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Obama Ends Two-Day West Coast Campaign Swing

   Dan Robinson | White House  April 22, 2011
   President Barack Obama waves before his departure from Los Angeles
   International airport in Los Angeles, April 22, 2011

Photo: AP

   President Barack Obama waves before his departure from Los Angeles
   International airport in Los Angeles, April 22, 2011

   President Barack Obama is back at the White House after a two-day swing
   through the politically-important western states of California and
   Nevada. Obama used the trip and other recent appearances to urge
   support for his proposals to lower deficits and debt, while
   acknowledging frustrations in his political base as his 2012
   re-election campaign heats up.
   In California, Nevada and other states over the past week, the
   president has promoted what he calls his "Shared Prosperity Through
   Shared Responsibility" campaign.
   In doing so, he framed the debate back in Washington over deficits and
   debt as a choice between responsible proposals he has put forward, and
   what he says are more extreme plans by Republicans.
   Mixing politics with fundraising, Obama addressed everything from taxes
   and the need to reform, but maintain government health care programs,
   to the high cost of gasoline.
   On the deficits and debt debate, he stressed that he and Republicans
   agree on the need to cut spending and attack the $14.3 trillion
   national debt threatening the nation's future. But as he said in
   remarks at a clean energy company in Reno, Nevada, the question is how
   to accomplish it.
   "Just as ignoring deficits would mortgage our future, failing to invest
   in our kids and our infrastructure, and our basic research, and our
   clean energy, that would be mortgaging our future as well. And I am not
   willing to do it. And that is at the core of the debate that we're
   having right now."
   The president and Republicans would trim at least $4 trillion or more
   over a period of 10 to 12 years. But Obama opposes Republican proposals
   that would fundamentally change decades-old health programs for the
   elderly and poor.
   During his western trip, he again acknowledged frustrations with the
   economy, and a lack of progress on such issues as immigration reform
   and energy policy.
   At the California headquarters of the social media network Facebook,
   company employee Lauren Hale asked how the president planned to shift
   the national political debate back to a focus on economic recovery.
   "We have seen the conversation shift from that of job creation and
   economic recovery to that of spending cuts and the deficit. So, we
   would love to know your thoughts on how you're going to balance these
   two going forward, or even potentially shift the conversation back,"
   Hal asked.
   At a community college in Northern Virginia earlier in the week, Obama
   urged younger voters not to sit out the 2012 election campaign, warning
   that if they do, they would be allowing what he called "powerful
   political interests" to have their way.
   "I can't afford to have all of you as bystanders in this debate. I want
   everybody to be in the game. I want you to hold me accountable, I want
   you to hold all of Washington accountable. There is a way to solve this
   deficit problem in an intelligent way that is fair and shares
   sacrifices so we can share opportunity all across America. But I can't
   do that if your voices are not heard."
   The president's appearances at fundraisers in California drew some of
   the wealthiest members of his contributing base - business, movie
   industry executives and stars - easily able to pay the legal maximum
   for individual campaign donations of $35,800.
   At the end of his western trip, addressing a Democratic National
   Committee rally at SONY Studios in Culver City, he joked that he knew
   supporters were frustrated and skeptical, and that he too has been
   frustrated at times.
   The president said he hopes his supporters, however, will be excited
   about the 18 months until the 2012 presidential election, and as he put
   it, the next four years after that.