Obama courts business with Chamber of Commerce add

[safeharbor37]

"During the first two years of his presidency, Obama fought the chamber on some of the most visible issues on his domestic agenda, including healthcare and tighter regulation of the financial services industry.
But since the devastating losses in November's congressional election, Obama has begun a studied post-election pivot that has moved the White House closer to business and further from traditional allies in organized labor."
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-chamber-20110207,0,3351617.story
The thing that interested me about this address was that he proposed to reduce business taxes and compensate by removing "loopholes." This is similar to the "Reagan tax cuts" on income taxes.
Throughout the address the President expressed a moderate to conservative approach to business. This seems to support the idea that Obama is attempting to "pull a Clinton." The general tone of the address impressed me and I'm generally conservative, particularly as regards government policy on business.

[fairlycrazy23]

Yea..right. www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/02/04/white-house-launches-new-aba-hotline-labor-dept/

[burnsattornincan]

The general tone of the address impressed me and I'm generally conservative, particularly as regards government policy on business.

The American general public has quite a low intelligence level relative to some other countries. In my opinion it would reach a new all time low if that disaster case of a "President" got re-elected no matter if he said he'd reduce business taxes to zero.

[privateinvestor]

Obama may have given a good Pep talk today to the Chamber of Commerce but were they listening to him and will they work with him to hire more workers?? They have issues with Obamacare, Obama over reach business regulations especially small businesses..

Btw have you guys seen the trailers for the Bill O'Reilly interview with Obama??? Obama did a good job answering all of O'Reilly's questions and I was very impressed.

[safeharbor37]

fairlycrazy23,
You're talking about a referral service. The Federal Government has been doing that or similar since FDR. Get used to it.
deminmaine,
"Health care reform"? OK. it was an accomplishment. The point here is that Obama is making conservative noises [positioning for the 2012 election, no doubt].
The point I was trying to get to was that the political system seems to be requiring some cooperation rather than the "my way of the highway" approach of Pelosi/Reid. It might be an indication that the Administration is going to take a more bi-partisan approach, but, if the Democrats get a big victory, even based on Obama's bi-partisanism [real or pretended], we might very well be immediately back to square one.
I was impressed by the pro-business approaches the President expressed. I hope that it is an indication that he has learned a little and is willing to apply the lessons rather than a feint to get him through 2012.

Obama, though, denies that he's shifted ideologically.
"Over the first two years of my presidency, we had a complete disaster … and we had to take a bunch of extraordinary steps in order to make sure that the economy was growing again," he told Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly on Sunday. "I'm the same guy. And my practical focus, my common-sense focus right now, is how do we out-innovate, out-educate, out-build, out-compete the rest of the world?"

www.latimes.com/news/sc-dc-obama-chamber-20110207,0,7584717.story

[fairlycrazy23]

Words are cheap, he has got to actually follow through, but I believe his actions to date show that he is very anti-business and one speech is not going to change that, hopefully I am wrong.

[privateinvestor]

Feb 7, 2011 13:11:30 GMT -5 safeharbor37 said:

fairlycrazy23,
You're talking about a referral service. The Federal Government has been doing that or similar since FDR. Get used to it.
deminmaine,
"Health care reform"? OK. it was an accomplishment. The point here is that Obama is making conservative noises [positioning for the 2012 election, no doubt].
The point I was trying to get to was that the political system seems to be requiring some cooperation rather than the "my way of the highway" approach of Pelosi/Reid. It might be an indication that the Administration is going to take a more bi-partisan approach, but, if the Democrats get a big victory, even based on Obama's bi-partisanism [real or pretended], we might very well be immediately back to square one.
I was impressed by the pro-business approaches the President expressed. I hope that it is an indication that he has learned a little and is willing to apply the lessons rather than a feint to get him through 2012.

Safeharbor the question you should ask is his change or attitude towards the Chamber of Commerce ....too little too late??

Also you have to recall that Obama accused the Chamber of Commerce of funnelling foreign money into the elections for Republicans last November. I think a Socialist Rabble Rouser has zero credibility with the Chamber of Commerce and we will not see more jobs created while he is in the White House......just one man's opinion

[floridayankee]

Feb 7, 2011 12:55:46 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Safe I would tend to agree with that assessment.
Unlike Clinton, however, he was able to get health care reform passed first. An amazing accomplishment.

Actually, the bill shoved up our collective asses doesn't do anything to reform health care or even address escalating cost issues in our health care system.

[Deleted]

He's campaigning. He DOES sound good lately, but I just don't trust him. He told O'Reilly he has not changed, he is the same man he has been. If that is true.... Sorry, I can't reconcile that statement to the new and improved Obama and the last 2 years Obama. One or the other is false, and since it is campaign time I would go with the Obama that was insulting, divisive, dishonest, secretive, and shoved things down our throats that we did not like as the REAL Obama. IF he is having this huge change of character and thought-- why would he tell O'Reilly he is the same as always?

[rockon]

Obama is buttering up to The Chamber of Commerce which is primarily the political arm of big corporations. The real job creation comes from small business which may or may not have any connection to The Chamber. As always his words sound good, they sound confident and convincing but they simply are not reality. His assumption that our job loses are a result of poor roads and crumbling bridges and that we can best help business create jobs by putting the CEO of one the worlds largest corporations. (Jeff Immelt) in charge of a committee in Washington or that borrowing more money from China to build new roads and replace bridges will somehow fix our unfair trade balances with other countries is just not likely to happen. Of course strategic investment in infrastructure is important but simply it does not address the underlying problems with our economy. I'm glad to see him use a more civil tone and that he has been forced to reach out to his critics but have very little confidence that Obama or the Chamber of Commerce will be willing to make or suggest the hard choices that will be required to turn this train around.

[safeharbor37]

Apparently the Business Community [C of C] has generally bought into the New Obama. To some degree, business, particularly big business, will sleep with the Devil if it is in their financial interest. So there may be some of that going on, but Obama can soften some of his collectivist tendencies in order to gain the support of the business community which of course will grease the wheels of his re-election campaign. In that case it is a two-way street which may work in the best interest of everyone. Of course, once re-elected, he could flop-flip for the next four years ~ and that would suck.
It seems that, Obama may be susceptible to [at least] some influence from genuinely conservative business interests in order to facilitate the "prosperity" on which [at this time] his legacy depends.
Perhaps Obama is as concerned about the [at this time peaceful] "revolution" through which so many Muslim countries are going as are some of us [me]. He probably won't be successful fighting a war [progressive/liberal vs. conservative/libertarian] on too many fronts at the same time. [Note that during WWII the US focused on the "War in Europe" while Germany had to fight two fronts, until Germany was defeated. Then of course, the US turned its attention toward Japan, "War in the Pacific".] The same approach may be being practiced here. Make nice to your domestic "enemies" until the foreign issues can be resolved [or Obama achieves re-election].
In politics you take what you can. If you demand everything, you tend to get nothing. It has be said that, "Politics is the art of the possible." Take what you can today and work on what you didn't get tomorrow . Obama is a good politician. Those who oppose his ideas need to be good politicians.

[privateinvestor]

I am interested to see what the Chamber of Commerce has to say about this new attitude by Obama. And will they begin hiring again?? They have tons of cash because they are all anxious about another rainy day and of course they all want to see the corporation taxes be restructured so there is a lot of work to be done by Obama besides giving Pep talks but it is a first step but probably not much more than that

[safeharbor37]

The big problem with translating government policy into financial stimulus is the uncertainty of that legislation [e.g.] extending the "Bush Tax Cuts" only two years rather than making them permanent. A permanent tax law could be changed if it proved unsatisfactory, but to put a time limit on it just introduces uncertainty and inhibits long term investment. It's pretty simple and implies that "some people" hope the "tax cuts" [actually a continuation of tax law] won't work. What does that say about the desire of some to "grow" the economy?

[rockon]

Another rather large misconception on Obama's part. Corporations do not hire just because they have cash. They hire because there is a demand or a perceived demand for their product and they need to hire people to produce it. In the global market place an increase for domestic product is generally because it can be produced cheaper or better then a competing foreign producer or in our case vice versa. Our corporations can make more money by investing in foreign countries and producing our products in foreign countries for many reasons. Americans are big on buying the cheapest product regardless of the true cost and we have trade agreements with countries who do not have the same regulatory or taxation structure that we do. We have to fix the fundamentals before we can change the outcomes.

[privateinvestor]

Where is the list of things that the Chamber of Commerce and Obama agree to jointly work on for increasing jobs?? What was accomplished by this meeting between two foes?? Or is it another so called "First Step"...?

There is still a lot of mistrust with the Obama Administration by the Chamber of Commerce especially after just a few months ago he lambasted them for funneling foreign money into their causes and campaign ads without any proof but based on innuendos and rumors from political blogs

[fairlycrazy23]

I read the transcript of his speech and it is still clear he still doesn't understand business, and still thinks of them as the enemy.

[privateinvestor]

It could be that Businesses will just tough it out for two more years and keep hoping that Obama leaves the White House after one miserable term as our President.

[fairlycrazy23]

Could be, but I wouldn't bet against Obama being re-elected.

[safeharbor37]

I think Obama understands that his re-election chances and his legacy depend on the economy in the next year or so. I do feel that he is primarily a socialist and Keynesian, so his approach is that government policy determines the economy. I believe that he sees that the policies of his Administration thus far have been inadequate and he fears that they will be found in 2012 to be "weighed in the balance and found wanting."
I suspect that it would be too optimistic to hope that Obama would see the light and, like Clinton, incorporate conservative principles in his policies. It may, however, be possible that he will pragmatically adopt some of the policies which he's avoided heretofore because of the demands of his core constituency.
In any case, I find it encouraging that he has taken a more conciliatory approach toward those who oppose his policies on principle.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Feb 7, 2011 12:55:46 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Safe I would tend to agree with that assessment.
Unlike Clinton, however, he was able to get health care reform passed first. An amazing accomplishment.

Clinton didn't have a super majority to just ram it through without any need to compromise with Republicans....and before you start saying that Dems did compromise, the only compromise they did was so their more moderate representatives would cut their own throat politically and vote for the bill.

[workpublic]

Moreover, will the government set up an ABA referral service at Labor for small businesses and employers who are having trouble with miscreant employees or are being harassed by frivolous lawsuits filed by troublemaking workers?

Read more: www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/02/04/white-house-launches-new-aba-hotline-labor-dept/#ixzz1DOMJZ3mp

[fairlycrazy23]

I brought up the new hot line and was told that it is just business as usual.
It can costs thousands and thousands of dollars for a company to prepare a motion to dismiss even frivolous lawsuit.
If it is going to cost 30k to file a motion to dismiss and the plaintiff says, just pay me 15k and I'll go away, the company many decide to pay the 15k.
I can't see how anybody can see this as anything but a big gift to the ABA

[privateinvestor]

One area that Obama has been pushing is the "Green" energy.....and Tesla and A123 stocks are up today on the news about tax credits for electric cars...

But lecturing businesses to hire more workers here instead of going overseas without any changes to the corporate tax system is a waste of time by the Obama Administration....IMHO

[workpublic]

he failed to mention that the 30 states that owe the federal govt money for unemployment benefits will have to raise business taxes

[safeharbor37]

Lawsuits are a bother for whoever gets sued and, in fact, for those doing the suing. Frivolous lawsuits mock the system and most everyone would prefer if the could be avoided. Problem is that the only real way is to go to court [or bargain] which requires a lawyer.
See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon%27s_Trumpet / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_v._Wainwright
Until 1963, those convicted of most crimes could be denied counsel if they could not afford it. The Federal policy in this case addresses this issue in civil cases. If you look at the Gideon case, you can see the injustice that our "justice" system can inflict on even innocent parties [Gideon was innocent].

[safeharbor37]

But lecturing businesses to hire more workers here instead of going overseas without any changes to the corporate tax system is a waste of time by the Obama Administration....IMHO

He did propose reducing business taxes. That was in the OP of this thread.
For full text: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/obama-chamber-of-commerce-speech_n_819571.html

[privateinvestor]

Feb 8, 2011 15:10:59 GMT -5 safeharbor37 said:

But lecturing businesses to hire more workers here instead of going overseas without any changes to the corporate tax system is a waste of time by the Obama Administration....IMHO

He did propose reducing business taxes. That was in the OP of this thread.
For full text: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/07/obama-chamber-of-commerce-speech_n_819571.html

I know that Safe and he has said that before but with the dems controlling the senate that is not going to happen.

[workpublic]

He did propose reducing business taxes


30 states will have to raise taxes on businesses. maybe he is proposing to reduce federal taxes. but due to the depression and the unprecedented length of unemployment payments, state taxes on businesses in those states will be raised to payback the federal UE money that the states borrowed.

[privateinvestor]

He may not be able to change the corporate tax structure per se but he can allow tax credits for businesses and that is what I think he is trying to do which is a good thing as you know

Both Tesla and A123 are up @ 5% today on heavy volume/ trading

[workpublic]

i hear ya PI.

i'm just so sick of politicians in general and obama specifically

showing us the kitten he saved in his right hand while hiding the 15 dead puppies it took to do it, in his left hand.