US Economy -- An Uphill Battle for Obama
VOA News
Transcript
Financial experts say Americans are living through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression a fact not lost on president-elect Barack Obama we start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime since winning the election in November Mr Obama has been forced to confront worsening economic data from high unemployment to the potential collapse of the Auto industry Adas Thomas man at the Brookings institution says these are difficult challenges for a new president we simply haven't seen anything uh like this with both the financial meltdown and the continuing uh problems within the the credit markets and uh the recession itself which is getting deeper and deeper Obama's leadership skills are already being put to the test as he tries to convince the US Congress to release the second half of A700 billion Financial bailout package Faz Shakir is research director at the center for American progress in Washington this is really unique in many ways because he's inheriting a recession almost at its peak despite the difficulties Thomas man says Obama will have some political Capital to work with the magnitude of the challenges and problems he faced is matched by the the uh Good Will Americans feel toward him and about his his election so he's he actually has an opportunity now to build on a a level of if not trust uh of uh optimism about his election and and his transition analysts say Obama faces a tough balancing act as he tries to boost the flagging US economy while honoring campaign promises on equally difficult issues from climate policy to healthc care reform some say it's a crucial test that may ultimately determine if the Obama Administration governs for a second term milar Sega vaa news