Sep 24, 2011 by whitehouse
President Obama explains that states will have greater flexibility to find innovative ways of improving the education system, so that we can raise standards in our classrooms and prepare the next generation to succeed in the global economy.
Below is an email from Robert Applebaum, a MoveOn member who created a petition at SignOn.org that is getting a lot of attentionand may be of interest to you. If you have concerns or feedback about this petition, clickhere >>> http://civic.moveon.org/signon_feedback/?id=31019-17809870-F5JLeRx&t=1
Dear MoveOn member,
Forgiving the student loan debt of all Americans will have an immediate stimulative effect on our economy. With the strokeof the President’s pen, millions of Americans would suddenly have hundreds, or in some cases, thousands of extra dollarsin their pockets each and every month to spend on ailing sectors of the economy.
As consumer spending increases, businesses will begin to hire, jobs will be created, and a new era of innovation, entrepreneurship,and prosperity will be ushered in for all. A rising tide does, in fact, lift all boats—forgiving student loan debt,rather than tax cuts for corporations, millionaires and billionaires, has a MUCH greater chance of helping to raise thattide in a MUCH shorter time-frame.
The future economic success of this country is wholly dependent upon a well-educated, prosperous middle class. Instead ofsaddling entire generations with debt from which there is no escape, let’s empower the American people to grow this economyon their own!
That’s why I created a petition on SignOn.org, calling on President Obama and Congress to support legislation seeking studentloan forgiveness as a means of economic stimulus.
Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263764&id=31019-17809870-F5JLeRx&t=2
Thanks!
–Robert Applebaum
The text above was written by Robert Applebaum, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn’s secure system, and your information has been kept private.
Let me sum up this week for you:
President Obama: JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
The Republican Party: NO, NO, NO.
President Obama presented his plan. The only plan Republicans have put forward is to say no to President Obama and yes to big corporations calling the shots, undermining the social safety net we pay for with our taxes, and, if you get sick: you’re on your own. In short: their plan is an assault on our values.
Their vision is dangerous – and we’re in danger of it becoming reality if Republicans flip just FOUR Senate seats in 2012. We can’t let that happen.
That’s why the DSCC needs your help to raise $585,000 before Sept. 30 so we can make sure Democrats don’t lose races that we can win. We literally can’t afford to fall short.
Please give $5, $10 or whatever you can give to the DSCC right now. The DSCC has only 10 days to raise $585,000 and fight the GOP’s assault on our values.
Rick Perry calls Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and Mitt Romney compares it to a criminal enterprise. And now one GOP Congressman is complaining that President Obama’s plan would force him to live on just $400,000 a year. Once again the GOP just doesn’t understand the challenges Americans are facing today.
2012 will decide whether we focus on creating jobs, like Democrats want, or protecting millionaires and big corporations, like Republicans demand. We can win. But we need your help.
Please give $5, $10 or whatever you can give to the DSCC right now. The DSCC has only 10 days to raise $585,000 and fight the GOP’s assault on our values.
There are many reasons we’re Democrats. But perhaps one of the most important is this: We know that a strong middle class makes our country stronger. Thanks for joining me to fight for what we believe in.
Sincerely,
Karen Finney
This morning, the President proposed the “Buffett Rule,” which would require those earning more than $1 million a year to pay the same share of their income in taxes as middle-class families do.
This proposal makes sure millionaires and billionaires share the responsibility for reducing the deficit. It would correct, for example, the fact that Warren Buffett‘s secretary currently pays taxes at a higher rate than he does.
The other side is already saying it’s “class warfare” — that’s their rhetorical smokescreen for providing millionaires and billionaires special treatment.
As the President said this morning, “This is not class warfare — it’s math.”
The wealthiest Americans don’t need further tax cuts and in many cases aren’t even asking for them. Requiring that they pay their fair share is the only practical way forward. The Republican alternative is to drastically slash education, gut Medicare, let roads and bridges crumble, and privatize Social Security. That’s not the America we believe in — but many in the Republican leadership actually prefer those policies, which explains their refusal to act.
That’s why they’ll say “tax increase” over and over again, trying to muddy the waters and trick ordinary Americans into thinking the Buffett Rule will hurt them. And if we don’t speak out right now, they just might get away with it.
Of course, the Buffett Rule won’t really touch most Americans — only 0.3% of households will even be affected.
And without it, the only way to reduce our debt is to savage the programs that seniors and middle-class families rely on.
That’s exactly what the President refuses to do — in fact, he’s said he’ll veto any bill that changes benefits for folks who rely on Medicare but doesn’t raise serious revenue by asking the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to pay their fair share.
This isn’t just a commonsense approach to cutting the deficit — it’s the only way to make sure we can provide security to people who work hard and play by the rules.
So right now, I’m asking you to say you’ll stand with the President on something that won’t be easy. Get the President’s back today:
Thanks,
Messina
Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
Today, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is officially over.
Gay men and lesbians in the military no longer have to hide who they are, and the servicemembers who were discharged under this policy can re-enlist.
This is one of the administration’s signature achievements. Countless Americans fought hard to end this law over the course of nearly two decades, and President Obama is proud to have signed the repeal.
But today’s news isn’t just a policy promise kept — it’s a personal promise kept to the thousands of people who needed and deserved this change.
I want to share a video the campaign put together about some of the people affected by this law: four stories from men and women who served in the military during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
You should watch the video and share it with everyone who cares about fairness and equality in America.
Before my current job, I was in the White House working on getting this done, and I can honestly say that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is one of the greatest things I have ever been or ever will be a part of. I think about it every time I walk into my office, where I keep one of the pens the President used to sign the bill.
It’s a reminder that — as broken as Washington is and as long as change can take — people and organizations can do amazing things when they work together and never waver from the vision that unites them.
Watch four people say what today means to them — and let us know what it means to you:
http://my.barackobama.com/dadtvid
There’s a lot more to do in the months ahead. But today is one to savor.
Thanks,
Messina
Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
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