Remarks by the President at Thursdays DCCC Fundraiser

[Clio the Leo]

I'm posting this because these events aren't really aired which is a shame because it's at these fundraiers where the red meat comes out.

<snip>

Trust me, when I walked into the door of the Oval Office and found a $1.3 trillion deficit after the previous administration had inherited a surplus, the last thing I wanted to do was spend money on a recovery package, or become involved in the auto industry, or prevent the collapse of Wall Street banks -- particularly those whose irresponsibility had helped to cause this crisis. That wasn't on my campaign to-do list. You don't remember me campaigning on those items. (Laughter.)

And they certainly weren't popular. We knew that. You know, sometimes these folks -- I listen to these pundits and they're saying, aw, the President has made this decision and these are unpopular decisions. I've got pollsters. (Laughter.) I know when what we're about to do is politically unpopular. (Laughter.) But what I also knew was that if we wanted to break the back of our recession and get our economy moving again, then the steps we took were absolutely necessary. And while we still have a long road ahead of us, we're beginning to see signs of progress all across America. All across America. (Applause.)
The economy that was shrinking a year ago -- it's growing today. The economy that was bleeding jobs at a historic pace a year ago -- 750,000 jobs a month when I came in -- now we're creating jobs again. Our economic heartbeat keeps growing stronger. These are good things, even if our friends on the other side of the aisle fall all over themselves to argue otherwise.

But here's the thing: The steady progress we're seeing -- it didn't happen by accident. We're starting to see in public opinion surveys that people start thinking that the economy is getting better, but there seems to be a disconnect as to why it's getting better. The reason the economy is getting better is because Nancy Pelosi and every Democrat here embraced the responsibility to lead. It happened because they embraced the responsibility to stand up to special interests, stand up even against the prevailing political winds, stand up for the American people's interests. It happened because we embraced the responsibility to finally take on problems that Washington had talked about for years, sometimes decades, and put off over and over and over again. That's what this Congress has been doing.

And it hasn't been easy. These guys have taken more tough votes in the last 16 months than Congress had taken in the previous 16 years. (Applause.) And that's the truth.

Think about it. For years, Washington had talked about how credit card companies were ripping off American families. Well, this was the Congress that passed the Credit Card Bill of Rights. (Applause.) For years -- for years, Washington talked about protecting our kids from tobacco companies. This was the Congress that stepped up and delivered and put a stop to those practices.

For years, Washington had talked about making sure our veterans got the care and benefits that was promised them. This was the Congress that increased funding for our veterans by more than we had done in a generation, and guaranteed that it would arrive on time every year. (Applause.)

For years, Washington talked about fixing the student loan system that favored financial interests over students and families. This was the Congress that finally made it happen. Over $60 billion of funding that is now going to students to help them go to school happened because of the courageous votes that were taken by these members of Congress.

For years, Washington talked about the need to transition to a clean and independent energy future. This was the Congress that made the biggest investment in clean energy in our history. and that investment is already reopening factories and rehiring workers to build wind turbines and solar panels, and effectively create an advanced battery industry right here in America.

And for nearly half -- for nearly a century, we had been talking about the need for health insurance reform in America. And this was the Congress that delivered it for the American people. (Applause.)
So I want everyone in this room to be clear -- I'm glad I got pictures with you, it was nice to smooze with you a little bit, but the bottom line is, is that I could not have gotten done any of the things we got done had it not been for this team right here. And they did it despite all the gridlock, despite all the partisanship. This has been one of the most productive legislative sessions in history -- in the midst of crisis.

much more here...
http://thepage.time.com/remarks-obama-at-dccc-dinner-may-13-2010/

[Cha]

1. Love it..thanks Clio~

So much good stuff..and yet it's so easy for some to ignore in favor of a rage du jour.

"For years, Washington had talked about making sure our veterans got the care and benefits that was promised them. This was the Congress that increased funding for our veterans by more than we had done in a generation, and guaranteed that it would arrive on time every year. (Applause.)"

[Lost4words]

2. sounds like good ole boys patting themselves on the back to me.

this congress delivered healthcare reform my ass. they gave a big payday to the Ins co,s.

you will see where we are in a few more years.

[Cha]

3. The facts are that there's been a lot of Progress made

since Obama Biden entered the White House.

[phleshdef]

4. More progress than just about any armchair President DUer will ever be able to say for themselves.

And yea that will probably offend someone. I hope so. I love offending people with the righteous truth.