fired up

Misc reports: President Barack Obama criticized Republican opponents on Sunday as he began a West Coast fundraising tour, accusing them of “ideological pushback” at a time of national crisis.

… “From the moment that I took office, what we’ve seen is a constant ideological pushback against any kind of sensible reforms that would make our economy work better and give people more opportunity,” Obama said at his first stop in Seattle.

… Speaking at the home of former Microsoft executive Jon Shirley, Obama said he had hoped “because we were in a crisis, the other side would respond by saying now is the time for all of us to pull together …. That was not the decision they made.”

… Obama was greeted enthusiastically as he began to speak in Shirley’s home before about 65 people paying $35,800 per couple. At his second stop, 1,750 supporters paid to listen to him at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle.

… He is cramming in seven fundraisers during the West Coast swing that descended later on Sunday on California’s Silicon Valley, the heart of America’s high-tech industry. He visits San Diego and Los Angeles on Monday.

….. Speaking to a group of 350 at the home of Symantec Corp Chairman John Thomson: “Some of you here may be folks who actually used to be Republicans but are puzzled by what’s happened to that party, are puzzled by what’s happening to that party. I mean, has anybody been watching the debates lately? You’ve got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change,” he said per the pool report, referring obviously to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “It’s true. You’ve got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don’t have health care and booing a service member in Iraq because they’re gay … that’s not reflective of who we are.”

“We’re going to have a stark choice in this election,” Obama continued. “But I have to make sure that our side is as passionate and as motivated and is working just as hard as the folks on the other side because this is a contest of value. This is a choice about who we are and what we stand for and whoever wins this next election is going to set the template for this country for a long time to come.”

…. Mr. Obama said it’s not enough for the supporters in the audience to support him. He said if their friends and neighbors are reading the Wall Street Journal editorial page or watching Fox News the donors at this event need to talk to “push back” on their “inadequate information.” “And in some cases I may need you to have some arguments with our progressive friends.”

He told the donors if they believe in a “fact-based” America, they need to work hard for him.

He later spoke under a tent at the home of Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, whose 70 guests included pop singer Lady Gaga, and told them that “2012 was an even more important election” than the one in 2008.