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| President Obama seems tone deaf to political realities |
President Barack Obama has said he will continue to press Congress to raise the federal minimum wage as the US recovers from recession.
In a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, President Obama said the economy and workers were now better off than when he took office in 2009.
"America deserves a raise," he said.
His speech comes ahead of mid-term elections in November which will see a close race between Democrats and Republicans for control of the Senate.
"By almost every measure, the American economy and American workers are better off than when I took office," Obama said to an audience of union members.
He also pledged to protect the right for equal pay for women.
Obama was speaking after recent economic figures showed a one percent decrease in the national unemployment rate and a 4.2% growth in GDP in the second quarter of this year.
He said these improvements were due to decisions he had made during his first term in office, which included an effort to bail out the US auto industry.
He also said introducing new healthcare legislation had made life better for American workers.
"America is stronger because of decisions we made to rescue our economy and rebuild it on a new foundation asking the simple question: is this good for ordinary Americans?" he said.
Despite the recent economic improvements, figures show America's long-term jobless rate remains high and real hourly wages have stagnated.
It would seem that rather than professing real economic initiatives (to include corporate and R&D tax incentives to stimulate the still "soft" economy), Obama is bent on doubling down on the class warfare he has been fighting since he took office, almost six years ago.
The American people will sure have a say this November and the Democrats may not like the outcome.
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