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Reaction To Obama: Dems Applaud, Republicans Wary

Posted Feb 25, 2009 by William March

Updated Feb 25, 2009 at 12:55 PM

In reactions of Florida Congress members to Barack Obama’s address to Congress, Democrats tended to applaud while Republicans warily distanced themselves without usually criticizing outright.

Some samples:

Sen. Bill Nelson, Democrat—“What President Obama did was comparable to what FDR did in his first inaugural during the Great Depression, when he said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ … He was telling Americans it was necessary to shake the pessimism that was paralyzing the nation before the economy could be turned around. … The president acknowledged it will be tough to turn things around, but he showed us the confidence that we can – and, we will.”

State Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer—“Republicans in Florida and across the nation have long stood for lower taxes on families and businesses and smarter government spending. … However, the world’s economy faces unprecedented challenges and we all agree that we cannot sit idly by and do nothing. … The Republican Party of Florida has and will continue to fully support Governor Crist in his efforts to ensure that Florida receives its full share and is able to use any federal economic stimulus dollars.”

Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa—“President Obama inherited a deficit that tops $1 trillion and an economic catastrophe the likes of which we have not seen in generations. Recovery will not happen overnight, but President Obama’s bold plan for economic recovery will put our economy back on track. … President Obama is right to focus tonight on the economy, health care, education and energy. ... As President Obama said tonight, we are a hardworking, optimistic nation. We will persevere. The United States always has been a resilient country. We have conquered hard times before and we are on a path now to do it again.”

Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville—“I applaud the President’s intent to put forward a comprehensive plan to combat our nation’s economic woes. Intentions, however, do not equal results and a “plan” totally lacking in detail is about as helpful as putting a band-aid on bullet hole. We cannot borrow and spend our way out of this mess. … The President spoke of the right goals tonight: addressing the current crisis, getting our economy back on track and putting our nation on a path of growth. I will work with him and this Congress to attempt to accomplish those goals in a responsible, successful way.”