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The Obama Watch
Meeting With the Masterminds
Wining and dining with those he would only exploit, not help make possible.
Last week President Obama had a closed-door meeting with a dozen barons of the modern tech age. Among those he attempted to wine and dine guests were Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Erick Schmidt, and Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs. He also plied them with pro-businesses mantras, though he practices policies that hurt them.
While the press was not allowed to cover the event, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney released an e-mail about the dinner. Apparently Obama chose these 12 titans of technology because “American companies like these have been leading by investing in the creativity and ingenuity of the American people, creating cutting-edge new technologies and promoting new ways to communicate.”
Indeed: If anyone knows how to lead the country by pushing it to nearly-boundless creative and communicative abilities technologically, these guests – who also included Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, and Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle — might know a thing or two about it. According to Carney, during the two and a half hour meal, the president discussed “his proposals to invest in research and development and expand incentives for companies to grow and hire, along with his goal of doubling exports over five years to support millions of American jobs.”
That’s the sort of statement a president would make in a meeting surrounded by business tycoons. Unfortunately, Obama’s policies that would “expand incentives for companies to grow and hire” do the opposite. If his track record is any indication, only a nearly untouchable CEO of a major corporation worth billions would be encouraged. But let’s remember that when Facebook began, it was just Zuckerberg and a few like-minded geniuses; many businesses start out small. Unless the health care reform law is repealed, Obama’s most prized legislation will stunt the very growth he claims to want to create. In just three years under Obamacare, companies with 50 plus employees will have to offer health care to employees or pay penalties of up to $2,000 per employee for all but the first 30. If start-up companies are punished by way of additional health insurance fees merely because of their size, many will buckle under the excess cost or keep their company under 50 employees. Obama’s ideas don’t advance growth; they nip it in the bud.
Obama courts businesses, pulling them shoulder-to-shoulder with one hand while crossing his fingers behind his back with the other. During a recent weekly radio and Internet address, Obama commended Intel for its contribution to promoting math and science education: “Winning this competition depends on the ingenuity and creativity of our private sector. But it’s also going to depend on what we do as a nation to make America the best place on earth to do business.” It’s not just empty talk; it’s perverse.
Obama may extol the virtues of the private sector, but as House Republicans pointed out in their “Pledge to America,” the government under his administration has “increased a staggering 88 percent” (in non-security discretionary spending). The desire for increased power has accompanied increased spending. A 2009 Senate bill, dubbed the “kill-switch” bill, would give Obama emergency control of the Internet giving him the ability to flip a switch and “shut down online traffic by seizing private networks” in an undefined emergency. The bill died then but in light of the Egypt protests, proponents of the bill announced they will bring the bill back to the table.
Another flawed concept that hurts businesses is the Obama-supported FCC ruling in favor of net neutrality. While some companies, such as Google, support the idea — many in the tech industry are happy to support subsidies for themselves and regulations that harm less established competitors — many do not. Cisco Systems, whose CEO and chairman John Chambers attended the dinner, is one such opponent. In 2008, its senior managing director, Robert Pepper, described the effects of net neutrality thusly: “Without additional regulation, service providers are likely to continue doing what they are doing. They will continue to offer a variety of broadband service plans at a variety of price points to suit every type of consumer.” With additional regulation, in other words, all bets are off.
Here we have Obama’s modus operandi: He might sidle up to technology companies and talk about making “America the best place on earth to do business,” but his policies guarantee it won’t be. Don’t take my word for it, though. You can Google it yourself.
About the Author
Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.25.11 @ 6:26AM
Obama is like a young man with a video game who knows how to work the controls, but doesn't understand the technical sophistication below the surface. It's the same way with the economy. Obama thinks the government is a savior of the business sector not understanding the many inter-playing players and partners who make it happen.
Tech gurus are usually business savvy and I doubt seriously if he conned them. The only reason Google likes the Obama plan is because they are youthful and don't understand that in the end the Obama plan would strangle them too or at least make them weaker.
In essence, they most likely went to the White House of of civil respect and in the hopes they could get to him and convince him to change his plans. Obama won't do that.
Obama is an ideologue who invents fantasies about life and then tries to put them into law. Then the law must be followed, unless like Obama you don't like it and declare it unconstitutional. That makes you a dictator by the way.
His dinner guests take genius concepts and put them into practice. Then the law of the jungle determines their fate. That is, if the government doesn't get involved. Then the government decides what will fail or succeed. Which means there will be a lot of failure and less and less innovation.
Technology has freed many citizens to increase their productivity. But where there is money there are bureaucrats watching and waiting their turn to jump in and take control.
If bureaucrats were as smart as the public they would sit there quietly and collect their paychecks and pensions and not disturb the gravy train.
But the government officials can't help themselves. Most are under educated in the fields they control, yet somehow believe they know more then those they desire to control.
It isn't so much a conundrum but a disaster waiting to happen as bureaucrats get their grubby fingers on one industry after another.
The effect has been to send tens of millions of jobs overseas and Obama has continues the trend.
Last year 1.4 million jobs were created over there, and less then 1 million here. It's a trend that will continue for at least two more years.
Appleby| 2.25.11 @ 6:50AM
Obama invited in people who fascinate his age group: that is, the university sophomore who still believes that you can get everything you want by chanting slogans and twiddling your thumbs. And who believe that money appears automatically in your bank account and that this money is something They Owe You.
Personally I see no more relevance in this dinner than the fulfillment of yet another bucket list daydream by a sophomore President who knows his time is short.
Melvin| 2.25.11 @ 8:25AM
If we and not the government honestly want innovation reform a number of things have to or should happen.
1. Speed up patent-approval process
2. Reform tax credit for basic research
3. Allow more Tech savy immigrants
4. Boost training for engineers & Scientists
5. Increase Federal monies for research
6. End foreign piracy of patents & copy rights
7. Ease the path for investors to start companies
The above seven recommendations where thought up the Christian Science Monitors Commentary Team.
A Country cannot put it's hopes and dreams in the hands of four individuals and expect magic to happen. These people are not God,s and it would be totally unfair to them to put the burden upon they're shoulders of getting our economy going again.
But if the government adopted the above seven suggestions, it could put the innovation that the economy seeks in 308,745,538 American's hands instead of putting it in just 4.
Grant Johnson| 2.25.11 @ 10:18AM
This seems a bit muddled to me. Several of your items (especially 7) are almost too vague to classify. 6 is easier said than done. But 2, 4 and emphatically 5 invite MORE government intrusion into the market and the business of picking winners and losers. Government picks based on political considerations, not what will help the country. It seems to me you are generally going exactly the wrong direction here.
Melvin| 2.25.11 @ 10:42AM
Item #7 lessen the intrusiveness of government regulation. Many times so much capitol that can be used in start-ups is eaten away conforming to government regulation.
#6, I don't know how Grant but this has to be brought to the front of the discussion. You develop a better widget, and I steal your design take it to my home Country and build your widget without R&D costs.
My core principal is no government intrusion or inclusion at all, and I see what you are saying. On one side I'm standing there brow beating government intrusion, and the other side of me is asking for tax breaks and or monies to recoup my R&D costs. And I can't and shouldn't have it both ways.
But on the other hand (thinking out loud) government holds all the financial cards right now, banks are not lending, and capitalists who traditionally assist in funding R&D, building, and marketing are having troubles keeping what they have let alone funding new innovation.
And right now everyone is basically standing in a circle looking at everyone else and nothing is happening. The powers that be had a word for this, Malaise.
Appleby| 2.25.11 @ 11:07AM
Actually this is one reason you can buy medicines cheaper in Canada than in the USA; no R&D costs.
Occam's Tool| 2.25.11 @ 8:36PM
Because the Canadians and Europeans steal.
bobu| 2.25.11 @ 8:26AM
It should be crystal clear now, that Obama's socialist agenda and attraction to Radical Islam is a deadly danger to the U.S. and its citizens.
Anthony| 2.25.11 @ 9:50AM
Obozo is playing his crony capitalism game. First Immelt and G.E. become the chief corporate whore of this administration, and now the libs of silicon valley.
It's quid pro quo Chicago style, I'll take care of you but you sure as hell had better take care of my campaign, which by the way, Obozo wants to raise ONE BILLION $$$. He's got the media coverage with G.E., now he needs the $$ of the high tech left.
Yep, hope and change!!!
I can't wait to see this jerk exit the White House in January 2013, if the revolution hasn't already started by then.
Sam Levi| 2.25.11 @ 10:15AM
God Willing, the next Presidential election will see the End of an Error
Brian Mc| 2.25.11 @ 10:30AM
One wave after another and sooner, or later the castle comes down. So, I noted the remark towards the end of the sixth paragraph concerning proponents of the "Internet Bill" swelling again and heading towards that pile of sand.
Petronius| 2.25.11 @ 10:44AM
OOOOOhhh. They all crowd around the dictator like little puppies wanting attention and believing that his acceptance will get them on the beltway A list. Wrong-o! He wants access to their technology to subjugate us by controlling who can communicate and how.
judy | 3.4.11 @ 6:44AM
Interesting point... But it does looks scary if ALL, I meant all the communication activities has being invaded by government. (Or now already is the case??)
Mike Gabel| 2.25.11 @ 11:55AM
I wonder how the lobster tasted when Obama called them all fat cats, or when he told them that they had all made enough money?
PattyMor| 2.25.11 @ 3:35PM
Obummer could have only two reasons for meeting with this group of whiz kids internet tycoons: (1) shaking them for money as he needs a lot of it and (2) data mining. Just think of the power of Google if they choose to "watch" which web sites you vits.
Glein| 2.26.11 @ 2:38PM
President Obama is a socialist. He has put all industry on notice. If you want to play you have to pay. He will not allow the rule of law to prevail. All he has thus done has shown only contempt for the rule of law. It is his job to bring this country to its knees in the world. He will unless the people and politicians of this country wake up and start taking some responsibility for what is happening. Americans thought the gravy train would go on forever. Now we face national and international decline or even destruction. Lincoln said it many years ago. The only way America would decline would only be if we did it to ourselves. I believe we are well on the way. I pray we are not to late.
shipley130| 3.20.11 @ 7:51PM
I would say that Obama already got to Bill Gates, so who's next?
shipley130| 3.22.11 @ 5:52PM
I wonder if Obama asked Facebook to do anything illegal.
Reebok | 8.11.11 @ 2:48AM
is good
العاب | 4.11.12 @ 5:22PM
very good