'Suck it up, rich folks': What Obama said, what he meant

Hold a Washington news conference and you'll be sure to hear a lot about Washington obsessions.

[Speed Holman]

Dismal. arrogant performance

[nitrain]

This regime is a trainwreck. It's obvious he's the pied piper of wealth envy, and his little sheeple are tagging along with blinders on.

Hey, rather than bringing down the rich, rather than destroying the top, how about trying to lift up the poor? How do you build a structure, from the bottom up, not from the top down.

This wealth envy BS has to go. I've never, ever, ever, gotten a job from a poor person, ever. Who the EF do you think signs paychecks?

[Cat]

It was a little bit boring. I think this summary and interpretation of what he meant is pretty funny. I didn't see any arrogance but I know that's what the "neutral" commentator, or is that "fair and balanced" Karl Rove said he saw. I did see a lot of confidence which I think most of us like to see in our leaders.

[City Dweller]

Finally, a leader who is not afraid to speak frankly. We did the right thing on November 4, 2008, folks and we can continue to do what is right for our country. Stop the anti-Americanism and get behind your President. If you don't, you will look like a bunch of "Bush-Leaguers."

[MKidd]

Speed Holman wrote:

Dismal. arrogant performance

Fits your dismal, arrogant comment.

[MKidd]

nitrain wrote:

This regime is a trainwreck. It's obvious he's the pied piper of wealth envy, and his little sheeple are tagging along with blinders on.
Hey, rather than bringing down the rich, rather than destroying the top, how about trying to lift up the poor? How do you build a structure, from the bottom up, not from the top down.
This wealth envy BS has to go. I've never, ever, ever, gotten a job from a poor person, ever. Who the EF do you think signs paychecks?

What has to go is the rich man's propensity for keeping the poor, poor.

[Dr Frank Lippenheimer]

Obama's "News" conference was a joke. He only got through a dozen questions but he could have easily doubled that amount if he would just ANSWER THE QUESTIONS instead of doing his (now standard) evade & stonewall routine. Which always begs the question: Is this man only half bright? Is he devious? Is there a side to his Agenda for Change that he would be foolish to actually expose to the public?

[Baroke Obummer]

"Most of all, he's entirely comfortable with his bet that he and the country can worry about certain inconvenient facts—like a 10-year deficit total of $9.3 trillion under his plan — some time later."

Of course he can worry about it later. He'll be out of office in 4 or 8 years and will be raking in the dough with his books and speaking tours. Meanwhile we will pay dearly as will our children for this insane spending.

[tjwillie]

MKidd wrote:

<quoted text>What has to go is the rich man's propensity for keeping the poor, poor.

The rich don't keep the poor, poor. The poor keep the poor, poor. If you don't think that you make enough money, then find a new job or a second job. This sense of entitlment is sickening. The only things that you are entitled to are the things that you are willing to work for.

[Reggie]

I used to work for a large company. I noticed that whenever the economy soured, my bosses still got bonuses and if cuts needed to be made they were made at the bottom and in the middle.

I now own a a company, I have 28 employees and will be growing. I signed an agreement to never earn more than 15 times what my lowest paid employee makes in total salary and benefits. My company is doing well--turnover is one tenth of what it is in the rest of the industry. My employees have--four times in a row--turned down offers to join unions. I have turned down 16 offers to sell the company in the last five years.

You know what? 15 times the pay of my lowest paid employee is plenty. I have a nice home, my kids college is paid for and I live comfortably. My peers in this industry make triple what I make, but their companies are in trouble and they are laying off employees.

It is time that we ask how much money some people need. Presdient obama is the first Democrat I woted for, and I think I made the right decision.

[ron]

City Dweller wrote:

Finally, a leader who is not afraid to speak frankly. We did the right thing on November 4, 2008, folks and we can continue to do what is right for our country. Stop the anti-Americanism and get behind your President. If you don't, you will look like a bunch of "Bush-Leaguers."

Lime or Cherry? What is your preference?

[whatthef]

nitrain- Understand the tax codes that are presented in the US. I was not able to whatch the majority of his speach, but I was able to see the charitable tax break question and answer. Where does his comment show that he is in favor for bringing up the poor? The last time I checked charitable contributions are intended for the poor... With that being said, why is it that someone making $250K/year receives a greater tax credit than someone making $50K/year. Instead he wants to implement the same tax credit regardless of income. In reality, if you are looking to give to charity to receive a tax credit, are you really giving to charity? I think not... Oh, I don't claim my charitable contributions. I also understand that there hasn't been any changes to GW's tax cut.
I guess that my question is, what's your point?
Lets all go shopping and everything will be okay is your method of un-efing this situation...

[many prayers]

Reggie wrote:

I used to work for a large company. I noticed that whenever the economy soured, my bosses still got bonuses and if cuts needed to be made they were made at the bottom and in the middle.
I now own a a company, I have 28 employees and will be growing. I signed an agreement to never earn more than 15 times what my lowest paid employee makes in total salary and benefits. My company is doing well--turnover is one tenth of what it is in the rest of the industry. My employees have--four times in a row--turned down offers to join unions. I have turned down 16 offers to sell the company in the last five years.
You know what? 15 times the pay of my lowest paid employee is plenty. I have a nice home, my kids college is paid for and I live comfortably. My peers in this industry make triple what I make, but their companies are in trouble and they are laying off employees.
It is time that we ask how much money some people need. Presdient obama is the first Democrat I woted for, and I think I made the right decision.

and there it is... what I've been saying for YEARS!

Some people 'get it'.. some just keep spouting the same crap they were brainwashed with for years and can't see the light threw the cobwebs in their minds.

[MKidd]

tjwillie wrote:

<quoted text>
The rich don't keep the poor, poor. The poor keep the poor, poor. If you don't think that you make enough money, then find a new job or a second job. This sense of entitlment is sickening. The only things that you are entitled to are the things that you are willing to work for.

Obviously you haven't yet lost your job due to budget cuts. You're inside, looking out. And, what's sickening is the repetitive mantra of the far right "entitlement". Is that your word for the day?

[Baroke Obummer]

Reggie wrote:

I used to work for a large company. I noticed that whenever the economy soured, my bosses still got bonuses and if cuts needed to be made they were made at the bottom and in the middle.
I now own a a company, I have 28 employees and will be growing. I signed an agreement to never earn more than 15 times what my lowest paid employee makes in total salary and benefits. My company is doing well--turnover is one tenth of what it is in the rest of the industry. My employees have--four times in a row--turned down offers to join unions. I have turned down 16 offers to sell the company in the last five years.
You know what? 15 times the pay of my lowest paid employee is plenty. I have a nice home, my kids college is paid for and I live comfortably. My peers in this industry make triple what I make, but their companies are in trouble and they are laying off employees.
It is time that we ask how much money some people need. Presdient obama is the first Democrat I woted for, and I think I made the right decision.

I own a small business with 9 employees. Most months with the exception of my part timers, they make more than I do after I pay everyone else and taxes etc.

[ron]

Reggie wrote:

I used to work for a large company. I noticed that whenever the economy soured, my bosses still got bonuses and if cuts needed to be made they were made at the bottom and in the middle.
I now own a a company, I have 28 employees and will be growing. I signed an agreement to never earn more than 15 times what my lowest paid employee makes in total salary and benefits. My company is doing well--turnover is one tenth of what it is in the rest of the industry. My employees have--four times in a row--turned down offers to join unions. I have turned down 16 offers to sell the company in the last five years.
You know what? 15 times the pay of my lowest paid employee is plenty. I have a nice home, my kids college is paid for and I live comfortably. My peers in this industry make triple what I make, but their companies are in trouble and they are laying off employees.
It is time that we ask how much money some people need. Presdient obama is the first Democrat I woted for, and I think I made the right decision.

Good for you. Now here's the deal: You were able to make that choice, and you thjink things are rosy riight now, but if you are blessed and continue to grow you may regret that thinkning. I also own a business with six employees. My decisions on who gets paid what are exactly that - my decisions. I choose to live modestly, and pay myself a modest salary because I realize what is best for the company. But I will never sign a document that plays the Ben and Jerry's card. Ben and Jerry's tried to play your little game, and when they grew to a point of needing an executive to manage the growing company they were bound to limit salary to 7X the lowest paid worker, and that my friend doesn't cut it when you want a qualified person to run a multi-million dollar business so B & J had to change the provision.

As for Obama, I hope his ideas don't drive us into huge inflation and potential bankruptcy, but my confidence is low.

[Beammeup Scotty]

I give Obama credit for trying, but printing more paper is an economic no-no.

[Yea right]

nitrain wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh yes, the 'Evil' rich man is keeping people down. No you idiot, people are keeping themselves down. This is a nation where a **** mixed child can grow up to become President, and you say rich people are keeping people poor.
The problem is that people always want to blame others for their problems. Everybody is such a poor, poor victim. Take a look at yourselves and the choices you've made rather than blame the rich. The rich earned their wealth, what have you earned?

Yea right, the rich have 'earned' their wealth. Bernie Madoff, the executives at AIG and other Wall Street frims who supported derivative investments along with the big executives at GM and Chrysler who have driven their companies into the ground with real poor decisions over the last 10 years. Yup, the rich 'earned' their wealth. Some rich people have earned their wealth and good for them but most of the rich get it off the back of others.

[YES WE CAN BE A FOOL]

Let obama think one at a time.

You know.. he's a bit slow.

[Amazed]

It is amazing that people don't get it. Our President has been in office 2 months...Did you really expect him to fix the MESS that Bush and his cronies made in 8 years is that short of period of time?

In the last 8 years I have seen more people loose their jobs, homes, businesses and everything else imaginable than I have seen in my lifetime.

Why get upset with PRESIDENT Obama,(and whether you like it or not he is OUR president) it wasn't his mess in the first place. My husband lost his job a year ago, my mother and her colleagues have given up 2 hours of work per week and a weeks pay to save jobs. I have given up vacation and sick time to make sure my co-workers can kee their jobs. And we have all said we would do it gladly to support others.

You want to blame someone blame Bush, Chaney and their crooney's that made this mess. A war we shouldn't be in, high oil prices...so high you can't afford to drive, fly, or bus. A medical system that is so racked with errorsz that we are paying upwards of $450.00 per month for medical insurance that refuses to pay for anything.

Stop your damned whining. Are you the one that makes a decision to buy groceries or take your child to the doctor? Are you the one that makes the decvision to buy gas to get to work or buy groceries, toliet paper or your kids a pair of much need shoes.

Becuase what is NOT going to be funny is all those people that are losing their riches (or as they put it everything) due to greed struggle, while those of us that suffer everyday, buckle down, tighten our budget and wait for the storm to blow over.

I would hang in there wwith PRESIDENT Obama, than go through another 4 years of the garbage we have experienced in the last 8 years