Barack Obama Speech to AFL-CIO: Talking Point Breakdown
This is the the talking point breakdown of Senator Barack Obama’s April 2nd, 2008 speech to the AFL-CIO.
This speech by Barack is the typical Democratic speech that glosses over reality and inserts their own. For instance, in this speech Barack completely ignores the fact that Unions and the union mentality has ruined the primary industries in the areas that it has entrenched itself like Michigan. That is not to say that Unions need to be stopped. I am open to Unions, they just shouldn’t mandate themselves on the macro-economy. In the end the goal of the Union is not for the company to make money it is for the workers to get what the “want.” Workers will always want more, I would, and if a union wants its members to keep paying dues, they need to keep coming up with new demands.
If these workers could make money the way that they wanted to, they should get a loan from the bank and start up a company that way.
Additionally, Barack talks about lobbyist influence in this speech, and lobbyists have been a regular target on his campaign. However, while he hasn’t taken PAC money he has taken money from all of the big industry leaders that have the PACs. Also, as someone who works with Capitol Hill. They need lobbyists- not for money, but industry expertise. How else would they know how the market would react to certain proposals even labor needs lobbyists. Lobbyists should not be villanized, but since lobbying is supported in the constitution I guess it makes since that a Democrat like Barack Obama would attack the idea of it.
Below are his main points. Click here for the transcript. Click here for the outline.
Remarks for Senator Barack Obama: AFL-CIO
Philadelphia, PA | April 02, 2008
- Industry is having hard economic times
- Past thought what is good for Main street is good for Wall Street
- We need to remember that today
- Bush has served the wealthy and connected
- McCain is offering the same
- The system has been rigged against everyday Americans by lobbyists
- Our economy needs to work for working Americans
- I am the only candidate that has worked to take power away from lobbyists
- I don’t want to wake up years from now and see that nothing has changed
- Labor is still strong
- I know the AFL-CIO is tired of playing defense
- It is time we had a President that strengthens unions
- We have to invest in middle class
- I proposed creating millions of new jobs and
- I won’t sign trade deals that aren’t pro- labor
- I will pull our troops out of Iraq
- There is a clear choice this election
- People and not lobbyists will have influence in my administration
- March with me, and I believe we will win
- The American Dream is within reach for everyone
- Thank you
