Chronicling trends in entertainment, pop culture, politics, the arts, and the uncategorized et cetera.

Shallow Nation

November 22nd, 2008 at 9:06 am

Video & Photos: President-Elect Barack Obama Weekly Address 11-22-08

Barack Obama visits Manny's Coffee Shop and Deli, Chicago, November 21, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama delivered his weekly address via YouTube and radio on November 22, 2008. Watch the address and see photos of Obama at Manny’s Cafeteria and Deli in Chicago on November 21, 2008. At the impromptu visit, Obama, accompanied by Valerie Jarrett, his Transition Team co-chair and White House senior adviser, purchased two cherry pies and three corned beef sandwiches. He greeted and talked with customers and workers, but declined to take reporters’ questions on the economy in general and the proposed bailout of the auto industry in specific.

Barack Obama visits Manny's Cafeteria and Deli, Chicago, November 21, 2008

In his video and radio address Obama outlines a two-year plan for the economy, prefacing by noting the recent indicators of the severe economic downturn; new home purchases in October 2008 were the lowest in half a century and 540,000 more jobless claims were filed in the last week, which is the highest in 18 years.

Barack Obama visits Manny's Cafeteria and Deli, Chicago, November 21, 2008

Noting the urgency of the situation, Obama said, “While I’m pleased that Congress passed a long-overdue extension of unemployment benefits this week, we must do more to put people back to work and get our economy moving again. We have now lost 1.2 million jobs this year, and if we don’t act swiftly and boldly, most experts now believe that we could lose millions of jobs next year.”

Obama in October called for a $175 billion stimulus measure, but his comments in the radio address on Saturday signaled he was prepared to push for a much larger package, though he did not give a price-tag.

The economic recovery plan being developed by his staff aims to create 2.5 million jobs by January 2011, and he wants to get it through Congress quickly and sign it soon after taking office.

He called the plan “big enough to meet the challenges we face” and said that it will jump-start job creation but also “lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy.”

Source: Obama: ‘Millions of jobs’ in danger next year

Throughout the message, Obama reiterated the need for immediate action, and concluded by putting the present situation within an historic context, “The survival of the American Dream for over two centuries is not only a testament to its enduring power, but to the great effort, sacrifice, and courage of the American people. It has thrived because in our darkest hours, we have risen above the smallness of our divisions to forge a path towards a new and brighter day. We have acted boldly, bravely, and above all, together.”

Photo credit: Getty Images North America See more photos on Obama-Biden Flickr

See also: Transcript – Obama Radio Address

Via Change.gov

Related posts: