Live Blog: CNBC's Town Hall with President Obama
Senior Editor, CNBC
12:22 pm EST: Obama: "The American dream is not dead. I think there's no country in the world that wouldn't trade places with us. The single most important thing we can do is to grow our economy."
12:20 pm EST: Man says he might not even afford to get married. President says whatever it costs, it's worth it. Man asks: Is American dream dead?
12:18 pm EST: John asking about how business feels the president does not like anyone working for a profit.President says that's not true. "Government can't create all the jobs, we need entreprenuers, we need the free market."
12:16 pm EST: "People, even on CNBC, were saying do something (about the economy). The only thing we said is that we're not doing the same things in the past that got us into this trouble in the first place."
12:15 pm EST: "Things are not great. We know that, we have to make things better, that's why I ran for president."
12:12 pm EST: President responds, talking about changes in the student loan programs, and that it will be easier for kids to go to college. He's talking about credit cards, mortgages and how the financial regulation bill helps consumers with protections.
12:10 pm EST: Woman says she's exhausted defending Obama, she's waiting for something to happen. She has two children in private school and says she thought she was beyond the hot dogs and beans reality. She asks is this what she's supposed to face now.
12:09 pm EST: President talking about why he ran for president and how he wants to help the American people. He said the things he's done have been the right things to do.
First question now from audience.
12:06 pm EST: President talking about how bad things were when he took office and how there is some good news— "The hole was so deep and I know a lot of people are still hurting out there."
12:03 pm EST: Okay, back to typing. Huge applause, no one tired out. President sitting across from John. John's saying that a lot of businesses and those on Wall Street feel he does not support them. President talking about the economy and what he had been doing.
12:02 pm EST: Here we go, music cued, Harwood in place, president in the wings, music and voice over ends. Applause as show begins. Harwood talking. Introduces the president. I have to stand. No typing now.
12:noon EST: I can hear Secret Service chatter over walkie talkies, president on his way.
11:59 am EST: President getting miked.
11:58 am EST: President still in make-up. Waiting, waiting.
11: 57 am EST: Waiting, waiting, presidential footsteps?
11:56 am EST: This does seem bigger than Elvis. He's in the building!
11:53 am EST: 7 minutes and counting. John gone, people talking, music playing ( a lot lower level now) Patty Smyth's old group, with "I am the Warrior." She's married to tennis pro John McEnroe. Okay, I've got to find a hobby.
11:47 am EST: John talking about how he first met President Obama and how the president later wouldn't high five John about Duke winning the NCAA basketball championship. John said the president doesn't high five Duke fans because they broke his basketball brackets.
Okay, I think this is one where you had to be there for it to make sense. Maybe John will stay a reporter.
11:44 am EST: Harwood just practiced introducing the president. Huge practice applause. I wonder if they'll be tired out by the time he DOES get here.