President Barack Obama challenged the nation’s vested interests to a legislative duel Saturday, saying he will fight to change health care, energy and education in dramatic ways that will upset the status quo. “The system we have now might work for the powerful and well-connected interests that have run Washington for far too long,” Obama said in his weekly radio and video address. “But I don’t. I work for the American people.”
He said his ambitious budget plan, unveiled Thursday, will help millions of Americans, but only if Congress overcomes resistance from deep-pocket lobbies. “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,” Obama said, using tough-guy language reminiscent of his predecessor, George W. Bush. “My message to them is this: So am I.” Link.
Here is the full transcript of his Keeping Promises.
Woo Hoo! Nice to have a President FOR the PEOPLE instead of for the corporations . Every single week he has delivered something new and promising.
Red, you (and some others) may be interested in the “Promise Meter”, which is keeping track of Obama’s campaign promises, and his record of keeping/breaking them: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/
Thanks for the link, Paul. I like the new accountability and transparency that Obama has brought to the office of President. I expect him to do the best that he can to keep his word.
I cannot imagine what any one of those C-PAC nutters would be doing in his place right now. Gads, what a mess!
I applaud President Obama’s tough language. But for now, we need to remember that language is one thing (and an important thing)…final results are another. He certainly doesn’t talk the language of, say, a John Edwards, who said that when it came to an issue like healthcare, the insurance companies and big pharma and special interests wouldn’t even have a seat at the table while crafting policy. Now that would REALLY be different.
One must also remember that Mr. Obama is not above breaking a promise. I’m reminded of his campaign promise to filibuster any new FISA bill that contained retroactive immunity for the telecoms who broke the law and helped spy on Americans without warrants…only to not only fail to filibuster the new bill (which contained retractive immunity, but to vote FOR it.
anon,
I expect disappointments and I expect that some promises will not be kept. However, this president’s promises will be kept track of.
I was disappointed in a few things he said to the troops yesterday. He basically retooled the war for them by saying the troops were sent to Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein. That was not correct. They were actually sent in on the lie that there were WMD, as told by GW Bush.
Obama was against that war and he knows exactly what lies were told to push our troops into Iraq. I am not sure why he chose to continue with one particular falsehood over another, but I didn’t like it. There may be a reason for how he chose to rally the troops, but at this point, he made a mistake in how he presented that portion of his speech.
I don’t care for his choice of Geitner, either.
He’s a man that can compromise and as anyone who has had to compromise knows, often the most fair and correct decisions are the ones in which both sides are not completely satisfied with.
In 1936, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered an important campaign speech in Madison Square Garden, saying among other things:
“For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing, do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker and three long years in the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair! Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent. <…>
They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.
Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me‹and I welcome their hatred.”
And he was elected, and a Decade of Misery followed
I do not believe what obama just said regarding lobbies “pigs” ,he just nominated one in his cabinet!. What a change! seen to be that Rove is still in the white house behind curtains!.