Obama Urges Congress To Move On Economic Plan (VIDEO)

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday urged Congress to get moving next week on an economic rescue plan that would extend jobless benefits among other actions.

"If Congress does not pass an immediate plan that gives the economy the boost it needs, I will make it my first order of business as president," Obama said in his Democratic Party's weekly radio address.

The radio address was also videotaped and being posted online through a YouTube link to Obama's transition Web site, . The president-elect plans to continue to record online videos of the addresses after he takes the oath of office Jan. 20. http://www.change.gov

WATCH ADDRESS

Obama said he was pleased President George W. Bush brought world leaders to Washington to discuss turmoil in the financial markets, "because our global economic crisis requires a coordinated global response."

Obama stressed the importance of creating jobs in the United States and helping to relieve the nation's economic distress.

Digging the country out of tough times will require people to pitch in and look after each other, in addition to long-term investments such as making health care affordable and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, he said.

"Make no mistake: This is the greatest economic challenge of our times," Obama said. "And while the road ahead will be long, and the work will be hard, I know that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis because here in America we always rise to the moment, no matter how hard. And I am more hopeful than ever that America will rise once again."

Comments

[PhilipTaylor]

Since the Lehman Bankruptcy in September we saw the fastest drop in the market since the 1930's
Tens of Thousands lost jobs and market Tanked!

Now lets Bankrupt the BIG 3 and 20,000,000 lost jobs!
Can you imagine the impact oh the MARKETS?

[Sarahjan]

rollingdivision

what is your beef with Obama's speech? The US is currently run as a private corporatation and it is going down fast! So what is so bad if the gov steps in to fix things?

[Sarahjan]

Obama should continue speaking to the American people with serious tone! What is happening to the US suggest that he needs to speak to the people about complex issues with the citizens elected him.

[Sarahjan]

Nice address.

P/S. However, it was not GWB but the President of France, N. Sarkozy, who initiated the G 2o conference!

[moodygirl]

I agree this is not the type of "fireside chat" I was expecting. I guess he feels he has to be serious when talking about these serious issues. But it would help to be warmer and speak as if he is talking to one person on the other side of the camera. If he intends to do this weekly he doesn't need to cover the whole gamit of problems just elaborate on one or two things. Also don't forget to give us some good news.

[rollingdivision]

"Did we hear the word 'malaise'?

No... but he did go on at length about the extent to which everything sucks, and that we are going to need a massive new government-run energy program, and that it will involve a lot of "sacrifice." Sorry to say, I have not heard a politician sound so much like Jimmy Carter since, well, 1980." tigerhawk

[RTIII]

I would feel a lot better if O would start talking about Health CARE correctly; too often he puts INSURANCE in the picture, as the subtle way he did here in this clip.
.

[dcoxucla]

You have to think about Healthcare companies that is a portion of our economy which makes universal healthcare tricky. Everyone deserves healthcare but everyone who works in healthcare deserves their jobs

[NASCARLiberal]

As most docs, healthcare providers, point out, the HMOs and PPOs have just about distroyed America's healthcare. All the HMOs and PPOs do is create a big, high-salaried bureaucracy, that want to provide healthcare only for the healthy. In other words, they only care about making money ... for themselves.

Anyone who is truly SICK has a difficult time retaining any coverage at any affordable price. Docs are sick of putting hours of work in daily to handle the paperwork, and patients can't be seen because HMOs and PPOs only care about creating millionaires at the top. Until the HMOs and PPOs are shut down, Americans will have some of the worst healthcare (or lack of ANY healthcare) on the planet. Of course, if you are healthy and a member of a good plan, you won't see the problem.

Healthcare providers in Europe, Canada, S. America make a fine living and have less stress than their American counterparts. And in most of those countries there are no people without access to healthcare.

[MarkOfBrooklyn]

We ought to celebrate Obama's choices. As the head of the executive branch of our government and a former senator he knows that the Leaders of the House and Senate will want to push their agenda, and try to get their way with him. As preparation, he'll be loaded for bear so as to have a strong staff and cabinet that is experienced in Washington's gamesmanship.

If anyone thinks that he will get a free pass from the Congress, then they didn't live thru Carter's and Clinton's administration when Democrats ruled the Congress.

Obama is preparing to do battle in order to get his agenda passed. He needs fighters. He'll be the commander in chief setting policy, tone & strategy but he needs generals who can execute fearlessly or who's reputation alone engenders fear and caution in the opposing side. And yes, when it comes to governing, COngress is meant to be on the opposing side, even if it's ruled by the same party who holds the presidency.

Give Obama credit for being smart and preparing well for the greatest challenge he faces: Congress.

[RTIII]

"Give Obama credit for being smart and preparing well for the greatest challenge he faces: Congress."

Ya shur got that rite! -smile-

Really; congress is the biggest problem now.

We may have a big D Democratic Congress, but not really. FAR too many of the Dems are nothing of the kind - like Lieberman three years ago. They are in the pockets of Big Business. Oh, the D congress critters are better than the R version, no doubt, but few of either really have our interests at heart.

And, you're right; history shows the Dems haven't been able to work congress and the presidency since at least the 1960s - certainly not during Carter or Clinton.

We've upgraded our President. Now it's time to upgrade our Congress.

The PRIMARY fight will be in the PRIMARIES! That's where we remove the bad D "Democrats" and yet retain a D congress... ...Or, the occasional Independent, if a primary doesn't go well!

REMEMBER THE PRIMARIES!
.

[SPQR1052]

I am proud to also call him my president but I really think we need to encourage him to select "NEW" talent into the pool. I do not want to re-live the 1990's and in fact for those of you who believe that its goning to happen - dream on..

I beg of the transition team to look beyond the last democratic administration for talent, please.

(Sorry about typos in previous posts - I am in Europe on a European keyboard and sometimes my finger forgets!)

[Jazz42]

I completeely agree with you.

[TakLoufer]

The transition team IS the last Demo Admn. But yeah, hopefully, he'll pick more deserving & relative unknowns with less baggage. I love Hil but she needs to stay in the Senate.

[8isEnoughPeriod]

Given the EXTRAORDINARY SET of CHALLENGES the incoming Administration faces, it is VERY important that they be able to hit the ground running. To do so, they need people who already are experienced in doing what the Admin needs to do. But, they will be doing so under new HOUSE RULES, and they do not make the policies, they ONLY implement it. Experienced democrats date back 8-16 years ago in the Clinton Admin, or 28-32 years ago in the Carter Admin. So it's Clintonites or a totally new, inexperienced group. Don't worry, Obama promised CHANGE and Change he will deliver. It was not change in persons, it is change in the WAY Washington WORKS.

[8isEnoughPeriod]

And it's NOT ONLY Clintonites that are going to be hired!

[SPQR1052]

This is my second negative post today --- if it is allowed to stay. I am starting to truly to worry about our president-elects strategy (check my history of posts before you start calling me names) I'd truly like to understand what the heck is going on with the transition team selections process.

I as a compensated disabled veteran, bi-racial, lifelong republican signed on (mid-primaries) believing that there truly was hope for political change but these past few days all I am hearing about is another former Clintonistas, attorney or Clinton being appointed to the 0BAMA administration. I don't agree with this at all. (Last time I checked during the primaries NONE helped advance 0bama's candidacy) There are plenty of fresh new talent out there - in fact why hasn't those that HELPED elect 0BAMA been appointed such ad Kerry, Richardson Caroline and others. ( And don't screw-up the debt to the Latinos community. This admonishment is for the DNC players in general. And NO I have no Latino bloodlines. Its just the correct thing to do. )

I truly think that while it is noble to have your rivals on your team -- you shouldn't be over looking the people who brung you to the dance!

0Bama's transition team better start appointing a DIVERSE team of NEW players or I am sure he's going to loose the large amount of public support that git him into to office.

[queotic]

What debt? Latinos - just like the majority of Americans - voted for Obama because they felt he was the best choice. He's the president-elect of all Americans, not individual groups. Even if he were, putting someone into power simply because of their ethnicity isn't doing anyone a favor. If Obama feels that Bill Richardson should have a place in his administration, he'll do so based on Bill's merits, not his race.

"( And don't screw-up the debt to the Latinos community. This admonishment is for the DNC players in general. And NO I have no Latino bloodlines. Its just the correct thing to do.)"

[TakLoufer]

I find your use of the number '0' ('zero') to spell the President-elect's name instantly offensive. This man is a lot of things (some I don't like, like his stand on gay marriage) but a zero is not one of them. He is scathingly brilliant and (as far as I can tell so far) a decent & respectable young man.

[NoneyaBizniss]

Change means picking people based upon ability to get the job done. Period. That's why I voted for Obama. CHANGE.

[ArmyCentrist]

I'd rather save the American auto industry (and millions of jobs in Michigan, Winconsin, et. al) than Wall St. firms, but yes, oversight in the form of new green initiatives should be in place. We as a country, with a visionary leader willing to listen to all points of view, can turn this mess into our finest moment. We beat the British, the Japanese, and the Germans, we can't defeat ourselves!

[hexham]

we did beat ourselves once, after the british and before the japanese... a little thing called the civil war?

but, I DO agree with your sentiment!

[chouwalker]

You are right. We are our own worst enemy.

We know what to do, let us now do it.

[BrainDart]

I'm saying this as an enthusiastic Obama supporter who has made films. The video feels amateurish. It should have a more relaxed, let's chat feel. Roosevelt had his fireside chats. Maybe we can have our weekly coffee or beer talks, without the beverages, but with that feel. Formal, yes, but not stiff. I would pan a bit on the opening, have Obama not be so in the camera's face. Content wise, less is more: getting more in depth with one topic is more likely to connect with the audience than trying to cover too much.

[GabrielXL]

I agree. Although the intent is good and the purpose is clear, I can easily see this type of thing evolving into a more "at home - around the table" type deal. I suppose this is just the "feeler" address which will be fine tuned as time goes by.

[puffthedragon]

I am so proud to call this man my President. But I do so agree with you .. Maybe he will loosen up as he makes more PA s.

[Jahmekyah]

You should go to Change.gov and make this suggestion to them. I have. If enough people give suggestions about the weekly address maybe they will incorporate our suggestions.

[unhipcat]

How cool is it that the leader of the nation actually talks to the people?
I hope he does the same thing with Congress.

[TrishR]

Ooh, I just had an idea for dealing with the auto industry - why not increase mass transit [way more fuel efficient than individual autos], and the automakers to build the buses, train cars & street cars? We could keep those jobs, create some infrastructure and help pave the transition to an economy which doesn't force every family to have 2 cars.

[hexham]

good idea. do it in concert with road/bridge/highway improvements such that they go ahead and intall reail lines in all major artierials.

Actually the heavy diesel engines industry could easily become a very green industry.

Now imagine instead of giving the industry cash, give it a purchase order for a million trucks that are alt fueled, and lease them to small businesses at a great rate. Now you have a million clean green trucks on the road, small businesses get green vehicles into service, which also creates instant market for alt fuel stations.

[Purobi]

Please write to change.gov. I mean it.

[Purobi]

My husband is with you on this. My only addition will be to fire all the execs first. Change the UAW contract as well. They need to face the reality. Many of them get $90 per hour when their qualification level is High School drop out or barely High School.

[canucklivinginUSA]

My mother and I have been advocating the same thing!

[sonoffestus]

Trish, you are right on.The reverse of this actually happened when "coachmakers" were absorbed into the auto industry in it's early years. Fisher Auto Body were coachmakers, see their logo on today's cars. The reverse could happen just as you described. To think we could develop the best mass transit in the world and at the same time rebuild our economy. It could be green as well.

[sandpiper1]

Great idea...we have that in Canada and it's much cheaper than taking the car to work. Toronto has a subway system for locals, Go train for suburban commuters, busses and street cars(trams) and trains that travel cross country.

[walk0nwalls]

I'll be happy to watch these throughout his presidency.

That said...

Change the backdrop.

[TakLoufer]

I agree about the backdrop change: Keep the flag, but film them in the Oval Office, like -- well -- Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact.

[hexham]

minus the comet, right?

[tressie22]

Y'all he's still President-elect. He can't yet use the Oval Office. I imagine when he's been Prez longer than 10 days, actually is in the West Wing and has some details sown up that the production value will get more attention. Has he done too much that is subpar?

[joannenj]

Agreed and he should sit on the edge of the desk to be less rigid.

[hexham]

I thought it was just me. I was transfixed by the reflection off the cheezy-ish looking veneer.

A good buddy of mine (a dem) keeps telling me that the GOP has their graphics down much better. Live and learn!