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At town hall, federal worker losing her job confronts Obama (Gave her info to Reggie Love!)
The Washington Post's Federal Eye ^ | March 12, 2011 | Ed O'Keefe

Posted on 05/12/2011 11:31:14 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

A federal employee who is on the verge of losing her job confronted President Obama about her status during a CBS News town hall meeting broadcast Thursday morning.

And by the end of the day, she’d heard back from the White House.

Karin Gallo, a spokeswoman for the National Zoo, told Obama that she’s four weeks away from losing her job because of budget cuts.

“Just under three years ago, I took a job with the federal government, thinking it was a secure job,” Gallo told Obama during the town hall, which was taped Wednesday afternoon at the Newseum.

Gallo, who is seven months pregnant, told Obama that she and her husband are also building a new house. (Watch video of the exchange above or here.)

“I’m stressed, I’m worried. I’m scared about what I — what my future holds. I definitely need a job. And — I just wonder what would you do, if you were me?

“Where were you working?” Obama asked her.

“The National Zoo. And — I would be non-essential employee number seven,” Gallo said.

“Workers like you, for the federal, state, and local governments are so important for our vital services,” Obama said. “And it frustrates me sometimes when people talk about ‘government jobs’ as if somehow those are worth less than private sector jobs. I — I think there’s nothing more important than — working on behalf of the American people.”

“Well, I — I thought that — I’d be more important and secure,” Gallo said, cutting him off.

“I agree with you,” he said....

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; economy; obama; unemployment
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To: FW190

Maybe Obozo will open his wallet and give her some of his stash.


21 posted on 05/13/2011 3:34:02 AM PDT by bikerman (Where Has My America Gone?)
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To: bikerman

“...everybody likes pie...”


22 posted on 05/13/2011 4:22:30 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I'm jus' sayin')
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To: plangent
These people are idiots. The economy is tanked and they spend money like confetti.

What was the rush on building a house only three years into a job that probably takes 10 years to be vested?

If her finances and obligations are out of control, why blame the President or anyone else?

My first job ever was in a steel mill and the money was great. However, layoffs were a fact of life.

The other union employees all lived way beyond their means. New cars, boats, vans, motorcycles, annual (or more frequent) vacations, bigger home than necessary, etc. They saved absolutely nothing and spent everything they made. When the layoff came they all carried on like idiots. Who told them to go out and get themselves into such debt? I will never understand that mentality.

I had tons of money stashed, bought my first car cash and got back into school.

23 posted on 05/13/2011 4:34:58 AM PDT by SMARTY (Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same.)
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To: Rummyfan

“And — I just wonder what would you do, if you were me?”

Hopefully he finds out on January 20, 2013 at noon.


24 posted on 05/13/2011 4:35:26 AM PDT by Mouton (Voting is an opiate of the electorate. Nothing changes no matter who wins..)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I have no sympathy for either of them... I owe neither obama or this woman anything. Where was she when I was young and struggling... where was she when my family lost 3 homes and one business in Katrina or when I opened my home and took them ALL in until we could rebuild... where was she when I was repairing government equipment for free after Katrina... did she reimburse my expenses? Did I ask for help? No! Screw this whiny woman and her whiny president. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY... WE NEED TO CUT THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL JOBS IN HALF!

LLS

25 posted on 05/13/2011 4:36:24 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH!)
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To: Mouton

So this whiny moron and her husband are building a house in the WDC area. Assuming they live in the outlying suburbs a 1500 foot attached townhouse costs between $400,000 and $600,000. Cry me a river. She is an obvious PR setup for nobama’s so-called town hall. Someone should investigate her circumstances and follow her in the future.


26 posted on 05/13/2011 4:41:51 AM PDT by hal ogen (1st amendment or reeducation camp?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Seems like it wasn’t that long ago that the Obama-media were extolling the virtues of unemployment—All the free time that comes from not being burdened by a job, etc.


27 posted on 05/13/2011 4:44:31 AM PDT by Arm_Bears (I'll have what the gentleman on the floor is drinking.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; mickie
"Gallo attended the town hall without seeking permission from her bosses."

Way to go, girl!

That should move you up from "non-essential employee number seven" to "non-essential employee number one".

Leni

28 posted on 05/13/2011 5:06:10 AM PDT by MinuteGal
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To: All

when I hear people talk about govt jobs, there is always this pretense that they feel the job is “secure” and “guaranteed” with “good benefits”.. like somehow the money for the jobs comes from fairy dust and magic butterflies. That mentality has to be challenged and changed because the reality is that at the govt, you are employed at the will of the taxpayers or whomever occupies the office of authority at the time.


29 posted on 05/13/2011 5:16:07 AM PDT by newnhdad
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“non-essential employee” sums it up and there’s hundreds of thousands of non-essential employees in government. Why would anyone hire someone who is non-essential?


30 posted on 05/13/2011 5:38:43 AM PDT by maddog55 (OBAMA: Why stupid people shouldn't vote.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It's an enormous, stressful burden working for the government in America and having to deal with the uncertainty and anxiety about your job. We shouldn't be so harsh on her:


31 posted on 05/13/2011 5:57:47 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (Whoz? Meca? feble?)
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To: dennisw
Your demographic of the average government worker in DC holds up even in California. I went to a VA hospital ER, ending up in hospital for 5-days. I swear, the demographic of the hospital employee made me feel like I was in SE DC———and just as safe!
32 posted on 05/13/2011 6:04:01 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Just under three years ago, I took a job with the federal government, thinking it was a secure job”

There you go thinking again.


33 posted on 05/13/2011 6:34:30 AM PDT by Free in Texas ("Islam is the religion of peace"...Yes, those murdered by Islamists are ever so peaceful.)
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To: Kenny Bunk

Let’s not forget military. We’ve been minting LOTS of military-preference candidates to fill up slots where they’re not the most qualified. Despite my support of service personnel, we should be hiring the best available for postitions, not using skin color, gender, military service, disabilities, or other such traits to boost up candidates who are not as qualified.

You are right on target about the administration, though. Administrator costs are generally way out of line, and that goes for many levels, from federal down to local school districts.


34 posted on 05/13/2011 6:50:08 AM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
Thank you for posting that.

I was discussing this with a co-worker recently...we were amazed to find the same position paid DOUBLE at the federal government as compared to the state government. (The state pay was about 2/3 the pay of the private sector for the same position--with, believe it or not, worse benefits.)

But despite that increase in federal positions, many positions have been eliminated in order to open up even more than that 10 percent showing...lots of nice plum positions for favorites of the left, while other positions are still being cut from the federal level.

35 posted on 05/13/2011 6:55:30 AM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: mountainbunny

Philosophically I agree with you, but as the husband of a (conservative) federal employee, I take issue with the idea that ALL of them are “underskilled.” Granted, she also has private sector experience.

Would you say the same about our military?


36 posted on 05/13/2011 6:55:56 AM PDT by RockinRight (Herman Cain 2012)
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To: Rummyfan

In and of itself, I see no problem with a person asking the President for advice in that situation.

Look, as much as we like to hate government employees, a large number of them are just trying to support their families and pay their bills like the rest of us.

It does appear that rather than look online (as Rush suggested) at other Smithsonian openings that she’s there whining, but, still...

I have more problem with Obama’s reply.


37 posted on 05/13/2011 6:57:42 AM PDT by RockinRight (Herman Cain 2012)
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To: dennisw
Very good post! You go to DC and you will find most Federal agencies overstuffed overstaffed with women and blacks and gays over and above their proportion in the population. Way beyond any fair notion of affirmative action.

I admit, that what some points in my life, I did apply to a fair number of Federal jobs.

I'm beginning to assume that I never got a single interview because I'm a white male.

38 posted on 05/13/2011 6:59:37 AM PDT by RockinRight (Herman Cain 2012)
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To: Hulka

Well you are posting here so you got out alive so you are fortunate despite the staff there


39 posted on 05/13/2011 8:20:06 AM PDT by dennisw (NZT - "works better if you're already smart")
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To: dennisw
yes, I am fortunate.

I was discharged and the next day they called and said I needed to come back NOW, as I had a blood infection (they gave me) that will kill me. Instead, I went to Texas that day and was in hospital 9-days where I received professional, clean, attentive care in a wonderfully comfortable environment.

The VA hospital system is the future of government-run health “care.” We need to fight that at every step and in every legal way.

40 posted on 05/13/2011 8:48:42 AM PDT by Hulka
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