Obama presents economic plan in Raleigh
By: Cate Harding
Issue date: 6/12/08 Section: News
Last update: 6/12/08 at 8:32 AM EST
Last update: 6/12/08 at 8:32 AM EST
Focusing on economic policies, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama launched his two-week "Change that works for you" tour Monday at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
About 500 people attended the speech, including former N.C. senator John Edwards, N.C. Gov. Mike Easley, Mont. Gov. Brian Schweitzer and W. Va. Gov. Joe Manchin. At the event, which was by invitation only, Obama presented his short-term policies aimed to alleviate the problems he said middle-class Americans face under the current economic conditions.
"You don't have to read the stock tickers or scan the headlines in the financial section to understand the seriousness of the situation we're in right now," he said. "You just have to go to Pennsylvania and listen to the man who lost his job but can't even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one."
Obama focused the speech on his short-term stimulus plan for struggling families that would include another round of tax rebates, increased unemployment benefits and a foreclosure prevention fund. He also said he plans to decrease health care premiums by $2,500, offer a $4,000 annual grant for students who participate in community or national service and reform the tax code and bankruptcy laws.
Obama called the Bush administration's fiscal policies "the most irresponsible in history" and said the economic crisis was brought on not by a flaw in the business cycle, but by a misguided philosophy.
"For eight long years, our president sacrificed investments in health care and education and energy and infrastructure on the altar of tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs-trillions of dollars in giveaways that proved neither compassionate nor conservative," he said.
He also urged voters to embrace change. Obama said electing Republican presidential candidate John McCain in November would simply be a continuation of George Bush's policies.
Obama conceded that the economic problems did not begin with the Bush administration and likely will not disappear when he leaves office. But he said he remains hopeful that the American people's hard work and ingenuity will lead to economic prosperity.
About 500 people attended the speech, including former N.C. senator John Edwards, N.C. Gov. Mike Easley, Mont. Gov. Brian Schweitzer and W. Va. Gov. Joe Manchin. At the event, which was by invitation only, Obama presented his short-term policies aimed to alleviate the problems he said middle-class Americans face under the current economic conditions.
"You don't have to read the stock tickers or scan the headlines in the financial section to understand the seriousness of the situation we're in right now," he said. "You just have to go to Pennsylvania and listen to the man who lost his job but can't even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one."
Obama focused the speech on his short-term stimulus plan for struggling families that would include another round of tax rebates, increased unemployment benefits and a foreclosure prevention fund. He also said he plans to decrease health care premiums by $2,500, offer a $4,000 annual grant for students who participate in community or national service and reform the tax code and bankruptcy laws.
Obama called the Bush administration's fiscal policies "the most irresponsible in history" and said the economic crisis was brought on not by a flaw in the business cycle, but by a misguided philosophy.
"For eight long years, our president sacrificed investments in health care and education and energy and infrastructure on the altar of tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs-trillions of dollars in giveaways that proved neither compassionate nor conservative," he said.
He also urged voters to embrace change. Obama said electing Republican presidential candidate John McCain in November would simply be a continuation of George Bush's policies.
Obama conceded that the economic problems did not begin with the Bush administration and likely will not disappear when he leaves office. But he said he remains hopeful that the American people's hard work and ingenuity will lead to economic prosperity.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Matt
posted 6/12/08 @ 3:51 PM EST
I don't see any plan in here. All I see is criticism. Is his plan to let taxes raise and evolve our nation into socialism? I'm sure big government can solve all these problems, Obama. (Continued…)
Lemonade Diet
posted 6/13/08 @ 12:30 AM EST
It appears that with what Bush has done to the economy, that is the best thing to promote Democrats.
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