JFK knew how to use a presser to shame unrepentant assholes

This was in response to Big Steel reneging on their promise and raising steel prices in 1962:

"Simultaneous and identical actions of United States Steel and other leading steel corporations increasing steel prices by some $6 a ton constitute a wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest...the American people will find it hard, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives, whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility, can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans.
...
Some time ago I asked each American to consider what he would do for his country, and I asked the steel companies...in the last 24 hours we had their answer."

Someone wasn't "sharing" in "the sacrifice," and Kennedy, in no uncertain terms, called them out on it. And the steel companies buckled almost immediately, rolling back prices after mounting public pressure (you can get the full story at my journal post http://journals.democraticunderground.com/drokhole/14 - it was mistakenly locked/deleted in GD, was given permission to repost but just haven't yet). Now I know a common complaint is that "Obama can only do so much," but I tend to agree with this sentiment from Trappist monk Thomas Merton:

"The President can do a tremendous amount to get people to see the facts, more than any single person."

Finally - and to borrow the conclusion from my original post - President Obama would do well keeping this piece of JFK wisdom in mind when dealing with the Republicans in these debt negotiations:

"I understand better every day why Roosevelt, who started out such a mild fellow, ended up as ferociously anti-business. It is hard as hell to be friendly with people who keep trying to cut your legs off."

And I also think that execs have become emboldened since Reagan, when greed became a virtue.

were off limits, right? The 24 hour news cycle has changed everything, and not always for the good.