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February 25, 2009

Americans Welcome Obama Speech
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2284021:A6F02AD83191E160D9E35F663BA5E1AF30EB2FA2E66CBB22&
 
Polls taken right after speech, Tuesday, indicate US president's plans
won overwhelming approval from viewers 
President Barack Obama, center, is flanked by members of Congress
following his speech, 24 Feb 2009Polls indicate most Americans welcomed
President Barack Obama's speech, in which he said the struggling U.S.
economy will recover and "emerge stronger than before."In his first
speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress late Tuesday, Mr. Obama
said years of irresponsibility, indecision and short-term thinking
brought a "day of reckoning" for the world's biggest economy. Mr. Obama
called the massive economic stimulus plan he signed last week a first
step toward recovery. But he emphasized the need for further action on
heath care, energy and education. Public opinion polls taken right after
the speech show Mr. Obama's plans won overwhelming approval from
viewers. Three-quarters of those questioned by the CBS television
network said the President's plans will make the economy better. CNN's
pollsters found 85 percent of viewers grew more optimistic about the
plan after!
  the speech. But the CBS survey found only 55 percent thought Mr. Obama
will be able to accomplish all of his goals. The viewing audience
contained 10 percent more Democrats (members of Mr. Obama's political
party) than the overall population. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
giving the Republican response to President Obama's speech to the US
Congress In the Republican response to the speech, Louisiana Governor
Bobby Jindal said his party is ready to work with the president but
stressed that legislation proposed by Democrats with a goal of growing
the economy will only serve to grow the government. In his address, Mr.
Obama announced the creation of a new lending fund intended to revive
the flow of credit and provide loans for consumers and businesses "who
keep this economy running." He urged Congress to pass legislation that
will create new regulatory laws for the U.S. financial system. The
president called on Congress to pass legislation to create a
market-based cap on carbon pollution. He also pledged to spend $15
billion a year to 
develop new technologies like wind and solar power, advanced biofuels,
clean coal, and fuel-efficient vehicles. On foreign policy, Mr. Obama
said his administration is reviewing policies on Afghanistan and Iraq
and will "soon announce a way forward in Iraq that leaves Iraq to its
people and responsibly ends this war." He emphasized the importance of
diplomacy and reaffirmed his determination to close the Guantanamo Bay
detention center.


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