"Trumka dismissed Obama's recent job creation proposals" & contradicted an earlier statement.

[ClarkUSA]

The debt ceiling deal offered no changes on social security - none - either as part of the initial package or as part of the triggers. In fact, the President has never offered the Republicans or anyone else any cuts to basic Social Security benefits, and in fact, for the poorest retirees, proposed to increase their Social Security benefits, while guaranteeing a base benefit above poverty. By the way, the AFL-CIO supported the Clinton economic plan in 1993 that raised taxes on social security benefits (in other words, cut the dollar value of the benefit for some beneficiaries)... Trumka dismissed Obama's recent job creation proposals -- an extended payroll tax cut, patent reform, free trade deals -- as "nibbly things that aren't going to make a difference," and said the AFL might sit out the Democratic convention if he and the party don't get serious.

I hate to tell you this, Mr. Trumka, but while for someone who collects nearly $300,000 a year (search for Trumka on this labor reporting database) on union officer salary alone (and thus pays a payroll tax only a little more than a third his income), a cut in the payroll tax can seem like a "nibbly thing," I assure you for the average American family that it put $3,000 in the pockets of this are not going to have the same view. I assure you that the working poor - for whom this is the first tax reduction in a long, long time, don't think this is "nibbly." And because it most affects the working poor and the middle class, who have a higher propensity to spend extra dollars they have (due to their necessities), it certainly wasn't a "nibbly thing" to the economy...Trumka also doesn't care much for infrastructure or an infrastructure bank, because it apparently won't create any jobs. Said Mr. Trumka of President Obama:

He’s talking about things like patent reform and an infrastructure bank, but that’s not going to do anything for jobs.

Oh. I see. Not only investments in infrastructure has the capability of creating a million jobs in the near term, Mr. Trumka of August 2011 may want to have a chat with Mr. Trumka of January 2011:

America's working families and business community stand united in applauding President Obama's call to create jobs and grow our economy through investment in our nation's infrastructure.

Whether it is building roads, bridges, high-speed broadband, energy systems and schools, these projects not only create jobs and demand for businesses, they are an investment in building the modern infrastructure our country needs to compete in a global economy. - Joint statement of Trumka and US Chamber CEO Tom Donohue.

I'm a little confused. Which Trumka am I supposed to listen to? The one who issued a statement on his website as official representative of his union, or the one he made to the Christian Science Monitor?

Trumka did not fail to take a potshot at the President's council on job creation, saying that he doesn't know if the council is making any difference. Interestingly enough, Trumka has not yet turned in his resignation from this panel that he doesn't know to be making a difference. And for someone eager to compare President Obama to the Tea Party (yes, the Tea Party people who show up to Presidential events with guns and display pictures of the President as a witch doctor with a bone through his nose are apparently doing all of those things as a display of their affection for Barack Obama), the American Prospect notes that Trumka refused to go after the Tea Party:

Trumka didn’t lay much-deserved blame at the feet of the Tea Party Republicans control the House of Representatives and thus set much of the legislative agenda.

Of course not. He was too busy whining about the wording of the President's speeches to worry about the policies of the Tea Party that is hurting this country.

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2011/08/left-wing-elitism-richard-trumka-joins.html

[ProSense]

1. A lot of people

in the media jumped on Trumka's comment and really distorted its intent. Despite the rhetoric, he was calling for the President to push a bold plan.

He also said this during the CSM interview:

<...>

While crediting Obama for “bold leadership” in proposing an economic stimulus package and health-care legislation, Trumka was critical of the president’s handling of the persistently high unemployment rate. “He made a strategic mistake,” Trumka said, “a number of months ago when he would talk about job creation and in the same sentence talk about deficit reduction, and people got the two confused. And he helped with that. And I think that was a strategic mistake.”

link

Yesterday: AFL-CIO's Trumka Outlines New Strategy

<...>

Trumka remains an administration ally who will, it appears, be in the president's corner during the reelection campaign.

"Barack Obama's a friend," he said, "and when you place him in the context of those who are running against him right now, he is a giant."

<...>

Trumka is trying to implement a strategy and push for job-creation. Unfortunately, no one cares about the organization's strategy, which is positioning its new super PAC as an independent entity. The only thing the media cares about is: OMG the unions are dissing Democrats.

[ClarkUSA]

2. Thanks.

I have used your facts. Here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4973294&mesg_id=4974177