Republicans will make US a 'Third World' country: Obama
By Mira Oberman (AFP) – 8 hours ago

CHICAGO — US President Barack Obama accused his Republican foes of wanting to turn the United States into a "Third World" country Thursday as he rallied support for his reelection campaign.

The attack came a day after Obama savaged Republican budget plans and unveiled his $4 trillion deficit reduction drive that aims to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans in order to preserve key social services.

The debate over fiscal policy will prove critical to the 2012 campaign, and Obama sought to frame it as a "stark choice" between investing in the future or watching the country fall apart.

"Under their vision, we can't invest in roads and bridges and broadband and high-speed rail," Obama told a select group of the Democratic faithful at the second of three fundraising events in his hometown of Chicago.

"I mean, we would be a nation of potholes, and our airports would be worse than places that we thought -- that we used to call the Third World, but who are now investing in infrastructure."

Republican plans to shrink the reach of government is "not a vision that's impelled by the numbers" but a "choice" to give a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the rich rather than ask those who have been "blessed" to "give a little more," he said.

Obama said his vision was one of an ambitious, compassionate and caring America "where we're living within our means but we're still investing in our future."

"If we apply some practical common sense to this, we can solve our fiscal challenges and still have the America that we believe in," Obama told supporters at Chicago's N9NE restaurant.

"That's what this budget debate is going to be about. And that's what the 2012 campaign is going to be about."

The events in Chicago were Obama's first fundraisers since he officially launched his bid for a second term on April 4 and were expected to raise about two million dollars (1.4 million euros).

Analysts predict Obama -- who raised a record $750 million ahead of the 2008 election -- will build a billion-dollar war chest this time around.

But money won't be enough to win, senior advisor and 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe told a crowd of 2,300 supporters gathered in a ballroom at Navy Pier ahead of Obama's speech.

"If only the people who normally vote in presidential elections vote in this election it will be too close," Plouffe said as he urged supporters to get more people involved in the campaign.

"You've got to get these people to get involved and to vote so we can make sure that we succeed in this election."

Obama established his 2012 campaign headquarters in Chicago, the first time a presidential reelection campaign was not based in Washington.

He said the campaign wanted to be "rooted in your hopes and rooted in your dreams" instead of influenced by Washington pundits and powerbrokers.

Obama reminded the cheering crowd of the sense of hope and possibility they felt when they celebrated his election as the first African-American US president in Chicago's Grant Park.

"And yet, even as we celebrated -- you remember what I said back then? I said our work wasn't ending, our work was just beginning," Obama said.

"We've still got business to do. We are not finished.

"We've got to reclaim the American dream for all Americans. That's the change we still believe in," the US leader added.

"We took office in the middle of the worst recession in our lifetimes," Obama reminded supporters. The recession, he said, was "so bad that many families are still grappling with the aftershocks, even though the economy is growing again."

Barring a dramatic turn, no major adversary from within his party is likely to challenge Obama, who turns 50 in August.

As for who might run against him from the Republican Party's ranks, uncertainty reigns.

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney have taken the first official steps toward candidacy, while conservative former House speaker Newt Gingrich and even real estate mogul Donald Trump have hinted at mounting bids for the Republican nomination.

In less than a month, the 64-year-old Trump has jumped from 10 to 19 percent support among Republican voters, tying with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, according to a CNN poll released this week.

Republican officials worry that the crowded field of possible White House hopefuls could end up helping Obama, who could be vulnerable as the US economy limps out of its worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

"Under their vision, we can't invest in roads and bridges and broadband and high-speed rail,"

Melissia wrote:Wait, demonizing? I thought it was just a nickname, they call eachother such locally.

And it is very much dependent on the state. A lot of cities, especially smaller ones, are still using things made during the Great Depression with little to no modifications.

Frazzled wrote:

Melissia wrote:Wait, demonizing? I thought it was just a nickname, they call eachother such locally.

And it is very much dependent on the state. A lot of cities, especially smaller ones, are still using things made during the Great Depression with little to no modifications.

No Republican would call another that. It violates the 11th Commandment.

daedalus-templarius wrote:Apparently the only thing most of the American populace understands is ridiculous hyperbole. The more extreme, the more likely they might actually pay attention I guess.

Great way to kick it off, lol. Not like he could have said anything to start any kind of budgetary discussions in a bipartisan manner.

Guitardian wrote:As long as that Muslim from Kenya still wants to kill my grandma and give my job to the Mexicans I ain't gonna vote for him and I know all he says is lies. He ruined how awesome America was made by the great G Dubya.

Mannahnin wrote:Mira Oberman apparently cannot be trusted with a quote. Fraz, why fan flames that incompetent reporter is trying to light?

The quote is: "I mean, we would be a nation of potholes, and our airports would be worse than places that we thought -- that we used to call the Third World, but who are now investing in infrastructure."

He's talking only about infrastructure, and the only Third World comparison he's making is about airports.

Mannahnin wrote:"I mean, we would be a nation of potholes, and our airports would be worse than places that we thought -- that we used to call the Third World, but who are now investing in infrastructure."

Guitardian wrote:As long as that Muslim from Kenya still wants to kill my grandma and give my job to the Mexicans I ain't gonna vote for him and I know all he says is lies. He ruined how awesome America was made by the great G Dubya.

Frazzled wrote:

Mannahnin wrote:Mira Oberman apparently cannot be trusted with a quote. Fraz, why fan flames that incompetent reporter is trying to light?

The quote is: "I mean, we would be a nation of potholes, and our airports would be worse than places that we thought -- that we used to call the Third World, but who are now investing in infrastructure."

He's talking only about infrastructure, and the only Third World comparison he's making is about airports.

He called Ryan's budget plan "UnAmerican" while Ryan was actually there. Brilliant.

Enslaviour wrote:

Mannahnin wrote:"I mean, we would be a nation of potholes, and our airports would be worse than places that we thought -- that we used to call the Third World, but who are now investing in infrastructure."

Most airports are either owned by municipalities or private owners. Ones owned by municipalities should be taxing to repair them or selling them to private owners. Private owners have the obligation to make repairs in their infrastructure, not the tax payer. So this comparison by Obama seems very false.

sexiest_hero wrote:"He called Ryan's budget plan "UnAmerican" while Ryan was actually there. Brilliant."

It is Brilliant. That guy's plan has a lot of crazy ideas. Republicans have been calling Obama unAmerican for years. He manned up and did it to their face instead of on some 24 hour news show. The closer election time gets the more forceful speak you will hear.

Frazzled wrote:As a sitting President right before beginning budget negotiations its pathetic. He's campaigning, not performing the duties of his office. It explains why his ratings keep falling.
-Partisan Chacago hack in campaign mode "the other side is EEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVIL!"
-US President. "I applaud, the Republican beginning. I applaud the Bipartisan commission's efforts. Here is my plan. As your President each group has some ideas with merit, and we all want to balance the budget. Now begins the process of coming together on a joint plan that will fix this crisis. It will be difficult. There will be many stumbling blocks. But with compromise and firm conviction we can come forth with a final plan, a better plan, that will solve this. "

biccat wrote:His message is about himself rather than his ideas.