Obama Takes Victory Lap In Elkhart County
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Chris Tulley-
“I am not here to get votes, I am here because I care, as a citizen,” Obama said to the crowd of over 1,000 after one audience member yelled that he should run again. Obama first visited Elkhart and Concord in 2009, just three weeks into his first term as American president. He returned to the town Wednesday afternoon to speak to the crowd that had gathered at the high school.
Obama waved to the crowd, greeting the community, then told everyone to be seated as he had some things to say. He wanted to celebrate the growth that Elkhart had since his last visit, saying that it was a good representation of the country’s recovery.
During his hour-long speech, Obama said that he and Congress made a series of smart decisions early on in his first term, like the bailout of auto industries and mortgage assistance, to benefit communities like Elkhart. Obama said that Elkhart is “better off than when I came here last.” This comment was met with a roar of applause from the audience.
Obama addressed what he said were several myths concerning the results of his actions as president. He provided recent statistics, including that there are 14 million new jobs, fewer people on welfare programs and the lowest level of illegal immigration in over 40 years.
In 2009, unemployment in Elkhart peaked at 19.6 percent while, nationally, unemployment surged to 10 percent. Today, unemployment in Elkhart has dropped to around 4 percent – lower than its pre-recession average. And, nationally, the unemployment rate has been cut in half to 5 percent.
In Elkhart County’s public schools, high school graduation rates have jumped from 75 percent to close to 90 percent and, across the country, the graduation rate is at an all-time high at 82 percent.
At the peak of the housing crisis in 2010, 9.5 percent of mortgages in Indiana were late or in the process of foreclosure. Today, that percentage is down to 3.7, lower than pre-crisis levels. Nationally, troubled mortgages peaked at 9.7 percent and today stand 4 percent.
Across the country, 20 million more Americans now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, and, under the ACA, health care prices have grown at the slowest rate in 50 years. In Indiana, nearly 200,000 people selected or were re-enrolled in a 2016 Marketplace plan. Additionally, Indiana expanded Medicaid. As of March, more than 340,000 additional Indianans were covered by the state’s Medicaid program than before the Marketplace opened in 2013.
Concerning welfare programs, Obama said that no matter what a parent’s actions are, children should not be held responsible and deserve to be healthy and educated. If people are in between jobs, are too old or injured to work, or served in the military, it is the responsibility of the nation to step up, according to Obama.
He was not rude or disrespectful toward the GOP or their leading nominee, Donald Trump, but did address that he disagreed with their views.
“You cannot build a wall around a nation,” he said, “You cannot deport 11 million immigrants.”
Regarding Trump’s policies, Obama stated that “If economy is your focus ... don’t think this agenda will help you (the middle class).”
The president offered his suggestions for the future of the country after he leaves office, the first being the continued growth of wages. Wages for working families have grown 3 percent, according to Obama, and need to continue. He also pointed that equal wages for women should be stressed.
Children should be better prepared for adulthood. The education system needs to continue to improve, and college needs to be more affordable. Retirement and Social Security programs need to be easier to contribute to, for the security of those who need them. Trade needs to work for us, as a country. The economy needs to work for everyone, not just the upper class or “Wall Street.”
Obama recognized that he did not accomplish everything that he intended and that he was not going to solve every problem. He just wanted to point the country in the right direction.
“So that’s it, Elkhart. That’s the choice you face. The ideas I’ve laid out today won’t solve every problem, or make everybody financially secure overnight. ... We’ve got to assume the best in each other, and not the worst – because whatever our differences, we all love this country and care fiercely about our children’s futures.”[[In-content Ad]]
“I am not here to get votes, I am here because I care, as a citizen,” Obama said to the crowd of over 1,000 after one audience member yelled that he should run again. Obama first visited Elkhart and Concord in 2009, just three weeks into his first term as American president. He returned to the town Wednesday afternoon to speak to the crowd that had gathered at the high school.
Obama waved to the crowd, greeting the community, then told everyone to be seated as he had some things to say. He wanted to celebrate the growth that Elkhart had since his last visit, saying that it was a good representation of the country’s recovery.
During his hour-long speech, Obama said that he and Congress made a series of smart decisions early on in his first term, like the bailout of auto industries and mortgage assistance, to benefit communities like Elkhart. Obama said that Elkhart is “better off than when I came here last.” This comment was met with a roar of applause from the audience.
Obama addressed what he said were several myths concerning the results of his actions as president. He provided recent statistics, including that there are 14 million new jobs, fewer people on welfare programs and the lowest level of illegal immigration in over 40 years.
In 2009, unemployment in Elkhart peaked at 19.6 percent while, nationally, unemployment surged to 10 percent. Today, unemployment in Elkhart has dropped to around 4 percent – lower than its pre-recession average. And, nationally, the unemployment rate has been cut in half to 5 percent.
In Elkhart County’s public schools, high school graduation rates have jumped from 75 percent to close to 90 percent and, across the country, the graduation rate is at an all-time high at 82 percent.
At the peak of the housing crisis in 2010, 9.5 percent of mortgages in Indiana were late or in the process of foreclosure. Today, that percentage is down to 3.7, lower than pre-crisis levels. Nationally, troubled mortgages peaked at 9.7 percent and today stand 4 percent.
Across the country, 20 million more Americans now have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, and, under the ACA, health care prices have grown at the slowest rate in 50 years. In Indiana, nearly 200,000 people selected or were re-enrolled in a 2016 Marketplace plan. Additionally, Indiana expanded Medicaid. As of March, more than 340,000 additional Indianans were covered by the state’s Medicaid program than before the Marketplace opened in 2013.
Concerning welfare programs, Obama said that no matter what a parent’s actions are, children should not be held responsible and deserve to be healthy and educated. If people are in between jobs, are too old or injured to work, or served in the military, it is the responsibility of the nation to step up, according to Obama.
He was not rude or disrespectful toward the GOP or their leading nominee, Donald Trump, but did address that he disagreed with their views.
“You cannot build a wall around a nation,” he said, “You cannot deport 11 million immigrants.”
Regarding Trump’s policies, Obama stated that “If economy is your focus ... don’t think this agenda will help you (the middle class).”
The president offered his suggestions for the future of the country after he leaves office, the first being the continued growth of wages. Wages for working families have grown 3 percent, according to Obama, and need to continue. He also pointed that equal wages for women should be stressed.
Children should be better prepared for adulthood. The education system needs to continue to improve, and college needs to be more affordable. Retirement and Social Security programs need to be easier to contribute to, for the security of those who need them. Trade needs to work for us, as a country. The economy needs to work for everyone, not just the upper class or “Wall Street.”
Obama recognized that he did not accomplish everything that he intended and that he was not going to solve every problem. He just wanted to point the country in the right direction.
“So that’s it, Elkhart. That’s the choice you face. The ideas I’ve laid out today won’t solve every problem, or make everybody financially secure overnight. ... We’ve got to assume the best in each other, and not the worst – because whatever our differences, we all love this country and care fiercely about our children’s futures.”[[In-content Ad]]
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