Posted on 02/10/2009 3:46:11 AM PST by Zakeet
President Barack Obama looked comfortable enough at his first White House news conference, but he sounded like a man fed up with one thing: Republicans lecturing him about his $820 billion economic stimulus plan.
Obama repeatedly reminded a national television audience that federal spending and deficits soared under George W. Bush's presidency. He used the point to undermine GOP lawmakers opposing his plan and calling it too costly and wasteful.
"It's a little hard for me to take criticism from folks about this recovery package after they've presided over a doubling of the national debt," Obama said. "I'm not sure they have a lot of credibility when it comes to fiscal responsibility."
"What I won't do," he said at another point, "is return to the failed theories of the last eight years that got us into this fix in the first place."
An East Room, prime-time news conference is a powerful weapon, and the new president used it to enumerate the ways he differs from his predecessor.
Bush and his Republican allies in Congress relied too heavily on tax cuts, "especially tax cuts that are targeted to the wealthiest few Americans," Obama said, using past decisions to hit current critics who want more tax reductions and less spending in the stimulus plan. "We have tried that strategy time and time again, and it's only helped lead us to the crisis we face right now," he said.
On foreign policy, Obama also stressed his departures from Bush's ways.
"We do not torture" and "we abide by the Geneva Conventions," he said, alluding to the Bush administration's controversial interrogation policies.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Tax Cuts gave us 30 yrs of a growing economy between Kennedy, Reagan and Bush. W had 6 yrs of growing economy until Peloser took over congress and now we have the Obama Meltdown.
If things are so dire why is the first thing he did was stop Domestic Oil/Gas Development?
Pray for America, Our Troops and obama’s Guidance
Let me see if I understand this... Too much deficit spending got us into this mess and a lot more deficit spending will get us out?
He forgot that fact because he was in congress but spent the whole time running for President. I wonder if he even knew where to walk into a congressional session without a guide.
Very scary indeed.
"I'm not sure they have a lot of credibility when it comes to fiscal responsibility."
So?
What's the takeaway? That the DEMs are being fiscally responsible because the GOP wasn't?
My takeaway is that the US Congress is beyond redemption. They are fools, and I shun them.
“Great. Its confirmed. We have an idiot as President. Obama does not even know that the Democrats have run Congress for the past 2 years....”
Most of the folks that voted for him didn’t know it either. That is what I don’t get. Why don’t the republicans point that out at every opportunity?
Two years ago(before the dems took both houses) our economy was ticking along pretty good with a few slowdowns but nothing earth shattering. Then after two years of dem control and a media that constantly talked down the economy...all hell breaks lose right before the election.
It’s a little too hard for me to take criticsm from a guy who only cares about his own political future and not the future of our nation.
Presidnet Muslim is a worthless puke. I wanted to play fair and nice and give him the benefit of the doubt, but his first month in office has proven that he’s everything we thought he’d be and worse. I used to think he was just stupid. Now I know he’s evil.
I think this game of finger pointing is going to be his undoing...not necessarily all the ridiculous policies and ideas this guy has (though they won’t help him either). Because when you get down to it, even the least politically-minded American can understand passing the buck as an excuse for lack of production. He will only be able to lay blame on Bush for so long until the rhetoric gets old.
Wow I must have been at a loss for words here......very weird.
George Bush was a fine POTUS. Bambi is a steaming POS.
Poll numbers vs what the representatives are hearing via faxes. email and phone calls are two vastly different things.
Comparing apples to atoms.
Obama is “irritated” because he sees this thing going down the toilet right before his eyes.
Under John Adams, the Federalists made it a crime to criticize the President. How soon before the Democrats find a way to make it a crime ("hate crime"?) to criticize Obama?
And by advocating for this giant piece of crap you've utterly discredited yourself when it comes to fiscal responsibility.
Ain’t it the truth! Well done!
LLS
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