Mr. President, I went ahead and upgraded the shipment to next day, priority delivery.

Sep 11

jonpeltoObama, Teachers, Unions , , 32 Comments

“And understand this: If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I’m in the White House, I’ll put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself, I’ll walk on that picket line with you as President of the United States of America. Because workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner.”

 - Senator Barack Obama • Spartanburg SC • November 3, 2007

 

PS, if they don’t show up by 10am, I’ve got the tracking number

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  • Guest

    Get on that picket line, Barack! We are already there.

  • jonpelto

    And yes, for those who are asking, it is my handiwork.

  • Pingback: Will President Obama Join CTU on Picket Line? « Diane Ravitch's blog

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rich-White/100000066062155 Rich White

    Obama sent his Chief of Staff Rambo Emanuel to teach Chicago teachers how to walk the picket line. Sounds like a solid committment to me. Before Rahm the Chicago teachers were working the shortest hours of any teacher’s union in the 50 largest cities and had the highest average pay. Now they are motivated;breathing fire; out getting some much-needed exercise and showing some real passion for their paychecks,.

    • Querculus

      Nice spin, Rich. I happen to be working now under Paul Vallas in Bridgeport. He was CEO of Chicago’s public schools. Paul Vallas is hiring former associates from former postings (mainly Philadelphia, while many other $900/day consultants come from Westchester, where I believe Sandra Kase, the $230k “second” superintendent is based. They have shut down a $73 million state funded rebuilding of Central HS, planning instead to open 3 charter schools near Trumbull. They cleared out downtown– not to save money, as it seems that everyone was replaced with expensive consultants. They’ve bought expensive software and textbooks through a no-bid process (surprise, the same companies that were used in Philly and NOLA)… If Chicago teachers had to deal with any of this under Vallas, well, it is obvious why they are striking. ________________________________________ And the only news item that nearly every outlet agrees on is that the two sides were pretty much in agreement on PAY. It’s the unscientific and unfair reliance on STANDARDIZED TESTING as a major method of evaluating and firing of teachers that is at issue– and that really is about the kids. The teachers do have a right to look out for themselves, and they are taking exception to the unconscionable health care changes that all unions are putting up with. I pay a lot into my health care. But I now have a $30 copay for even a checkup? The unions are fighting for people’s rights to affordable healthcare everywhere, not just for themselves. They are a counterweight to skyrocketing healthcare costs. You’re welcome. I would note that there is no link to this pay and hours data you claim. And “much needed exercise?” Ever stand on your feet for 6 and a half or 7 hours teaching teenagers? We get plenty of exercise, thank you. The insulting tone you take casts even more doubt on the veracity of your “statistics.” Just sayin’.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rich-White/100000066062155 Rich White

        I almost didn’t respond to your call for citations because the “Chicago has the shortest school day” thing has been going on for two years as part of Rahm Emanuels’ campaign. It’s been well vetted and applauded even by both sides with an argument over quality versus quantity ensuing.
        .http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8314497
        Get into the “Replace Standardized Tests with Recess” movement by the Teachers Union to improve quality. If you read the link above you know I;m not being facetious.

      • Querculus

        OK, thanks– I’ll read it.

      • Querculus

        “I am all for a high quality education,” said Mayor Emanuel. “You can’t do it with the shortest school day and the shortest school year in the country.” No data here. How long is it?

      • Querculus

        This “fact” is only from Emmanuel himself. Where is the data comparing the work day and school year with other districts. For a cadre of reformers demanding data-based evaluation of teachers… they’re pretty shy of data….! Have another link?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Rich-White/100000066062155 Rich White

    GOP candidate Paul Ryan
    If you turned on the TV this morning or
    sometime today, you probably saw something about the Chicago teacher’s union
    strike. I’d like to
    make a couple of comments about that because it does
    matter. I’ve
    known Rahm Emanuel for years. He’s a former colleague of mine.
    Rahm and I have not agreed on every issue or on a lot of issues, but
    Mayor Emanuel is right today in saying that this teacher’s union strike
    is unnecessary and wrong. We know that Rahm is not going to support
    ou campaign, but on this issue and this day we stand with Mayor
    Rahm
    Emanuel.

    We stand with the children and we stand
    with the families and the
    parents of Chicago because education reform, that’s
    a bipartisan
    issue. This does not have to divide the two parties. And so, we
    were
    going to ask, where does President Obama stand?:

    • Duane Swacker

      Sorry to hear that you have known the esteemed Emanuel for so long.

    • Querculus

      John Pelto, congratulations! Your blog has earned an insider spin doctor! :) _______________________________________________________________________ Rich White, you’re right on one count here. Both parties are in support of this travesty of destruction of the public schools through privatization that masquerades as “reform.”

    • msavage

      Just the fact that Paul Ryan is against the strike tells me all I need to know–that creepy little fascist! Go, Chicago teachers!

    • JMC

      If you know Rahm personally, Rich, then you know he was one of the Looters in the Fannie/Freddy mortgage meltdown. A Clintonista with special access, Rahm like other Clintonite Dems went into “banking” with absolutely no experience whatsoever other than “connections” and made $16 million in 2 1/2 years in what would be the housing meltdown which followed on the Dodd/Frank law forcing banks to undertake sub-prime martgage lending. Which is why our economy tanked. But it’s “Bush’s fault”. And those evil banks’ fault too.
      BTW General Motors Credit Corporation got into subprime mortgage lending big time. They were supposed to be building automobiles.
      This is the Chicago Way. The Rahm Way, and now the Obama
      Way. The vulture way. Welcome to the new Democratic party.
      Next profit-rich environment for looters – privatization of education. I can tell you where Obama stands.

      • JMC

        … where Rahm stands, where Obama stands, and where their creature Dannel Malloy stands

      • guest

        This has always been Obama’s way. He is the senator from Illinois. He was groomed by the Illinois politicians. This is the neo-liberal economic agenda. He has always been for privatization of public services. It’s been his push since his election.

    • Guest

      This is from Ryan’s speech from yesterday, and you are right goatboy for publishing this. This is a bipartisan issue. Exacly why we need a 3rd and 4th party. The party of NO and the party of PUCH OVERS are both corporatist pushing their neo-liberal economic agenda and killing the middle class – All in the name of Jesus Christ, Choice, and Privatization.
      BOTH parties are controled by big $$$ and that is exactly what is controling education reform and this nation. So glad you support their agenda commrade.

  • CONconn

    The one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on is they hate teachers and love well-funded special interest groups.

  • msavage

    Yep, was reminded of this quote recently someplace else. Put ‘em on, Mr. Obama. Let’s see you join those teachers.
    On a related note–today I’m leaning toward voting Green with some of the rest of you. In addition to Mr. President’s stance on education, his non-action re environmental issues is extremely disturbing as well. Here’s an article that came out on ReaderSupportedNews today on this issue:
    http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/13409-obama-romney-playing-games-with-environmental-disaster
    I’ll probably be struggling with this until November. But for today, I’ve waffled back over to the Green side. :)

    • JMC

      Sounds good. I know you probably hate Breitbart, but there’s an interesting Green article on his site now about Maine’s former Gov. King and Obama’s crony funding of King’s windmill power scheme. It was recently on the left as you scroll down, at the picture of the burning windmill.

      • Windham Guest

        Hi JMC–I wrote a reply to your comments in the previous thread… don’t know if that info will be helpful or not.

      • JMC

        Got it . Thanks!

      • http://www.facebook.com/melanie.savage.1610 Melanie Savage

        Yes, JMC–you’re right, I do hate Breitbart. Or did–can’t say I’m sorry the guy is dead. Re the article–yep, of course there are folks who will take advantage of green technologies. There are folks who will take advantage of ANYTHING. The fact that there are psychopaths, both Dem. and Repub., who will take advantage of the global climate crisis doesn’t make that crisis any less REAL! Big oil will relentlessly continue to pursue profits regardless of the devastation that continuing to rely upon fossil fuels reaps upon our planet, its creatures, and humankind. Conversely there are opportunists who will take advantage of the climate crisis to make a buck for themselves. Both types are despicable human beings who would put profit and the almightly dollar ahead of the well-being of others. Profiteers who manipulate Green funding provide fuel for the climate-change deniers such as yourself. ANY person, politician, corporation that damages the move toward Green technology is a MURDERER, in my opinion. Creatures, people, are already dying due to human-induced global climate change–never mind the consequences of escalating the effects by continuing down the fossil fuel-driven path we’re currently pursuing.

    • Guest

      I made up my mind months ago. No to Obama! No to Romney! Voting green. Tired of getting crapped on.

    • Querculus

      Ha, did I get to you? :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonny-Cache/1039153428 Jonny Cache
  • Sue

    Does that shoe picture lead to a linkie?

  • ongoingly

    I feel like I am getting sold down the river. Anyone else see NEA prez Dennis Van Roekel’s response to the strike and find it umm…lacking? It sounded like a response from a kindly old Uncle..not the President of the largest teacher’s Union in the US (of which I am a member!) He’s not exactly channeling the urgency and anxiety of the situation. Or the true solidarity needed (IMHO).
    http://www.nea.org/home/53020.htm

    • Querculus

      The NEA and the AFT are simply suffering the effects of being in bed with the Democratic party too comfortably. The Dems need a wake up call. CTU is sure making their hotel phone ring!!!! I’m lighting more fires under the BEA’s butt too. With strong union leadership, the national sentiment for changing and improving schools could be channeled into REAL improvement that does not sell our students out to the corporations and still contains cost. But with a weak union, there is only one result.

  • Querculus

    Question: is “Rich White” a joke name/ troll on this thread…? Ha.

    • Windham Guest

      You just noticed? Rich white male… maybe that’s too obvious. Rich white female…Linda McMahon, is that you?
      Possibily anything longer than a sound-bite is too detailed for Linda.

      • Querculus

        I dunno. The layers of irony in online troll-dom sometimes elude me.