The right celebrated Labor Day by calling Obama a communist because he called for more Americans to join the middle class.
Video of Obama’s Labor Day message:
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OBAMA: For over a decade, working Americans have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar and the pay of a fortunate few explodes. For even longer than that, inequality has steadily risen; the journey of upward mobility has become harder. And in too many communities across this country, the shadow of poverty continues to cast a pall over our fellow citizens.
Reversing that trend needs to be Washington’s highest priority. It’s certainly mine. That’s why, over the past month, I’ve traveled all across America, laying out my ideas for how we can build on the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class. A good job that pays a good wage. A good education. A home of your own. Health care when you get sick. A secure retirement even if you’re not rich. And more chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it.
The truth is, it’s not going to be easy to reverse the forces that have conspired – for decades – against working Americans. But if we take a few bold steps – and if Washington is able to come together with common purpose and common resolve – we’ll get there. Our economy will keep getting stronger and more Americans will be able to join the ranks of the middle-class.
So this Labor Day, while you’re out there grilling in the backyard, or taking that final trip for the summer, I hope you’ll also take a moment to reflect on the many contributions of our working men and women. For generations, it was the great American middle class that made our economy the envy of the world. And as long as I’m President, I’m going to keep fighting to make sure that happens again.
Obama’s idea that people deserve a chance to reach the middle class was met with howls of communism from The Gateway Pundit, “How a President of a free nation can seemingly promise a job with good pay, healthcare, a home and retirement while keeping a straight face knowing that it is not within his power to provide such things, is beyond me. In order for the President to come through on that Christmas list of goodies he would have to fundamentally transform the nation into Communism so that everything would be owned by the Government and therefore distributed “equally” to every citizen. While that may give a warm and fuzzy feeling to our American Comrades on the left, it is a thought which churns my stomach because history has shown any such form of government only leads to a totalitarian state run by murderous, political elites…Like Communist leaders of old, President Obama is more than happy to pay lip service to the people, while behind closed doors, he shows his true self as being an elitist.”
According to the right, The American Dream is a promise of communism for all when it is spoken of by Obama. President Obama wasn’t saying that he was going to give anyone anything. He was speaking about building a stronger economy that will allow more Americans to become a part of the middle class. I guess economic opportunity earned through hard work is also a form of communism.
It is impossible to understand why Republicans are so obsessed with communism. This mental defect has advanced to the point where it really wouldn’t surprise anyone if Ted Cruz introduced a bill mandating duck and cover drills in all schools, while Rep. Darrell Issa revives the House Un-american Activities Committee so that he can expose the “red menace” that has taken over the White House.
Why do right wingers think that calling somebody a communist is some great insult? The Cold War is over. Calling somebody a communist is about as cutting edge cool as greeting your friends by proclaiming that you are Mork from Ork and saying, “nano nano.”
Calling Obama a communist doesn’t anger the left. It just makes them laugh at how pathetic the right has become.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
