Obama Says Republicans Favor Wall Street Over Average Americans

President Obama is sounding a populist note today at a town hall meeting in Racine, Wisconsin.

The president told the crowd that congressional Republicans are working for big corporations and Wall Street and not ordinary, recession-weary Americans.

In opening remarks before a question and answer session, Obama mentioned  Texas Republican Rep. Bill Barton's apology to BP's CEO Tony Hayward when the oil giant executive appeared on Capitol Hill for a grilling from lawmakers.

Obama sought to redefine the perennial debate in Washington between the "big government" and "small government" camps. He told the audience in Racine that:

"This debate we’re having in Washington isn’t about big government or small government.  It’s about responsible government.  It’s about accountable government.  It’s about a government that stands on the side of the American people – a government that breaks down barriers to opportunity and prosperity.  That’s the kind of government we need."