Obama touts plan to create 2.5 million jobs
President-elect Barack Obama promised in his weekly radio address Saturday a two-year economic recovery plan that would boost federal spending on infrastructure and create 2.5 million jobs.
(AP)
PHOTO GALLERY
Obama at Manny's
He finished the day with dinner at the home of his friend and national finance chair Penny Pritzker.
Two days earlier, Pritzker's name had been floated as Obama's choice for commerce secretary. But within hours she issued a statement saying she was not interested in the post. The new name being floated now is New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
"I have already directed my economic team to come up with an economic recovery plan that will mean 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011," Obama said in his address. "It will be a two-year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy. We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges; modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building ... alternative energy technologies."
Also Saturday, Obama made official the appointment of his spokesman Robert Gibbs as White House press secretary. His office also announced he has chosen Ellen Moran, executive director of EMILY's List, as director of communications. EMILY's List raises money for Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights. Dan Pfeiffer, director of communications for Obama's transition team, will serve as Moran's deputy.
Other big appointments, such as Timothy Geithner for Treasury and Hillary Clinton for State, could start coming as early as Monday.
Obama's motorcade made a wrong turn on the way to Pritzker's Lincoln Park home and had to stop at a firehouse on Armitage. It wasn't that they were lost -- they just were looking for advice on the best way to get the motorcade up a one-way street, a press aide said. Obama appeared to be laughing about the situation as he and Michelle sat in an SUV in the firehouse parking lot.
Later, as they dined at Prtizker's home, a neighbor accross the street yelled to a Secret Service agent parked in front of her driveway, "Excuse me -- you have to leave our driveway! I have to go to the opera!"