SEARCH
Obama Honors César Chávez’s Birthday |
|
 |
|
What a difference a year makes. While the Bush White House tried to thwart workers’ rights and all that the late César Chávez fought for, Barack Obama adopted Chávez’s rallying cry as his campaign theme.
Today, on what would have been Chávez’s 82nd birthday, President Obama issued a statement hailing the former Farm Workers president as “an educator, environmentalist, and as a civil rights leader who struggled for fair treatment and fair wages for America’s workers.”
Chávez’s rallying cry, “Sí Se Puede”—”Yes, We Can,” was more than a slogan, it was an expression of hope and a rejection of those who said farm workers could not organize, and could not take on the growers. Through his courage, César Chávez taught us that a single voice could change our country, and that together, we could make America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation.
The AFL-CIO is supporting efforts to create a national holiday to honor Chávez. Last year during the presidential campaign, Obama said we should have a holiday for Chávez.
It’s time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union.
3 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Here are two articles about the reality of what this Obama administration is meaning to the working people.
Perspective of Obama
Obama declares war on auto workers
31 March 2009
This article is available in PDF.
President Barack Obama’s speech on the auto industry Monday was nothing less than a declaration of war against the working class. In a statement dripping with class arrogance and cynicism, he rejected the cost-cutting proposals of General Motors and Chrysler as insufficient and demanded more concessions from auto workers.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/pers-m31.shtml
———————————————————————————-
Obama demands deeper cuts in auto workers’ jobs, wages, benefits
By Jerry White
31 March 2009
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/mar2009/auto-m31.shtml
At a White House press conference Monday morning, President Barack Obama outlined his administration’s plans to drastically downsize the US auto industry and impose more brutal wage and benefit concessions on auto workers as a condition for any further government loans to General Motors and Chrysler.
Obama announced that his auto task force had rejected the turnaround plans submitted by the two Detroit automakers, saying “neither goes far enough” in slashing costs and restoring profitability. He demanded that the companies “fundamentally restructure” their operations, saying this would require, among other things, “workers who have already made painful concessions to make even more.”
Obama’s embrace of Chavez is yet another crumb to bedazzle the millions of working people and groups still captivated by Obama-mania. Many working people have become so mentally impoverished after eight years of Bush, after years of corporate owned media bashing of working people, that Obama’s election has almost religious significance. Reality is quickly destroying this unfounded belief in Obama.
The vast destruction that the Obama administration is wrecking inevitably induces critical thinking to it’s now desperate victims, millions of working people.
Where is the defense of the auto workers and working people by organized labor? Organized labor never is allowed a voice in mass media. Despite everything that is now happening, uncritical support of Obama and the Democratic Party continues.
Media backs Obama’s assault on US auto workers
1 April 2009
Jerry White
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/apr2009/pers-a01.shtml
The news media has given its enthusiastic support to President Obama’s insistence that auto workers accept the destruction of jobs, living standards and working conditions in order to return the US auto industry to profitability.
Here is what some Detroit auto workers are saying about Obama. With photos.
Detroit auto workers denounce Obama’s concession demands
By Tim Tower
1st April 2009
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/apr2009/auto-a01.shtml
Auto workers responded angrily on Tuesday to the concessions demanded by President Barack Obama in exchange for providing loans to the auto industry. The open contempt for the working class and unflinching subordination to finance capital that permeated Obama’s remarks caught many by surprise.
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to workers at Chrysler’s truck assembly plant in Warren, Michigan. Some admitted that they had put stock in Obama’s campaign promises before he was elected, but promise and reality ended up being opposites.
“I feel betrayed,” said one worker. “That’s the best way to sum it up,” she concluded.
…”