President Obama kicked off his 2012 reelection campaign in his hometown of Chicago and used the occasion to tout his plan to cut the deficit.
Republicans say “we can’t afford to be compassionate,” Obama told a crowd of Democratic supporters on Thursday night, criticizing one current GOP budget proposal for its potential to strand senior citizens in need of health care.
“The speech I gave yesterday was not a partisan shot at the other side. It was an attempt to clarify the choice we have as a country right now,” he said. “If we’re progressive, we’ve got to care about the deficit as much as the other side does.”
Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel introduced Obama and the president returned the favor.
“Yes, he is foul-mouthed, yes that finger thing is a little creepy, but I love him anyway," the president said of Emanuel, who lost a finger working a meat slicer when he was a student.
Obama never said "I'm running for president," but did note that in 2012, "your candidate is a little older and a little grayer."
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