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.
Y’all have got to check THIS OUT!!!!
FACTCHECK ACTION CENTER
Barack Obama stands for a new kind of politics — without the smear tactics that we’re all fed up with. You can help push back against negative attacks and distortions right now by telling people about Barack and his background. The truth is only as strong as your voice:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/factcheckactioncenter/
Have you read this?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968599/posts
Personally I would prefer our money be spent here at home for OUR people.
...another new deal, eh? I supposed it’s better than what the Clintons did (putting hundreds of thousands more social workers and police into the economy). I don’t think we’ll be seeing any really good solutions from any candidate in either party.
The same place that all the “stimulus “money we are sending to Mexico will come from..YOUR pocket and mine .
Personally if we are spending money I prefer America first rather than our “RINGO “ presidents Mexican plan
Quite correct. And the evil one will try to bring peace to the whole world.
Frankly, the guy gives me the creeps.
Take 210 billion OUT of the economy, just to spend it on the economy?
The real beneficiaries of this 210 billion will be the non-profit orgs, and the special interests that have shown their loyalty to the Democrats, the Obama campaign in particular.
“I’m gonna need about seven of them new jobs just to pay my taxes.”
**QUOTE OF THE DAY**
He’s an idiot. New jobs don’t come from government spending. They come from lifting the shackles and taxes on small businesses!
>>It’s stupidity like this that makes me hope Obama becomes President. <<
Precicely! ;)
People would long for the W days.
That’s storybook man!
Great, just what we need: more global warming jobs. I guess he has to help his "environmental wacko" constituency since they can't find enough jobs. This is bad news.
Hussein is not going to last 3 months if he's elected. Hope he has a good veep.
Hey, great! More free money. And here I was worried about free money drying up in the next administration.
O’Bambi is devoid of leadership. If he is elected, the presidency will become a joke. The bureaucracy will rule our lives and nameless faces will run the show.
Don't forget the utter ignorance of conservatives and evangelicals who refuse to vote and throw elections to the liberals....
We do need that. Not sure the best way is to create another bloated bureaucratic agency, though. I’d think making sure infrastructure dollars are spent on infrastructure, instead of bike paths, green zones, and whatever other pork buys votes.
He’s gonna pay that much money to homeless/jobless people to shovel up all the BS he spews...
Makework, workfare... same old socialist horse sh!t!~
Hmmmm! I wonder where they are going to get the oil for all of this work. You can’t do major construction work without using a lot more crude oil. Have they opened ANWR, yet? Have they voted to allow offshore drilling? Or, are they going to try to tap OPEC for more oil...and, is so, at what price?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.