Skin color a top priority in stimulus/infrastructure plan

[B_starinvestor]

Obama's economic advisor, Robert Reich, is seen in this clip advocating that construction jobs under the new stimulus plan are given to unskilled minorities instead of skilled, trained, white construction workers.

Under the new plan, if you are white and skilled you will not be a strong candidate in seeking employment under this package. If you are unskilled, the Obama government wants YOU rebuilding the bridges and highways of the U.S.

Call it a personal preference, but I would feel a little better about driving over a bridge that was built by skilled construction workers...as opposed to a bridge that was constructed/rigged by unskilled workers.

But the safety is of secondary concern in the manifestation of Obama's infrastructure project. Most important...the color of your skin.

YouTube - Explosive Video Reich, Obamas economic advisor no "White Male Construction Workers"

 

[mindseye]

Obama's economic advisor, Robert Reich, is seen in this clip advocating that construction jobs under the new stimulus plan are given to unskilled minorities instead of skilled, trained, white construction workers.

He did not, at any time, say that the construction jobs should go to unskilled people. For you to associate the word "minorities" with "unskilled" when the speaker did not make the association himself is flat-out race-baiting.

On that basis, I'm reporting your post.

 

[B_starinvestor]

You didn't watch the entire clip.

 

[mindseye]

I watched the entire clip. He never said the word "unskilled".

C-Span has the entire testimony here (not just the controversial excerpt that was hobbled together for YouTube) with a searchable transcript. He never said the word "unskilled", and you've put words in his mouth.

For that matter, he never stated that color was a "top priority", that it was "most important", or that safety was a "secondary concern".

In fact, he never mentions race. At one point in his testimony, he contrasted "white male" workers to "other people" -- which could be racial minorities, or could be women. You've read race into his testimony, and falsely reported what he said.

 

[houtx48]

i thought Star was on a moratorium of this site................must of been short lived

 

[B_starinvestor]

I watched the entire clip. He never said the word "unskilled".

C-Span has the entire testimony here (not just the controversial excerpt that was hobbled together for YouTube) with a searchable transcript. He never said the word "unskilled", and you've put words in his mouth.

For that matter, he never stated that color was a "top priority", that it was "most important", or that safety was a "secondary concern".

In fact, he never mentions race. At one point in his testimony, he contrasted "white male" workers to "other people" -- which could be racial minorities, or could be women. You've read race into his testimony, and falsely reported what he said.

REICH: …”I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers…I have nothing against white male construction workers, I’m just saying there are other people who have needs as well.”

This is confusing to you?

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Just out of curiosity...
I would like to get a running total of how many "race cards" have been either been played or complained about since Obama became a candidate for the Presidency? Because in all honesty, I see more people cryptically screaming about racism now than ever before.

 

[tripod]

REICH: …”I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers…I have nothing against white male construction workers, I’m just saying there are other people who have needs as well.”

This is confusing to you?

Well, Reich is an incredibly intelligent and competent man. you don't have to worry so much Star... he was just expounding on his theory of rebuilding the economy from the bottom up, since most minorities or non-professionals are at or near the bottom of the economic ladder. There will be plenty of white male construction workers doing the infrastructure work, I wouldn't be too worried about it. This is America not Nazi Germany, just because Reich has some concerns doesn't mean that they are to be carried out to the letter. Plus, Reich doesn't apparently know shit about construction crews, since most companies are owned and run by White males, yet contain minority crews that actually do the work.

The white construction worker doesn't really exist anymore like they used to in this country in favor of minority and un-skilled labor.

The bridges and roads are already being built by minorities and unskilled workers...

It's allgood Star, you don't have to worry. :smile:

Oh, and Mindseye was right! lol!!!!!!!

 

[mindseye]

REICH: …”I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers…I have nothing against white male construction workers, I’m just saying there are other people who have needs as well.”

This is confusing to you?

Not confusing at all.

1. He's saying that the process of awarding jobs shouldn't be so shallow that the jobs "simply go" to established firms run by white males -- as was the case with the no-bid contracts signed by the previous administration. There's a difference between "not simply go" and "never go".
2. He says "other people" have needs as well: "other people" includes white women. You made this thread about skin color and race.
3. There's a middle ground between "high skilled" and "unskilled": that middle ground is "moderately skilled". Just as you wouldn't see a $500-an-hour specialist just to give your child a booster shot, there are some construction jobs that are more appropriately awarded to moderately-skilled professionals, and for which the fiscally prudent choice would be to award them to professionals that charge more reasonable rates to perform them.

I agree and concede that the "highly skilled" statement is badly worded and controversial, but you have injected skin color into his public statement, when he didn't mention skin color; "unskilled" workers into his statement when he never mentioned unskilled workers. And you have associated the concept of being unskilled with minority status when Reich certainly said no such thing.

 

[B_starinvestor]

Well, Reich is an incredibly intelligent and competent man. you don't have to worry so much Star... he was just expounding on his theory of rebuilding the economy from the bottom up, since most minorities or non-professionals are at or near the bottom of the economic ladder. There will be plenty of white male construction workers doing the infrastructure work, I wouldn't be too worried about it. This is America not Nazi Germany, just because Reich has some concerns doesn't mean that they are to be carried out to the letter. Plus, Reich doesn't apparently know shit about construction crews, since most companies are owned and run by White males, yet contain minority crews that actually do the work.

The white construction worker doesn't really exist anymore like they used to in this country in favor of minority and un-skilled labor.

The bridges and roads are already being built by minorities and unskilled workers...

It's allgood Star, you don't have to worry. :smile:

Oh, and Mindseye was right! lol!!!!!!!

But why would Reich deliberately single out skilled white construction workers? What if he had singled out skilled hispanic construction workers? Or skilled black construction workers?

They key point here is the word "skilled"....why would you single out 'skilled' workers in any scenario? Sending a message to skilled people that their 'skill' will thwart them in their efforts to garner employment? And, if they are 'skilled' and 'white' the government really, really isn't concerned about assisting them in finding jobs under the new recovery plan?

If we are singling out skilled and white...how can anyone possibly argue that this issue isn't about race? Its a slam-dunk.

If you want to provide better opportunites for minorities or [less than perfectly] - skilled workers (is that OK Mindseye], then it shouldn't be done at the expense of trained and skilled workers...it should be in addition to opportunities for them...not in leiu of it.

 

[B_starinvestor]

Not confusing at all.


I agree and concede that the "highly skilled" statement is badly worded and controversial, but you have injected skin color into his public statement, when he didn't mention skin color; "unskilled" workers into his statement when he never mentioned unskilled workers. And you have associated the concept of being unskilled with minority status when Reich certainly said no such thing.

I most certainly did not associate being a minority with being unskilled.

I indicated that being white and skilled were two strikes against. Additionally, those that were a combination of neither white, nor skilled, were being targeted/sought above the former.

I did not associate minority people as being unskilled. You came up with that all on your own.

 

[mindseye]

But why would Reich deliberately single out skilled white construction workers? What if he had singled out skilled hispanic construction workers? Or skilled black construction workers?

But he didn't, Chuckles. The federal government hasn't made a habit the past eight years of awarding no-bid contracts to Dick Cheney's black or hispanic friends.

 

[ripsrips]

Just out of curiosity...
I would like to get a running total of how many "race cards" have been either been played or complained about since Obama became a candidate for the Presidency? Because in all honesty, I see more people cryptically screaming about racism now than ever before.

You've pulled one on every and anyone who criticizes oblama, You are the one caught up in the race card...everytime someone criticizes his holyness you cry foul. You will not sucseed In efforts to slience critics of "The Messiah"...Me thinks barry supporters doth protest too much.

 

[faceking]

Just out of curiosity...
I would like to get a running total of how many "race cards" have been either been played or complained about since Obama became a candidate for the Presidency? Because in all honesty, I see more people cryptically screaming about racism now than ever before.

You're probably right. You're going to see it come from all angles, bad intentions, good intentions, "score keeping", etc...

 

[ripsrips]

They'll just ban you for and say you're a spammer or some lame excuse!

 

[faceking]

Thomas Sowell at times writes some great pieces... here's one I recall:

Rosa Parks: Pursuit of Profit vs. Racism

Some nice soundbites:

"It was politics that segregated the races because the incentives of the political process are different from the incentives of the economic process."

This one he often says in different ways...

"People who decry the fact that businesses are in business "just to make money" seldom understand the implications of what they are saying.


You make money by doing what other people want, not what you want."


sorry... get off topic a bit.

 

[B_VinylBoy]

You've pulled one on every and anyone who criticizes oblama, You are the one caught up in the race card...everytime someone criticizes his holyness you cry foul. You will not sucseed In efforts to slience critics of "The Messiah"...Me thinks barry supporters doth protest too much.

Absolute and complete bullshit.
You seem to forget that I was rather critical on Obama during the Primary. I originally supported Hillary Clinton. In your world, that would NOT be a typical move of a black man who is supposed to be caught up with race, would it? How many times have I cried "racism" whenever someone badmouthed Obama or Michelle? Let me give you a hint. I HAVEN'T. If anyone is protesting too much, it's people like you. Since the end of the Democratic Primary, how many anti-Democratic and/or anti-Obama threads have been started? I may have my opinions, but do I invent a brand new Political thread anytime a political figure blinks? How many anti-Bush or anti-Republican threads were started by me in the Politics forums? I'll give you another hint. I HAVEN'T.

But if you think I have, post your evidence. Otherwise, STFU.

 

[deleted15807]

I could be wrong but I doubt it but a new LPSG low has been reached. Not sure why star you and your other friends here just don't go to a hate site. You would be among friends there.

The fascinating thing is the Republican Party can't figure out why minority voters don't vote Republican. Duhhh. As John Leguizamo said 'Latins for Republicans - it's like roaches for Raid.'

 

[TurkeyWithaSunburn]

The federal government hires contractors to perform the actual work correct? I doubt the government will take a look at who works for the contractors. Although there maybe some preference for minority/women companies in the selection process.

 

[B_starinvestor]

The federal government hires contractors to perform the actual work correct? I doubt the government will take a look at who works for the contractors. Although there maybe some preference for minority/women companies in the selection process.

Again, can anyone explain/elaborate on why there is a priority in excluding 'skilled' workers? What message is the Administration sending if we are punishing potential workers for being 'skilled?'

Can we not seek out women and minorities that are 'skilled?' There are plenty of them. Are 'skilled' workers overqualified for this momentous infrastructure project?

Which constituents are being pandered to? Are legal residents eligible for this project?