Keeping Promises (Includes text of Pres_ent's weekly address)

White House Web Site ^ | Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 5:43 am

[cc2k]

Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 5:43 am

Keeping Promises

In the Weekly Address this morning, President Obama explains how the budget he sent to Congress will fulfill the promises he made as a candidate.  On fiscal responsibility, a fair tax code, a clean energy economy, real health care reform, and education, this budget sets out a new vision for our country.

But having put his priorities on paper and having stood behind them, the President recognizes that there are those who will fight against change every step of the way.

"I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy.  Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.  I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families.  I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable.  I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries.   I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak.  My message to them is this:

"So am I."
 

Watch the full address and read the transcript below.

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Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
Washington, DC
Two years ago, we set out on a journey to change the way that Washington works.  

We sought a government that served not the interests of powerful lobbyists or the wealthiest few, but the middle-class Americans I met every day in every community along the campaign trail – responsible men and women who are working harder than ever, worrying about their jobs, and struggling to raise their families.  In so many town halls and backyards, they spoke of their hopes for a government that finally confronts the challenges that their families face every day; a government that treats their tax dollars as responsibly as they treat their own hard-earned paychecks.  

 
That is the change I promised as a candidate for president.  It is the change the American people voted for in November.  And it is the change represented by the budget I sent to Congress this week.  
 
During the campaign, I promised a fair and balanced tax code that would cut taxes for 95% of working Americans, roll back the tax breaks for those making over $250,000 a year, and end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.  This budget does that.
 
I promised an economy run on clean, renewable energy that will create new American jobs, new American industries, and free us from the dangerous grip of foreign oil.  This budget puts us on that path, through a market-based cap on carbon pollution that will make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy; through investments in wind power and solar power; advanced biofuels, clean coal, and more fuel-efficient American cars and American trucks.  

 
I promised to bring down the crushing cost of health care – a cost that bankrupts one American every thirty seconds, forces small businesses to close their doors, and saddles our government with more debt.  This budget keeps that promise, with a historic commitment to reform that will lead to lower costs and quality, affordable health care for every American.  
 
I promised an education system that will prepare every American to compete, so Americans can win in a global economy.  This budget will help us meet that goal, with new incentives for teacher performance and pathways for advancement; new tax credits that will make college more affordable for all who want to go; and new support to ensure that those who do go finish their degree.  
 
This budget also reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited – a trillion dollar deficit, a financial crisis, and a costly recession.  Given this reality, we’ll have to be more vigilant than ever in eliminating the programs we don’t need in order to make room for the investments we do need.  I promised to do this by going through the federal budget page by page, and line by line.  That is a process we have already begun, and I am pleased to say that we’ve already identified two trillion dollars worth of deficit-reductions over the next decade.  We’ve also restored a sense of honesty and transparency to our budget, which is why this one accounts for spending that was hidden or left out under the old rules.    

 
I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy.  Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.  I know that the insurance industry won’t like the idea that they’ll have to bid competitively to continue offering Medicare coverage, but that’s how we’ll help preserve and protect Medicare and lower health care costs for American families.  I know that banks and big student lenders won’t like the idea that we’re ending their huge taxpayer subsidies, but that’s how we’ll save taxpayers nearly $50 billion and make college more affordable.  I know that oil and gas companies won’t like us ending nearly $30 billion in tax breaks, but that’s how we’ll help fund a renewable energy economy that will create new jobs and new industries.   In other words, I know these steps won’t sit well with the special interests and lobbyists who are invested in the old way of doing business, and I know they’re gearing up for a fight as we speak.  My message to them is this:

 
So am I.  
 
The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long, but I don’t.  I work for the American people.  I didn’t come here to do the same thing we’ve been doing or to take small steps forward, I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November.  That is the change this budget starts to make, and that is the change I’ll be fighting for in the weeks ahead – change that will grow our economy, expand our middle-class, and keep the American Dream alive for all those men and women who have believed in this journey from the day it began.  

 
Thanks for listening. 

[cc2k]

One note, That isn't my mistake at the top of the text of his address. The webmaster(s) at www.whitehouse.gov have apparently demoted Mr. Obama back to Senator Obama.

[cc2k]

Ping

[Cindy]

The Money Quote:

"That is the change I promised as a candidate for president. It is the change the American people voted for in November. And it is the change represented by the budget I sent to Congress this week."

[Cindy]

Thank you for the poing cc2k.

[Cindy]

sp=ping

[Venturer]

The arrogance of this Kenyan is amazing.

[Paige]

This KENYAN SOCIALIST is “NOT” my president. I do not have a president at this time.

Call me radical, but supporting this Kenyan Socialist is not part of my goals in life. Our country is under seige and I sense many Conservatives have accepted defeat. (sigh)

[cc2k]

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"This budget puts us on that path, through a market-based cap on carbon pollution that will make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy;"

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This has no effect on the profitability of renewable energy. It just hurts the profitability of our current energy sources. The warriors of class envy never have understood that pulling someone down doesn't lift anyone up. That applies to the energy market as well.

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"This budget keeps that promise, with a historic commitment to reform that will lead to lower costs and quality, affordable health care for every American."

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Freudian slip there. Did he really mean "lower cost and quality?" Quality and availability are going to go way down. Cost, not so much. The difference is that we'll be paying for it in taxes instead of in insurance premiums, copayments and direct payments to hospitals, doctors and pharmacies. The price will remain the same, or supply will be reduced. That's the way the market works.

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"That is a process we have already begun, and I am pleased to say that we’ve already identified two trillion dollars worth of deficit-reductions over the next decade."

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That's $2,000,000,000,000 in new taxes and fees. We can expect from this:

• Fewer jobs from small businesses owned by individuals making over $250,000 per year. They have to cut expenses to pay their new taxes.
• Fewer jobs from Corporations that will pay higher taxes.
• More expensive energy due to the carbon cap and trade system. Someone has to pay the billions the federal government will collect from this.
• Higher prices on anything that takes energy to make (basically everything) to pay that cap and trade fee

And I haven't even mentioned the family farms and family businesses that will be liquidated due to the inheritance tax.

Everything about this will deepen the recession that we are still going into. Nothing of what he is proposing will help shorten the recession or get us out of it.

[pawdoggie]

The webmaster(s) at www.whitehouse.gov have apparently demoted Mr. Obama back to Senator Obama.

Not surprising, since he's still acting like a candidate, and not like the President.

[UCANSEE2]

The webmaster(s) at www.whitehouse.gov have apparently demoted Mr. Obama back to Senator Obama.

Now, if we can just get the rest of the government, and population to follow suit...

[Need4Truth]

I realize that passing this budget won’t be easy. Because it represents real and dramatic change, it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.

A ruse to try to direct attention away from the real threat to Obama and the democrats. That's the growing anger as indicated by the tea-party demonstrations by the common people.

[UCANSEE2]

Nothing of what he is proposing will help shorten the recession or get us out of it.

Not meant to.

It is meant to provide Unicorns for those willing to lead the march into hell.

[UCANSEE2]

it also represents a threat to the status quo in Washington.

I think that the 'status quo' he is referring to is the U.S. Constitution, and the Republican form of government.

Nothing he has done has threatened the 'corrupt' politicians in our government.

Matter of fact, they all got NEW JOBS working for him. And I didn't say 'matter of fact' without reason.

[CPOSharky]

"This budget puts us on that path, through a market-based cap on carbon pollution that will make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy;"

Yeah, right, drive the cost of convention electric generation throught the roof so heavily subdized and govt mandated "green" electricty seems cheaper. Meanwhile ignoring the proven safe and economical nuclear power option.

What's next, tear down the existing nuke and hydro plants because they are cheap and "green" instead of expensive and "green"?

[HollyB]

The Presidents weekly address used to be held at 10:30 AM Saturday. I used to listen to it every week on my way to work. Apparently, Obama wanted to change the time to 6:00/6:30 AM for some reason.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

“Keeping Promises” by B. Obama

LMAO!

“To All The Men I’ve Loved Before” by Ellen DeGeneres
The Difference between Reality and Dilbert
Human Rights Advances in China
“Things I Wouldn’t Do for Money” by Dennis Rodman
Al Gore: The Wild Years
Amelia Earhart’s Guide to the Pacific Ocean
America’s Most Popular Lawyers
Career Opportunities for Liberal Arts Majors
Different Ways to Spell “Bob”
Dr. Kevorkian’s Collection of Motivational Speeches
Easy UNIX
Everything Men Know About Women
French Hospitality
George Foreman’s Big Book of Baby Names
“How to Sustain a Musical Career” by Art Garfunkel
Mike Tyson’s Guide to Dating Etiquette
One Hundred and One Spotted Owl Recipes by the EPA
Staple Your Way to Success
The Amish Phone Directory
The Engineer’s Guide to Fashion

[Polarik]

“Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America.” “Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”

When Biden says, "generated crisis," doesn't that sound like Cloward-Piven to you?

[Calpernia]

Goebbels would be proud.