Obama to voters: 'You have every right to be frustrated'

RICHMOND, Va. -- President Obama came to the capital of Virginia today to campaign against the political culture of Washington while promoting his brand new $447 billion plan to boost the economy and create jobs.

"You have every right to be frustrated," Obama told a friendly crowd at the University of Richmond, asking them to help pressure Congress to pass the package of tax cuts, construction projects and unemployment assistance known as the American Jobs Bill.

"I want you to call, I want you to e-mail, I want you to tweet," Obama said as the crowed cheered. "I want you to fax, I want you to visit, I want you to Facebook ... Send a carrier pigeon."

Echoing a mantra he used during last night's address to a joint session of Congress, Obama said: "Pass this bill now -- let's put folks to work."

In his own effort to pressure Congress, Obama said the items in his jobs package have in the past received support from both Democrats and Republicans -- a message aimed mostly at his Republican rivals. "Nothing radical in this bill," he said.

The president also repeated complaints against Washington politics that he made during the summer debate over raising the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling. He told the appreciative crowd that it's time for Congress to "stop the political circus and actually do something to help people."

The plan includes cutting the payroll tax in half for businesses and workers, designed to encourage employers to hire more people; extensions of unemployment benefits; and infrastructure projects that include upgrades to Americans roads, bridges and schools -- the latter a topic Obama stressed during his visit to Richmond.

The 9.1% unemployment rate, combined with the prospect of another recession, has hurt Obana's approval ratings, and put pressure on the new jobs bill some 14 months before the next presidential election.

The Richmond speech highlighted the first in a series of trips Obama plans to take in support of the jobs bill, White House officials said.

The early schedule does have some political overtones. The University of Richmond just happens to be in the district of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.

At one point in his remarks, Obama pointed and smiled at a man carrying a sign saying, "4 More Years."

Next week, Obama travels to Columbus, Ohio, the home state of Republican House Speaker John Boehner.