President Obama Visits Philly, Rallies Local Dems

Society Hill hosted President Obama last night, as the president visited Philadelphia as part of the Democratic Party’s annual retreat. The visit was significant as it comes days before Obama addresses America with his newest budget proposal.

Part of what reports called his “pep talk” focused on the middle class, and Obama’s plans to relieve some of their financial burdens. Other highlights of the talk included his plans to repeal vetoes against the Affordable Healthcare Act, increase jobs, and beef up the economy.

President Obama tucked into a Pat’s cheesesteak on a campaign stop during his first presidential run.

The president challenged Republicans to come back at him with their own proposals if they dislike his, saying that he is open to a dialogue and eager to hear what the other side has to say. For its part, the GOP has criticized Obama’s leadership and claimed that both the national debt and deficit have risen dramatically under his care.

Meanwhile, protestors took the retreat as an opportunity to make known their feelings about the Keystone Pipeline bill recently passed by the Senate, one that the president has promised to veto when it comes across his desk.

Philadelphia was chosen as the destination for the party’s 2015 policy retreat, an event at which the caucus hashes out strategy and discusses how to share it with America. City leaders are hoping that a warm welcome in Philly could mean good things for the city’s chances of hosting the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Hosting a party convention is both an honor and a chance at a significant economic boost for a city, and it’s no surprise that Philadelphia wants a shot at it.