US president-elect Barack Obama has promised to act “swiftly” as soon as he takes office to confront the economic crisis head on, during his first news conference since his historic election.
“We are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime. We will have to act swiftly to resolve it,” a sober Obama said on Friday, with members of his heavy-hitting team of economic advisers standing behind him.
“Immediately after I become president, I will confront this economic crisis head on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hard-working families and restore growth and prosperity,” Obama said.
Obama, however, downplayed expectations of a swift rollout of Cabinet-level officials, including secretary of the treasury and secretary of state, saying he would move with “deliberate haste” to get the decisions right.
He thanked US President George W. Bush for his offer of a smooth transition of power and signaled he would not attempt to intervene in economic policy before his inauguration on Jan. 20.
The press conference reflected a shift in tone toward Obama after the more informal intensity of the election campaign, as reporters stood when he entered the room hosting the press conference and addressed him as “Sir” or “Mr President-elect”.
He said that “with certainty” he would back a stimulus package passed in the US Congress and that he would put a high priority on initiatives to help the crippled US auto industry.
Obama also confirmed that he had been sent a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad following his victory on Tuesday.
However, he said that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons was “unacceptable” and the Islamic Republic must end its “support of terrorist organizations.”
Obama said during his campaign that he would explore the possibility of direct talks with US foes like Iran, North Korea and Cuba as president.
Meanwhile, official figures showed the US unemployment rate rose to its highest level since 1994 last month, 6.5 percent.
The Labor Department said 240,000 jobs had been cut last month, the 10th straight month of job losses, and new revisions meant that a whopping 651,000 workers have lost their livelihoods in the past three months alone.
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