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July 19, 2010 in Nation/World
Obama to GOP: Restore unemployment benefits now
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama took aim at Republican lawmakers today, accusing them of holding the public hostage to Washington politics by blocking extended unemployment benefits for millions of out of work Americans.
“It’s time to do what’s right, not for the next election, but for the middle class,” Obama said in a presidential jawboning statement in the Rose Garden Monday morning.
Lawmakers have battled for weeks over legislation extending unemployment benefits to workers who have been out of a job for long stretches of time. The last such extension expired at the end of May, leaving some 2.5 million people without benefits, with hundreds of thousands more losing benefits each week.
The Senate is set to take up the measure again Tuesday, immediately following the swearing in of a replacement for the late Sen. Robert Byrd. Filling that seat will give Democrats the 60 votes they need to block a Republican filibuster.
Obama’s argument has become a familiar one, as Democrats try to use the Republican blockade of unemployment benefits as a wedge issue heading into the November midterm elections.
On Monday, he sought to cast his Republican opponents as hypocritical for having voted for extensions of unemployment benefits when his Republican predecessor, President George W. Bush, was in the White House, but not now. He accused Republican leaders of subscribing to what he called a misguided notion that providing unemployment aid to people lowers their incentive to look hard for a job.
“That attitude, I think, reflects a lack of faith in the American people,” Obama said.
The president said that the out-of-work people he hears from are “not looking for a handout. They desperately want to work. Just right now, they can’t find a job.”
“These are honest, decent, hardworking folks who have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own.”
The $34 billion needed to extend benefits would be borrowed, adding to the nation’s mounting debt. Republicans have tapped into the public’s anger and concern over the national debt, saying they would support extending jobless benefits only if the bill was paid for.
“Everyone agrees on extending the additional unemployment insurance, but the Democrat way is to insist we add it to the national debt at the same time, while blocking Republican efforts to pass the same extension without the debt,” said Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Ancient Roman wrecks found in deep water 
Charlie on July 19 at 11:34 a.m.
Use some of the unspent stimulus money that Obama has squirreled away. If Obama wants this money, make some budget cuts, there is plenty of pork.
Crackers, an ethnic slur??
mikeln on July 19 at 11:50 a.m.
It does not really matter who wins or loses in November, our so called representive form of government only caters to the wealthy that fill their bank accounts. Not to long ago, we were told the government would be releasing the names of people with secret Swiss bank accounts, never happend, could it be that the entire government would have to quit because they would have no explanation why they had all this money stashed away? They tell us that we cannot help people get on their feet while paying huge profits to their buddies. We need people that will put our money into education instead of war. But wait, a well educated population would not tolerate their crap, no future in that, for them. We would no longer accept the high fructose news that is being fed to us by the spoonfull. Only a nation that knows the truth can remain strong, yet all we get is lies.
toobright on July 19 at 11:51 a.m.
So when does it stop? Do we keep paying people to be unemployed forever? And yes, “crackers” is a racist term. Not sure how it applies to Republicans since there are a good many who are of different races including the Chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele.
bdr on July 19 at 12:04 p.m.
Im impressed with the comments……!
You do have a memory AMERICA………YOU DO!
Send the GOP to the dump with the Whigs.
(they are a shoddy built crew with kiss-ups to China and BP)
They are the crew…wrecking crew….that started the decline of America in 1972……with a single handshake with chairman Mao.
Beat the party of NO with NO VOTE.
Read the book wrecking crew by TL Frank ,before Nov 2nd.
Diana on July 19 at 12:04 p.m.
Indeed it is. That’s why Rush Limbaugh uses it.
Scoutster on July 19 at 12:31 p.m.
toobright…
That is a good question, and it deserves a serious response.
One camp says stop spending NOW because we can’t afford more debt. The other side says we have to keep spending or we will have long-term deflation, unemployment, and lack of growth.
Both arguments have merit, history, and theory to back them up.
I personally think we are just postponing the inevitable of a long-term period of austerity and depression. By now it’s too late to fix it using either method.
So, I would go on the side of compassion AND preventing millions of more from walking away from t heir homes and making matters worse.. There are no jobs for the long-term unemployed.
So, how about $55 B and remove farm subsidies? That would pay for it and then some.
Scoutster on July 19 at 12:40 p.m.
I wasn’t aware that “cracker” was a racial slur. I honestly didn’t know there was a racial component to the term.
My mistake and apologies to all the folks who meet the criteria spelled out in Wikipedia:
Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually disparaging term for poor whites.
When I lived in the UK, the term was used more in line with what Wikipedia says from that part of the world:
Yet another theory[citation needed] is that the term derives from an Elizabethan word used to describe braggarts. The original root of this is the Middle English word crack meaning “entertaining conversation” (one may be said to “crack” a joke); this term and the alternate spelling craic are still in use in Ireland, Scotland and Northern England. It is documented in Shakespeare’s King John (1595): “What cracker is this same that deafs our ears with this abundance of superfluous breath?”
509ifyourlucky on July 19 at 1:08 p.m.
The obama way is the wrong way. Lower Taxes equal employment opportunities. Liberals like obama, murray, cantwell don’t look at it that way.
spokanecougar on July 19 at 1:13 p.m.
Were was the GOP anger to stop spending without paying for it when Bush was in office running up the largest national debt in the countries history? So its ok to run up the national debt without paying for anything when the GOP is in office and it deals with illegal war, but when it has to do with actually helping the American people they take a stand and say no because they are no longer in power? What a bunch of hypocritical babies - just because they are no longer in power they refuse to do their jobs and refuse to work and refuse to help anyone…..classy. Once again the GOP is showing it cares nothing about the American people.
PlanB on July 19 at 1:13 p.m.
Extending unemployment benefits is the most direct way of helping people. I do know one person who has been collecting it but not really wanting to work, but I know ten others that are desperately looking for work and can’t find it. So are we going to continue punishing the vast majority that need the assistance? It should be painfully obvious that the republicans are simply fighting everything the democrats are trying to do.
IHike4Fun on July 19 at 1:51 p.m.
America to Obama: Just go away please.
Diana on July 19 at 3:31 p.m.
Baggers, please. Think for yourselves.
MrNatural on July 19 at 3:36 p.m.
Well…I’ve seen the need for unemployment benefits just as I’ve seen the abuse thereof…but mostly the need. Whether its unemployment benefits or welfare, people, families need help these days.
I just wish for once that the people that were elected by the majority to lead were allowed to lead.
And I wonder if the GOP would block farm and business subsidies.
toobright on July 19 at 3:41 p.m.
Thank you, scoutster. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the farm subsidies. Why is it that wealthy Saudis, wealthy Americans, dead people, and people without farms are collecting billions in farm subsidies? It’s a travesty and should be stopped immediately. But it’s also a cry in the dark. We’ll complain but nothing will be done.
oneanddone on July 19 at 5:08 p.m.
I certainly would have liked 99 weeks of unemployment. I got 26 weeks, a pat on the ass, and a bus ticket to Humanix. Hard to find decent work when you’re over 60 and one of those who gave up long ago. Wonder if Obama would make it retroactive?
spokanecommunistparty on July 19 at 5:20 p.m.
Republicans voted against unemployment in the middle of a great depression!!! What is wrong with you people? Register to vote at any driver licencing office for free. Register as absentee because they mail your ballot which makes it easier to vote. Than vote against garbage baggers and republicans because they are evil. The election is in November of this year, vote Democrat.
misjustice on July 19 at 5:51 p.m.
Wonder if Clint Didier, the Gagger working to take Senator Murray’s seat, would agree to give back his farm subsidy payments?
By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times political reporter
“Clint Didier, of Pasco, is running for U.S. Senate.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Clint Didier likes to bash bloated government as he courts support of the conservative tea-party movement for his primary-election campaign.
A former NFL player turned farmer, Didier has repeatedly called the federal government “a predator.” He vows to oppose the “Marxist utopia” he says Democrats want to create — “where everyone is taken care of from womb to tomb.”
But Didier himself has cashed in on one big government aid program. He has received nearly $273,000 in federal farm subsidies since 1995, according to a database of U.S. Department of Agriculture…”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011890132_didier18m.html
wildtroutbum on July 19 at 7:06 p.m.
to misjustice
“Wonder if Clint Didier, the Gagger working to take Senator Murray’s seat, would agree to give back his farm subsidy payments?”
I think you point is off the mark…would you fore go all the deductions you take on you taxes every year?…I think not! Every Farmer should receive the same considerations…
misjustice on July 19 at 8:46 p.m.
Yeah, I guess even ones that are millionaires and run on a political platform of “bashing bloated government”.
I interjected Didier’s penchant for personal pork payments because Scoutster and toobright suggested cutting farm subsidies as a way to find the money to help extend unemployment to the jobless…
Scoutster on July 19 at 9:21 p.m.
I agree, and always have, that we should not run deficits. I run a business, and I don’t get to “pretend and extend” my debts indefinitely, I have to make it work, somehow, THIS YEAR!
But, man, if you are going to borrow, put the $ where it will do some good!
Not paying for unemployment in an economy of 10.5% (and, as oneandone pointed out, full of chronically, even permanently unemployed Boomers) is just not rational.
Sure, cut something. But for God’s sake, everyone wins when we pay the unemployment insurance! How many think oneandone and the millions like him are going to start the next Microsoft or Google? How many think someone in that situation is going to save the money and not spend it TODAY!?
decturkey on July 20 at 12:59 p.m.
How about these people take advantage of the time off and go back to school for some more education. This might help them down the road when looking for a job. I can honestly say that the people working now are by far some of the most experienced and educated people out there. Most Unemployed people don’t have a PHD or a MBA degree do they? Heck probably don’t even have a degree of any sort. Take the time and invest in yourself if you want me to invest in you. You don’t respect my hard earned tax dollars if you can’t even respect yourself by becoming an educated person.
eagleproducer on July 21 at 3:06 p.m.
decturkey: I’m pretty certain you can’t attend school and draw unemployment benefits at the same time because one of the conditions of receiving those benefits is to be available for full time work, any time of the day. I have two B.A. degrees, an M.F.A. and a Masters in Education. I am back in Spokane after my teaching position in another state was eliminated due to budget cuts. Now the State Department of Employment Security has cut off my Unemployment Benefits for some nefarious reason. I always made my mortgage payments. I didn’t accrue ANY credit card debt. I’m a veteran of the Armed Forces. I’ve done the right thing all my life and am trying to establish a new business. Do you really believe someone like myself, of which the numbers are legion, aren’t deserving of some type of support?
decturkey on July 22 at 12:48 p.m.
Spoketucky, people are able to attend school like I did. I went to night classes which didn’t effect my ability to work during the day. I did get a phone call from Employment Security asking me about this, but then they cleared me when they found out I’d be attending from 6:00-9:30 meaning I could work 8-5. As for some type of support, yes I do believe you should receive some type of support, in which you did. Unemployment does run for 6 months does it not? And then it was extended out even further I believe to almost a year. That is how the system was set up, to give temporary relief for people out of work. It wasn’t designed so many people could go almost a full year or even longer in some cases without finding some work. It keeps some people from abusing it because they’d rather have a free ride for the allotted time which in your case doesn’t sound like the case. If I didn’t find a job after the 6 months I was allowed on unemployment I would’ve been without pay with no extension. When you’re without a job and without pay your opportunities expand because now you will take other jobs, in or out of your field of expertise, just to put food on your table instead of waiting around for a job in your “desired” field. If you’re starting a new business I wish you good luck and hope you’ll start it outside of washington since this state isn’t very kind to smaller businesses.