Obama: 'I hope you still believe in me'
Atlanta (CNN) – President Barack Obama spoke to an excited crowd in Atlanta Tuesday, defending his Affordable Care Act on the eve of the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of the law.
Speaking at a fundraising reception at the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel, Obama told supporters "the American people understand we're not going to make progress by going backwards. We need to go forward. They understand we don't need to re-fight this battle over healthcare. It's the right thing to do."
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Repeating the "it's the right thing to do" mantra several times, the 500 attendees reacted with loud cheers. Each paid between $500 and $1000 to attend the event.
Highlighting the differences between Mitt Romney's economic plans and his own, Obama took shots at his rival's plan for top-down economics.
"We tried it, tried it recently and it doesn't work," Obama said, insisting the way to grow the economy is to "make sure every child in America has the best education possible" and to bring jobs back to the U.S.
Referencing a recent Washington Post article, Obama pointed out Romney's former firm, Bain Capital, was a pioneer in using offshore jobs. Obama stated frankly, "We need a president in the White House that will fight to bring jobs back to the U.S."
He told the group, "I am not a perfect man and I will never be a perfect president," but stressed the importance of Americans working together and acknowledged his need of the crowd's support.
"This is going to be a close election. The economy is still tough and folks are still frustrated," Obama said. He explained the messages from the Romney campaign will be, "the economy is bad and it's Obama's fault," but insisted that when he travels the country his faith is restored each day.
Laughing, he commented that in 2008 he didn't have all the gray hair he does today but promised "I believe in you. I hope you still believe in me."
- Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
Also see:
Pawlenty: I'm best as a volunteer
Romney adviser: Obama immigration measure subject to repeal
Romney makes rounds at donor retreat
Jarrett to NABJ: White House bracing for health care decision
If forward is off a cliff we are on the right path. Partisan ideology is killing this country. Obama has made that worse. Look at the political and economic struggles in Europe....that is our future. We need real change not political banter on both sides.
I believes in you. You take us higher. Higher deficits, higher employment, higher food and gas costs!! Yes, voat 4 Barack, he the best. Obama 2013. I believes! I believes!!!
Myviewis
I feel dumber after reading your posts. Did no thought go into your comments. I guess I would have to agree with you on one comment and that is "if you don't like Bain, then quit your job at Bain."
I suppose that could be said of any company. If you don't like working for your company, quit.
Wherer do you get your thoughts from, wow.
Yes Obama Claus, I still believe in you!
Claudia, did you know the slogan "Forward" as it pertains to progressives and was used so much in Wisconsin is actually from a Repubublican slogan from Wisconsin (where the republican party was formed) and relates to something all Wisconsin Republican progressives knew and was only recently usruped by MSNBC and the far-left movement?
To those that believe Obama is the only "hope". I'm not a huge fan of Romney but I am a realist. If Obama can become the POTUS wihtout any prior experience, then I'm sure Romney can do the same. Candidate Romney may not sound very promising but he does now how to pick a staff that does. Obama was given the chance and blew it. He has disrespected Congress (both parties) that there is NO chance of getting anything done if he's re-elected. He's a first string quarterback that the team hates. I say give Romney a chance and see what he does.....he can't do any WORSE than Obama.
To those that believe that Romney is going to roll back to Bush policies, you're out of your mind. Every president regardless of party affliation does their own thing. I think you need to listen to more of what he says and less of Obama's sound bites that is biased toward winning an election and not representing objective facts.