Presidents Reagan And Obama

Floor Speech

Presidents Reagan And Obama

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I've listened to 1 minutes here, and some of my Republican colleagues have made comments I listened to. And one who I respect tremendously talked about President Reagan and President Obama, and certainly they have a lot in common. They're both dynamic speakers and great communicators. Both of them have had high unemployment rates during their first year in office.

But the commonality is that those high unemployment rates were caused by their predecessors. And the press properly pointed out that Jimmy Carter's failed policies in the late 1970s and George Bush's failed policy at the beginning of this century were the cause of the economic malaise that each of these great communicators, Presidents Reagan and Obama, found themselves with.

Each will find that the economies will improve. Reagan did, and Obama will, and this Congress is helping to improve this economy.

Another gentleman talked about health care and said we should pray. I'm Jewish, and at our Yom Kippur holiday it's said that we should pray for national leaders that have a government that is compassionate and just. I believe that compassion and justice dictates that we have a health care plan and take care of everybody. I think it's the basis of the Judeo-Christian philosophy.

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