Here is one of the best moments from last night's debate - a moment that crystallizes why Barack Obama is the best person to be the next President of the United States.
In last night's debate in Nevada, Barack gave clear, honest answers to tough questions on the major issues facing our country. And he boldly challenged the cynicism that says we can’t solve our nation’s problems.
Last night we saw that Barack is the one candidate who offers change we can believe in -- the ability to bring our country together, stand up to special interests, and tell the American people not just what he thinks they want to hear, but what they need to know about the challenges we face.
Here's how the Iowa Independent saw it:
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama tonight turned in his strongest presidential debate performance and exposed a clear regional difference with front-runner Hillary Clinton. Is $97,000 a lot of money? In most of Obama's Illinois and just about all of Iowa the answer to that is "yes," which makes Obama's position on the question of whether to raise or lift the cap on Social Security taxes more reasonable to Hawkeye State voters than the New York shape-shifting of Clinton. As it stands, the first $97,500 of a person's annual income is subject to the Social Security tax. Obama supports lifting that to shore up the future of the system while Clinton went with the nostalgia card, suggesting that the she could resurrect the macroeconomic picture that prevailed under her husband and cause the Social Security problem to disappear without hard choices. She suggested that popping the cap would hurt middle-class Americans and argued that in some parts of the nation (namely high-priced New York City which she represents) $97,500 isn't a lot of money. It would be interesting to hear her make that argument in Audubon County, Iowa, where the average home is worth half that much, $49,000.
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama tonight turned in his strongest presidential debate performance and exposed a clear regional difference with front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Is $97,000 a lot of money? In most of Obama's Illinois and just about all of Iowa the answer to that is "yes," which makes Obama's position on the question of whether to raise or lift the cap on Social Security taxes more reasonable to Hawkeye State voters than the New York shape-shifting of Clinton.
As it stands, the first $97,500 of a person's annual income is subject to the Social Security tax. Obama supports lifting that to shore up the future of the system while Clinton went with the nostalgia card, suggesting that the she could resurrect the macroeconomic picture that prevailed under her husband and cause the Social Security problem to disappear without hard choices. She suggested that popping the cap would hurt middle-class Americans and argued that in some parts of the nation (namely high-priced New York City which she represents) $97,500 isn't a lot of money. It would be interesting to hear her make that argument in Audubon County, Iowa, where the average home is worth half that much, $49,000.
And here's the New Republic:
This was a solid night for Obama. He was focused, energized, tough, charismatic.
Last night, ABC World News Tonight aired a profile about Barack. Here it is:
Last Saturday, Senator Obama came to the DMACC campus in Ankeny to meet with Iowans and answer their questions. The room was full of folks eager to ask questions on everything from federal spending to who Barack would select for his cabinet.
One of our precinct captains in Ankeny, Monica Green, introduced him. Monica has been a lifelong Republican but is changing parties this year to caucus for Barack because she sees in Senator Obama the ability to change the nation for the better.
Here's video of Monica and Senator Obama in Ankeny.
As long as you are at least 17 years old by November 4, 2007, you can caucus for Barack. If you're currently a Republican or an independent, you can re-register as a Democrat for the caucus. And don't worry, if you're not registered yet you can take care of it easily on Caucus Day at your caucus location!
Have you heard any good stories about Republicans or independents who like Barack's message of changing our politics and the way things are done in Washington? Share your story in the comments!
Yesterday, Barack was in Cedar Rapids for a town hall meeting. The focus was on Social Security and advocating for straight talk when it comes to discussing the issue.
He challenged the other Democratic candidates to be honest when talking about the state of Social Security.
Conventional thinking in Washington says Social Security is the third rail of American politics. It says you should hedge, dodge, and spin, but at all costs, don’t answer. ... If we have failed to have a real, honest conversation about Social Security, it will not get fixed. ... But I reject that notion. I think that on issues as fundamental as how to protect Social Security, a candidate for President owes it to the American people to tell us where they stand. Because I don’t think you’re ready to lead if you can’t tell us where you’re going. ... So let me tell you what kind of leadership I will offer as President. First of all, and I’m just going to lay out some basic principles. Number one: I believe privatization is dangerous. It tears at the fabric of Social Security – the idea of mutual responsibility – by subjecting a secure retirement to the whims of the market. Now people will tell you, “Well you can get a higher return if everyone had individual accounts and were investing in the stock market.” That sounds good unless you happened to buy Enron right before you’re about to retire. Then things don’t turn out so good. And the whole concept of Social Security is that there’s supposed to be a floor beneath which you can’t sink. We want to encourage people to save and invest in the stock market, just not your social security dollars, because that’s what’s there set aside and is there for you. That’s why I fought President Bush when he tried to dismantle Social Security and divvy it up into private accounts. And that’s why I will fight efforts for privatization as President. Now the second, we don’t need to cut benefits or raise the retirement age. There are a number of ways we can make Social Security solvent that do not involve forcing seniors to bear a heavier burden. Their burden currently is heavy enough. The best option, in my view, is to ask the highest income Americans to contribute a little more by raising the ceiling that’s currently put on the amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax.
It tears at the fabric of Social Security – the idea of mutual responsibility – by subjecting a secure retirement to the whims of the market. Now people will tell you, “Well you can get a higher return if everyone had individual accounts and were investing in the stock market.” That sounds good unless you happened to buy Enron right before you’re about to retire. Then things don’t turn out so good. And the whole concept of Social Security is that there’s supposed to be a floor beneath which you can’t sink.
We want to encourage people to save and invest in the stock market, just not your social security dollars, because that’s what’s there set aside and is there for you. That’s why I fought President Bush when he tried to dismantle Social Security and divvy it up into private accounts. And that’s why I will fight efforts for privatization as President. Now the second, we don’t need to cut benefits or raise the retirement age.
There are a number of ways we can make Social Security solvent that do not involve forcing seniors to bear a heavier burden. Their burden currently is heavy enough.
The best option, in my view, is to ask the highest income Americans to contribute a little more by raising the ceiling that’s currently put on the amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax.
To emphasize that last point, Barack talked about his friend from Omaha - Warren Buffet. He said Buffet made $46 million last year - an off year for him - but he paid into Social Security at the same level as middle-class families.
Barack also took several questions after his formal remarks.
What we have is an empathy deficit. We have lost the ability to see ourselves in one another. Fundamentally we have lost the level of care. We need to reclaim that sense of empathy towards each other. We need to realize that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper, and that there is more that connects us than divides us. We need a leader who challenges us to work together.
Right now in this country, our politics don't match our ideals…Barack reflects all that we've said we wanted: telling the truth, respecting those who we don't agree with. We have to ask ourselves what's holding ourselves back from making real change.
Women from all over Iowa gathered at East High School in Des Moines to hear from campaign staff, Senator Obama, and each other about how to spread Barack's message of change across the state.
If you are a Woman for Obama, please get involved with the campaign by becoming a precinct captain. Get in touch with your local staff by clicking here.
Hey Friends,
I wanted to drop you a short note to ask for your help. DFA is holding a Presidential Primary Pulse Poll to decide which candidate deserves their support. I voted for Senator Barack Obama and I need help to move him from 2nd place in the poll.
Could you take just a minute to vote for Barack Obama right now? Here's the link:
http://DemocracyforAmerica.com/VoteObama
Thanks for your help.
Jaime live-blogged Barack's speech today at Drake University where he laid out precisely why he is the person with the judgment to be our next Commander in Chief. Here are some video excerpts from the speech.
On offering a stark choice on foreign policy:
On the lessons that should be learned from Iraq:
On Iran:
On conventional thinking and foreign policy:
To read and watch the whole speech, click here.
Barack has attracted a lot of enthusiasm around his candidacy for president, but the question that remained was whether he could harness the enthusiasm and actually turn people out.
Well, I think that question has been answered.
In the comments section, Maria from Delmar, NY, pointed out this column from veteran political reporter Roger Simon about the organization that Barack has built in Iowa. The column speaks for itself:
Barack Obama acts like he understands Iowa By: Roger Simon DES MOINES, Iowa — Barack Obama began his speech in an odd and important way, a way that did not make a single news story. Obama was delivering a major address, reminding voters of his early opposition to the Iraq war. It was big deal speech. There were prepared texts handed out to the press and everything. But Obama’s first words were not in his text, even though they may have been the most important words he spoke all day. “If you have not yet signed up as a Barack Obama supporter, hopefully after the speech you will,” he told the crowd at the Polk County Convention Complex. “Fill out one of those cards. We’ll have volunteers all across the doors. You won’t be able to get out without seeing one of these cards.” Pretty mundane stuff, right? Which is why most candidates don’t bother with it. Especially not in a speech being covered by the national press, with six TV cameras grinding away. But that Obama did bother with it is the most important sign I have seen that he actually understands Iowa.... I traveled around Iowa with Fred Thompson one day this week and never heard him ask anyone to sign up for his campaign, fill out a card or even vote for him in the caucus. And his staff didn’t hand out sign-up cards in a disciplined fashion. Obama’s staff did. There were staffers at every entrance and exit. They collected names, home and e-mail addresses, and phone numbers. These names will be added to other names to form huge lists. The campaign then will contact every person on the list (several times) to pitch them on the candidate, answer questions and judge the level of support. This is the unglamorous, arduous drudge work that in Iowa is absolutely essential.... Having an inspiring, energetic, magnetic candidate is real nice, but without an organization to back him up, it doesn’t mean much. While I was in Des Moines, I talked to Gordon and Monica Fischer. Gordon was the Democratic Party chairman here during the last presidential election. Monica worked in the administration of former Gov. Tom Vilsack. Every Democratic presidential campaign called the Fischers this time to ask for their support. Last week, the couple announced they were going to work for Obama. One reason, they told me, is they think Obama is the best candidate, with the greatest chance of winning. But there was another reason. “He is the best-organized in Iowa,” Gordon said. “He has the best ground game.” “And his people,” Monica said, “are relentless.” Relentless is good. Real good. Relentless works in Iowa. After Obama’s speech, he worked the rope line, which just about every candidate does. But on the rope line, there was a staff person behind him, with sign-up cards in her hand. And if you shook the candidate’s hand, or got an autograph from him or got him to pose for a picture with you, she handed you a card and asked you to sign up, to volunteer, to bring four friends with you next time.... “You know there is starting to get a little zip in the air,” Obama said. “It is time to make a decision. And I hope you make a decision on my behalf.” Mundane stuff. The stuff that didn’t make a single story. But the zip is in the air in Iowa. And soon the snow will fall. And caucus night will come. And the race is not always to the swift here. It is often to the relentless.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Barack Obama began his speech in an odd and important way, a way that did not make a single news story.
Obama was delivering a major address, reminding voters of his early opposition to the Iraq war. It was big deal speech. There were prepared texts handed out to the press and everything.
But Obama’s first words were not in his text, even though they may have been the most important words he spoke all day.
“If you have not yet signed up as a Barack Obama supporter, hopefully after the speech you will,” he told the crowd at the Polk County Convention Complex.
“Fill out one of those cards. We’ll have volunteers all across the doors. You won’t be able to get out without seeing one of these cards.”
Pretty mundane stuff, right? Which is why most candidates don’t bother with it. Especially not in a speech being covered by the national press, with six TV cameras grinding away.
But that Obama did bother with it is the most important sign I have seen that he actually understands Iowa.
...
I traveled around Iowa with Fred Thompson one day this week and never heard him ask anyone to sign up for his campaign, fill out a card or even vote for him in the caucus.
And his staff didn’t hand out sign-up cards in a disciplined fashion.
Obama’s staff did. There were staffers at every entrance and exit. They collected names, home and e-mail addresses, and phone numbers.
These names will be added to other names to form huge lists. The campaign then will contact every person on the list (several times) to pitch them on the candidate, answer questions and judge the level of support.
This is the unglamorous, arduous drudge work that in Iowa is absolutely essential.
Having an inspiring, energetic, magnetic candidate is real nice, but without an organization to back him up, it doesn’t mean much.
While I was in Des Moines, I talked to Gordon and Monica Fischer. Gordon was the Democratic Party chairman here during the last presidential election. Monica worked in the administration of former Gov. Tom Vilsack.
Every Democratic presidential campaign called the Fischers this time to ask for their support. Last week, the couple announced they were going to work for Obama.
One reason, they told me, is they think Obama is the best candidate, with the greatest chance of winning.
But there was another reason.
“He is the best-organized in Iowa,” Gordon said. “He has the best ground game.”
“And his people,” Monica said, “are relentless.”
Relentless is good. Real good. Relentless works in Iowa.
After Obama’s speech, he worked the rope line, which just about every candidate does. But on the rope line, there was a staff person behind him, with sign-up cards in her hand.
And if you shook the candidate’s hand, or got an autograph from him or got him to pose for a picture with you, she handed you a card and asked you to sign up, to volunteer, to bring four friends with you next time.
“You know there is starting to get a little zip in the air,” Obama said. “It is time to make a decision. And I hope you make a decision on my behalf.”
Mundane stuff. The stuff that didn’t make a single story.
But the zip is in the air in Iowa. And soon the snow will fall. And caucus night will come.
And the race is not always to the swift here. It is often to the relentless.
Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha drove in an RV to each of the 4th of July events yesterday. It was good down time - time to get away from all the cameras and attention.
Here's some cute footage from a card game they played on the drive from Oskaloosa to Pella.
The name of the game is beads. As many beads as is humanly possible. And Obama volunteers had them by the handful, tossing them out to eager crowds during Friday night's Mardi Gras Parade in Sioux City: And a few excited Obama supporters watching the event even got some t-shirts: The Parade is part of Sioux City's annual Mardi Gras celebration and the Obama team here had a great time participating. Below you can see some of our volunteers just after the parade ended, ready to go check out some of the rides and music waiting just up the street near the riverfront. Lots of people signed supporter cards while waiting in line for custard or funnel cake; others asked for some more information about Barack's vision for uniting our country and solving the issues that confront us each and every day. For those of you who are in the Sioux City area and would like to find out more, please feel free to stop by our office, located at 1322 Pierce Street. You can also give us a call at 712-255-5860. For more pictures of the parade, click here.
Have a story about marching in a parade representing Barack? Tell us about it in the comments! Also, be sure to check back later tonight and tomorrow for highlights of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's stops in northwestern Iowa today. And next Tuesday and Wednesday we'll have extensive coverage of the Obama family's swing through southeastern and central Iowa. Click here to see where they'll be!
Meg B. is an art teacher who is heavily involved in her community. She lives by a philosophy of family first, and no matter how busy she gets, she will still be there to pick up her kids from day camp and 4-H activities and make sure the family dog, Ink, is tended to.
"It's not easy balancing it all," Meg says. Her husband is a dedicated officer in the Fort Dodge Police Department and that means often working long hours away from home.
"I have to make sure my kids have what they need for school, get them on the bus, and then somehow manage to get myself ready to teach other people's kids.”Meg often brings up some of the issues Michelle Obama raised in a speech back in April.In the speech, Michelle said: "I wake up every morning and I wonder how on the earth I'm going to pull off that next minor miracle to get through the day."Meg decided to get involved in Women for Obama because she believes in Senator Obama's message of uniting people from all walks of life around solutions to the problems we face every day.One of the main reasons Meg supports Barack is because of his health care plan .Her parents are dealing with Medicare issues, and she was recently diagnosed with a genetic disease that does not allow her to digest gluten. Meg is very concerned about rising health care costs and believes Senator Obama's plan to reduce health care costs by $2,500 for the average family and ensure that every American has access to affordable health care will protect her, her parents, and her family's health.This is no small issue for Meg since she is now also concerned that one of her children may be diagnosed with the same genetic disease she has in the future.Meg was also very impressed when Barack visited Fort Dodge. "The audience was mesmerized by his ideas for this country…He is saying things that others are not."Meg recently participated in a conference call with Michelle Obama and baked cookies for all the women in attendance."Whether you're a socialite or a blue collar worker, women coming together to just talk about their ideas for this country is an empowering thing. I thought baking cookies would make everyone feel more comfortable."Women like Meg all across the country are supporting Senator Obama by getting involved in Women for Obama. Meg believes that no matter what occupation women hold – whether it be stay-at-home mom or other position in the workplace – you can and should influence American politics by joining the group and supporting Senator Obama."Women who stay at home make their families strong,” she said. [We] need to hear their ideas too."Click here to learn more about Women for Obama. Click here to join the Iowa Women for Obama group on My.BarackObama.com.
This is the first time I have felt really passionate about a candidate running for office. Senator Obama is what this country needs to be turn things around and make a difference. I am challenging those who have not signed up to volunteer or help out in some manner to start doing so. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the field staff for Polk County and have been opened with open arms. They say a leader is only as successful as those below them. That is the case here also. If we expect for Senator Obama to become President then we all need to unite and spread the word to others. We need to let others know the belief we have in him as our candidate.
Let's not stand back and let this great opportunity pass us by!!!!!
