Archive for January, 2010:
President Obama: “I will not walk away from health reform”
By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
Highlights from President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Following President Obama's first State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people, here are a few highlights from the speech:
On finishing the job on health reform:
By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
As temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan we’ve proposed. There’s a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Here’s what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.
On the need to restore our economy, stabilize our financial system, and recover taxpayer money:
When I ran for President, I promised I wouldn’t just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.
So I supported the last administration’s efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we spent on the banks.
To recover the rest, I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks. I know Wall Street isn’t keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.
As we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed…
Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.
On the need to pass a jobs bill into law without delay:
The House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same. People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.
But the truth is, these steps still won’t make up for the seven million jobs we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years.
We cannot afford another so-called economic “expansion” like the one from last decade – what some call the “lost decade” – where jobs grew more slowly than during any prior expansion; where the income of the average American household declined while the cost of health care and tuition reached record highs; where prosperity was built on a housing bubble and financial speculation.
From the day I took office, I have been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious – that such efforts would be too contentious, that our political system is too gridlocked, and that we should just put things on hold for awhile.
For those who make these claims, I have one simple question:
How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?
On putting leadership above politics:
I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it’s an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let’s show the American people that we can do it together.
And on moving forward:
We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.
In the News: OFA Watch Parties Around the Country
Tonight, OFA supporters will gather at hundreds of State of the Union Watch Parties across the country. Here are a few news reports on tonight’s events:
North Carolina Associated Press - “North Carolina Democrats using Obama’s State of the Union speech to mobilize locally”
Democrats in North Carolina are using President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address to organize its efforts locally. The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America group will be hosting watch parties around the state Wednesday night, bringing together local party officials and voters. There will be 37 gatherings in North Carolina, spanning the state. Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, will hold a conference call with volunteers around the country before the State of the Union speech.
Colorado Daily - “Boulder Democrats look to State of the Union speech for new energy”
As President Barack Obama delivers his first State of the Union address on Wednesday night, dozens of Boulder-area Democrats will gather at watch parties to take in the president's words at the end of a difficult first year in office. Democrats say they are frustrated -- but with Congress rather than the president -- and they'll be looking for Obama to take strong stances in the next year as they try to re-create some of the energy that brought the president into office by turning the speech into a communal event. In addition to informal gatherings, Organizing for America -- a project of the Democratic National Committee, which organized volunteers during the president's election campaign -- has coordinated at least seven watch parties in the Boulder area, from Longmont to Jamestown. Mike Kaplan, a rocket scientist with Boeing, will host a dozen people in his Gunbarrel home.
California Contra Costa Times - “Obama supporters set to gather in Arcata for speech”
Volunteers with Organizing for America (OFA) will gather at the home of Barbara Kellogg in Arcata this evening to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address. The speech is scheduled to run tonight from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. ”The Arcata State of the Union Watch Party is one of many planned across California and all 50 states in anticipation of the president's speech laying out his vision for meeting the economic and other challenges currently facing America,” said a press release.
Samantha Gordon, Organizing for America's New Jersey State Director, spoke with a local news station about President Obama's work over the past year and what to expect from his address tonight.
Join an OFA Strategy Call with David Plouffe at a State of the Union Watch Party Tonight
There are only a few hours until President Obama's first State of the Union speech, but you still have time to join an OFA Watch Party near you for tonight's event.
Immediately before the speech, Watch Party attendees will have the chance to join a conference call for a special strategy session with Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe.
Find a Watch Party near you here.
Tonight: President Obama’s First State of the Union Address
The Los Angeles Times reported:
With his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama aims to deliver a game-changing message, one capable of convincing Americans that his policies will create jobs, curb spending and restore prosperity.
He [also] plans to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, they said, and will talk about the need to regulate carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming. The president also will discuss government reform, a senior administration official said, and express concern about the recent Supreme Court decision that opens the way for unlimited political spending by corporations.
Organizing for America supporters will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties across the country tonight, and there is still time to find an event near you.
The President's address will be carried on all major television networks, as well as live online at WhiteHouse.gov or here at BarackObama.com. And for the first time, those with an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch will be able to watch a live video stream of the event on the White House iPhone app, which can be downloaded for free here.
Following the State of the Union address, you can submit a follow-up question and vote on other user submitted questions at YouTube.com/CitizenTube. Next week, the President will answer your questions in a special online event at the White House.
Tonight: President Obama’s First State of the Union Address
The Los Angeles Times reported:
With his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama aims to deliver a game-changing message, one capable of convincing Americans that his policies will create jobs, curb spending and restore prosperity.
He [also] plans to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, they said, and will talk about the need to regulate carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming. The president also will discuss government reform, a senior administration official said, and express concern about the recent Supreme Court decision that opens the way for unlimited political spending by corporations.
Organizing for America supporters will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties across the country tonight, and there is still time to find an event near you.
The President's address will be carried on all major television networks, as well as live online at WhiteHouse.gov or here at BarackObama.com. And for the first time, those with an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch will be able to watch a live video stream of the event on the White House iPhone app, which can be downloaded for free here.
Following the State of the Union address, you can submit a follow-up question and vote on other user submitted questions at YouTube.com/CitizenTube. Next week, the President will answer your questions in a special online event at the White House.
Pre-State of the Union Update from Jeremy Bird
In preparation for President Obama's first State of the Union address, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird gives an update and preview of tomorrow’s speech from outside our nation's Capitol.
"Tomorrow night, as the President speaks from this building right behind me, it's an opportunity for us as Americans to come together, to regroup, revitalize, and refocus our efforts as we move forward...
"We're not backing away from this fight, the President's not backing away, and you're certainly not backing away. We've seen that since Tuesday and we look forward to seeing that throughout the year."
The State of the Union address will air live at 9:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. You can join an OFA State of the Union Watch Party here.
Attend a State of the Union Watch Party
From David Plouffe:
On Wednesday evening, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. It comes at a critical moment.
We must regroup, refocus, and re-engage on the vital work ahead. So let's watch it together at a State of the Union Watch Party in your neighborhood.
We've hit some serious bumps in the road recently in our march toward change. We always knew it would be difficult, but this past week has definitely been a hard one, for all of us.
But this movement didn't come so far without making it through some challenging times. It's at moments like these when we need you most. People are hurting. Our country is at a crossroads, and in communities like yours all across America we must all fight for the progress our families and businesses need to thrive.
The President's resolve has never been stronger to keep fighting for health insurance reform, for lasting job creation, and to rein in the big banks and fight the undue influence of lobbyists. Wednesday's speech will be a pivotal moment for us all to get on the same page and continue the fight together.
In just two days, OFA supporters like you will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties in living rooms and community centers across the country. You can share ideas and experiences -- and I'll be joining on the phone for a special strategy huddle before the speech.
Find and RSVP for a State of the Union Watch Party near you:
http://my.barackobama.com/AttendSOTU
I hope you can join us,
David Plouffe
P.S. -- Volunteers have set up hundreds of Watch Parties over the last few days. But if there isn't one yet near you, just sign up to host one yourself. It's easy and fun, local OFA organizers will help you with any questions you have, and it's an incredibly important way to let supporters near you be part of the action.
New Help for Middle Class Families
Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced new recommendations from the administration’s Middle Class Task Force to help middle class families struggling in today’s tough economy. Coupled with the White House’s emphasis on job creation, these recommendations support long-term efforts to reverse the erosion in security for the middle class. The proposals will be included in the President’s proposed fiscal year 2011 budget, which will be unveiled next week.
The recommendations included:
• Nearly doubling the child and dependent care tax credit for middle class families making under $85,000 a year
• Easing the burden of student debt by limiting students’ federal loan payments to 10 percent of his or her income.
• Helping workers save for retirement by creating a system of automatic workplace IRAs, requiring all employers to give the option for employees to enroll in a direct-deposit IRA.
• Expanding tax credits to match retirement savings and enacting new safeguards to protect retirement savings, making it easier for families to plan for retirement.
• Expanding support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives, helping them manage their multiple responsibilities and allowing seniors to live in the community for as long as possible.
At a joint event with the President, Vice President Biden explained:
Today, living a quality middle class life starts, as it always has, with a good-paying job. And by job, we're not talking about merely a paycheck; it's more than a paycheck. And we're talking about dignity, we're talking about security. We're talking about knowing your pension is safe, your health insurance is reliable, your elderly parents and your children are going to be cared for, your neighborhood is safe, there's decent schools, and that your kids are going to be able to grow up and if they desire and you desire, be able to attend college. It's the old-fashioned notion of American Dream.
President Obama added:
Joe and I are going to keep on fighting for what matters to middle class families: An education that gives our kids a chance in life; new, clean energy economy that generates the good jobs of the future; meaningful financial reform that protect consumers; and health reform that prohibits the worst practices of the insurance industry and restores some stability and peace of mind for middle class families.
None of these steps alone will solve all the challenges facing the middle class. But hopefully some of these steps will reestablish some of the security that's slipped away in recent years. Because in the end, that's how Joe and I measure progress -- not by how the markets are doing, but by how the American people are doing. It's about whether they see some progress in their own lives.
David Plouffe to Democrats: “Fight like hell… and do what the American people sent us to Washington to do”
In today's Washington Post, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe penned an op-ed in which he admits that the Democratic Party received a resounding "wake-up call" from the Massachusetts special election on Tuesday, but he argues that the way forward is to continue to fight, and to show American people that they are capable of doing the hard things that voters sent them to Washington to do.
[The 2010 midterms] will be a tough election for our party and for many Republican incumbents as well. Instead of fearing what may happen, let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern -- that we have the guts to govern. Let's fight like hell, not because we want to preserve our status, but because we sincerely believe too many everyday Americans will continue to lose if Republicans and special interests win.
Plouffe also outlines a few key principles the Democrats can use to be successful in this November, the first of which is passing a meaningful health insurance reform package without delay. He also urges Democrats to focus on job creation, and to do a better job articulating the positive impact American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the economy.
Finally, Plouffe urges Democratic candidates to "run great campaigns," citing many of the same core organizing principles that proved to be so effective during the Obama campaign:
Our campaigns can leave no stone unturned, from believing in the power of grass-roots volunteers and voter registration, to using technology and data innovatively, to raising money -- especially with big corporate interests now freed up to dump hundreds of millions of dollars to elect those who will do their bidding. Democratic candidates must do everything well. Each one must make sure that the first-time voters from 2008 living in your state or district -- more than 15 million nationwide -- are in their sights. Build a relationship with those voters, organize them and educate them. On Nov. 3, many races are sure to be decided by just a few thousand if not a few hundred votes. These voters can make the difference. We have to show them that their 2008 votes mattered, and passing health insurance reform is one way to start.
...If Democrats will show the country we can lead when it's hard, we may not have perfect election results, but November will be nothing like the nightmare that talking heads have forecast.