President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama appeared at a townhall meeting in the state of Indiana, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the United States due to the economic crisis. The appearance by President Obama was televised.

Barack Obama sought to sell his economic stimulus program, currently pending before Congress. Obama drew the connection between his stimulus bill and the creation of new jobs in the state of Indiana. The audience was mainly receptive to the case Obama presented to them.

After his opening remarks, President Barack Obama took questions from the audience. Most of the questions reflected concern over the worsening U.S. economy, and the measures President Obama intended to pursue to create new jobs. One questioner was critical of Obama for appointing persons to his cabinet with tax problems. When the audience began booing, Barack Obama interjected that the question was legitimate, and he proceeded to answer it.

Barack Obama told a meeting of state governors of the National Governors Association, concerned about their own budget deficits, that they will receive help from the incoming Obama administration. The news could not come too soon, as many state budgets are under terrific strain resulting from the global economic crisis.

President-elect Barack Obama urged state governors to assist with crafting an economic recovery plan. Obama has already indicated that a first priority once he is inaugurated as America’s 44^th president will be an economic stimulus program to jumpstart the U.S. economy. During the meeting of the National Governors Association, Barack Obama repeated his priority for a plan that will save or retain two and a half million jobs. The Obama plan would also provide tax cuts to the middle class