Selling the Stimulus in Elkhart, Ind.
EmailABC News’ Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller Report from Elkhart, Ind.:
President Barack Obama took his economic stimulus pitch on the road today, with a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind., where he warned that the recession could deepen if the government does not act fast.
"The situation we face could not be more serious," the president told a crowd of 1,700 packed into Concord Community High School’s gymnasium. "More people will lose their homes and their health care. And our nation will sink into a crisis that, at some point, we may be unable to reverse."
The president is trying to push Congress to pass his economic stimulus plan, and today he warned that, "Endless delay or paralysis in Washington in the face of this crisis will bring only deepening disaster."
The president told the crowd that once passed, the money would be released "quickly and wisely." He touted his administration’s recovery.gov website, which will give people the ability to track stimulus spending. "Understand that this bill does not have a single earmark in it, which is unprecedented for a bill of this size," Obama said. That line drew applause.
As to the size of the bill, President Obama says he wants to see more money for education funding. "I’ll be honest with you, the Senate version cut a lot of these education dollars. I would like to see some of them restored," Mr. Obama said.
With the closure of local recreational vehicle manufacturing plants, this part of Indiana has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn. Unemployment in the region has hit 15.3 percent, more than twice the national average.
One of those residents out of work is Byron Gilbert of South Bend, who lost his job at an auto manufacturing plant last year and has been working odd jobs to support his family.
"The numbers are real. It just keeps getting worse every day," Gilbert said, shaking his head. "You can’t open a newspaper, watch any of the news broadcasts without seeing devastating results of this economy. When you think of thousands of people getting laid off at one time you wonder, where’s it gonna end?"
The president took eight questions in a back and forth that lasted just under 40 minutes. One of them drew boos from the crowd when a young woman who identified herself as Tara said, "You’ve come to our county and asked us to trust you, but those that you have appointed to your Cabinet are not trustworthy and can’t handle their own budget and taxes."
The crowd booed, but the president proceeded to answer saying that that the criticism was "legitimate" because, "you can’t expect one set of folks to not pay their taxes when everybody else is paying theirs." However, Obama defended his tax-troubled nominees, saying he believes they made honest mistakes. "If you’re not going to appoint anybody who’s ever made a mistake in your life, then you’re not going to have anybody taking your jobs," he said.
In answering a question about home foreclosures, Obama also took a not-so-subtle hit at former rival Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., "If you are like most people, including me, and you’ve got one house," he said with a smile. " Now, keep in mind, the house that I’m in, in D.C., I’m just borrowing that. That’s the people’s house." Last August, when asked by a reporter how many homes he owned, Sen. McCain could not remember.
Obama worked the rope line briefly before leaving to fly back to Washington D.C. Many in the crowd wore Obama t-shirts and hats, though outside there were a few signs of dissent. A small group of protestors waved pink pig-shaped signs that read, "Obama Pelosi Reid = Pork" and "Don’t Enslave Our Children with Your Pork."
– Yunji de Nies & Sunlen Miller
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Posted by: jeff | February 9, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
And he went there why?
Posted by: why? | February 9, 2009, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
The recreational vehicle industry wont came back, just because you fix schools and roads, and when those jobs are finished then what will you do??????
Diverting his answers about housing to Sen.McCain won’t bring jobs eihter.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 9, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
I watched the Town Hall,I thought President Obama did great. He explained His Plan, how it will work, And answered Peoples Questions. Its sad How Limbaugh has some people MisInformed Good Job President Obama keep up the good work!
Posted by: Angie | February 9, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
To state that there are no earmarks in this bill is a lie. What fools believe this crap?
Posted by: cindy | February 9, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Keep head down, PBO, rather than fighting for Your socialist way and colliding with an helicopter; it will help make a better judgment on our economy.
Posted by: scooter | February 9, 2009, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Why?… Our President went to Elkhart because their unemployment rate is 15% or higher. Obviously, you can’t relate to that, can you? You and ‘jeff’ must be among those Republicans that believe there is only one political party in this nation… The Republican party! The one that doesn’t give a hoot about Main Street America! Scare tactics belong to the Republican party. Fact – America is in dire straits and we need to get our Country back on the right track – for Main Street America! Our President is saying it like it is – it is really, really bad in America, and it is going to take several years to turn things around. Of course, you guys think the President should have made it wonderful the first week he was in office. No, come to think of it, you Republicans would never admit to a Democrat doing things correctly – even if it were ‘perfect’.
Posted by: Sandi | February 9, 2009, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
“if you are like most people, including me, and you’ve got one house,”
=====
And that is a lie. He has a Whitehouse and a Rezko House; two, at least, for his personal use – one that he may pay taxes and one he does not pay taxes.
Posted by: scooter | February 9, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Scooter
Please explain to me How the Presidents plans are socialisit? I think you listen to Limbaugh way to much lay off the man Listen and use your own brain for once!
Posted by: Angie | February 9, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
Angie,
His classification of 95% of Americans as “middle class” (although how in the world 95% all belong to the middle class is beyond me) and his propaganda of using this class of citizens of the “United States of America” against that 5% of “rich” class of Americans are classic examples of Marx theory. He is a good student; you should learn from PBO to learn Marx’s theories to understand it.
“I won!” So did half Europe and half Asia in the early part of the 20th century. And, half of the Americas in the 21th century.
Man, excuse me, woman, if you were in the USSR, you would have been sent to the re-education camp in the Siberia. Then, you would know.
Posted by: scooter | February 9, 2009, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
I wasn’t able to watch. Can anyone tell me if he addressed the reason a town that is built on the RV industry has 15% unemployment? Did he say anything about how $4 a gallon gasoline was just about right but we should get there slower? Did he tell them their industry was causing global warming and needed to die? Did he explain to them that the very people they want him to tax to death are the people who purchase their product? Did he mention that only union workers will be building those schools? Roads? Bridges? Something tells me he didn’t and something else tells me he never will answer questions about his conflicting views. Good luck Elkhart. You have been used by a masterful campaigner.
Posted by: Sue | February 9, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
” Now, keep in mind, the house that I’m in, in D.C., I’m just borrowing that. That’s the people’s house.” – Missed that part huh scooter, so what other basic things have you not gotten?
Posted by: try the truth | February 9, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
PS. according to practitioners of Marx Theory, fighting against the bourgeoisie is only a show for you proletariat to see. To achieve their ambitions, they need the super rich and they are really the same. So, after his speeches, he invites and dines with those rich in his house.
Posted by: scooter | February 9, 2009, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
Maybe if the Dems like Obama would let us drill for oil, and stop the fraud of Global Warming, then may be there would not be 15% unemployment there!!
Obama has failed us, he is playing on our fears!!
Even the democrat CBO (Budget office) states that Obama’s and the libs Stimulus plan will hurt our economy, it would be better to do nothing!!
1929 again!!
Posted by: spock | February 9, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Amazing- we have socialism or welfare or whatever scooter and friends would like to call it for people who make $100′s of millions a year, who think they deserve $80,000 rugs and bonuses for policies that cause us to lose our jobs and yet when the president talks about doing something to put US back to work – scooter and friends go bananas
either they have enough money that they don’t need to worry or they are so far gone they don’t know they are being fooled.
Posted by: jane | February 9, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
wasn’t bammers screeching just a short time back about how terrible it was to use scare tactics?
that didn’t last long.
Posted by: fredq | February 9, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
I didn’t hear him mention any of the programs he buried in this spending bill . . .such as the national health care which will, eventually, determine what health care is appropriate for us and what is too expensive for us. i guess old folks should do their patriotic duty and go off and die somewhere. Can’t wait until he tells that to the seniors in the US.
This spending bill is scary, and is not built to stimulate the economy. the only thing this bill will stimulate is socialism. Defeat it!!!
Posted by: JoeCollins | February 9, 2009, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
Sue sd:
“Can anyone tell me if he addressed the reason a town that is built on the RV industry has 15% unemployment? ”
The “community organizer” with 3 years of attorney’s experience said it and by God, it has to be correct. So what if Barry has lived on the public dole for all 47 years of his existence, Angie just knows that Barry can spend 800 billion dollars in 2012 for condoms and election rigging to create a job in 2009.
He is the “messiah” after all.
Posted by: LogicalUS | February 9, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
The biggest criticism about the stimulus bill is that it does not seem poised to be able to answer the problems that we are currently facing economically as a nation and that there is significant risk with the debt the government is thinking about backing:
The question is then what is really going? Is this nothing more than an opportunity for the Democrats to get some pet projects funded?
What will the voters think of this abuse of power?
Posted by: Dan D. | February 9, 2009, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Many readers here seem confused and it is hard to blame them, since the media is obviously not doing its job.
We’re talking here about a $450 billion spending bill, not an $800 billion spending bill. Try to get your facts straight, people.
The remainder of the bill is tax cuts.
Posted by: Flash Override | February 9, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Gosh, is anyone else beginning to get just a little bored with the petty people who keep screaming their political vomit on the rest of us?
I have to admit that the Rush Hannity Crowd is, if nothing else, indefatigable.
However, according to the new Gallup poll, about 65% of America supports the President on his economic recovery package. Since he only got 53% of the vote in November, we see that his support has gone UP since he was elected.
Hey, Ditto Heads…
He won!
Get use to it.
Yes. We. Can.
Posted by: Jan | February 9, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
I am getting tired of the petty, haughty remarks by our president. He is doing more to divide America by class, race and political thought than any other president in modern times. This is still a Democracy, right?
It’s like living in Bizarro world. Take what the Dems and most of the media say and reverse it to get to the truth. This stimulus bill just puts us further behind and in the hole. Don’t pass it!
Posted by: Enough! | February 9, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
Ok can someone who thinks this bill is a good thing enlighten me how spending millions and billions for bike trails, zoo exhibits and museums, bee insurance, is going to help pay our bills please tell me, maybe if this bill didn’t have so much unnecessary spending in it i might have a different view but come on people wake up how will this help us. All these people saying oh tax cuts are not the way well why don’t you pay my taxes since you enjoy working hard for the government to take 28% out in taxes guess you would say no but you would be the first to cry if everyone else got a tax break and you didn’t we are being taxed to death and utility companies are making a killing from us not to mention insurance, rent, gas, water, sanitation, trash, medical bills, interest rates and noone caps what they can charge most families are living paycheck to paycheck and sometimes having to borrow from high interest check cashing places but hey lets not throw them a bone better to make sure we have bee insurance and bike trails. And that new polar bear exhibit yes i can see how that will change my life and help me pay the bills that will make all the difference just what i needed instead of the money coming back to me the polar bear will have a nice place to live while people live in cardboard boxes he will have a nice set up yes that really makes sense.
Ok how bout i loan you 200.00 and instead of payin your bills which are past due you spend it on cds you think that will stmulate your economy no you will find yourself living under a bridge.
This bill is a way of he government sayin yes we will spend what we want and once again you will pay for it and our friends I mean after all the latest new the CEO’s of the banks are planning a vegas vacation with the next round of our hard earned bailout money don’t believe me look it up its so nice to know i can’t afford a vegas vacation but I can pay for there’s.
This is why the economy is messed up because of the stupid people who believe this bill is good and spending money you don’t have and can’t afford on stupid stuff is a great idea since when has that ever worked out for any regular person, for us regular people I believe they call it theft. The government has become nothing more than a mooch they borrow from other countries and expect us to pay the bill while they enjoy spending the money
Posted by: cristine | February 9, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
“He is doing more to divide America by class, race and political thought than any other president in modern times.”
While the gulf between Rush listeners and the real world has never been greater, I think Rush has alot to do with that.
“This is still a Democracy, right?”
Actually its a representative democracy or republic.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 9, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
Well at least he is back to something he knows how to do. Campaign.
That makes one thing he knows how to do.
Campaigning is so consistent with his congenital inability to tell the truth.
Posted by: notafool | February 9, 2009, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
But Flash, many of those “tax cuts” go to people who do not pay income taxes, so they are ‘spending’ after a fashion as well. *G* The money to send to these people has to come from somewhere.
Posted by: moderate | February 9, 2009, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
where are you people getting your numbers? his approval rating is 65% not the approval for the spending bill. (his words) the latest polls for this spending bill (his words) is more like 35% approval . That means what? 65% are against it? Redo it. this time actually create/save some jobs. They say it could take up to two years for this to kick in. Okay, we’re losing 500,000 or so jobs a month. In 2 years that will be 12 million. But hey, Obama’s bill will create or save 3 million (9 mill will be sol)but don’t worry! Come on! redo it! spend money on shovel ready jobs, put more money into our hands and be done with it. If they don’t want to change it just pass it already. They (the dems) are holding this thing up and trying to blame republicans. They say they have the votes so do it already. People want to be taken care of by their government so give the people what they want and get on with life.
Posted by: whybother | February 9, 2009, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
I jusr listen to the President. I am 77 years old. I have listen to all Presidents including FDR. This man does not have a clue about running a business or a country. He is a great speaker but did you notice that he never looks you in the eye (camera).
he said that we are failures and he so wrong.
The reason Elkart,IN is the highest unemployment area of the country is because of th cost of gas. This has happen in Elkart before in the 80′s because of the cost of gas.
He wants to reduce our dependent on foreign oil. He never said lets get all the oil we have or develope nuclear
plants. There are so many more errors in this if you hve a brain.
Posted by: C P LEWIS | February 9, 2009, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
“Attention American People”, President Obama’s stimulus package, must be passed.President Obama warned about the Wall Street crash a few years ago, and what did the Republicans do? Nothing! You must voice your support for the stimulus package plan by contacting your Congressmen! Republicans are Rich, and dont care about the average American, who has to struggle to get by day by day!Stand up and voice your support now!
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