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President Obama on Creating an Economy Built to Last

Mopeder 2012/05/22 23:49:47
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President Obama responds to questions during a press conference at the 2012 Chicago NATO Summit.

President Obama:
"Well, first of all I think Cory Booker is an outstanding mayor. He's doing great work in Newark and obviously helping to turn that city around. And I think it's important to recognize that this issue is not a, quote, distraction. This is part of the debate that we're going to be having in this election campaign about how do we create an economy where everybody from top to bottom, folks on Wall Street and folks on Main Street, have a shot at success, and if they're working hard and they're acting responsibly, that they're able to live out the American dream.

Now, I think my view of private equity is that it is -- it is set up to maximize profits and that's a healthy part of the free market. That's - that's part of the role of a lot of business people. That's not unique to private equity, and as I think my representatives have said repeatedly, and I will say today, I think there are folks who do good work in that area, and there are times where they identify the capacity for the economy to create new jobs or new industries. But understand that their priority is to maximize profits. And that's not always going to be good for communities or businesses or workers.

And the reason this is relevant to the campaign is because my opponent, Governor Romney, his main calling card for why he thinks he should be president is his business experience. He's not going out there touting his experience in Massachusetts. He's saying,' I'm a business guy and I know how to fix it,' and this is his business.

And when you're president, as opposed to the head of a private equity firm, then your job is not simply to maximize profits. Your job is to figure out how everybody in the country has a fair shot. Your job is to think about those workers who get laid off and how are we paying them for their retraining? Your job is to think about how those communities can start creating new clusters so that they can attract new businesses. Your job as president is to think about how do we set up a equitable tax system so that everybody's paying their fair share that allows us then to invest in science and technology and infrastructure, all of which are going to help us grow.

And so, if your main argument for how to grow the economy is, 'I knew how to make a lot of money for investors,' then you're missing what this job is about. It doesn't - it doesn't mean you weren't good at private equity, but that's not what my job is as president.

My job is to take into account everybody, not just some. My job is to make sure that the country is growing not just now, but ten years from now and twenty years from now. And so, to repeat, this is not a distraction. This is what this campaign's going to be about, is: what is a strategy for us to move this country forward, in a way where everybody can succeed? And that means I've got to think about those workers in that video just as much as I'm thinking about folks who have been much more successful."

Reporter: [inaudible]

President Obama:
"What I would say is, is that Mr. Romney is responsible for the proposals he's putting forward for how he says he's going to fix the economy, and if the main basis for him suggesting he can do a better job, is his track record as the head of a private equity firm, then both the upsides and the downsides are worth examining."

Read More: http://www.keepinggophonest.com/when-youre-president

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  • Pat 2012/05/23 04:06:34
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    Pat
    +6
    I saw this on tv and I thought Obama was at his best. He explained things thoroughly and completely and explained the consequences of not following through on what he's started.

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  • nothingbutthetruth 2012/05/29 06:51:11
    Comment
    nothingbutthetruth
    That's the kind of leader we need! Not like Mitt Romney want to break down the economy and cut people salary.
  • Dave 007 2012/05/26 13:43:15
    Comment
    Dave 007
    And people are actually going to vote for this clown.
  • Aqua Surf 2012/05/25 02:39:34
    Comment
    Aqua Surf
    LMAO, might as well ask Maobama to do brain surgery!
  • Tennessee3501 2012/05/25 01:38:06
    Comment
    Tennessee3501
    President Obama is building an economy which will finish last!
  • DuncanONeil 2012/05/24 23:28:29
    Comment
    DuncanONeil
    "Creating an Economy Built to Last", hardly.
  • Gordy 2012/05/24 10:37:14
    Comment
    Gordy
    +1
    When he talks anymore it sounds just like Charlie Brown's teacher. Wa Wa wa
  • mrdog 2012/05/24 09:50:08
    Comment
    mrdog
    +1
    Obama is a loser... remove him in November...bark
  • boyd868b 2012/05/24 01:23:38
    Comment
    boyd868b
    +1
    no government can build one just look at russia
  • GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT 2012/05/23 22:57:15
    Comment
    GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT
    President Obama stated it perfectly. That is why I wholeheartedly support him for a 2nd term.
  • BIGK27 2012/05/23 22:23:51
    Comment
    BIGK27
    +1
    LESSON IN ECONOMICS!

    An economics teacher at a local school made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Gillard/Brown socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

    The teacher then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on the Gillard/Brown plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

    After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

    The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

    When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

    As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

    To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the teac...



















    LESSON IN ECONOMICS!

    An economics teacher at a local school made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Gillard/Brown socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

    The teacher then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on the Gillard/Brown plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

    After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

    The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

    When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

    As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

    To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the teacher told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
    It could not be any simpler than that. (Please pass this on)

    _____________________________...

    Remember, there IS a test coming up. The next election.

    _____________________________...

    These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

    1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

    2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

    3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

    4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

    5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
    Obama morons
    (more)
  • TnGalbyp BIGK27 2012/05/24 18:36:58
    TnGalbyp
    +2
    This email has been making the rounds for several years. The fallacy is there will always be people who are very poor and people who are very wealthy, whether by tribal, socialist, communist, dictatorship, capitalist, or democracy rule. However, most economists agree that societies tend to be stronger when most of its citizens fall in between the two. In the U.S. we are seeing increased polarization and a disappearing middle class. When the majority of our citizens can afford to spend their earnings on goods and services, more money circulates, demand increases, resulting in the need for businesses to grow and create jobs, and more opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty. It creates even more wealth for those who are already wealthy, the country spends less on social safety nets. It's not about taking from the rich and giving to the poor; it is about creating a stronger economy where everyone benefits.
  • BIGK27 TnGalbyp 2012/05/29 17:02:53
    BIGK27
    IT DOES MATTER!!!!

    Looking back thru the past 4 years, many "Whens" pop up. Read them all to better understand where we are going as a country.

    WHEN - he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan, Muramar Kaddafi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - it was pointed out that he was a total newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - his voting record in the Illinois Senate and in the U.S. Senate came into question, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he refused to wear a flag lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he surrounded himself in the White House with ...







































































    IT DOES MATTER!!!!

    Looking back thru the past 4 years, many "Whens" pop up. Read them all to better understand where we are going as a country.

    WHEN - he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other candidates had done, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan, Muramar Kaddafi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - it was pointed out that he was a total newcomer and had absolutely no experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - his voting record in the Illinois Senate and in the U.S. Senate came into question, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he refused to wear a flag lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he surrounded himself in the White House with advisors who were pro-gun control, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of speech to silence the opposition, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he said he favors sex education in kindergarten, including homosexual indoctrination, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - his personal background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found about him, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce a birth certificate, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco - a man of questionable character and who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the purchase of his home - people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton of money to get him elected, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he started appointing White House Czars that were radicals, revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist /Communists, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he stood before the Nation and told us that his intentions were to "fundamentally transform this Nation" into something else, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as an attorney for ACORN, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed cabinet members and several advisers who were tax cheats and socialists, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed a Science Czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed Cass Sunstein as Regulatory Czar who believes in "Explicit Consent," harvesting human organs without family consent and allowing animals to be represented in court, while banning all hunting, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual and organizer of a group called Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network as Safe School Czar and it became known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed Mark Lloyd as Diversity Czar who believes in curtailing free speech, taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth, who supports Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - Valerie Jarrett, an avowed Socialist, was selected as Obama's Senior White House Advisor, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - Anita Dunn, White House Communications Director, said Mao Tse Tung was her favorite philosopher and the person she turned to most for inspiration, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed Carol Browner, a well-known socialist as Global Warming Czar working on Cap and Trade as the nation's largest tax, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as Green Energy Czar, who since had to resign when this was made known, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for Health and Human Services Secretary could not be confirmed because he was a tax cheat, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - as President of the United States , he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, people said it didn't matter..

    WHEN - he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of her greatness, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - his actions concerning the Middle East seemed to support the Palestinians over Israel, our longtime ally, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to the United States, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system against the Russians, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops early-on when the Field Commanders said they were necessary to win, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay off organizations, unions, and individuals that got him elected, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc., people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the government, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under government control, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he claimed he was a Christian during the election and tapes were later made public that showed Obama speaking to a Muslim group and 'stating' that he was raised a Muslim, was educated as a Muslim, and is still a Muslim, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the United States through Cap and Trade, people said it didn't matter.

    WHEN - he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State , people woke up--- but it was too late. Add these up one by one and you get a phenomenal score that points to the fact that Barrack Hussein Obama is determined to turn America into a Marxist-Socialist society. All of the items in the preceding paragraphs have been put into place. All can be documented very easily. Before you disavow this do an Internet search. The last paragraph alone is not yet cast in stone. You and I will write that paragraph.
    Will it read as above or will it be a more happy ending for most of America ?

    Don't just belittle the opposition. Search for the truth. We all need to pull together or watch the demise of a free democratic society. Pray for Americans to seek the truth and take action for it will keep us FREE. Our biggest enemy is not China, Russia, North Korea or Iran. Our biggest enemy is a contingent of politicians in Washington, DC . The government will not help, so we need to do it ourselves.

    Question....will you delete this, or pass it on to others who don't know about Obama's actions and plans for the USA , so that they may know how to vote in November, 2012 and the ensuing years?

    It's your decision. I believe it does matter. How about you?
    WHEN - November 2012 comes, it will matter who you vote for!
    (more)
  • olylift 2012/05/23 16:55:23
    Comment
    olylift
    +2
    Obama an economist? Let's be serious. His projected debt will doubled what his predecessors put up.
  • HarleyCharley 2012/05/23 13:54:38
    Comment
    HarleyCharley
    +2
    he is destroying the free market....
  • GuruA2J... HarleyC... 2012/05/23 23:04:06
    GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT
    We haven't had a "free market" in decades & you can't blame that on Obama. It's been crony capitalism all the way--You scratch my back & I'll scratch yours.
  • SiliconSorcerer 2012/05/23 13:21:59
    Comment
    SiliconSorcerer
    Creating Socialism in America, no it won't last.
  • BurntOffering 2012/05/23 13:07:19
    Comment
    BurntOffering
    +3
    Well at least trying to build an economy with GOP & Tea Partiers Lying and Stopping every bill he presents.
  • Saye Saye 2012/05/23 12:15:05
    Comment
    Saye Saye
    +1
    He is running our debt into the ground. More recession looming.
  • Keeping It Real 2012/05/23 11:58:40
    Comment
    Keeping It Real
    +3
    POTUS knows what he's doing which is why the Republiconteabaggers are trying to stop him!
  • jmc07806-PWCM-JLA 2012/05/23 10:18:00
    Comment
    jmc07806-PWCM-JLA
    The only thing Obama has built to last was the level of debt future generations will be responsibile for.
  • Lefty 2012/05/23 10:08:03
    Comment
    Lefty
    +3
    That's what democrats accomplish when they stay in office for two terms. Look what the Clinton admin accomplished, after a disastrous republican mess. The GOP is the ruin of this country with the trickle down your pants theory.
  • Gordy Lefty 2012/05/24 10:40:31
    Gordy
    You leftys can't have it both ways...If all that is happening now is Bush's fault then it goes to term that what Clinton enjoyed was because of Reagan.
  • Lefty Gordy 2012/05/24 11:16:33 (edited)
    Lefty
    Uh, think again. Clinton's second term was to finally correct what GHWB daddy Bush had screwed up. Same thing about to happen again with Obama's second term. Where did you get Reagan? I suppose you could include Reagan. That means Clinton had to repair 12 years of republican's mess!
    Ronald Reagan 1981-1988
    George Bush Sr. 1988-1992
    Bill Clinton 1992-2000
    George Walker Bush 2000-2008
    Barack Obama 2008-present
  • Gordy Lefty 2012/05/24 20:20:45
    Gordy
    Bless your heart, I see your a little slow, The First Bush F@cked up what was happening and Clinton in his first term tried, to go left and lost the house and senate, then he went center right and was reelected, Bush the second was a tad better than his Dad but not by much, I understand your confusion since your are an old hippie , maybe beatnik, but you should try reading an easy book like economics 101.
  • 2sly 2012/05/23 09:36:45
  • dominic garcia 2012/05/23 06:39:44
    Comment
    dominic garcia
    To last till, we run out of money.........that is just about NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
  • Denis B 2012/05/23 06:18:07 (edited)
    Comment
    Denis B
    +5
    President Obama is the President that the USA needs and deserves. All of you naysayers have created a ghetto mentality and a ghetto country by saying " it can't be done". Or by demonstrating your petty jealousies and racism toward your neighbors and impeding job creation and free commerce. These are ghetto characteristics. President Obama's statement "Yes we can" is exactly the medicine that is needed.Go Obama
  • GuruA2J... Denis B 2012/05/23 23:07:49
    GuruA2J~#IOKIYAR~612 BLOCKT
    I loved that animation. Thank you.
  • Denis B GuruA2J... 2012/05/24 21:11:51
  • swistzwatch 2012/05/23 04:21:38
    Comment
    swistzwatch
    What kind of joke is this!
  • wtw 2012/05/23 04:18:44
    Comment
    wtw
    +1
    3 years of failure and a desire to return to the old tired socialistic tax the rich and attack the rich, divide the people, overspend and demonize those that disagree with you philosophy compared to Sweden which decided to decrease the taxes on businesses and the wealthy and cut spending prospering economy--which works--DUH!
  • Paul wtw 2012/05/23 14:04:54
    Paul
    Sweden has a population of only 9.4 million people, no military to speak of, Managing a country like the US with over 300 million and the large military we maintain is a considerably different situation. You can't use Sweden as an appropiate model economy that would work in the US.
  • Pat 2012/05/23 04:06:34
    Comment
    Pat
    +6
    I saw this on tv and I thought Obama was at his best. He explained things thoroughly and completely and explained the consequences of not following through on what he's started.
  • Ashley 2012/05/23 03:07:00
    Comment
    Ashley
    +2
    These are all words, he has had 3 years to show what he can do. All he has done is blame others for where we are. That is not leadership.
  • Mr Marvin 2012/05/23 02:55:40
    Comment
    Mr Marvin
    +3
    Lying like a true socalist. He hates successful people but takes their campaign donations.
  • HillaryLover 2012/05/23 02:49:02
    Comment
    HillaryLover
    +1
    Tim Geithner and the Obama administration have stopped the Bush bleeding, but it hasn't been without significant cost. Now the trick is to get the deficit down without great harm to the elderly and our national security.

    BTW, please be reminded, Barack Obama was a community organizer and a law professor. There's nothing in his background to indicate other than elementary knowledge of economics.
  • Suzy Hillary... 2012/05/28 23:19:20
    Suzy
    +1
    Actually, he wasn't a law professor either. He was an associate lecturer. Not the same thing at all.
  • beach bum 2012/05/23 02:37:40
    Comment
    beach bum
    +2
    time will tell
  • Bureauc 0webama 2012/05/23 02:09:09
    Comment
    Bureauc 0webama
    +1
    owebama on creating an economy built to last
  • Suzy 2012/05/23 01:22:13 (edited)
    Comment
    Suzy
    +1
    Yes, this horrible economy will last for a long time to come. Our grandkids may eventually recover, but we will reap the economic whirlwind that 0 has sown.

    I feel very badly about that fact. We had no right to saddle them with our debt, and make them spend their working years paying for what we got. No right whatsoever.

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