Category: weekly address

Categories
Politics weekly address

Although Republicans Killed American Jobs Bill, President Fights On

Senate Republicans handed the President and the American people a defeat earlier this week, when they joined together and voted against putting Americans back to work. But unlike other times when President Obama would move on to another issue, this time the President is not giving up the fight, vowing to get Americans working again, by making his jobs proposal issue number one.

Coming off a week when his nearly $450 billion jobs bill died in the Senate, Obama made no reference to that failure, instead promising to renew efforts to get Republicans to vote on individual components of the legislation.

“Next week, I’m urging members of Congress to vote on putting hundreds of thousands of teachers back in the classroom, cops back on the streets and firefighters back on the job,” Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday.

“And if they vote ‘no’ on that, they’ll have to tell you why,” he said. “They’ll have to tell you why teachers in your community don’t deserve a paycheck again. They’ll have to tell your kids why they don’t deserve to have their teacher back. They’ll have to tell you why they’re against common-sense proposals that would help families and strengthen our communities right now.”

They will vote “NO!’

It’s what they’ve done ever since President Obama was sworn into office. So expect to hear their talking points, their lame excuses explaining why teachers shouldn’t get a paycheck, why middle class Americans don’t deserve to find work. And I’m sure we’ll be hearing these excuses real soon.

Categories
Politics weekly address

President Obama Weekly Address – Pass The American Jobs Act Now

President Obama again used his weekly address to continue his push for the American Jobs Act and he asked Republicans to vote for the American people, instead of standing on the sidelines watching the economy go down the drain.

“There are too many people hurting in this country for us to simply do nothing,” he said.” The economy is too fragile for us to let politics get in the way of action.  The people who represent you in Washington have a responsibility to do what’s best for you – not what’s best for their party.”

President Obama also directed some of his address to people like Eric Cantor, the House Majority Leader. Earlier in the week, Mr. Cantor said that the House of Representative will not be voting on the American Jobs Act. President Obama called on all in Congress to vote on the bill, or explain to their reasoning for ignoring the wishes of the American people.

So any Senator out there who’s thinking about voting against this jobs bill needs to explain why they would oppose something that we know would improve our economic situation.  If the Republicans in Congress think they have a better plan for creating jobs right now, they should prove it.

The President also explained that the Jobs Act is fully paid for. It will also have “a significant” effect on the economy.

Independent experts who do this for a living have said that this jobs bill will have a significant effect for our economy and middle-class families all across America.

The video:

Categories
Barack Obama Politics weekly address

President Obama: End The Politics, Pass This Jobs Bill!

In his weekly address, President Obama again called on Republicans to work for regular middle class American people, instead of protecting the super rich. He focused on the jobs bill that Congress received over three weeks ago, and urged Congress to work and pass the bill that he says, “is fully paid for.”

This jobs bill contains the kinds of proposals that Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past.  And now I want it back.  It is time for Congress to get its act together and pass this jobs bill so I can sign it into law.

Mr. Obama also called out the Republicans in congress, saying that they’ve stated being in favor of some aspects of the jobs bill. And he ask them to state what “exactly they’re against.”

 Are they against putting teachers and police officers and firefighters back on the job?  Are they against hiring construction workers to rebuild our roads and bridges and schools?  Are they against giving tax cuts to virtually every worker and small business in America?

He then went on to mention some of the letters he has received from different constituents, asking for passage of the bill. He ended the address by promising to work endlessly on getting the jobs bill to become law. The President also urged the nation to work with him, and call their members of Congress. “If anyone watching feels the same way, don’t be shy about letting your Congressman know,” he said.” It is time for the politics to end.  Let’s pass this jobs bill.”

Categories
Barack Obama Politics teachers weekly address

President Obama – States Will Have More Flexibility In Fixing Education

In his weekly address, President Obama stressed the need for Education as it relates to job creating and maintaining oureconomic edge in the world. The President also spoke of the failures of No Child Left Behind, and detailed his Administration’s efforts to make sure education is a priority for students, and the American people.

While the goals behind No Child Left Behind were admirable, experience has taught us that the law has some serious flaws that are hurting our children instead of helping them. Teachers are being forced to teach to a test, while subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. And in order to avoid having their schools labeled as failures, some states lowered their standards in a race to the bottom.

These problems have been obvious to parents and educators all over this country for years. But for years, Congress has failed to fix them. So now, I will. Our kids only get one shot at a decent education. And they can’t afford to wait any longer.

The President also spoke about the flexibility he’s given to the states, to do what is necessary to improve education in their schools.

And that’s why instead of just pouring money into a system that’s not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top.  To all fifty states, we said, “If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we’ll show you the money.”

Categories
Barack Obama Osama bin Laden Politics september 11 weekly address

President Obama – As Americans, We Refuse To Live In Fear

President Obama in his weekly address…

“They wanted to terrorize us, but, as Americans, we refuse to live in fear. Yes we face a determined foe, and make no mistake — they will keep trying to hit us again. But as we are showing again this weekend, we remain vigilant.”

Categories
Barack Obama Politics United States washington weekly address

President Obama – Washington Must Put Country Before Party

President Obama took his weekly presidential address on the road this week with a simple message, we must put country’s needs ahead of politics. Speaking about the experiences he’s had and the people he has met on his road trip, Mr. Obama said;

It reminds me of why I got into public service in the first place. Getting out of Washington and spending time with the people of this country. Seeing how hard you’re working, how creative you are, how resourceful you are, how determined you are. That only makes me more determine to serve you as best I can as president. And it only makes me more confident in our future.

That’s why it’s so important that folks in Washington put country before party.

Categories
Barack Obama Politics washington weekly address

President Obama To Congress – Get Your House In Order

With the August 2nd deadline quickly approaching, President Obama used his weekly address to urge Washington to “get your house in order.” In conveying this message, the President quoted a letter from Kelly Smith, a concerned individual who wrote to congress, saying;

I keep my home clean. I work hard at a full time job, give my parents any money as I can so that they could afford their medications, I pay my bills and by all appearances, I’m a responsible person. All I’m asking is that you be responsible. I have my house in order, and all I’m asking is that you get yours the same way.

The President ended his message by calling for both parties to compromise and get the debt ceiling raised, saying;

All of us, including Republicans in the House of Representatives, need to demonstrate the same kind of responsibility that the American people show everyday. The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now.

Categories
Barack Obama Medicare Politics Republican Tax United States weekly address White House

G.O.P Putting America In Default Status To Avoid A 3% Tax Hike On Millionaires

In his weekly address to the nation, President Obama spoke about the looming debt ceiling, and the discussion presently going on between Democrats and Republicans. The President detailed what both sides have already agreed to, saying;

“The good news is, we agree on some of the big things. We agree that after a decade of racking up deficits and debt, we finally need to get our fiscal house in order. We agree that to do that, both sides are going to have to step outside their comfort zones and make some political sacrifices. And we agree that we simply cannot afford to default on our national obligations for the first time in our history; that we need to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America.”

Mr. Obama also spoke about the differences between what he believes must be done and the position the Republicans have taken to protect the rich, saying, “I believe we need a balanced approach. That means taking on spending in our domestic programs and our defense programs. It means addressing the challenges in programs like Medicare so we can strengthen those programs and protect them for future generations. And it means taking on spending in the tax code – spending on tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest Americans.”

And there lies the problem, the stumbling block between Democrats and Republicans. Mr. Obama’s wish to take on the spending in the tax code is what Republicans are strongly against. It must be noted here, that taking on this tax code equals a 3% tax raise on millionaires, essentially taking their tax rate from 36% to 39%, which is what the rate was under the Clinton Administration.

Republicans are saying no to that 3% raise for the rich, but they are all for spending cuts in programs that benefit the middle class, like cuts in Medicare and social Security.

Categories
Barack Obama Energy Politics United States weekly address

Tax Cuts For The Rich – Not Right, Not Smart, Must End – Obama

President Obama in his weekly address;

Now, I don’t have a problem with any company or industry being rewarded for their success. The incentive of healthy profits is what fuels entrepreneurialism and helps drives our economy forward. But I do have a problem with the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies we’ve been handing out to oil and gas companies–to the tune of $4 billion a year. When oil companies are making huge profits and you’re struggling at the pump, and we’re scouring the federal budget for spending we can afford to do without, these tax giveaways aren’t right. They aren’t smart. And we need to end them.

Categories
Barack Obama Medicare Paul Ryan Politics Republican The Budget United States weekly address

President Obama Slams Ryan’s Budget… Again!

After President Obama presented his speech on reducing the federal debt, Republicans went on a crying spree, accusing the President of not playing fair, and “making a partisan speech.” All of a sudden, the very same Republicans who have stood in the way of every single piece of legislation the Obama administration has put forth, are now questioning why, as they see it, President Obama is not working with them and agreeing on the Paul Ryan budget.

So to make sure Republicans heard him the first time around, President Obama used his weekly address to put emphasis on his original points – that all, including the rich, must contribute their share to America’s future, and that Paul Ryan’s plan is not worth the paper it is written on.

The President:

Now, one plan put forward by some Republicans in the House of Representatives aims to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next ten years. But while I think their goal is worthy, I believe their vision is wrong for America. It’s a vision that says, at a time when other nations are hustling to out-compete us for the jobs and businesses of tomorrow, we have to make drastic cuts in education, infrastructure, and clean energy – the very investments we need to win that competition and get those jobs.

It’s a vision that says that in order to reduce the deficit, we have to end Medicare as we know it, and make cuts to Medicaid that would leave millions of seniors, poor children, and Americans with disabilities without the care they need.

But even as this plan proposes these drastic cuts, it would also give $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 2% of Americans–an extra $200,000 for every millionaire and billionaire in the country.

I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think it’s right to ask seniors to pay thousands more for health care, or ask students to postpone college, just so we don’t have to ask those who have prospered so much in this land of opportunity to give back a little more.

Exit mobile version