Obama stresses economics at rally

MANSFIELD — In a rousing campaign speech to fire up the faithful Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama hit on themes that promise to be regular campaign material between now and the general election Nov. 6. The rally took place at Mansfield’s downtown Central Park.

Obama stressed economic themes and said he and Mitt Romney offer “two fundamentally different visions for America” and the direction we choose “will have an impact (not only on) your lives but on your children’s lives and your grandchildren’s lives.”

He said that four years ago “we came together ... to restore the basic bargain that built the greatest middle class and the most prosperous country that the world has ever known. ... It’s the basic idea that says here in this country, if you work hard, that work should be rewarded. If you act responsibly, you should be able to get ahead.

”It’s a deal that says if we put in enough effort, we should be able to find a job that pays the bills, we should be able to afford a home that we can call our own. We should have health care that we can count on if we get sick. We should be able to retire with dignity and respect, and most of all, we should be able to give our children the kind of education that allows them to dream even bigger and do even better.”

But, the recession that hammered the country in 2008 was “the worst economic crisis of our lifetime” and it cannot be corrected overnight.

He then contrasted his plans with those of Mitt Romney, saying Romney’s plan will give the wealthiest households — those making more than $3 million per year — tax cuts of $250,000 per year, while increasing taxes on an average middle class family with children by more than $2,000.

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Obama stresses economics at rally

Over 2,000 people gathered at Central Park in downtown Mansfield on Wednesday to listen to President Barack Obama talk about the economy, taxes, jobs and his opponent in the November election, Mitt Romney. (Photo by Chloe Coleman)