Obama Walked Day In Shoes Of Worker Directly Impacted By White House Decision
In August of 2007, candidate Barack Obama did a high profile “walk a day in the shoes” of California homecare worker Pauline Beck. The SEIU’s video of the event showed Obama bantering with her family at the kitchen table, and Beck was later given a speaking slot at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
“Senator Obama spent the day in my shoes,” Beck told the convention to cheers, adding that she knew he would never forget that day.
Now, however, Pauline Beck is suddenly about to become a public relations problem for Obama, and she may soon be asking whether Obama has in fact forgotten that day. That’s because a new White House decision could mean a big wage cut for none other than Pauline Beck.
Earlier this week, the Obama administration backed off its threat to withhold billions in stimulus cash from California as retaliation for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to slash pay for home health care workers in order to balance the budget.
The decision, which you can read about in detail here, came after conservatives waged an aggressive campaign to force the White House to reverse course and infuriated the homecare workers union, the SEIU.
It turns out that Beck is one of the homecare workers who will be directly impacted by the California pay cuts, SEIU spokesperson Michelle Ringuette says. Ringuette claims that the cuts will ultimately bring her salary down to the level of Taco Bell workers — nearly two years after Obama walked a day in her shoes.
If Beck decides to speak out, this could prove an irresistible media story, so stay tuned. Here, for old time’s sake, is the video of Obama’s day in Beck’s shoes in 2007:
The homepage of this blog is here. RSS feed here. Twitter feed here. Email me here.
I just read the article on this and it says that the wages are basically going down $2 an hour. Now when you are making $12 an hour I imagine that is a big cut but if California wasn’t breaking the law, and I am not saying they weren’t but I don’t know that they are either, what recourse did the government have?
I’m watching Obama’s speech and he is taking Cheney on.
@sgwhiteinfla
I’m guessing the governor probably could have found other areas to save money besides cutting salaries up to 33% from the people who take care of the least among us. It’s not like the choice was either to cut these people’s pay or the state sinks into the Pacific.
Obama is not just pissed at Cheney – he’s mad as hell at Reid. He’s ripped Reid to shreds just in his explanation of what is going on and how bringing people here is no threat -
God I love this man.
He sounds defensive, the background washes the colors out, and he sounds as if his voice is echoing in a large empty hall.
State Secrets Doctrine now – does he read what I post? He just said everything I’ve said about it here.
Yeah, I love being right.
The echo sucks, but the content ROCKS!
I don’t think he sounds defensive – he sounds mad.
He’s still using strawmen – “Some who feel the President should have the authority to do whatever he wants!”
I’m not sure that anger is the proper emotion to express when he should be trying to reassure us that he is the right man to insure our security . . .
O you have to be kidding me – sbj – this was a classic Obama speech – he explained everything and made perfect sense.
He really understands this country and the people in it.
Dayum, you sure sound bitter.
@Cali-anon
.
I am talking about the federal govt. I realize the Calif govt could and should have made a diff decision.
Tena – I liked some of it, but I don’t feel that the bit I saw was particularly full of passion. It did not seem to be classic Obama to me. I may sound bitter but you hardly sound objective (”I love this man!”)
Much of what he said made sense, sure, but there was no doubt that he was on the defensive. He concluded by acknowledging that terrorism would outlast his term(s) and by conceding that he could not guarantee our safety. That is logical and true but not particularly inspiring.
Did I miss the details regarding his Guantanamo plan?
what a dick cheney is. five minute rule. i have to turn this off or my head will explode.
Cheney is right now relating his personal experience during the morning of 9/11 . . . I think it’s a big difference with the dispassionate speech I just heard.
SBJ, you’re right, and Cheney’s passions, prejudices and paranoia ran this country right into the ditch.
Great sbj, I think you should start a Cheney 2012 facebook group. Whaddya Say?
I was simply critiquing one aspect of the speech. Cheney’s recollections about the attacks of 9/11 were affecting. His defense of and gratitude to those who defend us and to those in the CIA who committed “torture” seemed far more heartfelt and sincere than what I heard from Obama.
It’s far easier to make facebook jokes or call someone a dick than it is to actually, you know, listen and analyze someone’s words. We’ll leave that to Greg, I suppose.
. . . but I DO tend to root for the “villain.”
Looks as if I was spot on regarding the Pew numbers, eh?
SBJ, sorry but I would hardly call Obama’s speech dispassionate and I could hardly stomach any sympathy for Dick Cheney. His delusions and paranoia ruined this country in so many ways. It is shameful that he even tries to defend what he has done and the torture he condoned.
As someone who was in NYC that morning of 9/11 and experienced that horror first hand I cannot forget that it was on Dick Cheney’s watch this happened. And he sure didn’t keep us safe after that. Even though there may not have been a direct attack on US soil, we are in this mess because of his actions and his greed.
I don’t live in CA, I live in PA but am a direct recipient of home care services in my state. Here they aren’t unionized (they should be), the pay is pitiful for such an important service. I literally could not work without them due to my disability. I have had people paid less than $9/hr and that was their only income. The agencies that hired them are paid by the state between $65,000 and $85,000 annually for my services, and the actual workers sometimes make less than $20000 per year. Needless to say, there is ALOT of turnover, and they have trouble finding qualified people to work for such low pay.
This system must be fixed nationally as our largest generations age, otherwise almost everyone’s loved ones may have a very undignified end. One last caveat: there are good agencies out there but they are few and far between, and usually cost an arm and a leg.
thanks for that perspective, Jordan. It’s really helpful to hear from people who are directly affected by this stuff…
CUT HOME CARE WORKERS SLAARY, YEA ALOT OF SAVINGS THERE, HOW ABOTU CUTTING THE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OF THE DO NOTHIGN CONGRESS AND SENATE, SLEEPING ON THE JOB BUMBS
HOW ABOUT CUT THE REPS PAY AS WELL. CUT THE PAY OF SUM DEPT HEADS AS WELL.
When is the California Gov. Schwarzenegger going to be recalled, the way Gov. Davis was?
As a Californian I lay the blame squarely on the Democratically-controlled legislature. (Arnold sucks, too.)
SBJ, once again you are way off. How about the Republicans and Governor who are the ones taking away this money because they ruined their budget. Obama didn’t put this on the table, Arnold did. Yet of course that is not mentioned in this write up by Greg.
The Obamabots on this thread seriously depress me. Look, I voted for him too, but instead of fawning over him and pretending he can do no wrong, I actually attempt to hold him responsible for when he ***** up. I’m tired of hearing “he’s brilliant” and “give him time.” He’s a centrist politician and he’s done some things that are not productive. If you take your jobs as citizens seriously, you will hold his feet to the fire on them, rather than make excuses for him.
Sam: The Democrats control the California legislature and have for some time. The legislature passes the budget. If the legislature wanted to (or had the balls to) they could increase taxes to cover these shortfalls. If they had the nerve they could cut services. Instead, they are weak little cowards who can make no tough decisions and instead defer to “propositions” to do what they don’t have the courage to do.
The blame lies with the legislature and with the Governor.
And I, personally, am one of those who will willingly sacrifice services. If you live in California this is realy a no-brainer and your argument is laughable. I already pay enough in taxes and there’s no reason a state like California, with its unparalleled and enormous revenue, shouldn’t be able to provide everything its citizenry needs without raising my taxes even further.
That’s precisely what the most liberal state in the country told its legislature on Tuesday.