Lawmakers who won't "put country before party" are to blame for America's stalled economic recovery, the President writes... "I want more products sold around the globe stamped with three words: Made in America," President Obama writes in a new guest post on the Department of Agriculture's official blog. The post was published on Friday, Aug. 26th, just as the President's vacation on Martha's Vineyard was coming to an end. It's a follow up to his Aug. 15th-17th bus tour through Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, and the President declares that while he has done plenty to boost the economy, "we need to do more to create jobs" with rural America as a focal point.
"We...know what it’s going to take to get America going again," President Obama writes. "And we know it’s going to start with helping families in the heartland and across the country feel like they’re moving forward."
As he did throughout his rural trip, President Obama blames the partisan stalemate that has marked the 112th Congress for a lack of federal programs that could create jobs. He urges Americans to pressure Congress to put "country ahead of party," and rapidly enact his legislation for things such as payroll tax cuts, foreign trade deals, and road construction. Or as the President calls these, "commonsense ideas."
"The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That’s the problem right now," President Obama writes. "That’s what’s holding this country back. That’s what we have to change."
"Some in Congress" is thinly veiled code for "Republican," in case that isn't clear. And any lawmaker who won't vote for the President's legislative agenda is not a patriot, is the implication. With the substitution of a few paragraphs, the blogpost is almost identical to the President's weekly address from August 20th. Shortly after Labor Day, the President will unveil a new jobs package, according to the White House.
The full text of President Obama's blogpost:
Getting Rural America Back To Work
By President Barack Obama
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to get out of Washington, DC and travel to small towns and farm towns in the heartland of the country. I sat down with small business owners, farmers and ranchers in Iowa; I had lunch with veterans in Cannon Falls, Minnesota; and I talked to plant workers at a seed distributor in Atkinson, Illinois.
I made the trip because I think the rest of this country can learn something from Rural America. The heartland is central to the economic health and prosperity of our nation. Rural communities provide us with affordable agricultural products, competitive manufacturing capabilities, and an independent, renewable energy supply. And you’re also stewards of America’s great outdoors—an important source of jobs and an incredible treasure for all Americans.
Now we all know times are tough for many Americans – and Rural Americans in particular. Some of you may have been struggling for a long time. But we also know what it’s going to take to get America going again. And we know it’s going to start with helping families in the heartland and across the country feel like they’re moving forward.
That’s why, over the last two years, we’ve been focused on improving infrastructure - building roads and bridges and providing broadband access to millions of rural Americans. We’re expanding educational opportunities and helping more Americans get access to affordable health care. We’ve made historic investments in innovation and clean energy. And we established the first-ever White House Rural Council to promote economic growth in rural America – and to do it in a faster and more coordinated way.
But even with the progress we’ve made, it’s also clear the pace of our recovery is still not fast enough. We need to do more to create jobs.
That starts with getting your elected officials in Washington to put their differences aside and take steps right now to help businesses get more customers and create more jobs for Americans. We can cut payroll taxes again, so families have an extra $1,000 to spend. We can pass a road construction bill so construction crews – now sitting idle – can head back to the worksite. Let’s connect the brave Americans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with businesses to use their skills. And let’s pass trade deals to level the playing field for our businesses, because I want more products sold around the globe stamped with three words: Made in America.
These are commonsense ideas – ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. The only thing holding them back is politics. The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That’s the problem right now. That’s what’s holding this country back. That’s what we have to change.
You deserve representatives who show the same kind of discipline and integrity and responsibility that most Americans demonstrate in their lives every day – leaders who can put their differences aside to help grow the economy and put this nation back to work. Because, for all the knocks we’ve taken, despite all the challenges we face, this is still the greatest country on earth. We still have the best workers and farmers, entrepreneurs and businesses, students and scientists in the world.
Getting out of Washington and spending time with folks like you reminds me why I got into public service in the first place. Your work ethic; your creativity; your determination only makes me more hopeful about our future. And it only makes me more confident that if we come together, there is no stopping the United States of America.
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The President's three-day swing through Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, included four town halls and one Rural Economic forum, and he unveiled both a new small business support initiative to create rural jobs, and a $510 million initiative to boost rural industries for advanced biofuels. The President, his Cabinet Secretaries, and the senior officials traveling with him heard plenty about the needs of farmers during the trip; they were told that land is too expensive; agriculture subsidies need to be eliminated or at least capped, and other regulations--such as those for water runoff, noise, and dust--are something farmers don't want. Estate taxes also came under fire, and there was a plea from the grandson of a farmer with an interest in a corn ethanol plant for the President to preserve the business. The President, during his last town hall in Alpha, Illinois, explained the Let's Move! campaign as an economic boon for family farmers.
Driving through the heartland on his high-tech black bus, the President made stops five kinds of pie, for ice cream, and for popcorn, and visited a County Fair in Illinois. The President had lunch with veterans and breakfast with small business owners. He was gifted with pie, and brought home gifts for Mrs. Obama.
*The President's post is here on USDA's blog.
*Photo of President Obama at the Country Corner Farm in Alpha, Illinois, was taken on Aug. 17th by Pete Souza/White House.