Obama's first presidential visit to Baltimore next Friday
President Barack Obama will make his first visit to Baltimore since taking office next Friday, when he addresses a House Republican retreat at an Inner Harbor hotel.
The president's trip to Baltimore is his first appearance in the city since he spoke at War Memorial Plaza on Jan. 17, 2009, when his inaugural train stopped en route to Washington.
Unlike that speech, which attracted an estimated 40,000 people, Obama's upcoming visit will take place before an invited audience only.
The House Republican retreat is scheduled for Jan. 28 through Jan. 30 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.
"House Republicans chose Baltimore because it is a working class city that has a 10.8 % unemployment rate," said Mary Vought, a spokeswoman for the House Republican Conference.
Last year, the Republicans met at the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Va. This year, sensitive to appearances in an election year when millions of Americans are out of work, House Democrats, who met last year at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa near Colonial Williamsburg, Va., did not even leave Washington for their recent retreat.
Comments
Is this where Obama's bipartisanship begins?????
Posted by: Sean O'Donnell, Baltimore Republican Examiner | January 21, 2010 5:00 PM
"House Republicans chose Baltimore because it is a working class city that has a 10.8 % unemployment rate," said Mary Vought, a spokeswoman for the House Republican Conference.
Last year, the Republicans met at the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Va.
I LOVE it! pick Baltimore because it has a 10.8% ahem, I mean, 25% unemployment rate! Why not say pick baltimore because its proximity to Washington DC, its historic significance, its many attractions? Seems like the perfect opportunity to get the Baltimore Convention Bureau on board.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 21, 2010 7:57 PM
I hope the Republicans aren't dumb enough help him pass stuff because he's going to now throw them a few bones.
They need to just sit tight until the elections and let the Dems take their medicine.
Posted by: Michael Young | January 21, 2010 10:00 PM
Obama' first visit to Baltimore, I hope he
hears about this. I had health insurance with the Maryland health insurance plan
and they said I was notified of an increase but I was not. I appealed it twice and when they got around to me
I was denied any further coverage. All of
this over an increase of $52.00 that they said I didnot pay, that I knew nothing about.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 22, 2010 12:49 AM
Let's not forget that welfare recipients are not considered unemployed or part of the labor force. Also, the 10.8% unemployment rate is way understated. In order to find the real unemployment rate, you need to look at U6 unemployment. That is above 17%.
Posted by: Frank Rizzo | January 22, 2010 5:43 AM
Oh boy oh boy! A pile of rich, old, crinkly white hypocrites get together to scheme how to avoid paying taxes and calling it patriotism. Maybe they should have it on Orleans Street or Radecke Avenue instead of the inner harbor Hilton or wherever. That might wake them up from their little fantasy worlds.
Posted by: wah wah wah | January 22, 2010 2:14 PM
Are we truly paying attention to what is going on with health reform, or are we being lulled into what they want us to believe. Are not the issues that we are not denied coverage, that are illnesses are covered, and that our costs are not raised higher and higher. This health reform bill does not address these issues but no one will find out until 2012, because it is not suppose to go into effect until then. (Who is the joke on now?)
WE THE PEOPLE, please wake up, and take note, make your vote count and be heard. Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes. AND, I WANT HEALTH REFORM, just not a bill that will hurt us and not help. I have been following the Congress on cable. Believe or Not. Take Note. Maria
Posted by: Maria | January 26, 2010 2:22 PM