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

[LafnBacstage]

Is Obama leaning to the right? If you doubt his intentions look at his placement on the screen. Some posters claim that is placement within the format is an aesthetic composition. I say its more deliberate. Obama's physical placement is a symbolic message to us left-leaning progressives that Obama is going to govern from right of center.

What? you don't think politicos don't act symbolically? Do you remember James Watt, the former Interior Secretary under Regan? He had the great seal of the US Interior flipped so the bison that was facing left ended up facing right. Need more evidence, look at the dollar bill.

Symbolism is alive and well in America.

[majormoderate]

please tell me you're joking. if not, you should lose your right to comment on this site.

[sanywhere]

i second that.

[brendanm]

So is baseless paranoia.

[scjk67]

HUH?????

[RossForChange]

By that logic, one could say he is leaning to HIS left in the video. haha.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Man, I do not know who I hate most. Right wing christianist nutsos or left wing radical nutsos? Its getting harder to distinguish between the two

[Purobi]

I think they are the same:)

[jackmayoff]

http://www.truthout.org/111208S

and then enjoy this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnqqj5Q1BU

[jazzofcourse08]

Now it is our time to protect President Elect Obama. Thank God for the Internet, otherwise we will never know.

http://palincomparisonblog.com/WereOffToTheRacists.html

Can't trust the MSM

[rollingdivision]

Taping a weekly video is no better than Bush taping a weekly radio message. Not one bit. He's an excellent speaker so why not hold regularly scheduled press conferences instead, maybe once a month?

[naschkatze]

Why not do both? I don't think Obama will be afraid of reporters.

[rollingdivision]

It would be a good thing for the country to have our president regularly on a schedule meet with the press in open question and answer sessions. This would help prevent the president from becoming isolated.

[rollingdivision]

BTW if you watch his video it is boring and just goes over things we all know, nothing new.

[feliznavidad]

I think these Obama videos are great~ Right now the Mainstream media is still coverin' A-pallin--- as though she has any newsworthiness! I want to know what the President elect thinks -- not Moose-a-lini.

We can count on Obama to cut through the noise and give us the truth! Imagine -- getting the truth from the top dog!

The lies of Limbaugh, Hannity and the other righ-wing goons won't be allowed to shut down government the way it was done during the Clinton Admin.

Obama is counting on us to be his truth squad.

[cheeselesspizza]

Considering that the weekly radio address is a presidential tradition started by FDR (in his "fireside chats") I don't think Obama can exactly do away with it. But having video addresses posted on the internet is a long-overdue modernization on the ritual. Americans don't exactly sit by the radio waiting for the President to talk to them anymore.

[eXcommunicate]

You are wrong. There is a difference. In Obama's case he is going where the people are to reach out to Americans. How many people listen to AM radio anymore? Radio Addresses are 20th century solutions. Obama is going on the internet where people are - YouTube. Millions will watch each of his weekly YouTube addresses. I bet only a few tens of thousands actually listen to Bush's radio addresses.

[hilary916]

I didn't even know Bush had weekly radio addresses. Lol.

[jackmayoff]

You don't get it. So many of the people that voted for him are young and their media is the internet. He obviously wants to maintain that connection.

[starboymikey]

How do you know he won't hold press conferences?

[Eriq]

Finally, a President who can speak without a blurb, crack, mispronounced word, or incorrect grammar in every sentence!!
This is one of those things that show America is getting back on the right track.

[shockjock]

Don't misunderestimate him.

[rasit]

Americas's best days are yet to come, starting Jan 20, 09 :-)

[NotMcCain]

I don't think it's a coincidence that he did his first "Pres-Elect" YouTube speech while Bush is meeting with the G20 this weekend--knowing how much they really want to meet with OBAMA>

I think this is just to remind and reassure the G20 that he's still the guy who'll be taking over...SOO­N.

The timing ... Lol.

[highlyamused]

Yes, he's eloquent. He speaks intelligently. All those things we've come to miss from our President.

However the most important thing to me........­.is we FINALLY have a man who we can trust what he's telling us.

How wonderful to not have to listen to.......u­p is down....ba­ck is front.....­..don't believe your lying eyes......­....believ­e me instead...­......

His words actually match my perception!! I no longer feel like I'm listening to someone from a parallel universe!

Yay!!!!!

[Democratdoc]

What a joy to finally have a President who can speak eloquently, coherently, and logically. After eight years of having to listen to a bumbling goofball, I can finally say I'm proud of my President.

[dortmunder]

What an awesome president he's going to be. YouTube fireside chats, here we go!

[Sparky123]

When he speaks, the image of GWB fades into the sunset. Can't wait until he can speak to us from the Oval Office. We are all in a holding pattern, waiting to take off and get things done. I love this man.

[AnalyzeIT]

My heart will be over joyed when he makes his first speech from the Oval Office.

[jackmayoff]

With feeling now.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnqqj5Q1BU

[OhioJan]

I am SOOO proud of the Obama's AND to be an American - FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE!!!!! I (we) have been STARVED for an intellectual LEADER, and I must say, we scored HUGE with President-Elect Barack Obama! Personally, I think the Good Lord PURPOSELY "broke the mold" after he made Barack Obama to rescue us and the World from the e v i l SHRUB!!!

[AnalyzeIT]

BROVO!! Well stated, thank you. Just listening to him give me hope.

Like President Elect Obama stated, it won't be easy - but at last we will have a president who cares about all people, not just the wealthy.

[janfin]

Bravo!!!!!

[Eriq]

Agreed, 200%!!

[HangInThere]

Add another amen! I just started reading Obama's books -- what a wonderful and revealing experience. Not only is he articulate, it is clear from the opening chapters that he is a deep thinker, that his understanding of diversity - across racial, social and economic lines - is deep within his upbringing and his psyche. What a wonderful change -- almost unimaginable - that we actually have a new leader of our nation who is intellegent, articulate, honest, and sensitive to the lives and needs of all people -- everywhere! And the man can actually write!

If I needed any affirmation of my confidence in him (which I didn't,), his writings simply underline his quality. Now let's help him make it happen!!!

[beckpod1]

How do you get people involved?.­..Communic­ation. If you've ever worked in any large business..­communicat­ion is the biggest problem in getting people in gear. President-elect Obama is keenly aware that people thrive on communicat­ion..I think hope is here!

[JMNIV]

Wow. So Obama wears a flag pin now?

[OhioJan]

Since summer...W­here have YOU been?

[aOsO]

Something your President (McCain) doesn't do, shoo.

[Tunghoy]

He's been wearing once since the right-wing radio blowhards (who never served our country, BTW) hammered him for not wearing it. Did you watch any of the presidential debates? Obama was wearing one and John McCain was not.

And what does that have to do with how he'll fix what Bush and the trickle-down Giant Oil Plunder broke?

[AnalyzeIT]

What have you been looking at? He's on many, many occasions have worn a flag pin.

Please pay attention if thats what concerns you most......­.a flag pin. A flag pin - should there not be somethings else that concerns you more?

[janfin]

Really!

[iv64]

Check the debates. You will see he does wear the pin but McCain doesn't.

[Eriq]

That's right. Obama with flagpin, McCain none.

[Billie]

What a class act this pres-elect is...i wish we didn't have to wait 2 more months for inauguration.

[Eriq]

As has been mentioned in the media and in Washington in whispers and in conversations, we COULD have an early inauguration by way of an Act of Congress..

[canucklivinginUSA]

Oh, that would great! The more I look at Bush, the more I want to use his face as... I won't continue my thought so that the FBI doesn't go after me

[ultrabop]

like right now, for instance. Bush has no desire to "lead" anymore. His butt has been handed to him. Of course he doesn't know that yet. "History will vindicate me," he's thinking. "I will go down as the second worst president in history."

[foghornster]

If you look at the hi-def version of the video you see some interesting items in the background. From Left to Right: The flag, three volumes of the public papers of John F Kennedy, a well worn volume of Cases in Constitutional Law and then a basketball autographed by Lenny Wilkens.

It seems that literacy and intelligence are returning to the White House.