Finally, Obama Launches a Class War

Three years after being elected amidst the worst financial crisis in 80 years, President Barack Obama finally threw the first real punch in what future historians will call our greatest "class war".

Tuesday night, Obama went to the same small town in Kansas where then-President Teddy Roosevelt was when he called for a "square deal" for Americans nearly a century ago. He walked in a weakling who had supported Wall Street and guided the banking industry — and the economy — through its darkest days since the Great Depression. He emerged a leader ready, willing, and able to take on the Republicans and those who seek profits at the expense of a fair shake for nearly everyone else. "Their philosophy is simple: we are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. Well, I'm here to say they are wrong," he said. Oh, snap! And welcome, Barry, to the class war that the rest of us progressives have been waging since you were elected. The occupiers could certainly use your full-throated support, since the police have been shutting down peaceful protest camps across the nation — after communicating with your government of course. You might want to clear up that little misunderstanding, and reiterate that the First Amendment trumps anti-camping laws or whatever other obstacles local fiefdom-keepers have declared binding upon their serfs. For years, Republicans have been dreading this day. When Obama was elected, they assumed the worst. He was a socialist, a communist, a liberal's liberal. He would change everything, raise taxes, increase welfare, and on and on. In fact, Obama has governed, well, exactly like a Republican icon — Dwight Eisenhower. If you sub out "health care" and instead put in "interstate highway", the two presidencies are nearly indistinguishable in terms of policy. Now, Obama seems to be going full-Roosevelt. (And they say you can't go full-Roosevelt!) What will we see come of this? A new jobs program? Tax relief for poor and struggling people? Financial reform? Who knows at this point. I look forward to a campaign that involves a full defense of the use of government to ameliorate the gross inequities between the very wealthy and the poor. I look forward to tax increases on the wealthy as a way of reducing the debt. I look forward to the regulation of a financial industry that has lost its damn mind, let alone its moorings. I look forward to a defense of individual liberty (liberals are still for liberty, Barack — no more of this anti-pot Nazi Nanny-State nonsense). I look forward to continued forward movement on health care reform, an elimination of the insurance company middle-men, and full coverage for all (pro tip: It's cheaper and it works for everyone). Most of all, I look forward to a Barack Obama and a Democratic Party who stands up for the 99 percent — not just with words, but with actual deeds, laws, and regulations that help steer this country away from the iceberg and toward the safe harbor of a growing economy, a growing middle class, and opportunities for everyone who wants the chance to succeed. In other words, fight the war the other side has started, Mr President. They've spent billions to buy a Congress that will do their bidding, deregulating key industries and manipulating our Democracy. They've already declared war on you and on the citizens of this country. The people are with you. The party is with you. The country is with you. Fight this war. Fight and win.