| July 16 - July 22, 2007 Barack Obama Schedule: Last Monday July 9, Senator Obama attended the successful Birmingham, Alabama kickoff with special guest Charles Barkley <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CvPM> . On Tuesday July 10, at a town hall event in Iowa, he laid out the costs of the Iraq War, <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/Cv4M> suggesting how the money we’re spending in Iraq might be spent here at home. That night, he joined four small-dollar supporters <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CvyD> for a “Dinner with Barack <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CtMN> .” So far, two of his dinner guests, Michael Griffith <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CtGX> and Haile Rivera <http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CtMQ> , have been featured on BarackObama.com. This Wednesday, Senator Obama will participate in the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Candidates event in Washington, D.C. Saturday, he travels to Iowa for the AFSCME Forum, then heads to Miami for the National Council of La Raza’s Annual Conference. On Monday the 23rd, Obama will participate in the CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Michelle Obama Schedule: On Wednesday, Michelle Obama heads down to southern Florida to meet with local activists and supporters. Friday, she’ll be back home in Chicago to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Obama for America volunteer headquarters. Afterward, she’ll swing by the campaign headquarters to host a pizza party for the staff. NAACP Forum: The star <http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/12/obama_stars.php> of Thursday’s NAACP Democratic Candidates Forum, Barack Obama outperformed the other candidates onstage. To multiple standing ovations <http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/12/theres_more_to_do_obama_tells.php> , he spoke on issues from health care to gun violence, invigorating the crowd of more than one thousand with the call that “we still have more work to do <http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/13/obama_outshines_fellow_dems_at.php> .” Recent Developments: This week, Senator Obama will push legislation toughening accountability for military contractors by strengthening congressional oversight. He’ll also fight to make sure our returning service members can get the quality mental health care they need. Senator Obama will introduce The Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act, which addresses the high incidence of African-American and Latina teen pregnancy rates by funding community education programs. And he’ll introduce his “Hospital Report Cards” initiative, making key measurements of hospital quality available to the public. Fundraising: I n a record-breaking outpouring of grassroots support <http://my.barackobama. com/page/content/eoq2wrap> , more than 258,000 donors – 154,000 in the second quarter alone – have joined Barack Obama’s movement for change. The campaign raised $31.6 million in primary funds for a total of $32.9 million in the second quarter – all of it without accepting any money from PACs or Washington lobbyists. $10.3 million was raised online, with 90% of all online donations in amounts of $100 or less and 50% of all online donations in amounts of $25 or less. Iraq: Barack Obama has a plan to end the Iraq war by commencing a phased redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq with the goal of redeploying all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008. Letting the Iraqis know that U.S. forces will not be there forever is our last, best hope to pressure the Sunnis and Shi’a to come to the table and find peace. Web: Senator Obama is running a different kind of campaign, empowering people with the tools to take organizing into their own hands. The result: more people are more deeply involved than ever before. Since the website was launched in February, more than 5,000 grassroots groups have been created, and more than 70,000 people have created profiles on my.barackobama. com. Biography: Senator Obama moved to Illinois over two decades ago with little money and no family connections, getting a job for $12,000 a year as a community organizer in some of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods. Later, Obama graduated from Harvard Law School, became a civil rights lawyer, and taught constitutional law before winning a seat in the Illinois State Senate. As a State Senator, he joined both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education and the strongest ethics reform in Illinois in 25 years. After a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. In the U.S. Senate, Obama has worked with the Republican leader of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Richard Lugar, to pass a law that would secure and destroy some of the world’s deadliest weapons. He has also helped lead the fight for the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate, and found common ground on issues including energy policy, helping push through a provision that will offer tax credits to gas stations for installing refueling pumps with E85 – a blend of 85 percent clean-burning, domestically grown ethanol and 15 percent petroleum gasoline. |
| The Issues (facing America AND impacting the World) go to www.barackobama.com
*********************************************** Strengthening America Overseas mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur. mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur. Plan to End the Iraq War Before the war in Iraq ever started, Senator Obama said that it was wrong in its conception. In 2002, then Illinois State Senator Obama said Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States and that invasion would lead to an occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. Since then, Senator Obama has laid out a plan on the way forward in Iraq that has largely been affirmed by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton. Creating a Health care System that Works The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet more than 46 million Americans have no health insurance. Too many hard-working Americans cannot afford their medical bills, and health-related issues are the number one cause for personal bankruptcy. Promoting affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care is a priority for Senator Obama. Energy and the Environment Senator Obama has been a leader in the Senate in pushing for a comprehensive national energy policy and has introduced a number of bills to get us closer to the goal of energy independence. By putting aside partisan battles, he has found common ground on CAFE, renewable fuels, and clean coal. Improving Our Schools We are failing too many of our children in public schools. Right now, six million middle and high school students read at levels significantly below their grade level. Unfortunately, the debate in Washington has been narrowed: either we need to pour more money into the system, or we need to reform it with more tests and standards. Senator Obama has worked on bills that cut through this false choice and recognize that good schools will require both structural reform and resources. Protecting Our Homeland Five years after 9/11, our country is still unprepared for a terrorist attack. From improving security for our transit systems and chemical plants, to increasing cargo screening in our airports and seaports, the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission have been underfunded and ignored. The 9/11 Commission gave the government five F's and 12 D's on the implementation of its recommendations. Senator Obama is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and has supported efforts to base homeland security spending on risk rather than pork-barrel politics. He has also introduced legislation to strengthen chemical plant and drinking water security and to enhance disaster preparedness. Immigration and the Border Barack Obama believes the immigration issue has been exploited by politicians to divide the nation rather than find real solutions. This divisiveness has allowed the illegal immigration problem to worsen, with borders that are less secure than ever and an economy that depends on millions of workers living in the shadows. Protecting the Right to Vote There is no more fundamental American right than the right to vote. Before the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, barriers such as literacy tests, poll taxes and property requirements disenfranchised many Americans, especially minorities. More than 40 years later, there are still numerous obstacles to ensuring that every citizen has the ability to vote. Honoring Our Veterans As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama is committed to helping the heroes who defend our nation today and the veterans who fought in years past. A grandson of a World War II veteran who went to college on the G.I. Bill, Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans and Democrats in order to honor our commitment to America's veterans. Cleaning Up Washington's Culture of Corruption Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has been a leader in fighting for open and honest government. As a U.S. Senator, he has spearheaded the effort to clean up Washington in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. In a politically charged election year, Obama acknowledged that corruption was a problem that plagued both political parties. He subsequently enlisted the help of Republican allies to limit lobbyist influence, shine sunlight into the earmarks process and promote open government. Strengthening Families and Communities Strong families raise successful children and keep communities together. While Senator Obama does not believe that we can simply legislate healthy families, good parenting skills or economic success, he does believe we can eliminate roadblocks that parents face and provide tools to help them succeed. A husband and father of two, Senator Obama has promoted strong families in the Senate. Reconciling Faith and Politics In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life. |
| All rights reserved. |
The answer for an Awakened Generation |
The answer for an Awakened Generation |
Letter Writing and Commentary Campaign
(Community Service)
Everyone is invited to join the letter writing
and commentary Campaign!
Here's how this event works:
For the next 153 days, when your write a
letter to the editor or post a commentary
on a newspaper, radio or television station
public blog or online forum, sign up for this
event. (In the case of blogs and online
forums, do not sign up for responses back
and forth for the same topic). Please also
post your letter or commentary to our CT
blog at www.obamact.blogspot.com. Be
sure to include your name, email and
telephone number. At the end of the 150
days, all of the letters will be put into book
form and will be made available for
downloading from our blog.
For a complete listing of Connecticut's
press, including web site, phone contact,
deadlines, etc.
http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/Sec
tionX/PRESS.htm
For a complete listing of Connecticut
television and radio stations --
http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/Sec
tionX/RADIOTV.htm
This is our opportunity to reach out to our
neighbors and friends by letting them know
why we support Barack Obama. Grab that
cup of coffee or tea, settle back and tell
your story. Let's be sure to write letters to
our local newspapers. This way, we can
reach everyone in Connecticut.
Time: Tuesday, November 6 at 8:00 PM
Duration: 153 days
Host: Sasha Valeria McCall
(Community Service)
Everyone is invited to join the letter writing
and commentary Campaign!
Here's how this event works:
For the next 153 days, when your write a
letter to the editor or post a commentary
on a newspaper, radio or television station
public blog or online forum, sign up for this
event. (In the case of blogs and online
forums, do not sign up for responses back
and forth for the same topic). Please also
post your letter or commentary to our CT
blog at www.obamact.blogspot.com. Be
sure to include your name, email and
telephone number. At the end of the 150
days, all of the letters will be put into book
form and will be made available for
downloading from our blog.
For a complete listing of Connecticut's
press, including web site, phone contact,
deadlines, etc.
http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/Sec
tionX/PRESS.htm
For a complete listing of Connecticut
television and radio stations --
http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/Sec
tionX/RADIOTV.htm
This is our opportunity to reach out to our
neighbors and friends by letting them know
why we support Barack Obama. Grab that
cup of coffee or tea, settle back and tell
your story. Let's be sure to write letters to
our local newspapers. This way, we can
reach everyone in Connecticut.
Time: Tuesday, November 6 at 8:00 PM
Duration: 153 days
Host: Sasha Valeria McCall
The answer for an Awakened Generation |
Find ANSWERS to your questions about the Senator's
campaign and position on the official Barack Obama
Website,
www.barackobama.com, or click here
campaign and position on the official Barack Obama
Website,
www.barackobama.com, or click here
The answer for an Awakened Generation |
Let me begin by saying thanks to all you who've traveled, from far and wide, to
brave the cold today.
We all made this journey for a reason. It's humbling, but in my heart I know you
didn't come here just for me, you came here because you believe in what this
country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of
despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut you out,
that's told you to settle, that's divided us for too long, you believe we can be one
people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union.
That's the journey we're on today. But let me tell you how I came to be here. As
most of you know, I am not a native of this great state. I moved to Illinois over
two decades ago. I was a young man then, just a year out of college; I knew no
one in Chicago, was without money or family connections. But a group of churches
had offered me a job as a community organizer for $13,000 a year. And I
accepted the job, sight unseen, motivated then by a single, simple, powerful idea -
that I might play a small part in building a better America.
My work took me to some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. I joined with
pastors and lay-people to deal with communities that had been ravaged by plant
closings. I saw that the problems people faced weren't simply local in nature - that
the decision to close a steel mill was made by distant executives; that the lack of
textbooks and computers in schools could be traced to the skewed priorities of
politicians a thousand miles away; and that when a child turns to violence, there's
a hole in his heart no government alone can fill.
It was in these neighborhoods that I received the best education I ever had, and
where I learned the true meaning of my Christian faith.
After three years of this work, I went to law school, because I wanted to
understand how the law should work for those in need. I became a civil rights
lawyer, and taught constitutional law, and after a time, I came to understand that
our cherished rights of liberty and equality depend on the active participation of an
awakened electorate. It was with these ideas in mind that I arrived in this capital
city as a state Senator.
It was here, in Springfield, where I saw all that is America converge - farmers and
teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them
seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. I made lasting
friendships here - friends that I see in the audience today.
It was here we learned to disagree without being disagreeable - that it's possible
to compromise so long as you know those principles that can never be
compromised; and that so long as we're willing to listen to each other, we can
assume the best in people instead of the worst.
It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that
I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people - where I came to
believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America.
And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called
on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams
still, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the
United States.
I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness - a certain audacity - to this
announcement. I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of
Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of
Washington must change.
The genius of our founders is that they designed a system of government that can
be changed. And we should take heart, because we've changed this country
before. In the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an Empire to its knees. In
the face of secession, we unified a nation and set the captives free. In the face of
Depression, we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty. We
welcomed immigrants to our shores, we opened railroads to the west, we landed a
man on the moon, and we heard a King's call to let justice roll down like water,
and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be
done. Today we are called once more - and it is time for our generation to answer
that call.
For that is our unyielding faith - that in the face of impossible odds, people who
love their country can change it.
That's what Abraham Lincoln understood. He had his doubts. He had his defeats.
He had his setbacks. But through his will and his words, he moved a nation and
helped free a people. It is because of the millions who rallied to his cause that we
are no longer divided, North and South, slave and free. It is because men and
women of every race, from every walk of life, continued to march for freedom
long after Lincoln was laid to rest, that today we have the chance to face the
challenges of this millennium together, as one people - as Americans.
All of us know what those challenges are today - a war with no end, a dependence
on oil that threatens our future, schools where too many children aren't learning,
and families struggling paycheck to paycheck despite working as hard as they can.
We know the challenges. We've heard them. We've talked about them for years.
What's stopped us from meeting these challenges is not the absence of sound
policies and sensible plans. What's stopped us is the failure of leadership, the
smallness of our politics - the ease with which we're distracted by the petty and
trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap
political points instead of rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus
to tackle big problems.
For the last six years we've been told that our mounting debts don't matter, we've
been told that the anxiety Americans feel about rising health care costs and
stagnant wages are an illusion, we've been told that climate change is a hoax, and
that tough talk and an ill-conceived war can replace diplomacy, and strategy, and
foresight. And when all else fails, when Katrina happens, or the death toll in Iraq
mounts, we've been told that our crises are somebody else's fault. We're
distracted from our real failures, and told to blame the other party, or gay people,
or immigrants.
And as people have looked away in disillusionment and frustration, we know
what's filled the void. The cynics, and the lobbyists, and the special interests
who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They
write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get
to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we're here today to
take it back. The time for that politics is over. It's time to turn the page.
We've made some progress already. I was proud to help lead the fight in Congress
that led to the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.
But Washington has a long way to go. And it won't be easy. That's why we'll have
to set priorities. We'll have to make hard choices. And although government will
play a crucial role in bringing about the changes we need, more money and
programs alone will not get us where we need to go. Each of us, in our own lives,
will have to accept responsibility - for instilling an ethic of achievement in our
children, for adapting to a more competitive economy, for strengthening our
communities, and sharing some measure of sacrifice. So let us begin. Let us begin
this hard work together. Let us transform this nation.
Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age.
Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to
succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more
support in exchange for more accountability. Let's make college more affordable,
and let's invest in scientific research, and let's lay down broadband lines through
the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America.
And as our economy changes, let's be the generation that ensures our nation's
workers are sharing in our prosperity. Let's protect the hard-earned benefits their
companies have promised. Let's make it possible for hardworking Americans to
save for retirement. And let's allow our unions and their organizers to lift up this
country's middle-class again.
Let's be the generation that ends poverty in America. Every single person willing
to work should be able to get job training that leads to a job, and earn a living
wage that can pay the bills, and afford child care so their kids have a safe place to
go when they work. Let's do this.
Let's be the generation that finally tackles our health care crisis. We can control
costs by focusing on prevention, by providing better treatment to the chronically
ill, and using technology to cut the bureaucracy. Let's be the generation that says
right here, right now, that we will have universal health care in America by the
end of the next president's first term.
Let's be the generation that finally frees America from the tyranny of oil. We can
harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol and spur the production of more
fuel-efficient cars. We can set up a system for capping greenhouse gases. We can
turn this crisis of global warming into a moment of opportunity for innovation, and
job creation, and an incentive for businesses that will serve as a model for the
world. Let's be the generation that makes future generations proud of what we did
here.
Most of all, let's be the generation that never forgets what happened on that
September day and confront the terrorists with everything we've got. Politics
doesn't have to divide us on this anymore - we can work together to keep our
country safe. I've worked with Republican Senator Dick Lugar to pass a law that
will secure and destroy some of the world's deadliest, unguarded weapons. We
can work together to track terrorists down with a stronger military, we can
tighten the net around their finances, and we can improve our intelligence
capabilities. But let us also understand that ultimate victory against our enemies
will come only by rebuilding our alliances and exporting those ideals that bring
hope and opportunity to millions around the globe.
But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. Most
of you know I opposed this war from the start. I thought it was a tragic mistake.
Today we grieve for the families who have lost loved ones, the hearts that have
been broken, and the young lives that could have been. America, it's time to start
bringing our troops home. It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can
resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil
war. That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of
2008. Letting the Iraqis know that we will not be there forever is our last, best
hope to pressure the Sunni and Shia to come to the table and find peace.
Finally, there is one other thing that is not too late to get right about this war - and
that is the homecoming of the men and women - our veterans - who have
sacrificed the most. Let us honor their valor by providing the care they need and
rebuilding the military they love. Let us be the generation that begins this work.
I know there are those who don't believe we can do all these things. I understand
the skepticism. After all, every four years, candidates from both parties make
similar promises, and I expect this year will be no different. All of us running for
president will travel around the country offering ten-point plans and making grand
speeches; all of us will trumpet those qualities we believe make us uniquely
qualified to lead the country. But too many times, after the election is over, and
the confetti is swept away, all those promises fade from memory, and the
lobbyists and the special interests move in, and people turn away, disappointed as
before, left to struggle on their own.
That is why this campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us - it must be
about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle,
of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your
advice - to push us forward when we're doing right, and to let us know when
we're not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship,
restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can
withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.
By ourselves, this change will not happen. Divided, we are bound to fail.
But the life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different
future is possible.
He tells us that there is power in words.
He tells us that there is power in conviction.
That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one
people.
He tells us that there is power in hope.
As Lincoln organized the forces arrayed against slavery, he was heard to say: "Of
strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds,
and formed and fought to battle through."
That is our purpose here today.
That's why I'm in this race.
Not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation.
I want to win that next battle - for justice and opportunity.
I want to win that next battle - for better schools, and better jobs, and health care
for all.
I want us to take up the unfinished business of perfecting our union, and building a
better America.
And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny calling, and see
as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching before us; if you sense, as I
sense, that the time is now to shake off our slumber, and slough off our fear, and
make good on the debt we owe past and future generations, then I'm ready to
take up the cause, and march with you, and work with you. Together, starting
today, let us finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of
freedom on this Earth.
brave the cold today.
We all made this journey for a reason. It's humbling, but in my heart I know you
didn't come here just for me, you came here because you believe in what this
country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of
despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut you out,
that's told you to settle, that's divided us for too long, you believe we can be one
people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union.
That's the journey we're on today. But let me tell you how I came to be here. As
most of you know, I am not a native of this great state. I moved to Illinois over
two decades ago. I was a young man then, just a year out of college; I knew no
one in Chicago, was without money or family connections. But a group of churches
had offered me a job as a community organizer for $13,000 a year. And I
accepted the job, sight unseen, motivated then by a single, simple, powerful idea -
that I might play a small part in building a better America.
My work took me to some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. I joined with
pastors and lay-people to deal with communities that had been ravaged by plant
closings. I saw that the problems people faced weren't simply local in nature - that
the decision to close a steel mill was made by distant executives; that the lack of
textbooks and computers in schools could be traced to the skewed priorities of
politicians a thousand miles away; and that when a child turns to violence, there's
a hole in his heart no government alone can fill.
It was in these neighborhoods that I received the best education I ever had, and
where I learned the true meaning of my Christian faith.
After three years of this work, I went to law school, because I wanted to
understand how the law should work for those in need. I became a civil rights
lawyer, and taught constitutional law, and after a time, I came to understand that
our cherished rights of liberty and equality depend on the active participation of an
awakened electorate. It was with these ideas in mind that I arrived in this capital
city as a state Senator.
It was here, in Springfield, where I saw all that is America converge - farmers and
teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them
seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. I made lasting
friendships here - friends that I see in the audience today.
It was here we learned to disagree without being disagreeable - that it's possible
to compromise so long as you know those principles that can never be
compromised; and that so long as we're willing to listen to each other, we can
assume the best in people instead of the worst.
It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that
I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people - where I came to
believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America.
And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called
on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams
still, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the
United States.
I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness - a certain audacity - to this
announcement. I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of
Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of
Washington must change.
The genius of our founders is that they designed a system of government that can
be changed. And we should take heart, because we've changed this country
before. In the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an Empire to its knees. In
the face of secession, we unified a nation and set the captives free. In the face of
Depression, we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty. We
welcomed immigrants to our shores, we opened railroads to the west, we landed a
man on the moon, and we heard a King's call to let justice roll down like water,
and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Each and every time, a new generation has risen up and done what's needed to be
done. Today we are called once more - and it is time for our generation to answer
that call.
For that is our unyielding faith - that in the face of impossible odds, people who
love their country can change it.
That's what Abraham Lincoln understood. He had his doubts. He had his defeats.
He had his setbacks. But through his will and his words, he moved a nation and
helped free a people. It is because of the millions who rallied to his cause that we
are no longer divided, North and South, slave and free. It is because men and
women of every race, from every walk of life, continued to march for freedom
long after Lincoln was laid to rest, that today we have the chance to face the
challenges of this millennium together, as one people - as Americans.
All of us know what those challenges are today - a war with no end, a dependence
on oil that threatens our future, schools where too many children aren't learning,
and families struggling paycheck to paycheck despite working as hard as they can.
We know the challenges. We've heard them. We've talked about them for years.
What's stopped us from meeting these challenges is not the absence of sound
policies and sensible plans. What's stopped us is the failure of leadership, the
smallness of our politics - the ease with which we're distracted by the petty and
trivial, our chronic avoidance of tough decisions, our preference for scoring cheap
political points instead of rolling up our sleeves and building a working consensus
to tackle big problems.
For the last six years we've been told that our mounting debts don't matter, we've
been told that the anxiety Americans feel about rising health care costs and
stagnant wages are an illusion, we've been told that climate change is a hoax, and
that tough talk and an ill-conceived war can replace diplomacy, and strategy, and
foresight. And when all else fails, when Katrina happens, or the death toll in Iraq
mounts, we've been told that our crises are somebody else's fault. We're
distracted from our real failures, and told to blame the other party, or gay people,
or immigrants.
And as people have looked away in disillusionment and frustration, we know
what's filled the void. The cynics, and the lobbyists, and the special interests
who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They
write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get
to write a letter, they think they own this government, but we're here today to
take it back. The time for that politics is over. It's time to turn the page.
We've made some progress already. I was proud to help lead the fight in Congress
that led to the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.
But Washington has a long way to go. And it won't be easy. That's why we'll have
to set priorities. We'll have to make hard choices. And although government will
play a crucial role in bringing about the changes we need, more money and
programs alone will not get us where we need to go. Each of us, in our own lives,
will have to accept responsibility - for instilling an ethic of achievement in our
children, for adapting to a more competitive economy, for strengthening our
communities, and sharing some measure of sacrifice. So let us begin. Let us begin
this hard work together. Let us transform this nation.
Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age.
Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to
succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more
support in exchange for more accountability. Let's make college more affordable,
and let's invest in scientific research, and let's lay down broadband lines through
the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America.
And as our economy changes, let's be the generation that ensures our nation's
workers are sharing in our prosperity. Let's protect the hard-earned benefits their
companies have promised. Let's make it possible for hardworking Americans to
save for retirement. And let's allow our unions and their organizers to lift up this
country's middle-class again.
Let's be the generation that ends poverty in America. Every single person willing
to work should be able to get job training that leads to a job, and earn a living
wage that can pay the bills, and afford child care so their kids have a safe place to
go when they work. Let's do this.
Let's be the generation that finally tackles our health care crisis. We can control
costs by focusing on prevention, by providing better treatment to the chronically
ill, and using technology to cut the bureaucracy. Let's be the generation that says
right here, right now, that we will have universal health care in America by the
end of the next president's first term.
Let's be the generation that finally frees America from the tyranny of oil. We can
harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol and spur the production of more
fuel-efficient cars. We can set up a system for capping greenhouse gases. We can
turn this crisis of global warming into a moment of opportunity for innovation, and
job creation, and an incentive for businesses that will serve as a model for the
world. Let's be the generation that makes future generations proud of what we did
here.
Most of all, let's be the generation that never forgets what happened on that
September day and confront the terrorists with everything we've got. Politics
doesn't have to divide us on this anymore - we can work together to keep our
country safe. I've worked with Republican Senator Dick Lugar to pass a law that
will secure and destroy some of the world's deadliest, unguarded weapons. We
can work together to track terrorists down with a stronger military, we can
tighten the net around their finances, and we can improve our intelligence
capabilities. But let us also understand that ultimate victory against our enemies
will come only by rebuilding our alliances and exporting those ideals that bring
hope and opportunity to millions around the globe.
But all of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. Most
of you know I opposed this war from the start. I thought it was a tragic mistake.
Today we grieve for the families who have lost loved ones, the hearts that have
been broken, and the young lives that could have been. America, it's time to start
bringing our troops home. It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can
resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil
war. That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of
2008. Letting the Iraqis know that we will not be there forever is our last, best
hope to pressure the Sunni and Shia to come to the table and find peace.
Finally, there is one other thing that is not too late to get right about this war - and
that is the homecoming of the men and women - our veterans - who have
sacrificed the most. Let us honor their valor by providing the care they need and
rebuilding the military they love. Let us be the generation that begins this work.
I know there are those who don't believe we can do all these things. I understand
the skepticism. After all, every four years, candidates from both parties make
similar promises, and I expect this year will be no different. All of us running for
president will travel around the country offering ten-point plans and making grand
speeches; all of us will trumpet those qualities we believe make us uniquely
qualified to lead the country. But too many times, after the election is over, and
the confetti is swept away, all those promises fade from memory, and the
lobbyists and the special interests move in, and people turn away, disappointed as
before, left to struggle on their own.
That is why this campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us - it must be
about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle,
of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your
advice - to push us forward when we're doing right, and to let us know when
we're not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship,
restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can
withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.
By ourselves, this change will not happen. Divided, we are bound to fail.
But the life of a tall, gangly, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different
future is possible.
He tells us that there is power in words.
He tells us that there is power in conviction.
That beneath all the differences of race and region, faith and station, we are one
people.
He tells us that there is power in hope.
As Lincoln organized the forces arrayed against slavery, he was heard to say: "Of
strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds,
and formed and fought to battle through."
That is our purpose here today.
That's why I'm in this race.
Not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation.
I want to win that next battle - for justice and opportunity.
I want to win that next battle - for better schools, and better jobs, and health care
for all.
I want us to take up the unfinished business of perfecting our union, and building a
better America.
And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny calling, and see
as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching before us; if you sense, as I
sense, that the time is now to shake off our slumber, and slough off our fear, and
make good on the debt we owe past and future generations, then I'm ready to
take up the cause, and march with you, and work with you. Together, starting
today, let us finish the work that needs to be done, and usher in a new birth of
freedom on this Earth.
Full Text of Senator Barack Obama's Announcement
for President
Springfield, IL | February 10, 2007
for President
Springfield, IL | February 10, 2007
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Faith a Key Issue in Obama Campaign
NHpols.com | June 26, 2007
By Beth LaMontagne
(taken from www.barackobama.com)
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, and his campaign have been reaching out to
religious communities not just in the South or the Bible Belt, but in New England as
well. This weekend, Obama spoke to the United Church of Christ in Hartford,
Connecticut, about how his Christian faith. Too often, religion has been used to
divide Americans, he said, and that it is now time to put aside religious differences
to work toward our common goals. This speech comes after a week-long series of
faith forums held in churches across New Hampshire. His presidential campaign,
working with church leaders in the state, held these forums to explore how faith
factors into progressive politics.
The old adage that politics and religion are not appropriate subjects in polite
conversation is only partly true in New Hampshire. While politics is something that
can be discussed almost anytime and anywhere, talking about it in church is not
something with which most Granite Staters feel comfortable. Although religion
plays a large part in people's lives here, regardless of denomination, when it
comes to the role of religion in politics, New Hampshire has traditionally been a
fairly secular state.
"It's not my impression that voters up here tend to pay a lot of attention to that
aspect of a candidate's background," said Dante Scala, professor of politics at the
University of New Hampshire. "It may be a factor, it may be something voters
wouldn't mind hearing about, but I don't think for most voters it would be the
deciding factor."
Reid Cherlin, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Obama for America campaign
said these forums were meant to "get the conversation started" amongst people in
the faith community who want their politics to more closely reflect their faith. The
forum wasn't solely about promoting the Obama campaign, but was more part of
the greater conversation the campaign hopes to foster through Obama's
Faith-Action-Change initiative. At the first forum, held at the New Hope Baptist
Church in Portsmouth, about 40 people from 14 different congregations and 10
different towns came together. It was called a public event but was closed to the
media because the participants had said they felt more comfortable talking about
religious issues, which can be quite personal, if the press wasn't there, said
Cherlin.
Chuck Hotchkiss, a professor at Southern New Hampshire University's School of
Community and Economic Development and coordinator of the Portsmouth forum,
said the event focused on finding common goals between the varying
denominations and eventually working toward these goals in "public life" or
outside the church community.
"I think the idea is the religious right had kind of cornered the market on faith and
this is an effort to recognize there are a lot of different people of faith out there,"
said Hotchkiss. "This is very much an exploratory effort ... the concepts we are
drawing on has its roots in community organizing. I don't think anyone's ever tried
to apply those to a presidential campaign before."
In recent presidential contests, most Democratic candidates have held the position
that church and state should be as separate as possible. This campaign year,
however, many of the Democratic candidates are trying to shift the religious
debate, focusing less on hot-button social issues like abortion, and more on basic
religious tenets, like helping those in need. To foster this discussion, many
campaigns have formed religious outreach coalitions that encourage people of all
faiths to enter the discussion. Thus far, the Obama campaign has held more
faith-based events in the state than any other candidate.
"From my point of view I think people are hungry for the opportunity to have this
kind of conversation. They're interested in these issues," said Hotchkiss. "I think
the hope is people will get so engaged into this, they will be attracted to a
candidate who recognizes that hunger and brings people together in a different
way."
Democratic candidates John Edwards and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., have
both framed the issue of faith around social justice and poverty issues. To
Edwards, raising the minimum wage and encouraging programs that lift people out
of poverty is derivative of his faith and Christian values. Dodd, in an interview on
CNN, also spoke about the values he was taught through his Catholic upbringing.
Although he does not wear his religion on his sleeve, he attributed his desire to
serve in the Peace Corps and help others to his faith.
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has openly talked about how faith and prayer helped
her during difficult times, has supported public funding of government faith-based
initiatives and talks about the important role of religious institutions in her book,
"It Takes a Village." In a recent op-ed piece in the New Hampshire-based Hispanic
magazine Siglo 21, Clinton also mentioned how closely the faith community is tied
to issues like poverty and immigration.
When it comes to issues of faith and the Republican candidates for president, the
emphasis is still on abortion, marriage and protecting "family values." GOP
candidates have also formed faith coalitions, though few have done much in New
Hampshire. Jim Merrill, the campaign manager for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney's New Hampshire campaign said they are working on holding faith
outreach forums in the next few months. Some Republicans have also been
discussing religion in New Hampshire as it relates to social justice issues.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is also a Baptist minister, has said the
right-to-life community must also work to improve health care and services for
children and he recently told NHpols.com his faith has given him empathy for
others.
"Both life and governing get a lot simpler when you approach decisions based on,
'do unto others as you would have them do unto you,'" said Huckabee.
NHpols.com | June 26, 2007
By Beth LaMontagne
(taken from www.barackobama.com)
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, and his campaign have been reaching out to
religious communities not just in the South or the Bible Belt, but in New England as
well. This weekend, Obama spoke to the United Church of Christ in Hartford,
Connecticut, about how his Christian faith. Too often, religion has been used to
divide Americans, he said, and that it is now time to put aside religious differences
to work toward our common goals. This speech comes after a week-long series of
faith forums held in churches across New Hampshire. His presidential campaign,
working with church leaders in the state, held these forums to explore how faith
factors into progressive politics.
The old adage that politics and religion are not appropriate subjects in polite
conversation is only partly true in New Hampshire. While politics is something that
can be discussed almost anytime and anywhere, talking about it in church is not
something with which most Granite Staters feel comfortable. Although religion
plays a large part in people's lives here, regardless of denomination, when it
comes to the role of religion in politics, New Hampshire has traditionally been a
fairly secular state.
"It's not my impression that voters up here tend to pay a lot of attention to that
aspect of a candidate's background," said Dante Scala, professor of politics at the
University of New Hampshire. "It may be a factor, it may be something voters
wouldn't mind hearing about, but I don't think for most voters it would be the
deciding factor."
Reid Cherlin, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Obama for America campaign
said these forums were meant to "get the conversation started" amongst people in
the faith community who want their politics to more closely reflect their faith. The
forum wasn't solely about promoting the Obama campaign, but was more part of
the greater conversation the campaign hopes to foster through Obama's
Faith-Action-Change initiative. At the first forum, held at the New Hope Baptist
Church in Portsmouth, about 40 people from 14 different congregations and 10
different towns came together. It was called a public event but was closed to the
media because the participants had said they felt more comfortable talking about
religious issues, which can be quite personal, if the press wasn't there, said
Cherlin.
Chuck Hotchkiss, a professor at Southern New Hampshire University's School of
Community and Economic Development and coordinator of the Portsmouth forum,
said the event focused on finding common goals between the varying
denominations and eventually working toward these goals in "public life" or
outside the church community.
"I think the idea is the religious right had kind of cornered the market on faith and
this is an effort to recognize there are a lot of different people of faith out there,"
said Hotchkiss. "This is very much an exploratory effort ... the concepts we are
drawing on has its roots in community organizing. I don't think anyone's ever tried
to apply those to a presidential campaign before."
In recent presidential contests, most Democratic candidates have held the position
that church and state should be as separate as possible. This campaign year,
however, many of the Democratic candidates are trying to shift the religious
debate, focusing less on hot-button social issues like abortion, and more on basic
religious tenets, like helping those in need. To foster this discussion, many
campaigns have formed religious outreach coalitions that encourage people of all
faiths to enter the discussion. Thus far, the Obama campaign has held more
faith-based events in the state than any other candidate.
"From my point of view I think people are hungry for the opportunity to have this
kind of conversation. They're interested in these issues," said Hotchkiss. "I think
the hope is people will get so engaged into this, they will be attracted to a
candidate who recognizes that hunger and brings people together in a different
way."
Democratic candidates John Edwards and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., have
both framed the issue of faith around social justice and poverty issues. To
Edwards, raising the minimum wage and encouraging programs that lift people out
of poverty is derivative of his faith and Christian values. Dodd, in an interview on
CNN, also spoke about the values he was taught through his Catholic upbringing.
Although he does not wear his religion on his sleeve, he attributed his desire to
serve in the Peace Corps and help others to his faith.
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has openly talked about how faith and prayer helped
her during difficult times, has supported public funding of government faith-based
initiatives and talks about the important role of religious institutions in her book,
"It Takes a Village." In a recent op-ed piece in the New Hampshire-based Hispanic
magazine Siglo 21, Clinton also mentioned how closely the faith community is tied
to issues like poverty and immigration.
When it comes to issues of faith and the Republican candidates for president, the
emphasis is still on abortion, marriage and protecting "family values." GOP
candidates have also formed faith coalitions, though few have done much in New
Hampshire. Jim Merrill, the campaign manager for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney's New Hampshire campaign said they are working on holding faith
outreach forums in the next few months. Some Republicans have also been
discussing religion in New Hampshire as it relates to social justice issues.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is also a Baptist minister, has said the
right-to-life community must also work to improve health care and services for
children and he recently told NHpols.com his faith has given him empathy for
others.
"Both life and governing get a lot simpler when you approach decisions based on,
'do unto others as you would have them do unto you,'" said Huckabee.
Obama launches TV ads in Iowa with an assist
from GOP friend
Chicago Tribune | June 26, 2007
Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic presidential campaign said Monday that
it is launching television ads in the early caucus state of Iowa, including
one that features a prominent DuPage County Republican who has been
questioned by members of his own party for his strong touting of Obama's
skills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obama, in New TV Ads, Focuses on His
Pre-Senate Years
New York Times | June 26, 2007
In the first television commercials of his presidential campaign, Senator
Barack Obama will begin introducing himself to Iowa voters on Tuesday
through a pair of biographical advertisements designed to tell the story of
his career before he arrived in the United States Senate
Obama Statement on Vice President Cheney
Chicago, IL | June 25, 2007
Chicago, IL-Senator Obama today released the following statement on
Vice President Cheney's attempts to prevent public scrutiny of his office.
"Throughout this administration, Vice President Cheney has consistently
sought to operate in secrecy and thwart rules designed to ensure the
public's right to know how their business is being done. I believe strongly
that democracy works best when it does its work in the daylight. In an
Obama Administration, we will launch the most sweeping ethics reform in
history so that we can restore an open, honest government that finally
makes real progress on the challenges facing the American people."
Obama Statement on Bush Veto of Stem Cell Bill
Chicago, IL | June 20, 2007
CHICAGO, IL - Senator Obama today released the following statement in
response to President Bush's veto of Stem Cell Bill
"By vetoing funding for stem cell research once again, the President is
deferring the hopes of millions of Americans who do not have the time to
keep waiting for the cure that may save or extend their lives. The promise
that stem cells hold does not come from any particular ideology, it is the
judgment of science, and we deserve a President who will put that
judgment first and make this promise real for the American people
from GOP friend
Chicago Tribune | June 26, 2007
Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic presidential campaign said Monday that
it is launching television ads in the early caucus state of Iowa, including
one that features a prominent DuPage County Republican who has been
questioned by members of his own party for his strong touting of Obama's
skills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obama, in New TV Ads, Focuses on His
Pre-Senate Years
New York Times | June 26, 2007
In the first television commercials of his presidential campaign, Senator
Barack Obama will begin introducing himself to Iowa voters on Tuesday
through a pair of biographical advertisements designed to tell the story of
his career before he arrived in the United States Senate
Obama Statement on Vice President Cheney
Chicago, IL | June 25, 2007
Chicago, IL-Senator Obama today released the following statement on
Vice President Cheney's attempts to prevent public scrutiny of his office.
"Throughout this administration, Vice President Cheney has consistently
sought to operate in secrecy and thwart rules designed to ensure the
public's right to know how their business is being done. I believe strongly
that democracy works best when it does its work in the daylight. In an
Obama Administration, we will launch the most sweeping ethics reform in
history so that we can restore an open, honest government that finally
makes real progress on the challenges facing the American people."
Obama Statement on Bush Veto of Stem Cell Bill
Chicago, IL | June 20, 2007
CHICAGO, IL - Senator Obama today released the following statement in
response to President Bush's veto of Stem Cell Bill
"By vetoing funding for stem cell research once again, the President is
deferring the hopes of millions of Americans who do not have the time to
keep waiting for the cure that may save or extend their lives. The promise
that stem cells hold does not come from any particular ideology, it is the
judgment of science, and we deserve a President who will put that
judgment first and make this promise real for the American people
The answer for an Awakened Generation |
| Weekly Update by Emily Bokar (www.barackobama.com) |
| (Make a donation to the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign) |
Special Note:
****Last week for the "Weekly Update"****
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****Last week for the "Weekly Update"****
As we continue to strive to answer the site visitors requests, the "Weekly Update"
shall be continued. We made the decision based on emails were there was no
comments about the "Weekly Update."
If you would like to see this feature continue to run, email us at:
email@obama--america--generation.com