“Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere”

Photo by Anne C. Savage

President Obama delivered remarks to the national Planned Parenthood conference today. He had been scheduled to deliver them earlier in the week but, instead, delayed his speech to spend more time with the victims of the explosion in West, Texas. When it was announced that his original speech was cancelled, the anti-Choice group Susan B. Anthony List declared victory (as did others):

Planned Parenthood last week admitted to knowing about the horrors going on inside Kermit Gosnell’s squalid Philadelphia clinic, but chose not to exercise its position as the leader in the abortion industry to put an end to the butchering of women and children,” the group said in a statement. “No matter the reason for his backing out, it is certainly a good time to distance oneself from Planned Parenthood.

They were, of course, quite wrong.

The use of the phrase “abortion industry” is beyond offensive. When you consider how many unwanted pregnancies have been prevented by Planned Parenthood over the past decades, not to mention how many women’s lives have been saved through their women’s health services — the bulk of what they do — the reference shows just how ignorant the opponents of a woman’s right to choose a safe, legal — LEGAL! — abortion truly are.

At any rate, President Obama did, indeed, deliver his speech and, not only did he not “distance” himself from them, the President gave a full-throated endorsement of the great work that Planned Parenthood does:

For nearly a century now, one core principle has guided everything all of you do — that women should be allowed to make their own decisions about their own health. It’s a simple principle. {…}

So every day, in every state, in every center that Planned Parenthood operates, there are stories like those — lives you’ve saved, women you’ve empowered, families that you’ve strengthened. That’s why, no matter how great the challenge, no matter how fierce the opposition, if there’s one thing the past few years have shown, it’s that Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere. It’s not going anywhere today. It’s not going anywhere tomorrow.

As long as we’ve got to fight to make sure women have access to quality, affordable health care, and as long as we’ve got to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own choices about her own health, I want you to know that you’ve also got a President who’s going to be right there with you fighting every step of the way.

Here is the full transcript of the speech and very much worth your time to read:

Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you! All right, everybody have a seat. Have a seat. You’re making me blush.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you!

I love you back! Thank you!

Cecile, thank you for the warm introduction, and thank you for the outstanding leadership that you’ve shown over the years. You just do a great, great job. I want to thank all of you for the remarkable work that you’re doing day in, day out in providing quality health care to women all across America. You are somebody that women — young women, old women, women in between — count on for so many important services. And we are truly grateful to you.

I’m sorry that I could not be at the party yesterday. I understand it was a little wild. That’s what I heard. But as all of you know, obviously, we’ve gone through a pretty tough week and a half, and I was down in Texas, letting the people of West, Texas know that we all love them and care about them in their time of grieving.

But obviously this is a special national conference, because it’s been nearly a hundred years since the first health clinic of what later would become Planned Parenthood opened its doors to women in Brooklyn. And for nearly a century now, one core principle has guided everything all of you do — that women should be allowed to make their own decisions about their own health. It’s a simple principle.

So what I see in this audience, extraordinary doctors and nurses, and advocates and staff who work tirelessly to keep the doors at health centers all across the country going, then I’m reminded of those very early efforts and all the strides that we’ve made in subsequent decades. And I also think about the millions of mothers and daughters and wives and sisters, friends and neighbors who walk through those doors every year.

Somewhere there’s a woman who just received a new lease on life because of a screening that you provided that helped catch her cancer in time. Somewhere there’s a woman who’s breathing easier today because of the support and counseling she got at her local Planned Parenthood health clinic. Somewhere there’s a young woman starting a career who, because of you, is able to decide for herself when she wants to start a family.

One in five women in this country has turned to Planned Parenthood for health care. One in five. And for many, Planned Parenthood is their primary source of health care — not just for contraceptive care, but for lifesaving preventive care, like cancer screenings and health counseling

So when politicians try to turned Planned Parenthood into a punching bag, they’re not just talking about you; they’re talking about the millions of women who you serve. And when they talk about cutting off your funding, let’s be clear: They’re talking about telling many of those women, you’re on your own. They’re talking about shutting those women out at a time when they may need it most — shutting off communities that need more health care options for women, not less.

So the fact is, after decades of progress, there’s still those who want to turn back the clock to policies more suited to the 1950s than the 21st century. And they’ve been involved in an orchestrated and historic effort to roll back basic rights when it comes to women’s health.

Forty-two states have introduced laws that would ban or severely limit access to a woman’s right to choose — laws that would make it harder for women to get the contraceptive care that they need; laws that would cut off access to cancer screenings and end educational programs that help prevent teen pregnancy.

In North Dakota, they just passed a law that outlaws your right to choose, starting as early as six weeks, even if a woman is raped. A woman may not even know that she’s pregnant at six weeks. In Mississippi, a ballot initiative was put forward that could not only have outlawed your right to choose, but could have had all sorts of other far-reaching consequences like cutting off fertility treatments, making certain forms of contraception a crime.

That’s absurd. It’s wrong. It’s an assault on women’s rights. And that’s why when the people of Mississippi were given a chance to vote on that initiative, they turned it down. (Applause.) Mississippi is a conservative state, but they wanted to make clear there’s nothing conservative about the government injecting itself into decisions best made between a woman and her doctor. And folks are trying to do this all across the country.

When you read about some of these laws, you want to check the calendar; you want to make sure you’re still living in 2013.

Forty years after the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose, we shouldn’t have to remind people that when it comes to a woman’s health, no politician should get to decide what’s best for you. No insurer should get to decide what kind of care that you get. The only person who should get to make decisions about your health is you. (Applause.) That’s why we fought so hard to make health care reform a reality.

That principle is at the heart of the Affordable Care Act. Because of the ACA, most insurance plans are now covering the cost of contraceptive care, so that a working mom doesn’t have to put off the care she needs just so she can pay her bills on time. Because of the Affordable Care Act, 47 million women have new access to preventive care like mammograms and cancer screenings with no copay, no deductible, no out-of-pocket costs, so they don’t have to put off a mammogram just because money is tight. Because of the Affordable Care Act, young people under the age of 26 can now stay on their parent’s health care plan.

And insurance companies soon will no longer be able to deny you coverage based on preexisting conditions like breast cancer, or charge you more just because you are a woman. Those days are ending. Those days are ending.

Now, I know how hard you worked to help us pass health care reform. You and your supporters got out there — you organized; you mobilized; you made your voices heard. It made all the difference. But here’s the thing — if Americans don’t know how to access the new benefits and protections that they’re going to receive as we implement this law, then health care reform won’t make much of a difference in their lives.

So I’m here to also ask for your help, because we need to get the word out. We need you to tell your patients, your friends, your neighbors, your family members what the health care law means for them. Make sure they know that if they don’t have health insurance, they’ll be able to sign up for quality, affordable insurance starting this fall in an online marketplace where private insurers will compete for their business. Make sure that they know that there are plans out there right now that cover the cost of contraceptive and preventive care free of charge.

We’ve got to spread the word, particularly among women, particularly among young women, who are the ones who are most likely to benefit from these laws. We need all the women who come through your doors telling their children, their husbands, and the folks in their neighborhoods about their health care options. We need all the college students who come through your doors to call up their friends and post on Facebook talking about the protections and benefits that are kicking in.

And you are all in a unique position to deliver that message, because the women you serve know you and they trust you. And the reason for that is that you haven’t let them down before.

I know it’s not always easy. As Cecile described, Planned Parenthood as the only organization that she’s ever been at where there are opponents who, in her words, “literally got up every day trying to figure out how to keep us from doing our work.” Now, if she had worked in the administration she’d be more familiar with this phenomenon. But when it comes to your patients, you never let them down — no matter what.

And that’s because you never forget who this is all about. This is about a woman from Chicago named Courtney who has a disease that can leave women infertile. So in college, she turned to Planned Parenthood for access to affordable contraceptive care to keep her healthy. You didn’t just help her plan for a family; you made sure she could start one. And today, she’s got two beautiful kids. That’s what Planned Parenthood is about.

This is about a woman in Washington State named Joyce who for years could only afford health care at her local Planned Parenthood clinic. And heeding your advice, she never missed her annual exam. During one of them, your doctors helped catch an aggressive form of cervical cancer early enough to save her life. Today, she’s been cancer-free for 25 years.

So every day, in every state, in every center that Planned Parenthood operates, there are stories like those — lives you’ve saved, women you’ve empowered, families that you’ve strengthened. That’s why, no matter how great the challenge, no matter how fierce the opposition, if there’s one thing the past few years have shown, it’s that Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere. It’s not going anywhere today. It’s not going anywhere tomorrow.

As long as we’ve got to fight to make sure women have access to quality, affordable health care, and as long as we’ve got to fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own choices about her own health, I want you to know that you’ve also got a President who’s going to be right there with you fighting every step of the way.

Thank you, Planned Parenthood. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you.

Faux poutrage is SO unbecoming…

[George W. Bush jams out in the White House during Black History Month celebration, White House photo by Chris Greenberg]

Detroit News editorial page editor Nolan Finley is outraged that President Obama has the audacity to invite musicians to the White House. Though he was silent when previous presidents did this, it was enough to prompt a stupiditorial column in the paper this week:

[A]s I scrounged through drawers and coat pockets in search of anything that might reduce the size of the check I’m going to write tomorrow, I was acutely aware of how my tax dollars are being used.

Defending my freedom and maintaining the avenues of commerce, no problem.

Feeding the hungry and nursing the sick? All good.

But I draw the line at paying for Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah to serenade a president who, according to the Obama’s tax return released Friday, paid a smaller percentage of his income in federal taxes than I will, while earning a lot more.

Ooo! Nolan Finley has “drawn a line”!

First, the irony of a conservative like Finley being upset at President Obama paying a lower tax rate than him is chest-deep. Finley’s Republican pals have done absolutely everything in their power to prevent wealthy Americans from paying higher taxes. And Finley has been there to cheer them on the whole time. The fact is that President Obama uses himself as an example of someone who should see his taxes rise and who didn’t ask for tax cuts in the first place. I wonder if Finley giggles when he files op-eds like this? I wonder if he thinks the rest of us are too ignorant to see the utter hypocrisy of it?

Second, where was Finley when President Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush invited musicians to the White House? Was he equally outraged then when the man chiefly responsible for the gigantic hole in our national budget due to huge tax cuts for the wealthy (like President Obama) enjoyed music in the comfort of his home?

Here are some of the folks that performed for President Bush at the White House:

• Regina Belle
• Take 6
• Herbie Hancock
• Anita Baker
• Wayne Shorter
• Nnenna Freelon
• Clark Terry
• Lisa Henry
• Bobby Watson
• B.B. King
• Disney’s The Lion King
• Itzhak Perlman
• Jersey Boys
• Kenny Chesney
• Lee Ann Womack
• Marvin Hamlisch
• Naomi and Wynonna Judd
• Natalie Cole
• Rascal Flatts
• Steven Curtis Chapman
• The Oak Ridge Boys
• The Temptations
• Vince Gill
• Amy Grant
• Yo Yo Ma
• Eartha Kitt
• Patti Austin
• Irwin Mayfield
• Aaron Neville
• Nell Carter
• Toby Keith

That must have really outraged Nolan Finley. So much so that it rendered him silent, apparently.

Aw geez…

Michigan Republican Tom Casperson opened his mouth and removed all doubt about his status as a tea party fool this week when he answered “don’t know” when asked by radio show host Michael Patrick Shiels if President Obama was born in the USA. Casperson joins the ranks of the 37% of Michigan Republican Party delegates that believe President Obama was not born a US citizen, an astonishing figure given that he has released both the long-form and the short-form versions of his birth certificate. There’s also the fact that a birth announcement appeared in a Hawaiian newspaper the day he was born.

When Shiels asked him if he was surprised so many Republicans still believe President Obama isn’t a natural born citizen, Casperson replied, “Not really, based on everything everybody’s saying. I don’t know because it seems that issue was dropped immediately as far as major media went. And my gut tells me that if it had been a different president, like, say, George W. Bush, they’d have been diggin’ into that like there’s no tomorrow, trying to get to the bottom of that, which they never really did try to get to the bottom of. So it became a conspiracy theory — no big deal.”

Shiels then asked if he thought is was strange that President Obama was re-elected but might not be eligible to be president. Casperson told him, “I think it’s strange again that it’s not being looked at by certain groups that normally would. I think what the media did with George W. Bush was OK — it kept his feet to the fire, but I think they equally should be doing that with this president.”

Here’s the audio, courtesy of our good friends over at Progress Michigan:

It’s truly incredible that this man thinks there wasn’t a huge media circus around this topic for weeks and months. Perhaps they don’t have television, radio or any of the internets up there in the Upper Peninsula where Casperson is from.

MIRS News reports that Casperson doubled down on his stupidity when they spoke with him. He told them he “feels the mainstream media is partly responsible” for these odd beliefs and that they “ginned a lot of this up.”

People who are conspiracy theorists, they’re saying they’re hiding it, because they don’t dig into it and bring it up or they find something real quick and say, ‘Well, this dismisses it.’ All I’m saying is that I just compare how they treated George W. Bush and they’re so soft-balling this president that it’s unbelievable — which generates conspiracies.

What I was told is that he produced a copy — he didn’t produce the actual document. [I]f he produced the actual documents, that issue should be put to rest. But, the last I heard, he produced copies of the documents, so again, conspiracies can run with that. I would just simply say, if he submitted a copy of the actual documents, if George W. Bush would have submitted that, would the media gladly took it and said, ‘That’s legitimate. Just let it go’?

Right. President Obama hasn’t had as much scrutiny as George W. Bush.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Zack Pohl, Executive Director of Progress Michigan nailed it:

Questioning the President’s birthplace is like believing in Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Sen. Casperson should immediately apologize and acknowledge that Obama was born in the United States. We need elected leaders who are focused on creating jobs and improving education – not wild Tea Party conspiracy theories.

In a separate statement, Pohl said, “It’s clear the Michigan Senate has a bona fide birther among its ranks.”

Even Casperson’s hometown newspaper The Daily News in Iron Mountain is shaking their editorial head at this, calling his comments “disappointing”.

What’s strange, actually, is Casperson’s reluctance to accept Obama’s birth certificate as Obama’s birth certificate. The president has offered up the certificate not once, but twice. Each time a new birther conspiracy twist fizzles, it recycles again, only to be debunked once more.

Earlier this year, former Secretary of State Colin Powell advised fellow Republicans to loudly reject “birther nonsense.”

Apparently, Sen. Casperson is choosing “don’t know” as an alternative.

And that’s disappointing.

Just when you think Michigan Republicans couldn’t do anything to make our state a bigger laughing stop, by Goddess they go right out and prove you wrong. Sheesh.

Disappointing ain’t the half of it.

Big Oil subsidies are, simply put, indefensible

Conservatives who are dead set against making any investments in new technologies that can help propel our country and its economy forward are famous for using the argument that this is “picking winners and losers”. The irony is that, in order to even be considered for federal government subsidies, new technologies — like renewable energy projects, for example — must have already proven themselves as winners that are simply in need of a kickstart to make them affordable and profitable.

With negotiations over the upcoming sequester — automatic, across the board budget cuts — ready to dominate the headlines, both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Obama administration are suggesting that it’s time to end one the most glaring examples “picking winners” that we have in this country today: $4 billion in subsidies to Big Oil companies.

The White House took jabs at oil-and-gas subsidies Wednesday, calling for an end to the incentives as part of a deal to avoid automatic spending cuts from sequestration.

“The idea that you need to subsidize an industry that has enjoyed record profits — that taxpayers have to subsidize it — just doesn’t make sense in a time when we have to make choices about how best to use our resources,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday.

Unless Congress acts to stop sequestration, federal spending will be slashed by about $110 billion on March 1, with half the total coming from the Pentagon.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) made similar comments about the subsidies. The remarks indicate Democrats plan to take another stab at axing the subsidies, this time as part of an effort to dodge the automatic spending cuts, after legislative efforts failed last Congress.

It is truly astonishing that an industry that is reported to have made $80 billion in profit last year still manages to squeeze the American tax payers for $4 billion a year. What, $76 billion split among a handful of companies isn’t enough???

There simply isn’t an example you can give of a more unnecessary subsidy or a more egregious example of “picking winners” than these subsidies. Republicans were able to shoot down President Obama’s effort to end them last year. Hopefully this year, with the political winds at his back, he’ll be more successful.

The new normal

[All images by Anne C. Savage, special to Eclectablog]

[NOTE: More photos from the Inauguration can be seen HERE.]

One of the things that has always struck us with both Barack Obama’s campaign events and his inaugurations has been the diversity of the crowds. All races are represented. Men and women. Young and old. Straight and gay. Abled and disabled. All these folks are represented. It’s a fine tribute to the way he governs.

This next young lady spent her time waiting for President Obama to speak making a flag from the gravel in the area where her dad was standing. There is even a tiny stone eagle at the top of the flag pole!


This is Leon, the IT guy from New York City mentioned in our previous photoblog:














A final thing that struck me was how normal Barack Obama’s reelection was. The crowd was about half the 2 million we saw in 2009 and there weren’t nearly as many references to history being made or of the historical significance of his presidency. It really hit me when, the next day, we visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial:

There were, of course, a few folks my age and older who stood quietly, saying a prayer or simply showing reverence to the Reverend and all that he had accomplished on behalf of minorities and the poor. One man about my age walked by me quietly, exchanging a nod, with tears rolling down both of his cheeks.

But what was in some ways more profound were the kids yucking it up and snapping photos of themselves in front of the statue of Dr. King. For them, his life and accomplishments seemed a distant thing that didn’t really impact their lives. They seemed to be there mainly to get their photo in front of the memorial, some of them hamming it up or striking a pose.

I think Melissa Harris-Perry sums up my feelings the best:

President Obama’s reelection is, in certain ways, more important even though it’s less emotional because it says that African Americans having a stake, a governing stake in this country is just normal, regular. Maybe even unremarkable? In a certain way that’s more valuable for our understanding of equality than the celebration of the first time it happened. It’s really when it becomes something that you don’t even talk about anymore that you know we’re moving toward some kind of racial equality.

Here’s one more panoramic image. This one was taken immediately after President Obama completed the oath of office for a second time and, if you zoom in, you can see him shaking Chief Justice Roberts’ hand and his wife and kids smiling:

To view more images from President Obama’s second inauguration, click HERE.

OK, that’s Time magazine’s thing. But we totally agree.

I’m no Pete Souza and I didn’t have 48 hours with the President, but I do have a few photos and a story to share.

Over the last four years I have had the privilege of photographing Barack Obama many times and, as I tell my story, I will include a few of my favorite photos as a tribute to Time magazine’s well-chosen Person of the Year and a little something for you at the end.

On June 16, 2008, I stood outside a door on the south side of Joe Louis Arena with several other photographers and media people waiting for approval to be part of the media coverage of Barack Obama’s visit to Detroit. You see, a few days before that, I had read in the paper that Obama was coming to Detroit. I contacted the Detroit Free Press and asked if they would be interested in a panoramic image of the Obama rally at Joe Louis. They said that they would and we agreed on a price. However, they told me they could not give me media credentials to get in. I was on my own. I was a little bummed about this, but didn’t let it stop me. I headed to Detroit early and got in the media line to pleaded my case to the person in charge. They let me in that day and that was the start of my photography journey with Obama.

I photographed the then-nominee for President along with Vice President Al Gore, who endorsed him that day, in an arena full of over 20,000 people. I also got the panoramic image for The Detroit Free Press. It was thrilling.

Obama’s next rally in Michigan was on Labor Day and the Detroit News hired me to do a panoramic image of that rally, as well. As I walked up to the media table that day, I was approached by a woman who worked for Obama for America (OFA) and asked, “Are you Anne Savage?” She said that she saw my panoramic image of Obama at Joe Louis and was very impressed. She said it went viral with the OFA group in Chicago. She gave me her card and said to contact her if I wanted to photograph Obama if he returned to Michigan for another rally. He did return, several more times, in fact, and I was there for each one.

On Nov. 5th, 2008, the day after the election, I was so full of energy; a major adrenaline high. There was no more volunteering to do or doors to knock and no more photos to be taken for the election. So, to release some of that energy, I decided to do something with the images that I had taken over the summer at all the Michigan Obama rallies. I wanted to create something that reflected what I felt was the overwhelming message that came from the election: Out of many we are one.

I used the faces of people in the crowds to create a photomosaic of Barack Obama. Below is the mosaic I created. Zoom in to see the faces up close.

I posted this image on Flickr and my website and had some posters made. I was selling them in a few stores throughout the area and online. A few days after I posted the image publicly, I was approached by Time Magazine about using my mosaic. They couldn’t tell me why or how it was going to be used; only that it included me and the mosaic. They had a brief interview with me and that was it until Dec. 19, 2008.

I woke up on December 19th to a phone call from my mother. She said I was part of a feature in Time magazine’s Person of the Year issue (If you click the link you will see my mosaic is the main image). Barack Obama was chosen that year and as part of the issue they featured Obama artists and their artwork. My mother told me that my mosaic spanned two pages. I couldn’t get a copy of the magazine, however, because a giant snow storm had passed through overnight. I was snowed in and the trucks delivering the magazines were snowed out. It wasn’t until much later in the day that I actually got to see the Time magazine issue.

With the help of a good friend, I sold several posters to a person who knew Obama in Chicago. This same person gave him one of the posters and had him sign a second one for me. She mailed it to me and I was thrilled after I opened it to see that the President-elect had written, “To Anne- Thanks for the wonderful piece! — Barack Obama”.

Over the next couple of years I got to photograph the President several more times and then, in the fall of 2011, I was contacted by a person from the Obama Victory Fund about photographing the First Lady at a fund raiser in Detroit. I jumped at the opportunity. Over the next year, in addition to photographing the President at rallies in Michigan and Ohio, I became one of the official campaign fundraiser photographers for all of the campaign events in Michigan and northern Ohio. I was so honored to be a part of Barack Obama’s campaign.

The biggest thrill, however, was meeting him. It was a fundraiser in Detroit and, after photographing the President with all the donors, when the room was nearly empty, Marvin Nicholson asked if I would like to meet the President. He then asked me about the Time magazine Person of the Year issue I had sticking out of my camera bag. I told him that I had created something that ran in the issue and proceeded to show him. He smiled, opened his coat, and grabbed one of the dozen Sharpie markers lining the inside pocket of his jacket, and said, “Well, we’ll just have to do something about that.” He turned to the President and said, “Mr. President, I would like to introduce to to Anne Savage. She has something she would like to show you.” I walked up to the President and showed him the Time magazine issue with my mosaic. He said “Wow” a few times, asked me a few questions about it and then signed it. In the meantime, Pete Souza had picked up my camera and photographed the whole thing:

Needless to say, it was the thrill of a lifetime, only to be outdone by the second time we met in Ohio a month later. It was at the end another fundraiser and I was once again asked by Marvin Nicholson if I would like to meet the President. I told him that I already had, that he had signed my mosaic from Time and that I didn’t want to take up the President’s time. The President then turned to me and said “I think we should get a photograph with the photographer.” He looked me in the eyes and said “I want you to know that I still have your art”, referencing the photomosaic poster that he had been given in 2008 in Chicago.

I have trouble describing how I felt after he told me that. To have your artwork recognized by someone you admire greatly is high praise.

Obama art was not as prevalent in this last election, at least in the media it wasn’t. But many of us still were inspired by Obama and shared & sold works that we created. In the spirit of the 2008 election and my “Out of many we are one” mosaic, I created a new one as a reminder of this year’s election. It, like the first one, was created from faces at Obama rallies. I created it so that the faces are all looking or facing relatively forward to emphasize the “Forward” message from this year’s election. Zoom in to see it up close.

In honor of Barack Obama being chosen as Time’s Person of the Year, I am selling two posters for $20 plus free shipping through the end of the year. You can choose two of the same or the set from both elections. I want to share a piece of this election with you. Our grassroots efforts made it possible to elect Barack Obama twice as our President, a President that will go down in history as one of our country’s greatest.

In the words of Rich Stengel:

We are in the midst of historic cultural and demographic changes, and Obama is both the symbol and in some ways the architect of this new America. For finding and forging a new majority, for turning weakness into opportunity and for seeking, amid great adversity, to create a more perfect union, Barack Obama is Time’s 2012 Person of the Year.

Eclectablog heartily seconds that.

John Boehner: between a tea bag and a hard place

John Boehner has been negotiating all week with President Obama and his staff to resolve the “fiscal speedbump” issue. President Obama took a step toward Speaker Boehner in the negotiations by allowing the Bush tax cuts to remain in place for incomes over $400,000/year (up from $250,000), making some cuts to entitlements to be named later and agreeing to a different way to calculate Social Security cost of living increases that would lower how much our seniors get in their monthly allocation by a smidgen — the so-called “chained CPI”.

In return, Boehner offered to extend the debt ceiling for two years and allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for income over $400,000.

This was, however, a bridge to far for his tea party leadership team, according to Ezra Klein at the Washington Post. So, he offered what he’s calling “Plan B” and the response from the White House was a resounding “screw you”.

Here’s what Press Secretary Jay Carney had to say on behalf of the President:

The American people have been clear that they will not accept an economic approach that places too big of a burden on the middle class, seniors, students and the most vulnerable Americans while asking too little of the wealthiest Americans. The Congressional Republican “Plan B” legislation continues large tax cuts for the very wealthiest individuals – on average, millionaires would see a tax break of $50,000 – while eliminating tax cuts that 25 million students and families struggling to make ends meet depend on and ending critical incentives for our nation’s businesses. It would also cut off a vital lifeline of unemployment assistance to 2 million Americans fighting to find a job just a few days after Christmas, while deeply cutting Medicare. The deficit reduction is minimal, and perversely, given its authors, solely through tax increases with no spending cuts. This approach does not meet the test of balance, and the President would veto the legislation in the unlikely event of its passage.

The hypocrisy on this issue among the Republicans borders on comical. As The Daily Dolt points out, Republicans are apoplectic that the White House is counting decreases in the amount of interest the federal government will pay when the national debt is reduced:

While the President claims his spending cuts add up to $1.2 trillion — roughly equal to the $1.2 trillion he seeks in added tax revenue — Boehner insists the cuts only add up to $930 billion because the interest savings don’t count:

“Interest savings from higher taxes is not a spending cut. I wish the folks at the White House would work as hard to actually cut spending as they do trying [to] look like they are.”

However, back when they were ranting and raving against the stimulus package, Republicans thought that interest was a big hairy deal. Here’s Speaker Boehner had to say then:

If you think about where we’ve been this year, we had the nearly trillion-dollar stimulus plan, when you look at the interest that’s going to be paid on it.

And here’s Paul Ryan:

We are about to vote on a trillion-dollar spending package. Yes, a trillion dollars, because the Congressional Budget Office just told us today (that) just to pay for the interest on this bill is another $350 billion.

So, we appear to be back to square one. And, funny thing is, President Obama still holds all the cards.

Heh, heh…

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.

In his visit to the Daimler Detroit Diesel plant in Redford, Michigan today, Presdient Obama amplified and gave full-throated endorsement of the battle being fought to stop Michigan from becoming the nation’s 24th “Right to Work for Less” state:

[B]y the way, what we shouldn’t do — I just got to say this — what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. We shouldn’t be doing that. These so-called “right to work” laws, they don’t have anything to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.

You only have to look to Michigan — where workers were instrumental in reviving the auto industry — to see how unions have helped build not just a stronger middle class but a stronger America. So folks from our state’s capital, all the way to the nation’s capital, they should be focused on the same thing. They should be working to make sure companies like this manufacturer is able to make more great products. That’s what they should be focused on. We don’t want a race to the bottom. We want a race to the top.

I believe America only succeeds and thrives when we’ve got a strong and growing middle class. That’s what I believe. I believe we’re at our best when everybody who works hard has a chance to get ahead; that they can get a job that pays the bills; that they’ve got health care that they can count on; that they can retire with dignity and respect, maybe take a vacation once in a while — nothing fancy, just being able to pack up the kids and go someplace and enjoy time with people that you love; make sure that your kids can go to a good school; make sure they can aspire to whatever they want to be. That idea is what built America. That’s the idea that built Michigan. That’s the idea that’s at the heart of the economic plan I’ve been talking about all year long on the campaign trail.

I want us to bring down our deficits, but I want to do it in a balanced, responsible way. And I want to reward — I want a tax code that rewards businesses and manufacturers like Detroit Diesel right here, creating jobs right here in Redford, right here in Michigan, right here in the United States of America.

Eight years ago, you started building axles here alongside the engines. That meant more work. That meant more jobs. (Applause.) So you started seeing products — more products stamped with those three proud words: Made in America.

Today, Daimler is announcing a new $120 million investment into this plant, creating 115 good, new union jobs building transmissions and turbochargers right here in Redford — 115 good new jobs right here in this plant, making things happen. That is great for the plant. It’s great for this community. But it’s also good for American manufacturing. Soon, you guys will be building all the key parts that go into powering a heavy-duty truck, all at the same facility. Nobody else in America is doing that.

Remember, it was just a few years ago that our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. GM, Chrysler were all on the brink of failure. And if they failed, the suppliers and distributors that get their business from those companies, they would have died off, too. Even Ford could have gone down — production halted. Factories shuttered. Once proud companies chopped up and sold off for scraps. And all of you — the men and women who built these companies with your own hands — would have been hung out to dry. And everybody in this community that depends on you — restaurant owners, storekeepers (laughter) their livelihoods would have been at stake, too.

So I wasn’t about to let that happen. I placed my bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. I’d make that same bet any day of the week. Three and a half years later, that bet is paying off.

American manufacturing is growing at the fastest pace since the 1990s. And thanks in part to that boost in manufacturing, four years after the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, our economy is growing again. Our businesses have created more than 5.5 million new jobs over the past 33 months. So we’re making progress. We’re moving in the right direction. We’re going forward.

We can solve this problem. All Congress needs to do is pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody’s income — everybody. That means 98 percent of Americans — and probably 100 percent of you (laughter) — 97 percent of small businesses wouldn’t see their income taxes go up a single dime. Even the wealthiest Americans would still get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. But when they start making a million, or $10 million, or $20 million you can afford to pay a little bit more. You’re not too strapped.

So Congress can do that right now. Everybody says they agree with it. Let’s get it done.

President Obama with “Pretty Willie”

[A]s I was coming over here, I was hearing about a guy named Willie. Where’s Willie?  There’s Willie right here.  There’s Willie. Now, in case you haven’t heard of him, they actually call him “Pretty Willie.”  (Laughter.)  Now, I got to say you got to be pretty tough to have a nickname like “Pretty Willie.”  (Laughter.)  He’s tough. 
 
On Wednesday, Willie will celebrate 60 years working at Detroit Diesel — 60 years. Willie started back on December 12, 1952.  I was not born yet. Wasn’t even close to being born.  He made $1.40 an hour.  The only time he spent away from this plant was when he was serving our country in the Korean War. So three generations of Willie’s family have passed through Detroit Diesel.  One of his daughters works here with him right now — is that right?  There she is.
 
In all his years, Willie has been late to work only once.  It was back in 1977. It’s been so long he can’t remember why he was late (laughter) but we’re willing to give him a pass. 

Full transcript:

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Redford! (Applause.) It is good to be back in Michigan. (Applause.) How is everybody doing today? (Applause.)

Now, let me just start off by saying we have something in common — both our teams lost yesterday. (Laughter.) I mean, I would like to come here and talk a little smack about the Bears, but we didn’t quite get it done. But it is wonderful to be back. It is good to see everybody in the great state of Michigan. (Applause.)

A few people I want to acknowledge — first of all, the Mayor of Detroit here — Dave Bing is in the house. (Applause.) We’ve got the Redford Supervisor — Tracey Schultz Kobylarz. (Applause.) We’ve got some outstanding members of Congress who are here — please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

I want to thank Martin for hosting us. I want to thank Jeff and Gibby for giving me a great tour of the factory. (Applause.) I’ve got to say I love coming to factories.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I love you!

THE PRESIDENT: I love you. (Applause.)

So in addition to seeing the best workers in the world — (applause) — you’ve also got all this cool equipment. (Laughter.) I wanted to try out some of the equipment, but Secret Service wouldn’t let me. (Laughter.) They said, you’re going to drop something on your head, hurt yourself. (Laughter.) They were worried I’d mess something up. And Jeff and Gibby may not admit it, but I think they were pretty happy the Secret Service wouldn’t let me touch the equipment. (Laughter.)

Now, it’s been a little over a month since the election came to an end. (Applause.) So it’s now safe for you to turn your televisions back on. (Laughter.) All those scary political ads are off the air. You can answer your phone again — nobody is calling you in the middle of dinner asking for your support. But, look, I have to admit there’s one part of the campaign that I miss, and that is it is a great excuse for me to get out of Washington and come to towns like this and talk to the people who work so hard every day and are looking out for their families and are in their communities, and just having a conversation about what kind of country do we want to be; what kind of country do we want to leave behind for our kids. Because ultimately, that’s what this is about.

And I believe — and I’ve been saying this not just for the last six months or the last year, but ever since I got into public office — I believe America only succeeds and thrives when we’ve got a strong and growing middle class. (Applause.) That’s what I believe. I believe we’re at our best when everybody who works hard has a chance to get ahead; that they can get a job that pays the bills; that they’ve got health care that they can count on; that they can retire with dignity and respect, maybe take a vacation once in a while — nothing fancy, just being able to pack up the kids and go someplace and enjoy time with people that you love; make sure that your kids can go to a good school; make sure they can aspire to whatever they want to be.

That idea is what built America. That’s the idea that built Michigan. That’s the idea that’s at the heart of the economic plan I’ve been talking about all year long on the campaign trail. I want to give more Americans the chance to earn the skills that businesses are looking for right now, and give our kids the kind of education they need to succeed in the 21st century. I want to make sure America leads the world in research and technology and clean energy. I want to put people back to work rebuilding our roads and our bridges and our schools. (Applause.) That’s how we grow an economy.

I want us to bring down our deficits, but I want to do it in a balanced, responsible way. And I want to reward — I want a tax code that rewards businesses and manufacturers like Detroit Diesel right here, creating jobs right here in Redford, right here in Michigan, right here in the United States of America. (Applause.) That’s where we need to go. That’s the country we need to build. And when it comes to bringing manufacturing back to America — that’s why I’m here today.

Since 1938, Detroit Diesel has been turning out some of the best engines in the world. (Applause.) Over all those years, generations of Redford workers have walked through these doors. Not just to punch a clock. Not just to pick up a paycheck. Not just to build an engine. But to build a middle-class life for their families; to earn a shot at the American Dream.

For seven and a half decades, through good times and bad, through revolutions in technology that sent a lot of good jobs — manufacturing jobs — overseas, men and women like you, your parents, maybe even your grandparents, have done your part to build up America’s manufacturing strength. That’s something you can all be proud of. And now you’re writing a new proud chapter to that history. Eight years ago, you started building axles here alongside the engines. That meant more work. That meant more jobs. (Applause.) So you started seeing products — more products stamped with those three proud words: Made in America.
Today, Daimler is announcing a new $120 million investment into this plant, creating 115 good, new union jobs building transmissions and turbochargers right here in Redford — (applause) — 115 good new jobs right here in this plant, making things happen. That is great for the plant. It’s great for this community. But it’s also good for American manufacturing. Soon, you guys will be building all the key parts that go into powering a heavy-duty truck, all at the same facility. Nobody else in America is doing that. Nobody else in North America is doing that.

And by putting everything together in one place, under one roof, Daimler engineers can design each part so it works better with the others. That means greater fuel efficiency for your trucks. It means greater savings for your customers. That’s a big deal. And it’s just the latest example of Daimler’s leadership on this issue.

Last year, I was proud to have your support when we announced the first-ever national fuel-efficiency standards for commercial trucks, which is going to help save consumers money and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. That’s good news. (Applause.)

But here’s the other reason why what you guys are doing, what Daimler is doing, is so important. For a long time, companies, they weren’t always making those kinds of investments here in the United States. They weren’t always investing in American workers. They certainly weren’t willing to make them in the U.S. auto industry.

Remember, it was just a few years ago that our auto industry was on the verge of collapse. GM, Chrysler were all on the brink of failure. And if they failed, the suppliers and distributors that get their business from those companies, they would have died off, too. Even Ford could have gone down — production halted. Factories shuttered. Once proud companies chopped up and sold off for scraps. And all of you — the men and women who built these companies with your own hands — would have been hung out to dry. And everybody in this community that depends on you — restaurant owners, storekeepers, bartenders — (laughter and applause) — their livelihoods would have been at stake, too.

So I wasn’t about to let that happen. I placed my bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity. I’d make that same bet any day of the week. (Applause.) Three and a half years later, that bet is paying off. This industry has added over a quarter of a million new jobs. Assembly lines are humming again. The American auto industry is back.

And companies like Daimler know you’re still a smart bet. They could have made their investment somewhere else, but they didn’t. And if you ask them whether it was a tough call, they’ll tell you it wasn’t even close. So the word is going out all around the world: If you want to find the best workers in the world, if you want to find the best factories in the world, if you want to build the best cars or trucks or any other product in the world, you should invest in the United States of America. This is the place to be. (Applause.)

See, you’re starting to see the competitive balance is tipping a little bit. Over the past few years, it’s become more expensive to do business in countries like China. Our workers have become even more productive. Our energy costs are starting to go down here in the United States. And we still have the largest market. So when you factor in everything, it makes sense to invest here, in America.

And that’s one of the reasons why American manufacturing is growing at the fastest pace since the 1990s. And thanks in part to that boost in manufacturing, four years after the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, our economy is growing again. Our businesses have created more than 5.5 million new jobs over the past 33 months. So we’re making progress. (Applause.) We’re moving in the right direction. We’re going forward.

So what we need to do is simple. We need to keep going. We need to keep going forward. We should do everything we can to keep creating good middle-class jobs that help folks rebuild security for their families. (Applause.) And we should do everything we can to encourage companies like Daimler to keep investing in American workers.

And by the way, what we shouldn’t do — I just got to say this — what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. (Applause.) We shouldn’t be doing that. (Applause.) These so-called “right to work” laws, they don’t have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. (Applause.) What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money. (Applause.)

You only have to look to Michigan — where workers were instrumental in reviving the auto industry — to see how unions have helped build not just a stronger middle class but a stronger America. (Applause.) So folks from our state’s capital, all the way to the nation’s capital, they should be focused on the same thing. They should be working to make sure companies like this manufacturer is able to make more great products. That’s what they should be focused on. (Applause.) We don’t want a race to the bottom. We want a race to the top. (Applause.)

America is not going to compete based on low-skill, low-wage, no workers’ rights. That’s not our competitive advantage. There’s always going to be some other country that can treat its workers even worse. Right?

AUDIENCE: Right!

THE PRESIDENT: What’s going to make us succeed is we got the best workers — well trained, reliable, productive, low turnover, healthy. That’s what makes us strong. And it also is what allows our workers then to buy the products that we make because they got enough money in their pockets. (Applause.)

So we’ve got to get past this whole situation where we manufacture crises because of politics. That actually leads to less certainty, more conflict, and we can’t all focus on coming together to grow.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That’s right!

THE PRESIDENT: And the same thing — we’re seeing the same thing in Washington. I’m sure you’ve all heard the talk recently about some big deadlines we’re facing in a few weeks when it comes to decisions on jobs and investment and taxes. And that debate is going to have a big impact on all of you. Some of you may know this: If Congress doesn’t act soon, meaning in the next few weeks, starting on January 1st, everybody is going to see their income taxes go up.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: It’s true. You all don’t like that.

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: Typical, middle-class family of four will see an income tax hike of around $2,200. How many of you can afford to pay another $2,200 in taxes? Not you?

AUDIENCE: No!

THE PRESIDENT: I didn’t think so. You can’t afford to lose that money. That’s a hit you can’t afford to take. And, by the way, that’s not a good hit for businesses, either — because if Congress lets middle-class taxes go up, economists will tell you that means people will spend nearly $200 billion less than they otherwise would spend. Consumer spending is going to go down. That means you’ve got less customers. Businesses get fewer profits. They hire fewer workers. You go in a downward spiral. Wrong idea.

Here is the good news: We can solve this problem. All Congress needs to do is pass a law that would prevent a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody’s income — everybody. (Applause.) That means 98 percent of Americans — and probably 100 percent of you — (laughter) — 97 percent of small businesses wouldn’t see their income taxes go up a single dime. Even the wealthiest Americans would still get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. But when they start making a million, or $10 million, or $20 million you can afford to pay a little bit more. (Applause.) You’re not too strapped.

So Congress can do that right now. Everybody says they agree with it. Let’s get it done. (Applause.)

So that’s the bare minimum. That’s the bare minimum we should be doing in order to the grow the economy. But we can do more. We can do more than just extend middle-class tax cuts. I’ve said I will work with Republicans on a plan for economic growth, job creation, and reducing our deficits. And that has some compromise between Democrats and Republicans. I understand people have a lot of different views. I’m willing to compromise a little bit.

But if we’re serious about reducing our deficit, we’ve also got to be serious about investing in the things that help us grow and make the middle class strong, like education, and research and development, and making sure kids can go to college, and rebuilding our roads and our infrastructure. (Applause.) We’ve got to do that.

So when you put it all together, what you need is a package that keeps taxes where they are for middle-class families; we make some tough spending cuts on things that we don’t need; and then we ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate. And that’s a principle I won’t compromise on, because I’m not going to have a situation where the wealthiest among us, including folks like me, get to keep all our tax breaks, and then we’re asking students to pay higher student loans. Or suddenly, a school doesn’t have schoolbooks because the school district couldn’t afford it. Or some family that has a disabled kid isn’t getting the help that they need through Medicaid.

We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to make that tradeoff. That’s not going to help us to grow. Our economic success has never come from the top down; it comes from the middle out. It comes from the bottom up. (Applause.) It comes from folks like you working hard, and if you’re working hard and you’re successful, then you become customers and everybody does well.

Our success as a country in this new century will be defined by how well we educate our kids, how well we train our workers, how well we invent, how well we innovate, how well we build things like cars and engines — all the things that helped create the greatest middle class the world has ever known. That’s how you bring new jobs back to Detroit. That’s how you bring good jobs back to America. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s what I will stay relentlessly focused on going forward. (Applause.)

Because when we focus on these things –- when we stay true to ourselves and our history, there’s nothing we can’t do. (Applause.) And if you don’t believe me, you need to come down to this plant and see all these outstanding workers.

In fact, as I was coming over here, I was hearing about a guy named Willie. (Applause.) Where’s Willie? There’s Willie right here. There’s Willie. (Applause.) Now, in case you haven’t heard of him, they actually call him “Pretty Willie.” (Laughter.) Now, I got to say you got to be pretty tough to have a nickname like “Pretty Willie.” (Laughter.) He’s tough.

On Wednesday, Willie will celebrate 60 years working at Detroit Diesel — 60 years. (Applause.) Willie started back on December 12, 1952. I was not born yet. (Laughter.) Wasn’t even close to being born. He made $1.40 an hour. The only time he spent away from this plant was when he was serving our country in the Korean War. (Applause.) So three generations of Willie’s family have passed through Detroit Diesel. One of his daughters works here with him right now — is that right? There she is. (Applause.)

In all his years, Willie has been late to work only once. It was back in 1977. (Laughter.) It’s been so long he can’t remember why he was late — (laughter and applause) — but we’re willing to give him a pass.

So Willie believes in hard work. You don’t keep a job for 60 years if you don’t work hard. Sooner or later, someone is going to fire you if you don’t work hard. He takes pride in being part of something bigger than himself. He’s committed to family; he’s committed to community; he’s committed to country. That’s how Willie lives his life. That’s how all of you live your lives.

And that makes me hopeful about the future, because you’re out there fighting every day for a better future for your family and your country. And when you do that, that means you’re creating value all across this economy. You’re inspiring people. You’re being a good example for your kids. That’s what makes America great. That’s what we have to stay focused on.

And as long as I’ve got the privilege of serving as your President, I’m going to keep fighting for you. I’m going to keep fighting for your kids. I’m going to keep fighting for an America where anybody, no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, you can make it if you try here in America. (Applause.)

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. (Applause.)

At least we know who they work for now — they’ve made that clear

House Republicans have released a counter-proposal to President Obama’s budget plan to avoid plunging us off the fiscal cliff speed bump. Unsurprisingly, it raises tax revenue but doesn’t allow the Bush tax cuts to expire. In fact, according to analysis by the Washington Post, it appears to lower taxes for the top tax bracket.

The proposal calls for $800 billion in higher tax collections through an overhaul of the tax code next year that would push the top rate below the current level of 35 percent and raise cash by wiping out loopholes and deductions.

The plan also seeks $600 billion in health savings. One option, GOP aides said, would be raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. It also includes $300 billion in savings from other mandatory programs, such as farm subsidies. And it would save $200 billion by applying a less generous measure of inflation government wide, including to Social Security benefits, which would rise more slowly as a result.

The GOP plan also seeks another $300 billion in cuts to agency budgets on top of the $1 trillion in cuts already enacted. All told, it would produce $2.2 trillion in new savings, or $4.6 trillion when measured against the same yardstick as the president’s proposal.

So, let’s do a quick tally here:

Winners: America’s most wealthy citizens. Their tax rate would actually drop rather than going up the tiny 3.9% that would take them to where they were during the boom years of the Clinton administration.

Losers: Social Security recipients and future Medicare recipients. To pay for keeping the Bush tax cuts in place for the super-wealthy, people will have to wait longer to be eligible for Medicare and will see a slow-down in their social security cost of living increases.

In other words, our most vulnerable citizens take a hit so that the most secure citizens pay no cost at all.

Oh and, big surprise, as as Jed Lewison points out, they aren’t providing any specific details about all the savings they are going to achieve, either.

From their letter here’s the heart of their so-called “proposal”:

For instance, on November 1 of last year, Erskine Bowles, the co-chair of your debt commission, presented the Joint Select Committee with a middle ground approach that garnered praise from many fiscal watchdogs and nonpartisan experts. He recommended that both parties agree to a balanced package that includes significant spending cuts as well as $800 billion in new revenue.

Notably, the new revenue in the Bowles plan would not be achieved through higher tax rates, which we continue to oppose and will not agree to in order to protect small businesses and our economy. Instead, new revenue would be generated through pro-growth tax reform that closes special-interest loopholes and deductions while lowering rates. On the spending side, the Bowles recommendation would cut more than $900 billion in mandatory spending and another $300 billion in discretionary spending. These cuts would be over and above the spending reductions enacted in the Budget Control Act.

This is by no means an adequate long-term solution, as resolving our long-term fiscal crisis will require fundamental entitlement reform. Indeed, the Bowles plan is exactly the kind of imperfect, but fair middle ground that allows us to avert the fiscal cliff without hurting our economy and destroying jobs. We believe it warrants immediate consideration.

If you are agreeable to this framework, we are ready and eager to begin discussions about how to structure these reforms so that the American people can be confident that these targets will be reached.

That’s not a proposal. It’s barely enough for a bullet point. It’s not something a legislator came up with. It’s something from a P.R. flack.

This brings into sharp relief who the Republicans in the House answer to: The Very Rich. Big Money. Nobody with any credibility still believes that the fate of our economy hinges on them maintaining a 3.9% lower tax rate. If that were the case, our recession would never have happened and our economy would be roaring because they have had that tax break for more than five years.

This past weekend at the RootsCamp conference, I heard White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett speak. During her speech she said this very clear and unequivocal terms:

President Obama WILL NOT allow the Bush tax cuts to be renewed for the richest two percent of Americans.