I disagree with Barack Obama when he tries to tell a specific group that their values aren't OK. It's a free country and the "struggling" people Obama refers to should try to figure out why successful people have become that way, NOT look to the government to even out the wealth , or worse, re-distribute the wealth. If Wall St. participants are doing anything illegal, they should be convicted, but if not, we are ALL free to pursue the same success as those in the financial world.

I was pleased to see this speech delivered today. I too fear that the 10% bottom line prevails come hell or high water.

However, in reading his remarks I saw something different that those who say he doesn't know what he's talking about.

What I interpreted in his remarks was that he was asking them to be part of the solution, intimating that they need to police themselves and put their creativity to making it a great economy for everyone not just the few.

So, I will be interested to see what they do with it.

Sort of applying the same positioning that he does to grassroot politics, the people have the answers and he wants to hear them.

I agree with the poster that said that Senator Obama is brilliant and could have been making six figures in any law firm a decade ago. He chose constituional law and community organizing.

Some people just come into this world "special" and Senator Obama is one of them.

Quand on veut noyer son chien on l'accuse de rage.

If Obama spoke favorable of wall street, he would have been grilled by haters. But he spoke against principles that work against the average american, and he is still grilled by the same haters. An American witch hunt perhaps?

Obama 08!!!

Just a little something different about Obama isn't there? A politician who actually wants to make this country a better place, regardless of the powers standing in the way of acheiving that. I tell you folks, this is your chance to begin to get an America you can be proud of again. Please don't be afraid to make the best choice. We tried going with the person who made us feel comfortable because he wasn't the smartest person in the room, didn't work out so well did it? Do much better this time or just don't vote at all.

This movement will prevail. All the special interests are going to have to answer to the working class americans come Jan 09.

Obama 08!

Once again Obama is leading, not following like a certain "frontrunner." Once again he speaks truth to power, shows that he's unafraid to take on the establishment. What he asked Wall Street to do isn't too hard for them to accomplish. I bet you garnered more supporters today than people he turned off. And Kevin who speaks of "inefficiencies"…man that was funny. And to use the U.S. Post Office as the example? Classic. I guess the post office is one worker's group that corporate America can't outsource. I'd love to see the price of stamps if Uncle Sam followed the corporate M.O. and sent the mail to India first and then to our mailboxes. Obama will close all the tax loopholes these corporate greedmeisters have been feeding from for years and install a fair system that benefits EVERYONE! Can't wait for him to get to work. I'm fired up and ready to go!

Obama is not naive. Or inexperienced. This guy has GUTS. He is very smart, he tells it like it is and he is not selling out. It is us, the american public, who has no faith… face to face with a genuine integrity, we become sceptical, distrustful or hostile, too scared to believe. That's what years of usual Washington politics have done to us. But remember,our country was built on ideals greater and more noble than any other at that time or now. Obama specialized in constitutional law and what should be greater inspiration than our constitution? Yes, this will not make some special interest groups happy, but isn't it our turn to make up for it with our votes?

Candor and courage. Two traits that we could really use in our president. Barack Obama has demonstrated his leadership again. He is willing to be truthful with the
American public and has the skills to unite all for the common good. He definitely has my vote.

so nice to see that obama is a leader in policy among the candidates once again. all this inexperience talk is nonsense. just take a look at his real credentials instead of trusting what billary says.

Thank you Obama. You just moved to the top of the candidates I will consider voting for on the democrat side.

Instead of "ushering in a new era of mutual responsibility in American." how about ushering in a new era of mutual responsibility in politicians? Criticizing CEO pay and layoffs sound great to most people but this is far from the best thing for this country. Layoffs get rid of corporate waste and improve efficiency. If people are layed off their skills are better used elsewhere. Look at the post office for a great example. It is run by the government so they won't lay people off, and instead this inefficiency causes the price of stamps to go up for everyone. Politicians like Obama are going to drag this country down with inefficiencies and we'll be left in the dust by the productivity of other countries.

All he is asking for is a little transparency and honesty in the American business markets. Despite the fact this SHOULD BE EXPECTED, I don't think it is going to hurt him by pointing it out. He is totally right in his assessment, and anyone saying otherwise doesn't occupy a large enough portion of the population to make me give a damn about their 'otherwise' opinion.

In response to Emmanuel O who says, "Obama what is really wrong with you? How can you open your mouth and spill such vast and thought provoking truth on the campaign? Don't you know the truth kills? Well you're almost killing your campaign because the POWERS that be are fully awake now, thanks to you. Get ready for both a stealth and open warfare against your campaign. Look you don't have to say everything, just say some and when you become President then you fire away at the thieves holding down this country and ask questions later. Good luck because you will be needing it."

Obama doesn't need just luck to win this election. He needs people like you, who know how excellent of a candidate he is, to work hard and make sure other people get to know him too! You're right that people with serious money and power to lose with target him now. That means we must work even harder! Because, in the end, the CEO still only has one vote, but his employees have more!

"I am not sure how someone turned this statement into an immigration statement."

OK, I'll draw you a picture. Big executives at big companies are making big salaries, and big bonues, even while the companies thmeselves are struggling and the average American is not doing so well.

The way they do this is they cut costs to get the work done cheaper. How do they cut costs to get the work done cheaper? 1) They fire Americans, who make too much money. 2) They send their jobs to India or China, where third world workers do the job for about 1/3 of the cost. 3) They bring people here from India and China, who work for about 1/3 less than the average American, and are virtual slaves, as they are dependent on the company for thier green card and their right to stay in the country. 4) They hire illegal immigrants and pay them under the table.

This has been going on for years and years, and happening everywhere. Its why we see CEO's getting $10 million bonuses while hunderds of workers are losing their jobs at the same company.

Barack is just spitting into the wind.

I knew a General Manager of a manufacturing company in the Chicago area who said that he would get rid of as many employees as it took to reach a profit margin that would assure him of a bonus. Thirty-four people ended up loosing their jobs and he got his bonus.

That's right boys and girls, he didn't downsize his employees to keep his job, but to get his bonus.

Does anyone really think that Wall Street is going to listen? If you do, I have this bridge across Lake Michigan for sale …

Just what we need, an inexperienced non business person telling the free market how to run the shop. Why do we give so much attention to "flash in the pan" politicians people like Obama who has no idea on the risks associated with running a business? All of sudden he's the expert now? Right!

LOL you people know nothing of Barack, He could have worked on Wall Street. He is one of the brightest presidential candidates ever and yet some of you are blinded by one thing. And that’s pretty obvious, I will trust his word before I trust any blogger with ZERO experience talking sh** about someone who's close to becoming the next president. Get your facts straight before you look to bash someone. Stop your fear and your hate and congratulate the man for once. My goodness

I can't imagine how hard it is going to br for someone to attack this unless they resort to the usual word twisting.

Good job Barack

Wall Street will laugh off the lecture by an inexperienced pencil-neck con law professor like Obama.

I am not sure how someone turned this statement into an immigration statement. I am also not sure sure that the person who is preaching that the market represents everyone therefore we shouldn't impose morals on it as long as it makes everyone money is looking at this the way that I am.
I am happy to hear politicians say things of this nature whether or not I really believe they can change them. Hopefully it raises the awareness of the issue and gives a gut check to some of the people involved. They know that what they are doing is for their own best interest and actions in that manner are very defensible in our society… however, the rub is when the people out for themselves have a fiduciary duty not to act in their self interest and do it anyway. I feel that is the problem Barack is addressing. It is a problem that is perpetuated because violating that fiduciary duty has become in essence a little white lie that just about everyone in a position to tell is telling.

"Why do we give so much attention to "flash in the pan" politicians people like Obama who has no idea on the risks associated with running a business?"

Bush has bankrupted multiple businesses and run them into the ground. Then he had the audacity to re-write bankruptcy laws to accomodate big business and make it harder for people to declare bankruptcy, with less debt forgiven. And this is your current president.

Slinky - did you even read the article? He's not talking about anything close to resembling redistributing the average worker's gains. He's talking about how companies may be struggling, yet the CEOs and other top management are still making bonuses in the millions.

Obama what is really wrong with you? How can you open your mouth and spill such vast and thought provoking truth on the campaign? Don't you know the truth kills? Well you're almost killing your campaign because the POWERS that be are fully awake now, thanks to you. Get ready for both a stealth and open warfare against your campaign. Look you don't have to say everything, just say some and when you become President then you fire away at the thieves holding down this country and ask questions later. Good luck because you will be needing it.

A Presidential candidate speaks before a special interest group w/o pandering to it?

KUDOS!
KUDOS!!
KUDOS!!!

Actually Walmart trying to get in every industry, even auto sales and banking, in Bush's view, is not a monopoly, even though their total disregard for their own employees, immigration laws, health care, and the environment is well-known. But when Whole Foods tried to buy Wild Oats, the govt. tried to subvert it, saying it was a monopoly!!! Maybe we need to "reappraise" a lot of things….it is sad, that of all the candidates, either only Obama knows this or he is the only one who has had the guts to speak honestly to the American public about the real issues and problems facing this country….

Hear! Hear! Excellent observations Mr. Obama!

It can change. CEO's, Board members, etc. only equal so many people no matter how much power and money they have. If individuals get involved in the democratic process and get out and vote they can and will make a difference. They will ensure that the candidate of the people not the candidate of the board room win this election. This is one of my favorite things about Barack Obama - he inspires individuals to get involved in the democratic process and this is why he will win. He has the support on the ground and that will win this election.

Just what we need, an inexperienced non business person telling the free market how to run the shop. Why do we give so much attention to "flash in the pan" politicians people like Obama who has no idea on the risks associated with running a business? All of sudden he's the expert now? Right!

The difference between now and when Roosevelt was in office is that now Wall Street represents half of America through our 401k's, not just a few head guys making money. And when he talks about us being too focused on our own gains. He's really talking about his desire to redistribute our gains.

Sorry Professor, your still about sixty years behind the financial markets, may not want to give advice there..

I'm just glad that predatory lending will now be a part of the debate. Predatory lending has ruined a lot of lives and hurt families. I hope the next President does something to protect us. Barack needs to be careful though, this will send a lot of big money Hillary's way. Yes we saw you on the front of Fortune Magazine sleazeball.
I don't care what the polls say. The polls only reflect 75 year old people who are home to answer the house phone.
The polls say Hillary but everyone you talk to on the street wants Obama Edwards. The only contending candidates for working middle class families.

Thanks again for doing the right thing Barack.

Sounds like Barack is channeling Lou Dobbs.

He is correct that the wealthiest 1% controls 90% of the money, and they don't care at all about the little guys. That's why they fire Americans here and send our jobs overseas, that's why they import foreigners who work for significantly less than we do, and that's why nobody is rushing to fix the border - because of the abundance of cheap labor the "problem" brings in. That's why industries here like IT are now overrun by foreigners
who do the hiring, and guess who they hire?

But he's naive if he thinks any of that is going to change, and especially because he asks them to.

None of this will change until laws are passed that make it more difficult to outsource, decrease foreign worker quotas, and especially to make it very uncomfortable for businesses to employ workers who are in the country illegally.

A good example of this problem is in New Orleans. With so many people devastated and out of work, you'd think it would be easy to hire American workers. Yet they have been bringing in thousands of Mexicans who they know are in the counrty illegally, and they continue to actively recruit them there.

He's right, something needs to be done. I've been saying this for years and years. But I'm not holding my breath.

So a supposedly "soft candidate" has now gone to Detroit to call for greater enviromental standards from automakers…

And now Wall Street to renounce the corrupt CEO's that are getting incredibly rich while the middle class suffers?

Seems like a candidate with conviction to me.

Think about it.

Although I enjoy what Obama is saying because it is the truth…..I'm afraid this will hurt him in his campaign for President. Unfortunately, those CEO's, Board Members, and the "movers and shakers" of Wall Street are also the main political backers for both Democrats and Republicans alike. Do you think these people would really allow someone like Obama to become President? Of course not, they would use their power, money and influence to make sure he goes down. The unfortunate truth to our corrupt government……