Anti-Business Obama?

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Strong Steps or Oversteps?” is a news analysis piece looking at the Obama presidency in terms of its relationship with business. The piece is particularly apt in light of Republican representative, Joe Barton, and his statement yesterday that the $20 billion fund to assist suffering Gulf residents, represented a Presidential shakedown of BP.

Other actions taken by President Obama to save the auto industry, and rein in executive compensation by banks who had been saved from failure by the government, were examined in this light as well. The article concluded by noting the unique rationale for each of these actions but left an ominous tone of a revised interpretation should they continue.

And what would have happened in these cases had President Obama taken no action? Total unmitigated disasters that would have doomed his presidency and left him open for excoriation for dereliction of duty.

These Republicans will stop at nothing to oppose this President. They do not care about helping the people, solving problems or relieving suffering. All they care about is their own recapturing of power. It’s difficult for me to come to any other conclusion. I have tried to take an even-handed, measured analysis of stories, but this conclusion is inevitable. They are trying to manipulate President Obama in such a way that “he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.” This can not be allowed to continue.