What should the president say before Congress? (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
From CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Most Americans are hungry to hear what President Barack Obama has to say about the economy when he addresses a joint session of Congress tonight.
A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows 74% of those surveyed are eager to hear the president talk about the economic challenges facing our country.
That includes 18% who want to hear about jobs, job creation or unemployment, 15% who want information about the banking crisis or bailout, 14% who want to hear more about the $787 billion stimulus package. 11% want the president to talk about the housing crisis and 10% who cite health care.
Outside of the economy, some other issues mentioned are the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, education and illegal immigration.
The New York Times suggests that the president's challenge tonight is to declare that "out of ugly necessity" big government is back. But if done right, it won't last for long. The hardest part will be for the president to convince Americans they can't save themselves without first saving "the banks that let greed blot out prudence, the carmakers who ignored competitive reality for a quarter-century, and the homeowners who somehow persuaded themselves that housing prices only move up."
It's a tall order even for Mr. Obama – who's no slouch in the oratory department. Amidst all the rotten economic news – he will need to be at once reassuring and realistic.
Here’s my question to you: What do you want to hear from President Obama tonight?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Joe from Chatham, Virginia writes:
I'd like to hear him balance concern with hope, get us looking past the current mess to the future. The sooner we can begin changing the mood of gloom in the country, the quicker the recovery will come.
Joan writes:
What do I want to hear? "We've got a hard row to hoe now for a while. It won't be pretty or easy for everyone. Sacrifices will have to made, and become a normal habit. People will have to put aside personal greed for the sake of others of us who have nothing left to put aside. The days of flying high are gone.
Darin from Denver writes:
Good or bad, we need the truth. American's are tired, scared and fed up – let's try some honesty.
Nancy from Tennessee writes:
My choice would be that President Obama would become more silent and let the stimulus package do what it was designed to do. I have always been for transparency in government, but I don't want it at the expense of my 401K in the stock market. Every time we get news out of Washington, the market takes an unfavorable hit. I've seen enough of Obama for this quarter.
Ben writes:
1. Bank crooks, er, executives, will go to jail if they used federal dollars to line their pockets and those of their cronies. 2. Affordable health care for all is achievable. Why should the taxpayers pay for the health care of Congress, the White House and all of their staffs and not have access to the same?
Al from Lawrence, Kansas writes:
Honesty, and won't that be refreshing for a change. I don't want sugar coating. I'm not a child, and I don't need him to tuck me in and tell me that there are no monsters under the bed. I've looked under the bed, and it's crowded with monsters. Just be honest, I can handle it.