Obama pressures GOP Congressman in front of hometown crowd, Congressman doesn’t bite

Jake Tapper has more from that Caterpillar plant stop on Obama’s mini-“support the stimulus” tour:

Just yesterday, President Obama went to the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Illinois and the urged Caterpillar employees to lobby their congressman, Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill to support the stimulus package.

Singling Schock out in front of his constituents, the President asked the 27-year-old legislator to stand up.

β€œAaron’s still trying to make up his mind about our recover package,” Obama said to the employees in the crowd. β€œAnd so we know that all of you are going to talk to him after our event, because he’s a very talented young man. I’ve got great confidence in him to do the right thing for the people of Peoria.”

Today Rep. Schock said on the House floor that “I found it very interesting that after the president finished his speech and I stayed around, not one employee at that facility approached me and asked me to vote for this bill.”

In fact, said Schock, β€œI have received over 1,400 phone calls, e-mails and letters from employees alone asking me to oppose this legislation.”

Why!? Because, Schock said, “They know that this bill is not stimulus. They know that this bill will not do anything to create long-term, sustained economic growth. This bill is too big to get it wrong.”

The congressman said that the bill is concerning because it is very light on infrastructure spending.

Schock quoted Obama’s favorite hometown President, Abraham Lincoln, β€œI’m reminded of his quote, β€˜what kills a skunk is the publicity it brings itself’ – perhaps that is the haste by which this bill is being brought forward. I urge a ‘No’ vote.”

Here’s the video:

If you’re a constituent of Rep. Schock’s, he deserves your thanks today.

And speaking of Jake Tapper, he and WH press sec. Robert Gibbs had another memorable exchange yesterday at the WH daily briefing. Click here to read the transcript.

Good to see there’s at least one mainstream media reporter willing to keep the Obama admin on its toes.

(Links via Hot Air)

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