Obama Unveils Plan To Boost Economy

With Eye On Working Class Voters, Democrat Proposes $210B For Construction, Environmental Projects

(AP)  Democrat Barack Obama said Wednesday that as president he would spend $210 billion to create jobs in construction and environmental industries, as he tried to win over economically struggling voters.

Obama's investment would be over 10 years as part of two programs. The larger is $150 billion to create 5 million so-called "green collar" jobs to develop more environmentally friendly energy sources.

Sixty billion would go to a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to rebuild highways, bridges, airports and other public projects. Obama estimated that could generate nearly 2 million jobs, many of them in the construction industry that's been hit by the housing crisis.

"This agenda is paid for," Obama said as the Republican National Committee promoted an "Obama Spend-O-Meter" online to track his proposals and portray him as a tax-and-spend liberal. Obama explained that the money for his spending proposals will come from ending the Iraq war, cutting tax breaks for corporations, taxing carbon pollution and raising taxes on high income earners.

Obama, who has faced criticism that he doesn't have enough policy specifics, asked autoworkers at the General Motors plant in Janesville, Wis., to "bear with me" as his began a policy speech that he said would be unlike his typical rousing addresses to rallies. He read from a TelePrompTer in a cavernous training room, flanked by sparkling new vehicles and a large American flag.

"Today I want to take it down a notch," Obama said. "This is going to be a speech that's a little more detailed. It's going to be a little bit longer, not as many applause lines."

Obama pointedly did not include one of his biggest applause lines, that he would require vehicle manufacturers to raise fuel economy standards. Obama often points out that he delivered that message straight to the automakers during a speech last year in Detroit.

But he didn't mention it on the plant visit that came a day after GM reported the largest annual loss ever for an American automaker - $38.7 billion in 2007.

"I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday," Obama said. "I also know how much progress you've made, how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you're churning out. And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to retool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years."

Obama heads into Tuesday's Wisconsin primary as the favorite in the state and the front-runner for the nomination. His victories this week in eight contests have put him ahead of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the delegate chase.

But Obama did not pursue the front-runner strategy of ignoring rivals. He repeatedly criticized Clinton in an effort to beat back the challenge she still poses to him.

He tied her to likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain for their shared vote to authorize the war in Iraq. He lumped her with President Bush for offering an economic recovery plan that didn't include immediate relief, without mentioning that both the president and Clinton quickly adopted tax rebates.

Obama's appearance in Janesville was part of a strategy to reach out to voters who might be struggling in the economy and who have supported Clinton in most contests so far. Combining exit polls from 19 states that had competitive Democratic primaries before Tuesday, Clinton had a 49 percent to 46 percent edge over Obama with voters who named the economy as the No. 1 problem.

But Obama seemed to be turning that around in his most recent victories Tuesday. In Virginia and Maryland, Obama dominated among the one-half of Democratic voters who named the economy as their chief concern. In both states, about six in 10 Democrats who cited the economy voted for Obama.

[standlee5]

2 million green collar jobs filled by foreign Hb1 visa holders. Another 2 million infrastructure construction jobs filled with illegal alien labor. Same old song and dance except this time they''ll be paid with our tax dollars.

[klingon69]

That''''s why thousands line up to apply whenever the post office is hiring. I read a story recently where 3000 people applied for 7 openings.
Posted by ontheleft at 08:22 PM : Feb 13, 2008
Most government jobs are so polluted with nepotism, that if you are directly related to someone high up, you don''t get the job.

[boatdocster]

rozz62

Get a grip. The Constitution (the document Bush does not like) requires a presidential candidate to be US born and a certain age, but not of a certain religion.

I''ve watched "Christian Bush" invade 2 countries w/o cause, spend 2, maybe 3 trillion dollars of debt money, kill upwards of 1,000,000 innocent people, 4,000 American citizens, approve torture, and break almost every law we have. And Obama is worse than Bush???

Please!! Take that crack pipe out of your mouth!

[realpatriot1]

sjbj2322,

The econmic ideas being expressed by Obama have been floating around in Democratic think tanks for years and are not expressly her ideas or his. The fact that some things are different doesn''t mean he "changed her plan around", it means his plan is different and voters need to compare and decide which offers a better alternative.

if you want to see someone taking someone else''s plan, barely tweeking it, and then touting its originality compare hillary''s healthcare plan to the romney "Massachusetts" miracle which has proven to be anything but miraculous.

[realpatriot1]

rozz62,

He knows what kind of scrutiny he will be subjected to because he''s been subjected to it already and it isn''t doing squat to his public standing. Why? Because, unlike Kery & Gore, he fights back and defends himself and doesn''t let smears accusing him of being a Muslim or not pledging allegiance or being a drug pusher stand unchallenged. That makes him a rascist to race conscious whites(Hillary supporters and other Republicans) but just what democrats need to the rest of us.

Hillary''s campaign tried to swift boat him and now some people are losing their jobs as a result( nad rightfully so!). Bush''s buddy the Prime Minister of Australia tried to swift boat him; he lost his job too.

Obama supporters say Bring It On!

[realpatriot1]

rozz62,

It''s difficult to imagine how you could be more misinformed about the situation in Kenya.

For starter, it is an overwhelmingly Christian nation and religion has nothing to do with the conflict.

Secondly, Obama has been called upon by both sides to get involved and has remained nuetral.

Kibaki came to power in a disputed election which independent international observers said called for an outside inquiry. That''s the basis of the current strife, he doesn''t have the support of the people while the opposition does.

Since taking power his government has played a positive role in attempting to resolve disputes in Sudan & Somalia but has also been accused of being responsible for over a billion dollars in corruption.

Kibaki has also attempted unsuccessfully to amend the Constitution to give him dictatorial powers.

If Obama showed support for the opposition 2 years ago that could be why. To reiterate, both sides have requested the role he''s playing now and the fact that the Bush State Department is alowing him to play this role should tell you all you need to know about its propriety.

[the74blaster]

He will be subjected to the same ruthless treatment as the last Democratic nominee.

Posted by rozz62,

Thats a typical GOP response when they cannot use their track record after 8 years of a failed administration. I mean having a conservative blowhard called Rush look a Hillary''s facial features and making it an issue reflects badly on the conservative press. It goes both ways!

Does your McCain blow up doll come equiped with a defribulatory?

I guess we cannot expect anything less since the GOP only has all the success from Iraq, the social security fix and the 4.5 trillion increase in our debt to crow about this time around.

[krisd999-2009]

The only way the government can boost the economy is to get out of the way. When the government takes $100 out of your pocket and gives it to some of their lobyist friends and their companies to create one job plus fat bonus for the CEO, it destroys 2 jobs that would be there providing you with goods and services for your $100. The problem is the government is robing us of our labor and making their cronies rich. Collecting money for transportation from carbon excise tax is good because only the user pays and the guy riding a bicycle doesn''t pay a cent. It helps to discourage waste of fuel and polution without the "cap and trade" boondogles. He should eliminate income/capital taxes to encourage development of non-carbon energy and vehicles and again, the bicyclist doesn''t pay a cent. Getting a full paycheck would be the greatest thing for the poor and middle class.

[sjbj2322]

NO, Obama did not unveil a plan to boost the economy....he STOLE Hillary''s ideas changing them just enough around the fringed edges so as to try to make it appear that he''s done something original. WHY WON''T PEOPLE SEE THROUGH HIM!

[nikitia11]

Please check this link if you haven''t already. It''s quite moving!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cySK6q2P_Nw


GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!

TEXAS, OHIO, WISCONSIN, AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE SUPPORTING YOU!!!!