Political Ruminations

Morning Quote: President Obama on Insourcing Jobs

“First, if you're a business that wants to outsource jobs, you have that right, but you shouldn't get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home. Give them the tax break.

Second of all, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. So we've said, from now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay and hire here in the United States of America. Give them a bigger tax break.

Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, creating new products, new services, we should double the tax deduction you get for making products here in America. If you want to relocate in a community like this one that’s been hard hit when factories left town, you should get help financing a new plant, financing new equipment, training new workers.”

- President Obama talks about tax reform and  insourcing jobs at Master Lock in Wisconsin yesterday.

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Morning Quote: President Obama on Iran

“My goal is to try to resolve this diplomatically.”

- President Obama responds to a question from Matt Lauer (Feb. 5 interview) on whether the President would use force to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Quote of the Day: President Obama

“I actually think that is going to make economic sense, but for me as a Christian, it also coincides with Jesus's teaching that ‘ for unto whom much is given, much shall be required ’.”

- President Obama promotes economic justice while speaking to leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning, explaining the Christian version of  ‘why we need to stop allowing rich people to skate on paying their fair share of taxes’.

President Obama on Class Warfare & Tax Reform

During his third State of the Union address on January 24, President Barack Obama called for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes:

“Tax reform should follow the Buffett rule: If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes…Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.

We don’t begrudge financial success in this country. We admire it. When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich. It’s because they understand that when I get tax breaks I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference – like a senior on a fixed income; or a student trying to get through school; or a family trying to make ends meet. That’s not right. Americans know it’s not right.”

President Obama on the 39-year Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Decision

In a statement he wrote yesterday, the 39-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, President Obama defended the landmark decision:

“We must remember that this Supreme Court decision not only protects a woman’s health and reproductive freedom, but also affirms a broader principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose and this fundamental constitutional right.  While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue- no matter what our views, we must stay united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant woman and mothers, reduce the need for abortion, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption.  And as we remember this historic anniversary, we must also continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”

Morning Quote: President Obama

“It doesn't really matter who the nominee is going to be. The core philosophy that they're expressing is the same.”

- President Barack Obama tells 60 minutes that it doesn't matter who the eventual GOP nominee will be.

Click here to watch the full-length video of the interview.

Morning Quote: Barack Obama

“We’ve been a little bit lazy I think over the last couple of decades. We’ve kind of taken for granted — ‘Well, people would want to come here’ — and we aren’t out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new businesses into America.”

- President Barack Obama in a quote intentionally taken out of context by GOP presidential candidates hacks, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, and used to boondoggle the American people in to thinking that President Obama thinks that Americans in general are “lazy”, when taken in context, President Obama is clearly talking about the business community.

Morning Quote: Barack Obama

“Waterboarding is torture. It’s contrary to America’s traditions. It’s contrary to our ideals. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we operate. We don’t need it in order to prosecute the war on terrorism. And we did the right thing by ending that practice. If we want to lead around the world, part of our leadership is setting a good example. And anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. And that's not something we do -- period.”

- President Barack Obama, again speaks out against waterboarding at a press conference in Hawaii on Nov. 14, 2011.

Morning Quote: President Barack Obama

“They're wrong. Waterboarding is torture. Anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. And that's not something we do -- period.”

- President Obama on waterboarding - torture, responding to Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, who both stated (during the debate Sat., Nov. 12) that they would approve the use of waterboarding if he/she were to win the presidency.

Morning Quote: President Obama

“I'm going to wait until everybody's voted off the island. Once they narrow it down to one or two, I'll start paying attention.”

- President Obama to Jay Leno, explaining why he isn’t paying attention to the GOP debates.

Via Taegan Goddard

Morning Quote: President Barack Obama

At a fundraiser on Sunday, President Obama directly criticized GOP presidential candidates for the first time:

“Has anybody been watching the debates lately? You've got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change. It's true. You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay.”

It only sounds like a bad joke.

Morning Quote: President Barack Obama

President Obama on the probable outcome if the U.S. were to elect a Republican president in 2012:

“The alternative I think is an approach to government that would fundamentally cripple America in meeting the challenges of the 21st Century and that's not the kind of society that I want to bequeath to Malia and Sasha, and your children and your grandchildren.”

I see the probable outcome of the election of a Republican to the presidency in 2012 as much, much worse than that.

Morning Quote: President Obama

President Obama at a fundraiser in NYC last night:

“All that hopey changey stuff, as they say? That was real. It wasn’t something ...it was real, you could feel it. You know it. It’s still there. Even in the midst of this hardship. But it’s hard. When I was in Grant Park that night, I warned everybody this was going to be hard, this wasn’t the end it was the beginning.”

Over the past 2 and a half years, the hope poster starts fading. But I tell you what, you travel around the country and talk to the American people, that spirit’s still there.”

Morning Quote: President Barack Obama

President Obama to supporters at a DNC fundraiser last week:

“The odds of me being reelected are much higher than the odds of me being elected in the first place.”

Morning Quote: President Barack Obama

 The video and full transcript of President Obama’s weekly address, on this weekend, in honor of those heroes of September 11, 2001 (video after the jump):

“This weekend, we’re coming together, as one nation, to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.  We’re remembering the lives we lost—nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children.  We’re reaffirming our commitment to always keep faith with their families. 

We’re honoring the heroism of first responders who risked their lives—and gave their lives—to save others.  And we’re giving thanks to all who serve on our behalf, especially our troops and military families—our extraordinary 9/11 Generation.

At the same time, even as we reflect on a difficult decade, we must look forward, to the future we will build together.  That includes staying strong and confident in the face of any threat.  And thanks to the tireless efforts of our military personnel and our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security professionals—there should be no doubt.  Today, America is stronger and al Qaeda is on the path to defeat.

We’ve taken the fight to al Qaeda like never before.  Over the past two and a half years, more senior al Qaeda leaders have been eliminated than at any time since 9/11.  And thanks to the remarkable courage and precision of our forces, we finally delivered justice to Osama bin Laden.

We’ve strengthened the partnerships and tools we need to prevail in this war against al Qaeda—working closer with allies and partners; reforming intelligence to better detect and disrupt plots; investing in our Special Forces so terrorists have no safe haven.

We’re constantly working to improve the security of our homeland as well—at our airports, ports and borders; enhancing aviation security and screening; increasing support for our first responders; and working closer than ever with states, cities and communities.

A decade after 9/11, it’s clear for all the world to see—the terrorists who attacked us that September morning are no match for the character of our people, the resilience of our nation, or the endurance of our values.   

They wanted to terrorize us, but, as Americans, we refuse to live in fear.  Yes we face a determined foe, and make no mistake—they will keep trying to hit us again.  But as we are showing again this weekend, we remain vigilant.  We’re doing everything in our power to protect our people.  And no matter what comes our way, as a resilient nation, we will carry on.

They wanted to draw us in to endless wars, sapping our strength and confidence as a nation.  But even as we put relentless pressure on al Qaeda, we’re ending the war in Iraq and beginning to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.  Because after a hard decade of war, it is time for nation building here at home.

They wanted to deprive us of the unity that defines us as a people.  But we will not succumb to division or suspicion. We are Americans, and we are stronger and safer when we stay true to the values, freedoms and diversity that make us unique among nations.

And they wanted to undermine our place in the world.  But a decade later, we’ve shown that America doesn’t hunker down and hide behind walls of mistrust.  We’ve forged new partnerships with nations around the world to meet the global challenges that no nation can face alone.  And across the Middle East and North Africa a new generation of citizens is showing that the future belongs to those that want to build, not destroy.   

Ten years ago, ordinary Americans showed us the true meaning of courage when they rushed up those stairwells, into those flames, into that cockpit.  In the decade since, a new generation has stepped forward to serve and keep us safe.  In their memory, in their name, we will never waver.  We will protect the country we love and pass it safer, stronger and more prosperous to the next generation.”

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