Barack Obama actually said...

"This is a big problem. And it's going to get worse."

"We are not going to simply write a bunch of checks and let them be spent without some very clear criteria as to how this money is going to benefit the overall economy and put people back to work."

"Fortunately, as tough as times right now -- and things are going to get worse before they get better -- there is a convergence between circumstances and agenda."

"We are not simply going to write a bunch of checks and let them be spent, without some very clear criteria as to how this money is going to benefit the overall economy and put people back to work."