At Town Hall, Obama Seeks to Stay on Message

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
At the end of a speech about the economy and today's drop in the national unemployment rate, the president invited members of his audience at Lehigh Carbon Community College to tell him what's on their mind.
Have you considered legalizing prostitution, gambling and drugs as a way of stimulating the economy, asked a college sophomore?
"I appreciate the boldness of your question," said the president as laughter filled the hall. But he made it clear the suggestion "will not be my jobs strategy."
He commended the college kid for questioning conventional wisdom. "You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing - which is thinking in new ways about things."
There are studies that show legalizing certain vices – and taxing them – would provide economic stimulus and reduce, if not eliminate, government deficits. But don't expect many politicians to get behind the idea.
Another questioner had a request, not a suggestion.









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