President Obama returned to Illinois today for an event at the Caterpillar factory in Peoria. As you'll see towards the beginning of this clip, he introduced freshman GOP Rep. Aaron Schock to the crowd by noting that "Aaron is still trying to make up his mind about our recovery package. ... So we know that all of you are going to talk to him after our event." Watch it (and keep in mind that, just last August, Schock was quoted expressing concern about Obama's "level of socialism"):
In advance of Obama's trip to Peoria, the White House repeatedly asserted yesterday that "Caterpillar Inc., which has laid off workers recently, would be able to rehire employees if Congress approved the stimulus bill." Today, Obama echoed that message in his remarks.
Meanwhile, Schock -- like every other Republican in the House -- voted against the original version of the economic recovery package. Will Obama's nudge push him into the "aye" column when the compromise bill comes up for a vote tomorrow? We'll have to wait and see.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 07:23
Don't forget that in his "victory post" at Huffington celebrating his election at the "hottest freshman Congressman" Schock referred to President Obama being perceived as being able to "walk on water." As to the jobs remark, Jim Owens had no intention of following through on the pledge that was reported Weds by the Peoria Journal Star Website. Earlier that day, Methodist CEO Michael Bryant stated in a meeting with employees that "he was told" that Caterpillar would layoff employees in each quarter of 2009.
Brian G (not verified) on Fri, 02/13/2009 - 09:03
It's nice to see someone push pack at Schock. It was done in such a gentle manner though, I doubt if the low information voter knows the whole context.
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