Obama visit leaves Michigan hungry for change
By Nate Coe
Presidential Barack Obama and running mate Joe Biden brought hope and promise to Michigan while visiting the C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek on Aug. 31.
Calhoun County board Chairwoman Kate Segal kicked off the day.
“I feel amazing that there are so many people out to hear the next president of the United States,” Segal said.
“The only two people on the ballot that understand Michigan and the only two people that are good for Michigan are Barack Obama and Joe Biden,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow said.
State Sen. Mark Schauer said Senator Obama is offering America a bold new direction.
“All across Michigan there’s a hunger for change,” he said as he held up a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes with a picture of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
While Alex and Tito, the field organizers in Battle Creek urged people to vote and make extraordinary decisions the crowd was getting impatient and anxious and started chanting Obama’s name.
A Battle Creek native introduced Obama and Biden to a roaring applause. Biden was the first to speak.
Biden spoke about how McCain is wrong about what America needs, Obama’s history in Chicago and told a personal story of a sleepover his children had with Obama’s children.
“I’ve never seen a time in all my years in Washington when so many people have been knocked down and America, the government of your country, has done so little to help them get back up,” said Biden.
Biden outlined their plans for the White House:
•Cut taxes for 95 percent of American families
•Invest in alternative energy, creating 5 million new jobs
•Invest in education, teachers and make college more affordable
•Bring down healthcare costs
•Put the security back in social security and retirement
•Equal pay for women
•Bring our troops home
“He has the judgment this country needs,” said Biden.
Obama started his speech by acknowledging the Hurricane Gustav threat and reassured everyone that those areas will be safe.
After 19 months on the campaign trail, Obama said he’s learned a lot about the American family and in this time of economic stagnation, “there’s something unacceptable, something un‑American about not making sure we pass on a better life to our children.”
Obama said he would lower middle class taxes, lower healthcare premiums, hold health insurance companies more accountable for claims, invest in early childhood education and make sure drug companies are selling the prescription medications at their cheapest price.
He reassured everyone that the high‑efficiency cars will be built in Michigan and not overseas. Auto‑companies will be offered loans, guarantees and resources to make sure the auto industry comes out on top.
Obama said he also wanted to change foreign policy and “bring an end to this war in Iraq and focus on Bin laden in Afghanistan and in the hills bordering Pakistan.”
“We’re going to do all this by the end of my first term as president of the United States of America,” he said. “I haven’t been in Washington that long but I’ve been in Washington long enough to know that Washington needs to change.”
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Posted by HeraldAdmin
on Sep 2 2008. Filed under News.
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In the Bill Oreilly interview of Barack Obama, regarding the discussion
about Obama’s energy plan, in response to Bill asking
Barack, what if the development of alternate energy
sources don’t deliver. Obama compared his approach
to John Kennedy’s space program, and how if you go
for it , the answers will come. But, the distinction between
our space program and our energy challenge is … If it had taken
us longer than we thought to get to the moon … or, if we hadn’t
gotten to the moon … no big deal. But, if we put all our hopes
into alternative energy, and it doesn’t happen in time … or, if
it doesn’t work, our entire economy, as well as our national
security could end up in ruins. Our country’s entire energy
infrastructure revolves around petroleum. 167,000 gas stations,
the 250 million vehicles. Democrats keep citing how long it will take
to get more oil out of the ground. But, even if an alternative
fuel is found tomorrow, how long will it take America to
transition from our existing infrastructure to a completely
new one? In the meantime, people have to get to work, and
goods have to get to market. This is an important reason to
secure our energy needs with oil drilling and mining oil shale,
while we try to develop alternate energy. Obama and
Pelosi also want to dip into the strategic oil reserve, as a way
of pandering to voters, but what if we have a true emergency,
like Hurricane Ike, or Hugo Chavez cuts us off, or Amadinajad
cripples the straits of Hormuz? Obama seems to be
playing fast and loose with our country’s future … gambling
with our future, all based on hope and faith … with consequences
which could be dire. Obama’s plans, or lack thereof, are
extremely irresponsible. Not suprising from a candidate who
does not have the experience, qualifications, or judgement to lead, as
President of the United States.