Obama Pushing Stimulus Plan Through Grass-Roots Support

ELKHART, Ind. — Making his case in the most dire terms, President Barack Obama said that if Congress does not quickly pass an economic stimulus package, the nation will slip into a crisis so deep that "we may be unable to reverse" it.

"We can't afford to wait. We can't wait to see and hope for the best," Obama said in Elkhart, Ind., a community reeling in job losses during the recession that has defined his young presidency. "We can't posture and bicker and resort to the same failed ideas that got us in into this mess in the first place."

Obama took the Washington debate Monday to a Midwest setting of everyday Americans, sought to build support for a massive infusion of government spending.

The popular president got at least one biting question during a candid question question-and-answer session, when a woman who identified herself as Tara took Obama to task for some of the tax lapses of his high-level nominees.

"You've come to our county and asked us to trust you, but those that you have appointed to your Cabinet are not trustworthy and can't handle their own budget and taxes," she said. Others in the town-hall session booed her, but Obama interjected: "No, no, this is a legitimate question."

Obama said he has taken responsibility for the perception that some people shouldn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Two nominees, including Tom Daschle, who was in line to be secretary of Health and Human Services, withdrew from consideration after revelations of delinquent taxes.

But he added that the mistakes were honest ones and said: "If you're not going to appoint anybody who's ever made a mistake in your life, then you're not going to have anybody taking your jobs."

On the economic crisis, Obama acknowledged that the legislation currently circulating in Congress is not beyond criticism, even poking fun at its authors at one point. Said Obama: "It's coming out of Washington. It's going through Congress."

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"You know, look, it's not perfect," the president conceded. "But it is the right size, it is the right scope. Broadly speaking, it has the right priorities to create jobs that will jump-start our economy and transform the economy for the 21st century."

The $827 billion Senate version of the plan was expected to pass the Senate on Tuesday. However, it remained to be seen how much GOP support it would draw. And it must be reconciled with the House version, which totaled $820 billion in spending and tax cuts. Senate and House negotiators were already preparing to deal, with the goal of a bill on Obama's desk by the end of this week or beginning of next.

Obama went so far as to say he could not assure that every item in the stimulus plan would work as hoped. But he said he has no doubts that "delay or paralysis" in Washington will deepen the country's crisis. He was speaking in northern Indiana, where the unemployment rate soared to 15.3 percent in one county in December, up a whopping 10.6 percentage points from December 2007. The region has been hammered by layoffs in the recreational vehicle industry.

"Doing nothing is not an option," Obama said. "We've had a good debate. Now it's time to act."

At ease back in campaign mode, Obama took a range of questions after making an opening pitch for the stimulus package. He tried to put the economic legislation in real terms, saying it would help people through broader unemployment benefits, tax relief and job opportunities.

"Being here in Elkhart, I am more confident than ever that we will get where we need to be," Obama said. "Because I know people are struggling, but I also know that folks here are good workers and good neighbors who step up, who help each other out, who make sacrifices when times are tough."

Obama was also holding a prime-time news conference back at the White House on Monday and traveling Tuesday to Florida to another region hurting badly during the economic meltdown. The blitz shows that Obama and his advisers are worried about a looming Senate vote on the stimulus bill, which failed to gather meaningful Republican support during rare weekend debate. A key vote on the legislation was set in the Senate for Monday afternoon.

The town-hall sessions allow Obama to appeal directly to Americans for grass-roots backing of his plans.

Originally, aides had insisted that Obama's time would be better spent remaining in Washington to shepherd the stimulus bill, rather than taking the more traditional presidential route of traveling around the country to pressure lawmakers from his bully pulpit.

Comments

[chnge2012]

In Loving Memory of the U.SA. July 4, 1776- January 20, 2009 R.I.P.

[berrycooda]

Still haven't heard about what to do with the stimulus other than....

We need to do this and we need to do that.
How are we supposed to implement this and that,

How about looking for investors to start up some factories to make
solar panels and wind mill parts etc.
Put construction to work by building factories or open the ones that have closed.
Bring in equipment to start making solar panels etc. Hire people to
do the work.

We don't need hiking trails or new schools. We need factory jobs
to replace those that are getting rid of workers.

AND...about the lower taxes for low income...They don't pay hardly anything now.
ALSO, with all the unemployed (unemployment checks and welfare)
how is a tax cut going to benefit them

Try lowering the 37% tax on businesses that have left the country and make it more competitive with other parts of the world where they
have relocated to.
ONE MORE THING...Who is going to pay for all the insulation needed to insulate homes etc. Start up a factory here to start making the things needed for that.

All you need is the building and equipment. People will work.

Also, talking about Elkhart. they also make mobil homes. So many were made for Fema after Katrina that are sitting in a field somewhere. No wonder those people are laid off.
Where there is no need, there is no need for people to work.

[research]

Investors aren't investing.

we do need hiking trails for health.

37% is the peak rates, our average rate i 19% lower the Europe.

The whole point of the stimulus was the green jobs like insulation.

We probably should raise the top marginal income tax above 1M$ to 50-90% like FDR did, to help prevent hyperinflation. high top marginal income tax also seems not only to not hurt ht economy, it actually stabilizes.

Perhaps when the top rate goes below 25% like it did before the great depression and this one, combined with deregulation, leads to bubbles and crashes. That's the data.

Please also go look up the 600T$ derivatives debt.

[fredricwilliams]

Let's see. An economist working for a politician says that $1.73 in economic activity is generated by foodstamps and $1.63 is generated by unemployment checks coming forever. Clearly the solution to the nation's problems is to send everyone foodstamps and unemployment checks. Can we be so certain that the numbers are $1.72 and $1.64? This calculation is merely based on assumptions and mathematical models that are based on theory. It has nothing to do with reality. Other economists would say something quite different.

Then we are told that Australia has a higher tax rate and a good economy -- which the ScapeGoat thinks, I gather, means that we should have higher tax rates in order to create a good economy. Australia also has summer this month (and high tax rates). I will support higher tax rates if ScapeGoat will guarantee summer in Wisconsin in February. And, by the way, Australia's economy is tanking, too.

An inability to reason critically seems to be necessary to be politically active and committed. It is much easier to be certain when you are ignorant.

[robjh1]

Well the President's first test. It will be the benchmark for the next four years. I guess now he sees that all the media and popularity will not help him against the Republicans.

[canadianhousedyke]

On "Change:" If President Obama trys to change the Congress, change Washington he will fail. The only people who can change how things are done in Congress is, well, Congress. If they don't want to change, no matter what Pres. Obama does, they won't. change.

He does have the power to change the Presidency. Why can't his Presidency be the first "mobile" Presidency? Is there a law that says the US President must govern from the White House a certain amount of time a year?

Why can't he go and "walk amongst the people" twice a month, in small towns and cities, why can't he make his whole Presidency, "campaign style" to a lesser intensity? If he consistently for four years, walked into the peoples towns and cities instead of staying in Washington, it would fundementally change politics, do it for eight years and,

"How come our senators, how come our congress people, how come our governors aren't doing this? If the President makes time for us...how come they can't?" the people will quickly start to ask.

The Republicans are using Old Media and winning in Old Media, and they don't get, they are losing in New Media. Obama is winning in New Media and losing in Old Media. But Obama won the election because he literally BRIDGED THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. He must continue to do so, for an email is a sad substitute for a real human hand to shake.

Change the Presidency, the Congress will follow.

[research]

Invest/spend on Americans,

Or face depression followed by a very expensive World War.

Your choice.

[mamamay]

It appears that the Rep's really don't know HOW to do, and they just don't want our President to show them that this economy needs a new approach and anew direction to mellow out. Therefore it also, appears that the Rep's are more concerned with keeping political power to get reelected than to help the struggling American People. WUW all of this nit picking of the Stimulus Bill? It's not about what is in this Bill that's causing these ReP's from voting, They appear more than ever to cause hate and discontent among the Democrats. Don't they realize that showing some care and interest instimulating the American People's crisis is the American cry is a step toward getting our economy back on track? I don't believe this blame should be pointed at Reed and Polosi. It is time that the American People get ready to send another message via a sending new folks who arent interested in only a blue or red state, but folks who are interested in stopping the bleeding of the American People.

[Losercuda]

"....And, right now, I truly want to thank our nation's children, grand children, great-grand children, and all those future generations which are going to have to pay for all this."

"Sure, I know that we created this problem of crack-addict deficit spending, but, hell, we simply aren't going to suck it up and suffer to get our fiscal house in order."

(Laughing)­....c'mon, that's what the kids are for!

[research]

over 2000 bankrupt companies per day.

http://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2008/12/bankruptcy-filings-in-2009.html

Remember the GOP have all the money.

[anothermba]

There are about 20 groups on FaceBook that are recruiting people to say "No to the Stimulus Package" and ONLY one group that says "YES to Obama's Stimulus Package".

The No groups have 1000s of members and the Yes group has like 10!!
Unbelievable! What's wrong with people?!!

[cjk002]

You have to realize that the internet is the only outlet for thousands of frustrated conservatives who are out of power completely for the first time in years, while the stimulus plan has broad support and Obama is still popular. There aren't a bunch of FaceBook sites for the stimulus because they aren't needed. Facebook is not a scientific poll of public opinion.

[GoogleMaster]

You may have a point in that I've seen many of conservative forums ENCOURAGE their members to go post "NO!!!!!!!!" in any poll remotely related to (as they call him) barack HUSSEIN Obama. I can't say how widespread this "go vote NO" campaign is but since I've seen it I know it's going on.

[DoTheMath]

A proposal for substantially reducing government spending:

We don’t need human beings to serve the purpose that most Republicans in Congress are currently serving. From now on voters who elect Republican Senators and Representatives can send digital recorders to Washington to play “Just cut taxes, just cut taxes” as needed during Senate and House debates.

For Republican votes, both chambers will register a “yea” for every bill that simply cuts taxes or authorizes pay for defense contractors and a “nay” for every bill that does anything else. (Since testing has not ruled out the possibility of Republican “nay” votes on bills which only cut taxes, but which have Speaker Pelosi’s or President Obama’s name attached to them, those names will be redacted from all bills.)

Votes for court nominees will require a more complex process. After considering various requirements – pro-corporate, anti-choice, pro-gun – we remembered that a well-established Republican screening process for judicial appointments already exists. We have subpoenaed Monica Gooding for full details on the process and expect her response shortly.

To calculate the full amount this proposal would save, we have enlisted the services of former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. Although the amount saved on salaries and per diem is a matter of public record, pro-rating kickbacks as a percentage of earmarks requires specialized accounting skills.

Apologies for not thinking of this during the reign of W, when the entire Congress could have been replaced by a rubber stamp.

[AntiSocialistfighter]

I like your idea.
I will differ on one point. We should wait until there is something that resembles a constutional driven Congress. Last I checked the Govt was supposed to minimize their influence in legal business and provide safety to our country. So cut everything out of the fed budget but defense, stop taking Billions from the States and let the states, and the people of those states, decide how they want to run their state. Then if I don't like the states laws....I can move to one I do like. As far a a stimulas plan, we had it...it was called Freddie and Fannie. If everyone allows congress (Rep and Dem) cover their screw up by printing money until it's worthless then the sky will be the limit. Every penney collected for SS and Medicaid has ben spent but no one is worried about it now while there is a chance to reverse the Greatest Ponzi Scheme ever. People, stop the Dem and Rep fight, their using the distraction to make everything you've worked for useless! THERE IS NO MORE MONEY TO BORROW OR STEAL. You cannot print your way out of this mess.

[DoTheMath]

Rather disingenuous of you to say you like my idea when you obviously have the opposite political point of view. Maybe that's the danger of satire.

[tempest624]

Don't call it a cloture vote, call it a procedural hurdle

[GaBu]

I'm out for a few hours, don't think I'm hiding. I have stuff to do. But I'm willing to continue this discussion when I return, especially with uncommon, you're pretty good and level headed, Kitty, you're still r e t a r d e d, but at least you had to guts to try to prove your point for a spell.

[kittykali]

poor, little GaBoo-Boo makes a grand exit, as if anybody gives a shiit....and has the audacity to call me out, even thought he was repeatedly proven to be a dense and dum.b fooI.......

so long....Ga­Boo-Boo...­....don't hurry back

[Tom Joad]

Socialism now, socialism tomorrow, socialism forever!

[pjones006]

Sshhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's rush's talking point for tomorrow.

[Kiku]

Brought to the US by the Republicans!

[gladys46]

61 senate votes moves the bill for final vote tomorrow !