Obama urges Congress to work on plan to right economy
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/15/art.obamaecon.gi.jpg caption="Obama said an economic stimulus package will be his first priority."](CNN) - President-elect Barack Obama urged Congress on Saturday to work next week on a plan to help the country's economy and in particular address unemployment insurance.
"If Congress does not pass an immediate plan that gives the economy the boost it needs, I will make it my first order of business as president," he said in his weekly address, which is posted online.
"I urge them to pass at least a down payment on a rescue plan that will create jobs, relieve the squeeze on families and help get the economy growing again," he said.
"In particular, we cannot afford to delay providing help for the more than one million Americans who will have exhausted their unemployment insurance by the end of this year."
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Thursday, 76 percent of Americans said they believe it is likely that Obama will improve economic conditions. In addition, 73 percent of those surveyed said they believe that Obama will bring stability to the financial markets.
Obama, who won 53 percent of the popular vote on November 4, takes office January 20. Many have compared the obstacles that face him to those Franklin Delano Roosevelt confronted when he won the 1932 election.
"Make no mistake," Obama warned Saturday. "This is the greatest economic challenge of our times."
However, he added, "I am more hopeful than ever that America will rise once again."
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THANK YOU... all we can do is pray for the man and our country... and pray that they can watch Bush close enough to stop him from completing his MISSION to destroy this country in the name of making himself and his cronnies richer than they already are. After all... they will be able to afford to jet off this planet when it gets TOO HOT for life here! The rest of us could just fry for all they care!
This is for Pam from Eugene, OR. I am sure you will have better luife when barack comes to power. Please stand by for hand-outs. No need to work. You can stay at home and you will get checks in the mail. Have good life.
I hope the senators will vote one way or another for the Auto Bailout, instead of voting present.
How can we be elitist and lazy liberals @ the same time? Your arguments are empty and smack of desperation. Ever been laid off because it seems alot of you have no perspective. Good luck in life and god bless.
If you could stomach Bush and his cronies for eight long years, give president elect Obama a chance to get sworned in first before you start your negative criticism. Is it a BLACK thing? This is for all you idiots that think the man can work miracles after a Bush screw up and you wanted to put another Bimbo in the Whie House ? PLEASE________________