‘Ambushed’
Gerrit Lansing /
Washington – Congressman Aaron Schock, at the ripe old age of 27, visited the Conservative Bloggers’ Briefing at Heritage today and spoke on a range of issues, but told a particularly interesting story regarding a visit with President Obama to the Caterpillar plant in Peoria, Illinois last month.
The giant plant on the east bank of the Illinois River is home to the world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. As reported previously, CEO Jim Owens said, in response to Obama’s claims of the stimulus bill’s elixir-like power to create jobs: “I think realistically no. The truth is we’re going to have more layoffs before we start hiring again.”
The February 12th speech in Schock’s home district merited a ride on Air Force One during which Schock said the President “Didn’t lobby me heavily. It was really when we got in front of everone.” Believing he was on friendly turf, Obama called out the young Congressman at the beginning of his speech:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: …Congressman Schock — where is he? He’s back here. He’s right here. Stand up, Aaron. This is — (applause). Aaron’s still trying to make up his mind about our recovery package.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah!
(Laughter.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So, you know, he has a chance to be in the mold of Bob Michel and Ray LaHood. And so we’re — we know that all of you are going to talk to him —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah!
PRESIDENT OBAMA: — after our event, because he’s a very talented young man. I’ve got great confidence in him to do the right thing for the people of Peoria.
“I was very surprised to be called out the way I was,” said Schock at today’s Briefing.