President Obama Holds Virtual Town Hall Meeting
EmailIn an event the White House billed as the first virtual presidential town hall meeting in American history, President Obama today took six out of 104,097 questions submitted online from citizens, and six from regular people gathered in the East room.
On Tuesday, the White House announced it would be holding the event, prompting 92,932 people to submit text and video questions for the president, casting 3,606,274 votes to determine which would be asked.
"I am thrilled that all of you here in the White House and everybody who is viewing this online is participating in this experiment that we’re trying out," the president said. "You know, when I was running for president, I promised to open up the White House to the American people. And this event, which is being streamed live over the Internet, marks an important step towards achieving that goal."
The White House estimates that roughly 67,000 watched the streaming video of the event, which lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. More watched it on cable news.
The six questions chosen from those submitted to Whitehouse.gov were the top vote-getters in their categories.
"We took votes about which questions were going to be asked, and…3.5 million people voted," the president said, inaccurately. (92,932 people cast 3.6 million votes.) "I have to say that there was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high, and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation."
The president joked, "I don’t know what this says about the online audience but …this was a fairly popular question. We want to make sure that it was answered. The answer is, no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy."
From Education: "The Founding Fathers believed that there is no difference between a free society and an educated society. Our educational system, however, is woefully inadequate. How do you plan to restore education as a right and core cultural value in America?"
From Home Ownership: "President Obama: What benefits from the stimulus plan are there to those of us who are paying our mortgages, but living paycheck to paycheck?"
From Health care: "Why can we not have a universal health care system like many European countries, where people are treated based on needs, rather than financial resources?"
From Veterans: "The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is higher than the national unemployment rate. Our veterans are a national treasure. How can you, the VA and I ensure our veterans are successfully transitioning into civilian life?"
The president offered detailed explanations of policies he’s been pushing on each of these subjects, in some cases for years.
In the second part of the town hall meeting, individual citizens chosen by unions and the Chamber of Commerce to attend, asked questions about health care, education, and taxation on small businesses. After a woman with family members who work for General Motors and Ford asked about help for the ailing auto industry, the president said he would be "making some announcements over the next several days about the auto industry. I don’t want to make all the news here today. So I’m not going to be as specific as you’d like, but I guarantee in the next few days you will have a very extensive answer on what we need to do."
Mr. Obama said "what we’re expecting is that the automakers are going to be working with us to restructure. We will provide them some help. I know that it is not popular to provide help to auto workers or to — to auto companies. But my job is to measure the — the costs of allowing these — these auto companies just to collapse, versus us figuring out, can they come up with a viable plan? If they’re not willing to make the changes and the restructurings that are necessary, then I’m not willing to have taxpayer money chase after bad money. And so a lot of it’s going to depend on their willingness to make some pretty drastic changes."
Mostly, however, the president articulated positions he’s had for quite some time. After a woman named Harriet from Georgia submitted a video question asking, "When do we expect the jobs that have been outsourced to other countries to come back and be made available to the unemployed workers here in the United States?" the president responded that much of the outsourcing was of low-wage, low-skill labor.
"It’s very hard to hang onto those jobs," he said, "because there’s always a country out there that pays lower wages than the U.S. And so we’ve got to go after the high-skilled, high-wage jobs of the future…We’ve got to do is create new jobs that can’t be outsourced."
The president cautioned her that "we’re going to have to be patient and persistent about job creation because I don’t think that we’ve lost all the jobs we’re going to lose in this recession. We’re still going to be in a difficult time for much of this year."
In another video, three female sophomores from Kent State University in Ohio– Alex, Kristen and Mallory — expressed interest in the president taking steps to make college more affordable.
"That was pretty well done," the president said of their video, before discussing national service legislation that will help college students finance their education, attempts to streamline the student loan and student grant programs, and increasing the amount offered in Pell Grants "so that it catches up with inflation."
- jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
are these *really* questions from the public?
Posted by: vinman | March 26, 2009, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
I understand the the economic stimulus package will take some time to take effect, but what I don’t understand is why it is taking the government (senators and represenitive) to decide on what is to be done with the lavish spending by those big companies like AIG! this is really outrageous when their are people trying just to survive. bet they couldn’t handle trading (swap pay) places with one of us for a couple of months!!
Posted by: scott brickman | March 26, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
It’s nice to have a President who seems to realize that he serves at the pleasure of the people and does need to continually justify his policies to his boss.
Posted by: jhw539 | March 26, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
What A great Intelligent President we Have Engaging with the Public very 21st Century too!I wonder when the Republicans are gonna get up with the Times and Become Tech Savy, oh wait they Dont even Have a Leader for their Party yet, or any new Messages, oh well Looks like the Dems are blowing them away again! hahah
Posted by: Angie In PA | March 26, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
scott brickman:”what I don’t understand is why it is taking the government (senators and represenitive) to decide on what is to be done with the lavish spending by those big companies like AIG!”
Curtailing “lavish spending” at AIG means nationalizing it – taking control of the company at the finest level – which the government is loathe to do. And as the lavish spending has essentially no impact on the huge economic problems, focusing on it is really just a pointless feel good measure. It’s fun to beat the captain of the Titanic as you go down, but it’s a much better idea to lock him in a closet and try to find a life boat.
Posted by: jhw539 | March 26, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
“are these *really* questions from the public?”
No – it’s all a hologram – vinman
come out of the basement once in a while
Posted by: urkel | March 26, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
“Two-thirds of U.S. voters (66%) think President Obama is likely to raise taxes on people who less than $250,000 per year. That figure includes 47% who say he is Very Likely to do so. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 18% doubt that will happen.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | March 26, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
There are those who are critical of the press censoring what we get for news, and there are those who are critical of the President for trying to talk directly to the country. Where the questions “real.” Of course they are, and yes, not all of the questions submitted were used. But the very fact that this President is not afraid to try new ways to get the citizens involved in their government is refreshing indeed. Just think, a little over 60 days ago, our country was run by an administration afraid to meet anywhere outside of Washington unless it was a military base, and who’s President couldn’t speak four words without stumpling over two of them. Now, if we can only get Congress to try Cheney for war crimes……
Posted by: Al Geist | March 26, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Where is the news of the GOP budget proposal?
The one that only has a single detail.
29% tax cut for the wealthy. When reporters pressed for details of how they were going to pay for it, they said they would have that in the future.
When reporters pointed out they were expected to vote on the budget next week, they said they would come out with a budget proposal later.
How on earth is the GOP going to balance the budget when they’re only proposal results in a 30% drop in revenue for the government?
Will they cut social security?
Will they cut medicare?
Will they cut ALL military spending?
I’m baffled how the GOP could present such a flimsy budget without coming prepared with some samples of how they will pay for the trillions of dollars of lost revenue.
Posted by: Dan | March 26, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
“Now, if we can only get Congress to try Cheney for war crimes……”
Bulletin for the Slow Reading Group: The Congress has no power to try anyone, except impeachment trials for sitting officials.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | March 26, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
vinman: How do you define public????
Posted by: RS | March 26, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
“How on earth is the GOP going to balance the budget when they’re only proposal results in a 30% drop in revenue for the government?”
It’s an error to assume that a tax cut results in a corresponding drop in revenues. After the Reagan tax cuts federal revenues doubled while he was in office.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | March 26, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
This was such a success in bypassing the msm that it would be shocking if this wasn’t tried again.
Posted by: Matt | March 26, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
The Chicago Tribune reports on the Culture of Corruption:
“Before its portfolio of bad loans helped trigger the current housing crisis, mortgage giant Freddie Mac was the focus of a major accounting scandal that led to a management shake-up, huge fines and scalding condemnation of passive directors by a top federal regulator.
“One of those allegedly asleep-at-the-switch board members was Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel—now chief of staff to President Barack Obama—who made at least $320,000 for a 14-month stint at Freddie Mac that required little effort.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | March 26, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
lmao CNN is apologising for thier reporter asking Obama too “hard” a question…tooo funny.. the koskiddies are upset with CNN for their WH reporter asking O-DUMB-AH a question… this is really funny
Where my money bro?
Posted by: Cabinet of Clowns starring Obama | March 26, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
The GOP secret budget has been released!!!
It is obvious from their budget that creating huge deficits by way of more tax cuts for the wealthy is the way to go!!!and that creating huge deficits by increasing spending and increasing taxes in not the way to go!!! After all, we know how trickle down economics has worked to bring great prosperity and lower federal deficits in the past.
Let’s just label this GOP budget..Bush budget on steroids!!!! It seems obvious that will likely be as successful, knowing how well the economy has progressed during the past 8 years.
Did someone turn back the time clock and W is back?
Posted by: redrockraven | March 26, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
How On Earth will the Gop Balance the Budget?
Newsflash Their not! Their Throwing out there their same old tried Failed Policies and No Explanation how to Pay for it. Their Throwing Mud at the Wall and Hoping it Sticks they are Bankrupt!
Posted by: Angie In PA | March 26, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
Facist Hyena:”After the Reagan tax cuts federal revenues doubled while he was in office.”
Interesting fact, but you present it in a vacuum. Federal revenues experienced a greater increase after the Clinton tax INCREASES were instituted, to the point where the government ran at surplus and the national debt was reduced for the first time since before Reagan. Clear proof that tax increases on the wealthy results in increased revenue (and, incidentally, almost 8 TIMES as many jobs created as after the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy).
Posted by: jhw539 | March 26, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Why would anyone want the Republicans Budget anyway Didnt we try that for 8 Years?
Posted by: Angie In PA | March 26, 2009, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Did anyone bother to watch the republican rebuttal after Obama’s town hall where they said the would unveil a detailed budget of their own? Cause it didnt exist. They said the same things yet again with no details.
Posted by: Ordermonger | March 26, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm
Ordermonger–
Why on earth would Republicans need to provide a rebuttal for an Internet Town Hall loaded with a bunch of groomed questions?
Posted by: vinman | March 26, 2009, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
This was such a success in bypassing the msm that it would be shocking if this wasn’t tried again.
============
How is it so different in “bypassing the msm” than a town-hall town-hall?
67,000 watched it online. That’s all.
The cable channels don’t have to carry it, and won’t if they feel they are being bypassed.
Posted by: MayBee | March 26, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
ORDERMONGER
I Watched the Republicans Debut After the Presidents on line town hall The only thing They did was Bash the President His Budget, and Pelosi. And Pretty Much said the Sky Is Falling they had Nothing!
Posted by: Angie In PA | March 26, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
vinman:”Why on earth would Republicans need to provide a rebuttal for an Internet Town Hall loaded with a bunch of groomed questions?”
They certainly don’t. But after months of no productive contribution, many of their bosses (the American people) would like to see them quit whining and start offering constructive ideas to actually help our nation.
Posted by: jhw539 | March 26, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Last night, I watched Frontline on PBS that did a documentary on America’s deficit!!!
The documentary describe that United States is borrowing money from China, Japan and Saudi Arabia!!
Also, it spoke about how the Bush Administration allowed the “Pay as Go Rule to expire!!!
The projected cost of Health Care from Medicaid and Medicare will soar to 8 trillion dollars!!!
Everyone want their taxes cut putting politics before ECONOMIC!!!!
We have all lived above our means and expect the government to pick up the slack!!!!
President Obama, RAISED TAXES ON ALL, cut out those programs that do not work, give each department of the United States a specific and same amount to operate, bring home all troops, increase taxes on corporate America and closed those loop holes on the RICH!!!
Do what ever it takes to bring down the deficit!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | March 26, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
Go to PBS and click on Frontline!!!!
Investigating report “Ten Trillion and Counting”!!!
It will open your eyes to deficit problem that United States and it’s people are facing!!!!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | March 26, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
We can point fingers at each other or call each other names!!!!!
That won’t solve any of United States problem!!!
We, the American people need to get involved, asap!!!!
SACRIFICE FROM ALL!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | March 26, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
The secrets behind the GOP budget are out!!!
It is obvious from the proposed tax cut for the rich from the current 36% to 25% that the GOP is OWNED by large corporate CEO’s.
How else can anyone explain such an obscene budget proposal??? Who will have to take up the tax shortage slack??? Well obviously it will have to be the middle class!!!
Posted by: redrockraven | March 26, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
“Where is the news of the GOP budget proposal?
The one that only has a single detail.”
To be fair, its a whole brochure with campaign talking points and grand promises.
The DNC is eating them alive on it
Not surprisingly, the Democratic National Committee pounced on the GOP’s budget — or lack thereof. “After 27 days, the best House Republicans could come up with is a 19-page pamphlet that does not include a single real budget proposal or estimate,” said DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan. “While there had been talk that House Republicans were overriding their Senate counterparts to offer a budget alternative, it’s clear after this announcement that neither of them have anything to offer but criticism.
Posted by: Ryan C | March 26, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Not very well planned at all, just like his choice to allocate White House Easter Egg Roll tickets over the internet. Would have been nice to explain what level of Java you need in your browser for the page to work. He’ got donkeys on his team for sure.
Posted by: victimoftheamature | March 26, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
“67,000 watched it online. That’s all.”
A White House official said that at its peak, more than 67,000 people tuned in online to watch Obama field questions and, on a couple of occasions, continue his full-court press on getting his budget passed.
So people were tuning in and out and the peak was 67,000.
“The cable channels don’t have to carry it, and won’t if they feel they are being bypassed.”
Apparently that was not the case.
“The president took the questions most asked from a pool of more than 100,000 sent to the White House Web site by 9 a.m., as well as from the audience that was on hand for the event. Some cable television networks carried the event live.”
Posted by: Ryan C | March 26, 2009, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
@jhw539
I agree. Whining doesn’t contribute anything to a meaningful solution. We shouldn’t allow Republicans’ demonstrable incompetence tarnish Obama’s otherwise brilliant stratagem of simultaneously destroying even more private wealth while growing government at an exponential rate.
Posted by: vinman | March 26, 2009, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
vinman:”otherwise brilliant stratagem of simultaneously destroying even more private wealth while growing government at an exponential rate”
? Where is he destroying personal wealth (the stockmarket is recreating billions of wealth as more of his policy details are firmed up)? And the word “exponential” actually has a definition – I assume you are exaggerating to such an extent for comic effect.
Posted by: jhw539 | March 26, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Apparently that was not the case.
======
As I said, they won’t if they feel they are being bypassed.
Posted by: MayBee | March 26, 2009, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Wouldn’t a sequestered Hawaiian vacation be nice — I mean a vacation for the viewing public, of course.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 26, 2009, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
“As I said, they won’t if they feel they are being bypassed.”
Their frame is being bypassed.
Of course they will carry it, it has some novelty and involves a popular President.
Posted by: Ryan C | March 26, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
We must be the best informed citizens in the history of mankind. It’s an honor to live in the guilded age.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 26, 2009, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
“Did you ever wonder what happened to the INCAS and the Great Egyptian Empire or the ROMAN EMPIRE.”
Various causes for each the only thing we can draw from is that eventually all empires fail.
“Just watch Obama and learn. Obama will do to America what happened to them empires. He is working on destroying this country.”
DontGet818OnMeNow did you post this or was it a name jack?
Posted by: Ryan C the original | March 26, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
@ jhw539
Are you telling me the markets are now rebounding because now investors have more details on his spending plans? That’s an interesting observation.
Am I exaggerating? The President’s comprehensive spending plan propels propels projected debt to exaggeratedlevels. Only my two cents cost you nothing.
Posted by: vinman | March 26, 2009, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
jake, good job of reporting on the TH meeting. I thought the president gave a commanding performance. Sharing his own experience was something we did not get in the 2 other pcs and IMHO, I thought it was quite effective. His answers 2 the college cost, veterans, and health insurance were particularly strong.
Posted by: tw | March 26, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
RECENTLY, EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE VOICING THEIR OPINION ON THE SIGNS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. THEY SAY, THE BEST INDICATOR IS, “EXTRA MONEY IN THE BANK AND AN INCREASE IN CONSUMER SPENDING.” I BELIEVE, BEFORE EARTHLY MANIFESTATION, “EVERYTHING STARTS IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD.” ALL GREAT IDEAS MUST FOLLOW THE PATH OF, “THINK IT, SPEAK IT, AND THEN, DO IT.” SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, “I BELIEVE THE SIGN OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS A ‘HAPPY’ SOCIETY.” THIS IS WHY I SAY, “TO INCREASE ‘HAPPINESS’ IS TO INCREASE SPENDING.” AROUND THE END OF FEBRUARY AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MARCH, I NOTICED, “A CHANGE IN THE MINDSET OF THE PEOPLE FROM YEARS OF ENORMOUS STRESS AND WORRY TO IMMENSE JOY AND HAPPINESS.” IN FACT, “THEY SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT ‘TOO’ HAPPY.” COULD THIS BE A SIGN OF THE ‘STIMULUS’ PLAN WORKING? IS THIS A SIGN OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY? OR, COULD IT BE, “THE RECENT RECEIPT OF A ‘BIG’ WHOPPING TAX REFUND, OR, THE ABILITY TO DRIVE ‘BIG’ CARS LIKE VANS, OR SUV’S WITHOUT GOING BROKE!!!” WELL, WHATEVER THE REASON FOR THE SUDDEN BURST OF JOY, PEACE, LOVE, FRIENDLINESS, AND HAPPINESS IN THE AIR, I HAVE TO SAY, “I LIKE IT!!!”
Posted by: Sandy Obu | March 26, 2009, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
The most popular measure in response to the Great Depression was the repeal of Prohibition.
I don’t think it is a good idea for Obama to make light of the efforts to legalize or decriminalize marijuana.
It is a very popular idea, and it is going to happen eventually.
What does it say when our most precious crop is not only not taxed, but we also waste billions trying to eliminate it?
Posted by: Flash Override | March 26, 2009, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
I respect Obama he is a talented politician, President Obama seems to posse’s insightful, reasonable judgment on many issues, although in the case of marijuana prohibition laws I find Obama’s choice to answer with mocking humor to be lacking. Smoking marijuana is an easy thing to laugh about, it seems there is something about being stoned that brings a smile to people’s faces, however marijuana prohibition is not a joke. We should not be making jokes as millions of Americans are arrested for being caught on the wrong side of moral politicking, we should not laugh as we spend over 30 billion dollars a year going after Americans for smoking weed, we should not giggle and poke fun as we watch billions of dollars in tax revenue slip through our fingers each year, and should we not be jolly as thousands of people are murdered by cartels profiting from America’s moral hypocrisy. I believe there are profound latent consequences in prohibition that are not even factored in to our assessments of the effects of illegality, such as how we view the rule of law and the role of law enforcement in the community, the divisiveness between users and non users, the stigma of mental shock of incarceration. I say pot prohibition is no joke it has real costs paid for in real lives. Freedom is achieved in a country by placing responsibility in the hands of the citizen and not by the state legally enforcing morality.
Posted by: SunflowerPipes | March 30, 2009, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Wow. We shall see how successful this rookie President will be in restoring the economy. Anyone remember Jimmy Carter?
Posted by: Michael Ray Thompson | April 3, 2009, 11:10 am 11:10 am