Obama rips Republicans at town hall

U.S. President Barack Obama Wednesday had sharp words for Republicans, accusing them of "using their power" to hurt the common man.

In remarks prepared for delivery to a town hall meeting in Racine, Wis., Obama accused Republicans of blocking an extension of unemployment benefits for the sake of politics.

Obama said his administration has been working to pull the country out of recession and called on Congress -- especially Republicans -- to approve an extension of unemployment benefits.

"Unfortunately, a minority of Senators from the other party has a different idea. As we speak, they're using their power to stop this relief from going to the American people. In fact, they won't even let these measures come up for a vote," Obama said.

Obama said he knows Republicans have economic theories that differ from his approach but "we've already tried these ideas. We tried them for a good part of the last decade. And we know where they led us."

Obama said he knows people are worried.

"That's why even though there's plenty of challenges on our plate, none is more important than reversing the damage of the great recession and getting folks back to work," Obama said.

Obama also cited the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster as the result of lax Republican regulatory policies and blamed tax breaks for the super-rich for sluggish job growth and the erosion of the middle class.

Obama said the nation is now at a crossroads and we have to recognize there are some things that can be accomplished only by government, not individuals or corporations.

"This debate we're having in Washington isn't about big government or small government. It's about responsible government. It's about accountable government. It's about a government that stands on the side of the American people -- a government that breaks down barriers to opportunity and prosperity. That's the kind of government we need."

Obama also called on Congress to pass financial reform and chastized Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for his comments Tuesday against the legislation.

"I was stunned to hear the leader of the Republicans in the House say that financial reform was like using a nuclear weapon to target an ant. … He compared the financial crisis to an ant, the same financial crisis that led to the loss of nearly 8 million jobs. The same crisis that cost people their homes and their lives savings.

"Well if the Republican leader is that out of touch with the struggles facing the American people, he should come here to Racine and ask people if they think the financial crisis was an ant."

When he arrived in Racine, Obama made a detour to a pastry shop where he sampled the local specialty, the Kringle, and bought three danish.

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