President Barack Obama gave possibly the best speech of his Presidency, saying that economic inequality in America is at “a level we haven’t seen since the Great Depression and it hurts us all.”
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Speaking at Osawatomie High School in Osawatomie, Kansas, the President was touting his jobs bill and putting the pressure on Congress to approve it right away.
Speaking on income inequality and the middle class the President said,
“When middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services that businesses are selling, it drags down the entire economy, from top to bottom…Inequality distorts our democracy, it gives an outsized voice to the few who can afford high-priced lobbyists and unlimited campaign contributions, and runs the risk of selling out our democracy to the highest bidder. And it leaves everyone else rightly suspicious that the system in Washington is rigged against them – that our elected representatives aren’t looking out for the interests of most Americans.”
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The President told the Kansas crowd:
“I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays by the same rules. Those aren’t Democratic or Republican values; 1 percent values or 99 percent values. They’re American values, and we have to reclaim them…This isn’t about class warfare. This is about the nation’s welfare.”
Evoking the voice and beliefs of President Teddy Roosevelt, he continued:
“I’m here to reaffirm my deep conviction that we are greater together than we are on our own.”
Obama went on to slam the opposition saying:
“Their philosophy is simple: We are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. Well, I’m here to say they are wrong.”
It was a fiery and passionate speech given by the President. He continued to tell the crowd:
“We need to meet the moment. We’ve got to up our game. We need to remember that we can only do that together.”
This emotional speech from Barack is one sure to ruffle the feathers of Republican leaders in Congress.
