President Obama's Speech to the House Democratic Issues Conference

By U.S. News Staff

February 6, 2009 RSS Feed Print

AT HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ISSUES CONFERENCE
Kingsmill Resort
Williamsburg, Virginia
February 5, 2009
8:28 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, Democrats.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.  Everybody have a seat.  It is great to be here with so many friends.  Thank you for giving me a reason to use Air Force One. (Laughter.)  It's pretty nice.  (Laughter.) 

I'm glad to see the House Democratic Caucus is getting by just fine without my Chief of Staff.  (Laughter.)  I don't know how many of you were at the Alfalfa dinner, but I pointed out, you know, this whole myth of Rahm being this tough guy, mean, is just not true.  At least once a week he spends time teaching profanity to underprivileged children.  (Laughter and applause.)  So he's got a soft spot. 

I want to thank John Larson for inviting me here tonight.  This is John's first conference as Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, so we're both new at this.  John, congratulations.  (Applause.) 

I want to acknowledge the great Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  (Applause.)  She is our rock who's proven to be an extraordinary leader for the American people.  And I want to thank Nancy and Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, and the entire caucus — (applause) — Javier Becerra — all the leadership working so hard, all the chairmen like David Obey, who've worked so hard in passing an economic recovery plan that is so desperately needed for our country.  (Applause.)  

All of you acted with a discipline that matches the urgency and the gravity of the crisis that we face.  Because you know what's at stake.  Every weekend you go home to your districts and you see factories that are closing and small businesses shutting their doors.  You hear from families losing their homes; students that can't pay their tuition; seniors who are worrying about whether they can retire with dignity, or see their kids and grandkids lead a better life.

So you went to work, and you did your job.  For that, you have my appreciation and admiration.  And more importantly, you've got the American people's thanks, because they know it is time to get something done here in Washington.  (Applause.) 

As we meet here tonight, we know that there's more work to be done.  The Senate is still acting.  And after it has its final vote, we still need to resolve differences between the House and Senate bills.  So we're going to still have to work, and I'm going to urge you to complete that work without delay.  And I know that Nancy and Steny, all the rest of the leadership is committed to making that happen.

Now, I just want to say this — I value the constructive criticism and the healthy debate that's taking place around this package, because that's the essence, the foundation of American democracy.  That's how the founders set it up.  They set it up to make big change hard.  It wasn't supposed to be easy.  That's part of the reason why we've got such a stable government, is because no one party, no one individual can simply dictate the terms of the debate.  I don't think any of us have cornered the market on wisdom, or that do I believe that good ideas are the province of any party.  The American people know that our challenges are great.  They're not expecting Democratic solutions or Republican solutions — they want American solutions.  And I've said that same thing to the public, and I've said that, in a gesture of friendship and goodwill, to those who have disagreed with me on aspects of this plan.

But what I have also said is — don't come to the table with the same tired arguments and worn ideas that helped to create this crisis.  (Applause.)  You know, all of us here — imperfect. And everything we do and everything I do is subject to improvement.  Michelle reminds me every day how imperfect I am.  (Laughter.)  So I welcome this debate.  But come on, we're not — we are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin.  (Applause.) 

We can't embrace the losing formula that says only tax cuts will work for every problem we face; that ignores critical challenges like our addiction to foreign oil, or the soaring cost of health care, or falling schools and crumbling bridges and roads and levees.  I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV — if you're headed for a cliff, you've got to change direction.  (Applause.)  That's what the American people called for in November, and that's what we intend to deliver.  (Applause.) 

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dear people this man is out to pad his pockets not help the needy he don't care about us . If he did he would send out another stimulis check to help the people

ruth of NC 1:33AM March 22, 2009

Hello - I wanted to share this story I just read with the President in hopes he will take a second look at his decisions regarding taxes and the stimulas.

This is an actual letter from a small business owner in the Chicago area written to his employees.

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interest. First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and

lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had. So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9 am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5 pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old spec

Terri Britz of WI 2:50PM March 09, 2009

Nothing in this speech goes to fixing the broken down engine of the American Economy - Men.

Men are the backbone of production and construction in all westernised economies, there can be no disputing that, women run the service industries, end of story. In terms of value adding men do it, women sometimes do it, it is implicit in the jobs that either sex chooses to do.

Yet, men are the ones who get boned up the backside by the law,and women are the takers in the game with the government providing cops and lawyers to what is largely an undeserving group in the economy, the lesser productive sector.

This demoralises men, they see no reason to go to work, and when they are at work, they are not as productive as they could be because they know their efforts will be garnished, sequestered - never to be returned, this is not a good investment in Americas economic future - 50% of marriages break down, 70% of the filers are women, women receive the bulk of the assets in the split, the kids, the house, the car, the cash, the paid for childcare, and even alimony for women quite capable of paying their own way. This is done to your men through your divorce laws and violence against women [VAWA] laws. The law stupidly presumes to give troublemakers a reward for doing nothing, that is evident in the fact that 70% of women initiate / start / agitate for / begin / make happen the violence that then befalls them, and then, unable to match the opponent that they have chosen to combat - a man - they end up being 95% of the victims, when in reality the man is the end victim.. 95% of the time, and your economy is the next victim of this vile stupidity.

I am not saying that it is right for men to attack women, what I am saying is that it is wrong for your society to condone the initiation of violence by one party and *reward* this by locking up the bloke who was merely defending himself - remember - 70% of the time!! It is wrong to lock up a man and impugn him for the rest of his life on a whim of a woman, because she 'fears' him on some supposition of violence that she has started, he may be just bristling to warn her against proceeding with what ever dangerous behaviour she is engaging in, then hey presto - 911, poof!! man gone - how handy is that???

Your laws have to be ammended, they have to be re-cast in the light of the actual statistics involving violence. For example, the VAWA must be scrapped and a return to common law assault be effected, as it is set out in your constitution!! The law should be forced to recognise who the initiator of the violence is and punish that initiation, for without it no violence would exist.

Your divorce laws should be cast to give men the rewards for their troubles in working to provide for the family that they bought into existence, instead of them being relegated to a life of slavery to some flibittygibbit's tea party life style.

You need to give your men hope and rewards, then your economy will recover.

Obama - fix it!!

Nicholas Tomlin 11:28PM February 21, 2009

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