Over the next year, Americans will have to make some very fundamental decisions about the direction our government is going in. After four plus years of war, international scorn and internal decay in our quality of life, national security and health care, change needs to happen. If you let the press and Democrat Party be your guide, Hillary Clinton, like George Bush was, is being anointed as the sole candidate for the presidency. Don't let the press and party limit your hope and desires for a new America.
Barak Obama has given America a new direction. He wants to give us a chance to regain our respect in the international community, to end an ill conceived war and to improve our domestic climate. Obama's position on the issues that are important to us all has been unwavering. He doesn't need to apologize for his stance on the war in Iraq nor does he change his priorities according to the direction of the polls and political winds.
Here are some of his positions:
As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Obama has fought to strengthen America's position in the world. Reaching across the aisle, Obama has tackled problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 strength chemical plant and drinking water security and to enhance disaster preparedness.
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.
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.
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.
These positions are clear, concise and make sense. What has Hillary done to advance these issues? The answer is that she has placed both sides of the fence. She voted for the war but claims the war is wrong and explains by saying that if she knew then what she knows now, the vote would have been different. Does that mean that Obama has better insight and judgment? Figure it out for yourself.
What has Hillary done to improve the lives of people living in upstate New York? Over the past 6 years, we have experienced record job loss, under-employment and the downsizing of our strongest companies. Health care has become more expensive and complicated. Taxes have crept up and the cost of education has sky-rocketed.
Hillary brings a legacy of scandal and dark dealings, left over from her husband's administration. Has America forgot about the woman who was scorned for “standing by her man” while he made a joke out of the office of the presidency?
Barak Obama comes to us with a history of visionary commitment,a strong moral direction and an true belief in the power of the American people. He has not been guided by the press and the polls. We as his supporters, must make it clear to our friends, families and co-workers, that they have a clear choice in the months ahead. We do not have to let the political machine make our choice for us. Tell them to visit the Barak Obama website and inform themselves before they decide who to back.
Let us band together and tap into generations of political activism. Let's bring back the spirit of the civil rights era, the power of the anti-war movement of the sixties and the determination of a people who are tired of empty promises.
