Seeking 2nd term, Obama asks US for more patience

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina

Despite ‘his hard way,’ President Obama says he will bring the US economic revival. ABACAPRESS photo

U.S. President Barack Obama has asked Americans for patience in rebuilding the weak economy as he appealed for a new term in office on Sept. 6, defiantly rejecting Republican Mitt Romney’s proposals for growth.

Accepting the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Obama gave a more down-to-earth follow-up to his 2008 “hope and change” message. Weighed down by wars, high unemployment and political gridlock, he projected a tone that was more subdued, less exuberant. Obama told Americans they faced starkly different paths in choosing between him and Romney in the Nov. 6 election. He said his way may be hard, but it would bring economic renewal. “America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now,” he said. “Yes our path is harder - but it leads to a better place. Yes, our road is longer, but we travel it together.”

The delegates erupted in cheers. Michelle Obama and the couple’s daughters, Michelle and Sasha, joined the president on stage, followed by Vice President Joe Biden and his wife. Obama’s nationally televised address was more of a steady-as-you-go message that outlined priorities like creating 1 million new manufacturing jobs, but offered few details on how to achieve them, according to Reuters. Early media reaction to the speech was not as glowing as it was for an address to the convention by former President Bill Clinton.

Obama argued that his economic measures, like the 2009 bailout of the auto industry, are working and asked Americans to rally around a set of goals: Expanding manufacturing and energy jobs and U.S. exports, improving education, and trimming $4 trillion from America’s $16 trillion debt. Repeatedly contrasting his own priorities with those he said were Romney’s, Obama cast the Republican as uncaring of middle-class Americans, pushing a theme that the former executive is elitist and only interested in helping those like him.

Foreign policy criticism

All Romney wants to do, suggested Obama, is reward the wealthy with tax cuts, deregulate banks and let energy companies write a policy for more oil drilling. Though the economy has dominated the convention, Democrats have also discussed national security issues. They highlighted his carrying out his promise to pull U.S. combat forces from Iraq and, especially, his order that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Obama noted that both Romney and his vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan had little foreign policy experience, The Associated Press reported. “They want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly,” he said.

He said Romney was “stuck in a Cold War time warp” for describing Russia - not al-Qaeda - as America’s No. 1 enemy. Recalling the stir Romney caused in London by questioning British preparations for the Olympics, Obama said: “You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can’t visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally.”