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Obama asks Democrats to quickly pass stimulus plan

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-06 11:46

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Pushing Congress to pass his economic plan by next week, US President Barack Obama implored House Democrats to reject delaying tactics and political gamesmanship that often stymies legislation and keep a promise to voters who ushered them into power.

US President Barack Obama speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, February 5, 2009. Saying the United States faced a potentially irreversible economic crisis, Obama on Thursday urged Congress to quickly pass a huge stimulus package as moderate senators scrambled to come up with a less expensive compromise plan. [Agencies]

"They didn't vote for the status quo; they sent us here to bring change. We owe it to them to deliver," Obama said, eliciting cheers and applause from the Democratic rank and file gathered for a three-day retreat.

As he spoke, the Senate was deep into negotiations in Washington over its version of a House-passed economic measure that's now estimated to cost well over $900 billion. The Obama administration has played a large role in shaping the legislation and Democrats who control Congress have pledged to send it to him by late next week. But potential delays may threaten that timetable; Democrats and Republicans alike are concerned about the price tag.

"This package is not going to be absolutely perfect," Obama told Democrats, though he could have been speaking to Republicans as well. "All of us are going to have to make some sacrifices. And we have to accommodate the interests of a range of people."

But, he said: "Understand, the scale and the scope of this plan is right."

Over the past few days, Obama has ramped up his effort to sell the pricey package to the public and to Congress alike, and his visit to the House Democratic retreat was part of that campaign. And, even as he makes gestures of bipartisanship, Obama also has increasingly sought to rebut Republican criticism of the plan. He also increasingly has reminded the GOP who is in charge now — and on whose watch the economy collapsed.

"I found this deficit when I showed up," Obama said, earning a standing ovation. "I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me when I stepped into the Oval Office."

One by one, he rejected arguments from GOP critics.

He said tax cuts alone as a way to stimulate the economy are "a losing formula." He defended how quickly the bill is moving through Congress and belittled those who call the measure simply a spending bill: "What do you think a stimulus is? That's the whole point!"

He added: "We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin."

Obama also reiterated his contention that inaction is not an option, saying "an economy that is already in crisis will be faced with catastrophe" if the legislation is not enacted quickly.