Obama Weekly Address: President Calls On Americans To Rekindle 9/11 Unity (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is calling on Americans to rekindle the spirit of unity that characterized the response to the Sept. 11 attacks. "It can be a lasting virtue," he said. "Not just on one day, but every day."

The president made his appeal during his weekly radio and Internet address, two weeks before the 10th anniversary of the al-Qaida plot that turned commercial jetliners into deadly weapons in New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia.

Obama plans to observe the anniversary on Sept. 11 with stops at ground zero in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center towers fell; at Shanksville, Pa., where one of the commandeered planes crashed; and at the Pentagon, which was also hit by a hijacked jetliner.

But he cast his plea for good will against the backdrop of the economic challenges facing the country today. Coming in the aftermath of bitter partisan fights over government spending and tough criticism of his administration by Republican presidential candidates, his remarks were an overt call for greater cooperation.

"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11," he said.

He recalled the work of volunteers following the attacks, the blood donations and the food and clothing drives.

"We were united, and the outpouring of generosity and compassion reminded us that in times of challenge, we Americans move forward together, as one people," he said.

These days, he said, the country is still fighting al-Qaida, it is ending the war in Iraq, pulling back troops from Afghanistan and "emerging from the worst economic crisis in our lifetimes."

"None of this will be easy," he said. "And it can't be the work of government alone. As we saw after 9/11, the strength of America has always been the character and compassion of our people.

"So as we mark this solemn anniversary, let's summon that spirit once more. And let's show that the sense of common purpose that we need in America doesn't have to be a fleeting moment; it can be a lasting virtue – not just on one day, but every day."

In the Republican address, Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada stuck to economic themes, criticizing the Obama administration for creating "more government that continues to impede economic growth at every turn."

"To paraphrase one of the business leaders in my state, this president and his policies have been a big wet blanket on our economy," he said.

Heller called for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and repeal of the health care law that Obama signed last year, both demands that Republicans have failed to achieve.

He also called for an overhaul of Social Security and Medicare to reduce their long-term costs and to simplify tax laws.

WATCH:

Comments

[surfinnonreality]

12:56 PM on 08/30/2011

Now Obama says he wants to give a tax credit to businesses that hire new employees. He is an economic idiot. Businesses won't hire based on a tax credit, they hire based on increased business. To have increased business people have to have money to spend. Taxes suck the money out of our pockets. If he wants businesses to succeed, then cut the business' expenses to hire new people and give all the people tax cuts so they have more to spend.

Just an FYI The country needs to increase wealth to get out of this economic slump. The governement can't do that. Wealth doesn't come from more printed money. It is created. Excuse the numbers - they are only for example.
A person has $100,000.00 They spend $50,000 for a land, they spend $25,000 for home building materials, and another $25,000 in labor costs to build a brand new house. They sell it for $300,000. They have created $200,000 in wealth they could used to build two more homes. Those two new homes would be employment for plumbers, carpenters, electricians, drywallers, etc. But the government takes away $100,000 in taxes then half of those people don't get to work. They are not paying taxes. They are on unemployment. Government revenue decreases and government expenses increases. What the hell is so hard to understand? Cut the taxes let people earn and spend.

[Squidwoman]

02:57 PM on 08/30/2011

Not quite that simple. If you don't want people to look at the numbers you're using, don't use numbers. This is a REALLY bad and naive example.

When the Government is paying for work to be done by taxpayers with tax money, they, 1. have to pay taxes on that wage.....2­. will spend that money stimulatin­g the very economy that is paying their wages...an­d 3. Generally, when the government spends money domestical­ly, it is for constructi­on of roads, bridges, government landmarks, public parks, and other projects that are for public use and the public good....no­t just a corporatio­n's profits. The work cannot be outsourced to another country, because they are not producing a "product" , they are reenforcin­g a way of life. There is a much better return on the investment when the government is hiring. Besides, the government is set up to accept bids on a job. Usually, the job is done more inexpensively.

I believe YOU need some economic education.....or maybe you have a whole staff of advisers too?

[surfinnonreality]

04:04 PM on 08/30/2011

The problem with your answer is that no wealth is created. The government had to take the money from individuals by taxing them. It doesn't grow the economy. Reenforcing a way of life creates a stagnant economic environment. And the example I used was an individual not a corporation. The situation I described was a small business. It is the small businesses that hire. The government can only hire more people by taking more money out of the economy. The small businesses can hire more people as their business grows. Businesses will do the jobs better than a government because they have to if the want to earn more business. As they grow their business the create an environment that puts MORE money into the tax revenues because more people are paying taxes. The government can't do that. All it can do is recycle money. And it does a crappy job of doing that. One more concept to consider, isn't the public good served better by having more people employed and capable of increasing their wealth though hard work and paying taxes on that money?

[dparks]

11:45 AM on 08/30/2011

Has President "Economic & Social Justice" stopped comparing himself to Ronald Reagan yet?.. LOL!!..

[White Raven]

09:17 AM on 08/30/2011

I'm a little concerned that what it took to originally kindle the "spirit of 9/11" was the ending of thousands of lives. If it's all the same, I'll take the general malaise of right now and us figuring out some new way through it that doesn't cost the lives of thousands of my fellow citizens.

[Control Freaks2]

12:49 AM on 08/30/2011

I didn't take the time to read this article, because there isn't anything that this Kenyan-born Village Idiot has to say that I am remotely interested in.

I would really like it if any media, large or small, would stop reporting what this idiot has to say. There are far more important things going on this world that are worthy of reporting, other than anything that can come out of this liar's mouth.

[Squidwoman]

02:45 PM on 08/30/2011

Please get a refill on your meds. Birtherism....? Really? He is OUR President. Mine AND Yours. To expect or even wish that "media, large or small" would listen to your opinion about what to report on, would mean.....well.....that they are owned by Newscorp. Maybe you can go get a job on Beck's Network. Then, NOBODY would have to read your comments.

[graceaustin]

06:51 PM on 09/04/2011

I doubt that the near 67 Million people who voted for President Obama give a rat's a** what interests you.

[Ziah Jolley]

07:56 PM on 08/29/2011

Ron Paul 2012 - Too bad the media will make a big fuss over two losers like Perry and ...what was the other guys name?

[Calinfidel]

06:06 PM on 08/29/2011

Sorry Mr. President.... that whole era has too many negative associations for me in retrospect. How about we just start with now, make a bunch of positive changes (ie: forget about the differences between political parties) and move forward instead of trying to evoke the past?

[Cordell Cameron]

02:16 PM on 08/29/2011

Have any trolls started whining about how much the fuel costs for his trip or the fact that the windsheild wipers on Air Force One were made in Canada?

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

04:42 PM on 08/29/2011

Nope but you just did.

[Squidwoman]

02:49 PM on 08/30/2011

Funny thing is the buses were ordered before he was President. They were a long time coming. Before they purchased these, they would rent buses and have to retrofit them to be secure enough to transport the President (ANY PRESIDENT). And, wait, he IS our President. Shouldn't he be protected? I don't get the whole drama about what is spent on his safety. Unless of course there are people wishing he was less safe.

[Cordell Cameron]

01:33 AM on 08/31/2011

They don't even make buses like that in the US, btw.

[RealistBC]

11:23 AM on 08/29/2011

Unfortunately for Obama, he is generating a lot of unity: that he needs to leave office.

Primary Obama 2012!

[Jeff Bunting]

02:42 PM on 08/29/2011

So your pal Rick Perry or that empty suite Mitt Romney can get in? No thanks.

[Abe Goldstein]

05:01 AM on 08/30/2011

Did Mitt Romney get a good deal on an empty suite?
Which Hotel did he stay at and where?
Seriously, we should unify - around the issues that are important to me such as admitting that liberalism is a complete failure, and has ruined America.

[hiker326]

06:03 AM on 08/29/2011

I'm not a huge fan of the President and I think he was mistaken in one part of his message in saying that we are "emerging" from the worst economic crisis (we're not emerging from anything yet sir). But what a lot of people are missing is his point about how, during a terrible moment in our history, we put aside all differences and stood together as one nation. The country wasn't drawn in RED. It wasn't drawn in BLUE. Ten years ago, this upcoming month, the country was only seen as RED, WHITE and BLUE. I know that may seem corny, I can see it in my own words, but they are true nonetheless. I remember the amount of tears I spilled during that time; can't recall having cried that much since then. I don't want another tragedy to have to bring us together. I just want us to stop being divided and start acting like the proud Americans we once were and quite capable of being again.

[mustardhead98]

09:01 AM on 08/29/2011

And then what happened? The country began to polarize first with the Iraq war and then sped up with the election of Obama. And it's only getting worse under his watch due to the political pandering of both parties. While we all squabble, they are getting away with their usual corruption. The only way this country is going to come together again is if we all wake up and see the ruse that's been put onto us by our elected and all of us start demanding the ouster of the Washington elite; heralding in a new, true candidate of the people. Seems impossible but if enough people get fed up enough, anything's possible.

[RealistBC]

11:24 AM on 08/29/2011

You get a badge.

[atlmil]

11:42 AM on 08/29/2011

AGREE - Drop party lines, vote for the individual. Learn as much about the politician and their stats as most know about sports or Hollywood types. The divide in this county of race, gender, orientation, religion, etc. is a smoke screen to keep us from the true divide of have and have not. We are squabbling over the wrong things while the corruption continues. How many in Congress are millionaires after joining congress or see their portfolios dramatically increase far in excess of what their salary would indicate?? Only through us coming together and holding government truly accountable with our votes for the best candidate, not party, will any change be possible. Take back OUR country from the politicians that are only interested in their bottom line.

[Cordell Cameron]

02:15 PM on 08/29/2011

actually, we emerged from a recession.

[White Raven]

09:15 AM on 08/30/2011

Who's 'we'? When did this happen?

[charsan]

02:38 AM on 08/29/2011

Hello . . .and excuse me for questioning the notion that summoning the spirit of common purpose is going to do our greater economy any good. The spirit don't pay the bills. When the Democrats were in the majority they played it safe and as a result Scott Brown's election was the beginning of the end.

Now we have a Republican wall of sound that only says "No!" This Congress is a joke and every member who doesn't have the balls to invest in our health, education and welfare, should be ashamed of their utter uselessness. All the spirit in the world ain't gonna put one more American back to work or lower anyone's overpriced mortgage. Mr. President, Sir, . . .and to the Honorable representative from the great state of [YOU NAME IT]:

Do something. . . NOW.

To paraphrase a little: The spirit is willing . . .but the politicians are weak.

[Bud Budha]

11:43 PM on 08/28/2011

Obamas approval fell to 38%. Isn't that news? Whats the DNC doing to change this? Im concerned so lets not keep our head in the ground.

[Hijeetz Mipanz]

04:44 PM on 08/29/2011

You can't help Obama, it would be like trying to stop a lnadslide with a shoverl, can't be done.

[graceaustin]

06:53 PM on 09/04/2011

Americans aren't going to elect a CON. Don't worry about it.

[Independent66]

10:35 PM on 08/28/2011

By any measure this administration is lost with no where to run. The economy is barely growing, certainly not enough to support 10% deficit spending. There is little chance anything Obama proposes will have any affect before 2012 elections. He had his chance in his first 2 years and he again proved that government spending can not replace economic growth from the private sector. He has implement policies that make doing business more costly via legislation and regulation. So why does he deserve reelection? He looks good? He gives good speeches? No way! Who cares what he says anymore. He never acts on this words.
The 2012 elections depend on the independent voters. He had us in 2008, lost us in 2010 and it is easy to predict that he will lose more of us in 2012. It doesn't matter what Democrats or Republicans say, independents will decide which party they support and that will decide the election. Are the faithful party members listening? Independent voters are reading and listening more than at anytime in the past.

[girlsparky]

11:45 PM on 08/28/2011

Independent voters know who is intentionally sinking the country. I don't think the Republicans can hold the entire electorate hostage like they have done to us with congress. Their whole "put us in power or else" strategy will not work with average Americans. The voters will rebel and Obama will win by a landslide in 2012,

[Independent66]

12:20 AM on 08/29/2011

You are welcome to your opinion. Independent voters care big time about jobs and the economy. You have a very weak argument. Time will tell.

[Jon106]

09:13 AM on 08/29/2011

You are so right.

[Marisa Stein]

10:48 AM on 08/29/2011

I do have to say that he never had me, I didn't like the man so I didn't vote for him

[Carmen Slade]

04:23 PM on 08/29/2011

Yeah? Well, voting for a dusty old relic backed by an Alaska cheerleader didn't seem like such a hot choice to me.

But honestly, I wonder if things would be different with McCain driving the bus for four years. Beginning to have my doubts.

[Shaktas Na]

10:27 PM on 08/28/2011

I absolutely would like Americans to unite in the wake of 9/11 and the resulting "security of our nation". For example:

Obama I would love an answer as to the reasoning behind the following about 9/11:

"There was a young man who came in and said to the vice president "The plane [Flight 77] is 50 miles out" [from Washington], "The plane is 30 miles out", and when it got down to "The plane is 10 miles out" the young man also said to the vice president "Do the orders still stand?", and the vice president turned and whipped his neck around and said "Of course the orders still stand, have you heard anything to the contrary?"

Now why would the vice president maintain a stand down on NORAD and with whose permission?

An answer would be great. Americans can we unite in order to solve this puzzler?

Thanks Obama and Super Congress!

[Marisa Stein]

10:50 AM on 08/29/2011

so you wanted them to shoot down a plane full of American Citizens? you really think that was the best course of action?

[RealistBC]

11:29 AM on 08/29/2011

Since we love the lesser of two evils in our politics, why would we not when it comes to hijacked airliners whose targets and intentions are known? No one aboard any of the hijacked planes lived to tell their stories, so why shouldn't some of those on the ground have done so? I detest moral relativism, but there are times when it cannot be avoided. This is one such case.

[TabaskoKat]

02:40 PM on 08/29/2011

in hind sight it seems pretty stupid. but when everyting was going on, the planes that hit the towers, if you dont remember, were full of americans. I dont like bush/cheney and i think thier admin was a farce.

but you are chasing ghosts, there is no 'there' there.

the answers to that question will not help the parties responsible be held to account

[So-Clean]

12:23 PM on 08/30/2011

9/11: the biggest mind%*#& in human history

[earto44]

10:16 PM on 08/28/2011

If our country did not have Fox news, we could work things out.

[Marisa Stein]

11:44 AM on 08/29/2011

yes, censorship is a great idea...oh wait..no it's not!

[earto44]

02:07 PM on 08/29/2011

What do you call it when one person owns 90% of the stations, and is allowed to spread false stats, and information on a constant basis? I would say there is room for some form of standards and if a "news" agency is caught wire tapping, or flat out lying more than 500 times, they should be challanged. Ok. How about if they get caught lying 1,500 times? sound fair ?

[Carmen Slade]

04:26 PM on 08/29/2011

Neither is lying to people under the guise of "news." But there it is.

[newworldgirl]

09:17 PM on 08/28/2011

The time has come for Americans to get over 9/11. Before 9/11 and since 9/11 Americans have killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians (many children) in foreign lands, often in unprovoked attacks. Americans usually dismiss the deaths of innocent civilians in foreign countries as "collateral damage" and expect the people's family members to get over their deaths. If Americans are going to expect people in foreign countries to get over the deaths of their innocent loved ones killed by Americans, Americans need to get over 9/11.