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Letters to President Obama

From

Eileen Garrish, Desert Hot Springs, California

January 3, 2010

1/3/2010 6:14:28 PM
Desert Hot Springs, California

The unemployment rate in Riverside County, CA, the county in which I live, is over 30%. There are no jobs in sight. Are you going to keep even one campaign promise upon which you built your presidency? I worked for you, I contributed to you and what do I get in return: I'm out of work, I get no cost of living increase on Social Security, and you are going to pay for the new health insurance plan by cutting my Medicare.

Thank you very much.

Respectfully,

Eileen M. Garrish

 

 

The President's Response

Eileen –

I got your note and wanted to respond. The day I walked into office, I inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. And after a very tough year, we have begun to turn the corner, with the economy growing again. That may be little consolation to you and others that are out of work, and I won’t be satisfied until jobs are being created in Riverside and across the country. Having said that, I do want to challenge the notion that I haven’t kept my campaign promises, or that I have weakened Social Security or Medicare. The existing Social Security formula didn’t provide a cost of living increase because prices/inflation went down this year. Nevertheless, I ordered a $750 stimulus check to seniors that made up for it. And contrary to what the Republicans have said, health care reform does not cut Medicare benefits!

Best wishes,

Barack Obama

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