Obama honors Lincoln's vision of a union

SPRINGFIELD -- Summoning the pride of a nation, President Barack Obama paid fond tribute Thursday to Abraham Lincoln by challenging people to embrace his vision of a collective union and reject a "knee-jerk disdain for government."

"He recognized that while each of us must do our part, work as hard as we can and be as responsible as we can -- in the end, there are certain things we cannot do on our own," Obama said of Lincoln at a celebration of the revered president's 200th birthday.

"There are certain things we can only do together," Obama said. "There are certain things only a union can do."

Here in the place that Lincoln called home, and from where Obama launched his presidential bid, the new president's speech capped his third event honoring Lincoln's bicentennial.

It was a whirlwind day for Obama. He squeezed in economic comments in East Peoria, Ill., and coped with the abrupt withdrawal of another commerce secretary nominee.

The stories of Obama and Lincoln have become entwined by history, geography and symbolism. Their paths are viewed as not just their own, but the country's as well -- a lineage from the man who freed the slaves to the first black president in U.S. history.

Obama said Lincoln understood that self-reliance was at the core of American life. But Obama said individual liberty is "served, not negated, by a recognition of the common good."

The pendulum, Obama said, has swung too far toward a philosophy that says government is the problem -- a notion that it should be dismantled, with tax breaks for the wealthy that might eventually help out everyone.

"Such knee-jerk disdain for government -- this constant rejection of any common endeavor -- cannot rebuild our levees or our roads or our bridges," Obama said. His list of collective examples went on: better schools, modern health care, an economy built on clean energy.

"Only a nation can do these things," Obama said. "Only by coming together, all of us, and expressing that sense of shared sacrifice and responsibility ... can we do the work that must be done in this country. That is the very definition of being American."

Earlier Thursday, back in Washington, Obama celebrated Lincoln's resolve at a ceremony in the stately Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. And he spent Wednesday evening at a performance at the newly renovated Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.

Like Lincoln, Obama is a skinny lawyer who rose from obscurity and served briefly in the Illinois legislature before leaping to national office at a time of burgeoning crisis.

Still, the White House is mindful to limit the comparison, whatever the parallels.

Lincoln is a monumental figure who fought to preserve the union, presided over the enormously costly Civil War and signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Obama has been president for less than a month.

"This president isn't seeking to compare himself with I think what many believe is one of the two or three greatest presidents that this country's ever had," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said.

That Obama often operates in Lincoln's shadow is largely a matter of choice. He admires the 16th president, reads his language, quotes his speeches and draws on him for inspiration.

Earlier in the day in East Peoria, Obama on Thursday rallied for bipartisan support for his economic plan, but his pitch was overshadowed by the stunning defection of a Republican he chose for his Cabinet.

At the site of a company reeling with layoffs, Obama touted the $790 billion stimulus plan that is nearing votes in the House and Senate. If all stays on the course, the package of spending programs and tax relief will soon become law with Obama's signature.

The final details were being hashed out in Washington as Obama spoke in East Peoria at a Caterpillar Inc. plant, where he tried to keep the focus on better days ahead.

"It is time for Congress to act, and I hope they act in a bipartisan fashion," Obama said of the legislation, which drew little Republican support in the Senate and none in the House.

"But no matter how they act, when they do, when they finally pass our plan, I believe it will be a major step forward on our path to economic recovery," Obama said.

At the same time, the news was breaking in Washington that Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire abruptly withdrew his nomination to be Obama's commerce secretary. In explaining his unexpected decision, Gregg cited "irresolvable conflicts" with Obama's handling of the economic stimulus and the 2010 census.

It wasn't a "good fit," Gregg told reporters.

Still on site in East Peoria, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement saying Gregg has said earlier he would "support, embrace and move forward with the president's agenda." Gibbs said the administration regretted Gregg's "change of heart."

Obama made no mention of the Gregg matter in his brief comments.

He said his stimulus plan would unleash a wave of construction, innovation and job growth once he signed it into law.

"It's about giving people a way to make a living, support their families and live out their dreams," Obama said. "Americans aren't looking for a handout.They just want to work."

Caterpillar Inc. has announced more than 22,000 layoffs because of sliding demand. Obama said the company would rehire some of the workers when the economic bill becomes law and predicted other companies will have similar stories.

After hitting four states in four days this week, Obama will continue to visit with Americans next week to try to convince them that his economic stimulus plan will get the job done. The president is planning stops in Denver and Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Another decision still being made by the White House is where, when and how Obama would sign the stimulus bill into law.

Obama aides want to make a big splash with the event, either by making it as high-profile as possible at the White House or staging a ceremony on the road.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/Offbeat&g=0212dv_obama_lincoln_animation&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">A different take: Obama vs. Lincoln </a></li> <li><a href="javascript:void(window.open('http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&g=0212dv_pol_obama_lincoln&f=ILARL','_blank','width=788,height=598,status=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1'));">Obama pays tribute </a></li> </ul> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=271742">Caterpillar head: Cuts likely before it can rehire <span class="date"> [2/12/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>