President-Elect Barack Obama Weekly Address Video, Photos 1-3-09

Barack Obama, January 4, 2009 boards a millitary plane in route to his move to Hay Adams Hotel

President-elect Barack Obama delivered his weekly address via radio and YouTube on January 3, 2009. See the video and photos of Obama embarking upon his move to Washington DC.

In his address, Obama outlined his proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to create jobs in short-term and spur economic growth and competitiveness in the long-term. He warned against falling “into the old Washington habit of throwing money at the problem” and stressed that investments must be strategic investments that will benefit the economy in the future.

Barack Obama, January 4, 2009 boards a millitary plane in route to his move to Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC

President-elect Barack Obama with airport workers at Chicago Midway Airport, January 4, 2009

Obama acknowledged that the country faces serious economic challenges in the New Year as he noted that nearly two million people in the U.S. lost jobs in 2008 and millions more work harder in lesser paying jobs with fewer benefits out of necessity. He said,”For too many families, this new year brings new unease and uncertainty as bills pile up, debts continue to mount and parents worry that their children won’t have the same opportunities they had.”

Reiterating his commitment to bipartisan solutions to economic problems he went on to say, ” the problems we face today are not Democratic problems or Republican problems. The dreams of putting a child through college, or staying in your home, or retiring with dignity and security know no boundaries of party or ideology.”

Barack Obama, January 4, 2009 boards a millitary plane in route to his move to Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC

Obama boards a military plane at Chicago Midway Airport January 4, 2009

He identified the problems as “American’s problems” and Americans must come together to solve them. He noted that Economists from across the political spectrum are in agreement that action must be swift and bold, otherwise, he said, [W]e could see a much deeper economic downturn that could lead to double digit unemployment and the American Dream slipping further and further out of reach.”

Barack Obama, January 4, 2009 boards a millitary plane in route to his move to Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC
Obama shakes hands with Air Force Colonel Scott Turner, his future pilot of Air Force One

Obama gave few details of the plan, which has yet to be released by his transition team but has been estimated to cost between $675 billion to $775 billion. He said its No. 1 priority was to create 3 million jobs — more than 80 percent of them in the private sector. [...]

Barack Obama, January 4, 2009 on board a millitary plane in route to his move to Hay Adams Hotel

Obama speaks with reporters on board the military plane en route to Washington, DC

Democrats, who have a majority in Congress, want the economic stimulus to include tax relief for the middle class and spending on schools, roads and other infrastructure. States, which increasingly are having difficulties paying health-care costs for the poor, also would get federal money.

But Republicans on Capitol Hill have been warning that the economic recovery package should not spend too much on government-funded projects and should not be rushed through Congress without adequate review.

Republicans have said they would not rubber-stamp a huge spending plan.

Source: Obama urges parties to work together on economy

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

Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, DC

Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, DC

The President-elect and his family moved to Washington, DC on January 4, 2008 take up temporary residence at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel which is within view of the White House. As part of the Presidential transition, Obama has numerous meetings scheduled in the upcoming week including a meeting with President Bush and all living former presidents and a meeting with congressional leaders.