Obama Speech to Congress Part 1/6
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama struck a balance between grim economic reality and a more hopeful outlook on Tuesday to try to reassure worried Americans their country will emerge from crisis “stronger than before.”
Riding high in opinion polls, Obama was careful to include a sober assessment of the economic emergency in his first speech to Congress, seeking to temper expectations that his administration’s rescue efforts would yield quick fixes.
But the politician whose memoir was called “The Audacity of Hope” and who won the White House in last November’s election amid chants of “yes, we can” was also back in stride, telling recession-weary Americans to expect better days ahead.
“While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover,” Obama said in the televised speech.
“And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” he told a chamber packed with lawmakers, cabinet members and invited guests.
The Democratic president also leveled a barrage of indirect criticism at his Republican predecessor George W. Bush for the country’s economic plight and bloated debt, warning that the “day of reckoning” had arrived.
Five weeks after taking office, Obama pressed the case for his economic plans while laying out a broad agenda, including a much-anticipated push for a healthcare overhaul and energy independence, to help build momentum for his young presidency.
The primetime State of the Union-style address to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives came against a backdrop of growing anxiety across the country in the face of the worst financial meltdown in decades.
While his public support is strong, Wall Street remains skeptical of his economic remedies.
Jittery investors sent U.S. stocks to a 12-year low on Monday, but the markets rallied on Tuesday on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s assurances that the country’s troubled banks should be able to weather the downturn without being nationalized.
Trying to show he would make good on his promise of fiscal responsibility, Obama said he had identified $2 trillion in budget cuts over the next decade.
Obama, who rolls out his first budget proposal on Thursday, has vowed to halve the annual deficit by the end of his term.
Duration : 0:9:4
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
We are the only …
We are the only industrialized country without universal health care. We are the only country that has medical bankruptcies. Not all universal health care plans are socialistic. Switzerland has private insurers with the state covering the poor. Our situation is a scandal.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Obama is spending …
Obama is spending three times as quickly as Bush, without accomplishing anything. His plan to socialize medicine goes against the most basic of Constitutional ideals.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
what the is up …
what the is up with the aplaudingngn’?¿!¿?¿?!¿?!¿
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Obama inspired me, …
Obama inspired me,when I got laid off from my job,my insurance explained to me that I am eligible for Obama’s ARRA which reduce my family’s health insurance upto 75% off while i’m unemployed.He is trying to carry Americans climbing up from a big fall of recession,but it breaks my heart how other people drag him down with their stupid theory, specially his own race and own fellow Muslims…tsk..tsk..tsk…
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
im muslims who is a …
im muslims who is a young 19 year old teenager and i am really happy that i wasn’t gullable enough to vote obama. i voted for McCain and i am proud of that
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Obama is a legal …
Obama is a legal citizen he was born here in the US and there is no conspiracy. Most of the US is just so stupid that we elected this dumb to lead our country. People were to afraid to say anything bad about him when he was running cause they were to afraid to be called racist.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
You’re an Idiot. …
You’re an Idiot. Where has it been proven that he isn’t a US citizen? You do realize that “birthers” like you are part of a crazy group of conspirators?
The “Kenyan” birth certificate was already called a forgery and holds no merit whatsoever. But I suppose that you can’t argue with a believer in a conspiracy.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Obama is DICTATOR!! …
Obama is DICTATOR!!! Communism Agenda with Socialist reforms under one government in Obamas eyes!!! Remove from office this guy, he is dangerous crafty black man who will Bring down USA slowly but surely it’s clear that he is Marxist and not reall american no proof of citizenship… OBAMA go back to KENIYA there you belong!!! We don’t want another Hitler policy in USA or another Stalin Executioner by his own will and justice. Enough of Obama crap lies dellusions empty promises, control freak!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Its a tough job. So …
Its a tough job. So all those Americans who never had a tough job snipe without any understanding of what is required. Obama will make mistakes of course. But the only way to avoid is to do nothing. Bush screwed us up nationally and internationally. It will take time to fix the damage.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I had to laugh at …
I had to laugh at Obama. He claimed on the media blitz this weekend that he didn’t know ACORN is being funded by taxpayers! What a liar. He never had a bad word to say about ACORN and how they promote child prositituion or lying to the IRS. Obama has everything bad to say about free enterprise & America and if he can get his hands on Health care we’re all doomed. Just think, if you need a MRI an ACORN member will first look to see if you contributed to the DNC.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
No she is right. …
No she is right. Obama is a good president . He just started, he’s dealing with stuff presidents haven’t truely dealt with in half a century. he has just started really it’s his first year give him time cause he has 3 years and several months left
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Oh god really, i am …
Oh god really, i am sick of hearing this stupid bull crap cause it’s obvious you conspirators do not know what a president elect must go thru before even joining an election. He’s American deal with it! He won, deal with it! If it was proven he wasn’t a US citizen he would have been impeached. If you don’t like Obama you don’t like him but don’t spread a bunch of bullcrap about the guy based on fake ludicrous facts. I
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
he is smarter then …
he is smarter then the entire room combined!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I have never seen …
I have never seen so many prideful people gathered in one location demonstrating the epitome of kissing rear ends — this is a very, very sad time in for our nation. Every politician has their dark side, but Obama definitely takes the cake. May God have mercy on this country and spare us His judgment to correct a wrong.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
All this is founded …
All this is founded on lies to control the nation through deceit.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Amen to that!
Amen to that!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Yes so they make up …
Yes so they make up crap, he has had enough time to make his FAKE certificate to show everyone now. Its already been proven that he is NOT a US citizen, its been proven and there just covering it up just like every other scandal
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
you’re right! Obama …
you’re right! Obama is a great president as well as an extraordinary man!!!!
i wish we could have one man like him in Italy!!!!!!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
hell yeah she is!
yeah she is!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Pelosi is so hot.
Pelosi is so hot.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
No, you are.
No, you are.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Yep. He wasn’t …
Yep. He wasn’t beorn here.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Are you stupid??
Are you stupid??
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
We are fortunate to …
We are fortunate to have such a great president at this critical time in our history.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 pm
All of these people …
All of these people including the president make me want to puke. They all cheer and clap as though they are doing something worthwhile, when the fact is the only thing they have accomplished is bankrupting this country. All I see is a room full of self delusional, grandstanding, pompous assholes.