President Barack Obama struck a balance between grim economic reality and a more hopeful outlook on Tuesday to try to reassure worried Americans their country will emerge from crisis "stronger than before."
Riding high in opinion polls, Obama was careful to include a sober assessment of the economic emergency in his first speech to Congress, seeking to temper expectations that his administration's rescue efforts would yield quick fixes.
But the politician whose memoir was called "The Audacity of Hope" and who won the White House in last November's election amid chants of "yes, we can" was also back in stride, telling recession-weary Americans to expect better days ahead.
"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover," Obama said in the televised speech.
"And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," he told a chamber packed with lawmakers, cabinet members and invited guests.
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part One
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part Two
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part Three
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part Four
FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part Five
Posted by jsmooth995 at February 25, 2009 12:30 AM
