November 8, 2007
Posted: November 8th, 2007 11:15 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama released a new campaign ad Thursday attacking CEOs for leaving their employees "high and dry" by taking money out of their retirement funds.

"I’m telling the CEOs it hurts America when they cash out and leave workers high and dry," Obama, D-Illinois, said in the ad. "It’s an outrage. And you’ve got to have someone in the White House who believes it’s an outrage."

The ad focuses on David Hartgrave, a former Farmstead employee from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He said he was promised $1500 a month after he retired, but the company took $19 million out of the pension fund and he ended up getting $379.

"Barack Obama’s gonna look out for me," Hartgrave said in the ad.

The commercial started running in Iowa as Obama traveled through the state to promote his proposal to save American workers' pensions. As part of his plan, Obama said he would eliminate income taxes for seniors and protect social security benefits.

Obama rolled out his plan as a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows him way behind Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, among workers that make less than $50,000 a year. Of those workers, 51 percent supported Clinton, while 21 percent supported Obama.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

–CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich

Filed under: Barack Obama • Political ads


Patrick, Philadelphia, PA   November 9th, 2007 1:13 pm ET

A year ago I had no idea who Obama was. Now, the more I hear him speak the more I like him. A year ago I wanted to vote for Clinton. Now I don't think that will happen. I am a democrat. What shall I Do?

blueman, chicago, IL   November 9th, 2007 10:51 am ET

For Obama backers, check this out if you think Obama can deliver more than Clinton.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/clinton-tops-2008-rivals-gets-530m-in-earmarks-2007-11-09.html

Ayyub, Richmond   November 8th, 2007 8:10 pm ET

OBAMA WILL SAY ANYTHING BUT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE IN THE SENATE HE WILL BE SOME WHERE SO HE CAN BLAME OTHERS! WA! WA! POLITICS OF HOPE!

OBAMA IS DOING POLITICS OF DISHONESTY AND HYPOCRACY!

ONLY4HILL

Posted By jmaya, iowa : November 8, 2007 5:49 pm

Atleast, if what you said was really why he hasn't been to the senate many times. Atleast he's a candidate that can hold a position on an issue!

jmaya, iowa   November 8th, 2007 5:49 pm ET

OBAMA WILL SAY ANYTHING BUT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE IN THE SENATE HE WILL BE SOME WHERE SO HE CAN BLAME OTHERS! WA! WA! POLITICS OF HOPE!

OBAMA IS DOING POLITICS OF DISHONESTY AND HYPOCRACY!

ONLY4HILL

Chris, Chicago, IL   November 8th, 2007 5:07 pm ET

CAPITALISM Barack! Don't you get it?

Hey look! It's a really tiny camel! Where is my needle?

Steve, Portland, OR   November 8th, 2007 4:51 pm ET

"Amoung workers making 50,000 USD support for Hillary is 51%." I suspect that if this fact is correct it answers my question about why we always end up with the worst possible candidate to run the office of President. Anyone making that kinda money outta be far more concerned about keeping her outta the office .You might as well vote for a Republican, cause she is going to cave in to Special interests.

Ryan Indianapolis   November 8th, 2007 4:30 pm ET

What does this Clown no about Business 101 or supply and demand. Sorry Obama you have no clue what you are talking about and your SOCIALIST ideas are not going to fly in the US.

monica, rochester new york   November 8th, 2007 2:50 pm ET

Markie Bee, you're AWESOME!!! Too many people don't like it when the FACTS get in the way of their opinion. You're keeping it real. Keep it up my friend.
Obama '08!!

Psbro   November 8th, 2007 2:45 pm ET

I just read where Obama appeared on Faux news & said anybody who grew up in the 60s couldn't unify the country. I guess that let's out Biden, Dodd, Richardson, etc. What a jerk. What is anybody who is a generation before suppose to do ride off into the sunset & let him bomb Pakistan, have tea with Iran,etc,etc?. Have I said what a jerk? That just leaves him & (ambulance chasing) Edwards to run the country. Isn't it interesting how he keeps showing up on right wing programs & evangelican churches and anything Republican in a DEMOCRATIC primary? Could it be that the best kept secret is how many Neo-Cons he has as advisers. You kool-aid drinkers remember Neo-Cons don't you? They are the ones who sold the world on WMDs and lied us into this war. Mr. I was against it, in public, but will associate with them in private. When will you get some of that spotlight get off Hillary & get it on the phoniness of Obaby?

Matt, Pennsylvania   November 8th, 2007 2:29 pm ET

Finally, some kind of real news, and an actual stance on something from one of these floundering candidates.

I want to know what Hillary is going to do about pensions being stolen from the people that earned them and how to fix social security. I'm sure her plan is to make 100% income tax on everyone but her fat business friends and then the government decides what you get, but lets hear it from her.

But wait, we can't vote for Obama because he didn't place his hand over his heart during the anthem. At least he has one, unlike Hillary.

MarkieBee, Sacramento, Calif.   November 8th, 2007 1:55 pm ET

Hey Megha, you're flat wrong. Obama charters jets and NEVER flies on corporate-owned jets. This policy is a huge cost to the campaign – about 33 percent of total cost – but is worth it's weight in gold because he's the candidate least beholden to special interests and can best make effective changes in Washington once he's elected

Matt, Paris, Illinois   November 8th, 2007 1:52 pm ET

A Clinton supporter claiming Obama speaks empty words? That's remarkable, LOL.

Hank, Fort Myers, Fl   November 8th, 2007 1:47 pm ET

Go Farrel in Houston!!
Even our politicians!! All most of those schmucks need to do is get elected. From that point–great medical benefits..and a life-long pension. Just imagine...two,six, eith years screwing up the economy and the land...and stripping every benefit average Americans can get...and they get a life-long pension. Think of all the losers of the past 50-60 years sucking off the government tit...and all they had to do was get elected. For surely, most didn't do much to change things while they were sitting in the hallowed walls of congress–what a rackett...think I'll through my hat in the ring. Hell, I had to risk my life for 24 years to get my military pension!!

Megha, San Antonio, TX   November 8th, 2007 1:28 pm ET

May be Obama should stop flying in the business Jets of these guys, then he'll be able to enforce what he says.

Maria, Houston   November 8th, 2007 1:27 pm ET

Farrell, you are absolutely right.It is a disgrace that seniors should pay the income tax on social security while our politicians do not stand up to off-shore corporate tax scams.

The pay and retirement of CEO's has never been so disproportionate to salaries and retirement of their employees. How many CEOs are leaving after few years or even months with multimillion dollar compensations – for what?!

Politicians of both parties are afraid to alienate their rich sugar daddies. I admire Obama's candor to speak about this situation, which is well know yet surprisingly tolerated. It seems as Enron never happened...

Mark, Shreveport, La   November 8th, 2007 1:16 pm ET

Good, I don't think Ted Turner, Rupert Murdoch, Hugh Hefner, or Gloria Vanderbilt should have to pay taxes since their senior citizens!

Markie Bee   November 8th, 2007 1:11 pm ET

Ah, no Robert...Obama would repeal the tax breaks given to the richest of the rich and give tax incentives to companies who play by the rules and who operate morally and ethically. Look at the plan, look at his Web site, listen to him over time and you will see a consistent candidate unafraid to tell you how and where he stands...unlike Vinod Gupta's best friend Hillary.

Markie Bee   November 8th, 2007 1:09 pm ET

OH NO! A new Clinton News Network/Vinod Gupta Poll has Obama trailing Hillary!!! EGADS!!! She is such a strong leader, but this huge of a poll lead? Opinion Research Corp. can't be owned by one of the Clinton's best friends (Gupta) could it? Gupta didn;t just give Bill Clinton $1.2 million for "consulting" work, did he? NO! Say it ain't so!

aj, NY   November 8th, 2007 1:06 pm ET

More empty words from Obama.

Hillary '08

Robert, Vivian, La   November 8th, 2007 12:45 pm ET

"Obama said he would eliminate income taxes for seniors and protect social security benefits."

Translation: Obama would raise taxes on working people through higher payroll taxes to suck up to the AARP and mortgage our future.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 8th, 2007 12:33 pm ET

It's a disgrace that we seniors pay income tax on social security in addition to medicare deductions. Our politicians don't care about seniors and our social security benefits because they and their families are recipents of "golden parachutes". Baby boomers take notice.

Erik   November 8th, 2007 12:26 pm ET

Great ad Obama! Obama in 08!

Hank, Fort Myers, Fl   November 8th, 2007 12:26 pm ET

This is why you're behind! You don't think that other leaders, unions, and even employees have tried to get CEO's to do the right thing in this country. When we as a nation–monitor wages of hourly workers, and the view is ...that if wages go up...that's bad for the economy. Well, mabye you can explain. How can you change the paradigm where business results are measured by the ability to keep the wages of workers down...way down. Beseeching them won't work...you've got to force them! That is what our government leaders are expected to do. Beginning with the great actor Reagan...to the present day, not one President has had the intestinal fortitude to do this. The most recent, has lost more American jobs to other nations than any President in history, and for him, it isn't even an issue!! You've got to show more than that to make it.

Jim Topeka, Kansas   November 8th, 2007 12:18 pm ET

Finally, a Obama stance that does not attack other canidates. This is what the campaign should look like.

This is a issue that needs attention. Not suppose to rely totally on Social Security (its a supplemental), but employer retirement plans are part of the mix and companies should not be permitted to raid pension plans, they have contractuial obligations to provide the retirements that were promised.

Bill W, Coatesville, PA   November 8th, 2007 12:15 pm ET

Senior citizens used to not pay income taxes. If I'm not mistaken, it was George H W Bush (the current president's father) who institued a tax on senior citizens and Social Security while he was president. And then he literally turned around and with the same pen signed in one the biggest capital gains tax cuts for the wealthy in US history. As they say, the apple doesn't far from the tree...

freetobeme, Rochester, PA   November 8th, 2007 12:09 pm ET

This is why I am a contractor - because you can't trust your employer as far as you can throw him. But don't worry, everyone, your government wants you to be your employer's wage slave. In that way, he can jerk you around any way he feels like it: controlling your body so that you urinate on command, controlling your free time so that your family thinks you're a stranger, and controlling your pocketbook because you are so deep in debt that you can't retire or can't quit your job to find an economic opportunity that doesn't make you feel like a vassal.

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