Obama Challenges Lobbyists to a Duel
He gets it, he really gets it.
In today’s radio address, Pres. Obama has made it crystal clear that he will take on the lobbyists in the health care industry, the financial industry, and the oil industry to enact genuine reform.
“The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long,” Mr. Obama said in his weekly radio and video address. “But I don’t. I work for the American people.”
He said his ambitious budget plan, unveiled Thursday, will help millions of Americans, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies.
“I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight,” Mr. Obama said, using tough-guy language reminiscent of his predecessor, George W. Bush. “My message to them is this: So am I.”
If that isn’t change we can believe in, El Somnambulo doesn’t know what is.
It is precisely the kind of gauntlet that Jack Markell will have to lay down to enact real reform in Delaware. Only by driving a stake through the heart of the corrupt and rotting Delaware Way will Delaware ever realize its potential. Fortunately, Jack has a role model in the White House.
Comment by pandora on 28 February 2009 at 9:01 am:
Obama is the lobbyist for the American people, and it’s about time we have one.
Comment by anonone on 28 February 2009 at 9:01 am:
It is stuff like this that keeps me bouncing between the walls of despair and hope.
Comment by anon on 28 February 2009 at 9:06 am:
but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies.
Did he mention Tom Carper by name?
Comment by El Somnambulo on 28 February 2009 at 9:09 am:
While he did not mention your favorite Senator by name, he did mention the financial and lending institutions, which, it could be argued, is the same thing.
Comment by Susan Regis Collins on 28 February 2009 at 10:00 am:
This makes my heart sing…………
Comment by Unstable Isotope on 28 February 2009 at 10:05 am:
This is great news! I’m glad Obama is taking them on. Corporate lobbyists, and in particular lobbyists for banking interests and health insurance companies are at their lowest popularity while Obama is at his highest. These reforms can’t wait. We’re now seeing the Obama we’ve hoped to see, the change agent. His agenda is very ambitious and he’s not holding back much at all.
In another sense, though, it pisses me off that he has to take these guys on at all. I wish we had a government that worked.
I hope Markell is watching Obama, and from what I’ve seen Markell is doing a good job so far.
Comment by h. on 28 February 2009 at 10:20 am:
Yes. I am glad he kept his promise of no lobbyists on his White House team. Makes me feel better.
Comment by jason330 on 28 February 2009 at 10:43 am:
I love it. Republicans and lobbyists on one side, Obama and the people on the other.
49 state victory four years from now.
Comment by jason330 on 28 February 2009 at 10:44 am:
El Somnambulo (#4)
Ha! You got that right.
Comment by Rhymes With Right on 28 February 2009 at 9:55 pm:
Well, except for the lobbyists he has brought into his administration in violation of his own prohibition on lobbyists in his administration.
Comment by Rebuild the Delaware GOP on 28 February 2009 at 10:18 pm:
Nice radio speech but like most things Obama does he reads to us and doesn’t talk to us.
The Health Care Plan he envisions will fall amamzingly short of the desired result and cost a whole lot more.
The insurance industry can’t be defended and I am sure he will use them as the demon in the debate. Dems always have to have a demon. Still, Obama’s plan is terrible. If you want substance speak up there are at least 10 major things wrong with his plan.
We need universal care but not this way.
http://www.delawarerepublicanwordpress.com
Comment by xstryker on 28 February 2009 at 11:51 pm:
Hilarious irony here from the party that invented the word “islamofacism” and constantly fear mongers about gays, communists, and “welfare queens”.