Obama asks patience, guarantees better days ahead

[March 20, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Buoyed by adoring crowds far from Washington's political wars, President Barack Obama guaranteed Americans on Thursday that the nation's economy will recover, though he asked them for patience.

Obama looked every bit the campaigner as he sometimes mocked his GOP critics, and sometimes asked people to forgive his shortcomings. In general, his demeanor and message were more upbeat than in recent days when public fury over executive bonuses dominated Congress.

"We will come out on the other side stronger and a more prosperous nation," he said, acknowledging the nation's economic crisis. "That I can guarantee you. I can't tell you how long it will take, what obstacles we'll face along the way, but I promise you this: There will be brighter days ahead."

The comments brought another roar of approval from about 1,000 people at a town hall forum in Los Angeles, where questions were more fawning than pressing. "I'm very glad and thankful that you are our president," the first questioner began. The second said, "thank God for you."

Obama capped his day by taping an appearance on comedian Jay Leno's late-night talk show. He told Leno he was "stunned" when he first was informed of the big bonuses received by some employees at the bailed-out AIG insurance company.

"We're going to do everything we can to get these bonuses back", the president said.

Earlier, in the town-hall meeting -- his second in California in as many days -- Obama asked Americans to back his plans to overhaul health care, change energy policies, and spend more on roads, education and many other areas to boost the stalled economy. The resulting large deficits will be temporary and justified, he said.

He told Americans not to expect "something for nothing" from their government. Improvements to the economy and medical care will take time, he said.

"Nothing is free," the president said. Responding to a woman's complaint about cuts in jobs and salaries for California teachers, Obama urged people not to ask the federal and state governments to cut taxes and improve services at the same time.

"At some point you've got to make some choices," he said.

"We are not always going to be right," he said. "And I don't want everybody disappointed if we make a mistake here or there."

The important questions, he said, are whether things are moving "in the right direction" and whether he is keeping his main campaign promises.

Obama mocked Republican officials who call his plans too costly even though they presided over huge deficits while they controlled Congress and the White House.

"Where have you been?" he said. "What have you been doing?"

Obama also announced fresh aid to struggling homeowners in California. He said the state would receive $145 million to help communities hardest hit by the home foreclosure crisis. He said the money would be used to buy up and rehabilitate vacant homes, and provide loans to poorer and middle-income families to help with home assistance.

He announced a new Web site to help people around the nation: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/.

California's GOP governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, gave the president a far warmer greeting than Obama has received from Republicans in Congress. "It's great to have him here," Schwarzenegger said in introducing Obama to the crowd. He thanked Obama for "courageous leadership."

Obama called the governor "one of the great innovators of state government" and "an outstanding partner with our administration."

[Associated Press; By CHARLES BABINGTON]

Associated Press writer Mark S. Smith contributed to this report.

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