Obama: Republicans’ Message is Like “Groundhog Day,” But Not Funny (+video)

Photo Credit: J. Scott Applewhite

Photo Credit: J. Scott Applewhite

It was officially billed as a speech to promote raising the minimum wage, but President Obama’s trip to the University of Michigan Wednesday had all the hallmarks of a campaign pitch – one that the nation will likely hear several more times as the midterm elections approach.

There was a laundry list of achievements (economic recovery, ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, signing 7.1 million people up for health care), a recitation of the rest of the Democratic agenda (paycheck fairness, expanding college affordability) and a nod to the local restaurant (Zingerman’s Deli, an Ann Arbor institution) where the president enjoyed a Reuben that he regretted splitting with his adviser, Valerie Jarrett.

Most importantly for any campaign speech, it included a takedown of his opponent’s agenda. Democrats began to distill that message when Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., released a GOP budget this week full of spending cuts to help balance the budget in 10 years.

“Just yesterday Republicans in Congress put forward a budget for the country that I believe would shrink opportunity for your generation,” Mr. Obama said, arguing that their plan would start with a huge tax cut for the wealthy at the expense of less fortunate members of society. In particular, he highlighted cuts to the Pell Grant program and a repeal of the health care law, which would jeopardize the ability of young people to stay on their parents’ insurance.

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