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Subscribe to RSSPresident Obama and the first lady hit the campaign trail on Saturday in key battleground states. NBC's Brian Moor reports.
RICHMOND, Va. — President Obama launched his bid for a second term Saturday by working to mobilize supporters with a forward-looking message in the face of challenges that include sluggish economic recovery.
The question facing voters, he told a boisterous crowd during the second stop on the official launch of his re-election campaign, isn't whether Americans are better off today than four years ago. "The real question," he said, is "how we’ll be doing tomorrow."
Obama tried to accomplish this in two ways: Seeking to rekindle the enthusiasm surrounding his 2008 candidacy, and sending stark warnings about what it would mean if his presumptive Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, were elected.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave at a campaign event May 5 in Richmond, Va.
The word ‘Forward’ printed on placards was held by the crowds at both rallies, a kind of 2.0 version of the ‘hope and change’ theme that propelled the Obama campaign in 2008. The crowds at each were loud and enthusiastic, though the Romney campaign was quick to note that the Columbus arena wasn't filled to capacity. Both crowds were heavy on students, and the Richmond rally had a number of African-Americans in attendance, reflecting the area's large black population.
Analysis: Obama re-election launch seeks to define stakes of campaign
Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Saturday: "No matter how many lofty campaign speeches President Obama gives, the fact remains that American families are struggling on his watch: to pay their bills, find a job and keep their homes.”
That statement came because the former Massachusetts governor found himself on the receiving end of a broadside by the president on Saturday, one that took aim at a cornerstone of Romney's campaign, his claim of economic competence.
"When a woman in Iowa shared the story of her financial struggles, he responded with economic theory," Obama said, painting Romney as out-of-touch.
"Corporations aren't people, people are people!" Obama later added, dredging up Romney's quote at the Iowa state fair, when he compared corporations to individuals.
The election may hinge on the economy, but Obama's first formal day of campaigning suggested he won't cede that issue to Romney. He and the first lady both played to broad middle class frustration about diminishing social mobility.
"It's that fundamental promise that no matter who you are or how you started out—if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself and yes, an even better life for your kids, and an even better life for your kids," First Lady Michelle Obama said in Columbus.
There was much about Obama's campaign launch that seemed familiar from his 2008 campaign.
He said he was still "fired up" and "ready to go," drawing on a campaign slogan from his last election. His two stops on Saturday were in Columbus, Ohio and Richmond, Va. — the state capitals of two crucial swing states Obama had won against Sen. John McCain. And two staple blocs of Obama's 2008 coalition, those young voters and black voters, showed up in throngs for this weekend's events.
He sought, in no uncertain terms, to draw a line from their effort that year to this fall's campaign, taking strides to remind them of the accomplishments in the meanwhile — his health care law, Wall Street reform, winding down the war in Iraq and killing Osama bin Laden, among other initiatives.
Melissa Harris-Perry and her panelists discuss President Obama's new campaign slogan of "forward," and how Republicans are reacting to his message.
"I didn’t run, and you didn’t work your hearts out, just to win an election," Obama said in Richmond.
He added, toward the end of his remarks: "If people ask you ‘what’s this campaign about?’ you tell them it’s still about hope. You tell them it’s still about change."
But the heady optimism from 2008 has been tempered, namely by an anemic economic recovery. The April jobs report found the U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs last month, falling below expectations and suggesting that the pace of hiring has slowed.
Perhaps in recognition of the new political reality, Obama dropped the gloves versus Romney and sharply criticized the former Massachusetts governor, linking him also to a deeply unpopular Republican House of Representatives.
"For the last few years, the Republicans who run this Congress have insisted that we go right back to the policies that created this mess in the first place," Obama said. "And now, after a long and spirited primary, Republicans in Congress have found a champion — they have found a nominee for president who has promised to rubber-stamp this agenda if he has the chance."
It might not have been the lofty rhetoric that drew so many admirers to Obama in 2008, but these new, sharper themes in this campaign still resonate with the president's most ardent supporters.
"I'm just as enthusiastic as the last time, because I think it's going to be a race between an average joe and a multimillionaire," said Marc René of Richmond, an emigre from Haiti in 1994 who works at a local nonprofit.
"My wife and I work, we have great careers, but we still try to make end's meet. We don't have a net worth of $280 million dollars," he said.
Meaghan Mcinnis of Richmond, a relatively recent college graduate who lost one of her first jobs out of school before finding a new one, attended the rally with her friend Jamie Dalton. Both women said they feared the notion of Republican-led "war on women" aggressively messaged by Democrats.
"I feel like there are much bigger issues, and I don't appreciate that 50 and 60-year-old men are making decisions for my 20-something-year-old body," said Mcinnis.
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Its sad to hear so many people think the Republican agenda is going to improve this country. It makes me think so many people have been so completely dumbed down as to make recovery impossible Their agenda will effectively end up causing race riots and a mass revolution in this country. When people start to go hungry, look out 1%'ers they will be hunting you bastards down in droves for causing such inequity. You politicians might wanna watch out too, you will probably be first on the list to blame and with good reason. Republican obstructionists are no more than terrorists, and you folks think that idiot Romney is gonna bail you out of your economic woes...think again! I don't condone party politics in this country it has become evil.
T-man, the really wealthy will always be able to afford protection but I agree we are headed for race riots. This is true no matter who gets elected. Obama has polarized us more than I would have ever guess and I voted for this clown.
Any Liberal I know is not worth his salt when it comes to a fight on any Level?
Unless it's dirty and deceptive, they are masters at that.
This country was built on individuals making choices, reaping the rewards and paying the consequences. There are more failures than sucesses but most of those that fail believe and act "If at first you don't succeed try, try again." The more government takes and gives to those unwilling to try the worse we are.
What do you mean obama just kicked off his campaign, hell he's been campaigning ever since he got elected, that's just one of the problems with obama, if he's not campaigning he's playing golf or taking a vacation.
What's the big deal? He's been campaigning for the past year on the taxpayers DIME... he hasn't done anything else except run around the country spewing more empty rhetoric and promises that he has no intention of keeping. He is simply pandering for votes...plain and simple. Hope and Change.....what a joke....now FORWARD.....HA HA HA...I could just scream laughing at the morons that buy that crap. What a joke!!
I voted for this dunce in 2008. It looks like we will be stuck with him for another four years but at least this time I don't have to be an accomplice.
Unlike you... I never voted for a dumb-ass like George W. Bush...not even once...and Damn proud I didn't.
And I even got roped into going to a GOP fundraiser when he was running for President by my boss and actually shook his hand. The sorriest hand shake I've ever made in my life.
Mike... there is always forgiveness. I once voted for Jimmy Carter but after four years I decided not to vote for him again in 1980 or 2008.
The DNC has ran a lot of Good people off in the last thirty years, They are not the Party they used to be what so ever, They have pushed the Liberal, Socialist commie agenda way to far.
Most that voted for him have buyers remorse and he is not likely to get their votes again.
Perhaps the most critical measure of our economic health as a country is our total national debt to GDP ratio. An economy hits the danger zone when the ratio exceeds 100%. The following numbers show how Obama’s policies have failed this country.
U.S. Total National Debt to GDP ratio:
1992 – 60% (Bush Sr. last year in office)
2000 – 60% (Clinton last year in office)
2006 – 63% (Last year of Republican Congress)
2008 – 70% (Bush Jr. last year in office)
2009 – 85% (Obama 1st year in office)
2010 – 93% (Obama 2nd year in office)
2011 – 102% (Obama 3rd year in office)
2012 – 105% (estimated to exceed)
Our current national debt stands at $15.7 trillion. Current estimates by the Congressional Budget Office and Obama's own budget forecasts using his economic plan show the debt rising to over $20 trillion by 2016. There is not an economist on the planet who thinks that trajectory is sustainable.
Kool Aid drinkers believe it doesn't matter. They just print more money.
Or the spirit of 1933......"On the 23 March 1933 the Reichstag voted itself out of existence on the 27 March the Enabling Act was passed Making Hitler Dictator (1)"
Obama's New Campaign Slogan "Forward!" Was a Hitler Youth Marching Tune (2)
References:
1 - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100118132247AAtF74V
2 - http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/04/obamas-new-campaign-slogan-forward-is-a-nazi-marching-tune-video/
Yes... and if we step out of your ridiculous fantasy word game we can always look at the slogan republicans are really using... "Backward" as they remove any free right from women that they ever fought for and successfully won.
Of course Oblamo wants to talk forward, got zip for the last four years except 6 trillion more in debt.
JoMan
You have let the Divider in chief convince you of that, It is Political rhetoric, He has divided us all with his race baiting to his fanatical Obama care, He has made himself the self appointed savior of the twenty first century, He is now the epitome of big brother, If anyone follows this pied piper to the river they will drown.
I will be supporting and voting for President Obama! *** Obama 2012!!!! ***
The bozo clowns of the tea part and the hypocritical "lofty" mega rich of the republicans... led by astro-lofty and out of touch Romney, with the people pleasing, wishy washy words will not me my choice.
That Komrade Kool aid tastes good doesn't it?
All Romney is is a DORK with a lot of money that his Daddy gave him coupled with a lot of money he legally stole ripping off and bankrupting companies stripping them of their pension funds and saddling them with debt that caused them to go into bankruptcy. Somehow Republicans want to reward this clowns behavior as him being a great American.
But if you look at Mitt Romney very closely and his mannerisms, this guy exhibits all the behaviors of a very insecure individual with mental issues going on and incapable of relating to or communicating with common people. Why he wants to be President is beyond me.
Typical lib hypocrisy, the richest men in America are in doughbama's pocket. Funny how obots cry about the "evil rich" and think they deserve what others have earned.
You must be kidding typical republican lack of education. Time to learn about super packs and the gargantuan money supporting the right wing idiots.
This useless drivel is getting old. What part about supporting the idiots and infighting of the right wing isn't supporting your chosen inbred Hatfield or MaCoy?
I haven't seen any numbers that prove jobs are growing. Last report indicated that jobs continue a steady decline but the number of people seeking work is also on the decline. Many of the unemployed have given up.
Legally corporations are people and taxed as individuals so this statement is functionally correct. That said it is far past time that corporations such as Apple, GM, Ford, (well the list goes on and on) that send jobs overseas be taxed at higher rates and tariffs be placed on goods manufactured outside the US even when those goods are manufactured by American corporations for import to the domestic market. Domestic producers should be offered tax breaks and incentives. Highly skilled jobs should force the employer to pay the same salary/hourly rate as an American citizen with an American education rather than allow them to offer discounted pay in exchange for sponsorship of foreign workers that then are offered a work Visa. Credit towards student loans should be offered to employees with degrees paid for with Federal Student Loans including incentives for the hire of employees in that group.
The Department of Education should be closed and administration of schools should be put back into the hands of the states and local administration with funding distributed to guarantee teachers are paid suffient salaries that better teachers will be willing to teach rather than the current slave labor remuneration offered that either gets you a dedicated person that teaches for the love of teaching (good) to some social misfit or outright pedophile that only does it because of the power over our young that they can take advantage of because . . . nobody but a masochist or a criminal would consider working the 80 - 90 hours a week it takes to teach in our current system (really BAD!!). The whole idea of NCLB is stupid and does not work and trying to fix it only shows our own insanity when something that is proven not to work is repeated over and over trying to see if it will work someday. In the meantime we rank 23rd in the list of 28 western countries in quality of education and are no longer a place that other nations wish to have their children educated in: unless they are illegal aliens whom are under the impression that anything is better than the nothing they get in their own country.
For those complaining about calling the President names and claiming it is disrespectful . . . try to find a president that does NOT have funny (insulting) nicknames. It may be difficult to remember but once upon a time George Washington was called King Washington and President George the Fourth! This happens to be America, one of the few places on Earth where we are allowed and encouraged to insult our political leaders. Name calling our politicians is an important tool that they can use to quage the mood of the people and their effectiveness at the job they are elected to do. Can anyone say "Ronnie Raygun"? What about "Slick Willie"? Grow a pair, they are just words. It is what is done to earn them that can hurt us and they need to be kept aware of that on a continuous and ongoing basis.
Why does he need a new campaign slogan? What's wrong with "Hope and Chan.... Oh. Never mind.
The only people Bo has helped are gays and illegal aliens. Each president is worst than the last. It's firghtening what's next. Remember obama's a commie.
Maybe Bush will come out of hiding to support Romney and???.
Nah, the GOP wants to talk Reagan not Bush...
Maybe instead of forward, you could list Obalmos accomplishments.
At least the Rep. have president worth TALKING ABOUT....wheres Yours?.
Saved the US auto industry
Ordered killing of Osama
Got out of Iraq
For starters
newbook
What was so special about the auto industry? He should of let them fail, Ford got out of their own mess? He got Osama because he said GO? Left Iraq on Bushes time table? I also do not think their is much left on your list?
Bush was an ignoramus. Reagan was worse. Reagan put in act the economics that broke this country and sold us out to other countries. And yet the right-wing touted him as a god. Figures... they only think of themselves and their individual pocket books. A vote for them is another vote to end this good country.
Was He awake when He said that?...Its very hard to tell these days.
Remember Oblamobots, in his book, Oblamo stated, "if the political winds shift, I will stand with the Muslims." Thats should really confort you.
Comfort not confort.
If true that scare the P out of me..
Ted thanks for pointing out that I missed a key, the n is right next to the m. Don't see how this is relevant to the discussion though. You must be a liberal.
It's scared the P out of me too... the "PICK and choose". Read the chapter before you judge. Remember the right-wing nut cases like to only get part of the story and apply it to their crazy ass big foot sightings. They do the with scripture... the same scripture that says Obama the anti-christ and Bush was the will of god and was going to bring armageddon and send us all to heaven in the rapture.
The Catholic Church has already slammed Paul Ryan s Budget as being against the teachings of Jesus and Mitt Romney gave a full throated endorsement of Paul Ryan s Budget.
Well Ted, my dad always taught me not to spend what you don't have. Something Oblamo obviously does not understand. Dees my spelling pass this time troll?
Sorry I missed that at mass.
Better go back and talk to your precious Reagan about that. He open up our country with no holds barred to proceed in this direction. The republicans never have stopped it, only in words, which adds lying on to the crime... and yet you support their agendas...
I have been very disappointed with Barack Obama and how his four years have been spent!
Soo much precious time has been spent trying to "work with" republicans! What a waste of time! Obama had the congress early in his administration and could have done soo many good things for this nation...but he didn't, instead he wanted to work with the enemy...very sad and disturbing. The GOP are very honest about who and what they are...they are the proverbial boogeyman...the kind of organism your family tried to warn you about...pure and unadulterated EVIL!
We gave Obama directions on building a better America, a country that works for the people...afterall...if its not about the people what in hell could it be about??
The next four years we expect certain things, intelligent things to happen in this country. Obama will have his chance to reshape America into the country we all want, fair..just..intelligent.
The war will be against greed....
Yeah and 22 Trillion in debt, smart move troll.
Why should he care? Let those evil taxpayers worry about that.
The Obama bashers are out in force and still can't come up with anything except what fox news wants them to know. Being negative and not wanting to see real facts and pure logic with even a touch of common sense is something that most republicans( who are really socialist themselfves) refuse to look at. It is just so much easier to use smoke screens and pure B.S in order to make Mitt Romney look good when in fact his mouth and actions speak the opposite. People have to remember that Daniem Thorn had a smile on his face to just like Mitt Romney and also had a plan, but to this day no one has seen Romney's plan because he does not have one, as a matter of fact a person would have a better chance of getting a cold glass of air in the desert that would make your mouth wet before getting a plan from Mitt Romney. His all american apple pie eating image is about to take a servere hit from reality.
Dam those fox news people, they are the real problem in this country not a debt we are choking on. LMAO.
hawk,
What is Obama's plan he has had three and a half years and still no plan. His hope and change plan was a complete and utter embarrassment and failure.
hawk read blog #247 would like to hear your facts against his facts. P.S. don't babble like you did in your blog
If he can't get rid of the republican congress he can't implement his plan, they don't work with him, even in adjusting ideas. They are more interested in shooting down Obama even if it means ruining our country. Why would we vote for such evil greedy people?
Some Oblameo lies from last election:
“I promise 100% transparency in my administration.”.
“I promise NO NEW TAXES on a family making less than $250K a year.”.
“I will allow 5 days of public comment before I sign any bills.”.
“I will remove earmarks from PORK projects before I sign any bill.”.
“I will end Income Tax for seniors making less than $50K a year.”.
"I will bring ALL of our troops home within ONE year."
“I’ll put the Health Care negotiations on CSPAN so everyone can see who is at the table!”.
“I’ll have no lobbyists in my administration."
"I'll close Guantanamo."
"I'll resign if I don't cut the deficit in half by the end of four years."
"I'll unite the people of this great country.
So why has he not typed his resignation yet?
Because he and Moochelle don't want to give up those multi million dollar vacations we pay for.
You can tag on there that one of his promises was: That we will work as a Unified Congress... it's the republicans that are failing at their end of the deal. Nothing can be done if there are not willing ideas from both sides. The reason why those items have not been done is because Republicans won't budge on even what color of suit he is wearing. They want the failing of Obama even with the cost of the failing of America.
The Obama slogan for 2012 is “Forward.” The left has always been enamored of “Forwardism” or “Progressivism” which mean much the same thing. Before MSNBC had “Lean Forward,” Mao had the Great Leap Forward, which killed some 40 million people, far more people than MSNBC can ever dream of tuning in to their programs.When Lenin wanted to launch his own newspaper, he called it, “Vperod” or “Forward.” The name has popped up on the mastheads of left-wing newspapers across the world. It’s “Vorwarts” in Germany, “Voorwarts” in the Netherlands and “Ila al-Amam” in the Arab world. Back in New York it’s “The Forward.”
It is time to go back. Back to fiscal responsibility, back to a fair days work for a fair day's pay instead of looking for your fair share of someone elses earnings; in short back to self reliance and self determination.
Obama is depressing. This is worse than Jimmy Carter's malaise in the 1970s. Romney has experience and maturity that will be better than what we have now.
Amen, Amen.
Obama illustrates what a product of the state becomes, a burden to the state.
That would be the republicans... their dead weight of NO.
you righties are amazing complaining in here about Obamas records on economy and jobs when its your radical right house and congress causing both these problems you shouldnt be in here blaming Obama you should be on your congressmens door step yelling at him to stop with the insanity he agreed to at a private repug dinner the night of Obamas inauguration to do everything possible they can do obstruct progress for the next 4 yrs putting party ahead of country thats whos to blame for this continued mess and you know it or your stupid maybe misinformed or just in denial.. Obama 2012....Clinton2016...
ultimate,
Feeling your free ride ending? Get a job.
When you are a real leader you don't use the "I" word. Real leaders say "WE" Obama is the boss if he can't lead then step aside and let someone who can take the helm
Harold it appears you are still smoking too much weed! Obama has screwed this country up so much we may never recover. If he gets re-elected for another 4 years we are in deep kemchee and his socialist agenda will make us a third world country or worse. We are headed that way now because of the massive debt and his wasteful spending. If you think you got hope and real change you are living in a dream world like most of the far left liberal nuts whose brains are only geared to following a snake oil salesman and not thinking for themselves. I call these individuals the unthinkums of the world who blindly follow no matter where it leads.
Obama had control of all three branches of government and accomplished nothing but more division among Americans, more debt, and more BS for you liberal nuts to continue to eat up! Your leader and other morons like Harry Reid who has not passed a budget are the main problem but you are too ignorant to understand. Vote again for your masiah and continue the path to America's downfall. Wise up and get the real message!
We sure can't turn back but by the same token we damn sure can't embrace Obama's Socialism either. Trying to capture his 2008 montra, he didn't even fill the stadium he was speaking in. His call with the Socialist slogan "Forward" isn't ringing bells except to remind voters that this is a socialist call used in previous social revolutions. Russia endured Socialist communism for 75 years before the soul of Russia was declared dead but Obama want a revival to occur in America for Marxism. It isn't registering very well having seen what the past four years has produced from Obama. A nation that is leaderless is a nation going in the wrong direction and American people recognize, we are headed in the wrong direction.
Yep! Richard Nixon was a big time socialist! Your crazies are hilarious when you regurgitate Glen Beck.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/One_of_Richard_Nixon's_campaign_slogans_was_Forward_Together_Of_which_advertising_technique_is_this_an_example
I wonder how long it'll take for the lefties to begin fainting again at Obama's campaign speeches? Perhaps a "chill" up their leg like Chris M. felt?
Check out Drudge. You know, for the rest of the news.
Yep! Drudge is the epitome of unbiased reporting to all crazies. He will make it up even if never happened.
Yeah, I expected that, Sharky. But seriously - monitor it for awhile and see if you don't agree. There's a lot of news you aren't receiving from the old age media.
Sounds like jealously over a real candidate instead of the idiot clowns of conservatives.
MontanaSon:
Try Reuters, Bloomberg or Financial Times and you won't need to read Drudge and then re read the story elsewhere to find out if it's true.
All these Sore Losers on here would have you believe the World is on Fire because of Obama!.
Stock Market at 13,000
Osama Bin Laden is Dead
General Motors is Alive
America escaped our Second Great Depression!
Geeze Guys, Pop a Top and watch a Golf Game or something, Adults are in Charge right now...
Oh yeah, Don't forget to Vote Democratic!
Well Ted could the taxpayers get out 50 Billion back from GM and Chrysler?
Could Oblamo give us back the 6 Trillion he spent
Highest sustained unemployment since the depression even after spending 1 Billion.
Lowest home ownership in 15 years.
Foward -----slogan at 1933 Hilter Youth rally.
Keep driinking the komrade kool aid Ted. Get back under the bridge with the rest of the trolls.
GM still owes the tax payer ....
We have a record high debt and deficit ....
Home ownership is at a 15 year low ....
Record high food stamp recipients and growing ....
30 year low in employment participation ....
And you like it .... "LOL"
That's pretty much the talking points. For anything else, you'll have to research other websites.
General Motors only exists due to a multi-billion dollar bailout...which is nowhere near being repaid.
Pitting Wall St vs Main St. Inciting class warfare. Increases taxes on higher incomes. Failure to address social security. Encouraging OWS crowds...is hardly a legacy.
And the whining has got to go. I've seen 3 yr old boys have candy taken away from them who whine less than Obama. He never met a republican he did not blame for something. Never saw an income over $100k he did not want to tax more.
The John Birch Society is alive...and as sick as ever.... as it was 50 years ago. It just changed it's name to The Republican Party.....big wallets...small minds.
Obama = empty wallets and smallest mind
Jealousy will get you no where
What am I jealous of? Not putting my personal wealth above all?Not wanting to shove my religious beliefs down everybody's throat?Not caring if somebody has health insurance as long as I have mine? Not been anti -immigrant,homophobic,anti-feminist,pro-assault weapons?I may be alot of things,but jealous of todays's Republican Party isn't one of them.