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Obama: I know voters are angry
Source: Agencies |
September 11, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PRESIDENT Barack Obama insisted yesterday that the US economy is showing improvement from the deepest recession in decades but conceded the "progress has been painfully slow."
He said he understands that many voters in November's elections may blame the weak recovery on him.
Facing a rising jobless rate, Obama told a White House news conference: "For all the progress we've made, we're not there yet. And that means people are frustrated and why people are angry."
"Because I am president, and the Democrats have control of the House and Senate, it's understandable that people are saying, 'What have you done?'"
At his first formal session with reporters since May, Obama repeated his contention that Republican obstructionism is hampering his ability to steer the economy into a stronger recovery.
The president, who also is the leader of the Democratic Party, spent much of his appearance before cameras on the defensive, underscoring his frustration with being unable to convince the public that his economic fixes are working.
Obama repeated his insistence that Republicans must drop stalling tactics on a bill to help small businesses.
And Obama insisted again that Bush-era tax cuts be extended for individuals earning less than US$200,000 a year and joint filers earning less than US$250,000. All the Bush tax cuts are to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.
Obama said Congress should not delay extending the middle-class tax cuts any longer.
"Why hold it up? Why hold the middle class hostage?" he said.
He said extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans "is a bad idea."
Asked how he had changed Washington, Obama said the dreadful economy made it hard to demonstrate real progress.
"I think that's fair. I'm as frustrated as anybody by it," Obama said.
He said he understands that many voters in November's elections may blame the weak recovery on him.
Facing a rising jobless rate, Obama told a White House news conference: "For all the progress we've made, we're not there yet. And that means people are frustrated and why people are angry."
"Because I am president, and the Democrats have control of the House and Senate, it's understandable that people are saying, 'What have you done?'"
At his first formal session with reporters since May, Obama repeated his contention that Republican obstructionism is hampering his ability to steer the economy into a stronger recovery.
The president, who also is the leader of the Democratic Party, spent much of his appearance before cameras on the defensive, underscoring his frustration with being unable to convince the public that his economic fixes are working.
Obama repeated his insistence that Republicans must drop stalling tactics on a bill to help small businesses.
And Obama insisted again that Bush-era tax cuts be extended for individuals earning less than US$200,000 a year and joint filers earning less than US$250,000. All the Bush tax cuts are to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.
Obama said Congress should not delay extending the middle-class tax cuts any longer.
"Why hold it up? Why hold the middle class hostage?" he said.
He said extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans "is a bad idea."
Asked how he had changed Washington, Obama said the dreadful economy made it hard to demonstrate real progress.
"I think that's fair. I'm as frustrated as anybody by it," Obama said.
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