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Christian Living

WhiteHouseWrap 10/06/11

LIVE BLOG: Presidential News Conference

President Obama is currently holding a press conference in the East Room of the White House.

11:07 a.m. - Obama: No doubt economy is weaker now than it was at the beginning of the year.

11:08 a.m. - POTUS says he has gone out of his way to work with Congress, sometimes at his own political peril.

11:08 a.m. - Obama says bottom line is "our doors are open." Says he's taking the case to the American people because "they understand what is at stake." (Pushing his jobs bill)

11:09 a.m. - President says, we know we have roads and bridges that need to be re-built. Says Republicans have traditionally been for building infrastructure, why are they against it now?

11:10 a.m. - POTUS asks, do they have a plan? If they do, he says he wants to hear it. Says problems for middle class pre-date the financial crisis. "They've been struggling for over a decade."

11:12 a.m. - Obama now making his 3rd "bottom line" - saying it's important to have a vote on the Jobs bill.

11:13 a.m. - Obama saying if Republicans don't go for the bill (he's not even mentioning the fact that some Democrats are also not for it) they will try to get it through piece-by-piece.

11:15 a.m. - POTUS says without doing something now about jobs, this situation could potentially get worse.

11:17 a.m. - Obama says the American people have been frustrated for a long time.  Frustrated by Washington. He's using the word, "folks," reminds me of campaign-style Obama...

11:20 a.m. - Obama: Even proposals Republicans used to support, now they're against.

11:22 a.m. - POTUS says: We have to have a strong financial sector to recover. Says he used up a lot of political collateral to make that happen, and it was the right thing to do.

11:27 a.m. - Obama goes after the 2012 GOP candidates for their stances on financial reform, namely wanting to roll back his reform, Dodd-Frank.

11:29 a.m. - POTUS one of the biggest disappointment of the financial crisis of 2008 was that a lot of the practices weren't illegal, just immoral. Says the loopholes and creative ways to make money are exacly why reform was needed.

11:31 a.m. - Obama says he fully supports Attorney General Eric Holder re: Fast & Furious gun scandal.

11:35 a.m. - When it comes to competing in green energy, Obama says he's not willing to surrender to China's growth. Says we have to focus on manufacturing and technology here.

11:38 a.m. - Obama says it is entirely appropriate for government to have oversight role when it comes to banking. Says consumers must understand what they're getting.

11:41 a.m. - POTUS says other countries are subsidizing green industries much more aggressively than US. Says he has confidence in American businesses and techonology being able to win that race.

11:45 a.m. - Obama: It's great that we're passing these free trade agreements, it's good for the economy, but it's not enough for the 9 percent unemployment.

11:49 a.m. - President Obama gives the press some homework: Go ask Republicans what their economic plan is if they are opposed to the American Jobs Act. Get economists' feedback.

11:52 a.m. - Obama says all he can do is mobilize the right people. Points at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner, as if to suggest they are making his job oh so difficult. "I would love nothing more than to not have to be out there campaigning."

11:58 a.m. - Obama says he believes US companies and workers can compete with anyone in the world. Need to play by the rules, though. (in response to question about China currency.)

12:00 p.m. - President talks about Afghanistan (10 year anniversary of the war this weekend) saying we couldn't have been as successful there without the cooperation of Pakistan.

12:12 p.m. - And, it's over.

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