Why is Obama abandoning the Chicago Teachers Union, just as he abandoned the Wisconsin unions during the Walker recall?
As the Chicago Teachers Union strike drags on another day without an agreement, and a CTU lawyer says the next hope is that an agreement will be reached Sunday, the president remains mum on the striking teachers’ plight.
Obama’s promised on the campaign trail in 2007 that he’d be a friend to labor when in the White House:
When I’m in the White House, i’ll put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself. I’ll walk on that picket line with you as POTUS, because workers deserve to know that somebody’s standing in their court.
Yet, Obama has avoided making any statement himself or living up to his promise to support the striking workers in his adopted hometown of Chicago. Both Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan released statements on the strike.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Obama did the same thing to Wisconsin striking public-sector union members. In the final days before the recall election was in Chicago (for what else, fundraisers), and he neglected to pop up north to rally the troops in Wisconsin.
He ought to be more grateful: Chicago public schools have been busy preparing legions of future Obama supporters. In addition to bringing their students and children out to strike this week, watch video evidence of them teaching students how to stage protests in the classroom from earlier this year.
And many in the the Teachers Union in Chicago continue to defend him. While at the CTU protests, I asked a protester wearing a CORE t-shirt why Obama wasn’t there. His response:
He’s got more important things to do right now. I think this is a local problem right now, if he wants to intervene, I think it should be around policies around–federal policies. But this is a local problem right now, with national implications, but….look, most of us here support Obama over Mitt Romney no doubt….
A few of the Industrial Workers of the World “Wobblies” I interviewed there were more upfront about their frustration with Obama. One said, “He said he would be here, but I’m not surprised.” Another said, “Here’s the thing, I understand that he moved a few years ago, and I moved recently myself and I’m still looking for some stuff that I’ve lost. I think we should chip in and buy him a nice pair of walking shoes…he probably just lost his walking shoes.”
Watch the video about Chicago Teachers’ feelings about Obama here:
Rasmussen revealed data Wednesday that shows 42% of Americans believe it should be illegal for teachers to strike, while 11% are undecided and 46% believe it should be legal. Maybe Obama’s hoping that he can continue to “lead from behind” in this as in all issues. After all, the Chicago Teachers Union seems to be giving him a free pass.
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I thought I heard him say once that he’d put on a pair of sneakers and march with them-
Did he say that? I thought I heard him say that….like he meant it…and folks would vote for him for it…’cause he meant it…what he said.
No?
You heard right, so you’re not losing your hearing or mind. He said it. However, it was not meant to be taken in a literal sense, but a figurative one.
Maybe, in November, he’ll get his “walking shoes”!
He means it… after the election. Remember he’s a moderate for the next few months. If he wins he’ll do what he wants, no more worrying about those squishy independent voters.. He’s said so much several times, but independents aren’t listening.
Obama’s senses are acutely tuned to the sight, sound and smell of cash. Maybe the CTU just doesn’t have enough skin in Obama’s game.
Obama can’t march with them. It is Obama’s Race to the Top funding that is one of the major points of contention.
Obama also once said (and wrote in his “Dreams” book) that if the winds of public opinion should shift in an ugly direction, he’d side with the Muslims.
Think that promise has expired yet, or is that the only one he’s actually going to keep?
(Oops, I just remembered Obama’s promise to make energy prices skyrocket. He’s certainly kept that one. Have to give him credit where it’s due).
Obama would have more flexibility AFTER the election.
But CTU has more leverage now.
Anne. Anne. Anne… The teachers are busy striking and causing interference with the campaign, instead of out pounding the sidewalks for the election and bundling contributions.
[Tomorrow’s news, TODAY. The following is my prediction for an event not yet concluded–will I be proven right?]
“THE CHICAGO STIKE WILL END…SOON…AND BADLY”
We are now a “TV Nation”,
Yet our “news” is a crafted lie.
For both sides appeared and said “they won”,
But the welfare of the students died.
The actors profess “a new unity…a new day”.
But harsh echoes of their hate fill our ears.
Bitter threats and fierce slogans are hidden away,
Yet their impact will last for years.
We cannot in honor join this “love fest”
For the good will expressed is contrived.
Though enemies now pose as the “best of friends”,
The reality is—they both lie.
And what of “the children” for whom battle was waged?
Can their respect or hope persevere,
When all those who claimed to aid them,
Deemed their own selfish welfare most dear.
We leave these false images of a “city healed”,
With our fear they share nothing with truth.
For despite the TV, every old enemy,
Is sharpening knives for “Round Two”.
YOU SEE, I DID LEARN SOMETHING FROM TV–THE MEDIA NO LONGER WANTS TO REPORT THE NEWS–THEY DEMAND TO MAKE IT. I would be pleased to issue an apology for my pessimism to my former hometown–but the likelihood of A DEAL , WHICH REALLY DEALS WITH THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS IS FAINT. It will all be posturing with plenty of smoke and mirrors.
[Tomorrow’s news, TODAY. The following is my prediction for an event not yet concluded–will I be proven right?]
“THE CHICAGO STIKE WILL END…SOON…AND BADLY”
We are now a “TV Nation”,
Yet our “news” is a crafted lie.
For both sides appeared and said “they won”,
But the welfare of the students died.
The actors profess “a new unity…a new day”.
But harsh echoes of their hate fill our ears.
Bitter threats and fierce slogans are hidden away,
Yet their impact will last for years.
We cannot in honor join this “love fest”
For the good will expressed is contrived.
Though enemies now pose as the “best of friends”,
The reality is—they both lie.
And what of “the children” for whom battle was waged?
Can their respect or hope persevere,
When all those who claimed to aid them,
Deemed their own selfish welfare most dear.
We leave these false images of a “city healed”,
With our fear they share nothing with truth.
For despite the TV, every old enemy,
Is sharpening knives for “Round Two”.
YOU SEE, I DID LEARN SOMETHING FROM TV–THE MEDIA NO LONGER WANTS TO REPORT THE NEWS–THEY DEMAND TO MAKE IT. I would be pleased to issue an apology for my pessimism to my former hometown–but the likelihood of A DEAL , WHICH REALLY DEALS WITH THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS IS FAINT. It will all be posturing with plenty of smoke and mirrors.
A comfortable pair of shoes??? Is Obama channeling Earl Butz now?
Of course they will give O a pass. They are unbelievably stupid jackasses. They have put themselves in a position with no other options. Its what lefty dem morons do. No offense meant to innocent morons.
Ps. Whats more incredible is these fool teachers expect good results when they vote to be led by some Bantu headshrinker !
I didn’t know the “wobblies”….the International Workers of the World (IWW, also means I Won’t Work) were still around. they caused much grief for my now-defunct employer Willamette Industries back in the 1930s and 1940s. The Wobblies were real good at sabotage, pouring vinegar into bearing oil resevoirs on log trains, disabling donkey engines and spiking trees. Ya gotta love that union passive-aggressive mentality. I say stand in my face and fight me like a man!
Anne..Annie…Baby..Bubby…As the ‘yoot so aptly stated, His Infantile Majesty..”has more important things to do right now..” Ya know, like…Letterman..and..LasVegas..and, like…getting some shuteye while embassies burn and Americans are butchered…
Yep, Anointed One, let us know in November how that WWJCD works for you and yours,’Yo.*
(*What Would Jimmah Cawtah Do??*)
Obama is King of one thing only: Moral Cowwardice