Posted on 02/13/2008 11:52:52 AM PST by pissant
JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama said Wednesday that as president he would spend $210 billion to create jobs in construction and environmental industries, as he tried to win over economically struggling voters.
Obama's investment would be over 10 years as part of two programs. The larger is $150 billion to create 5 million so-called "green collar" jobs to develop more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Sixty billion would go to a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to rebuild highways, bridges, airports and other public projects. Obama estimated that could generate nearly 2 million jobs, many of them in the construction industry that's been hit by the housing crisis.
"This agenda is paid for," Obama said as the Republican National Committee promoted an "Obama Spend-O-Meter" online to track his proposals and portray him as a tax-and-spend liberal. Obama explained that the money for his spending proposals will come from ending the Iraq war, cutting tax breaks for corporations, taxing carbon pollution and raising taxes on high income earners.
Obama, who has faced criticism that he doesn't have enough policy specifics, asked autoworkers at the General Motors plant in Janesville, Wis., to "bear with me" as his began a policy speech that he said would be unlike his typical rousing addresses to rallies. He read from a TelePrompTer in a cavernous training room, flanked by sparkling new vehicles and a large American flag.
"Today I want to take it down a notch," Obama said. "This is going to be a speech that's a little more detailed. It's going to be a little bit longer, not as many applause lines."
Obama pointedly did not include one of his biggest applause lines, that he would require vehicle manufacturers to raise fuel economy standards. Obama often points out that he delivered that message straight to the automakers during a speech last year in Detroit.
But he didn't mention it on the plant visit that came a day after GM reported the largest annual loss ever for an American automaker — $38.7 billion in 2007.
"I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday," Obama said. "I also know how much progress you've made, how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you're churning out. And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to retool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years."
Obama heads into Tuesday's Wisconsin primary as the favorite in the state and the front-runner for the nomination. His victories this week in eight contests have put him ahead of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the delegate chase.
But Obama did not pursue the front-runner strategy of ignoring rivals. He repeatedly criticized Clinton in an effort to beat back the challenge she still poses to him.
He tied her to likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain for their shared vote to authorize the war in Iraq. He lumped her with President Bush for offering an economic recovery plan that didn't include immediate relief, without mentioning that both the president and Clinton quickly adopted tax rebates.
Obama's appearance in Janesville was part of a strategy to reach out to voters who might be struggling in the economy and who have supported Clinton in most contests so far. Combining exit polls from 19 states that had competitive Democratic primaries before Tuesday, Clinton had a 49 percent to 46 percent edge over Obama with voters who named the economy as the No. 1 problem.
But Obama seemed to be turning that around in his most recent victories Tuesday. In Virginia and Maryland, Obama dominated among the one-half of Democratic voters who named the economy as their chief concern. In both states, about six in 10 Democrats who cited the economy voted for Obama.
McDole needs to challenge him to show the math, it won’t add up.
$210 billion? I don’t think Osama can count that high.
When Obama actually starts filling his empty shell of hope in nothing with actual policy statements, applause will turn to booing.
Funny how in the same speech in which he talks about job creation, he talks about all these tax hikes, as if that will help create jobs. Quite the opposite. However, he is correct about the need for some spending on national transportation infrastructure.
So my question is, does he know this or is he really this stupid? Is he part of the ignorant left (and therefore able to learn from mistakes in judgement) or part of the evil left (and therefore only lusts for power)?
Like hiring three hippie scientists to stand full time around every eagle’s nest poking it, weighing the eggs, taking blood samples, or plucking feathers for lead analysis. The point of course being to keep the wild wild and protected from humans.
This moron gets in and we’ll have a 30’s style depression.
The HOLLOW milk chocolate Carter!
Many of the imaginary jobs will be in the construction industry where illegals are hurting. Under different circumstances, this could be a McCain/Obama bill.
Here’s a message for you Mr. Obama.
I’m self employed, and my business provides jobs. I make a good living. Not a very good, or a great, living, just good. I could doing very good to great if I let the jobs go, and took my business 100% online.
You screw with my taxes, you do anything to make it even one iota harder for me to make ends meet, and I will do that.
I imagine there are about a million other small business owners who feel the same way, bud.
So he’s going to steal 210 billion dollars from private industry - which would otherwise be used to hire Americans for real jobs that provide services the public is willing to pay for - and instead use it to create federal jobs that at best do nothing and more often get in the way.
When this guy talks about hope and change, we can’t beat him. When he talks about what he actually hopes to change, he’s going to scare the hell out of people.
Keep the bright ideas coming, Hussein.
Wheee! “Free” money! It just grows on trees!
I did a screen capture of a post a chatter made the other day in Boston Tea Party chat, which I saved to my /Stupid things Leftwingers post in BTP file
Why, because it's $40B over what they just passed into law today?
Please..!! Over here Obama!! I..Id like something too..remember me the tax payer!!!?? What do you have in your candy bag for me???.....oh...I get it...
I, too, was wondering if ‘ole Barry Hussein Obama Osama YoMama was the Anti-Christ. Doesn’t The Bible say that the Anti-Christ, when he comes, will fool millions of people and they will love him? Yikes....it’s time to read The Book of Revelations!
You forget the stupidity of the liberals that control Congress. And there are ways around the filibuster. Frist used it a time or two.
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