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Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
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SumOfAllFears Offline
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Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
January 23, 2010

Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
ELYRIA, Ohio — President Obama, striking a no-retreat, no-surrender posture in the wake of his party’s humiliating defeat in the Massachusetts Senate race this week, vowed Friday to press on with his expansive domestic agenda — including a health care overhaul and tough new restrictions on banks — even if it meant he had to “take my lumps” from political critics.

Mr. Obama came to this Cleveland suburb for the second stop on his “White House to Main Street tour,” to spread the word that his administration is all about jobs, jobs, jobs. With his approval ratings down to about 50 percent, a bruising season of midterm elections ahead and Democrats reeling from the resounding note of disapproval in Massachusetts, the ordinarily cool and cerebral Mr. Obama sounded unusually defiant, even fiery, during a town hall-style question and answer session at Lorain County Community College here.

The president used the word “fight,” or some version of it, more than 20 times.

Mr. Obama vowed to “never stop fighting for policies that will help restore home values.” He promised that he was “not going to stop fighting to give our kids the best education possible.” He pledged he would not “stop fighting to give every American a fair shake,” to continue fighting for a new Consumer Protection Agency and for openness in government. And of course, Mr. Obama pledged to fight for jobs.

“So long as I have some breath in me, so long as I have the privilege of serving as your president, I will not stop fighting for you,” Mr. Obama said. “I will take my lumps. But I won’t stop fighting to bring back jobs here.”

The president’s appearance here comes one day after he picked an especially big fight, with Wall Street, by calling for new limits on banks that would prevent them from becoming too big to fail. He sounded as if he would relish it.

“It’s going to be a fight,” the president said, warming up to the crowd. “You watch. I guarantee you, when we start on financial regulatory reform, trying to change the rules to prevent what has caused so much heartache all across the country, there are people who are going to say, ‘Why is he meddling in government’ or ‘Why — why is he meddling in the financial industry? It’s another example of Obama being big — big government.’ No, I just want to have some rules in place so that when these guys make dumb decisions, you don’t end up having to foot the bill. That’s pretty straightforward. I don’t mind having a fight.”

Mr. Obama’s new bellicose rhetoric comes as his advisers have concluded he must strike a more populist tone, to tap into the anger many Americans feel about bailouts on Wall Street while Main Street is suffering. At the same time, the White House is trying to frame the midterm elections on terms that will be favorable to Mr. Obama, by casting him as someone who will stand with the little guy — even if all those fighting words contrast with his image as a politician who cares about bringing people together.

“There will be a fulsome debate about who is fighting for Main Street and who is siding with the special interests,” said Dan Pfeiffer, Mr. Obama’s communications director, adding, “There is nothing inconsistent between trying to bring people together to solve problems and standing up to the insurers and the lobbyists.”

Mr. Obama’s shift in tone actually began last week, before Tuesday’s bruising loss in Massachusetts, when the president appeared before the House Democrats and warned that if Republicans want to “stand up for the status quo” and block his health care bill, “that is a fight I want to have.” He used a version of that language at the White House on Thursday in announcing his plan for restrictions on banks.

While here, Mr. Obama made a plea for the health care bill, which is in disarray now that Scott Brown, the Republican, has been elected senator in Massachusetts, depriving Democrats of the 60th vote they need to pass a sweeping overhaul.

Conceding that the plan had “hit a little bit of a buzz saw this week,” Mr. Obama acknowledged that the process “has been less than pretty” and that the measure was so big and unwieldy it looked like “a monstrosity,” creating fear and anxiety among ordinary Americans. But he made the case that passing the measure is an imperative.

“This is our best chance to do it,” the president said. “We can’t keep on putting this off.”

Mr. Obama rode to office on the strength of his cool, even temperament, but in recent weeks, even some Democrats have questioned whether he appears too distant from voters. Earlier this week, in an interview with ABC, the president himself alluded to the distance, acknowledging that many Americans have a sense of “remoteness and detachment” from policy makers in Washington.

On Friday, Mr. Obama alluded to it again, saying it was “pretty easy to get a warped view of things” in Washington. With all the problems he faces in the capital, he sounded especially happy to be let loose for a few hours.

“It’s just nice being out of Washington,” he said, adding, “I mean there are some nice people in Washington but it can drive you crazy.”
01-22-2010 06:46 PM
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cb4029 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
03-woohoo
01-22-2010 07:15 PM
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Rebel
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
Lightweight, amateurish muthafugga.

Obama is sounding more and more like a whinyass little beeyatch. Expected though, he's never had an ounce of executive experience.
01-22-2010 09:14 PM
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WoodlandsOwl Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
So Obama wants to "double down" and push his leftist Agenda.

To quote "Dirty Harry".. ' Go ahead, make my day." The more ineffective legislative garbage you try to ram through, the higher price your party will pay in November.

So Obama wants to fight for jobs? OK, he has had a year for his "fight" after passing through a stimulus package that did next to nothing.

So what is next on Obama's "Railroad Agenda"... "Bank Reform"?? How will that create jobs? Every time Obama opens his mouth the Banks Stocks tank.... which begs the question... "Is this deliberate?"

Forget Jimmy Carter, Obama is going to give James Buchanan a good run to become the "Worst Presdident of the US"....
(This post was last modified: 01-22-2010 11:00 PM by WoodlandsOwl.)
01-22-2010 10:58 PM
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smn1256 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
Quote:“There will be a fulsome debate about who is fighting for Main Street and who is siding with the special interests,”

Ummmm, aren't unions special interests?
01-22-2010 11:07 PM
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TheDancinMonarch Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-22-2010 11:07 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  
Quote:“There will be a fulsome debate about who is fighting for Main Street and who is siding with the special interests,”

Ummmm, aren't unions special interests?


Shhhhh! You're not supposed to notice that.
01-23-2010 09:10 AM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
If the democrats force the leftist agenda through regardless, I foresee two consequences:

1. A massive protest vote for republicans in 2010, probably dwarfing even 1994.
2. 20 million jobs leaving.

We can survive the first, although if the republicans screw it up as badly this time as they did last time, it won't be easy.
We cannot survive the second. I don't know how bad it will get, but it will be very bad.
(This post was last modified: 01-23-2010 11:13 AM by Owl 69/70/75.)
01-23-2010 11:12 AM
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SumOfAllFears Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
Dems Reportedly Eyeing Companion Health Care Legislation to Win Approval

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly are considering a new list of changes to the Senate health care reform bill that could be passed separately as a way to advance the suddenly stalled overhaul of the health care system.

[Image: reid_pelosi_090809_monster_397x224.jpg]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly are considering a new list of changes to the Senate health care reform bill that could be passed separately as a way to advance the suddenly stalled overhaul of the health care system.

If such changes are passed in a separate piece of legislation, it could make the current Senate health care bill acceptable to enough liberal House members to pass it, allowing Democrats to achieve their goal of sweeping health care reform, Politico reported.

But the move also could spark resentment toward the party for pushing through the same health plan that some have argued voters in Massachusetts rejected in the closely watched election of Republican Senate candidate Scott Brown, who had pledged to block the Senate bill.

The House and Senate already have passed separate versions of President Obama's reform package, but the differences would need to be reconciled and voted on again for joint legislation to become law. Brown's victory cost Senate Democrats the 60-vote majority needed to approve changes, and Pelosi said Thursday she did not have the votes in the House to pass the Senate bill as is.

Neither Reid nor Pelosi know if their members will support the separate legislation strategy, but Pelosi plans to present the list of changes to her caucus next week, sources told Politico.

Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who got health legislation through the Senate's health committee last year after the death of his friend, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, said Obama and lawmakers could "maybe take a breather for a month, six weeks."

Despite Dodd's comments, both Pelosi and Reid insist the health care legislation will go forward but haven't publicly said how.

House Republican leader John Boehner said Brown's victory has sent a loud warning to Democrats.

"For the better part of those nine months, Democrats in Washington have been focused on this government takeover of health care that working families just can't afford and want nothing to do with," Boehner said in his party's radio and Internet address Saturday.

Just a week ago the health legislation had appeared on the cusp of passage after Obama threw himself into marathon negotiations with congressional leaders to work out differences between the separate health care reform bills passed by the House and Senate.

"There are things that have to get done. This is our best chance to do it. We can't keep on putting this off," Obama said Friday at a town hall meeting in Elyria, Ohio. "I am not going to walk away just because it's hard."

Obama seemed to pull back from a suggestion he made Wednesday that lawmakers unite behind the elements of the legislation everyone can agree on. Obama said that approach presented problems because some of the popular ideas, such as new requirements on insurance companies, couldn't be done without getting many more people insured.

Obama put fixing a broken health care system at the top of his agenda in the 2008 campaign for the presidency, and once elected made it the top priority of his first term. He has faced solid opposition from the Republican minority, which has rolled over into his fellow Democrats in Congress and to growing numbers of voters.

Despite assurances from Obama and his administration, opposition to his plans have grown among people who bought into allegations of higher taxes, unbearable government deficits and serious government meddling in health care.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley told Politico that no decisions have been made but the office is "confident" they will pass health reform legislation this year.

"We are working with the White House and the House to identify our options for doing so. We anticipate further conversations with the administration, the House and our caucus," he said.

Pelosi spokesman Nadeam Elshami had a similar response.

"Discussions are ongoing and options are being examined on the best way to move ahead on health insurance reform, but no final decisions have been made," Elshami told Politico. "It is premature to conclude anything except that staff is continuing to work on various options."
01-23-2010 12:03 PM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-22-2010 09:14 PM)Rebel Wrote:  Lightweight, amateurish muthafugga.

Obama is sounding more and more like a whinyass little beeyatch. Expected though, he's never had an ounce of executive experience.
You are sounding more and more like a bullying a-hole. Expected though, you have bullied people and been violent all your life.
01-23-2010 12:25 PM
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-23-2010 12:25 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-22-2010 09:14 PM)Rebel Wrote:  Lightweight, amateurish muthafugga.

Obama is sounding more and more like a whinyass little beeyatch. Expected though, he's never had an ounce of executive experience.
You are sounding more and more like a bullying a-hole. Expected though, you have bullied people and been violent all your life.

Your mother wants seconds. Run away child.
01-23-2010 12:27 PM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-23-2010 11:12 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  If the democrats force the leftist agenda through regardless, I foresee two consequences:

1. A massive protest vote for republicans in 2010, probably dwarfing even 1994.
2. 20 million jobs leaving.

We can survive the first, although if the republicans screw it up as badly this time as they did last time, it won't be easy.
We cannot survive the second. I don't know how bad it will get, but it will be very bad.
03-yawn
01-23-2010 12:30 PM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-23-2010 12:27 PM)Rebel Wrote:  
(01-23-2010 12:25 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-22-2010 09:14 PM)Rebel Wrote:  Lightweight, amateurish muthafugga.

Obama is sounding more and more like a whinyass little beeyatch. Expected though, he's never had an ounce of executive experience.
You are sounding more and more like a bullying a-hole. Expected though, you have bullied people and been violent all your life.

Your mother wants seconds. Run away child.
Wow. nice response. 03-lmfao You can't handle the truth.
01-23-2010 12:36 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-23-2010 12:30 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-23-2010 11:12 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  If the democrats force the leftist agenda through regardless, I foresee two consequences:
1. A massive protest vote for republicans in 2010, probably dwarfing even 1994.
2. 20 million jobs leaving.
We can survive the first, although if the republicans screw it up as badly this time as they did last time, it won't be easy.
We cannot survive the second. I don't know how bad it will get, but it will be very bad.
03-yawn

I suppose that is your way of saying you don't expect those outcomes.

So, what different outcome do you expect? And how? And why?

Or have you even given any thought to where this leads?

For that matter, do you have any original thoughts about anything?
(This post was last modified: 01-24-2010 02:43 PM by Owl 69/70/75.)
01-23-2010 12:50 PM
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.

Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
01-24-2010 02:28 PM
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-24-2010 02:28 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.

Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
More important than corporations buying elections(ie. our leaders). Of course, you guys on the right don't have a problem with that since they have already bought you guys long ago.
01-24-2010 03:23 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-24-2010 03:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 02:28 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.
Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
More important than corporations buying elections(ie. our leaders). Of course, you guys on the right don't have a problem with that since they have already bought you guys long ago.

Robert, do you ever have an original thought, or do you exist merely to parrot radical left talking points?
01-24-2010 03:25 PM
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Paul M Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
He's never even so much as produced a brain fart.
01-24-2010 03:58 PM
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RobertN Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-24-2010 03:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 03:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 02:28 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.
Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
More important than corporations buying elections(ie. our leaders). Of course, you guys on the right don't have a problem with that since they have already bought you guys long ago.

Robert, do you ever have an original thought, or do you exist merely to parrot radical left talking points?
THe truth isn't a talking point.
01-24-2010 04:31 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-24-2010 04:31 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 03:25 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 03:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 02:28 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.
Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
More important than corporations buying elections(ie. our leaders). Of course, you guys on the right don't have a problem with that since they have already bought you guys long ago.
Robert, do you ever have an original thought, or do you exist merely to parrot radical left talking points?
THe truth isn't a talking point.

So, you admit that your talking points aren't true?
Because all we get from you so far are talking points.
01-24-2010 04:37 PM
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RE: Obama, With Defiant Tone, Vows to Push Agenda
(01-24-2010 03:23 PM)RobertN Wrote:  
(01-24-2010 02:28 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  I heard the Presidents radio address (I hate listening to these) and was surprised as to the amount of emotion he was pouring out, but even more surprised the topic he chose to get excited about,...... campaign finance and the Supreme Court decision. He just doesn't get it. He is the President of the United States, there are far more important issues to be emotionally involved in then campaign financing. He is still campaigning and not being executive or a leader. He is coming across as a sore loser.

Obama is being perceived as weak to our allies and foes. Not good, not good for USA.
More important than corporations buying elections(ie. our leaders). Of course, you guys on the right don't have a problem with that since they have already bought you guys long ago.

But unions buying elections is just fine?
01-24-2010 06:53 PM
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