President Zelizer reportedly asked historians for defense vs. 'class warfare ' attacks . Obama : There 's no way for president to avoid conflict over the issue of inequality . He also embraced the argument that if middle-class Americans prospered , they would spend money in consumer markets , which would in turn help the whole economy . three Republican presidents -- FDR and LBJ -- found different ways to raise the issue , he says . Zelizer : 1934 's economic stagnation increases the difficulty of addressing inequality .
President Zelizer reportedly asked historians for defense vs. 'class warfare ' attacks . Obama : There 's no way for president to avoid conflict over the issue of inequality . three Republican presidents -- FDR and LBJ -- found different ways to raise the issue , he says . Zelizer : 1934 's economic stagnation increases the difficulty of addressing inequality .