Obama promised change, a new course,
sweeping government reforms, addressing people needs,
and "ensur(ing) that the hopes and concerns of average
Americans speak louder in Washington than the hallway
whispers of high-priced lobbyists...."
A year later, hope is disillusion, frustration, and
anger over promises made, then broken with a growing
awareness that Obama represents business as usual, a
reality rhetoric can't change.
His top political, economic and
national security officials are former
administration members - from
Wall
Street, the military, and other key power
centers for continuity, not promised change.
He presides over a bogus democracy under a homeland
police
state apparatus, embraces torture and political
persecution like his predecessor, and continues
unbridled militarism, imperial wars, and a shocking
disregard for the law.
A
January 27
Dana
Priest Washington Post article revealed a
secret Obama "hit list," the same policy
George
Bush authorized to kill US citizens abroad
claimed to be supporting terrorism "against the United
States or US interests," whether or not it's true.
He looted the federal Treasury for Wall Street, plans
new monetary measures to control the world's money,
and favors handouts to the rich at the expense of
beneficial social change.
He embraces the same Bush administration policies,
targets dissenters, Muslims, Latino immigrants,
environmental and animal rights activists, and lawyers
who defend them too vigorously.
He spies illegally on Americans, destroyed decades of
hard won
labor
rights, wants public education privatized as
another business profit center, and scorns democracy
in favor of hard-line rule.
He backs rationing healthcare, destroying Medicare,
and enriching insurers, drug companies and large
hospital chains. He wants legislation passed to
empower agribusiness, let corporate polluters reap
huge windfall profits by raising energy costs, and
create a speculative bonanza for Wall Street with a
new carbon trading derivatives scheme.
He wants all Americans monitored with a national ID
card, favors preventive detentions for uncharged
detainees, and opposes protection for whistleblowers
and journalists to protect their identity.
He ignores growing poverty, hunger, and homelessness,
refuses help for budget-strapped states, and chooses
rhetoric, theater, deceit and cynicism, not
progressive change to address a national emergency.
His
State of the Union address reflected "yes we
can," "hope (and) change," and another pledge that
"Tonight I want every American to know this: We will
rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of
America will emerge stronger than before....The time
to take charge of our future is here," at the same
time he invaded Haiti, occupies the country with
20,000 combat troops, obstructs essential aid from
reaching millions, and claims it's a humanitarian
mission.
Rutherford Institute president and constitutional
lawyer, John Whitehead, says he's "afraid (of) the
state of the nation" in his January 27
augustforecast.com article, citing "Ominous
developments in America (that) have been a long time
coming," covering some of the above perspectives and
more.
"As national borders dissolve in the face of spreading
globalization, (it's likely) that our
Constitution....will be subverted in favor of
international laws....The corporate media (act mostly)
as a mouthpiece for government propaganda, no
longer....as watchdogs, guarding against encroachments
of our rights....We have lost our moral
compass....Americans have largely lost the ability to
ask questions and think analytically....we no longer
have a sense of right and wrong or a way to hold the
government accountable," the way Jefferson wrote in
the
Declaration of Independence - that when
government fails the people, it's their right "to
alter or abolish it," and replace it with one that
works.
In his January 27 article titled "State
of the Union Rhetoric, 2010: Economic
Euphemisms and Internal Contradictions (Part II),"
economist Michael Hudson cited growing dangers,
unlikely to be addressed or reversed:
-- America's "road to debt peonage;"
-- "Debts that can't be repaid;"
-- rising defaults;
-- the illusion of "borrowing out way out of debt;"
-- an economic recovery favoring oligarchy, "the FIRE
sector - finance, insurance and real estate - not the
'real economy;' "
-- America's "Bubble Economy (leaving) families,
companies, real estate and government so heavily
indebted that they must use current income to pay
banks and bondholders," making it unavailable for
goods and services; and
-- the "most dangerous belief that the economy needs
the financial sector to lead its recovery by providing
credit," when, in fact, Wall Street wrecked the
economy by "predatory lending....casino gambling," and
looting the federal Treasury to cover losses.
Hudson worried that Obama's speech would "celebrate
this failed era." In fact, his policies embrace it,
will continue to going forward, and proposing a
discretionary spending freeze, the part most
important to increase, is counterproductive and
ludicrous. Specifically he said:
"Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze
government spending for three years. Spending related
to our national security (meaning militarism and
imperial wars), Medicare, Medicaid, and
Social
Security will not be affected. But all other
discretionary government programs will."
A Road to Perdition Agenda
Obama's rhetoric hides a failed agenda he'll continue,
serving capital and militarists, not people in dire
need. He wants more business tax cuts and windfalls to
stimulate growth and new jobs, repackaged Reaganomics
that cost record numbers of job losses in the past two
years, well over 500,000 in December alone based on
the broader household survey.
As a result:
-- real unemployment tops 20%;
-- 11 million full-time jobs were lost since late
2007;
-- over four and a half million jobs were lost since
Obama took office;
-- a record 9.3 million Americans work part-time;
-- in 2009, a record 2.8 million homes were
foreclosed,
realitytrac.com saying "a massive supply of
loans.... loom(s) over the housing market," many to
become delinquent in 2010 and beyond, perhaps for
years; and
-- an epic
debt
overhang crushes the economy, exacerbated by a
$13 trillion giveaway to Wall Street; another $10.7
trillion pledged amounting to a virtual free money
blank check; and similar largess goes for militarism
and homeland security at a time dire people needs go
begging.
Smooth rhetoric belies Obama's failed agenda, one
he'll continue without progressive change under new
leadership that cares, what neither party offers nor
ever will with priorities leaving millions out of luck
and on their own.
Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the
Centre
for Research on Globalization. He lives in
Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit
his blog site at
sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to the
Lendman News Hour on
RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at
10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with
distinguished guests on world and national issues. All
programs are archived for easy listening.
http://republicbroadcasting.org/Lendman
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