Obama on stimulus critics: 'Are these folks serious?

From Raw Story

Obama on stimulus critics: 'Are these folks serious?

by David Edwards Update: Reid says he has enough votes to pass bill today Speaking at the Department of Energy Thursday, President Barack Obama made his most forceful case yet for the stimulus bill. "The time for talk is over, the time for action is now," he said. Obama posited that a green energy policy was an important component of the stimulus package. "When you hear these attacks deriding something of such obvious importance as this, you have to ask yourself, 'are these folks serious?' Is it any wonder that we haven't had a real energy policy in this country?" Obama asked. "Washington might not be ready to get serious about energy independence, but I am," Obama said. According to a breaking report on MSNBC Thursday afternoon, Reuters is reporting that Sen. Harry Reid believes he has enough votes to pass the stimulus bill today. "'We hope to have a vote today,' Reid told reporters, just days after Democrats admitted that they were short and needed at least a few Republicans to pass the measure," Reuters reports. The Hill reports, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters Thursday that he has enough votes to pass a more than $900 billion stimulus bill out of the Senate." "Reid said he believes at least two Republicans of 'good will' would support the Democratic-crafted package," Alexander Bolton's article continues. "'Do we have the votes? I believe we do,' said Reid, who expects a final vote on the package will be held on Thursday."