Obama visits Dem oasis in GOP-friendly Texas

President Barack Obama speaks at a fundraising event at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Obama is spending the day fundraising in Texas.

/ AP Photo/Susan Walsh

(CBS News) The president embarked on a four-stop Texas fundraising tour Tuesday where he is expected to rack up $4 million dollars for his reelection campaign. His first stop: San Antonio, a Democratic enclave in the Republican state.

The solidly Republican state is highly unlikely to back President Obama come November, considering no Democratic presidential candidate has won Texas since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

"You guys are not one of the battleground states," the president admitted to the San Antonio crowd of 1,200 who paid $250 to attend. He added: "That's going to be changing soon," referring to the growing Latino population in the state.

But the president, who spends a disproportionate amount of time in battleground states such as Ohio, North Carolina and Colorado, is fully aware that the state has a large share of wealthy political donors.

Texas ranks third among political donations to federal candidates, behind California and Washington, D.C., according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Texas donors have given $165 million this campaign season, the majority of the political donations, 51 percent, have gone to Republicans, compared to $33 million - or 21 percent - to Democrats.

With the American and Texas flags as the backdrop and former "Desperate Housewives" actress Eva Longoria in attendance, the president delivered a stump speech to donors, where he compared his economic philosophy to competitor Mitt Romney's.

"My Republican opponent believes success comes from the top down," he said. "I don't believe in top down economics. I believe in middle out economics."

Continuing to attack Mitt Romney over outsourcing, President Obama said he is running for a second term because he doesn't "want pioneers in outsourcing in the White House."

"Let's put America back to work," he said to cheers, "selling goods with three proud words 'made in America' - that's my vision for America."

"We want a country where everybody gets a fair shot... everybody plays by the same rules. That's why I ran in 2008, and that's why I'm running for a second term," the president said as the crowd chanted "Four more years."

The president also held a $35,800 per person fundraiser in San Antonio before visiting another Democratic oasis in Texas - Austin - Tuesday for two fundraisers, one costing $25,000 per couple.

CBS News' Mark Knoller contributed reporting.

[goat5691]

I would like to include the following to show how (closed minded) people have become. We just can't be proven that we could be wrong.

Bill Moyer: "Facts Still Matter"

Bill Moyers, "Truthout": "While 'most of us like to believe that our opinions have been formed over time by careful, rational consideration of facts and ideas and that the decisions based on those opinions, therefore, have the ring of soundness and intelligence, 'the research found that actually we often base our opinions on our beliefs ... and rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts we chose to accept.
They can cause us to twist facts so they fit better with our preconceived notions.'
These studies help to explain why America seems more and more unable to deal with reality.
So many people inhabit a closed belief system on whose door they have hung the 'Do Not Disturb' sign, that they pick and choose only those facts that will serve as building blocks for walling them off from uncomfortable truths."

[lillyhorton]

Ron paul for president.

[lg144]

Republicans have done more damage to America than any terrorist ever could.

The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they would do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.

They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between terrorist and the republicans is they used planes & explosives and they used their congressional positions.

The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) to cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.

Republicans also are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats.

America would be in much better economic shape if teabagging bigoted republican subversive extremist had not sabotaged and undermined everything the president does to help average Americans. The president to a fault is too polite to state this directly. He needs to get away from saying congress is the problem and tell Americans the full facts. Which is republicans have more allegiance to Grover Norquist and the tea party than constitution and country. And they are the reason America in in this economic mess. Republican senator minority leader B itch McConnell stated his top priority was to make President Obama a one term president. Remember he didn't say his top priority was jobs or restoring America, his and fellow republicans agenda is destroying the president and America.

[lg144]

Republicans also are sabotaging and screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". Their ridiculous stance on the debt ceiling is a prime example. This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans and Democrats need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to work with them and President Obama to do anything to help bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they have admitted their top priority is to make sure President Obama fails. They think they can get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats for the depression they created and are doing everything they can to see that it continues. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again.

The country will be better off the sooner President Obama, Democrats and all Americans acknowledge republicans for what they are which are treasonous holders of political office hellbent on making President Obama and America fail by any means necessary. Americans will remember the treasonous republicans in November 2012

[CaptainSmollett]

When the President is driving this nation toward an economic cliff, somebody must apply the brakes.

[lg144]

Republicans have done more damage to America than any terrorist ever could.

The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This is their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they would do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the Third World country that they want for their corporate overlords.

They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person voting to support Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country. Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings and the polls for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between terrorist and the republicans is they used planes & explosives and they used their congressional positions.

The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement is another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) to cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They are counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way. Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans cannot let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.

Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats.

America would be in much better economic shape if teabagging bigoted republican subversive extremist had not sabotaged and undermined everything the president does to help average Americans. The president to a fault is too polite to state this directly. He needs to get away from saying congress is the problem and tell Americans the full facts. Which is republicans have more allegiance to Grover Norquist and the tea party than constitution and country. And they are the reason America in in this economic mess. Republican senator minority leader B itch McConnell stated his top priority was to make President Obama a one term president. Remember he didn't say his top priority was jobs or restoring America, his and fellow republicans agenda is destroying the president and America.

[lg144]

Republicans also are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they think they can also get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats.

America would be in much better economic shape if teabagging bigoted republican subversive extremist had not sabotaged and undermined everything the president does to help average Americans. The president to a fault is too polite to state this directly. He needs to get away from saying congress is the problem and tell Americans the full facts. Which is republicans have more allegiance to Grover Norquist and the tea party than constitution and country. And they are the reason America in in this economic mess. Republican senator minority leader B itch McConnell stated his top priority was to make President Obama a one term president. Remember he didn't say his top priority was jobs or restoring America, his and fellow republicans agenda is destroying the president and America.

Republicans are sabotaging and screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". Their ridiculous stance on the debt ceiling is a prime example. This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters from voting thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to vote republican. Americans and Democrats need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to work with them and President Obama to do anything to help bring America out of its economic woes. After all, they have admitted their top priority is to make sure President Obama fails. They think they can get elected by blaming President Obama and Democrats for the depression they created and are doing everything they can to see that it continues. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and the polls. They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Time will tell if voters will fall for this again.

The country will be better off the sooner President Obama, Democrats and all Americans acknowledge republicans for what they are which are treasonous holders of political office hellbent on making President Obama and America fail by any means necessary. Americans will remember the treasonous republicans in November 2012

[lg144]

Mr Romney seeks to benefit from living in the United States while he shelters his money offshore. He's duplicitous and wants to have it both ways. He's the worst sort of swine.

[CaptainSmollett]

Almost everyone, including Obama, has money invested internationally. It is called divesification. We live in a globalized economy.

[retiredgustav]

President Obama garnered 43.6% of the vote in Texas last election. All he has to do is push that number up to 47-48% and the republicans will have to spend money in Texas. That will draw the money away from other key states like Colorado, Nevada, Iowa and in doing that the republicans win the Texas battle but loose the war.

[RollotheNorman]

Obama carried all the major Metro areas in '08. Another 10 years and Texas may well be a blue state. Only thing that keeps Rick's regime in power is small town Texas.

[comenovember]

In San Antonio on Tuesday, President Obama said Texas, a state he lost in 2008, is not considered a battleground state- "although that's gonna be changing soon." Texas hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential election since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Can't wait to see Obama 'shape-shift' into redneck, just like he does with the 'black-folk' when campaigning for their votes.

Can anyone say 'phony?'

What a flippin' loser....

[retiredgustav]

Obama got 43.6% last election. If the democrats get their base out and the religious right stays home or leaves it blank, Mittens is in as George bush I would say,"in deep doo-doo">

[RollotheNorman]

See my post above. Repeat the only thing keeping Rick's Rotten Regime in power is small town Texas.

[realtimecoffee]

by stevex47 July 17, 2012 8:38 PM EDT Of course, you know you lied on this. Obama has deported 3 times as many illegal aliens in 3 years, than boosh did in 8.
---
That seems a little ove the top.

He's deported about 18 percent more illegal immigrants than former President George W. Bush did in his last two years in office.
. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deportations of convicted criminals so far this fiscal year (October 2010-May 2011) are down to 122,019 from 130,051 for the same period last year. Overall deportations are also down, to 248,821 from 254,047 for the same period last year.
From
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/09/06/illegal-immigrant-deportations-by-the-numbers

MIght not be the best link, but would like to see one that supports your claim.

[jonnyooh]

In Texas, an ultra-conservative group of scumbags choose the history books the public school students can be taught from, basically leading to a history whitewashed by modern day John Birchers. Also, they are pushing for the teaching of creationism and the suppression of Darwin's theory. In other words, they are joining Murdoch in manufacturing morons. The more morons you have, the more Republican voters to elect candidates who will be flunkies for the crooked rich, candidates like Mitt Romney.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html

[TheKritik]

It's like the seal going to campaign in a killer whale pod.I wouldn't be surprises to hear some boo-ing there.