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Obama...Nice No More
October 02, 2008 11:12 AM
ABC News' John Berman, Sunlen Miller and Ursula Fahy Report: It was no more Mr. Nice Guy from Barack Obama Thursday in Grand Rapids Michigan. After two days on the stump where the name of Republican rival John McCain passed his lips just once, Obama was back on the attack today.
He spoke of the federal job report coming out tomorrow, and predicted it would show more job losses, which would make 9 months of job losses in a row. "Yet, just the other week," Obama told the crowd, "John McCain said the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Well, I don't know what yardstick Senator McCain uses, but where I come from, there's nothing more fundamental than a job."
At a Sept. 15 rally, McCain said the economy was in "crisis" but said it was not the fault of the American worker, praising the fundamentals of America as "strong".
Michigan is a state that knows economic hardship. It has the highest unemployment rate in the country and has lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000.
"Everywhere you look, the economic news is troubling," Obama said, "But for so many of you here in Michigan, it isn't really news at all."
Michigan is also a state with 17 electoral votes coveted by both campaigns. This was Obama's second trip here in less than a week; he was in Detroit on Sunday, and his campaign is also bringing in the big guns. His wife Michelle is in Saginaw and Macomb County today.
"She's on the other side of the state. She draws her own crowds and rightfully so," said Obama. "By the way, tomorrow is our 16th anniversary. So I've got this romantic dinner planned. I- and I think it should go pretty well. That's my hope anyway. I've got a gift all picked out." No word what the gift is.
In addition to his wife, hip-hop star Jay Z in Detroit on Saturday, and Bruce Springsteen is in Ypsilanti on Monday.
Local officials say Obama's event in Grand Rapids drew just under 16,000 people. Kent County, home to Grand Rapids is Republican territory; the home of Gerald Ford and a county that George W. Bush won with nearly 60 percent of the vote in 2004.
Obama's stump speech didn't include much in the way of "new" news. Campaign aides acknowledge it is hard to break through in this environment with everyone focused on the congressional vote, and the Thursday night's vice presidential debate.
By the way, one name Obama did not mention on the stump today? Joe Biden. Not even to wish him luck.
October 2, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (269)
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Yes Obama lets raise taxes so we have less people working and more jobs going elsewhere That will surely help the jobless report.Lets not allow drilling,lets not allow nuclear power plants,lets not give corporations tax breaks so they can expand I am sure you will fix our problems by just beint PRESENT
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 2, 2008 11:27:49 AM
Even the homeless know that Obama is a thug!
“Barack! I mean, I want him to do his thang. You know, do his thug thizzle. You know. That’s how I like it to be. You know. (laughs).” - Ohio early hobo voter.
Posted by: Obamatron drone #12323 | Oct 2, 2008 11:34:02 AM
When was mr obama ever nice.
He has had the most vile, evil campaign of the bunch.
His tactics have been low- life and evil.
His Smear Campaigns have been sheer horror. The way he attacked people.
For almost 2 years he has gotten away with such evil and vile tactics.
He did pretend to be nice in some of his speeches, which was ended Quickly by his attacks on someone.
Never a speech went by that he did not attack or blame someone, of something.
Mr Obama nice that has to be a joke and not the same Barry obama running for president in the US Election. Not the evil, vile hatefill obama we have seen everyday.
Posted by: ah_heck | Oct 2, 2008 11:36:10 AM
Reddog-shut your trap.
Posted by: wtf | Oct 2, 2008 11:36:39 AM
Obama barely ever interacts with other people. Notice that?
Posted by: geevill | Oct 2, 2008 11:38:15 AM
Trolls, Trolls everywhere...I love the smell of Republican desperation in the morning.
Posted by: jim | Oct 2, 2008 11:38:19 AM
McCain used his life to protect our country, he has the deepest feel of our country's needs.
I think Obama is out of touch. He's never been in military to feel soldiers' life, to experience how hard it is to fight for the country.
He was sitting in the comfortable room to watch how others make mistakes.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | Oct 2, 2008 11:39:11 AM
Jake Tapper let's be honest with each other . . ... we've both come here for the same reasons to find good journalism...And we have both been let down. Jake are your topics always this mundane and stupid or are you making a special effort today?
Posted by: The Two Jakes | Oct 2, 2008 11:39:37 AM
Michigan's economy has been in the crapper for years, even when the rest of the US was growing. This is thanks to high taxes, a very business-unfriendly environment which prevents diversification of their economy, closed shop rules which benefit big unions and which lose jobs, and excessive control by the teachers unions of the schools.
Message on taxes to Michigan’s liberal, union lapdog, job-destroying, governor: “Not another penny, Jenny!”
Posted by: Preserve the Secret Ballot for Workers! | Oct 2, 2008 11:40:24 AM
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. That's all that comes out of Barack Obama's mouth. Nothing of substance other than he's going to raise our taxes! YIKES!
Posted by: maverick_mom | Oct 2, 2008 11:41:32 AM
Posted by: Obamatron drone #12323 | Oct 2, 2008 11:43:31 AM
Hey Obama, don't forget to stop in Detroit and check on your buddy Kwame Kilpatrick while you're there in Michigan...
Last time I checked he was still under Bus#3 waiting for prison.
Posted by: SandyB | Oct 2, 2008 11:46:50 AM
Oh poor poor republicans I know your in panic mode its ok I know you have to resort to the limbaugh rove fox news playbook gramps is going down now you repukes will resort to lies spin rumors what a sad bunch you are I ALMOST FEEL SORRY FOR YOU ALMOST well here is some breaking news ENOUGH NO MORE YOUR ROVE LIMBAUGH HANNITY PLAYBOOK WILL NOT WORK IN THIS ELECTION, YOU SEE REPUKES AMERICA HAS WOKEN UP YES WOKEN UP FROM THE BUSH NIGHTMARE AND WE ARE NOT BUYING YOUR KARL ROVE STYLE POLITICTS ANY MORE! NOW OBAMA WILL BE PRESIDENT AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU RUSH LIMBAUGH FREAKS CAN DO ABOUT IT YOU CANT STOP IT NOT THIS TIME NOT THIS YEAR! DEAL WITH IT!
Posted by: angie | Oct 2, 2008 11:47:53 AM
Reddog-shut your trap.
Posted by: wtf | Oct 2, 2008 11:36:39 AM
Why for speaking the truth.
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 2, 2008 11:51:47 AM
you tell 'em angie girl!
my sentiments (minus expletives) exactly.
Posted by: bah | Oct 2, 2008 11:53:12 AM
Posted by: angie | Oct 2, 2008 11:47:53 AM
I guess its killing you angie that we are going to win huh
Posted by: reddog0216 | Oct 2, 2008 11:54:17 AM
History will probably judge George Bush as the worse President of all time. For the past eight years Bush has give the American public nothing but crap sandwiches. I guess all you McCain supporters like crap because that's all McCain offers more crap sandwiches, however, he's going to throw a slice of cheese on it.
Posted by: whcjr46 | Oct 2, 2008 11:56:19 AM
"Obama's stump speech didn't include much in the way of "new" news."
Tell us something we don't already know .. and that old Howard Dean screamer still hasn't learned that typical Americans don't care about a celebrity and their view of politics!! Laughable ..
Posted by: Biden's Hair Helmet | Oct 2, 2008 11:56:23 AM
Obama is good at peaking at effective times.
I remember two summers ago, when the media and many of his supporters were anxiously asking, "why isn't Obama going after Clinton?" He was pretty mellow all summer.
Then come fall, he started ramping up. And by December, his campaign was in full gear, leading into his surprise win in the Iowa Caucus.
In the spring of this year, after losing New Hampshire and being forced to regroup, he was able to peak again just in time for Super Tuesday and the string of primaries immediately after. And upon having the delegates his campaign thought (though no one seemed to believe them) was sufficient to win, Obama again went into mellow mode.
This summer, despite McCain throwing all sorts of negative ads at Obama, Obama himself remained mellow. He ramped up a touch for the convention, where he gave a good speech, but it was just part of a broader, slow ramp up bringing us to this October.
Though not without mistakes, the Obama campaign has been masterful, including its sense of timing, as well as its sense of calm when the time wasn't right for anything else.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 2, 2008 11:57:31 AM
Republicans used to say Obama is the whiner but look who is whinning now?!
I hope Biden Pull out the final straw out of palin and blame your nominee for picking a beauty queen out of all.
Posted by: Hutch | Oct 2, 2008 11:57:39 AM
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