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President Barack Obama's Weekly Address | ‘Time for a Responsible Budget’
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President Barack Obama's Weekly Address | ‘Time for a Responsible Budget’
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“In this week’s address, the President discussed the significant progress we have made in our economy since the financial crisis seven years ago this week, and the steps we can take to build on that momentum and strengthen the economy for the long term.”
TRANSCRIPT
Remarks of President Barack Obama Hi, everybody. It’s hard to believe, but it was seven years ago this week that one of Wall Street’s biggest investment banks went bankrupt, triggering a meltdown on Wall Street and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And in the months that followed, millions of Americans lost their jobs, their homes, and the savings they’d worked so hard to build. Today’s a different story. Over the past five and a half years, our businesses have created more than 13 million new jobs. The unemployment rate is lower than it’s been in over seven years. Manufacturing is growing. Housing is bouncing back. We’ve reduced our deficits by two-thirds. And 16 million more Americans now know the security of health insurance. This is your progress. It’s because of your hard work and sacrifice that America has come back from crisis faster than almost every other advanced nation on Earth. We remain the safest, strongest bet in the world. Of course, you might not know all that if you only listened to the bluster of political season, when it’s in the interest of some politicians to paint America as dark and depressing as possible. But I don’t see it that way. I’ve met too many Americans who prove, day in and day out, that this is a place where anything is possible. Yes, we have a lot of work to do to rebuild a middle class that’s had the odds stacked against it now for decades. That’s the thing about America – our work is never finished. We always strive to be better – to perfect ourselves. We just have to make the right choices. And if Republicans want to help, they can choose, right now, to pass a budget that helps us grow our economy even faster, create jobs even faster, lift people’s incomes and prospects even faster. But they’ve only got until the end of the month to do it – or they’ll shut down our government for the second time in two years. Democrats are ready to sit down and negotiate with Republicans right now. But it should be over legitimate issues like how much do we invest in education, job training, and infrastructure – not unrelated ideological issues like Planned Parenthood. We need to set our sights higher than that. We need to reverse harmful cuts to middle-class economic priorities, close loopholes that benefit only a fortunate few at the top, and invest more in the things that help our entire economy grow. There’s nothing principled about the idea of another government shutdown. There’s nothing patriotic about denying the progress you’ve worked so hard to make. America is great right now – not because of our government, or our wealth, or our power, but because of everyone who works hard every day to move this country forward. Now Congress needs to work as hard as you do. Thanks, and have a great weekend. (c)2015 The White House | SCVTV |
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Yeah,,and I’m responsible for the success of the space program.
Yawn!
Obama is a joke
Obama is a comedian now
We are all entitled to say what we feel.. Some love him some hate him, so what!!
Meanwhile he’s planning his next tax paid 100 million dollar vacation ! 😂😂 disgusting
Oh Amber, you’re so ill-informed. Obviously just repeating what you heard from some numbskull on Faux news. He’s vacationed less than most, certainly less than our last one and doesn’t come close to spending this fictional number you came up with. None of which affects our debt. Get a clue.
Jonathan Kent do you seriously have nothing more to do than to run around calling everyone Ill-informed on almost every thread and yet you bring no fact, just your opinion. Go do something that will bring positive change in the real world! I know I just wasted my time reading your opinions.
And I did as well, reading yours. I provided many facts in other threads, but no matter. If you think Amber has provided the truth/facts above, then we have bigger problems than I suspected with the likes of you.
^^^ lol ^^^ typical lib- u all sound the same. Like a cult – what a bunch of weirdos
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3441510
And I don’t watch TV —> but I bet you. All day long.
Doesn’t affect our debt ? Ok – enlighten me. Did he spend his own money?
Oh no -! It’s Paul McIntyre- lol – lol – lol !!!
About ready to get a restraining order on you ! Stalker!!
I guess folks really should bone up on economics and civics before saying really stupid things in comments sections.
Momentum? Strengthen- dude,are YOU DELUSIONAL?!
Ya’ll need to actually study economics.
What would Ben Ghazi do?
You all make me want to move.
The worst president in the history of our great country! he has done more harm in fundamentally changing and destroying this country than any other president. the first president who hates this country…..sad
You’re clueless sir. You base your comments on what facts? Anyone with an educated, enlightened and informed mind knows quite the opposite of your dimwit comment is the truth. Most every common numeric/financial indicator as well as his other monumental achievements pave the way for President Obama to go down as one of greatest presidents in history. We are all fortunate to have had him for two terms.
Jonathan Kent Your comment is laughable. What facts do you base your argument on to the contrary? We are more divided as a nation, weaker in the eyes of our enemies and allies. Obama has raised our nation’s debt level so high we will never recover. He has engaged in class, gender and economic warfare against his own country. He has praised criminals over cops, deserters over hero’s and waged a war against morality. His unemployment gains are simply a lack of individuals receiving benefits and not from returning to the workforce and has used a Dictator style of governing to enforce his own will over the will of the people. He is a coward, a liar and yes the worst President in this nations history. If you think we are better off now as a nation than 7 years ago your not only a fool but blind. You typical liberal attack on the original commenter shows your lack of class and knowledge of current events. Russia is posturing, China, N. Korea, Iran all feel emboldened by our so called leaders weakness. Seems to me your the clueless one.
Being an international bully doesn’t make us look strong it makes us look arrogant.
Fear mongering with the national debt sounds like it’s coming straight out of the corporate media talking heads.
Seriously warfare? The Republicans are all about warfare. Democrats are all about welfare. I can see why you’re confused.
I actually think he has been bad with whistleblowers like Snowden so I don’t think he is infallible in any way. But a war on morality? I don’t see it.
You obviously don’t have a clue what it’s like to live under an actual dictator. I don’t either but I’m pretty sure America isn’t a good example of that type of government.
I’m much better off than I was 7 years ago, I’m sorry you’re not. But you know what is typical for your ilk, fear mongering over international relations.
Of course, my opinion, like yours, really doesn’t mean anything because we have no say over the policy and workings of the any branch of the government anymore, and let’s be honest, we are on Facebook and no one cares about our opinions.
What confounds me is that you seem to think the decisions you make now, with no responsibility for the consequences would be the same as if you had the weight of leading the free world on your shoulders. I don’t see how anyone thinks they can do that.
Paul McIntyre I never said bully I simply said we look weak and your kidding yourself if you don’t think our weakness can be our downfall. It’s in our nation’s best interest to be strong and dominant. We are a global power with many enemies and your sissy attitude is a problem. You say my comments are from the corporate media talking heads yet your Republicans are for war comment is an example of pure liberal bias.
Another selfish library saying my life is better, sorry if yours isn’t shows that your narrow minded and think only of yourself and not the country. Also when I ask if your doing better than 7 years ago I don’t just mean financially. Your a clown, you are why this country is falling apart. The Constitution was and is perfect and if we had a President that simply followed it we would be better off. God bless your ignorance. It must be nice to know you will one day die clueless and selfish. Take care
You’re just wrong William about your factless-based comment about the U.S. being weaker or being viewed as weaker under Obama. You have no basis on which to base this odd opinion of yours. Most international opinion polls say quite the opposite. Obama has restored our standing and respect in the international community, and only under his guidance could we have used diplomacy to negotiate the Iran nuclear agreement. Under a dolt like Bush or some other knucklehead currently running from his clown car party, the decision would have been to throw a bunch of money that we don’t have at another war and likely plunged us back into recession.
So stop making ridiculous comments about how people like me and Paul are what’s wrong with this country. Completely juvenile.
As for our debt, do some research. If you did, you’d find the following: By the time Bush left office, he had run the debt up to $10.63 trillion — doubled it — he had blown it up, and at the same time crippled the economy and sent us into the great recession. But not only that, because the recession had unfolded before Obama took office and we were ensconced in the war in Iraq that Bush lied to us about, the debt went up significantly in the first few years of Obama’s first term because of the cost of the war and getting us out of recession. So borrowing was necessary because of Bush’s war and the increasing costs of health care, which have since been reigned in, thanks to Obamacare. The debt at $18.14 as of April of this year represents a 1.7x increase from the time Obama took office — again, primarily due to the cost of the war Bush started and getting us out of recession. Not because of monetary or spending policies — the typical crap the GOP continues to try to paint as Dem policies that just aren’t true.
How you think Obama has engaged in class, gender and economic warfare is beyond me, but perhaps you should hold up the mirror to your own party in this regard. They are currently the biggest anti-woman, anti-minority, anti-anything-not rich and white.
You’re completely deluded about the unemployment rate — it is measured the way it has always been measured, but because it is a significant Obama achievement, you simply want to line up with the Faux News wackos and make claims about the rate not really being what it is. Non-sense again.
We still live in the same Democracy we always have, so your blather about his dictator style of governing is more non-sense. We still have the same checks and balances we’ve always had in our government and everything he’s implemented falls completely within the powers of the presidency. The People elected him by large majority twice, so yes, we as a majority want what the policies he can implement under his office.
Oh, and you’re an international relations expert as well I guess — you are certain that China, North Korea, Iran and Russian feel emboldened by a perceived weakness on Obama’s part? Laughable. You clearly don’t do your homework and understand the very complicated machinations that are going on in those countries.
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyDemocrats/videos/954042821355439/
He’s made such a mess of our economy that he’s already spent any money he need for his budget. He threatens congress before every budget that they better agree or they Will shut the Government down! Well, maybe shutting it down would be good to help balance the budget!
False.
Oh, no!
Shirley, you’re sorely misinformed. It is quite the opposite of what you state. The President has never and cannot shut down the government. On the contrary, it is the Republican-lead Congress who has in the past and threatens again to shut down the government unless their radical social agenda items are agreed to. The Repubs cost the economy billions of dollars the last time they did this and ultimately achieved nothing. They are children playing with our livelihoods.
People like Jonathan Kent are exactly what’s wrong with this country. His comments are an example of liberal ignorance.
Oh William, you’re a child. What is this? “I know you are, but what am I?” I doubt you are capable, but just try using whatever brain cells you might have, and explain how I’m what’s wrong with a America. Such a jingoistic and ridiculous statement made out of pure ignorance. My comments are facts. The Repubs, IN FACT, shut down the government (when they didn’t get their way) and are threatening to do so again for no reason other than their social agenda. THESE ARE FACTS. THEY ARE NOT DEBATABLE.
You’ve been drinking liberal Obama Koolade,Jonathan.(Obama blackmail )and I hope he lets it happen,This time!so I doubt if facts will help. But, understand that if the republicans object to a single bad piece of spending, Obama won’t debate the issue, he’ll just wait and let the government shut down, so to speak.,and blame the GOP.Therefore the ball is in his court. It’s why we owe 20 trillion$s. . Let’s see what happens.
Shirley, you completely miss the point as usual and clearly don’t understand how government works; or I should say, how it is supposed to work. One party (yours in this case) is not supposed to be ignorant children and walk away from the negotiating table and shut down the government, simply because they don’t get their way. Everyone loses when that happens. It is not Obama letting the government shut down. It is the Repubs demanding cuts in programs they don’t like (but which have almost no effect on spending). You have a very twisted view on how the budget negotiations play out and not a clue how the debt works and who’s responsible for it. By the time Bush left office, he had run it up to $10.63 trillion — he had blown it up, and at the same time crippled the economy and sent us into the great recession. But not only that, because the recession had unfolded before Obama took office and we were ensconced in the war in Iraq that Bush lied to us about, the debt went up significantly in the first few years of Obama’s first term because of the cost of the war and getting us out of recession. So borrowing was necessary because of Bush’s war and the increasing costs of health care, which have since been reigned in, thanks to Obamacare. The debt at $18.14 as of April of this year represents a 1.7x increase from the time Obama took office — again, primarily due to the cost of the war Bush started and getting us out of recession. Wake up Shirley!
Shouldn’t he have realized that when he first took office, instead of running up the national debt?
He has made it, so we’ll be reeling from his time in office for Decades.The fix is in.
Oh William, you have it all twisted and upside down.
18 trillion in the hole, a little late…….what a jerk!
Right, because the national debt just magically appeared when Obama got in office…
No, the debt was just over 6 trillion and obama added over 11 trillion to it, after he bagged on bush for it. Liberal hypocrisy!
Your inability to grasp anything beyond your echo chamber is showing.
Yeah right, I think it’s the other way around. That’s all you got huh? I know facts are hard to argue with.
Shouldn’t you be packing?
Paul is correct. And the deficit has been reduced drastically under Obama and spending as a percentage of GDP is also down drastically. The debt has not gone up as the result of and Obama policies. Take an economics course Jennifer.
Seriously? Your argument is invaild Jon. Get off my post! I find your lack of knowledge disturbing…..
Oh, you’re some economic genius who we should all believe because ??? And you are who to say my argument is invalid? You get off MY post! Jeez. This is like debating a 3rd grader.
Whoops, I just realized I’m dealing with a gun-toting, Faux News watching, God-fearing, uneducated person. Pointless to continue.
You have been exposed as the twit you are, good night.
Two wars, tax cuts for the rich and a financial melt down when he took office. Yet it’s his fault for spending money on things like military, healthcare, and interest on the money we’ve already borrowed. Would you rather he stopped paying soldiers? Would you rather he shut down public schools, parks and health services to save a buck? Do you have any idea what it is like to make presidential decisions with real lives depending on your decisions? It’s easy to make asinine assertions about the debt on FB because you have no actual responsibility in the real life application of economic policy. Grow up.
Wonder if he had to address this before Hillary gets to debate.
Doubled the national debt…
False.
I love these people who claim to be concerned about the debt, but then vote for a GOP Congress who has done nothing to help and who ultimately were responsible for driving it up.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/01/07/the-story-behind-obama-and-the-national-de
How can you assume someone voted GOP?
Did you read that article Myk?
Here’s an excerpt,
“That’s because the increase in debt in the early years of the Obama administration was a largely a response to the imploding economy — just as the big bulge at the end of the George W. Bush administration (2008) was.”
It also has this handy chart at the bottom that shows by percentage who increased the debt the most. Spoiler alert, it was Reagan.
You really should read your source all the way through, otherwise, as you see, it can prove the opposite of what you are trying to claim.
Debt rose 60%, I was slightly off. I rounded up. Just a few trillion right? Do big deal. Who regulates the economy ? The fed which is currently on round 4 quantitive easing (printing money) causing inflation. I could care less about regan. Just because previous administration implemented flawed monetary policy is in no way justified to continue it. What’s your plan to deal with this debt? Do you think this debt is a serious problem?
Paul do you follow the non aggression principle?
You claimed he doubled the national debt. He didn’t. I’ve never been a fan of the fed. History is important, disregarding an entire presidency would be a mistake. I agree we have a very flawed system but making false statements doesn’t fix anything. changing the current system isn’t like flipping a switch. If we could fire the fed I’d be all for it but they are heavily in trenched in ours and the worlds economy now. One way to deal with it would be taxing the top 1% at rates they had back in the 50s. It’s a problem but I don’t think it’s as serious as republicans and libertarians like yourself make it out to be.
Honestly prohibiting taxation on all sounds great on paper. But does that mean I have to pay directly for fire fighters to put out a fire at my house? Does that mean every road is a toll road? Lots of questions arise when you remove taxation.
I admit I was wrong on the exact numbers. There is more wrong with the original article. I wanted to draw attention to the debt crises. I see we found some common ground. Free market principles will prevail, another market correction is no doubt on the way, and may be the next depression. Abolishing the fed is a start. Taxation is theft every way you look at it. Having a monopoly on roads and firefights is no excuse to use the threat of violent force to extort wealth from others. The ( 1% , rich, big corporations, Ruling elite.) only exist due to the government involvement in the free market. They’ll just find a loop hole or lobby (bribe) the politicians to get what they want anyway.
If it were still a free market I would agree, but it hasn’t been for a long time.
Does a ‘responsible budget’ mean sending billions to terrorists? I guess I misunderstood the meaning of ‘responsible’.
You base this irresponsible and inaccurate comment on what facts?
What are you talking about? Did you read that in a meme somewhere?
Done sending our money to Terrorists ???
You base this irresponsible and inaccurate comment on what facts?
After killing Osuma. Sounds good though.
Jonathan commented on just about every single comment—-> what a weird beard
Does that mean he’s done taking expensive vacations ???
Yea Right !!!
You’re so ill-informed. He has vacationed less than most Presidents — certainly a lot less than the last one, and it ultimately has no effect on our economy. Get a clue.
Wow Jonathan Kent you’ve managed to basically lie in every comment on this thread. This President who has vacationed MORE than any other President no only took those vacations more often but many times had his wife and kids leave only hours or a day ahaid on separate tax payer flights instead of waiting to go with him on Airforce One. That requires more personel, more accommodations and costs way more money all as he complains about how millionaires should be ashamed. Hypocrisy at its finest
http://www.factcheck.org/2014/08/presidential-vacations/