The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Obama's Labor Day message: It’s time to ‘get this thing done’

Suspect behind bars in beating death
1:48 a.m.
Trailers, RVs provide relief from heat at fairgrounds
1:43 a.m.
Lawyer tries to block evidence in OVI fatality case
1:32 a.m.
Tearful, final farewells given to former editor
1:25 a.m.
Case against man accused of trying to blow up his house goes to grand jury
1:17 a.m.
> More headlines

President Barack Obama speaks to the crowd at the AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 at the PNC Pavilion at Riverbend in Cincinnati, Ohio.

E-mail this page

By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 12:11 AM Tuesday, September 8, 2009

CINCINNATI — President Barack Obama “fired up” a crowd of roughly 4,000 at the AFL-CIO’s annual Labor Day picnic Monday, Sept. 7

“Ready to go,” the crowd responded to the trademark phrase after a speech that touted health care reform, the importance of organized labor and the success of the federal stimulus package.

On the ongoing debate over health care reform: “Every debate at some point comes to an end. At some point it’s time to decide. At some point it’s time to act. Ohio, it’s time to act and get this thing done,” he said.

Obama stressed the importance of a government-backed “public option,” but said he was being careful to not let slip too many details of what proposals he supports before a major address to the nation Wednesday, Sept. 9.

“I see reform where we bring stability and security to folks who have insurance today, where you never again have to worry about going without coverage if you lose your job or you change your job or you get sick,” he said. “You’ve got coverage there for you.”

“I see reform where Americans and small businesses that are shut out of health insurance today will be able to purchase coverage at a price they can afford.”

Obama accused the opponents of health care reform — who have gained traction in recent weeks — of trying “to scare the heck out of people” with “lies” without putting forward any meaningful solutions.

Tim Bray, a United Steelworkers member from Hamilton, said Obama’s speech was “motivational (and) inspirational.”

“I believe everyone has a right to have health care,” he said.

“Health care is a big issue right now, and one that President Obama continues to pound on that, with so many Americans, continues to resonate with people,” said Middletown resident, and city council candidate, A.J. Smith as he left the pavilion.

“He really kind of inspired me,” said Jerry Steele, a sheetworker who said he has been watching his friends lose their insurance as they lose their jobs. “The fact that he wants to make sure everybody has health care means a lot to me.”

The AFL-CIO has said it will not back a reform plan does not include a public option.

“(Insurance companies) have a stranglehold on the American health care industry,” said Richard Trumka, presumed incoming union president, in an interview Monday. “And we have to break that stranglehold. The public option is a way of doing that.”

“If you’ve got a better way to break that stranglehold, show it to us,” he said.

Share this article