Obama bows to Boehner; jobs speech will be Sept. 8

In a retreat after an hours-long test of wills Wednesday, President Barack Obama agreed to deliver an address on jobs and the economy to a joint session of Congress on Sept. 8, yielding to House Speaker John Boehner, who had balked at Obama's request for a Sept. 7 speech.

Obama's address still gives him a grand stage to unveil his economic agenda, but it will compete with the opening game of the National Football League season — a conflict the White House wanted to avoid.

The change now will allow a planned Sept. 7 Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, Calif., to proceed without Obama upstaging it.

In Unprecedented Move, Republicans Refuse To Allow President Obama To Speak Before Joint Session Of Congress

Earlier today, The White House publicly announced that President Obama would be speaking before a Joint Session of Congress on September 7th. Later in the day, John Boehner’s office informed the President that September 7th will not work and denied that any Joint Session had been approved by the GOP.

From: Barack Obama
To (My name)
Subject: Frustrated

Friend --

Today I asked for a joint session of Congress where I will lay out a clear plan to get Americans back to work. Next week, I will deliver the details of the plan and call on lawmakers to pass it.

Whether they will do the job they were elected to do is ultimately up to them.

But both you and I can pressure them to do the right thing. We can send the message that the American people are playing by the rules and meeting their responsibilities -- and it's time for our leaders in Congress to meet theirs.

And we must hold them accountable if they don't.

So I'm asking you to stand with me in calling on Congress to step up and take action on jobs:

http://my.barackobama.com/Time-To-Act

No matter how things go in the weeks and months ahead, this will be an important challenge for our organization.

It's been a long time since Congress was focused on what the American people need them to be focused on.

I know that you're frustrated by that. I am, too.

That's why I'm putting forward a set of bipartisan proposals to help grow the economy and create jobs -- that means strengthening our small businesses, giving needed breaks to middle-class families, while taking responsible steps to bring down our deficit.

I'm asking lawmakers to look past short-term politics and take action on that plan. But we've got to do this together.

I will deliver this message to Congress next week, but I'm asking you to stand alongside me today:

http://my.barackobama.com/Time-To-Act

More to come,

Barack

TOO OLD TO HIRE IN PA wrote:After the President's speech, Americans will sit in front of the TV to watch HIGHLY paid rich athletes. Gee 100 million dollars seems to ring a bell! It wasn't until my husband went through this unemployment nightmare that I feel like never watching another football or baseball game. Many of us never even gave it a thought.

stillnutty wrote:Cmon now don t blame this on sports. AFTER the speech, I will be watching the game. It is a diversion for me. It was also announced today that the game will not start until the speech is given. So the real problem is will EMPLOYED AMERICA watch? I think not.

DesperateInRI wrote:

stillnutty wrote:Cmon now don t blame this on sports. AFTER the speech, I will be watching the game. It is a diversion for me. It was also announced today that the game will not start until the speech is given. So the real problem is will EMPLOYED AMERICA watch? I think not.

Not blaming it on sports - blaming it on Obama! Why did he have to give in on this too, all it does is prove that the GOTP gets anything they ask for. And you are right, the only people who will be watching are the unemployed!!!

stillnutty wrote:Hear you here too, and we both know it SUX!!

DesperateInRI wrote:

TOO OLD TO HIRE IN PA wrote:After the President's speech, Americans will sit in front of the TV to watch HIGHLY paid rich athletes. Gee 100 million dollars seems to ring a bell! It wasn't until my husband went through this unemployment nightmare that I feel like never watching another football or baseball game. Many of us never even gave it a thought.

The 100 million dollar man - isn't that EX-CON Michael Vick, who doesn't have a conscience? Forty million is guaranteed, just in case he goes back to jail.

USA Citizen wrote:Obama did the right thing by bowing down to the all-powerful Boehner.
Obama knew that he shouldn't try to stand up to the Republicans.
Obama is well aware that his words will accomplish nothing.
Obama knows that he is a wind bag that people have become tired of.
Do yourself a favor and watch skip Obama's speech or at least don't watch it or listen to it. Read it later for content and determine if he has said anything worthwhile or if it is the SOS.
Obama will be best remembered as an athlete who excelled in bending over backwards for Republicans yet standing firm against the wishes of Democrats and the unemployed.
You can avoid the President's speech because you already know what he is going to say: Democrats and Republicans must work together to create jobs for Americans.
Since the Republicans will block any jobs legislation that the President proposes, then there will be no jobs and no progress.
Then Obama will blame the Republicans for the problem and the Republicans will name Obama as the problem. This will go on until the next election and then we will have four more years of gridlock.

If Obama wants to accomplish anything he will follow in FDR's footsteps and declare a state of national emergency and do what should be done.
Now is the time for actions that put Americans back to work.