by Mark Silva
"I love you,'' comes the call from the audience.
"I love you back,'' replies the president.
If the president is on the road, this must be another 'town hall.'' Today, as President Barack Obama calls on Congress to crack down on credit card abuses before Memorial Day, he is taking his appeal to an audience in Rio Rancho, N.M.
When Obama wanted Congress to enact a $787-billion economic stimulus, he took his case to "town halls'' in Florida and Indiana. When Obama was pressing for approval of a new $3.55-trillion budget with spending initiatives in health care, education and energy, he took his case to a town hall near St. Louis.
Indeed, as Obama set out to recast the world's image of the United States with a trek across Europe and into Turkey, he staged "town halls'' in Strasbourg and Istanbul.
The town hall, a now-trademark campaign-styled forum for the president to go around the news media and burst the bubble of Capitol Hill's fulltime congressional and cable-news spin, is the president's way of selling an agenda to a willing audience.
Today: It's credit card abuses.
(Photo of President Barack Obama at New Mexico "town hall'' on credit card reform today by Charles Dharapak / AP)
"We have been complicit in these problems - we've contributed to our own problems,'' Obama told his audience today. "But these practices, they've only grown worse in the midst of a recession... Millions of card holders have seen their rates jump in the past six months.''
People are "getting ripped off by anytime, any reason rate hikes... all kinds of harsh penalties and fees that you never knew about,'' Obama said. "Enough is enough, it's time for strong protections for our consumers.''
And his audience cheered.
This is a mighty political force, the president playing to a choir of credit-card holding, debt-burdened Americans, for the banking lobby to confront on Capitol Hill. In Washington, the votes on credit card reform are underway this week.
"This is Anerica, and we don't begrudge a company's success when that success is based on honest dealings with consumers,'' Obama said. But these abuses are dishonest.
And his audience cheered.
Comments
Here are the obstructionist senators who voted NO to capping the interest rate on credit cards at 15%.
Member Party State
Thad Cochran R MS
Tom Coburn R OK
Saxby Chambliss R GA
Thomas Carper D DE
Maria Cantwell D WA
Robert Byrd D WV
Richard Burr R NC
Jim Bunning R KY
Sam Brownback R KS
Christopher Bond R MO
Jeff Bingaman D NM
Robert Bennett R UT
Evan Bayh D IN
Max Baucus D MT
John Barrasso R WY
Lamar Alexander R TN
Daniel Akaka D HI
Roger Wicker R MS
Mark Warner D VA
David Vitter R LA
John Thune R SD
Jon Tester D MT
Debbie Stabenow D MI
Arlen Specter D PA
Olympia Snowe R ME
Richard Shelby R AL
Jeanne Shaheen D NH
Jeff Sessions R AL
Pat Roberts R KS
Jim Risch R ID
Mark Pryor D AR
Ben Nelson D NE
Bill Nelson D FL
Patty Murray D WA
Lisa Murkowski R AK
Mitch McConnell R KY
John McCain R AZ
Mel Martinez R FL
Richard Lugar R IN
Blanche Lincoln D AR
Joseph I. Lieberman ID CT
Mary Landrieu D LA
Jon Kyl R AZ
Ted Kaufman D DE
Tim Johnson D SD
Mike Johanns R NE
John Isakson R GA
James Inhofe R OK
Kay Hutchison R TX
Orrin Hatch R UT
Kay Hagan D NC
Judd Gregg R NH
Lindsey Graham R SC
Michael Enzi R WY
John Ensign R NV
Jim DeMint R SC
Michael Crapo R ID
John Cornyn R TX
Bob Corker R TN
Susan Collins R ME
Posted by: pearlywhite | May 14, 2009 1:30 PM
Time for another Obama media event.
Also time for the news media to once again ignore the Tea Party protesters outside the event.
Because only Obama supporters, and the Obama media, are allowed into these events. Guaranteeing what Mark Silva terms a "willing audience."
Posted by: Bruce | May 14, 2009 1:58 PM
With 92 months left in the first term of the Obama Administration, the Wingnuts really need to pace the stupid. They don't want to overdo it these first few months then finish poorly, do they?
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCLz7XQOIOQ
Posted by: BigCheese | May 14, 2009 2:58 PM
"I love you,'' comes the call from the audience.
"I love you back,'' replies the president.
If he were really kool, the great Obama would have replied: "Back-at-cha".
Diana Krall would have said: "good luck with that". Am always pleased to offer free help.
Interesting list, pearlywhite. I try to keep that 'green' bar thing going on with my credit ~ Fiscal Responsibility, and it looks good on the computer. Make one late payment though for any reason, and JP and BOA are all over it. Your new interest rate has just been "adjusted" to 39.99%. Here is the problem though that your lengthy list of Republicans and Socialist democrats may have had that led them to vote "No" to cap the interest rate at 15%. That is, there are still those amongst us, for whom 15% is not enough to cover the risk that the credit lender is taking on. I would genuinely want to know what the "No" senators would have to say that lead them to cast the "No" vote.
Posted by: Django - N Exile somewhere in/around the 30th Parallel | May 14, 2009 3:12 PM
Also time for the news media to once again ignore the Tea Party protesters outside the event. Because only Obama supporters, and the Obama media, are allowed into these events. Guaranteeing what Mark Silva terms a "willing audience."
Posted by: Bruce | May 14, 2009 1:58 PM
****************
You're wrong, Brucie..
Believe me when I say that all of us Dems and Independents LOVE your incoherent Teabagger parties. I loved the last one you nutjobs had, I haven't laughed that hard in years.
.
http://brendancalling.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/teabag-me.jpg
Posted by: Dissent is Patriotic | May 14, 2009 4:23 PM
pearlywhite wrote: "Here are the obstructionist senators who voted NO to capping the interest rate on credit cards at 15%."
Interesting definition of "obstructionist". I count 60 senators, i.e., a solid bipartisan majority. Sounds more like a unified rejection of an unpopular legislative initiative.
Posted by: The guy who hides behind false names (so sayeth Don) | May 14, 2009 5:04 PM
Here are the obstructionist senators who voted NO to capping the interest rate on credit cards at 15%. Blah blah blah!!!
Good for all of them....they are the few remaining politicians that believe in limited government. If you can't pay your credit card off at the end of the month (no interest payments) then you should not be using one!!! If you're in favor of this ....why stop at 15%....why don't you make it 10%? ... or even 5%? Less profits for banks...more bank failures, more taxpayer bailouts!!!
Posted by: Joe | May 14, 2009 5:14 PM
Posted by: Dissent is Patriotic | May 14, 2009 4:23 PM
So if I object to everything Obama wants to do to this country...am I a "Patriot?"
Posted by: Joe | May 14, 2009 5:19 PM
I think the cap should be referenced to the Feds rate. Since it is currently at zero, I think a 15% profit is more than adequate...but maybe not enough for the executive bonuses they have gotten used to in recent years. They are addicted to fees. My question is, if they make everyone a bad risk through the shenanigans they are up to now, who will be left to give credit cards to?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | May 14, 2009 5:44 PM
So if I object to everything Obama wants to do to this country...am I a "Patriot?"
Posted by: Joe | May 14, 2009 5:19 PM
**************
No, it just means that you're dumber than a bag of rocks. And thankfully, your condition (Republican) isn't contagious. otherwise your team would still be able to win elections.
.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/weblog/2009/04/republicans-less-popular-than-venezuela.html
Posted by: little joe | May 14, 2009 6:05 PM
Posted by: Joe | May 14, 2009 5:14 PM
Dear Joe, We appreciate your support. To show our appreciation, we have raised the interest rate on you credit card to 97%.
Have a nice Day.
Posted by: Your Credit Card Company | May 14, 2009 6:21 PM
If you don't like the terms (interest rates) - find a different card. Shop around. Hey, some cards charge NO interest if you pay off the balance at month end. You don't HAVE to carry a balance, Just don't charge what you cannot pay for, silly people.
Gov't limiting interest rates will limit availability of credit and hit the poor the hardest.
Posted by: Janie | May 14, 2009 9:44 PM
People are getting ripped off--by the federal government, which is mortgaging their financial future to pay for a few present-day goodies. With the Chinese government holding the mortgage.
Thank you, President Obama.
Posted by: Bruce | May 15, 2009 8:53 AM
If you don't like the terms (interest rates) - find a different card. Shop around. Hey, some cards charge NO interest if you pay off the balance at month end. You don't HAVE to carry a balance, Just don't charge what you cannot pay for, silly people.
Gov't limiting interest rates will limit availability of credit and hit the poor the hardest.
Posted by: Janie | May 14, 2009 9:44 PM
.
Just be aware that if you DO shop around for better credit rates by going to multiple providers you'll be taking a nice old hit to your credit rating. And if you carry more than just a few credit cards, that ALSO will affect your rating. They truly DO have you coming and going, these lenders.
Posted by: Op109 | May 15, 2009 11:23 AM
Sorry. My earlier post should have read more like shopping around BY APPLYING TO multiple credit card companies. Researching online or through advertisements doesn't hit you, but then the credit card companies don't generally quote you the rate they'll be giving YOU PERSONALLY until you've actually filled out an application. Just wanted to clarify.
Posted by: Op109 | May 15, 2009 11:26 AM