From Obama

To the Editor

Last week President Obama appointed General Electric’s Jeffrey Immalt to lead an initiative on job creation and US competitiveness. Once again, Obama showed he’ll do what’s best for himself, his party and his friends. GE was contributor to Obama, so in typical Washington fashion Immalt was rewarded for his support not his resume. Obama said, “I am so proud and pleased that Jeff has agreed to chair this panel, because we think GE has something to teach businesses all across America.” Really Mr President? According to the most recent SEC filing, since taking over GE in 2001, Immalt has shed 34,000 US jobs while adding 25,000 jobs abroad. Today GE is in the process of closing an oil and gas facility in Racine, Wis., while simultaneously building one in Poland. Let’s not forget that GE would have gone bankrupt if not for the billions they received in federal bailouts. What is Obama so proud of?

To top things off, last week Obama stated, “We’re going back to Thomas Edison’s principles.... We’re going to build stuff and invent stuff.” Great timing with the Tomas Edison analogy considering GE just announced they are moving light bulb production out of the US to an overseas plant. Mr Obama, if airline pilots had your judgment, Amtrak would be profitable.

Daniel M. Patti

84 South Main Street, Building C, Newtown        January 24, 2011