President Obama speaks at Rhode Island College. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
President Barack Obama spoke in front of a large crowd at Rhode Island College to discuss his administrations policies on improving women’s participation in the workforce.
The President focused on initiatives to increase the numbers of working women through education and reducing discriminatory workplace policies.
“We’ve got to raise our voices to basically do away with policies and politicians that belong in a Mad Men episode,” said Obama.
The President highlighted his own experiences as a child – watching his mother get passed up for promotion. He said while the professional landscape is changing, he believes the private sector has not gotten with the times.
“The challenge is our economy and some of the laws and rules governing our workplaces haven’t caught up with reality,” Obama said.
Obama also advocated for a raise in the minimum wage to help lower income families get above the poverty line. He also touted the impact that Obamacare has had to protect women’s health.
Obama ended his speech saying women’s issues should be a bipartisan issue.
Noticeably absent in the speech, billed as a non-political economics speech, was any mention of the Democratic candidates. Gina Raimondo, who is running for governor and Jorge Elorza, running for Mayor of Providence, have both received endorsements from Obama by press releases or videos.
The President met with both candidates prior to the speech but neither was on stage with him.
President Obama speaks at Rhode Island College. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
