U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a fund raising dinner for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) as she stands near in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) walks with St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay after arriving at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
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U.S. President Barack Obama waves to the crowds as he leaves a fund raising event for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
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U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) begin to deplane at Lambert -St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a fund raising dinner for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
UPI/Bill Greenblatt
U.S. President Barack Obama jokes with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (L) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) before speaking at a fund raising dinner for McCaskill in St. Louis on March 10, 2010.
The legend of Harry S. Truman was so strong Wednesday night his footsteps could almost be heard to drown out President Barack Obama’s message to the faithful at the Renaissance Hotel.
The president, in town to tout his health care reform plan earlier at St. Charles High School, made a stop at the Show Me Victory Fund Grassroots Reception and fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
The Show Me Victory Fund Grassroots Reception drew 800 attendees who paid from $25 to $50 per seat. The private dinner held before the reception and featured a myriad of democratic politicians and power brokers, was attended by 470 who paid for tickets starting at $2,400 and rising.
After some warm up comments from St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, McCaskill thanked the crowd for being at the event and also “for caring about their country so much.”
She complimented Obama and said his “is a uniquely American story because he was an unlikely successful candidate for president.”
“Father from Kenya, a mother from Kansas, a kind of funny sounding name,” McCaskill said. “But the American people didn’t let that slow them down. They sensed this was someone different.”
“He campaigned on something different, McCaskill said. “He campaigned on the notion that something was more important than the next election. He campaigned on the notion that you could do things differently in Washington that you did not have to rely on polling and pundits, you could rely on just the simple principle of listening to all the ideas no matter where they came from, and trying to do what’s right.”
She said Obama has worked to change the “very tired politics of Washington D.C.” which she called “a mammoth undertaking,” especially when it comes to health care.
“Now we all know it’s broken, right?’ she asked “And to those that say ‘start over,’ I say are you kidding me? Harry Truman starting talking about this notion that in a country like America, Americans ought to be able to get health care.”
“And right now there are a lot of people whispering in his ear ‘you know, cut your losses, move on,’” McCaskill said. “Trust me he feels that pressure every day, and you know what, he’s different. The typical American leader would be running for cover when the polling had changed, trying to figure out what would be more popular. He is absolutely barreling ahead with a laser-light focus on solving this problem, maybe not this year, but knowing that this is going to solve problems for our kids, our grandkids. In fact, this is a president that cares more about the next generation than the next election.”
Obama then came out to a rousing standing ovation and said “give it up for my friend Claire McCaskill.”
“Claire and I both agree it’s nice to get out of Washington,” Obama said. “Don’t get me wrong, there are some nice things about Washington. I like the monuments. The house is okay. But it’s a town where most of the time people are worried more about politics than about what’s right. People are hooked up to the daily polls like some kind of EKG.”
A woman in the audience then shouted “we love you” and he Obama responded “I love you back.”
He then called Washington “a town where everyone is spending all their time worrying about staying re-elected and what’s good for their poll numbers instead of thinking about what is right.”
“Harry Truman once said ‘Washington is very easy city to forget where you come from and why you got there in the first place,’” Obama said. “Let me tell you something, Claire McCaskill doesn’t forget where she came from. She got to Washington to serve you, to fight for you, to fight for families all across America, and that’s why you’re here tonight. Because you know Senator McCaskill is on your side.”
“But I don’t have to tell you that because you’ve known Claire,” Obama said. “You knew her as a prosecutor, you knew her as a state auditor. You know her as one of the finest senators that Missouri has ever produced.”
“In fact, she’s a lot like a modern day Harry Truman, except she’s a she,” he said to explosive laughter. “But she’s a standout in Washington for speaking truth to power, for bringing common sense to every issue, and for having the courage of her convictions.”
He also praised her for working with anyone in Washington to get things done, and for criticizing anyone “no matter what party, in order to get things done.”
Obama continued to heap praise on McCaskill by saying that “in a town hurt by gridlock she’s not afraid to challenge assumptions. She’s a good role model for everyone, including the president of the United States.”
Obama later touched on health care reform by saying there are some on the other side of the isle who believe he best approach is deregulating the insurance industry.
“That’s the fox guarding the hen house approach to health care reform,” Obama said. “It’s time to give the American people more control over your health care.”
Obama compared Truman’s fight against wasteful spending and abuse in the military with his Truman Committee to McCaskill’s “relentless force for bringing more efficiency and more transparency and accountability to our government.”
“She understands what everyone in Washington should understand but don’t.” Obama said. “The money we spend doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to the American people, and we’ve got to invest it responsibly.”
Comments
palin4prez (anonymous) says...
Claire, you'll never get it, you vote for healthcare despite the majority of Americans not wanting it. You really need to get out of Washington politics, and the voters will see to that.
March 11, 2010 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmf_stl (anonymous) says...
Do you really think it does any good to call her office to express our opposition to the health care bill? I guess as long as they still count the calls I'll keep calling but I am sure with Claire it falls on deaf ears.
March 11, 2010 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nkasoff (anonymous) says...
McCaskill would vote for Obama even if every single Missouri resident opposed it. Remember that in 2012.
March 11, 2010 at 7:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rune04 (anonymous) says...
Rumor has it she has pettioned the courts to have her middle name changed to "rubberstamp." :-)
March 11, 2010 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tom63010 (anonymous) says...
It is so laughable to listen to Claire McCaskill go on about her fiscal conservatism. This bill would run up the national debt "conservatively estimated" by 950 Billion dollars after ten years according to the CBO. That amount is after collecting "premiums" for the first four years without paying any claims.
March 11, 2010 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
obamain2012 (anonymous) says...
I compare Clair McCaskill to The Great Albert Pujols. She is always getting the big things passed with very little effort because she works both sides of the isle.
McCaskill is truly a standout in Washington. She is one of only a handful of politicians that speak truth to power, she clearly brings common sense to EVERY issue. I have met Ms. McCaskill and she is truely a champion of the average everyday people. My young son wants to follow her glorious path into politics.
Here is to many more years of McCaskills good clean, unbiased Washington politics...
March 11, 2010 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rune04 (anonymous) says...
Thank you obamain2012: With all of the depressing news we are seeing now, its great to know that we have you and your sarcastic humor to lighten the day. Thanks again.(You are good at this!)
March 11, 2010 at 10:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
obamain2012 (anonymous) says...
i;m trying to get recruited by The Onion.... ;-)
March 11, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zorro (anonymous) says...
Is it true that the Carnahan's stayed away from last nights doings?? I guess if you are running for office Obama has the plague.
March 11, 2010 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NJK (anonymous) says...
This should be the kiss of death for McCaskill. Good riddance in November/January 2011 Claire. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
March 11, 2010 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )