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Tom Donohue: Obama's Tormentor

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TemplarScribe Dec 9, 2011 1:49 PM GMT DR said on 11/11/10, that the billions spent on the TARP bailout were "far better spent than the billions wasted on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the true villains in the housing crisis." I wonder if DR's point of view has changed, now that it's come out that Newt Gingrich and his lobbying firm were well paid (hundreds of millions of dollars) to advise Freddie and Fannie to do exactly what they were doing.DR represents exactly what is wrong with the leadership of the Chamber: profist uber allis, profist over all. Profits over the equality of women in the workplace, over the safety of our air and water, over the rights and safety of workers, over the future of our very country.Thank Jah that DR represents the 1%, and that the 99% are beginning to find their voice, even if they don't have "bags of money," as Tom Donohue himself has boasted.TS
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Not Chamber Maid Nov 11, 2010 2:13 PM GMT This is the Chamber of Commerce? Get them the hell out of politics and back to promoting business.
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DR Nov 11, 2010 2:24 AM GMT Thank goodness for the restoration of sanity in Washington, DC, by the venerable Mr. Donohue. Readers such as JL that come from the left-wing view of the world need to be educated regarding the true focus of our capitalist society, which is the noble pursuit of profits. As Calvin Coolidge declared, "The business of America is business." TARP was a temporary government loan that has been far better spent than the billions wasted on Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, the true villains in the housing crisis, that continue to evade accountability, because people like you would prefer to vilify the so-called "fat cats". JL, please go take a course in economics, because your comment is very uninformed. Your view, which is shared by an economically misinformed White House is why this country still has an unemployment rate of 9.6% and an underemployment of 17%. Being anti-business in the name of the American people is poor economic policy. Your comments are UNBELIEVABLE!
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JL Nov 9, 2010 6:41 PM GMT In 2008 the American people voted for change but thanks to Mr. Donohue and his party foes fought tooth and nail on every change. Mr. Donohue is what's wrong with America today. Millions of Americans out of work, the economy in ruins (all from policies prior to 2008) and the only thing he cares is the well being of Corporate America. The same Corporate America that still today overpays there CEOs with ridiculous bonuses, protects overseas tax havens, received tax payer bailouts, you name it. Meanwhile the American people will continue to suffer and pay for your tax payer bailouts. And please don't tell me about helping the wealthy will help me later. Unbelievable!
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Ajax Greene Nov 9, 2010 2:34 PM GMT The Chamber (and NFIB) need to stop representing that they are the voice of American businesses. They are not! There are many 1000's of businesses like mine that welcome progressive policy that will protect and grow the American middle class. If America wants to compete with China, India et al in this century the chambers defense of last century policies must end no matter how well funded they are.
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Bill Odum Nov 8, 2010 10:52 AM GMT The Republican donors and the Chamber of Commerce had better start thinking of the true ramifications of Thomas J. Donohue’s one sided vendetta against the Obama Administration. It reminds me of a remark of President Clinton that goes (if I found a cure for Cancer, they’d still attack), who left office with an enormous surplus and no war; as contrasted with the biggest national debt in history and an unjustified war (in Iraq, neglecting Afghanistan that was waterloo to the Russians and the British), that is an anchor of misspent money. President Obama connected the dots: Economy, Education, Health Care. An ambitious goal that seems doomed to failure because of a Congress that would rather attack than improve; protect the rich and powerful, rather that strike a workable balance. With Thomas J. Donohue, the Chamber of Commerce is becoming the Chamber of Anti-Commerce, and is shooting America, and ironically, the very people supporting his agenda, in the foot - big time. Look in the mirror; you are the enemy!
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Randy Miller Nov 7, 2010 10:48 AM GMT Corporate America is not a monolith and for the ACC to come down on one side of an issue serves business badly. Different companies stand on different sides of different issues. True bankers, and most American business leaders, want transparency . Wall Street speculators and Chicago board of trade speculators want opacity, because that opacity gives them the chance to make more money. Regulation that brings transparency is favored by most of American Business. Regulation that requires American Business to spend a fortune on compliance red tape is not favored by Business. If ACC fights red tape, they are on the same page as most business. If they fight transparency, they oppose Business. Make no mistake about it, the main reason we are in this economic mess, with tight credit, is lack of transparency. That lack of transparency came from borrowers who lied about their incomes, appraisers who lied about the value of a house, derivative salesmen like Joe Cassano who told his bosses that there was no way that derivatives could cost AIG even one dollar... that list goes on and on. Every honest person benefits with more transparency.
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ATL Guy Nov 7, 2010 12:40 AM GMT When I hear conservatives talk about individual rights and the role of the federal government, i feel that they are very much in the dark about what the future portends for them. Corporate America has basically bought out system of government at the ballot box and will now inoculate themselves against anything that can curtail their bad behavior. This is the future we face: the Republican tax proposal will result in 700B in lost revenue forcing the government to borrow this money to meet its expenses. The cost to fix Fannie and Freddie is about 700B and will result in the extinction of the 30 yr mortgage. AT&T is arguing in front of the Supreme Court saying that individuals shouldn't participate in class action lawsuits. And the Republicans are happy to restrict jury decisions under the guise of tort reform. How far down the road would you guys have to go to realize that you're basically handing over all of your individual rights to corporations and that once those rights are gone you wouldn't be able to get them back? I know you guys hate Obama but what you're setting yourselves up for is going to be the worst you and your kids can even imagine.
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GMC Nov 6, 2010 9:08 PM GMT For those who are not aware, the U.S. is NOT a Democracy it IS a Republic. Therefore, no one can take your "democracy," but why don't you join us in our Republic.
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Jim Nov 6, 2010 8:34 PM GMT Although I don't agree with all of the ACC stances, the starkly negative tone of this article makes me question Businessweek and Bloomberg. Does this reporter actually understand business? Or is he an academic with an agenda? I know what it looks like from here. I work for an American company overseas and this Administration has continued to make it more difficult to do business and far more attractive for me to hire "locals" instead of Americans. Businessweek - please loose the bias and just report. If you want to publish this as OPED, fine - but can you label it that way up front?
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