Obama To Target GOP “Pledge To America” On Upcoming Trip
ABC News' Mary Bruce Reports: With just five weeks until the midterm elections, President Obama will target the House Republican “Pledge To America” during three backyard conversations on his upcoming trip.
In addition to discussing the economy at each stop, the president will tackle education, taxes, deficits, and the middle class during stops in Albuquerque, NM, Des Moines, Iowa and Richmond, Va. Each stop will have a different, specific focus.
The president will “talk about some of the things we’ve done in these areas and why he thinks the direction the Republicans are pushing to go would be irresponsible, would be a mistake,” White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told reporters on a conference call this afternoon.
The president will start with education at an event tomorrow in Albuquerque. “The Republicans are proposing one of, if not the largest cut in education’s history,” Pfeiffer said, estimating there will be eight million college students who would have their aid reduced under the Republican plan.
In Des Moines on Wednesday the president will highlight the impact of the GOP’s proposals for the middle class. “In particular, a return to the era of recklessness and irresponsibility by cutting rules and oversight for special interests like big oil, insurance companies, credit card and mortgage companies,” Pfeiffer explained. “This would represent a disturbing return to a set of rules that helped create the financial crisis we’re in.”
Obama is also expected to touch on Social Security and Medicare. According to Pfeiffer, “one notable thing about the Republican plan is not just what they talk about, it’s what they don’t talk about. The pledge glides over plans to privatize Social Security and Medicare, two things that have been an important part of the Republican agenda in the past and there’s no indication it won’t be part of that in the future.”
Later in the day, the president will turn his focus to taxes and the deficit at a stop in Richmond. “Let’s be very clear, if you like deficits, you will love the Republican plan,” Pfeiffer said.
Despite highlighting key differences between the Democrats and Republicans, Pfeiffer was adamant that the president is not campaigning. “These three backyard visits are not campaign visits,” he said.

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Posted by: MayBee | September 27, 2010, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
no one cares or believes this clown anymore.anything is better than what obama has done.they know it we all know it.
Posted by: catman | September 27, 2010, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
catman writes: no one cares or believes this clown anymore.anything is better than what obama has done.they know it we all know it.
————————————-
Really, anything is better than Obama? You mean like saying your a Christian and then starting the biggest monumental disaster this country ever made? (Iraq war). You are another one that has obviously a very short memory!
Posted by: jackson | September 27, 2010, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
I agree Obama promised us kids the world and will not deliver! Screw the dems I joined the Tea Party.
Posted by: BOBlows | September 27, 2010, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Hey, our Smartest Clueless Lead has everything under control – Obama says Rahm must decide on mayoral race quickly – except he did not know if his top adviser will be around the next day.
Hope, hope you can believe in his ability to get the best advice from someone whose only concern is to leave him or not to leave him.
Posted by: skinny dogs | September 27, 2010, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
ABC’s Jake Tapper Hits Dems for Playing the ‘Fear Card,’ CBS, NBC Silent on Alan Grayson’s Military Smear
Good job Tapper
Obama———Verses———-America
Posted by: Yep I said that | September 27, 2010, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
The Christiane Amanpour as “This Week” host experiment so far is a huge failure for ABC as ratings have plummeted since she took over the Sunday political talk show..
Coming back sooner than later Jake?
Obama—–verses——–America
Posted by: Yep I said that | September 27, 2010, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
Obama Administration: “Let’s be very clear, if you like deficits, you will love the Republican plan . . .”
If the people like deficits, they’d continue voting Democrat as Obama and Democrats tripled the deficit and doubled the national debt left by Bush. You Democrats have “spent” whatever credibility people mistook you for having when it comes to fiscal conservatism. The people have grown tired of the recycled lies repeated by Democrats every election cycle, and they will show just how tired they’ve become in November.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
NBC Finds Most Americans Oppose Repeal of ObamaCare, But CBS Reports ‘Just 30%’ Favor ObamaCare
HUH?????? radical left wing networks with damaged brains????
Obama——-verses———America
Posted by: Yep I said that | September 27, 2010, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
“Obama To Target GOP “Pledge To America” On Upcoming Trip” – ABC News
[sarcasm]
Always the Diplomat and Statesman.
Always a President to all of the Americans out there.
Our President never misses a chance to be positive.
[/sarcasm]
Our dear beloved president Obama is always something to behold.
Has there ever been a President like him before?
Posted by: Noz | September 27, 2010, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Mr President I am puzzled. You choose to campaign against an innocuous pledge? Why not tout your legislative successes, or Nobel Prize, of Chicago Olympic effort, or economic team, or……..Oh now I understand why you choose to blame, belittle and project……You are a failure!
Posted by: pauldia | September 27, 2010, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
“Later in the day, the president will turn his focus to taxes and the deficit at a stop in Richmond. “Let’s be very clear, if you like deficits, you will love the Republican plan,” Pfeiffer said.”
Did he say this while holding back laughter?
Posted by: J.R. | September 27, 2010, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
“Despite highlighting key differences between the Democrats and Republicans, Pfeiffer was adamant that the president is not campaigning. “These three backyard visits are not campaign visits,” he said.”
Now that’s puzzling. The pledge is a sort of campaign thrust for Republicans but refuting it is not a campaign event.
It doesn’t really matter, every speech/appearance this guy makes is a campaign event. It’s all he knows.
Posted by: J.R. | September 27, 2010, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
“Let’s be very clear, if you like deficits, you will love the Republican plan,” Pfeiffer said.”
Did he say this while holding back laughter?
Posted by: J.R. | Sep 27, 2010 4:46:09 PM
Hard to do it while laughing since the Republicans under Bush doubled the national debt with their deficits, and the Republican tax breaks for the richest will cause even larger deficits.
Posted by: Tommy | September 27, 2010, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Poll’s More Respondents Blame Those Same Congressional Republicans For Current Economic Problems:41% To 35%
http://t.co/I6Rtp1R
_______________
Political Wire: Polling Disconnect of the Day
A new CNN poll finds a plurality of Americans believe Congressional Republicans have better solutions than Democrats to our economic mess, 47% to 41%.
However, Greg Sargent digs into the poll’s internals and finds that more respondents blame those same Congressional Republicans for our current economic problems, 41% to 35%.
Posted by: One-0-One | September 27, 2010, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
I don’t see how we Republican’s figure we could ever again, win another election, who will vote for us; not the gay, not the Mexican, not the military, not the young, not the black, not the Jew, not the Muslin, no woman in her right mind, no rational person with reasonable expectations. I think we’re toast (white toast).
Posted by: david moore | September 27, 2010, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
OK ABC,let’s fact check this trip is it a campaign trip paid out of the DNC coffers or is it on the backs of the taxpayers?
Asa matter of fact aren’t most of Obama’s trips just thinly veiled campaign trips? Why are you not chiding him for mocking republicans on our nickel, OOPS, I meant our million!
Really it doesn’t matter that republicans got us into debt, this Obama character is trying to spend us out of that debt and has failed miserably. He has grown the debt to a point that it is probably beyond resolution. If he stopped his spending now it would take more than 50 years of zero deficits and half trillion dollar debt payments to resolve the debt.
So what do we do? Cut him soke slack and vote to keep His Pelosi/Reid congress in place so he can keep on this spending plan. Trust him it’s a good plan devised by some college professors. Have you ever heard of Professors Cloward and Piven?
Posted by: Ed Taylor | September 27, 2010, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Tommy: “. . . Republicans under Bush doubled the national debt with their deficits . . .”
That was over an 8 year period which encompassed an inherited recession, 9/11, Katrina, and 2 foreign wars. Obama tripled the deficit and doubled the national debt left by Bush in just 1 year with nothing to show for it. Where’s your outrage over that?
Tommy: “. . . and the Republican tax breaks for the richest will cause even larger deficits.”
That’s only if the out-of-control spending doesn’t stop. I wouldn’t expect you to know that as Democrats only speak of tax increases and borrowing when considering options for controlling the deficit. They don’t know what these “spending cuts” conservatives speak of mean, and as a result, neither do you.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, Obama spends money and the country goes crazy.
Bush starts two wars we can’t fight and that took billions, I repeat, billions from our budget and the country votes him back in. Can’t wait for Nov.
I ready for another war we can’t fight.
Posted by: jackson | September 27, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Obama . . . doubled the national debt left by Bush in just 1 year
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 27, 2010 5:21:07 PM
That is a complete lie. The actual figures can be found at the Bureau of the Public Debt, Department of the Treasury web site – where it shows the national debt under “Our History” “Debt to the Penny”.
A little legitimate research goes a long way. Something sadly lacking from the Republican right.
Posted by: Tommy | September 27, 2010, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
“Let’s be very clear, if you like deficits, you will love the Republican plan,” Pfeiffer said.”
—
Exactly. Deficits can take care of themselves said Republican heroes, Reagan, Bush, Cheney…. and the GOP’s plan is more of the same.
Meanwhile, right wingers mention an inherited recession (and a mild one at that, alongside an inherited budget surplus) for Bush with no light bulb moments in regard to our current sitution…. geniuses, they aren’t.
Posted by: true blue | September 27, 2010, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
Anonymous said at 5:30…”Republicans run and win on their principles”…And what “principles” are that beyond being the “lap dogs” for the wealthiest in our nation? Do you know where the “bulk” of the fall’s GOP campaign “war chest” came from, “Anonymous”? 4,000 individuals. Now you split up those “donations” concerning the amount generated and who do you think that “represents’? And is it any wonder why the GOP filibustered campaign finance reform? Is that the type of “country” you want to try and exist in? If so, you must be one of them…not middle class.
Posted by: CND FOX | September 27, 2010, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
Obama can blabber all he wants to, few are listening to him anymore, and even fewer believe a word he says. The Tea Party Movement now has more support than Obama does.
According to the latest POLITICO / George Washington University Battleground Poll,only 38 percent of respondents said Obama deserves to be reelected. Forty-four percent said they will vote to oust him, and 13 percent said they will consider voting for someone else.
It’s Obama’s policies that are hurting him right now. By a 13-point margin, voters are down on the health care law. In an especially troubling sign, more than half of self-identified independents — 54 percent — have an unfavorable opinion of the law, compared with just 38 percent who have a favorable opinion.
The Tea Party Movement, which has emerged as the biggest threat to Democrats’ dominance of Washington, is viewed favorably by 43 percent of respondents, compared with 35 percent who view it unfavorably. In the eight-state Mountain West region, more than half — 53 percent — have a favorable view of the tea party movement.
Posted by: SamAdams25 | September 27, 2010, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Obama can blabber all he wants to, few are listening to him anymore, and even fewer believe a word he says.
Posted by: SamAdams25 | Sep 27, 2010 5:53:58 PM
When you start off with nonsense like this, it’s hard to give any credit to the rest of your post.
The President gets positive job approval from 44% of those polled – which is remarkable given the economic collapse the President inherited. Pres. Reagan fell to 35% approval during his first term due to the harsh economic environment he found himself in.
Those of you on the extreme right who are counting their chickens before they hatch might be in for a big surprise come November.
People have not forgotten the mess the Republicans made of the country the last time they were in.
Posted by: ChuckieJ | September 27, 2010, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
“Really it doesn’t matter that republicans got us into debt”
Spoken like the abusive husband…
Posted by: Ryan C | September 27, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
“Really it doesn’t matter that republicans got us into debt”
Spoken like the abusive husband…
Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 27, 2010 6:40:24 PM
“Come back to me honey, I won’t beat you again.”
Posted by: Perry | September 27, 2010, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
Notice how nobody in the Tea Party — or even anybody in the GOP — tells the voters how stupid they are like the Democrats always do?
Change can only come from outside pressure. Americans must come together to demand a new approach to governing.
Individual responsibility is the key to all accomplishment. It is also the key to accountability. Who is responsible for the failures in government? No one, because government has become a bureaucratic swamp.
Posted by: bl | September 27, 2010, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
“Notice how nobody in the Tea Party — or even anybody in the GOP — tells the voters how stupid they are like the Democrats always do”
If campaigning as a fiscal conservative who has major personal financial problems or campaigning as a social conservative when you patronize prostitutes or if you as a national party roll out a new campaign pledge that is basically identical the campaign pledge you have made every election in the last 20 years I would say you’re telling the voter loud and clear that you think they’re stupid
Posted by: Ryan C | September 27, 2010, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Anonymous: “Obama . . . doubled the national debt left by Bush in just 1 year with nothing to show for it. Where’s your outrage over that?”
Tommy: “That is a complete lie. The actual figures can be found at the Bureau of the Public Debt, Department of the Treasury web site”
When you look at it as a percentage of GDP it’s nearly doubled. Dollar-for-dollar, Obama “only” increased the national debt left by Bush by about 70%. Regardelss of how you look at it, Democrats have no credibility lecturing Republicans over debt when they are much worse offenders. I say again, where’s your outrage over that?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
chuckie j …i travel the u.s. on business frequently and nobody ive come accross has any faitrh in this administration, and these are people who employ people. all hat and no cattle best decribes the current administartion.
Posted by: catman | September 27, 2010, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
“When you look at it as a percentage of GDP it’s nearly doubled”
ROFLMAO!
Need any help moving those goalposts?
Posted by: Ryan C | September 27, 2010, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
“chuckie j …i travel the u.s. on business frequently and nobody ive come accross has any faitrh in this administration”
Didn’t you tell us in 2008 that no one was gonna vote for Obama?
Posted by: Ryan C | September 27, 2010, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
ryan..i told you obamanomics would be a failure as well as the stimulas…need i say more. once the economy tanked in october 2008 obamas plans became worthless and should have been abandoned.his whole existance was based taking from the producers in this country and villifying them. now we have no producers and no jobs. cnn has obama at 42%. thats pretty bad considering its a left leaning group to begin with.best of luck but tax and spend doesnt work. we have repeated the same failures of fdr.
Posted by: catman | September 27, 2010, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
What happened to the recovery summer of 2010?
The recession ended in June 2009. In early 2009 Pres Barry decided to waste $800 billion on a problem that was already solved by Pres Bush’s TARP.
Pres Barry thwarted the recovery by wasting resources and crowding out the private sector. And we have to pay w/ a 10% unemployment rate 16 months from the bottom (6/09).
Keep in mind that the Democrats have had the super majority (House and Senate) for Pres Barry for all of 2009/2010. They could have passed anything they wanted to but Obama’s priorities came first.
Pres Barry insisted on Bailouts and Healh Care overhaul which is going to cost all of us for years to come. Also don’t forget the 2009 stimulus that Pres Barry insisted on would save jobs and would keep unemployment below 8%. Did Pres Barry mean to say he needs to pass a government stimulus every year?
Posted by: bl | September 27, 2010, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
The House passed the legislation last week on a 237-187 vote, with 13 Democrats opposing the bill.
Rep. Walter Jones (N.C.) was the sole Republican to support the bill.
_______________________
The legislation includes $12 billion in tax breaks for small businesses and a $30 billion fund to encourage community banks to make loans to small businesses.
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) lobbied for the fund, which would provide incentives to banks with less than $10 billion in assets to make loans to small businesses.
Obama first proposed the fund in his State of the Union address, but congressional lawmakers did not cast votes on the measure until months later, after they and the administration rewrote the details of the proposal.
Posted by: One-0-One | September 27, 2010, 7:48 pm 7:48 pm
CND FOX: “And what “principles” are that beyond being the “lap dogs” for the wealthiest in our nation?”
Is it any better than being a lapdog to Democrat politicians? Republicans realize the successful in our country should be encouraged for their efforts, not exploited. The rich still pay taxes at a greater rate, and they also pay most of all taxes collected. Democrats have a love-hate relationship with the rich — they hate the rich, but love taxing them. Unfortunately for the rest of the country, the rich also encompass small business, which is where most of our new jobs come from. That’s not to mention the other inherent stimulating affects the rich have on the economy. Democrats don’t like talking about the good that comes from the most successful in our country.
CND FOX: “Now you split up those “donations” concerning the amount generated and who do you think that “represents’? . . . Is that the type of “country” you want to try and exist in?”
No, in my country, the US, representation is determined by votes, not donations. I’m not sure what country you’re thinking of.
CND FOX: “If so, you must be one of them…not middle class.”
Nope, just middle class. I just recognize what’s fair and good for our economy, just like Republicans.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Wow! The Tea Parties and this “Pledge to America” have really gotten inside Obama’s head. He cannot take any criticism or consider anyone else’s viewpoint, can he?
As the President, you’d think he’d be more concerned about the economy…
Posted by: Bo, PWD | September 27, 2010, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm
Republicans and tea joke are silly.
Posted by: honorer | September 27, 2010, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
OBAMA knowledge is too much for Republicans because is not a moron.
Posted by: honorer | September 27, 2010, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
david moore: “I don’t see how we Republican’s figure we could ever again, win another election, who will vote for us; not the gay, not the Mexican, not the military, not the young, not the black, not the Jew, not the Muslin, no woman in her right mind, no rational person with reasonable expectations. I think we’re toast (white toast).”
Being a Democrat it probably does seem odd that Republicans could win elections without having to resort to pandering to certain classes and races like they do. Instead, Republicans run and win on their principles, which transcend shallow class and race boundaries. That’s why Republicans have and will continue to garner votes from all of the groups you mention.
It’s no wonder Democrats see racism in Republicans — it’s a projection of themselves.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2010, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
Republicans run and win on their principles , ,,
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 27, 2010 8:49:16 PM
Surely you jest. Bush ran on ‘less taxes and smaller government’ and we know where that got us under the Republican administration – bigger government, double the national debt and an almost depression-era economic collapse.
Enough already.
Posted by: Santos | September 27, 2010, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
moaners and snivilers LISTEN UP
We can read all this kind of BS in the papers What we can’t read is the Solutions to OUR Problems. (It’s called Government) OUR PROBLEMS and our Solutions must come from US not a controling body of polititions that’s NOT our government WE are the Government, and until we get it back it will stay corupt.
Automation is the 70ies was machines and convayor belts The NEW PRICE of a car was around $4,500 With the automation we have today (NO PEOPLE JOBS) The cars cost around $40,000 mmmmmmmmm Does this mean if we took away the automation and put people back to work the auto company could make a cheaper car?
Posted by: BillSaidIt | September 28, 2010, 3:20 am 3:20 am
Medical Insurance – “It’s a Cadillac”
NO IT’S BENEFITS AND BENEFITS ARE WAGES right out of my pocket Do you really think the Company gives it to you?
Then why don’t you have the Company pay your Auto Home and Fire insurance “for free” They DO NOT have to make any of your payments That’s your job. You buy what you can afford if you can’t PAY CASH Doctors Will except payments. been there done that. EDUCATION is the same “It’s No Cadillac” You learn because you want to not because the President gives you money as long as your in school YOU have to Buy what you can afford. Public or Private. Afirmative action is getting educated not being educated because of race, wealth or religion. The government only gives you money to pay back and they don’t care if you can’t. THAT’S OBAMA-TICS They will BUY all the ice cream I give them.
Posted by: BillSaidIt | September 28, 2010, 3:37 am 3:37 am
“Bush ran on ‘less taxes and smaller government’ and we know where that got us” – Santos
I hear ya Santos. There’s a lesson to be had.
Stick to your principals.
If only Bush had done that we’d be OK right now.
The funny thing is there are hordes of liberals here bashing Bush when all he did was act like a Democrat his last term. I thought liberals loved Democrats? ! ?
Posted by: Noz | September 28, 2010, 8:52 am 8:52 am
Anonymous: “Being a Democrat it probably does seem odd that Republicans could win elections without having to resort to pandering to certain classes and races like they do. Instead, Republicans run and win on their principles, which transcend shallow class and race boundaries.”
Santos: “Surely you jest. Bush ran on ‘less taxes and smaller government’ and . . .”
Surely you don’t follow very well. I said they run and win on their principles, rather than on pandering, like Democrats. I didn’t say they always stick to them. It’s better to be for less taxes and smaller government than the opposite, which is what Democrats fight for.
Santos: “. . . we know where that got us under the Republican administration – bigger government, double the national debt . . .”
You have no credibility lecturing Republicans about debt when your Obama’s doubled the debt as a percent of GDP from Bush’s last year (a 70% increase in non-adjusted dollars) and tripled the deficit, just in his first year. Be honest, you only care about debt when it’s the Republicans incurring it.
Santos: “. . . and an almost depression-era economic collapse.”
Rather than just regurgitate what you’ve heard, you might try educating yourself. The recession was primarily caused by the housing bubble which was created by lax lending standards greatly supported by Democrats and their liberal ideology, not Bush economic policies. After the Bush tax cuts recovered us from the recession inherited from Clinton and prior to the housing bubble, the economy was doing good and we were prosperous. If you insist on blaming Bush for the recession, you’ll need to cite specific policies and their direct correlation to the recession.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 28, 2010, 11:16 am 11:16 am
One-0-One/Tierra: “The legislation includes $12 billion in tax breaks for small businesses and a $30 billion fund to encourage community banks to make loans to small businesses.”
Apparently liberals can’t do math. We have a $13 TRILLION economy. $12 BILLION is 0.09% of our GDP, basically beer money in DC. It will have ZERO effect on GDP growth and employment. Small businesses don’t want loans with strings attached. They want demand for their products and services. And they want to know what taxes and regulations will hit them next year. Irresponsible Democrats, showing open hostility to the private sector, have not communicated that information yet or even proposed a federal budget. Businesses will continue to sit on cash and not hire until they understand what taxes and regulations are coming their way. They operate on business plans, not “Hope and Change.”
Posted by: Mary | September 28, 2010, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
“Posted by: Mary | Sep 28, 2010 3:34:32 PM”
Foggy has busted out the heels and pearls!
Posted by: Ryan C | September 28, 2010, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
“Republicans realize the successful in our country should be encouraged for their efforts, not exploited”
Exactly.
Republicans realize its the workers who should be exploited and that should be encouraged.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 28, 2010, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
“Rather than just regurgitate what you’ve heard, you might try educating yourself.”
Always funny to read this then see it followed by right wing talking point boilerplate.
Posted by: Ryan C | September 28, 2010, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm