Wal-Mart Defender To Direct Obama's Economic Policy

It's common sense. Who profits when you raise demand on a product? If you don't mind the oil companies profiting and the average consumer saving pennies, then it's a perfect idea. Of course we can continue with the "experts are elitists" way of thinking that Bush has been operating under for the last seven years, but how's that been working out for us? Fear the educated? No thanks. That kind of Bushian thinking is why we're in this terrible situation. But if you want to continue with the status quo...vote McCain, and good luck to you. God knows you're going to need it.

And most probably, Krag, every last one of them is not doing too badly..thank you..not badly at all.

Sorry but I am getting very leery of everyone in DC including holier than thou economists etc.

They aren't hurting, thus they have no idea what is happening!

You must really hate economists since every single one of them have said that the gas tax holiday is a complete political gimmick. Wait...I thought you said economists couldn't agree on anything? I guess that must have been the first time right? Keep on hating Obama Patrick. It's your right. You ask where are the facts. They are in the report. It's chock full of them. But when you don't even bother to read the report that the whole tread is based on, forgive me if I can't take your criticism very seriously. Like a few others on this site, you seem satisfied with simply trying to tear Senator Obama down...and don't worry if facts get in the way.

PS...

If the guy gets elected and then...

DOES SOMETHING ...

Then and only then will I say well he is beginning to do
a good job!

Krag2112,

First, I don't really trust economists.

My father, who was an economics major in college, told me if you got 10 economists in a room and asked them the same question you would get 10 different answers.

You talk about facts..what facts?

I will tell you one fact..people are still bashing Hillary Clinton...

Needlessly.

If I didn't know better I would say that all of you are afraid of her.

And Obama?

Give me a break...

Lot's of hot air from him and many here but not much substance.

When someone runs for office it's not uncustomary to ask what you have been successful at doing apart from running for office?

Sorry but actions always count.

And what is not said is just as telling as what is said.

Mistakes in judgement about what one says and how it is said is telling too.

And it is not wrong to ask those questions...

Especially when we are choosing the leader of the free world.

Anyone can promise anything to anyone at anytime, especially politicians...

What in tarnation is wrong with getting some straight answers? Huh?

Besides, other than Kucinich, I don't see anyone in DC doing much of anything...

And, lest you forget...

Gas prices are HIGH AND GETTING HIGHER...
And NOTHING IS STOPPING IT...

AND OBAMA?

He can't eve be bothered to cut the federal tax for the summertime...

That doesn't sound very democratic to me!!!

Patrick try reading the report. You'll be amazed at what knowing the facts can do. Then maybe you too will try to change the subject to Austan Goolsbee or some other attempt to smear Senator Obama.

We get it, you guys hate him. But if you're going to bash him, at least get your facts straight.

Now if this guy Obama wants really thinks that low wage jobs are great..it sounds to me if this is right on par with that campaign flunky who told Canadians not to worry about Obama being against Outsourcing...

Sounds like more baloney...

Which is part of the reason I'm disgusted with Obama...

I can't honestly tell what the guy is going to do....

So, let me get this straight?

Folks get mad at Hillary for working for a large corp but not working as a community organizer?

And folks get mad at Hillary for being on WalMarts board?

Get a life will you?

I might be less, far less enthusiastic about corporations today but you do have to work don't you?

And for being on a board...sheesh..do you think she made the policy all the time?

Probably she had a little imput, most unfair for you to
say that!

After reading all of everyone's opinion and research...I think stone246 is accurate in saying that Obama grabbed someone who knows business, but will use it in a manner to help the needy, not the greedy. I'm still a believer

Senator Obama and his campaign will do a lot of things that we may not agree with after all its the nature of politics. you cannot and will not satisfy everyone. I think that we only have two options (four if you want to include the libertarian party nominee and Ron Paul) and as voters our choice depends on which of the above mentioned will at least give us a leg up towards a better America.Obama's choice for this guy is based on his economic prowess. Most may not agree with his position on walmart but if you look at it from an economic perspective, the guy was right on walmart. Sure they under pay and choke up small businesses wherever they go but if you lived under the poverty line I'm sure you would appreciate walmarts discount prices. Especially now that everything is expensive even the so called middle class is appreciating this . some who have never shopped at walmart now are regular walmart customers. like a person earlier said you choose to work at walmart and if that doesn't work for you you could always go some place else.Think about how many more people would be in a serious crisis without walmarts low prices. it might not affect you because you despise it and wont be caught dead in it but its a life line for millions of Americans. yes even the people who work for it

Why is Austan Goolsbee, who is the chief economist for the DLC his economic advisor? Personally, I think both he and Clinton were DLC candidates, only Obama BS his way around it better. And my opinion about Walmart and his apparent Conservative leanings still stands. And to me the Democratic party is no longer "great." it is an enabler to treason, save Dennis Kucinich and only a couple others.
Oh, and Marilyn, the feeling is very mutual.

An economist's job is not politcs. An economist's job is money. They study the past to predict the future of money. His veiws on Wal-mart are true. They do help the poor. He was defending Wal-mart"s effect on the economy (money). i hate Wal-mart too, but on every subject we have too look at the big picture or we our as bad as fox news .

The world is coming to an end, Barack Obama is taking advice from a "Wall Mart defender". So what?, his campaign is still a step up, he won't accept money from lobbyists, he is bringing waves of new voters into the fold, and he is strengthening the great Democratic Party.

I based my observations on your posts and I stand by them.

But you’re right about one thing, I don’t know you. Maybe, like Jason Furman, you are also world renowned economist. Maybe you’ve done more than just read the title of his report and didn’t simply jump to conclusions in yet another attempt to smear Senator Obama. Maybe you have supporting facts and figures to discount his conclusions and you’re just waiting for the right time to post them. I guess we'll see.

I take more stock in that most labor unions endorse Obama than your opinion of this one person.

What poster? How do you know what I did or didn't have a problem with before coming here? Do you know me? The fact you don't speaks volumes. I have had a problem with WALMART and its practices which now include predatory microlending for years. Perhaps you need to inform yourself about Walmart more rather than making this about Clinton as if it somehow validates Obama's choices.

"as not being the Evil Empire it is painted as by many liberals."

I don't think Walmart is bad because I am "liberal." I think it is bad because I have a moral code and a conscience and have thought so for years regardless of who sat on its board. Really, isn't it time for some to discard the convenient Clinton memes here? This is about PRINCIPLE.

It's a shame that Obama has chose this direction so soon. Jason Furman's defense of Wal-Mart is despicable. This man has helped Wal-Marts cause by driving manufacturing to China, eliminating small business and the massive subsidization of Wal-Marts wages by states that have to provide food stamps, welfare and medicare to their underpaid employees. Some may appreciate the cheap goods but just remember that you won't be able to elevate yourself because job opportunities don't exist. The Waltons are not in it to help us. They are some of the richest people in the world, with most of the family in the top fifteen wealthiest people worth billions of dollars.

It was Mr Obama (not me) that brought up the fact that she worked for walmart in the first place, because that is supposed to be a bad thing, right? At least that was the way he made it sound when he said it. Nevermind that while she did work for them she tried to get them to change their practices especially their practices towards women and minorities (its documented, I didnt make it up). That being the fact, then I dont see how it is the POSTER that is being hipocritical. If he is the one that called her out for working for them, and then turns around and hires someone that defended their practices, I would say that it is HE that is hipocritical.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. I'll try again. Wal-Mart isn't good...nor is it all bad. Jason Furman wasn't wrong to point that out and Obama isn't wrong to appoint him to his campaign staff (in fact I would say it's a good thing). Hillary wasn't bad for working for Wal-Mart, though this is the first I've heard about her "trying to change their practices". However, the poster is being hypocritical to bash Obama for this seven degrees of Kevin Bacon connection to Wal-Mart when she was so willing to give Clinton a pass for what I think we could all agree was a much more direct connection, sitting on thier board and all.

Does that clear things up?

OK, now I am totally confused. Hillary is bad because she worked for Walmart and tried to change their practices, but now Walmart is good and this guy that Obama hired is good too, even though he defended walmart, and Obama is good for hiring him, but Hillary is bad. Is that right?

Jason Furman didn't work for Wal-Mart (unlike Senator Clinton). He simply wrote a paper that defended Wal-Mart's business model as not being the Evil Empire it is painted as by many liberals. And he's right. That's not to say Wal-Mart is perfect. They have many faults and people's legitimate grievances should be heard. But Furman's report points out that Wal-Mart does actually benefit millions of low income shoppers in many ways (more than just cheap flat screens). This is the truth. And this appointment is exactly the reason why Obama is best for the country. Jason Furman questions the conventional wisdom, in this case that Wal-Mart is evil. The fact that Obama wants people around him who challenge convention (even progressive convention) is a great thing.

I do find it funny that the poster didn't seem to have a problem with Furman when he worked for the Clinton campaign or with the fact that Senator Clinton herself sat on the board of Wal-Mart. Wonder why that is?

Hillary Clinton sat on the board of directors of Wal-Mart, let's not forget that. May I suggest you voice your concerns to Obama before the election.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/contact/

We also encourage you to submit your policy ideas through the My Policy feature of our website, here:

www.BarackObama.com/issues

Wal-Mart is the worst thing that has happened to American businesses in ages. It has repeatedly settled in and out of court for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act by forcing workers to work off the clock, through their meal breaks, and not enforcing child labor provisions. It pays its employees pitiful wages, restricts health care availability and causes negative, long-lasting effects by driving small business owners out of their communities. It cheapens products and goods for consumers and manufacturers alike. Why Obama would choose someone who defends this unscrupulous business as his economic policy director is both disheartening and worrisome. I sincerely hope he changes his mind.

I really wanted to believe in him but it seems the more I learn about Obama the more I'm disappointed.

I personally don't care about big screen televisions. I just am saddened by this. I really felt some hope from Barack. I hope he can explain this to the public if all that is said in this article is true. If it is true, then I've been fooled.

I'm sorry. I totally agree. If we want to keep buying affordable appliances, electronics, food and clothes, they can't possibly afford to pay their employees more. They are a business trying to make profit and hey, there are a couple people with big screen tv's that wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise. We can't have both.