On Monday, President  Barack Obama landed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at about 11:00 a.m. EDT and headed to Research Triangle Park, on the Durham side.  Joining him on Air Force One were, according to Jonathan Kappler of the NC Free Enterprise Foundation, were Congressmen G. K. Butterfield (D-NC, 1st) and Brad Miller (D-NC, 13th).

Kappler also reported that Rep. David Price (D-NC, 4th) and U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D) were on the ground to meet the president on the ground.  Later reports mentioned Governor Beverly Perdue (D-Craven) being on hand, as well.  Additionally, there were a number of public officials including Chancellor Randy Woodson from North Carolina State University.  During the short trip out to “the park”, Interstate 40 was temporarily closed, backing up traffic for miles.

Upon arrival at Cree, an industry leader in low power lighting, he toured the plant and promised an “announcement” on jobs.  Oddly, Cree, and already successful company, accepted stimulus money for “job creation”.  Additionally, within the past two years, they threatened to leave. The North Carolina State Legislature, then lead by Democrats, immediately voted to give that company “incentives” or  corporate welfare to “keep” them in the Ole’ North State.

Further, Katy’s Conservative Corner has learned that, for Cree employees interested in the speech, they have the option by management to either take the day off or to work four, ten hour days.   Many employees are upset.  They didn’t ask the president to come and neither did corporate executives.  But, with money comes obligation.

See more here.

Update 1:14 Sometime this hour, Obama is scheduled to make a talk about his “jobs” report.  This should be interesting. Labor Union Report posted on Sunday evening that many of those jobs would be “created” in China.  This blogger is currently searching for that link.  North Carolina is expected to be a battle ground state in 2012.

Charlotte was selected by the Democratic National Committee as the location for their national convention over the objections of unions, nationally.  North Carolina is a right-to-work state, but it isn’t for lack of trying.  The SEIU and other large unions have been fighting for card check legislation for the last several years.

Update 1:48 p.m EDT

The good people over at NC Americans for Prosperity are joking  on Twitter that they have an office pool on how many times potus says investments when he means wealth redistribution.

Update 1:53 p.m. EDT Obama has taken stage telling unfunny jokes about how he has aged since visiting Cree when he was running for office.

Obama is standing in front of backdrop “Jobs Council – President’s Council on Jobs…”  He says Cree has “doubled in efficiency just since my visit 3 years ago.”  Says he’s helping to lead a comeback in clean energy revolution.

News 14 Carolina, a Time-Warner only channel reports Obama was last in the state when he visited Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC in December 2010.

Update: 2:01 p.m. EDT This “speech” is being carried on national television such as Fox News and CNN.  No need to blog the details of the speech.  However, we will continue to bring you behind the scenes reports.

Update: 2:05 p.m. EDT Fox News has cut their coverage but you can find all of it on their website, streaming live.

While Obama discusses “Smart Grid” technology, my poor mother-in-law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina feels certain that her power company is going to cut her power in the middle of the day or night.  She recently received a letter from her power company saying they now have the power to cut her power if she used too much during peak time periods.  This woman will not use a dish washer, uses barely any air conditioner due to poor circulation, and only washes clothes at night.  She’s the type of customer any power company would love.  They should, in fact, use her as their poster child.  Yet, they send her threatening letters.

The poor woman calls KCC’s family terrified, thanks to this smart grid technology.  It’s along the lines of Democrats scaring old people, making them think that Republicans are going to take away their social security.

Update: 2:11 p.m. EDT Obama says he’s optimistic about our future.   He cites the positive example (ha ha) of the automotive companies coming back from virtual death just two years ago.

Update: 2:12 EDT Obama ends his speech with no questions.  ”Hail to the Chief” plays and the president leaves the stage.  Looks like time for clogged Interstate 40 East, from the Research Triangle Park exists to the Raleigh-Durham airport.

Your blogger finds it amazing that zero mention was made by any of the Television channels or commentators about the stimulus money that Cree took or the Incentives that Cree took from our state.  What a shame.  Of course they can add a third line and work 24 hours a day now.  All of our money made it possible.  For you who don’t even live in North Carolina, Cree thanks you from the bottom of their heart!

This blogger is glad she doesn’t have to fly out until Thursday.  KCC is headed to Right Online, but that’s another story!  This ends the live blogging portion of the visit.

See also:

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/republicans_blast_obamas_triangle_trip

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