Valerie Jarrett: 'Make it or Break it Time' for Middle Class

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Well we have a major speech by the president that was given just yesterday and he just hold on one moment -- as we have a little bit of a problem here.

With what we're showing screen there is a major speech I given by the president yesterday in Kansas and this is where the president many and talked about him.

Trying to seem like Theodore Roosevelt and his new nationals and -- back in 1910 some of the themes that the president talked about yesterday.

Where the middle class restoring fairness giving everyone a fair shot at the speech does have some critics and as people take a look at the speech today.

We've heard some of them and we like to talk to the White House more about this Valerie Jarrett is a senior advisor to President Obama.

And she is our next guest -- begins here and there she is -- neck and that smoothness reading -- since the beginning of the theater -- always nice to have you as our guests and I have to inject -- Vincent talkies you I've heard about class warfare.

-- really from either side specifically though -- it comes to the president.

People have references speech now is being.

Ash shot at class warfare now would be really specifically talk about this -- -- a little bit of the speech and we'll talk about in just a moment.

Now in the midst of this debate.

-- Islam.

Who seem to be suffering from a kind of collective amnesia.

After all that set after the worst economic crisis the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

They want to return to the same practices that got us into this mess.

In fact -- want to go back to the same policies that stack the deck against middle class Americans.

-- wait too many years.

So Valerie there's a reference to there are -- they want to return to the same practices they wanna go back Cooley is -- day that the president is speaking out.

-- -- can give you a very specific example -- Tomorrow which -- way is up before the senate for confirmation to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

We have well over forty senators Republican senators who said that they're gonna block -- confirmation.

Why because they wanted to weaken the consumer bureau.

That hero is an excellent opportunity for the first time -- 1 central place in the federal government that looks out.

After the consumer Saturday for example members of the bureau or in Ohio announcing a plan that's gonna simplify.

Our credit card applications down -- two page so that.

You know what you doing before you well.

That's a very simple process that will help millions and millions of Americans across the country.

There's a huge effort to try to dismantle that agency and block the confirmation of the person who will be there looking out for the consumer but we know just three years ago.

So many consumers across our country ran into trouble because of the risk taking.

Of the very few and that's to the president was really trying he's ready to step it is specifically -- the Republicans.

Yes and also the people who are spending.

Millions of dollars lobbying here in Washington trying to get rid of the rules of the road that we know if they had been in place we would have not have had.

The kind of financial crisis that we just had three years ago so -- over our country people are suffering as a result.

Of not having those rules of the road we now have them in place and yet people are trying to dismantle them.

Just eighteen months after they were put in -- and -- King at the clock behind you and I know that were birth inching towards the end of the year and -- see if congress as -- act as middle class taxes increase and -- has that the clock ticking down.

I the president though is as you mentioned and -- you yourself for calling out Republicans saying that they're they're they're trying to.

Essentially block it whenever he's trying to do and achieve this president as we know compromises such a key part of the system now.

And I'm wondering how help police think it is to have the president go out a national stage specifically call out these Republicans and then.

In a matter of a few days also have to compromise with them as well is that really presidential.

Absolutely it's presidential because what the president focuses on first and foremost is what's good for the American people.

And it's and the reason we have this clock here is to remind everybody about just what's at stake it is a make it or break it time for the middle class.

If on January 1 taxes go up and they have a thousand dollars less in their pocket that's gonna have a ripple effect around our country it's gonna hurt people.

Who are aren't stretched -- -- and who are sitting around the kitchen table.

Every day trying to figure out how to make ends meet and -- -- is not a time.

Both sides agree with extending the payroll tax that is the way that they don't wanna do it which is where there's a real problem and I've taught and the members on both sides and if I could.

Both sides are saying the same thing about each other and so -- get.

-- -- -- point re really don't know who to believe that the president is the leader of the free world he had the opportunity.

To really go in and lead in this congress went you think he will jump back into the conversation.

And by people back to the table and really get a deal here.

He's already jumped back to end the conversation he never left the conversation what he has been saying consistently throughout.

It is that this is about math there's so only so many ways that we can provide this payroll tax -- a hard working Americans and what he's saying is.

Let's take a look at increasing taxes on the very wealthy a modest tax increase to help -- -- what he's unwilling to do.

It's too.

Make this putt on the backs of very important programs that we need at this particularly vulnerable time for our country.

And so it's a clear choice and as we travel around the country and we talked to the American people it's very clear.

That they appreciate the president's -- about fairness about -- about shared sacrifice.

That's what's at stake right here and so he is leading and that's why he gave this speech yesterday because he wants everyone to understand what's at stake.

That's what we have this clock ticking because it's so important that before congress goes -- for the for the holiday break that they acted that they -- is very important tax break.

And my clock is ticking as well they only have thirty seconds it's -- commercial like have followed up and unfortunately we're at a time about -- always appreciate you joining us thank you very much.

Thanks to have a good afternoon see -- tonight.

Thanks well -- I had the White House Christmas party for the television is tonight so.

And the next weekend hopefully -- and Valerie and and some of our other colleagues as well John that sounds like Tallahassee tonight.

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Valerie Jarrett: 'Make it or Break it Time' for Middle Class

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