Democratic Strategist Bob Weiner Asks: Obama Actions Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right? Obama News Conference Tonight Must Be Evaluated on Potential for Real Success

WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Democratic strategist and national columnist Robert Weiner is asking — and giving some parameters to judge — whether the Obama agenda on Afghanistan/Pakistan, the economy, Social Security and health care, and Mexican drug gangs is “too much, too little, or just right to succeed. The Obama news conference tonight must be evaluated on the potential for real success of specific actions.”

Weiner, now president of an issues strategies group, columnist in top papers, and radio commentator, was spokesman for the Drug Policy Office in the Clinton White House, communications director for the House Government Operations Committee, Chief of Staff for the House Aging Committee, and directed the press briefing room at this summer’s Democratic National Convention.

On Afghanistan/Pakistan, Weiner asserted, “Key to the upcoming strategy will be blocking dirty money centers including banks and eradicating drugs. Afghanistan supplies 92% of the world’s opium and Pakistan transits a third of it — large financial sources for al Qaeda and bin Laden.” ( See Weiner opeds in Miami Herald and NY Times at http://www.weinerpublic.com/opeds.html)

On the economy, Weiner disparages those who simply push tax breaks for the wealthy and asserts the strategy must be to “prime the pump with the government as a catalyst,” a new form of Keynesian economics as Obama is doing. “Trickle Down hasn’t worked since Herbert Hoover tried it.” See Weiner opeds and chart of presidents, “Presidential Economics — Myths and Facts” in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He adds, “Somehow leaders are silent on another primary cause of the economic spiral — oil companies and the cartel squeezing Americans. Actions, not words, are needed.” See Weiner’s “Gas Price Gouging — Call it Like It Is” in Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

On Social Security, Medicare, and health care, Weiner contends, “It’s time to defuse the myth by financial institutions that Social Security is in deficit and needs to convert partially or totally to a 401K type private system. The Social Security Trustees and Congressional Budget Office confirm solvency through at least 2041 or 2052 with only a 20% shortfall. It’s a dirty little secret that there have been 11 individual years of Social Security deficits since 1968 which the Fund’s surplus has absorbed. The real issue is Medicare, which has serious problems in eleven years; Obama’s national health plan is needed.” Weiner opeds in Palm Beach Post: “Don’t Reform Social Security — Fix Medicare” and “Health-care Truth.”

On Mexico, Weiner asserts that “Mexican drug gangs are invading wholesale unchecked across the border. 755 members have been arrested this year in the U.S. with tentacles in 230 cities. Mexico is almost a narco-state. We need a full-scale strategy — more people, more supplies.”

(All opeds by Weiner: http://www.weinerpublic.com/opeds.html. Radio-television interviews: http://www.weinerpublic.com/radio.html).

Contact: Bob Weiner/ Rebecca Vander Linde 301-283-0821/202-329-1700

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates