Obama decries inequality in speech previewing 2012 [View All]

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSNBC

President Barack Obama outlined the underpinnings of his case for re-election on Tuesday, suggesting the upcoming election is a "make-or-break moment for the middle class."

Obama, speaking in the town where Theodore Roosevelt delivered his "New Nationalism" speech, delivered a rousing defense of his administration's efforts to help the middle class. It was a glimpse of what could easily become a 2012 stump speech, keying in heavily on a sense of rising inequality, and accusing Republicans of supporting policies that would only make things worse for that demographic.

"We simply cannot return to this brand of you're-on-your-own economics if we’re serious about rebuilding the middle class in this country," the president said.

The speech offered the most complete case yet by Obama against Republicans ahead of 2012's bruising election. That contest is expected to hinge primarily on the economy, and Obama will be forced to overcome the poor economic climate that has dogged the U.S. since the 2008 financial crisis.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/06/9253505-obama-decries-inequality-in-speech-previewing-2012