President Obama dropped by Virginia on Tuesday, railed against Congress for yet another "manufactured crisis" – this time sequestration 2013 (learn more here) – and asked for help pressuring lawmakers to solve the budget impasse that could cost the state more than 200,000 jobs.
"If you agree with me, I need you to make sure your voices are heard," Obama told employees and television cameras at Newport News Shipbuilding. "Let your leaders know what you expect of them. Let them know what you believe."
The company receives Defense Department funding that's being threatened by drastic, mostly indiscriminate cuts that begin March 1 if no agreement is reached. Sen. Mark Warner has already warned that sequestration will be "worse than you imagine."
In addition to the potential job losses, Obama warned that under sequestration 18,000 fewer Virginians will get the skills and training they need to find jobs; 2,000 Virginia college students will lose financial aid; and early education programs will be eliminated for 1,000 children.
The president said Republicans in Congress have put more stock in playing games than in saving the jobs of those in Virginia and elsewhere around the country.
"This work, along with hundreds of thousands of jobs, are currently in jeopardy because of politics in Washington," Obama said.
Translated, it brings to mind the infamous New York Daily News headline that followed Gerald Ford's refusal to bail out New York City from bankruptcy. The headline: "Ford to New York: Drop Dead."
Whoever is right or wrong, whoever is playing games or not, there's no doubt that even the prospect of sequestration is bad for Virginia. So, if you'd like to contact your government representatives, click on their names below:
President Barack Obama
Senator Tim Kaine (D)
B40C Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4024
Senator Mark Warner (D)
475 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Phone: 202-224-2023Fax: 202-224-6295U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-10)
Washington Office
233 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5136
(202) 225-0437 fax
Herndon Office
13873 Park Center Rd Ste.130
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 709-5800 or
(800) 945-9653 in state
(703) 709-5802 fax
achieve any balance in your reporting? Probably never. Obama could easily agree to restructure the cuts to be more effective, and Republicans would gladly go along, (the House passed two measures to do this, already) but Obama refuses. He'd rather see the pain. This was his plan. Now he owns it. Here's one solution. Let's just do it Obama's way and send the USA into total bankruptcy as quickly as possible. There aren't enough "rich people" to cover his massive, out-of-control spending. But the mainstream press refuses to say that. Then all you kids who think Obama is some kind of saviour can finally PAY PAY AND PAY to dig yourselves out of the hole you are blissfully voting for. Us old folks will be long gone, and we'll have spent the cash. Fair enough? Wake up, kids. You are being hosed. Expect lifelong stagnation and massive taxes, while businesses continue to get pounded by the government. You want to see what that looks like? It already exists. Go to Greece. How many tech companies are there in Greece? None? Correct. Then again, the education system has prepared you kids well to play this role.