UPDATE: Labor Day Weekend Appeal to Middle Class in Obama's Iowa Stop
President Barack Obama spoke to thousands at Living History Farms in Urbandale Saturday. His Iowa campaign stop is one of several in key swing states before the Democratic National Convention begins Tuesday.
Photos
URBANDALE, IA – President Barack Obama told thousands of supporters Saturday that he'll offer something better in a jobs package at the Democrat National Convention than the short-on-specifics plan Republicans offered earlier in the week.
"Everything's bad, it's Obama's fault and Gov. Romney is the only one who knows how to create jobs," Obama mockingly said. "That was the pitch. ... He didn't offer a single new idea.
"They didn't say much," said Obama, who began a campaign swing through battleground states that will end Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., "not because they know you won't like it, but because you have lived through it and can't afford to repeat it."
Katie O’Connor, 35, of Des Moines said she’s not sure Obama can pull out a win in November. “People feel let down,” she said. “He made promises he didn’t keep, but the odds were stacked against him by Republicans who wouldn’t work with him and distorted his record. But he still got health care through, got the student loan thing done and he got Osama bin Laden.
“If this was a Republican record, they would be cheering it,” O’Connor said.
Obama used the Labor Day weekend to appeal to the middle class, which he said is tired of "retreads of the same old policies that have stuck it to you for years."
The economic strength of the country rests on the backs of middle class workers, he said.
"You're tired of the trickle-down policies," the president said to thunderous applause. "They won't create jobs and they won't move the country forward."
Obama also gave a nod to the wind industry in Iowa, which creates 7,000 jobs and which Republican Mitt Romney calls an "imaginary" energy source. That industry is the future, the president said.
"It's time to stop giving $4 billlion in subsidies to big oil companies that are making money every time you go to the pump," he said.
He also used the occasion to make a pitch for early voting, which begins Sept. 27.
"I'm counting on you and I need your help," he said.
Obama spoke before an already warmed up crowd estimated at 10,000 by authorities at Living History Farms in Urbandale. Grammy-winning artist Chris Cornell, the frontman for the indie group Soundgarden, fired up a crowd of thousands waiting the president to take the stage.
The visit – following a rally on Tuesday at Iowa State University – is part of a campaign swing through battleground states that will end Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.
The president was back in the state for the second time this week and seventh time since January – a nod to the state’s small but influential swing-state electoral votes and the importance of youth voters to his struggling re-election campaign.
The rustic, pastoral background at Living History Farms’ recreated farm villages tracing Iowa’s settlement was juxtaposed Saturday with the image of musicians who are anything traditional. Cornell shared the stage with The National, a next-generation band whose genre has been described as “sad-core.” Together, they appeal to a group of voters that Obama sorely needs to win a second term.
Younger voters are Obama’s people, though less decisively than four years ago. Both Obama and his opponent, Republican Mitt Romney who officially accepted his party’s nomination in Tampa Thursday, are clearly courting them.
In his acceptance speech, Romney mocked the “hope and change” theme that resonated so strongly with young voters in 2008.
"You know there's something wrong with the kind of job he's done as president when the best feeling you had, was the day you voted for him," he said in his nomination acceptance speech. "President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise is to help you and your family."
Maria Patramanis, 26, of Urbandale said Obama “absolutely still has a possibility” of winning young voters like her over.
“It’s still a work in progress, but things have changed,” she said. “It’s not going to change overnight, and there is nothing wrong with that.”
A Reuters/Ipsos Poll taken Friday after the convention said voters still are leaning toward Obama by a slight margin, but voters are warming to Romney. Romney had entered the week trailing Obama by four percentage points.
Proposals to make tax credits for college expenses permanent and expand Pell grants for students from lower-earning families resonated with the thousands attending today’s event, as much rock festival as campaign rally. Many were college-aged students trying to find ways to pay for college degrees.
The cost of a four-year education grew by 72 percent above inflation over the past decade, averaging $8,244 last year, and leaving the average borrower with $24,000 in debt on commencement day.
Jim Aspen
3:18 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
It cost a million bucks every time he flies air force one. Does anybody think democrats are paying for this? I think taxpayers are eating it.
Erv Server
3:28 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Obama doesn't fly Air Force One, United States Air Force fly the plane
Diana Rae
4:16 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
How could anyone think that after 4 years of the highest unemployment since the Depression & his failing policies think of giving him 4 more years to destroy the rest?
Chris H.
4:21 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
I'm not buying anything Barack Obama is selling.
In this very speech, he says "the force of our military" is part of what makes us so great. Why, then, does have a proposal in that would drastically cut the DoD budget? Why, then, will he make sequestration (the cut of 100,000 servicemembers) a reality in January if Congress doesn't come up with a plan to cut another $1.2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years?
Moving to another issue, Is it any wonder why he's attacking states' Voter ID laws this close to the election? He wants it to be easier for minorites to vote for him. And, let me be fair, if they are American citizens who have a legal right to be here, they deserve to vote and have their voices heard. But, Obama also knows that if Voter ID laws are struck down, it will make it much easier and much more likely that he'll get the vote of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who have no business voting in an AMERICAN Presidential Election.
He pandered to the lower class in 2008 with the whole ACORN scandal, and he's pandering again in 2012 to another minority group...the Latino population.
Obama's fresh out of ideas when it comes to substantive issues that plague our nation today. It's all about cheap tricks and pathetic tactics this time around.
Obama's had his chance, and he's failed the American people miserably. He's not asking the American people for a second term. He's asking for a second chance. A chance he doesn't deserve.
Richard Pasley
6:26 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
I don't get why O gets the blame for the sequestration issue. That problem rests squarely on the shoulders of Congress, which can do away with the entire threat by simply doing their jobs and agreeing on a budget deal that doesn't create another crisis like the last time the Republicans in the House stonewalled over the debt ceiling. There's very little the Prez can do about the boneheads in Congress, other than to be pissed off like the rest of us when party loyalty trumps what's good for the country.
PaulRevere
6:43 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Richard:
You seem fair in your questions. I'll get off my Horse and chat for a moment.
Here are some facts of how congress operates.
1) The House has 435 members- They passed 3 USA budgets sent to the Senate.
2) The Senate has 100 members-Thier Leader is Harry Reid (A Democrat)
You are correct, that a budget deal must be dealt with.
Harry's job is to debate the 3 bills that came from the House (Repub controlled)
BUT, he will not even allow those bills to come forward for discussion.
That is holding up everything.
3) The President winthin 24 hours CAN AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING.
All he need do is TELL Harry to debate the house approved budget.
Then , by committe our country would have a budget.
The only bonehead in congress is Harry (D).
Harry has NOT presented any Senate-Budget for 3 years. (against our constitution). The President has allowed it by his silence.
WHY?
Because any Budget would force every Dem. to reveal what must be cut.
They know that would upset you and this USA.
So, if you really are serious about your concerns, a vote for any (R) will get you what you want.
There is NO loyalty in a budget that is "bleeding-Red"
Your vote-My vote can get us a Budget as required.
The sequestration issue is kicking the can game. That will be unnecessary if the Rep win in November--That's a promise of Romney.
PaulRevere
4:50 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Inherited the Greatest Military, yet Obama never said that.
copy cat wants to now sell how HE will create 12mil jobs.
Romney says he could create 12mil jobs, and Obama suddenly has a plan to do the same. Where has he been 4 years?
Obamacare might sound good ideas, But people ! It will cost your job , if your employer cannot afford to pay for IT.
Do you want that? Cost for medical care should be negotiated NOT FORCED.
This President only got ObamaHealthTax passed because He had Zero opposition in Votes. His party controlled the whole Congress.
50% of this country is against Obama-Health-Tax.
It does nothing but LOSE JOBS and potentially put this country into DEEP Recession.
Google Recession Please as many of you college age voters have no idea how that happens. (It happens when the Government gives FREE to people)
Richard Pasley
9:22 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
This is in reply to your reply to the previous discussion (sorry, there's no further "REPLY" button on that thread).
When the Tea Party written House budgets are completely irrational, partisan grandstanding that offer no possible room for compromise regarding the revenue side of the budgeting process, then they become exercises in how to frustrate the democratic process. After getting their way for 3+ years with extensions of the Bush tax cuts, the intransigence of the Republicans on the prospect of raising taxes at all is the obstacle that prevents any movement here. Obama and the Dems have made a multitude of good faith compromises thru-out the course of the last 4 years and they've been met with nothing but derision and purely political opposition. God forbid that the economy be allowed to improve via compromise that benefits the American people, lest Obama and the Dems philosophy is seen as actually working. Romney's claim that the stimulus didn't work is flat out wrong. It worked while it lasted, and would have continued to work if the Republicans didn't pull the rug out once they gained control in the House. Believe me, should Romney get elected, federal spending will be through the roof (as it always is with R presidents) and, lo and behold, it'll grow the economy, which is the only way out of this morass...
PaulRevere
12:10 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Richard:
Any Budget of the House (Was passed with Bi-partisan support). ALL 3.
Your "No compromise" on any one of those is flat-out wrong.
Compromise comes at the Senate level. Harry Reid will not even let the Senators see the approved and passed Budget of the House.
To ignore a constitutionally approved House budget is WRONG.
You should understand that.
It is Harry Reid and the Democrats who are NOT leveling with the voters.
Would you please answer WHY our Senators have not even discussed it?
Do you know there is one final Joint Compromise to come up with the House-Senate
Budget of America to be sent for signature--(IF HARRY WANTS IT)
I stand with My original comments. You owe yourself a better knowledge of current situation. It is NOT as you stipulated here.
This country is yelling "voter supression"
I wonder if we should be concered about "Information suppression"
Think for yourself!! Don't just repeat the words of the media.
The budget of the President was given to Harry for a vote.
IT WAS VOTED ON AND TURNED DOWN 99-0 That's right NOT ONE SENATOR Voted for that budget, because it was a "fraud" Budget.
This whole Presidency thinks they are in a GAME.
MOCKING the People and the principles that "Built" USA.
Hope you see the truth yourself.
CFBusinessOwner
7:14 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
If O said the sky was blue, you naysayers would say it was black. If he praises the military you find a way to twist it. Nothing this man will do or say will ever pass muster with you. You continue to discount the mess he walked into and you expected him to clean up 8 years of a mess in the wink of an eye. Unrealistic expectations across the board. Heaven help R & R if they win because they, and the right wing media have whipped you up into such a frenzy; I hate to see how you'll act when they falter.
Jim Aspen
2:01 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
O has a bad record with Lying
PaulRevere
1:02 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
KATE:
First let's get the facts--Bush was in control for 6 years (2000 to 2006)
Nancy Pelosi (D)House and Harry Reid (D) Senate
Controlled 100% of the direction since 2006.
Many would believe the Housing collapse created the "mess" (not Bush)
If you look at all statistics in Dec 2005 you will see low unemployment, Low gas prices, an $8Tril debt, a sky high stock market 14,000 Dow all reached in BUSH control era.
So don't say the mess inherited in 2009 WAS ALL BUSH---IT WASN'T.
The Democrats had more power since 2006 that the media would want you to know.
You just have to do your own research, as they continue to hide that.
Fact2--If the Bush tax cuts were only for the "RICH" why is Obama pushing to extend the middle-class tax cuts THAT WERE IN THE BUSH TAX CUTS?
Seems there were substantial tax-cuts for the middle-class in Bush's tax cuts.
You owe yourself a history lesson, not me or anybody else.
Some numbers might be off a little- but the "excuses" used by this President are empty in belief.
We paid Obama $1mil over 4 years to "clean up a mess"
He asked for the job.
He promised to close Gitmo- Failed
He promised to "CUT" the debt HE inherited- Failed (Our debt is close to-Doubled)
(Do you even know what $17tril is?)
He promised us all under 6% unemployment--Now 8.4%
He has not forced Reid to get a budget .
He has Gas at $4 to $5
Every employer to look for more job layoffs when obamaHealthTax actually starts in 2014.
That is the year We all pay.
PaulRevere
2:17 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
KATE:
The "Lure" for the biggest TAX increase in History on every employer.
Obama's HealthCareTAX is Unfunded right now.
So you do not see the onerous TAX starting in 2014.
If you have a job, your employer may be faced with tough lay-off decisions as He will be faced with Higher medical costs.
Sure, it sounds good to provide "free" coverage, but we all will pay higher Insurance to do that.
It's one thing to say your get a "Free" 2nd Dress or Suit as long as you Pay Double for the first suit.
That is exactly what the TAXES starting in 2014 will do.
It is a delayed BIG! TAX! charge on every insurance company and Individual and Business in America. How else could it be paid for.?
The year this country starts toward the biggest Recession ever imagined , since the Great depression.
That's not scare tactics. That's reality.
Read the ObamaHealth TAX law.
A SUMMARY.
David Leonard
8:42 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Jim, in one speech, Paul Ryan shattered any record Obama may have held.
Kurt B.
10:53 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Just imagine how many people could be employed based on the cost of one Air Force One round trip to Iowa. And..... he has made 12 such trips here ? Amazing that Washington DC allows this to happen.
I know Jim Aspen estimated it costs $1 million to fly AFO out here, but I'll be willing to bet a million wouldn't even touch it. When you think of all the stuff that goes along with it ( shutting down local businesses, extra security, traffic jams, etc. ) , I would be willing to bet it is closer to $5 million. Taxpayers money no matter what O says.
David Leonard
11:30 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I wish those of you who keep beating this dead horse would find out for absolute certain who pays for these flights. I think, but don't know for sure, that the campaign has to pay for them. First-term presidents trying to get re-elected have used AFO for campaign visits for years.
PaulRevere
2:42 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
WARNIG! To ABC, CBS, NBC
The Debates are coming! Starting Oct 3rd (I believe?)
The Debates are coming!
The Debates are coming!
UNINTERRUPTED and UNBIASED
You will all Hear the Facts coming out of the 'mouth' of our next President.
No media bias for 90minutes.
Just do yourself a favor --Listen to every News outlet on Cable "If you need help in understanding the background to a lot of questions.
If you have not been informed of the background, your decisions are biased.
PaulRevere
2:44 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
PaulRevere Says:
DON't CHANGE YOUR MIND!------LET YOUR MIND CHANGE YOU!
Chris H.
2:47 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Obama is simply twisting Congress' arm until he gets what he wants. He's forcing them to come up with another $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the next 10 years to avoid sequestration. It absolutely is all Obama on this one.
He's a Socialist who wants to completely control the government, and what's more, all of us. No thanks.
He's already letting states "experiment" with the work requirement in welfare. While he hasn't yet 'gutted' the work requirement...if re-elected, he will most assuredly gut the requirement. Is that what the people want? An America where broke deadbeats all over the country can just sit back and receive welfare and food stamps? Because that's what Obama apparently wants.
He says you "build America from the bottom up." WRONG!!!
You build America from the middle up. The portion of the lower class that doesn't want to work doesn't want to find a job. How does giving them free money serve to bolster the economy?
Romney wants to turn control of welfare and housing programs over to the states...and he should be applauded for it. He wants more money available for things that really matter, like building our military back up and partnering with Canada and Mexico to get North America to a place called Energy Independence.
Obama mentions in this speech that "wind energy is the future." He completely ignores the significance of North American oil and coal. He'd rather keep buying most of it from the Middle East.
PaulRevere
3:01 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Chris: Well said!
The President should NOT be paid for his campaigning days.
We have a "digital President" with no Office location.
He "STILL" is trying to explain why he needs 4 more years to get the country "Corrected"
He has been paid near $1mil to do a Job.
(I believe he makes $250,000 per year or MORE? who cares.)
People! How long do you keep going back to a Doctor who cannot Fix your Pain?
It's time to change "Doctor Obama". He charges TOO MUCH!
CFBusinessOwner
3:25 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Calmly stated "facts" are listened to. When folks SHOUT their information, it is hard to take them seriously.
But if your aim is to SHOUT then did you shout when GW got us into two unpaid-for wars? Did you shout when he shoveled money to health insurers for unpaid Medicare Part D? Read http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/19/republican-budget-hypocrisy-health-care-opinions-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html---Those are just three examples of the GOP overspending. You can shout all you want but in your haste to demonize the current POTUS you are forgetting the folks who started this spending spree---the GOP.
Jim Aspen
3:33 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Obamas Approval ratings tanks in 43%
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
PaulRevere
4:19 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012
Kate:
Bush is NOT running for President. Shouting at him is not going to correct the problems.
Obama did not correct the problem.
He is the only one to shout at.
Must I play that song "JUMP UP AND SHOUT NOW" ?
Would you please Shout How Obama's new TAX and SPEND MORE will get rid of the overspending?
Jim Aspen
5:06 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
Natl Debt of 16 Trillion coming up one first day of democrat convention. These fools are responsible for this and will not stop. Vote them OUT.