Well I have to admit it, our President sure knows how to give a speech!
He even takes several shots at those procrastinating Republicans (which is very good to see.)
President Obama urges Congress to 'pass this bill' in Raleigh speech
by: News 14 Carolina Web Staff
September 14, 2011
That NC news story has a has Video Clip of the speech (see 2nd Clip)
President Obama Urges Congress to Pass American Jobs Act
whitehouse -- full speech
http://youtu.be/...
the short AP soundbite:
http://youtu.be/...
the short CNN soundbite:
Obama: 'This isn't about me'.
President Obama's Closing Remarks at NCSU
Obama: "The time for Gridlock is over -- the time for Action is Now!"
For portions of the speech transcript, jump the fold ...
The next news story has the complete speech Transcript, from which I selected some key parts. The emphasis below, has been added.
Complete text of President Obama's speech in Raleigh
by: Office of the Press Secretary -- September 14, 2011
President Barack Obama:
[...]
I came to talk about how America can get back to a place where we’re creating good middle-class jobs again -– jobs that pay well; jobs that offer some security; jobs that are available for all the young people who are going to be graduating from N.C. State. Because I know that’s what the students are thinking about. And we can do that if we can finally get Washington to act -– if we can get folks to stop worrying so much about their jobs and start worrying a little more about your jobs.
Now, on Monday, I sent Congress this piece of legislation -- it’s called the American Jobs Act. It’s a plan that does two things: It puts more people back to work, and it puts more money back into the pockets of working Americans. Everything in this proposal, everything in this legislation, everything in the American Jobs Act is the kind of proposal that in the past, at least, has been supported by Democrats and Republicans. Everything in it will be paid for. Anybody who wants to know more about it, you can read it on whitehouse.gov. (Laughter.) I know you guys don’t have enough to read. And every single one of you can help make this bill a reality by telling Congress to pass this bill. Pass this jobs bill.
Now, let me tell you why you need to pass this bill. Tell them to pass this bill so we can help the people who create most of the new jobs in this country, and that’s small business owners like Erv. Because while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t. So what this jobs bill does is it cuts taxes for small businesses that hire new employees. It cuts taxes for small businesses that raise the salaries of their current employees. It cuts small businesses’ payroll taxes in half, and that would help 170,000 small business owners in North Carolina alone. And if they choose to make new investments next year, it lets them write off those investments. And for small business owners who have contracts with the federal government, we’re going to do more than that. Today I’m ordering all federal agencies to make sure those small business owners get paid a lot faster than they do now. In many cases, it will be twice as fast. So that puts more money in their pockets quicker, which means they can hire folks quicker.
Now, we’ve got to tell Congress to do their part. You’ve got some Republicans in Congress, they like to talk about how "We’re in favor of America’s job creators." Well, you know what, if you’re in favor of America’s job creators, this is your bill. This will actually help America’s job creators. So we need to pass this jobs bill right away.
[...]
Pass this jobs bill, and companies will get new tax credits for hiring America’s veterans. [...]
Pass this bill because it will help hundreds of thousands of young people find summer jobs next year. [...]
Pass this bill, and right here in North Carolina, about 19,000 construction workers will have a job again. This is a common-sense idea. [...] In North Carolina alone, there are 153 structurally deficient bridges that need to be repaired. Four of them are near here, on or around the Beltline. Why would we wait to act until another bridge falls? [...]
Pass this jobs bill, and there will be funding to save the jobs of up to 13,000 North Carolina teachers, cops and firefighters. [...]
Now, if we pass this bill, the typical working family in North Carolina will get a $1,300 tax cut next year. [...]
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THE PRESIDENT: Already, you’ve got some Republicans in Washington who have said that some of this stuff may have to wait until the next election.
AUDIENCE: Booo! {to the Republicans}
THE PRESIDENT: And said maybe we can just kick our problems down the road and stretch this thing out rather than work together right now. Some of them were even quoted as saying even if they agreed with some of the things in this bill, that they don’t want to pass it because it would give me a win.
AUDIENCE: Booo! {to the Republicans}
THE PRESIDENT: Give me a win? Give me a break! (Laughter.) That’s exactly why folks are fed up with Washington. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about giving me a win. This isn’t about giving Democrats or Republicans a win. It’s not about positioning for the election. It’s about giving the American people a win. That’s what it’s about. It’s about giving small business owners and entrepreneurs a win. It’s about giving students a win. It’s about giving working families a win. It’s about giving all of us a win. I get fed up with that kind of game-playing. And we’ve been seeing it for too long. Too long. We’re in a national emergency. We’ve had -- we’ve been grappling with a crisis for three years, and instead of getting folks to rise up above partisanship in a spirit that says we’re all in this together, you got folks who are purposely dividing -- purposely -- thinking just in terms of how does this play out in terms of this election?
That sounds like a LOT of Real Jobs, right now, for Real Americans. Americans who need work, right there in North Carolina.
THAT is how you use the Bully Pulpit, my friends.
That is how you shift the National Dialog.
You go right to the American People, and tell them, exactly WHO is trying to hold America back. Who it is that talks about Job Creating, and then does nothing to make it happen. Our not-so-friendly neighborhood Republican boosters. It's just Business as Usual to them. It's all just a game to them.
Well, having a Good Job, is NOT a game to millions of Americans! Not by a long shot.
It is time for Congress to quit stalling ...
It is time for Congress to Pass This Bill.
It is time for Congress to do what the American People want -- and Put Americans Back to Work! Now. Not 14 months from now.