Ken’s Take: Unemployment — likely to be the 2010 election’s issue — is almost 10% and shows no sign of abating. So what does Team Obama decide to do? Put the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — the most prominent representative of business — on its enemies list for failure to support some of the administration’s policies.
Who, pray tell, does the administration think is ultimately going to do the hiring that’s going to get unemployment down?
My real life business friends tell me that they’re were already going to move slowly hiring people back because of “political risk” — the uncertainties re: higher taxes, increased healthcare burdens, and wage controls. I’d think that hacking-off these folks would just slow the hire-back process even more … keep unemployment levels high … and hang a political millstone around Dems necks next year,
We’ll see …
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Excerted from: Politico, White House plan: Neuter the Chamber, October 19, 2009
The White House and congressional Democrats are working to marginalize the Chamber of Commerce — the powerful business lobby opposed to many of President Barack Obama’s first-year priorities.
Democrats in Congress have been angered by the Chamber’s attacks on the House climate change bill and its staunch opposition to the creation of a consumer financial protection agency, a centerpiece of the administration’s financial regulatory reform efforts.
Chamber officials say the White House is scapegoating the Chamber and other trade associations as a way of dividing the business community, a move that could help the administration make headway on health care reform, climate change legislation and regulatory reform.
“When they launch a frontal assault against free enterprise and the Chamber of Commerce, I can guarantee it is not lost on any trade association executives or staff in this town.”
Administration officials give significantly more attention to the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies.
And some Democrats in the House say they are … overlooking the national Chamber in favor of local organizations in their districts.
The Democrats’ assault on the Chamber is not without risk. While neutralizing the Chamber would amount to a major tactical victory for the administration, anything less could backfire — infuriating and energizing a well-funded foe with ties to business in virtually every community in the country.
Full article:
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6A5B11C3-18FE-70B2-A873536030768679
The Homa Files 