Town hall: Sweet pastry, sugary questions, sour on Washington
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/30/art.obamakringle.gi.jpg caption="President Obama eats Kringle, a specialty pastry, at a bakery in Racine, Wisconsin."]
Racine, Wisconsin (CNN) –President Obama loves to tell audiences across the country that he enjoys getting away from Washington.
At a town hall meeting in Racine, Wisconsin Wednesday, it was no different.
"It's just nice to get out of Washington, I love Washington but I have to tell you, you know, it's good to escape the heat and hot air," Obama said.
It's not just the 90-degree temperatures Obama was referring to, but the heated political climate that's been intensified by the upcoming midterm elections.
Obama vented anger at Republican opposition to unemployment benefits and financial regulations. He liberally took jabs at "the other party."
A senior administration official told CNN the president wasn't playing politics but rather pointing out policy differences.
Getting outside Washington also gives the president a chance to see Americans face-to-face, shake hands and sample local delicacies as he did in Racine. Before arriving at the town hall meeting, Obama stopped at O & H Danish Bakery.
"These are good," the president mumbled after tasting a local specialty called a Kringle, a giant Danish pastry.
But there's one more thing the president usually finds at these non-Washington events: friendly audiences.
He took a half dozen questions about his economic stimulus package, the treatment of the military and veterans, and education.
One woman asked the president, "One man cannot create this country again the way it needs to be built, so we need to work together. What are we doing as a nation to bring jobs back into this country that have left, so that we the people can give you the resources that you need to do the job you need to do?"
There were no tough questions and no real criticism of the Obama administration.
Enjoying the moment in his shirt sleeves, the president ended the meeting by calling on a young boy, who was suddenly joined by what appeared to be a classmate.
Alternating between every few words they asked, "We were wondering about student loans?"
The president joked, "Well you were so busy practicing your question you didn't see that I answered it over here. I'm teasing you."
As the laughter died down, the president again repeated his higher education talking points and with that exited stage left, unscathed.
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Quit spending our taxpayer's money to spread your Socialistic Agenda at our expense. Obama plugged his audience – as usual. We can not afford to extend unemployment benefits. Do you not see where this is headed? May be that you are enjoying the "entitlements" that are provided to those who chose to sit back and rape taxpayers.
One woman asked the president, "One man cannot create this country again the way it needs to be built, so we need to work together. What are we doing as a nation to bring jobs back into this country that have left, so that we the people can give you the resources that you need to do the job you need to do?"
______________________________________________________DID YOU HEAR THAT RETHUGS!!!!!!! WORK TOGETHER!!!!!
You go, Mr. President. You slap them Repuglicans around a bit. They deserve it.
Republicans are idiots, all of them. No exceptions
Don't worry, after November 2012 you won't spend hardly any time in Washington again.
Why in the heck can't this president work on putting people back to work instead of running all over the country having town hall meetings to tell us what a great job he has done on restoring the economy?The conditions don't match the rhetoric.Go eat another Kringle !!!
Please park the plane, how many pastry chefs do we pay in the White House? What a waste of money this show is losing your position.
No tough questions and no real criticsm of the Obama adminstration. Sounds like CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and NBC at any normal Obama press conference, campaign stop, foreign trip, etc.
Listening to this President lecture on fiscal responcibility is like getting marriage counceling from Liz Taylor! This cowardly President goes to one of the, if not the, most liberal states in the country and I'm sure the Dimwits still had to produce a ra-ra, rent-a-crowd of slobbering, mindless sheep! However, it looks like even the biggest liberal fools are starting to take notice that this king has no clothes!
But what about REAL issues, like Eric Holder's DOJ political lackies dismissing the New Black Panther's voter intimidation case because of racial preference??
Nope, not going to hearing anything about that on state-controlled MSM...
Time to kick-out the turncoats, sell-outs, frauds and people in Congress than make decisions based on how much $ corrupt lobbyists are offering.
The people including millions of disillusioned Republicans voted for Obama to bring real change. Yet the sell-out in Congress among both parties are preventing him from delivering it.
That's right, one man can not rebuild our Nation. It will take each and everyone of us!
BUT......... the GOP refuses to help. Offering NO ideas. NO solutions. NO vision, NO inspiration!
Just plenty of the same old, fear, lies, hate and division! Pathetic.
And, obviously, the hot air is coming mainly fromthe right-wing controlled Republicans.. It sure isn't their brilliant Ideas because we have heard darn few ideas from them, just whining and complaints.
News flash! Get out of Washington is exactly the solution for obama to solve most of America's problems.
Make my day. resign!
Obama is such a joke. He's been in office for over 1.5 years and had super majority in both houses (2 senators short as of this week). If his policies were any good, they would pass easily.
So, I don't want to hear any more silly posturing and venting his anger at those that oppose his costly, unsustainable policies. A majority of Americans have opposed his policies and he passed them anyway.
Obama, shut up.
Will Obama ever stop campaigning? I'm beginning to think that's all he can do.
The Puff Piece President. Until he can fix the problems he said he would fix,,,,who cares?
Trust me....the American people can't wait until Oblamer gets out of Washington FOREVER!
Every speach this guy maks is a rah rah for running for office.
That is all he is doing is running for 2012.
He cant get the deficit down and is spending wildly...
He is just a politician.
He accuses the republicans of politics....but the president just keeps spending wildly....
Stop the spending barry....stop the spending and make cuts.
The guy has been in campaign mode for 6 years straight....what a joke. He is a political hack.
hopefully we can help you get away from washington in the next couple of years berry boi for good
When does he ever stay in DC??? What a joke for a president and what a carbon footprint he leaves as he tries to ram his cap and scam bill on us.
They took over the auto industry, then healthcare, now financial services, energy is next, and then You.
Wake up people! Obama and the Democrats are "changing" are country into a socialist nightmare. In November, vote American, vote Republican.
maybe Obama likes to get out of Washington D.C. so he can eat a yummy pastry without Michelle knowing! great picture.
Still blaming everyone else rather than taking responsibility for his own miserable socialistic policies
Healthcare
Automotive
Energy
Banks
Wallstreet
And the biggest Growth for jobs: The Federal Government!
Repeal is coming in November! A time when American Ingenuity will thrive again in the private sector!
I'm sick to death of seeing this guys mug all the time. I guess it is better than having him spend all his time trying to screw the country tho!
CNN, you're bias against the President and the Democrats is becoming increasingly evident. The intelligent folks out here understand it's all a ploy to lure the nut cases from Fox, but it doesn't mean we approve of it. Save the editorializing, and just report the damn news!