Obama's path to re-election - start standing up for the poor and the middle class!

[NaturalHigh]

It's not too late. Force a showdown with the Republicans on the tax cuts for the rich. Make strengthening social security a priority. Put military budget cuts on the table. Expand the Earned Income Tax credit. Extend unemployment benefits. Bring the troops home. Make a real effort to help Americans who are facing foreclosure and those who are already homeless. Feed the hungry. These are all things that most Americans believe in.

What would Jesus do? He would side with the poor over those who think it's noble to occasionally allow a few crumbs to drop from the table of their bloated feasts. That's the message that President Obama needs to get across. He campaigned on "the audacity of hope." It's time to start displaying some of that audacity.

[aquart]

1. Funny! Obama says that's exactly what he's doing.

He's funny, too.

[bushisanidiot]

2. That's what he's TRYING to do, but the left of his base are telling him

to let King Solomon kill the baby (the poor and middle class). Someone has to actually stand up and do something to help them before their tax rates go up and their unemployment benefits and unemployment insurance runs out. Even if it means giving the idiot repukes a temporary extension of their tax cuts for the uber-wealthy.

[NaturalHigh]

3. We can't afford the tax cuts for the uber-wealthy...

and they don't need them. I would like that if I made a million bucks a year, I would be happy to make a small sacrifice to help the country that allowed me to get so wealthy.

The super-rich don't ever have to worry about losing their homes or going hungry. The Clinton-era tax rates still allow them to keep getting richer and sock away more cash than most of us will ever see.

[bushisanidiot]

6. I agree! The uber-wealthy absolutely do NOT need more tax cuts

but do we cut the baby in half, thus, killing the baby to prove a point? who will stand up for the lower and middle class who are going to take a hit in their tax rates on jan 1?? who?? if not us, who? the repukes certainly aren't going to get up off their fat asses and do one thing to help the poor or middle class.

[bobbolink]

4. For every Federal dollar spent on Food Stamps, $1.74 returns to the local economy.

There is no question... take care of poor people, and they will take care of the friggin' economy!

The same is true of unemployement payments, and subsidized housing.

Speak. It. Out!

[NaturalHigh]

8. I wasn't aware of that number...

but I certainly agree with the premise. It's immoral to let people starve while others sit around staring at their stacks of money.

[bobbolink]

10. Most people aren't... that's why we need to SHOUT it out!

Subsidized housing also creates jobs.... it was in a real estate article.

You heard the president speaking about it, didn't you?
:sarcasm:

[NaturalHigh]

11. I must have missed that.

Personally, I'm all for spending whatever it takes to end homelessness and hunger. Take it out of the war budget.

A society that ignores the least fortunate among us is sick and depraved. We can afford to feed and house everyone and still have plenty around to keep the rich in diamonds and new limousines. The rich just might not be able to light quite so many cigars with c-notes.

[bobbolink]

13. You keep pairing it with the war, which is why it never happens.

People are suffering. People are dying. It is time to sing a new tune.

Food stamps and subsidized housing do MORE for the economy than the damned tax cuts.

Start singing that loudly and clearly, and drop the war stuff. Suffering people can't wait.

[NaturalHigh]

14. I only bring up the war budget...

because the inevitable question people will ask is "well, how are we going to pay for it?" Yes I agree that people need help now and that they can't afford the slogging pace of congressional debate.

[bobbolink]

15. You bring up the war because everyone does. It is the standard "progressive" out.

I repeat, it is time to start getting the REAL facts out, and leave the tired phrases behind.

[NaturalHigh]

16. Bobbolink, with all due respect, you misunderstand me.

First of all, I don't consider myself to be "liberal" or "progressive". I actually consider myself to be a conservative Democrat. Honestly, my only reason to bring up the war budget is to answer the question that the Republicans will ask - "how will we pay for it?" Yes, I agree that action needs to be taken immediately to help the homeless and the hungry. It breaks my heart to think of people who can't feed themselves or their children. I'm all for paying for it by raising taxes for the rich, which I think should be raised in any case.

[bobbolink]

17. And you misunderstand me, but that is understandable if you are conservative.

Answering to the Republicans is a losing proposition.

But, if you are conservative, there is no point in trying to converse about that.

It is REAL people, like me, who are suffering, and the death toll is mounting.

And I can't even talk about my own experience because I get mocked and attacked.

So, do what you want.... it doesn't even matter, does it?

I give up. Really, I. Give. Up. You all win.

[NaturalHigh]

18. "I can't even talk about my own experience because I get mocked and attacked."

I wish you would talk about it. Anyone who has been through really hard times can put a human face on the suffering all around us.

As a Christian, I still go back to the question "what would Jesus do?" Jesus was a champion of the poor, not an advocate for the super-wealthy.

[bobbolink]

19. You want to see me get attacked? Entertainment? Here, this may thrill you then:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9747318&mesg_id=9748673

Maybe I could get another death threat, too.. that is always fun.

[NaturalHigh]

20. Please don't think that I want to see you maligned.

[bobbolink]

22. Did you look at the link?

I don't think you believe what I am saying.

[NaturalHigh]

26. Yes, I did see the link, and I agree that you were unfairly attacked.

For the record, I agree with you. No, I don't think you have a "victim complex."

[bobbolink]

28. I get that crap all the time, and the mods won't delete the attacks.

Yet, you and others want me to make myself more vulnerable?

Nope.

Not until all of you are willing to work to get rid of the bullies.

[NaturalHigh]

36. Bobbolink, please point to one single instance when I have attacked you.

Until last night, I didn't even know who you are. For that matter, I still don't.

[bobbolink]

37. I gave you a link to an attack. You admitted it was an attack, yet didn't speak up in my behalf

or alert.

You let me take it on the chin.

That's "Christianity"?

[NaturalHigh]

39. Something said to you on an anonymous message board...

hardly qualifies as taking it on the chin. It's not like you needed to be rescued from an attack in a dark alley.

Believe it or not, this thread was not intended to be about you. Apparently I said something to piss you off somewhere along the way. If that's the case, then I apologize. I can't imagine what it was though. You seem to have taken offense when I mentioned the war budget. It obviously bothers you that I consider myself a conservative Democrat. Sorry, but I am who I am, and I have the right to express my opinions, just as you do.

[bobbolink]

40. You made it about you. And dismissing an attack is beyond insensitive.

I have received a death threat on DU... should that be dismissed, also?

I am done with you. Do NOT claim to "care" when you cannot even see the pain in someone who spells it out for you.

Being a "Christian", I hope you reread Matthew 25. It has a message you need to hear.

Being a conservative, I'm guessing you need to have the last word. Have at it... I won't be listening, since you refuse to listen to me.

Bye now.

[NaturalHigh]

27. Dupe...again.

[maryf]

42. It's gone now

sorry, I would have posted...:(

[maryf]

41. Your facts are absolutely right...

and you know I understand your points, and agree with them. For those who bring up the war (including yours truly), it might be because of the fact that the military budget is now 58% of the federal budget ...cutting 3% or even less of that and applying it to housing and social programs would help allow there to be even more benefits from food stamps and subsidized housing to help the economy...

I absolutely agree that your point about both food stamps and subsidized housing is one that has to be reiterated again and again...and I do so myself. Without justice there can be no peace, and vice versa.

[NaturalHigh]

12. Dupe.

DU said there was an error in processing. Not sure what happened.

[somone]

5. He follows supply-side Jesus

[Donnachaidh]

7. uhh, he leaves a press conference to go to a party?

Yeah, he's listening.....:eyes:

[chimpymustgo]

9. hahahahahahahaha...........

[TorchTheWitch]

21. it's far too late

No one would trust him and they'd believe he was doing it just to get re-elected. Sorry, but he's blown it, he's done it willingly and knowingly, and has no one to blame but himself.

[bobbolink]

23. I tend to agree with you, from things I hear from poor folk I know.

We poor folk usually are able to sniff out truth and integrity.

Its really tragic, but he did it to himself.

[Individualist]

24. IMO, the skies are more likely to fill with polka dot dinosaurs before that happens.

[bobbolink]

30. Exactly. Yet, before he was elected when I said that he didn't care about poor folk, I was

ridiculed.

Do I get to say "I told you so"?

[shanti]

25. he seems to have forgotten where he came from

his mother must be rolling over in her grave! :(

[bobbolink]

29. He "came from" the middle class.

[Hannah Bell]

31. upper.

[bobbolink]

32. That sure isn't what we heard here during the primaries, was it?

~~~shock~~ Of course Obama will care about poor people... that's how he grew up!"

:crazy:

[Hannah Bell]

33. anyone who took the trouble to look knew he didn't grow up poor.

having a single mother (for a short period) doesn't = "poor".

poor people don't work for the ford foundation.

[bobbolink]

34. geeez, Hannah... I "take a lot of trouble"

I'm not the bad guy here, OK?

[Hannah Bell]

35. Wasn't talking about you. It was meant as a general comment, not directed at you.

If anything, it was directed at the people who kept pushing the "poor son of a single mother" story at DU. There were at least of couple of them I argued with. lol.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

38. Now don't let the perfect get in the way of the good.

Typically, talking points are aimed at the opposition, not the base. He's going to have to realize that, first.