John Dingell issues statement on President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, released the following statement tonight on President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech:
“Tonight, the President outlined for the American people a clear path forward for our nation. He addressed the difficult challenges America faces. Our nation has gone through tough times, but under President Obama’s leadership, America is gaining strength and our economy is improving.
John Dingell
“With wise and targeted federal investments combined with precise and rational spending cuts, we not only can continue to enhance our economic recovery and competitiveness, but also begin to considerably pay down our unsustainable federal debt. The bottom line is that we have to work together to address the budget deficit. I personally think a budget freeze would be an inefficient and arbitrary way to deal with the problem; it would not take into consideration specific problems and issues that we face today. Nonetheless, I stand ready to work with my colleagues and the President to find responsible and effective ways to trim the budget.
“President Obama pointed out how our accomplishments—the creation of jobs, health care reform, improving our environment, strengthening our education system, reining in Wall Street, and creating more opportunity here at home—all move America forward. To continue on this path, we must ensure we are able to compete in this global economy.
“President Obama called on us to find common ground for the future of this great Nation— we need to manufacture in America, educate in America, and invest in America. This country has a history of rising to immense challenges and far exceeding expectations set for us. We are a great country and not only can we continue to compete globally, but we simply must. This means we have to invest in the future and create an atmosphere where innovation and ingenuity flourish.
“He reminded us that even with the many challenges we face at home, we must not overlook the fact that our country is engaged in two wars. It is incumbent upon us all to be mindful and understand these conflicts, have compassion for the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces, their families and loved ones and appreciate how they impact our country.
“Our nation is strong and resilient. Americans will continue to confront questions, challenges, and dangers, but if we rally together, we can put our people back to work, protect our children’s future and retain our standing in the global marketplace.
"I sincerely hope that my Republican colleagues will heed President Obama’s call tonight to work together for good policy that benefits our great nation without regard to what is best for our respective political parties.”
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
John Q
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.
"Forgive me if I'm not gullible enough to believe a Democrat making promises of reduced spending, debt reduction, working together, competitiveness and fiscal responsibility." Which party held the White House the last time the US ran a budget surplus?
TripleVSix
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 12:25 a.m.
Forgive me if I'm not gullible enough to believe a Democrat making promises of reduced spending, debt reduction, working together, competitiveness and fiscal responsibility. Apparently Mr. Dingell thinks we all just fell off the apple cart yesterday.
hairman
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.
Mr. Dingell is sooo out of touch with reality. He should drive his Down River communitys...River Rough, Ecorse, Wyandotte, Trenton ETC. He should be ashamed!! For as long as he has been at the public traugh to have water frontage in that condition is PATHETIC!! He should refund ALL of his pay and perks back to those of us that REALLY work!! RETIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Martin Church
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:44 p.m.
Mr. Dingell Prove it. start by doing what each of us have had to do. Take a 30% paycut. Next take the same health care policy that the rest of us have to deal with buy your insurance from Big blue. After all blue Cross was governement sponsored health care. Third a freeze will not pay down the debt. You have to cut spending. I can not write new money when I am short. Why should you raid us for the money to pay for bridges to no where or the mating habits of the bumble bee. Start Consolidating departments.
Sarcastic1
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
I would be surprised if Dingell stayed awake for the entire speech.
John Q
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Nice revisionist history from Republicans like maallen who claim that Democrats wouldn't work with them on health care. Senate Democrats worked for months with Republicans to craft a plan that would meet Republican demands. Democrats dropped elements that the Democratic base wanted, like a single-payer plan, to meet Republicans objections. At the end of the process, even after making many changes to meet Republican concerns, the Republicans refused to support any part of the plan that the Democrats assembled. I know that the favorite tactic of the Republicans is the "Big Lie" where by you claim something happened or didn't happen when the facts are the opposite but the lie that Democrats refused to work with Republicans on health care is a lie and no matter how many times you say it, it's still wrong and still not supported by the facts.
stunhsif
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
You folks at A2.com just love to post anything this dinosaur Dinglleberry has to say. He is the new "poster child" for all that is wrong with government since Byrd and Helms passed. Another reason we need term limits.
Diagenes
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.
Mr Dingell and the rest of the Democrats in Congress only want to work with Republicans when the GOP agrees with them. Mr. Dingell's statement, like the President's speach is more of the same old.. same old.
Cash
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Republican, likes to tell Washington to stop meddling in state affairs. He vocally opposed the Obama administration's 2009 stimulus program to spur the economy and assist cash-strapped states. Perry also likes to trumpet that his state balanced its budget in 2009, while keeping billions in its rainy day fund. But he couldn't have done that without a lot of help from… guess where? Washington. Turns out Texas was the state that depended the most on those very stimulus funds to plug nearly 97% of its shortfall for fiscal 2010, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures….
InsideTheHall
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
Obama and Dingell: You have to control the people. Paul Ryan's response nailed it. Big government = reduced liberty = reduced opportunity = The American Sheeple! In 2012 the next bunch of liberals get sent back to the college campus to pontificate of their "theories" to save the planet!
Cash
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 11:45 a.m.
If you read the Repub posts here you understand what's wrong with DC today. Repubs say "no" to everything ...then proceed to do nothing. Oh wait, Mike Green, Republican, sponsors a bill to carry weapons in churches, bars (oh good drunks with guns), and arenas...(oh good mass murders).....I wonder if he added police stations to his bill? Now how is that is in keeping with the important work of America...J-O-B-S? Unless the NRA will hire more lobbyists.
David Briegel
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 6:05 a.m.
Sorry guys, I haven't heard one Republican say one thing that they would cut. Not one. Even the lovely Michelle Bachman said nothing.
Lisa
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:58 a.m.
More blah blah blah from an ancient relic who is the epitome of what is wrong with our government today. He has built his legacy by trading political favors, bringing the pork home, lying, and assuming his constituents are too stupid to know any better. He had his day in the sun at our expense. He needs to retire.
Cash
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.
Yes older people =bad. Younger people = good? As a senior, I respectfully disagree. Please give examples of your accusations....when did he lie to you?
G. Orwell
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:46 a.m.
Don't believe a thing politicians say. Watch what they do. Unfortunately, too often, people simply believe what they are told. Wasn't Obama going to get us out of Iraq that are bankrupting this country. Unless that is what he wants. He also promised to close Guantanamo. It looks like he is expanding it. He also said he would not hire lobbyists. His cabinet is full of Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley, Monsato, Raytheon, etc. He said he would get us out of NAFTA. Not. Finally, he said he would not take money from lobbyists and corporations. He did (over a million from banks). I am sure I missed a few. Can we believe a word Obama says? Or, Bush Jr., Clinton, Bush Sr., etc.
mike from saline
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:18 a.m.
Just another Obama speech. One cliche after another. Move it along folks....nothing to see here.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:18 a.m.
What REP Dingell is proposing is more of the same that we've had from President Obama for two years -- keep borrowing and spending in the hope that we can borrow our way out of this mess. The President has no coherent strategy largely because he has never done a real job, run a real business, or managed anything of significance. He is a nice man totally out of his depth. I voted for President Bush twice as the far lesser of two evils, but I did not support his overspending and thought it unwise. President Obama has become the champion deficit spender of all time adding more than 3 trillion dollars in debt in less than 2 years in office. The only way we will see job growth in our Country is to reduce taxes, reduce spending, and get regulations off the backs of business owners. President Obama's prescription is to increase spending, give token nods to spending reductions, and add tons of regulatory burdens to business. That is not going to fly when there are far less tax and regulatory cost nations around the world with people eager to work. Today is the time for us to "get real" about our problems, stop trying to borrow our way out of them, and be responsible for our own future -- more government is not the answer.
mike from saline
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:16 a.m.
Just another Obama speech. One cliche after another. Move it along folks....nothing to see here.
Ryan J. Stanton
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 4:38 a.m.
For those of you who may not have caught wind, tonight was a bipartisan seat-mate scramble. Dingell apparently chose to sit with Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who represents Michigan's 6th District. Upton is the new chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a committee Dingell previously chaired for years.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:11 a.m.
It would not surprise me he prefers to see Fred Upton in his former seat rather than Henry Waxman, who got the Congressional Democratic Caucus to toss Dingell out on his ear in a nasty intra-party squabble that resulted in Waxman being the new committee chair following the 2008 elections.
maallen
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 4:30 a.m.
"I sincerely hope that my Republican colleagues will heed President Obama's call tonight to work together for good policy that benefits our great nation without regard to what is best for our respective political parties." Wow, did Dingell just say that? Did he really say "work together....without regard to what is best for our respective political parties?" Is this the same Dingell who for the last two years (especially last year) who refused to work with his colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle? Is that the Dingell we are talking about? Dingell is so good at public relations, but his rhetoric does not match his actions. Time for Dingell to go.
braggslaw
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 4:07 a.m.
Reduce debt Stop borrowing money from china to finance entitlements
jcj
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 4:01 a.m.
Another irrelevant statement from an antique.