奥巴马剩下的期望

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"This recession could linger for years."

Now the change is in him. Just days from inauguration, Barack Obama is striking a different tone. The soaring campaign rhetoric, "America, this is our moment. This is our time." has given way to grim reality. With the country mired in an ugly recession, the president-elect is calling for national sacrifice, warning there could actually be more job losses this year than last. The economy is also forcing Mr. Obama's team to reconsider some campaign pledges.

"I don't believe in running up debt for the next generation."

Such as reining in deficit spending and scrapping the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans before they expire in late 2010.

"We have tried it George Bush's way, and it hasn’t wo rked."

Some maneuvering is aimed at attracting Republican support for the incoming president's economic recovery plan. But that could set up an early battle in the now heavily Democratic Congress.

"I want a repeal of the tax cuts for the highest income people in America."

"There would be a tax increase for those richer Ameri..."

"This isn’t a tax increase, this focus of the tax cuts should be on America's middle class, the backbone of our democracy who've gotten really the royal shaft in the past eight years."

Mr. Obama is asking for sacrifice from Congress as well. Some political observers say the economic crisis raises the stakes.

"This strengthens Barack Obama's hand with the Congress and with the public. It's so urgent. That is going to be very, very hard I think for people who don't like parts of this package to vote against it.”

Mr. Obama is now in the business of managing expectations, warning Americans the country not only needs hope, but hard work. He calls the task ahead, a heavy lift.

Jim Acosta, cnn, Washington.

royal shaft: slang, badly or unfairly treated