Obama urges taxing the rich, reining in Wall Street

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Obama_urges_taxing_the_rich,_reining_in_Wall_Street.html?cid=32000064

Jan 24, 2012 - 21:18

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama used his last State of the Union speech before the November election to paint himself as the champion of the middle class, by demanding higher taxes for millionaires and tight reins on Wall Street.

Taking advantage of a huge national platform to make the case for his re-election, Obama on Tuesday defiantly defended his record after three years in office and laid blame for many of the country's woes at the feet of banks and what he called an out-of-touch Congress.

He proposed sweeping changes in the tax code and new remedies for the U.S. housing crisis, setting as a central campaign theme a populist call for greater economic fairness.

He mentioned taxes 34 times and jobs 32 times during his hour-long speech, emphasising the two issues at the heart of this year's presidential campaign.

[rhett o rick]

1. Now if he only walks the f'n walk. nm

[Fumesucker]

2. He's putting on his comfortable shoes even as we speak.. n/t

[rhett o rick]

3. Damn. I was afraid of that. I wish he would put on his ass-kickin shoes. nm