Ah, Yes. Obama.

I read with a tiny bit of interest the other day the news that the Obama administration is now going after companies that hire interns with no intention of paying them for the services they render. I filed it as yet another attempt by the labor unions, our young president's closest constituency, to boost business for themselves.

But I'd forgotten this aspect of the story:

Obama: Interns for me but not for thee
By Kerry Pickett, Washington Times

At a time when the unemployed are concerned about not only money but also loss of job skills, the Obama administration's top law enforcement officer at the Labor Department, M. Patricia Smith, is looking to come down on companies who give unpaid internships to young individuals.

The New York Times reported that Nancy J. Leppink, the acting director of the department’s wage and hour division said, “If you’re a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren’t going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law.”

It is amusing to see the Obama administration creating the image of poorly treated unpaid interns, when Mr. Obama's Organizing for America offered internships to help elect the president during his presidential campaign and are still offering up unpaid internships today.

Apparently, the administration's campaign arm knows the reciprocal benefits of offering unpaid internships, so why take that option away from private businesses? Such arrogance is reminiscent of the health care mandates that will exempt select Congressional staffers who work for committees or leadership offices. This shows yet another blatant example of a "do as I say not as I do" policy position of the Obama administration and hitting businesses like this will win him no further fans from the struggling private sector.  [link]

Well, we all know the difference is in the fact that corporations are bad and Obama is sweetness and light.  So he's allowed to do that which he tells others not to do.


I have that right, right?