Obama: ‘We Weren’t Sent Here to Wage Perpetual Political Campaigns’
EmailAfter three days on the road selling his State of the Union message, President Obama is urging Congress to act on his proposals to stem the “corrosive influence of money in politics” and to give judicial and public service nominations “up-or-down” votes.
As he traveled through Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan this week, the president said he met people who believe in America but are skeptical that progress can be made in Washington.
“Frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical?” Obama said in his weekly address.
The president called out Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, for vowing to block any nominations he makes this year. Still fuming over Obama’s decision to sidestep the Senate and appoint Richard Cordray to lead the new consumer watchdog agency, Lee said the president should rescind his recess appointments.
“This isn’t about me,” Obama said. ”We weren’t sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other. We were sent here to serve the American people. And they deserve better than gridlock and games. One senator gumming up the whole works for the entire country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.”
“The truth is, neither party has been blameless in tactics like these. But it’s time for both parties to put an end to them,” he said. “I’m asking Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stop this kind of behavior by passing a rule that allows all judicial and public service nominations a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days.”
Repeating a call he made in his State of the Union address, the president also asked lawmakers to send him a bill that limits the influence of money in politics.
“The House and Senate should send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress, and I will sign it immediately,” he said. “They should limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. And they should make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa.”
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But, but, but… Obama is the poster boy for perpetual campaigns. That’s all he’s ever done.
Posted by: meab | January 28, 2012, 9:11 am 9:11 am
HAHAHAHHAHAHHA…. is is really funny…… Apprantly BO isnt smart enough to realize just how stupid he sounds……… “As he traveled through Iowa, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Michigan” on the taxpayer dime…….
Posted by: Vet1973 | January 28, 2012, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Mr. Gingrich talked about a decade old goal of reaching the moon once again. I see the benefits of where all Americans could build that goal, instead of bickering at each other. However, can we create a goal of developing auto driven, one passenger vehicles, instead? Can new climate controlled, auto driven one passenger vehicles be built with enough space to haul groceries? They would be guided by GPS. You would simply plug your smartphone to accomplish this. Traffic lights could be programmed to not slow down traffic. Diamond lanes could be set up just for these vehicles.
Most times you will see only one person in each car. How you drive can save up to 33 percent in fuel usage. Then if you include traffic lights, this will reduce your MPG even more.
We have our baby boomers aging fast. Soon many will not be able to drive. These new vehicles could help the retirees get around.
Monetary competition could be organized among our universities to develop this new vehicle. These vehicles could be powered by natural gas and special batteries.
Closed manufacturing plants could be reopened to build these new “MADE IN AMERICA” vehicles.
I agree with the wisdom of setting a long term goal for our nation to build upon. However, I believe in building auto driven vehicles could go farther in terms of fuel demands. If we can lower our passenger gas usage by up to 33 percent. Then we reduce oil prices, according to the supply and demand curves.
The lower oil prices become; the more money will be made available to stimulate our whole economy. I believe the investment in developing these auto driven vehicles would go farther in terms in economic stimulation for our whole US economy..Then we all win in more ways than one.
Posted by: David Thelen | January 28, 2012, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Come on Republicans, everyone knows that the Republican members of congress have only ONE, SINGLE, MOST IMPORTANT, GOAL…. LOL! … the hell with all other issues effecting our country, all they care about is putting another G.W. Bush in the White House so they have full control again…..
REMINDERS of Republican OBSTRUCTIONISM:
Republican Mitch McConnell (Oct 2010): “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”
Republican Mike Lee (Jan 2012): ““I find myself duty-bound to resist the consideration and approval of additional nominations…”
Posted by: Steve in AL | January 28, 2012, 10:55 am 10:55 am
It is now fairly clear that Obama is probably the phoniest and most dishonest president we have ever had.
Posted by: righton | January 28, 2012, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Even if this is the wildly untrue stuff that magically pops up on his teleprompter to say, it is still amazing that Obama can be such a thorough hypocrite and brazen liar.
Just sayin’, lol.
Posted by: Kimberly | January 28, 2012, 11:04 am 11:04 am
“The House and Senate should send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress, and I will sign it immediately,” Obama said.
Come on Republicans. Tear this apart. Obama wants it, so you MUST be against it. Let’s hear your ‘reasons’…
Posted by: A Cynic | January 28, 2012, 11:37 am 11:37 am
President Obama started campaigning after his first year in the Senate and hasn’t stopped since. I have never hear of a sitting President who has campaigned more than he has. Most Presidents are too busy working in Washington DC!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | January 28, 2012, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Mitch McConnell set the tone of Congress when he declared the only goal of the republicans was to defeat president Obama, his fellow republicans followed suit.
Now with a useless Congress they try to throw the blame for everything on the President.
“Those that trouble their own house shall inherit the wind”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 28, 2012, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Look who’s calling the kettle black (no pun intended). Obama spent more in the last campaign than anyone ever has in politics and this year will spend even more. The supreme court ruling now allows any amount of money to be spent by Super Pacs, so from now on elections will be bought by those who have the most wealth. The little peoples vote doesn’t mean squat anymore. Why even bother contributing to anyones campaign anymore when the Super Pacs will spend BILLIONS. All politicians do anymore is constantly run for office and to hell with running the country, unless it’s into the ground.
Posted by: Indymind | January 28, 2012, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Mr. Obama has the fascinating knack of saying the right things with absolutely no credibility whatsoever. It is an amazing thing to behold. Most of the posters so far have had the discernment to see that although some others want to try to divert attention elsewhere.
Posted by: TWD73 | January 28, 2012, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Cynic, sorry but the DEMOCRATS won’t let it come to a vote, they don’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg and Pres.Obama knows that. But I do have to say it sounds good.
Posted by: Lizzie | January 28, 2012, 11:51 am 11:51 am
Obama is such a disgusting liar. He would stay in the WH forever, as a dictator, if he could find a away to do it!
All of the election fraud in this country, has been shown to have been conducted by Democrats!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 28, 2012, 11:58 am 11:58 am
TM…… Here you go again, the senate and the Pres. won’t do their job, like passing a budget as required by law, 1000 days and waiting, Prince Reid won’t let anything come to a up or down vote in the senate that has been sent over from the house, the democrats unite in telling everyone NO,NO,NO, and then blame the other side for their shortcomings. The ONLY goal for Princess Pelosi is to get her seat back so she can once again wield the gavel and fly coast to coast in her own private jet (curtesy of the taxpayer) and not with the common folks. The Pres. on average has sofar managed a fundraiser every 4 days, but according to Carney he is not campaigning. He tells the audience what they like to hear, but yet you are in step with him all the way without thinking, I guess it’s easier for you to be told, when, where, how, then to actually use your brain or you like to get more FREE stuff.
Posted by: Lizzie | January 28, 2012, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
President Obama inherited a very bad economy when he took office. It was made that way by the same policies the republicans are pushing now.
He never lied; he said it would take years to recover even with a Congress that worked. Every time we hear good news that the economy is recovering he never crows, but says we need to do better.
The republicans have never done anything for the middle class in 80 years; their trickledown philosophy only helps the rich and wealthy. I don’t blame a millionaire for voting republican; it’s in his best interests. I just don’t understand how a hard working average American could.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 28, 2012, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
LIZZIE
Sorry it doesn’t work that way. The President, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi can’t pass anything without the republicans. The way Congress is structured today, a simple majority won’t work. Tactics such as the filibuster and closure rules don’t allow it.
The republicans tried the same thing against FDR in the great depression, his only advantage over President Obama was that FDR had such an overwhelming majority in both chambers they could override the republican obstructionists. If thing continue as they are maybe President Obama will have that advantage in 2013.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 28, 2012, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
Cynic, sorry but the DEMOCRATS won’t let it come to a vote, they don’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg and Pres.Obama knows that. But I do have to say it sounds good. Posted by: Lizzie | January 28, 2012, 11:51 am.
What are you talking about? Are you saying the Republicans in the House sent a bill to the Senate that bans insider trading by members of Congress, and the Senate refuses to take it up? Prove it. Give me the House bill number. Because I think you are, once again, utterly ignorant of the facts, and you are using this as just another pathetic attempt to slam Democrats.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 28, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Ron Paul 2012 or die….there probably won’t be an America left over if it goes any other way. Just sayin…the New World Order – one world government is working overtime. Besides, why would you want to be told what to do by your government…wait they’ve already indoctrinated so many to be ready for such thing!
Posted by: rp2012 for a future | January 28, 2012, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
“I just don’t understand how a hard working average American could.
” Surely you jest Tim. Anyone who has been around for any lenght in time can see the progress and quality of life improvements for every person in this country-not just the rich. Now we mave have stumbled around a bit here and there but the 5 decades that I can remember are absolutely amazing. However, having “stuff” isn’t all there is to life and no matter how much we spend at this program or that, our country will never get past where it is at now unless the core family remains intact.
Posted by: david | January 28, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Then why has he been doing it?????
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 28, 2012, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
I really don’t even have to make a comment on this one. I’m beyond dumbfounded.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 28, 2012, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
I read an article recently that stated between 30% and 70% of all of our national politicians – both Houses of Congress as well as the president – is spent on fundraising and campaigning for their next election. So, on average, one half of a politicians time is spent on funding and winning his or her next election. Which is why things in DC will never change unless someone has the balls and the strength to push for and enact true campaign finance reform in Washington. Until that happens, we the people will continue to get screwed by our elected officials.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 28, 2012, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
I sometimes wonder if Obama actually believes what he says at times. I mean he says this kind of thing with a straight face?
Posted by: newcountryman | January 28, 2012, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm