Manchester, NH – Confronting Republicans, President Barack Obama on Tuesday dashed into the home of the nation’s first presidential primary, urging GOP lawmakers to support a payroll tax cut next week and stand by their own pledges not to increase taxes.
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Obama sought to steal the spotlight from Republican presidential contenders who have blanketed the political battleground with anti-Obama messages while tending to a state expected to be heavily contested in the next year’s general election.
“The next time you hear one of these folks from the other side … talking about raising your taxes, you just remind them that ever since I’ve got into office, I’ve lowered your taxes, haven’t raised them,” Obama said at a high school gymnasium. “That’s worth reminding them.”
The president said “in the spirit of Thanksgiving,” Democrats in Congress would offer Republicans another chance next week to consider a plan to extend and expand the cut in payroll taxes that fund Social Security. Obama said it would save the typical middle class family about $1,000 in taxes.
“Don’t be a Grinch. Don’t vote to raise taxes on working Americans during the holidays,” Obama said.
Even as he sought to draw a bright line with Republicans over taxes, Obama was reminded about the unhappiness among some in the Occupy Wall Street movement. As he began to speak, Obama was briefly interrupted by protesters who screamed, “Mic check!” and then chanted, “Mr. President — over 4,000 protesters, over 4,000 protesters, have been arrested.”
Obama paused to let the demonstrators speak. “No, no, no. That’s OK,” Obama said. The crowd then sought to drown out the protesters with chants of “Obama!”
If Chris Matthews is not happy with him. . .
Where was the secret service?
Too bad those hecklers were PLANTED! Obama sounded so at ease with them it was like he knew it was going to happen & it was written into hos teleprompter.
Gee, I wonder which presidental candidate this OWS movement endorses… That might be a big deal huh? Or since they heckled Obama, does this imply that this wonderful group of people wants no president. That might fit their anarchy system of work and order. No president and no government too. Wait and see!
i knew from day 1 that when obama came into office he was up to no good. why would he pass a bill that doesn’t even declare rights to 30% of american citizens. in fact, i wouldve known that fact other than when it was time for him to land me a job!
To #2 - It is not against the law to boo or loudly protest a policy of the President’s. For example, on Memorial Day weekend, in 1993, President Clinton was introduced to Vietnam veterans, at the Vietnam War memorial, by Gen. Colin Powell. Powell implored the vets to be courteous to Clinton. They ignored Powell, and booed Clinton for 15-20 minutes. The Secret Service was not happy about that, but they couldn’t do anything. Clinton stood there and took that booing for the entire time. It should be noted that Clinton in his book “My Life” completely minimized what actually occurred on that day.
Hilarious! It looked like color war!
On a more serious note, I must compliment Obama – he handled it like a real gentleman.