At the press conference this morning, Barack talked to reporters about taxes and healthcare. Check out this video:
You can read about Barack's economic and healthcare plans to learn more about how he plans to strengthen the middle class.
Today we learned that the trade deficit jumped to its highest level in 13 months. This is not an accident. This is yet another sign of the failed economic policies of the Bush administration that John McCain seeks to extend – policies that reflect unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility and borrowing from abroad. Rather than get America’s fiscal house in order, Senator McCain is proposing $300 billion more in tax breaks and loopholes for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and he hasn’t explained how he’d pay for them. Just this week, John McCain reaffirmed his commitment to special interest-driven economic policies that will widen the trade deficit, but won’t help American automakers secure fair treatment in South Korea, and won’t ensure that China stops devaluing its currency and tilting the playing field against American workers. As President, Barack Obama will stand up for fiscal responsibility by restoring fairness to our economy, investing in a renewable energy future, and adopting a trade policy that serves the interests not just of multinational corporations but of America’s hardworking families.
You can learn more about Barack's stance on trade here.
Barack held a press conference in St. Louis this morning as part of his "Change That Works For You" economic tour.
Keep checking back as Barack continues his two week tour.
The full speech from Raleigh, North Carolina earlier today:
You can read the full text of the speech, as well as the details of Barack's economic plan.
Barack just concluded an economic policy speech in Raleigh, North Carolina. The speech marks the kick-off of a two week tour focusing on the current economic crisis and the need for new economic policy:
You don’t have to read the stock tickers or scan the headlines in the financial section to understand the seriousness of the situation we’re in right now. You just have to go to Pennsylvania and listen to the man who lost his job but can’t even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one. Or listen to the woman from Iowa who works the night shift after a full day of class and still can’t pay the medical bills for a sister who’s ill. Or talk to the worker I met in Indiana who worked at the same plant his father worked at for thirty years until they moved it to Mexico and made the workers actually pack up the equipment themselves so they could send it to China.... We did not arrive at the doorstep of our current economic crisis by some accident of history. This was not an inevitable part of the business cycle that was beyond our power to avoid. It was the logical conclusion of a tired and misguided philosophy that has dominated Washington for far too long.
You don’t have to read the stock tickers or scan the headlines in the financial section to understand the seriousness of the situation we’re in right now. You just have to go to Pennsylvania and listen to the man who lost his job but can’t even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one. Or listen to the woman from Iowa who works the night shift after a full day of class and still can’t pay the medical bills for a sister who’s ill. Or talk to the worker I met in Indiana who worked at the same plant his father worked at for thirty years until they moved it to Mexico and made the workers actually pack up the equipment themselves so they could send it to China.
... We did not arrive at the doorstep of our current economic crisis by some accident of history. This was not an inevitable part of the business cycle that was beyond our power to avoid. It was the logical conclusion of a tired and misguided philosophy that has dominated Washington for far too long.
Also on hand for the speech were John and Elizabeth Edwards:
Read the full text of Barack's prepared remarks . . .
Barack begins a two week economic policy tour today in Raleigh, North Carolina. From CBS News:
Barack Obama heads to North Carolina today, as he kicks off a two week campaign swing intended to focus on the economy. In his speech today, Obama is expected to unveil some new proposals as well as continue to draw parallels between John McCain’s economic plan and George Bush’s.During the next two weeks, Obama will travel to states which typically do not vote for a Democratic presidential candidates in general elections. Although North Carolina has not voted for the Democrat since Jimmy Carter in 1976, the campaign is confident that they can put the state into play this year. They are counting on the vast grassroots organization that they built in the state during the primary contest, as well as Obama’s appeal to students and African Americans. Obama beat Hillary Clinton in the North Carolina primary by a double digit margin.Last week, Obama campaigned in Virginia, also considered a “red” - or Republican - state, and will make his way to the battlegrounds of Missouri, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida in the coming days.
We'll have more coverage from the speech later in the day . . .
