Chamber of Commerce opposes Obama’s plans

WASHINGTON - If President Barack Obama wants to take the measure of his opposition, he only has to glance across Lafayette Park from the White House. There, behind 10 massive Corinthian columns, is the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — a leading critic of the administration’s health care and banking overhaul plans.

A fortress for the business community, the chamber has emerged as a multitasking, multimillion-dollar defender of the private sector against presidential initiatives. As lawmakers spend time at home during their August vacation hearing from constituents, the chamber is adding its own heat to the season.

There’s a $2 million campaign against Obama’s proposals that would make the government a competitor in the health insurance market. It’s trying to make the case for insurers, which oppose a government-run insurance alternative but want to work with the White House to mandate coverage for all.

The chamber also has become a pointed critic of a White House plan to create a consumer finance protection agency and is assembling finance sector trade groups to push for a delay in legislation.

With 3 million members, the chamber is working with local and regional affiliates on letter-writing campaigns to lawmakers and plans to track their public appearances to make sure they hear the chamber’s point of view.

The summer effort is just a start.

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Chamber of Commerce opposes Obama’s plans

The Chamber of Commerce gets it. Most doctors get it. Businessmen get it. Conservative officials get it. Conservative Americans get it. A rapidly growing number of Democratic Americans even get it. Why the hell doesn’t Obama and Company get it? The outrage is REAL!

Ahhh, OK, now I get it!