Obama's Solution to Outsourcing: JOB RETRAINING???

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

Is this not exactly what Bill Clinton was advocating? This is horrible.


EDIT: To clarify, I'm posting this now because I missed the debate last night, so I was watching it online and came across this glaring political gaffe.

LINK: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/video.html

Then click on "Job Outsourcing" if you don't believe me.

SECOND EDIT: Some of you are posting a transcript using the word "retain" instead of "retrain." There are two problems with this:

1. "Retain" would make no sense in the context of the sentence.
2. He clearly says "retrain" if you watch and listen to the video or audio file.

Something's fishy with the transcript, and it makes one even MORE suspicious of Obama's globalization plans.

[Vincardog]

1. That is more BLAME THE VITIM BULLSHIT, We need JOBS not more training.

WE can not be trained enough to accept and live on chinese prison wages.

[w4rma]

80. Obama says he wants to "retrain workers for the jobs of the future". I'm not supporting Obama.

His priority is "more education". It's exactly the BS that I have been expecting from him, especially considering who is advising him.

[bluestateguy]

2. Job retraining is fine for younger workers

It makes little sense for 55 year old steelworkers who have only done that for 35 years and nothing else.

[AX10]

Exactly!

Obama did attend University of Chicago a.k.a "Milton Friedman U".

Just sayin'

[BearSquirrel2]

47. It makes even less sense ...

It makes even less sense to train a Steelworker to be a computer programmer. Those jobs are going overseas as well.

[Hippo_Tron]

65. IMO, I'd just give the 55 year old steal worker his salary until he was going to retire anyway

But others would call that "welfare" I guess. I'd also negotiate trade agreements so that they have enforceable human rights provisions.

[EST]

3. Makes you kinda wonder if he's actually in touch with the real wornld,

doesn't it? That must be the same advisers who are whispering in the ears of other candidates, past and present.

[snowbear]

4. Howza bouta linky link?

So I know whatchoo talking about.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

7. There. I edited my original message. Check it out. n/t

[NYCGirl]

16. Here it is:

Tavis Smiley: Senator Obama?

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it

[Buck Rabbit]

36. Hmmm, that is not as bad as it looks in the OP. Thanks for the context.. n/t

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

39. That's because it's FALSE, see my Second Edit n/t

[Buck Rabbit]

54. Actually I assumed it said retrain. It still is not as bad as your OP.

Retraining as a component of a comprehensive solution is much better than retraining as the only solution as so many Republicans suggest. He addresses trade agreements and outsourcing.

Retraining programs are not a bad thing, particularly when the lose of a job is due to factors other than outsourcing.

[madrchsod]

5. well since 1980 that is what i have been told...

retrain in 1980- retrain in 1990- forget retraining in 2000 cause i`m to old. any time a politician brings up retraining it means they do not have a clue about what the hell to do.

[we can do it]

6. Obama - The Whitest Guy At Last Nights Debate - VERY DISAPPOINTING

[rhombus]

8. Completely BS. Obama has advocated for closing tax loopholes

Obama has consistently said we should rewards companies that keep jobs in the US with lower taxes, and penalize those that ship jobs overseas.

The issue of outsourcing can't be tackled unidirectionally. It requires a comprehensive approach.


So stop taking things out of context to score cheap political points on DU.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

9. No it's NOT completely BS. Look at the link before you respond if you doubt what I say

The other shit he spouted was standard political talk so that he doesn't seem out of step.

[rhombus]

13. and go to his WEBSITE for more info

This is not about researching a candidate. Its about cheap attacks from the same old whiny folks.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/fightingpoverty/

[snowbear]

18. Good point Rhombus..

Sounds like someone is trying to sway opinion against the good senator's actual stance.

[NYCGirl]

10. I have no idea where you get that from the transcript:

Tavis Smiley: Senator Obama?

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.


Edited title of thread

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

25. You're missing an "r" in the transcript

He said "retrain," not "retain." Listen to it yourself.

[NYCGirl]

34. Even giving you the benefit of the doubt, what about all the other things

he spoke about? Is that ALL you take from his statement?

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

41. It's politics

People don't wanna get one-upped by the others. You have to look at the substance.

[NYCGirl]

44. So "job retraining" is NOT politics, but all the other things he said ARE?

:eyes:

[kurth]

11. Yep. People: Get yerself a high-tech education and learn computer programming

so you can get laid off when your job is outsourced.

[snowbear]

21. You'd better read thread #19 Kurth.

You've been duped by the Student.

[Hart2008]

64. And still be required to pay back your student loans while working at McDonald's and Wal-Mart!.

Yep, Donald Trump's casinos can declare bankruptcy to avoid paying debts, but the sucker who is 22 years old, just graduated with a Computer Science degree and can't find a job because the programming jobs have been outsourced can't get out of paying back his/her student loans through bankruptcy. No, he or she is up to his/her eyeballs in student loan debt that must be repayed while he/she is flipping burgers and cleaning toilets at Wal-Mart.

Bankruptcy is not permitted for the little people.

[Demobrat]

12. I'm open. Retrain for what

exactly?

[NYCGirl]

14. You want to show us where he said that retraining was the solution? This is what

I found:

Tavis Smiley: Senator Obama?

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Retraining for what jobs?

The only one that benefits from retraining programs are out diploma mill colleges.

[China_cat]

17. How do you retrain for something that doesn't exist anymore?

[Ethelk2044]

32. Did you hear him state deal with the trade agreements

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.

[RufusTFirefly]

19. Does this look like "gub" or "gun"?

I hope none of you is applying for work as a copy editor.
Read the transcript again. The word is RETAIN, not RETRAIN.

Sheesh.

[snowbear]

20. OMG ~~ RufusTFirefly, you win the "Bestest DU'er of the Day" award !!

((( )))

If we ever start a newsletter here, I nominate YOU to write for it!

[Berry Cool]

24. But you know what? I think "retain" IS the typo.

I think he either said, or meant, "retrain."

Why would you need to worry about "retaining workers for the jobs of the future"? Does that mean, don't lay them off, because you will need them in the future?

I don't know. I have a feeling he did say "retrain." Especially because of that phrase "jobs of the future." Which implies people need to be retrained for jobs that don't even exist yet so they can do them when they do exist.

That was another thing I was warned about in high school. "You will probably have a job someday that doesn't even EXIST today." As it so happens, I do. And certainly a lot of high-tech workers do also.

[RufusTFirefly]

27. Aw shucks! Thanks!

I'll agree to correct the spelling at least.

:hi:

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

26. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO AND STOP BUSTING MY BALLS

JESUS CHRIST.

[snowbear]

29. Nah... I like you too much for that.

... ..

[RufusTFirefly]

38. The PBS Web site just called me.

Gee, I don't know. Should I take the job?

Sorry, SMUN!

:pals:

[Berry Cool]

22. While I agree wholeheartedly that we need more jobs, period

and that a person who's near retirement age shouldn't have to retrain just to have a job, I don't think retraining is bad per se.

I don't know about anyone else, but I was told way back in high school that I should expect to hold a variety of jobs during life. I was told that the future would not be a world in which anyone would work for the same company for decades doing the same job and retire with a gold watch. Instead I'd have to prepare for a world in which I might hold six or seven different jobs before retirement. Not have six or seven different employers, but have six or seven different kinds of JOBS.

It hasn't been quite like that, but I have had to do some "retraining" over the course of my career, or maybe just expand my knowledge base. In one case it was because I was about to lose my job, and I was concerned I wouldn't find another job in my field, so I trained for something else. What ended up happening? I found another job related to my field thanks in part to the new knowledge I had gained, and it paid way more than the old job to boot.

The good thing was that I had the luxury of advance notice, thanks to a union, so I spent a year as a lame duck--I knew I was going to be out of a job, but I had a whole year before that happened, so I could keep earning while I figured out what to do. As a result, had some money of my own to pay for retraining. Not everyone has that.

I think people do have to be flexible with the way the job market is today. There's just no other choice. But it still sucks when people with years of knowledge of a field get dumped in favor of hiring those who are younger, less knowledgeable and can be paid less, or for part-timers who won't get benefits, or when jobs get outsourced, or when people can no longer make a living wage at what they do.

[Tellurian]

67. Obama misspeaks are becoming more common all the time..Obama said...when "she" was the President..

just the other day. Barry is tired, confused and under alot of pressure. can anyone deny that? He needs a long relaxing vacation giving him time to regroup and begin again in the fall..

[Rydz777]

23. "Job Retraining" is a tired chestnut. In reality it means that

someone who had a manufacturing job now gets to flip burgers or greet buyers of Chinese products at Wal-Mart. Of course, I believe Bush economists now say that burger flipping is a form of "manufacturing."

I wish all the candidates would really be made to feel the heat on the issues of loss of the manufacturing base and outsourcing. We don't need evasions and obfuscations. We need confrontation with the hard realities, and they are getting harder.

[Berry Cool]

30. But it doesn't HAVE to mean that.

People with manufacturing jobs obviously need high-wage new jobs to replace the old ones, not low-paying service jobs. But that doesn't mean their only alternative is to get another manufacturing job.

I guess I just don't think the whole job retraining concept is intrinsically evil. I don't think the government owes us jobs. But I do think it owes us the opportunity to have a chance at getting job we can live on, and help in training to take it if we need that. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't even have been able to start on the road.

[Vincardog]

69. I don't think the government owes us jobs. Do you think the gubmit should be paying companies to

eliminate our jobs? Why should our government be subsidizing the race to the bottom?

[davidwparker]

28. Similar to *'s attitute. Send PhD's to community college if their jobs goes

offshore.

I watched the debate last night, and although I would vote for Obama if he were the nominee, I'm becoming less impressed with him.

Kucinich has the best solution: repeal NAFTA/WTO. Wish Edwards would adopt this. You might find illegal immigration goes down too when we, by subsidies, stop putting Mexicans out of work in Mexico when we send our products there. NAFTA sucks all around.

Thanks, Clinton. :sarcasm:

[Ethelk2044]

31. This is full of Bull Shit Get your FACTS Straight

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.

[TeamJordan23]

33. thanks Ethel, for putting the full quote. Another attempted smear rebuked. nt

[Ethelk2044]

43. Your Welcome

[Berry Cool]

35. Who's full of Bull Shit?

Who needs to get their facts straight?

[Ethelk2044]

46. Studentsmustunitenow

did not realize there was a transcript to prove that is not what he said

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

42. WRONG: Look at the video n/t

[Ethelk2044]

45. What you did not realize they have a transscript which I copied and Posted to

Prove he did not say he was for outsourcing.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

49. Watch the video and THEN we can start talking n/t

[Bitwit1234]

37. What we need are companies not afraid to build, manufacture and

hire Americans to do the jobs. If government really wanted to help the middle class regain their jobs, they would stick a hugh tax on ALL COMPANIES THAT RAN OVERSEAS TO HIRE SLAVES to do their labor. And then sell the products back to this country.

If we charged companies that left this country more to sell their products in this country then if they had stayed here they wouldn't run.

[NYCGirl]

40. That's why Obama said we should take away the tax breaks:

Tavis Smiley: Senator Obama?

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.

[LBJDemocrat]

71. Enough already

How many times are you going to spam this fucking thread?

Stop it.

And you know damn well that he said "retrain" and not "retain." How would "retain" make any sense? Where are the workers going to go? Canada? Give me a fucking break.

[NYCGirl]

76. Indeed. I answered that in the thread below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3347729&mesg_id=3347905

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

48. Looks like Obama supporters are working overtime to try to debunk my thread n/t

[NYCGirl]

50. So now you think Obama tinkered with the transcript?

"Something's fishy with the transcript, and it makes one even MORE suspicious of Obama's globalization plans."


:rofl:

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

53. NYCGirl, I'm sure you have good intentions

But I beseech you to watch the video. Let me know if you do ok?

[NYCGirl]

56. I answered you above. EVEN WITH RETRAINING — what about the rest:

I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.


You said it was "politics" and I asked if it was ALL POLITICS (including the retraining statement), or is it only NOT POLITICAL if you don't like it?

Edited to add: And then you said this puzzling thing: "Something's fishy with the transcript, and it makes one even MORE suspicious of Obama's globalization plans," which is why I asked you if you think Obama was tinkering with the transcript.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

60. I have already said that you need to look at it in context to see the core of his argument

Every candidate spoke about investing in education and creating jobs. Every candidate MUST say that. Obama, however, added to this and revealed his unique approach by mentioning "job retraining" which frightens me because it reminds me of what Clinton said after NAFTA.

Look, I'm not working for anyone's campaign. I would like Obama to be a good candidate. I would like to support him. I just don't want to see me or my fellow Americans get another kick in the ass. I know you're enthusiastic about Obama, but please try to hear what I'm saying.

[NYCGirl]

62. I do hear. When he talks about investing in education, creating jobs,

dealing with trade agreements, eliminating tax breaks, and investing in communities, I think he's every bit as sincere as when he talks about retraining (which, in many instances, is a good thing). For some reason, you only hear "RETRAINING" and insist that all the rest of it is empty platitudes. I don't agree with you.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

63. Fair enough. If he wins. We'll see who is correct, and I really hope you are n/t

[jwirr]

51. Anyone living in the inner city or even in most of the country can

safely ask, "What jobs?". On this one Obama is out of touch.

[NYCGirl]

52. That's why he said this:

"how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities"

and this:

"So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it."

[jwirr]

74. That is what needs to be said. Inner cities were the first victims of

outsourcing.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

55. You guys are ignoring two things

1. He says retrain, not "retain." Check the video and get back to me. In the meantime, stop posting bullshit.

2. In comparison to the other speakers, Obama used the term "retrain" which harks back to Clinton times when he said he would help workers "retrain" so that we could better cope with NAFTA. It's the substance of Obama's argument. The rest of what he says is standard and expected. "Retraining" is something that he is alone in spewing as a solution.

[Ethelk2044]

57. No we are going with what the transcript said. We are not making things up

Barack Obama: I now live in Chicago, but I'm not originally from Chicago. I moved there to work with churches who were dealing with the devastation of steel plants that had closed all throughout the region. Tens of thousands of people had been laid off. There was never a federal effort to come in after those closings and to figure out how can we retain workers for the jobs of the future, how can we invest and make sure capital is available to create new businesses in those communities.

So not only do we have to deal with our trade agreements, not only do we have to eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas, not only do we have to work on our education system, but we also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it.

[NYCGirl]

58. The transcript is wrong. But the OP is still overlooking all the other things

Obama proposed.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

59. The transcript is incorrect. See for yourself n/t

[Telly Savalas]

68. It's good you point this out.

Retraining is a scourge to our society.

Any program which helps somebody expand their skill set should be abolished.

It's truly shameful that Obama supports this evil concept.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

70. Amen

:toast:

[illinoisprogressive]

61. my my my. more Let's trash obama and twist things to suit our purpose. Gop much??

[Hippo_Tron]

66. The Global Economy isn't going away, period...

Retraining is part of the solution. Planning is another huge part.

[LBJDemocrat]

72. I don't buy that

Retraining for what? You want steelworkers to become computer programmers? Do you realize that H1-B visa holders are already crowding out kids who got themselves deep into debt to get their computer degrees?

[Hippo_Tron]

73. H1-B's and student loans can be addressed

But the global economy will still not have gone away.

[Ethelk2044]

79. All of them said it is a problem. They were all smart enough to realize

it will not go backward. They have to strengthen our trade laws to move us forward. Yes, when jobs go away people need to be retrained. The government should not abandon them. They need to bring new industries in the area with competitive pay (equal to the pay in their previous jobs or more). The candidates are smart enough to realize this needs to happen.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

75. The fundamental problem is bad trade agreements that disadvantage American workers

We need to deal with the fundamental problem of our trade agreements, especially NAFTA. Job training is a cop-out. It sounds good as an easy solution, but it is notoriously difficult and its efficacy is questionable. These latter two points have been made a few times in this thread.

[HughBeaumont]

77. Not to . . ahem . . . plug the journal again . . .

But as y'all know, this IS one of my favorite and fervent subjects, one that infuriates me. Particularly because politicians of ALL stripes, when they're not defending this very uncompassionate and Republican business practice, offer no realistic solutions to quell the problem. And make zero mistakes, it IS a problem; one that's going to be horrendously painful to American workers if something isn't done right away to remedy it.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/HughBeaumont/3

There are other entries in there and in my archives that address this issue.

[Totally Committed]

78. How very "Bill Clinton" of him................

Ever see and/or read "Primary Colors"? It's so 90's.

TC

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

81. Yeah, it reminds me of the "Straight Talk" speech in that film

Such bullshit. I'm tired of these DLCers selling us out.

[Totally Committed]

83. I don't think Obama is DLC...

but, yes, this "idea" surely IS DLC-esque. That "Straight Talk" speech was an eye-opener, wasn't it? I remember gasping the first time I saw that film. I had never "gotten" it before.

TC

[SOS]

82. "Job retraining" - American style

Crooks with political connections set up a bogus operation in an old office building.
They equip the "job retraining center" with Commodore 64 computers.
The jobless waste their time for a few weeks and are issued a worthless certificate.
The owners (pals of the guy who gave them the contract) charge the city $3,000 per student.
Owners kickback a portion.
Money is transferred to the Cayman's.
Two years later the school closes.

How many times are we citizens going to fall for this crap?