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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama said he related to middle class Americans “looking for a chance,” as he highlighted his administration’s efforts to retrain unemployed workers for new jobs.
Accusing his Republican rivals of trying to revive trickle-down economics instead of spending money on priorities to help the middle class, President Obama says those Republicans "don't seem to remember how America was built."
"I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Michelle wasn't, either," the president said to a crowd of 400 students at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio. “But somebody gave us a chance. Just like these folks up here are looking for a chance.”
The Obama campaign has pushed wealth and economic fairness arguments against Mitt Romney, who would be one of the wealthiest presidents in history -- and that quote was quickly seen as a veiled reference to his GOP opponent this fall.
Amy Sancetta / AP
President Barack Obama reaches out to shake hands with Lorain County Community College student Bronson Harwood after speaking at the college Wednesday in Elyria, Ohio.
And as he criticized Republicans for opposing Democrats’ efforts to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, he told the crowd that, like them, he doesn’t enjoy paying taxes, but unlike most Americans, he can afford to pay more.
“They want to give me more of a tax break,” he said of Republicans. “Now, I just paid taxes. It’s not like I love paying taxes. But I can afford it. I don't need another tax break."
Obama argued that tax cuts alone don't make the economy stronger and that GOP policies have been tried before and almost brought the “entire financial system” to a collapse.
“Take a look at what happened in Ohio between 2000 and 2008," Obama said. "It's not like we didn't try it. And instead of faster job growth, we had the slowest job growth in half a century.”
But the president also seemed on the defensive, acknowledging arguments against him -- from debt, deficits, and big-government spending. He asserted twice that investing in job training programs and cutting tax cuts for the wealthy did not amount to wealth redistribution, a common conservative criticism.
“Understand, this is not a redistribution argument," Obama said. "This is not about taking form rich people to give to poor people. This is about us together making investments in our country so everybody’s got a fair shot."
And, when arguing that government-subsidized community-college training programs were vehicles for economic growth, he said, “These investments are not part of some grand scheme to redistribute wealth, they’ve been made by Democrats and Republicans for generations, because they benefit all of us.”
Before he spoke, the president held a round table with four unemployed workers who are participating in the Lorain County Community College’s job training programs. He said those individuals represent the American notion that “we don't quit.”
“And so the question now is, how do we make sure that all of America is expressing that spirit through making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot?” he continued. “Because that’s going to be a major debate that we have not just for the next few months but the next few years.”
Following his speech, the president headed to the Cleveland airport en route to Michigan, where he was expected to give two evening campaign speeches and raise money.
Leave a Comment:
@mark nice list.
@mark nice list.
Post to your own post often do ya convenient.
Is he talking about John Kennedy or John Kerry here?
How many degrees of seperation are there between Barrack- Malcolm X - Rev. Wright - Bill Aires - and the corrupt Chicago political Machine?
He never worked a day in his life, got a college education and all kinds of handouts, no silver spoon? Just tax payer money and donations from other Marxists and lets see, what about now and all the vacations, trips and other crap at tax payer expense. Time to let the idiot go, vote him out. He has not done one thing right since he has put in office and really is the worlds biggest loser.
Darrell you must be from that okie place. And remember Bush already won for worst president ever in the history of the world.
Jimmy the douchebag Carter got that award by a landslide.
Obummer is taking that spot real fast right behind Clinton but might be neck and neck with Carter. GoBO you sure don't have a brain or a clue do you?
donnay
OBAMA is honest and extremely intelligent... reahhhhhhhhlllllllllllLaiey
vote
To get to Harvard you have to be pretty smart and to get through what the unamerican right wing elitists in this country have put him through that take guts. And he won and he will win again, why do you think every republican on this blog is scratching their eyes out. It will be a sweet win after the repubs once again tried to buy the presidency with lies and money. The good people win this time. HaHA Karl Rove.
But how does a poor man get into Harvard with average grades?
A Manchurian Candidate perhaps leroy2112?
Sorry. I never read that book.
Lots of angry righties tonight. President Obama is the epitomy of the American Dream. He came from a humble background with a single mother, and with scholarships, loans and hard work he went to college and graduated from Harvard. Obama overcame poverty, racism and unfairness and ultimately was elected President of the United States. In fact, Obama won in a landslide and will do so again in November 2012. Republicans have nothing to offer. That's why they are so desperate. Even they dislike Mitt Romney.
Republicans will vote for ANYBODY but BHO come November.
Hell, I'd go for the Speaker of the House against him at this point.
I would never want just anybody to run the country, I would really care and take it seriously. This is not just a bitch fight you wacko it is the leader of the free world.
GobigO, you voted for "just anybody" in 2008, Barak Hussein Obama, the MOST UN-QUALIFIED, UN-VETTED PRESIDENT EVER ELECTED.
NOBAMA2012, because the Experiment has FAILED!
Gina they have seen the polls! there running scared already.Funny
gina
honest good ! extreamely educated al right
vote
he wants to re educate the middle class only because he put us all out of work: you can only fund medicare if enough people have jobs to pay the tax to cover the cost. Illegals being given everything from education, medical care and now a free pass to citizenship is just wrong and another form of the socialist America he would like to see; rendition on your own citizens for any reason is a violation of the constitution yet he managed to make it a law: he has done more to create infighting & hatred and set race relations back a good 15 years. I'm offended by the way he patronizes women (just like all men) and even though Romney is mormon & his beliefs are different then mine I have never heard him say that he would revoke my rights to birth control or abortion.... only that the government shouldn't pay for it.
{"Obama: 'I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth'"}
Well he WASN'T, so that's true! Not like most of the past White Presidents that were in office. The only 2 that I can think of right now who were poor and had very little means were Carter and Clinton. That's WHY they could RELATE to what poor people had to deal with on a daily basis. Mrs. Carter even wore an old dress to the Inaguration I believe. Laura Bush, & GW's mother would have NEVER worn some old dress to anything please!
The country is BANKRUPT, we have RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT and you IDIOT Obama supporters focus on womens dresses?
The DNC THRIVES on these "dumb ones".
Yes Barry. America was built from the govt taxes and controlling every aspect of the economy. Got another lie to tell us?
Oh, and by the way. Who paid for all that education you got? No silver spoon huh?
Why don't you get educated or just wise up! President Obama & his wife just paid off their student loans before he became president.Good grief all this info is easy to find! Just try being informed,You might like it.
Burgundy
I'm so glad you informed me...it must have been hundreds of thousands of dollars...and why did the one couple in Illinois keep saying they paid for it?
WHO pays for Obama's Chicago home? I
Individuals other than Obama are listed in public records as owners and taxpayers on the property.
Barack Obama is not among at least three people listed as current owners and taxpayers of the mansion his family calls home in Chicago’s upscale Kenwood neighborhood, according to public recor
In December 2008 that William Miceli, the attorney for convicted political operative Tony Rezko and a fundraiser for Obama, owns the Obama home at 5046 S. Greenwood.
Burgundy.
You know< I took your advice and looked up Obamas college loans. There is no record as it is all sealed and the only reference is Michelle saying they paid them off.
Interesting huh?
Look again it there!
Transparent... right? What a CROCK!
Burgundy,
Perhaps you could provide the link for a dumb conservative like me?
President Nixon once said he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth too. Look what happened to him along with that chip on his shoulder.
Oh yes tricky Dick Nixon,Romney s a lot like him. Try try & try again till you win.sad state of affairs for america & yes i do remember (Watergate)
So, everyone needs a "fair shot" huh? For being a constitutional lawyer he must have missed the fact that it (the Constitution) already guarantees that to everyone, but we know he doesn't know much about our Constitution otherwise he wouldn't have tried to stuff obamacare down the taxpayers' throat and the 85% of us who already pay for health care for ourselves and our employees. Also, if he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, who paid for his college education, Harvard, and Columbia which includes his law school (obviously he didn't take an accounting class or any economics based upon his performance so far so we can't say he got his money's worth) because someone with a silver spoon must have paid for it! There are too many gaps in this person's logic and what is "fair" - what is fair about 10% of the population paying over 60% of the Federal taxes? Seems that other 90% needs to start paying their "fair share" to me. Stop the spin and the class warfare which to me is just another form of racism and discrimination.
Obama never ever had to work for the all the hundreds of thousands he received. Obama has been on the Gubba'mint tit his whole life. In indoneisia his step father was an American Educated Engineer making 20 to 30 time more than the average income. Obama got free college education at University of Ill, Occidental and Harvard in todays $ close to a half million dollars in free G D education.
Mr President you are a G D Liar .... again. You Free loading scum bag marxist commi
By the way your Dad was a alci ... in his second drunk driving accident Obama Sr killed 2 people and lost his own leg ... in Obama Sr third drunk driving accident he killed a family of 5 and managed to kill himself.
Your a racist GD azzhole too.Point a finger at someone & three back at yourself liar.
Still no birth certificate.
Mr. Obama says his father was "raised a Muslim, but by the time he met my mother he was a confirmed atheist...." Mr. Obama also describes his father as largely absent from his life.
"The
top ten reasons it bites to be a Republican today:"
LMAO!!!
I think they all would be they have to deal with libbytards daily.
Here's YOUR list Liberty Hill:
The 10 Top Reasons why Idiots vote for Democrats:
10. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies’ profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn’t.
9. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.
8. I voted Democrat because Freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.
7. I voted Democrat because I’m way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.
6. I voted Democrat because I believe that people who can’t tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don’t start driving a Prius.
5. I voted Democrat because I’m not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies through abortion so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.
4. I voted Democrat because I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care, education, and Social Security benefits.
3. I voted Democrat because I believe business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution they see fit.
2. I voted Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas past the voters.
1. I voted Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my ass that it is unlikely that I’ll ever have another point of view.
Last sentence of this story tells you all you need to know about this genius.
"Following his speech, the president headed to the Cleveland airport en route to Michigan, where he was expected to give two evening campaign speeches and raise money".
Thanks Jon Jones
Both him and his wife are affirmative action poster children. Never worked a day in his life. Any so called jobs were the result of taxpayer money. Life began at the government tit , grandparents kindness, all the money they wanted to go to school because they were black and finally pimping politics and so called book sales. Even got a peace prize for something he might do some day. Put him to the MLK test, show me what his character has accomplished without me paying for it on top of paying my own bills. Most Americans are so stupid, how far in debt are you as a nation? I bet you don't even know.
If you want to get a sense of who has the silver spoon do the math. Take all the money given on these people, and subtract any money from a government source. What is left is 0. So for 0 they enjoy a very nice lifestyle.
Now compare that to the Trillions they have borrowed in your name and your children's name to be spent on transfer payments to others like them. Those trillions in addition to your liberty are being taken from you and you are doing nothing about it. Parasites eat until they kill the host then everyone dies.
About as concise as it gets.
I believe that we need to explore his dog meat speculation day's a bit. Wonder if he'll get me a Chinese loan for a gov’t grant to setup a study to determine if mixed race Americans in Indonesia in early formative years impacted dog meat subsidies/shortages in village’s and hamlets throughout Indonesia and the adverse effects of dog meat speculation, if any were present and if any market fluctuation occurred during said speculating just to access if any mental trauma that might have occurred during said speculating entity speculated/
What a speculum (0) grasshopper
Vote Abo
He may not have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, however, he sure has one up his butt now!!!
Are you guys running scared or are you just jealous,Just saw the polls huh.Sorry your so upset,But most americans don't want to experience any more republicans or at best the fringe of the far far right.
Mo Romney was born with a gold spoon up his ass and it reflects in everthing he does and every remark that he makes. If you are one of the richest 1% of the population that can benefit from tax loopholes such as bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.......you should vote for Mo Romney.
On top of that, Mo Romney just is not a likable fellow and President Obama is. I think that Mo Romney is the GOP's John Kerry, but even a much greater flip-flopper, depemding upon who his audience is. Rick Santorum had it right when he defined Mo Romney as an "etch and sketch Republican."
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
rattus,
You are aware aren't you that this is still a free country and you can do everything Romney can? You can invest anywhere you like.
@rattus
What Joebuck says is true. Of course it would probably help if you were George Romney's son like Mitt was. Having a father recognized as one of the most powerful men in the country certainly couldn't hurt your chances of finding a position that offered a good return, now could it?
I'm retired army too, and I have yet to see anything good from this presidential imposter, Likable??, not even close if you go by the definition that's in the dictionary
Joebuck,
Thank you for the civics lesson. I might say, that legally perhaps (as I do not know) that both you and I might be free to open bank accounts in the Cayman Islands.
However, I don't know about you, but I am just a poor retired colonel and don't have sufficient funds, as far as I know, to open a bank acct. in the Cayman Islands of they type that Romney, his old lady, and his passel of brats do.
Although it may or may not be legal, I am no CPA, I think that I can state that "it might as well be illegal for 99 percent of Americans that simply cannot afford to do that.
Thank you for your comment.
Wizard,
Joebuck is so full of fecal matter that if he were given a strong laxative he could be buried in a matchbox.
I really believe that 99% of Americans do not have the ability to do what the Romney's do because they don't have the money that these people do.
If Mo Romney, got any of his bank at Bain Capital being a corporate raider and real life Gordon Gekko outsourcing American jobs and destroying more of the American middle class.....he is going down faster than a Taliban hit by an Army NCO sniper with a .50 cal. Barrett weapon.
V/r,
Rat
There was no room in Obama's mouth when he was born. He was already spewing bull-poop in utero.
All politicos resort to gabfests and stump speeches. This whole election is going to depend upon just a few voters. All I am saying is that President Obama is has not taken, if you will, "every possible side to every issue and then declared that he had some sort of epiphany that led him to change his position."
Also, a presidential election is largely a popularity contest. I think that Mo Romney, in addition to being very inconsistent is the GOP flat and personally unpopular equal of the Democrats Sen. John Kerry.
At least Sen. McCain bonded more with GOP voters , and Independent and Republicans looking for a viable candidate than does Romney.
Excuse me Feisty.. your allegation that Governor Jan Brewer is a drunk is enticing and perhaps a bit titillating. Can you offer some empirical evidence that your 'rumor' is true?
You mentioning McCain as 'bonding' with voters. McCain only bonded with the Viet Nam regime, the money bags of Wall Street and the Keating Five criminals. Is that whom you were referring too?
McCain is the 'designated loser' of the Republican National Committee and the rotund Karl Rove. Is there any dissent?
All of you dissing the President seem to forget that it was during GWB's watch that a senseless war on a country that never harmed the USA (Al Qaeda did) that lasted far too many years that was never budgeted (however thousands upon thousand of our military paid with their lives, their mental healthand their limbs along with all of thei loved ones and arwe still paying the price) while GWB who never fulfilled his military obligation.. Pappa and his friends made it all go away.. Ironical how GWB became the Commander and Chief of our armed forces. He had been a junior grade officer in the AF Reserve and a boozing gadfly in college who barely graduated. He described himself as being"hots---t". Meanwhile, acting like join declaring the major hostilites in Iraq while wearing his leather military jacket. The war continues for even more years more military died. They had been ill equipped when GWB ordered them in those hostilities. Many patriotic caring Americans banded toether sending bulletproof jackets to those troops...Remember Support the Troops.. Even the VA had budgeted for the casualities that they encountered upon those brave military members returned minus limbs and mental problems. Neither did GWB want or approve of the new GI Bill that Obama, (tax and spend) honorably signed without hesitation.. Bush instead was signing tax cuts for himself, his papa and all the the other 1% percenters.. Meanwhile the infrastructure and jobs along additional tax breaks to large corporation shipping jobs overseas.. Oh, and Cheney's former corporation was making millions in construction work in Iraq.. Millions of dollars were being spent on the restoring the damages Bush's Folly, the war, was destroying.. How about that Obama, tax and spend? Bush, tax cuts and spend! Deregulation and Wall Street bankers greed, big banks greed selling fraudulent paper why they made billions of dollars caused the economy go South. Bush depleted the surplus that Clinton left behind... Good thing Bush couldn't stay on for another 4 years we'd have been in much worse shape... Had your boy McCann and his is dizzy VP choice gotten elected they too would have been saddled with huge deficits that Bush left behind... We'll never what you'd be complaining about then... Oh, that's right it would be the great war hero who unfortunately 'learned" how to win wars while being a POW in Hanoi throughout the Viet Nam War. BTW he, the military's friend, was also against the new GI Bill.. Funny, the original GI Bill was a godsend to WWII vets. Apparently, Our grandparents respected our military in a different manner than McCann's generation.. Incidentally, he too was a spoiled military brat.. Would have been kicked out or Annapolis if it wasn't for his papa, Rear Admiral... Wealth an power seem to play a huge role for Republican who achieve notable status.
I've the opinion that the dissing of Obama is based on dizzy Sarah who told the real Americans (not the Native Americans), you know The Real Americans who seem to reside in WV... KY.. and those that share their opinions about.. those people.. "You know they don't like us". I'd bet that is absolutely nothing Obama could ever do would satisfy you and all of your fellow Obama detractors. It's that plain and that simple.. I often wondered why he ever ran for the office. Knowing the facade of racial tolerance would begin to crumble if were to be elected.. From all that began during the campaign and since it's so blatantly obvious.. The Terrorist Bump to show me your birth certificate. I mean the The Real One. The one that shows that he was born wherever would satisfy you.. Lord only knows your opinion of his mother.. Probably something worst than Limbaugh's comments about Fluke.
Which brings me to Romney. First, Ann Romney hasn't worked outside of her home earning a paycheck in her life is what I believe. I also believe that she hasn't spend any substantial amount of time prior to her husband campaign learning the struggles of everyday working outside of the home mothers and women working; at WalMart, Sear's , the fire and police departments.. the grocery store, Walgreens, the local insurance office and countless other places.. The single moms who's deadbeat husband or the father of her children left her without any support. Those families who have loss their home due layoffs, et cetera. Just as I haven't hung out with the 1 %'s. We do tend to associate with those around us.. Like if we did associate with people that are not equal to us perhaps we would know them better. Perhaps we wouldn't generalize people, if we were of that persuasion. No, I don't have bad feelings about wealthy people just those that believe that their wealth or their power entitles them to cause me pain.. exceeds my rights..My problem with Romney is that he seems to care about those less fortunate than he. Panders to all... Yet, he's made a huge fortune at the expense of those less fortunate than... He too, came from wealth and power.. It's hard to identify with people who never really didn't struggle nor, got involved in various ways to aid others.. They surely had the money and the time to do so.. Their mindset was on other interest.. Primarily to have more money. Too bad the objective is to beat them enemy... Obama who is ruining the country.. The worst President ever. The Muslim... And his wife, who wasn't proud of her country.. Give me a break...
America has done some shameful, even despicable things. Our's is not without fault or blame. Beginning with the Native Americans, slavery, including war atrocities, and more.
Did anybody actually read the post by "xcopner"? I got to the George Bush finger pointing and got dizzy. It was something about turning on the Wayback Machine...help me Mr. Wizard.
blah blah blah ...Bush...blah blah blah
Ah, the "I'm not listening to you" mentality.
Best not read any facts, they might sway your right wing opinions.
Do you really believe so deeply in your omniscient deity that the ends so justify any means necessary to further proliferate his possible face in the mirror cocaine séance induced utopian fanatical fantasy based ideological thesis of fallacious bovine excrement??? Or are you so selfishly entrenched in your own narcissistically invented shameless ignorance of reality that draws your ever attentive Agape with undeniable admiration of this propagandist self-proclaimed tranformmative savior of evenhanded fairness ???
vote
Locate a nice deep well "liesyoubelieve". Then scream down that well at the top of your lungs very thing you just wrote. The echo and you can have a great conversation.
Is he talking about John Kennedy or John Kerry here?