Obama: U.S. to Survive Economic “Day of Reckoning”

(Video: C-SPAN • Story: Reuters)



President Barack Obama sought to strike a delicate balance between hope and reality on Tuesday to reassure Americans mired in economic crisis that they would survive a “day of reckoning.”

Riding high in opinion polls as he delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress, Obama was careful to include a sober assessment of the grim economic situation and his efforts to fix it.

But the politician whose memoir was called “The Audacity of Hope” and who won the White House in last November’s election amid chants of “yes, we can” was also back in stride, telling recession-weary Americans they can expect better days ahead.

“While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover,” Obama, a Democrat, said in a televised speech five weeks after taking office.

“And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” he said to loud applause in the packed chamber. Obama was interrupted by applause more than 60 times as he addressed Congress, where Democrats control both chambers. Read the complete article here.