U.S. President Barack Obama is silhouetted against stage lights during a nationally televised news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, September 10, 2010. Obama accused Republicans on Friday of holding the middle class hostage as he pushed new ideas to stimulate the sluggish U.S. economy and try to boost Democrats' grim election prospects. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS PROFILE)