President Barack Obama wants to continue leading the country out of the second worst recession in American history, he told his supporters Saturday.
Thousands of people filled the BMO Harris Pavilion at the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee and cheered on Obama as he spoke about saving the middle class in his second term. All they needed to do was vote for him in November, he told the enthusiastic crowd.
"I'm not fighting to create Democratic jobs or Republican jobs. I'm fighting for American jobs," Obama said.
When working-class families do well, the country does well, Obama said.
Obama contrasted his position with that of Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
He told the audience that Romney wouldn’t serve the needs of middle-class Americans, and that Romney saw them as "victims." Obama also said Romney would give tax breaks to wealthy Americans and corporations at the cost of entitlement programs designed to help those in need.
Video: Obama Energizes Supporters
Related coverage: Conservatives Rally in Waukesha County
Obama pointed to Romney’s economic plan, which Obama said included giving $5 trillion in tax cuts to wealthy Americans, allowing “the oil companies to write the energy plan,” and giving big oil companies “$4 billion in corporate welfare.”
“We’ve got a very big choice to make in this election,” the president said. “It’s not just a choice between two candidates or two parties, it is between two very different paths for America, two different visions for our future. Now, my opponent, he believes in a top-down economy.”
The crowd booed.
“Don’t boo… vote!” Obama said, a phrase he repeated several times during his 30-minute speech.
Supporters believe in Obama’s vision
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was among the key Wisconsin Democrats to speak at the rally, estimated the size of the crowd at about 18,000.
Among those who stood in the drizzly weather to listen to the speech was Linda Mueller of Wauwatosa, who said she backs Obama because he supports the middle class.
“Mitt Romney is trying to take away benefits that I’ve worked and paid into," she said. "It’s not an entitlement. I worked and I paid into Social Security and Medicare, and I deserve to have a say."
Leslie Smith of Elm Grove said she believes the upcoming presidential election is largely about social justice.
"He (Obama) can speak most loudly for social justice and fairness in our country, and I think he’s done a remarkable job given the situation we were in four years ago," she said.
Amir Yasrebdoust of Milwaukee said he came out to hear Obama speak because the country is still very divided and he likes Obama’s tenacity.
“I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I mean, I’ve already made up my mind and part of it is I always see him on TV. I love the way he speaks and it would be great to see him live. I haven’t been involved for quite a while in politics, but this year just kind of reinvigorated me because things have become so divisive.
GOP responds to Obama’s visit
Republicans said Obama's trip to Milwaukee was an indication that the Democratic is having problems in Wisconsin — a state he handily won in 2008.
"After an absence of 220 days, President Obama has finally returned to Wisconsin – a state he won by over 14 points four years ago," Ben Sparks, a spokesman for the Romney campaign, said in a statement. "In Wisconsin, and all over America, people are tired of the president's false attacks and broken promises.
"Incomes are falling, costs are rising, and jobs are scarce. Our debt has soared past $16 trillion," Sparks added. "America can’t afford four more years of Barack Obama. Mitt Romney has a plan for a stronger middle class that will result in more jobs, higher take-home pay, and a real recovery for our economy."
Danny O’Driscoll, manager of the Wisconsin campaign for Romney, pointed to the country’s stark economic picture – 23 million Americans struggling to find work; an unemployment rate being about 8 percent for 43 straight months; declines in income; poverty at record levels; 46.7 million people receiving food-stamps.
Gov. Scott Walker also released the following statement:
"With his visit today, President Obama admits he has a Wisconsin problem. This election must be about who can best lead America to overcome its greatest challenges, and on every important measure President Obama has failed us over the last four years. It’s time for a change, and Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have the vision and experience required to confront our challenges and lead us toward prosperity for future generations."
Romney adds being a devout Mormon, with Joseph Smith being the founding Prophet, and the Book of Mormon was his translation of the golden plates presented to him by God. Muslim belief is very emphatic about Mohammed being the last true Prophet. That would make Romney a super infidel. Another rallying cry by Muslim extremists in their hate of America?
Good work, Dirk. You're very thorough. I heard a rumor he hired illegal workers to tear those "Do Not Remove Under Penalty of Law" tags off of all the mattresses and pillows in one of his palatial mansions. You may want to waste some time chasing that down...
I'm sure that Dirk would just prefer that the Muslims elect our next President for us, as after all, then we'd have even better relations with the Muslim world, right Dirk? Honestly - are you an American?
Obama the thinker, Romney the shoot from the hip profoundly insensitive warmonger. If Obama puts us into a new war, he will have thought about it first. .
Also, under Obama, elements of our wars in the Mideast have actually expanded. The "drone" wars, as they have been characterized by some liberals on this board has expanded greatly under Obama, dropping deadly gifts and expanding the conflict into far more countries than Bush ever attacked. Wars begun by Bush... bad. Wars begun by Clinton... forgotten. Wars expanded by Obama... well, lets just say according to Dirk, hes a thinker.
I don't think religion should be discussed by anyone out loud. We just had a terrible example of that foulness. Romney is just not able to make the cut as America's Representative. I find him inadequate for Formal Foreign Affairs. He's not suitably dressed or well rehearsed. Where as, Pres. Obama seeks his words, stumbles a bit, thinking out the answer. Given enough time, Obama finds a way to work a statement he 'may' stand by.
I think you miss my point. Christians don't consider Mohammed to be a prophet. It really isn't going to be any greater a conflict to have a president that considers some of their church leadership to be prophets. We've always had Christian presidents--Romney will be no different than Obama in that regard. Do you honestly think so little of Muslims to believe that they will take more of an issue with a Mormon president than the string of Christian presidents that preceded him?
Fact: Since Obama took office the debt has grown more (in less than 4 years) than it did in 8 years of Bush. Fact: Unemployment has been above 8% and real unemployment has been in double digits for a very long time. Fact: 300,000+ people dropped out of the workforce because they could not find jobs in Obamas economy. Fact: Obamacare is going to hit 6 million people (mostly middle class) with a rather good size tax increase. Fact: We spent a boatload of money on GM and they may still go bankrupt. Fact: Yes OBL is dead but Al Qaeda is alive and well and blowing up our embassies. Fact: The economy is sluggish at best and some indicators suggest whatever 'recovery' we may have had might be over. Fact: More people than ever are on foodstamps. These are FACTS of what has happened with Obama President. This is what he has done to America. So why on earth would anyone vote for him again?
Obama proved that a President doesn't need to have any prior international experience in order to mess up foreign policy! The fact that Romney does have some prior international experience tells us that he won't mess up foreign policy nearly as bad as Obama has done.
Andy Suchorski @AndySuchorski We're winning on every campus in every corner of Wisconsin. "Obama, Baldwin Top Ripon College Straw Poll" http://ripon.edu/news/2012-13/strawpoll.htm …
How did that strategy work out for GM, Lehman Brothers, Chrysler, etc? They all chose to stick with the leaders that were sinking the ship as well. Why do you liberals promote and protect failure?!?! Conservatives believe that we the people deserve better!
Hoffa is sure that the college campus activists are wholly indicative of a majority of the surrounding community! BTW - That was meant to be sarcastic!
It indicates the younger folks are smart. Meanwhile: polymath22 @polymath22 #Romney Has the Lowest Favorability Rating Of Any #POTUS Nominee In Modern History — Including All The Eventual Losers http://www.thedailydolt.com/2012/09/21/people-really-dont-like-mitt-romney/ …
You should read the comments who are in the know from upstream before you post and look silly. Besides who cares!!---Obama is ahead in WI. Tim Fleming @BioBoom RT @jrios68 See new Data on CNN Obama admin now a net Positive job creation ... Made up for the huge losses in yr one and from Bush #wiunion
Sen. Lena C. Taylor @sentaylor Wisconsin Voter ID and the Replacement refs go down in the same week. Not Bad!
This just proves how stupid both you and Lena Taylor truly are - Voter ID is not dead and will be upheld as constitutional by the state Court of Appeals. Better start getting used to it now.
Of course you don't care that the liberal media lies to you because you're a product of their propaganda, rhetoric, and lies.
You and your imaginary play friend are delusional. We can now have a fair election come November with all who want to vote will be able to vote.
If Romney were to lose, and that's a big IF, Hoffa can tell you what we won't do. We won't stage sick outs in the public schools to march with hitler signs around the capital or white house. We won't pour beers over the heads of our duly elected public officials. We won't launch partisan biased recall elections over a single piece of legislation that we disagree with. In other words, we won't act like you guys on left did over the last year and half in this state when you lost! And when you lost a second time, you still didn't admit that your ideology is rotten, did you? So why would you expect that from us? Doesn't that say something about your bankrupt ideology, which just so happens to be actually bankrupting the states of CA and IL, as well as several municipalities across the nation, and brought us the first credit downgrade in our nation's history and may just lead to another one in the near future. No, instead of engaging in a huge temper tantrum, we'll keep on working like we always do and try to make the best of it until 2014 and 2016. Too bad you guys on the left can't honestly say the same!