Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, recently called for progressive activists to fight with the President for Jobs:
“Our first step is to support President Obama’s American Jobs Act and his demand that the millionaires and billionaires who have profited so handsomely pay their fair share of taxes to create jobs,” Trumka said.
The labor leader said that in the past, he has not held back from criticizing the president when he felt Obama was heading down the wrong path.
“See, like many of you in this room, I’ve been one of the first to call out President Obama when I thought it was needed. But when he’s doing the right thing, when he’s doing the courageous thing, it’s time for us to have his back and push that bill through,” Trumka said to applause.
The Hill
The President in Texas yesterday:
THE PRESIDENT: You think the tax code -- maybe you’ve got a bunch of lobbyists in Washington. Maybe you’ve got a bunch of special interests in there in the back rooms trying to carve something out -- I don’t know. But most folks don’t. So the tax code, the way it’s structured, is not fair. And so what we’ve said is, let’s reform our tax code based on a very simple principle, and it will raise more money without hurting working families. Here’s the principle: Middle-class families, working families, should not pay higher tax rates than millionaires or billionaires. (Applause.) I don’t know how you argue against that; seems pretty straightforward to me. Warren Buffett’s secretary shouldn’t pay a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett. (Applause.)
Now, when I point this out -- it seems very logical to me, but when I point this out, some of the Republicans in Congress, they say, oh, you’re engaging in class warfare. Class warfare? Let me tell you something. Years ago, a great American had a different view. All right? I’m going to get the quote just so you know I’m not making this up. (Laughter.) Great American, said that he thought it was “crazy” that certain tax loopholes made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying 10 percent of his salary. All right?
You know who this guy was? Wasn’t a Democrat. Wasn’t some crazy socialist. It was Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) It was Ronald Reagan. Last time I checked, Republicans all thought Reagan made some sense. (Laughter.) So the next time you hear one of those Republicans in Congress accusing you of class warfare, you just tell them, I’m with Ronald Reagan. (Laughter.) I agree with Ronald Reagan that it’s crazy that a bus driver pays a higher tax rate than a millionaire because of some loophole in the tax code. (Applause.)
And by the way, I don’t mind being called a warrior for the working class. You guys need somebody fighting for you. (Applause.) The only warfare I’ve been seeing is the war against middle-class families and their ability to get ahead in this economy.
snip
Yesterday, the Republican Majority Leader in Congress, Eric Cantor, said that right now he won’t even let this jobs bill have a vote in the House of Representatives.
AUDIENCE: Booo!
THE PRESIDENT: This is what he said. Won’t even let it be debated. Won’t even give it a chance to be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives. Think about that. I mean, what’s the problem? Do they not have the time? (Laughter.) They just had a week off. (Laughter.) Is it inconvenient?
Look, I’d like Mr. Cantor to come down here to Dallas and explain what exactly in this jobs bill does he not believe in. What exactly is he opposed to? Does he not believe in rebuilding America’s roads and bridges? Does he not believe in tax breaks for small businesses, or efforts to help our veterans?
Mr. Cantor should come down to Dallas and look Kim Russell in the eye and tell her why she doesn’t deserve to be back in the classroom doing what she loves, helping our kids. Come tell her students why they don’t deserve to have their teacher back.
Come tell Dallas construction workers why they should be sitting idle instead of out there on the job.
Tell small business owners and workers in this community why you’d rather defend tax breaks for folks who don’t need them -- for millionaires -- rather than tax cuts for middle-class families.
And if you won’t do that, at least put this jobs bill up for a vote so that the entire country knows exactly where members of Congress stand. (Applause.)
Transcript of Obama speech on jobs bill in Texas
I agree with Mr. Trumka. Criticize the President on policy issues, like the trade deals, when you think he's wrong, but when he's right like he is now on the Jobs Act and Buffett Rule,
when he’s doing the right thing, when he’s doing the courageous thing, it’s time for us to have his back and push that bill through”
Update I: Video of President Obama talking about Reagan's demand for tax equity:
Obama Slams GOP Using Reagan Quote