Obama seeks to shield middle class

A day after his “constructive” meeting with Congressional leaders on finding ways to reduce deficit and strengthen the economy, US president Barack Obama on Friday asked the Congress to “act now” and extend the middle class tax benefits. In his weekly address, Obama said Congress should act now on one thing that everyone agrees on — ensuring that taxes do not go up on 98% of all Americans and 97% of small businesses at the end of the year.

“On Friday I sat down with Congressional leaders to discuss how we can reduce our deficit in a way that strengthens our economy and protects our middle class. It was a constructive meeting. And everyone agreed that while we may have our differences, we need to come together, find solutions and take action as soon as possible,” he said.

Obama said that four years after the worst economic crisis, the American economy is growing again and creating jobs. “But we have much more to do. Our task now is to build on that progress. Because this nation only succeeds when we’ve got a growing, thriving middle class,” he said. “That's what drives me. That’s what I campaigned on for the past year. That's what will guide me in our work over the next four years. And I’m willing to work with anyone of any party to move this country forward,” he said. “Because soon,

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