Obama Knows Better Than Business Owners… Just Ask Him

Written by Michael F. Haverluck

The Obama administration has declared that it’s wiser than business owners when it comes to running their own companies.

After President Barack Obama’s recent announcement of his policy that would force small business owners to pay a mandatory sick leave to their employees, many in the private sector have been up in arms. Owners of private companies raised many concerns with the problematic mandate, which many believe oversteps the government’s reach.

Addressing the backlash claiming that Obama’s new policy hurts business owners’ bottom line, White House press secretary Josh Earnest — in so many words — says the president’s take on the additional paid leave is superior to that of small business owners’.

“I think the president would have a different view, which is to say that this is good business and I think there are any number of examples I can cite for you where businesses have chosen to put in place these policies and it’s served to reduce the turnover associated with their employees, but also increase their employees’ productivity,” Earnest insisted in support of Obama’s decision to press for his new policy.

Do as the government does …

Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday (8:00 p.m. Central) is expected to include his call for the U.S. Congress to pass new legislation that would force all employers to give seven paid sick days a year to all employees.

In addition to the annual seven paid workdays, the president signed a Presidential Memoranda on Thursday that orders all federal agencies to offer six weeks of paid paternal sick leave to all employees who are parents bringing new children into their homes. According to Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, taxpayers would end up footing the cost of this new policy for federal employees, which in its first year alone would cost Americans more than $250 million.

Not stopping with federal agencies, Obama will also reportedly urge Congress to pass identical legislation that would mandate all American company owners to give their employees the same six weeks of paid paternal leave — just like government employers — according to Townhall. No indication was given by the Obama administration about how much this new policy would cost employers of private American businesses.

A blanket of pride?

The president’s attitude toward private business owners was noted by Townhall as nothing new, as it points to a quote from the president in 2008 when he was speaking to his speechwriter, Patrick Gaspard.

“I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters,” Obama told Gaspard. “I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.”

Critics also point out that the president’s approach to spending comes in a close second to his arrogance.

“Obama has also put his money where his mouth is. Excuse me, I mean our money,” says Downtrend.com‘s Joseph R. Carducci. “He sure is good at spending taxpayer money. Just look at his ideas about giving away the first two years of college for free.”

Carducci translates Obama’s policies on sick pay and paternal leave more candidly than did Earnest.

“In other words, shut up and do what we say … because Obama knows best how to run your small business,” Carducci muses. “Never mind the fact that he has never owned, run, or operated any type of business in any capacity.”

Honing in on Obama’s doublespeak, Carducci takes aim at the president’s words not reflecting his actions — and the irony behind it all.

“I suppose this is par for the course from a man who thinks that he is the champion of the middle class,” Carducci concludes. “Obama feels that redefining the definition of full-time work down to 30 hours a week is also good for the middle class. This is also the same man who is gleefully taking credit for the so-called economic recovery, even going so far as to give positive speeches in shuttered auto plants!”

This article was originally posted at the OneNewsNow.com website.