Obama On Stimulus: 'This Is Not A Game'

Speaking before the House Democrats at a retreat last night, President Obama finally delivered a really robust defense of the stimulus package, while at the same time he responded to the GOP talking points.

He declared that tax cuts alone [are] "a losing formula." He also acknowledged the package won't be "absolutely perfect," but went on to say "this is not a contest for who's in power and who's up and who's down."

Watch Video From Obama's Speech

President Obama declared:

"They [the public] didn't vote for the status quo; they sent us here to bring change. We owe it to them to deliver."

This was a feisty speech (thank God) before a fiercely partisan crowd, and President Obama took a sharper tone than he has in recent weeks and seemed to be sending a message to Republicans that there is a steel fist within a velvet glove.

I an implicit criticism of the GOP that was in power during the last 8 years.

"We are not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that for the last eight years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin."

Since his inauguration two weeks ago, the president repeatedly has reached across the aisle to Republicans as his economic plan has wound its way through the Democratic-controlled Congress. Now increasingly the President has sought to rebut Republican criticisms even as he continues to sell the stimulus package.