Obama Slams McCain for a 'Katrina Like' Response to the Bailout Bill

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Obama Slams McCain for a 'Katrina Like' Response to the Bailout Bill

September 28, 2008 4:03 PM

ABC News' John Berman, Ursula Fahy, Matt Jaffe and Sunlen Miller Report: The Obama-Biden ticket brought out their wives for a rally in Detroit before 35,000 people this Sunday afternoon.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spoke about the economic bailout bill’s progress, giving bipartisan credit for being close to passing a plan.

"Thanks to the hard work of Democrats and Republicans, it looks like we have a rescue plan that includes these taxpayer protections. It looks like we will pass that plan very soon."

Obama continued to be critical of Sen. John McCain’s reaction to the economic crisis– and for the first time today had tougher words, saying McCain’s response was similar to Bush’s response during Katrina.

"I think Senator McCain just doesn’t get it – he doesn’t understand that the storm hitting Wall Street hit Main Street long ago. That’s why his first response to the greatest financial meltdown in generations was a Katrina like response. Sort of stood there. Said the ‘fundamentals of the economy are strong.’"

Obama said that McCain’s just been shifting positions over the last two weeks and looking for photo opts to try to find out what to say and what to do in terms of the economy.

"Well, I know what we need to do. You know what we need to do. Joe Biden knows what we need to do," Obama chanted, "We need to stop giving those tax cuts to corporations and CEOs on Wall Street, and start standing up for families right here in Michigan."

Obama pounded his message that Americans can’t afford the "nonsense" of four more years like the last eight – and brought up how Friday’s debate – in his eyes – demonstrated how McCain could bring just that.

"Think about it on Friday, we had a debate. And on issue after issue – from taxes to health care to the war in Iraq – you heard John McCain make the case for more of the same," Obama said, "He kept on asking’ me, ‘you don’t understand.’ No, I understand, you want more of the same. The same Bush tax policies, the same Bush energy policies, the same Bush Iraq policies. A fifth grader could understand – it’s more of the same."

Senator Biden – in his introduction – continued his attack dog role and his regular free speaking attitude, telling the audience, "John McCain said he'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell. Well let me tell you something. President Barack Obama will follow him to where he lives and then send him to hell."

Obama was joined on stage for the duration of his speech by Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and his running mate.

At the onset, Obama disappointed the crowd – telling them that his wife would not be speaking today.

""Michelle decided she wasn’t going to speak today. She just wanted to sit there and look cute. That’s okay," he joked (much to Michelle’s dismay?), "It’s okay with me!"

Later – when an audience member fainted and Obama stopped his remarks to toss a bottle of water into he crowd his wife helped and similarly threw her water bottle into the crowd as well.

"Oh Michelle you got an arm too?" Obama snidely ribbed his wife….. perhaps not setting up the Senator well for his upcoming 16th wedding anniversary celebration on Friday.

September 28, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (711)

User Comments

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Nice try Dennis,

But it was Bush, through Paulson, who demanded a $700B blank check. With no oversight, no accountability, and no debate. Obama called for regulation, taxpayer compensation, and protection. What Bush tried to do was impose a socialist, communist, mafia regime here in America. He's already proven he's a communist by interfering with "free market" capitalism. Now, the Republican economic philosophy is proven to be socialistic as well. We have socialized every major sector of insurance...(AIG provides all insurance, except health) across the world. Get a clue...but, nice try!!!

Posted by: BruhMan | Sep 28, 2008 4:38:11 PM

Obama drew a crowd today of 35 thousand and last night in the rain he drew a crowd of 26 thousand...I think people view him as gettting it and McCain/Palin as liars.

Posted by: Debbie | Sep 28, 2008 4:38:33 PM

don't hate the messenger. Obama is a loser tax and spend Democrat. That thinks TAXING us into Obination is going to solve everything. Raisning taxes will do nothing but force more companies that employ americans out of the country you scaglets

Posted by: Rose is a SMUCK | Sep 28, 2008 4:39:00 PM

Dear Gov. Rendell,

Since I have read that you are now a member of Barack Obama’s truth squad, I am hoping that you will spread that sentiment both ways. I would like you to talk about Obama’s trip to Iraq and his conversation with Hoshyar Zebari which I and many other Americans is a violation of the Logan Act. I would also like you to bring to light his 500 thousand plus contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I would like you to tell your constituents about the Phillip Berg lawsuit which alleges Obama unqualified to run for President based on his dual citizenship. I would like you to relay the truth behind Obama’s questionable associations with convicted domestic terrorist William Ayers. Maybe show some of Reverand Wright’s sermons at your next press conference? Or perhaps bring up some facts from Dr. Lynette Long’s research into the Obama camp’s caucus fraud in Texas. Speaking of caucus fraud, how about Obama’s involvement with ACORN?

I am counting on you, Governor Rendell to do your truth squad duty!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 28, 2008 4:39:01 PM

And, thanks to whoever likes to post in my name!!! I know you love me when you do it!!! Keep BruhMan on your lips, so I'll be on your mind later on!!!

Posted by: BruhMan | Sep 28, 2008 4:39:46 PM

Yeah right - the house republicans tried to save us.... Where were they when Bush and Cheney were screwing us further by not allowing what few regulations were left to be enforced?
Why did they want to add a cut on the dividends tax and eliminate the capital gains tax? They tried to save all of us that they care about - the rich ones.
You can throw the house republicans in with the pile of politicians who, in their incompetence have gotten us into this mess.
Sitting on top of the pile wearing a stupid smirk on his face would be Bush.
You republican apologists, remember that this crisis started after 12 years of a republican congress, and 6 years when the republicans had it all - the democrats could do nothing. The democrats have been able to do precious little in the last year and a half either - Bush with his veto crayon waiting to smack 'em down.

There's lots of blame and incompetence to go around, democrats and republicans, feeding off the greed of the wall street scum pond.

The chief incompetent - Bush - will get and should get a disproportionate share of the blame - it happened on his watch.

Posted by: Steve from NH | Sep 28, 2008 4:40:50 PM

Obama drew a crowd today of 35 thousand and last night in the rain he drew a crowd of 26 thousand...I think people view him as gettting it and McCain/Palin as liars.

Posted by: Debbie | Sep 28, 2008 4:38:33 PM

-------------------------------
I see Obuma draw flies!
Ya Obuma people are stupid, don't know enough to get in out of the rain!!!

A sunny day in Florida gave PALIN! a crowd of 60 thousand!!!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 28, 2008 4:42:36 PM

looks like the Republicans are agitated today. I think they're getting nervous.

Posted by: dan | Sep 28, 2008 4:42:55 PM

Obama just stepped in a pile of dog doodoo now is wiping his feet all over Americans

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Sep 28, 2008 4:43:02 PM

Obama just stepped in a pile of dog doodoo now is wiping his feet all over Americans

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Sep 28, 2008 4:43:16 PM

Palin as crowds evaporate..."Just like Putin...where do they go?" That broad is dingy!!!

Posted by: BruhMan | Sep 28, 2008 4:44:25 PM

the previous comments attacking barack obama is wrong and the people writing it knows it. They are lying just like mccain campaign. Sen mccain is one if the best known deregulators who believes corporations should police themselves while giving the very wealthy tax cuts and leaving us Americans holding the bill. Remember john mccain and cindy mccain were involved in the last major economic crisis the S&L scandal of the 80s as a member of the keating 5. I don't trust him in these economic times

Posted by: amygd | Sep 28, 2008 4:44:39 PM

Spoil what? Waste what? Steal what?

Barack Obama we do not doubt your intelligence. To be an effective leader one must also display honesty, compassion, & guts. Stand with Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, & Cynthia McKinney. NOT John McCain. Your choice - your move.

Posted by: DNC + RNC = ROT | Sep 28, 2008 4:44:55 PM

Where was Kwame Kirkpatrick, Obama's best buddy? Already thrown under the bus? Rezko, Wright, Ayers, typical "white" grandmother, Jopek, Johnson, Raines, Pfleger, Farrakhan, Pakistan, Clintons .... The list go on...

And by the way: How many of those 35.000 were blacks? :-)

Posted by: Frederik | Sep 28, 2008 4:45:31 PM

Dear Gov. Rendell,

I am counting on you, Governor Rendell to do your truth squad duty!

Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 28, 2008 4:45:33 PM

Thomas Jefferson, founding Father of the Country, Author of the Declaration of Independence, believed that the federal government’s powers should be curtailed, believed in small business as opposed to big business, which candidate most represents his views? Surprise, it’s not Obama but John McCain!
Would you vote for Thomas Jefferson today if he were running, or would you vote for Carl Marx, and the Russian revolution?
A choice between life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and Government choosing what is best, which will you choose?

Posted by: Kimberly Peacock | Sep 28, 2008 4:45:49 PM

Obama is an opportunist and is distorting and twisting the facts about the bailout. he is trying to posture that he is the one who brought about the bailout agreement. When he brags about the lowering taxes on 95% of the population, it is a one-time tax rebate. 47% of the 95% do not even pay taxes. So what he is proposing is a tax rebate for 95% of Americans whether you pay taxes or not. If you are single, you will get a one time rebate of $500 and if a couple, $1000. That is not the same as lowering taxes. And again I repeat it is a one time deal. Wake up and smell the roses people.

Posted by: Fran | Sep 28, 2008 4:48:15 PM

Frederick,

Obama doesn't even know Kwame Kilpatrick, never even met him. Nice try though, but I suspect he'll be cellmates with John McCain's best friend Jack Abramhoff, or I, "Scooter" Libby, or maybe even Karl Rove if he ever gets the ballsack to testify before a grand jury. Have you ever tried to deny a subpoena? If you get a speeding ticket, and fail to show up for court, you @ss would be issued a warrant and arrested!!! But, you accept it from these Anti-American terrorist, political hijackers??? Shameful, just plain shameful!!!

Posted by: BruhMan | Sep 28, 2008 4:50:18 PM

Obama the socialist trying to be a democrat,it just isn't working. people WAKE UP THIS IS A DANGEROUS MAN who is very similar to the likes of Hitler and Castro. A very scary thought.

Posted by: ray sternberg | Sep 28, 2008 4:51:42 PM

You Obama hater's are sad! I'd bet most of you are living pay check to pay check and you still want to vote for McCain. McCain has nothing in common with most of you folks, who say that you will not vote for Obama, except in most cases the only thing you do have in common is that he is white. McCain has supported Bush in almost everything that he has done to ruin this country over the last seven and a half years and you think he will be different! What has Obama done to make you all dislike him and use such filthy language to describe him. The reason America is self-destructing is because the people who support McCain has continued to vote for and put people like Bush into office, so I challenge you all to not be afraid and vote for Obama...the Black man can only make things better after having Bush in office, cause' things sure as hell can't get any worse.

Posted by: joceeco | Sep 28, 2008 4:52:55 PM

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