President Barack Obama heads to California today where he'll hold a couple of town hall-style meetings and answer questions from ordinary Americans about the economy, among other things.
President Obama will answer questions from ordinary California citizens.
Although a visit to California is usually a breeze for a Democratic president, Mr. Obama should probably prepare himself for a good grilling. California - which, on its own, is the world's eighth-largest economy - has been ravaged by the recession, a housing meltdown and double-digit unemployment. The president's trip also comes while the public is outraged over the $165 million in bonuses given to AIG executives.
Americans have plenty of worries about the economy. A new CNN-Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 63 percent of those surveyed say the economy is the most important issue facing the country.
When asked what the top economic concern is, 36 percent of Americans say unemployment, 20 percent say inflation, 16 percent say the mortgage crisis, 14 percent say the stock market, and 11 percent say taxes.
In addition to the town hall meetings, President Obama is scheduled to appear on 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno tomorrow night, making him the first sitting president to hit the late-night talk show circuit.
It's all part of the White House's effort to sell its economic plan to Main Street.
Here’s my question to you: What would you tell the president about the economic situation where you live?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John from Colorado writes:
Mr. President, our Chrysler minivan is too small for the whole family to live in, plus it can get darn cold in the winter here. Please stick to your plan and keep at it until enough jobs are created to turn this economic mess around. Other than that, things are going great.
Charlie from Belen, New Mexico writes:
I sincerely believe that Pres. Obama is doing the best he can. I would advise him that unless he can straighten out the "who did what and when" regarding the AIG bonuses and publicly take those concerned "to the woodshed" no matter who or how important they are, his personal creditability with the American public will suffer. And that will make his job going forward even more difficult.
Dorothea from California writes:
It sucks! That's from north Orange County, California. Our annuity is with AIG. We can't sell our home. We're trying to retire. Our mutual funds took a serious dive. I don't know who got the tickets to the Obama Town Hall meeting today - but he's in south Orange County where all the money is.
Ed from Iowa writes:
The major employers in this area are all but gone. Now what? Continue to "wait" for better times. I have bills now. I have kids now. Should I ask them to wait for dinner?
Kelly from Pennsylvania writes:
Can I get a stimulus check after you tax the ying-yang out of those AIG bonus nabbers?
Lynn writes:
Mr. President, The economy in the Indiana, Michigan, Ohio area is devastating. How in the world do we try to retain a positive outlook and believe in our future when these corporate misfits who brought their companies to the brink of death give themselves hefty bonuses? I know folks who cannot afford to go the dentist, doctor or sometimes put food on the table. How can this disparity continue? I simply don't understand.