ELKHART, Ind. (WOWO): On Wednesday, June 1, President Barack Obama returned to Northern Indiana seven years after he visited during the Great Recession. During that time, Elkhart County had the highest unemployment rate in the county at 19 percent.
Obama is expected to land at the South Bend International airport at 2:20 p.m. and will speak at Concord High School at 3:20 p.m. Later in the day, he will take part in a town hall meeting. Air Force One is scheduled to depart at 6:40 p.m.
Laid off worker who introduced Obama in 2009 glad he’s back
ELKHART, Ind. (AP): The laid off recreational vehicle worker who introduced President Barack Obama when he visited Elkhart in February 2009 says he’s glad Obama is back to see how the economy in the community has improved.
Sixty-nine-year-old Ed Neufeldt of Wakarusa was laid off from Monaco Coach Corp. in September 2008 after 32 years on the job. Two of his daughters and two sons-in-law also lost RV jobs. His four relatives are back in the RV industry and Neufeldt works three part-time jobs.
Neufeldt didn’t vote for Obama but thinks the president “has done a fairly good job.” He says he doesn’t know how much credit Obama deserves for the county’s economic turnaround. He thinks Obama may have helped some, but thinks most of the credit goes to the community working together.
Obama warns about politicians preying on economic anxiety
ELKHART, Ind. (AP): President Barack Obama says people should beware of politicians who are “preying” on Americans’ anxieties about the economy in a bid to win headlines and votes.
Obama isn’t naming names. But he says some politicians are running on anti-trade, anti-immigrant policies in an effort to play to people’s fears.
Obama made the remarks during a visit to Elkhart, Indiana. He’s holding up the manufacturing community as a symbol of the nation’s climb from recession to recovery.
Obama says his administration’s “smart” decisions played a part in helping Elkhart come back. He says he wants to bust “myths” that Democratic policies are bad for the economy.
Indiana’s Republican governor, Mike Pence, says Elkhart had rebounded “in spite of Obama’s policies” and that those policies inflicted onerous federal burdens on Indiana.
#Obama just spoke in #Elkhart. Next up: townhall with @gwenifill at 8 ET on @PBS.Via @NPR: Obama Returns To Elkhart https://t.co/xGngHdZtDf
— Marilyn Geewax (@geewaxnpr) June 1, 2016
The crowd is clearing out pretty quickly. I caught up with Mikki Taylor. She was almost in tears, said Obama’s speech was “so powerful”
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Speech is over. Obama now shaking hands with people in crowd.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama says when he hears about middle class people wanting to vote for R’s economic plans, he wants to have an intervention.
— Maureen Groppe (@mgroppe) June 1, 2016
Obama names string of controversial social issues, says those are worthy causes, but growing middle class is the key issue.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama says new regulations on banks have been fought, but Obama says “that is crazy” bc rules help protect economy from another recession.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama credits Gov. Pence for expanding Medicaid in Indiana. “That was a decision that helped more than 300,000 Hoosiers.”
— James Briggs (@JamesEBriggs) June 1, 2016
A lot of talk about middle class financial (in)security, manufacturing/union jobs during #ObamaElk speech. https://t.co/7GWqfIgQm1
— Tori Fater (@vrfater) June 1, 2016
Obama says we need to invest in better job training, early child ed that takes up a lot of a family budget and make college more affordable.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama says GOP points to good old days 50 years ago, but 1 in 4 people were members of unions. As union membership shrank, inequality grew.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
.@POTUS: “Women should get equal pay for equal work. That’s something we should all agree on. That shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) June 1, 2016
Some photos of @POTUS speaking at Concord High School #obamaelk pic.twitter.com/uJQ5usYrFd
— The Elkhart Truth (@ElkhartTruth) June 1, 2016
Obama says politics should be responsive to working families, should stop pitting working people against each other.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
#POTUS: A lot of white Americans believe reverse discrimination is a bigger problem that discrimination.
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) June 1, 2016
.@POTUS: Republicans repeat these myths to garner votes and continue supporting special interests & those at the top of the economic pyramid
— Brandon J. Smith (@brandonjsmith5) June 1, 2016
“I’ve issued fewer executive orders than any two-term President since Ulysses S. Grant.” —@POTUS in Elkhart pic.twitter.com/l6Z3R0JWyQ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 1, 2016
“We’ve brought more trade cases against other countries than anyone else” —@POTUS in Elkhart pic.twitter.com/wKGbFheQpl
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 1, 2016
Crowd in Elkhart cheers when #POTUS says immigrants start about 30% of new businesses in U.S.
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) June 1, 2016
Obama says telling middle class they’re struggling because immigrants, minorities, feminists, etc. is wrong.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama moves on to “myth #2” that gov’t reg hurts business. Says he has passed less regulations, issued less exec orders than predecessors
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama says his points boils down to two points. 1) America economy is the strongest most durable economy in world.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
Obama says he’s spent every day of his presidency trying to improve/expand middle class and that Elkhart is proof.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
#POTUS says when he was elected president, nearly 1 in 5 people in Elkhart were out of work; now, unemployment is just at 4%
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) June 1, 2016
#POTUS reminds Elkhart residents that this was the first city he visited as president pic.twitter.com/A9ri8RlxjN
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) June 1, 2016
3:30 p.m.
Someone yelled out for Obama to run again, he says he can’t because the Constitution forbids and “more importantly Michelle forbids it.”
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
The President says hello to Elkhart. pic.twitter.com/x85xKrvWVk
— Kevin Rader (@KevinWTHR) June 1, 2016
3:20 p.m.
3:10 p.m.
By the way, if you want to hear Obama’s speech at Concord, tune in to 95.3 MNC, listen live at https://t.co/bn1WiAdouR or download our app.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
.@POTUS has arrived! https://t.co/G0Okplbg5j
— The Elkhart Truth (@ElkhartTruth) June 1, 2016
Obama now on SR19. People standing along road are waving at the motorcade. So far no protestors.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
2:50 p.m.
People are now being sat in the bleachers to the right of the stage. It’s a full house here at Concord High School.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
2:40 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP): President Barack Obama has arrived in northern Indiana.
Air Force One touched down at South Bend International Airport shortly before 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. Sen. Joe Donnelly and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg were among about 75 people on hand at the airport to greet the president.
Obama waved to the crowd, gave a salute, shook hands with Donnelly and Buttigieg, then walked over to the crowd and shook hands and chatted for a few minutes with people there.
The presidential motorcade then headed to Elkhart, about 25 miles to the east. Obama is scheduled to speak at Concord High School in Elkhart about 3:20 p.m. He also will take part in in a town hall hosted by PBS at the Lerner Theatre in downtown Elkhart.
Video from @MMcGillMNC of Air Force One coming in for a landing at South Bend Airport. pic.twitter.com/aNzWgXJR3A
— News/Talk 95.3 MNC (@953MNC) June 1, 2016
@POTUS in #AirForceOne passes @NotreDame campus heading to #SouthBend airport for #Elkhart visit @SBTribune pic.twitter.com/ey77I6dQie
— Michael Caterina (@MLCaterina) June 1, 2016
Obama greets @SenDonnelly at S Bend airport on arrival. Now in motorcade heading to Concord HS #obamaelk pic.twitter.com/fQZ7shFuCx
— Tim Vandenack (@timvandenack) June 1, 2016
2:24 p.m.
Taxiing to the hanger. #ObamaElk pic.twitter.com/HfYgHGJDrm
— Sam Householder (@TruthPhotoChief) June 1, 2016
1:40 p.m.
The music playing is quiet but very patriotic. “Only in America” by Brooks and Dunn is playing now. pic.twitter.com/I85KZaxrxA
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
12:54 p.m.ELKHART, Ind. (AP): The laid off recreational vehicle worker who introduced President Barack Obama when he visited Elkhart in February 2009 says he’s glad Obama is back to see how the economy in the community has improved.
Sixty-nine-year-old Ed Neufeldt of Wakarusa was laid off from Monaco Coach Corp. in September 2008 after 32 years on the job. Two of his daughters and two sons-in-law also lost RV jobs. His four relatives are back in the RV industry and Neufeldt works three part-time jobs.
Neufeldt didn’t vote for Obama but thinks the president “has done a fairly good job.” He says he doesn’t know how much credit Obama deserves for the county’s economic turnaround. He thinks Obama may have helped some, but thinks most of the credit goes to the community working together.
This story was first published at MNC.com (By: Jon Zimney)
Excerpts of President Obama’s address at Concord High School released by The White House
The following excerpts from President Obama’s remarks at Concord Community High School in Elkhart were released by the White House. The President’s full address will be broadcast live, starting at 3:20 p.m. (time approx.) on News/Talk 95-3 Michiana’s News Channel:
“I understand that not everybody votes based on the economy. Some folks care deeply about our Second Amendment rights, or marriage equality, or a woman’s right to choose. Some vote based on national security, or their worries about terrorism. And that’s fine; those are all issues worthy of debate. But if what you really care about in this election is your pocketbook; if what you’re concerned about is who will look out for the interests of working people and grow the middle class, then the debate isn’t even close.”
“One path would lower wages, eliminate worker protections, cut investments in things like education, weaken the safety net, kick people off health insurance, and let China write the rules for the global economy. It would let big oil weaken rules that protect our air and water, and big banks weaken rules that protect families from getting cheated, and cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans to historic lows.”
“I know that sounds strange for politicians claiming to care about working families. But these are their plans. I’m not making it up. You can usually find them on their websites. And the evidence of the last thirty years – not to mention common sense – should tell you that their answers to our challenges are no answers at all.”
“Fortunately, there’s another path that leads to more jobs. Higher wages. Better benefits. A stronger safety net. A fairer tax code. A bigger voice for workers. Trade on our terms. It will make a real difference for the prospects of working families. It will grow the middle class.”
“So that’s it, Elkhart. That’s the choice you face. The ideas I’ve laid out today won’t solve every problem, or make everybody financially secure overnight. But they’ll point us in the right direction. And one thing I can promise you is that if we turn against each other based on divisions of race or religion, then we won’t build on the progress we’ve started. If we get cynical and just vote our fears, or don’t vote at all, we won’t build on the progress we’ve started. We’ve got to come together around our common values, our faith in hard work and opportunity for everyone. We’ve got to assume the best in each other, and not the worst – because whatever our differences, we all love this country and care fiercely about our children’s futures.”
12:35 p.m.
ELKHART, Ind. (AP): Gov. Mike Pence says President Barack Obama doesn’t deserve credit for the economic recovery in the northern Indiana city he’s visiting.
The Republican governor says in a newspaper column that Elkhart has rebounded despite the burdens of “higher taxes, mandates and increasing regulations from Washington, D.C.” Pence touts state tax cuts and balanced budgets for helping spur Indiana’s economy.
Obama is scheduled to speak Wednesday at a high school and a town hall meeting in Elkhart.
The White House says Elkhart is a symbol of America’s recovery. The county is heavily dependent on the recreational vehicle industry and its unemployment rate hit nearly 20 percent in 2009 and is now about 4 percent.
Pence says most credit for Elkhart’s rebound belongs to its “hard-working people.”
11:20 a.m.
Elkhart May Tim Neese says he hope this visit shows the nation how the city preserved during tough times. The Republican mayor says he believes it’s the workers and business owners who deserve the credit for the city’s turnaround, according to AP.
RELATED: Elkhart Mayor: Obama’s visit allows Elkhart to display its tenacity
I spoke with Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese this morning ahead of Obama’s visit to Elkhart. He’s said its always good to have sitting prez visit.
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
He said he hopes Obama sees how positive people are in Elkhart County, how proud they are to be “in the best place to live on the planet.”
— Krystal Vivian (@krystalvivian) June 1, 2016
10:00 a.m.
Neither of gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Mike Pence and John Gregg, will be at the events Wednesday. Both candidates say that they have prior commitments during the visit.
RELATED: Gubernatorial candidates won’t be at Elkhart Obama event
Welcome back to Elkhart Mr. President, a great comeback in a great community in #AStateThatWorks https://t.co/P2oin3OA7S
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) June 1, 2016
There are many reasons for the remarkable economic recovery created in IN, but I believe most of the credit belongs to hard-working Hoosiers
— Governor Mike Pence (@GovPenceIN) June 1, 2016
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