Posted on 02/13/2008 11:52:52 AM PST by pissant
JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama said Wednesday that as president he would spend $210 billion to create jobs in construction and environmental industries, as he tried to win over economically struggling voters.
Obama's investment would be over 10 years as part of two programs. The larger is $150 billion to create 5 million so-called "green collar" jobs to develop more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Sixty billion would go to a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to rebuild highways, bridges, airports and other public projects. Obama estimated that could generate nearly 2 million jobs, many of them in the construction industry that's been hit by the housing crisis.
"This agenda is paid for," Obama said as the Republican National Committee promoted an "Obama Spend-O-Meter" online to track his proposals and portray him as a tax-and-spend liberal. Obama explained that the money for his spending proposals will come from ending the Iraq war, cutting tax breaks for corporations, taxing carbon pollution and raising taxes on high income earners.
Obama, who has faced criticism that he doesn't have enough policy specifics, asked autoworkers at the General Motors plant in Janesville, Wis., to "bear with me" as his began a policy speech that he said would be unlike his typical rousing addresses to rallies. He read from a TelePrompTer in a cavernous training room, flanked by sparkling new vehicles and a large American flag.
"Today I want to take it down a notch," Obama said. "This is going to be a speech that's a little more detailed. It's going to be a little bit longer, not as many applause lines."
Obama pointedly did not include one of his biggest applause lines, that he would require vehicle manufacturers to raise fuel economy standards. Obama often points out that he delivered that message straight to the automakers during a speech last year in Detroit.
But he didn't mention it on the plant visit that came a day after GM reported the largest annual loss ever for an American automaker — $38.7 billion in 2007.
"I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday," Obama said. "I also know how much progress you've made, how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you're churning out. And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to retool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years."
Obama heads into Tuesday's Wisconsin primary as the favorite in the state and the front-runner for the nomination. His victories this week in eight contests have put him ahead of rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the delegate chase.
But Obama did not pursue the front-runner strategy of ignoring rivals. He repeatedly criticized Clinton in an effort to beat back the challenge she still poses to him.
He tied her to likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain for their shared vote to authorize the war in Iraq. He lumped her with President Bush for offering an economic recovery plan that didn't include immediate relief, without mentioning that both the president and Clinton quickly adopted tax rebates.
Obama's appearance in Janesville was part of a strategy to reach out to voters who might be struggling in the economy and who have supported Clinton in most contests so far. Combining exit polls from 19 states that had competitive Democratic primaries before Tuesday, Clinton had a 49 percent to 46 percent edge over Obama with voters who named the economy as the No. 1 problem.
But Obama seemed to be turning that around in his most recent victories Tuesday. In Virginia and Maryland, Obama dominated among the one-half of Democratic voters who named the economy as their chief concern. In both states, about six in 10 Democrats who cited the economy voted for Obama.
Well there's your problem right there... get another job? Pffffftttt....It's time to go on the dole and let Father Obama take care of us all. ;-)
Well, I DO know that Merury-Filled Lightbulb Cleanup Specialist is going to be the hot-job of the 2010’s!
Could THAT be what he’s talking about???
How much of the $210 billion will pay for sick days, hourly breaks, vacation days, and time spent sleeping in the bushes near the job sites?
She will say “Hey! I already told them that I have hundreds of ideas but we just can’t afford them all. No Fair!”
Oh, wait: he does get it.
I got that one. :)
This will be mentioned in every article from here on out....
Welfare jobs. Imagine that.
210 Billion = 210 x 1000 Million = 210,000 millionaires
Hell, just have a welfare lottery and give out checks for 1 million dollars tax free for exchange of a signed statement that you would never again seek help from the government. You could wipe out poverty in ten years........
Why not $500 billion ?
If you want to se what the country will be if Obamarama prevails,look no further than Massachusetts.Last year the moonbats here elected Deval Patrick,an African-American moonbat.His campaign was eerily similar to Obama’s,speaking eloquently about nothing.Since Patrick’s become governor,it’s been one mishap after another.Totally overmatched.There are too many things to list here. Point is Obama will be no match for the job at hand should he win.
there are a large number of jobs in construction right now-more jobs than there are people to fill them-Americans do not want to do manual labor. There is no need to spend additional federal tax dollars building any more “big digs”.
That’s 110 Big Digs!
This is the group that picks up trash? Or are they the ones that go through arks picking up litter?
Guess I need two or three more jobs just to pay for all the taxation this jack ass will levy to pay for Obamatopia.
OBAMATOPIA
This is the group that picks up trash? Or are they the ones that go through parks picking up litter?
Once upon a time Republican politicians could make a case about fiscal conservatism without people laughing their a$$eS off...no more...
Interrupt the TelePrompTer and Oboma goes offline; kind of like dropping a WiFi connection on your laptop.
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