President Obama just delivered remarks in the Rose Garden on unemployment stating that "it's so essential to pass the unemployment extension that comes up for a vote tomorrow."
Obama had three people standing with him who have been unable to find jobs even as their unemployment benefits have been or will be exhausted. And, he noted how the Senate GOPers have changed the tradition this time:
And, for a long time, there's been a tradition under both Democratic and Republican Presidents to offer relief to the unemployed. That was certainly the case under my predecssor when Republican Senators voted several times to extend emergency unemployment benefits.But, Obama went further and noted the hypocrisy of the GOP Senators:
And, I have to say after years of championing policies that turned a record surplus into a massive deficit, the same people who didn't have any problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn't offer relief to middle class Americans...who really need help.Obama also blasted the GOP talking point that people on unemployment don't want to work, "That attitude reflects a lack of faith in the American people."
Obama exposed just how craven the GOPers have been:
It's time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. It's time to do what's right. Not for the next elections, but for the middle class.He asked Senators to put politics aside. Unfortunately, the current crop of Republican Senators, led by Mitch McConnell, never put politics aside. They'll sacrifice American workers who have lost their jobs -- and, then totally disrespect the unemployed by claiming they don't want to work. The President needs to keep hammering the GOPers for what they did to the economy and what they're doing now to hurt those most affected by the economic crisis.
With the addition of Senator Byrd's replacement, Carte Goodwin, the Democrats should be able to secure cloture with the votes of Maine's Snowe and Collins.
