Obama: 'I am not a Democratic or Republican President. I'm the President.'
JAMESTOWN, N.C.– President Obama took a pit stop from his two-day bus tour of North Carolina to speak at the Ragsdale YMCA about his jobs bill.
The line wrapping around the YMCA building soon gave way to an auditorium filled with 1,000 eager people.
Someone in the audience stood and began a chant, "Fired Up, Ready to Go" that quickly spread throughout the auditorium.
Minutes later, Linda Phillips, a ninth-grade Ragsdale High School teacher, introduced President Obama.
He began his address saying, "North Carolina voices aren't being heard."
He told the audience that everything "can't be fixed overnight," and that most of the economic issues that America faces took longer than a decade to emerge.
Obama was passionate as he explained the importance of education.
Rather than pointing fingers, Obama shared his desire to work with everyone to make the jobs bill possible to "work on an economy that works for everybody."
"I am not a Democratic or Republican President; I'm the President," he said.
He went on to say that the American Jobs Act is filled with proposals.
He referred to one poll, where 63 percent of Americans support it.
Obama said that he plans to break the bill "into pieces" to allow Congress to "focus on one piece at a time."
Portions of the bill that have a direct impact on North Carolina include tax cuts to aid small business growth; secure jobs for workers while rebuilding and modernizing America; a ‘Back to Work' pathway for the unemployed; and tax relief.
He expressed the importance of education and getting teachers back into the classrooms.
Two thousand classroom positions were eliminated this year in North Carolina, he said.
"Don't be bamboozled," Obama told the audience, while discussing the portion of the bill that asks wealthier Americans to pay two percent more in taxes.
He said his proposal could result in tax breaks for the middle class and assist in closing America's deficit.
But, he said that taxes could go up $1,000 without the bill passing.
"Reporters can check on the facts," he said. "It's true."
Obama urged the audience, "Send a letter, call, tweet or whatever you do to let them know what you want."
The President ended his address saying, "Now is the time to say, ‘Yes We Can'."
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More thenewsargus News Articles
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- Tea Talk w/ The News Argus: LaKeith Stevenson
- Brown administration makes history with school's first SGA inauguration
Recent thenewsargus News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR THENEWSARGUS
WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties By Elijah Richardson
Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds By Elijah Richardson
Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve By Elijah Richardson
Lady Rams look to reverse an abysmal 2014-2015 season By Demetrius Dillard
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
LATEST THENEWSARGUS
- Black Business
- WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties
- Controversial Wake Forest Tweet Sparks Outrage
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- UREC Looks To Continue and Improve Student Engagement Through Physical...
- University Recreation To Hold Personal Training Pilot Study
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
RECENT THENEWSARGUS CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
- Your Child’s Tomorrow Begins Today
- Choose Beer Grown Here: Anheuser-Busch is First to Adopt...
- Helping Alleviate Children’s Anxiety
- Vitamins and Minerals: Fortifying Against Poor Oral Health
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Shining a Spotlight on Kidney Health: Get to Know Your...
- Phony Investment “Opportunities” Can Cost You Big, Say...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Ash Carter Exchange Showcases Innovation and National...
- AI Expo for National Competitiveness Announces Key Sponsor
- 2102: PRETENSE, THE PLAY: New Literary Novel Overlays...
- Why It's Important to Talk About Inheriting Wealth
- 100% of Latino Grads Start Trades Careers With Centro...
- Sound Solutions: How Generative AI is Enhancing Business...
- Wow Your Easter Guests With A Very Easy Spring Surprise...
- Tips to savor springtime and reflect on li...
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Captivating Reads
- Wow Your Easter Guests With Easy Spring Surprise Cake
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- State Department Announces 2023-2024 Fulbright Top Producing Institutions