President Obama making an appearance at the Caterpillar plant in Peoria, IL
Obama calls on Republicans to back stimulus plan
February 12, 2009
Peoria, IL, USA
PEORIA, Illinois (AFP) — US President Barack Obama on Thursday made a fresh plea for Republicans to back his 789 billion dollar economic stimulus plan, a day before the package is expected to finally clear Congress.
“It is time for Congress to act, and I hope they act in a bipartisan fashion,” Obama said during a visit to a plant of construction machine giant Caterpillar, which recently laid off more than 20,000 people.
“But no matter how they act, when they do, when they finally pass our plan, I believe it will be a major step forward on our path to economic recovery,” Obama said.
Not a single Republican voted for the plan when it initially passed the House of Representatives, and only three backed it in the Senate, dashing the president’s hopes for sweeping bipartisan majorities.
Now the two different versions of the bill have been merged, and final votes are set in both chambers on Friday, the day of Obama’s self-imposed deadline for passing the bill.
The president argued that the massive bill would unleash economic growth and recreate the jobs of millions of Americans who have been laid off as the worst economic crisis since the 1930s bites deep into the economy.
“The head of Caterpillar said that if Congress passes our plan, this company will be able to rehire some of the folks who were just laid off — and that’s a story I’m confident will be repeated at companies across the country,” Obama said.
Obama’s visit to his home state of Illinois was the latest step of a campaign-style blitz of appearances that has also narrowed in on hard-hit economic zones in Indiana and Florida.
On Tuesday, Obama will continue his whirlwind tour with a trip to Denver, Colorado and he will travel on to Arizona the next day, a White House aide said.
When will his term end?
His plan is to turn America into a Socialist country. Bravo! We’re becoming France now! Wooohooo!
ALL YOU FOOLS WHO VOTED FOR THIS GUY ARE GOING TO REGRET IT MORE AND MORE AS YOUR FREEDOMS GET SLOWLY REDUCED AND YOUR SAVINGS AND CHANCES TO GET AHEAD DISAPPEAR. SOCIALISM DOESN’T WORK!!!! AS BAD AS BUSH WAS, UNDER THIS GUY’S WATCH, THE REST OF OUR FREEDOMS WILL VANISH. GO TO UTUBE AND WATCH THE MONEYMASTERS. THE BANKERS HAVE HIJACKED AMERICA!!!!
JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION, OBAMA SPOKE OF CREATING A CIVILIAN SECURITY FORCE, AS WELL FUNDED AND ARMED AS OUR ARMY. WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT SOUND LIKE?
THE PERFECT INSTRUMENT TO KEEP HIS SUBJECTS IN LINE!!!!
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE COMPLETELY IGNORANT OF WORLD HISTORY. IF YOU THINK IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE. YOU AE WRONG!!!
I think our ALL CAPS friend forgot to take the meds today.
Nah. He’s just ‘troll’ing along.
Obama: “The head of Caterpillar said that if Congress passes our plan, this company will be able to rehire some of the folks who were just laid off …”
After Obama left, the head of Caterpillar (Jim Owens) was if it were true that the stimulus package would allow rehiring of those laid off: “I think realistically no. The truth is we’re going to have more layoffs before we start hiring again.”
TO THE ONE WHO CALLED ME A TROLL.
I AM NOT TRYING TO STIR CONTROVERSY. I MEAN EXACTLY WHAT I SAY . I AM TERRIFIED OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY!!!
IF YOU THINK OBAMA HAS OUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN.
i agree, obamination is the end of the usa. i think we better learn russian language so that we can understand our soviet masters.
at least if we are put in prison camps, we can play chess using the bones of our fellow prisoners.
i look forward to recieving my tatoo number on my arm.
i will be slave # 8-6-7-5-3-0-9
i am a threat to national security.
i believe in god.
i am a threat to national security.
i believe in the us constitution.
i am a threat to national security.
i believe in defending freedom.
i am a threat to the national security of the elite who plan on killing us: Click here and view with an open mind
G-d save us!
“Its The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by REM is my favorite, too.
Who let all the crazies out of their cages today?