Obama Versus Job Creators

Captains of industry have begun, in uncustomary fashion, speaking up against President Barack Obama and his policies – and the chorus will likely grow louder going into next year’s presidential election, perhaps swaying independent voters. The president may dismiss the chorus as the rantings of greedy “corporate jet owners,” but he may soon see himself on a collision course with big job creators during his 2012 reelection campaign – a time when job creation and the economy well could be issues driving the electorate.

It is usually frowned upon – even looked upon as taboo – for CEOs of major U.S. companies, and especially multinational corporations, to openly criticize the president or show outright partisanship toward or against a political party. At least publicly. But recently – and, especially, within the past month – corporate leaders have begun to openly criticize administration policies as helping to depress the nation’s business climate.

In that time, three major business leaders spoke out against the Obama administration: Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot; Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants (parent of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s); and casino tycoon Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts. They contend that President Obama has strangled the economy and hamstrung job growth in the country. As Puzder told me directly, businesses in the country “are being actually prevented” from creating jobs because of the administration.

CEOs are typically careful, measured and scripted when making political remarks, but that approach is changing, likely because of the Obama administration’s constant demonization of corporate America.

During a well-publicized company conference call last month, Wynn, a self-described Democrat and supporter of fellow Nevadan Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, told listeners, “This administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime.” He added that businesses “are frightened to death about all the new regulations,” singling out Obamacare as a major challenge for companies. Fear of the administration, he said, “makes you slow down and not invest your money.”

Read More at CA Political Review By Brian Calle, California Political Review