LOS ANGELES — 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.
In general, the president’s 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.
In his second California town hall 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.
Obama mocked GOP officials who call his plans too costly 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 a new website to help people around the nation. The address is .
Also online, Obama asked Americans to help him pass his $3.6 trillion budget.
“I’m asking you to head outside this Saturday to knock on some doors, talk to some neighbors, and let them know how important this budget is to our future,” he said in the video, which was sent in an e-mail by David Plouffe, Obama’s former campaign manager.
Plouffe is an adviser for Organizing for America, whose almost 14 million-person e-mail list is drawn from voters who supported Obama last November. The group, which is overseen by the Democratic National Committee, has been asking Obama supporters to canvass in their neighborhoods this weekend and call their representatives in Congress, encouraging them to vote for the budget.
