I recently took a break from grassroots organizing and canvassing to create a video that departs from the usual political commercial:
Truckers for Obama: The Road to Change
It stars a 1952 Chevy pickup truck named Betsy ... and drives viewers to VoteForChange.com.
It was the beginning of a life grounded in public service -- one that recognized that ordinary people could be empowered to change their communities. Today, a lot of the same issues that Barack tackled as a community organizer are the ones he's taking on as a presidential candidate.
"This is the first economic expansion since they've been keeping these records since World War II in which the average family income actually went down. In the meantime, your cost of everything from gas at the pump to groceries to home heating to health care to college have all skyrocketed during that same period," he says.
These videos out of Indiana recall the lessons Barack learned on the ground: listen to people, and work for a positive change.
"I wasn't led to working people because of politics. I got into politics because of working people," he says.
On Day 5 of the Road to Change, scores of passionate and sleep-deprived folks from all across the state filtered into Des Moines to cheer on Barack at the ABC debate.
They showed up at Drake University at 2:30 AM, where they were joined by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers later on in the morning. They chanted and cheered and waved signs of "Hope" and didn't let up until Barack came out to greet them after the debate.
It was a testament to the tremendous energy for and dedication to Barack in Iowa, and a remarkable end to Barack's journey through the state. Watch the video:
The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen writes:
Obama may be the biggest winner. He was in the cross hairs for much of the early part of the session and he stood up well to the scrutiny over his foreign policy positions and questions of whether he¹s qualified to be president …He came off as knowledgeable and temperate. He looked presidential[.]
And here's some video from one focus group in Des Moines:
And Iowa Independent:
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama showed this morning why he's in the presidential race with his best debate performance to date, one in which he commanded details, looked Oval Office ready and effectively made the case that he is indeed the candidate of true change -- and that instead of polarizing GOP voters in the fall of 2008 he may be able to pick off some of them. Obama gained the most ground of any of the candidates in the debate... Want a change? "I'm your guy," said Obama. "We're going to need someone to break out of the political pattern we've been in the last 20 years," Obama said.
Obama gained the most ground of any of the candidates in the debate...
Want a change? "I'm your guy," said Obama. "We're going to need someone to break out of the political pattern we've been in the last 20 years," Obama said.
This debate was a great way to finish off Barack's five-day swing through Iowa. He is showing that he is a complete candidate and the person best-suited to become the next president.
What did you think of the debate?
Barack led a discussion about energy security in Waverly, IA this morning. It was held at the Waverly Light and Power Headquarters, and after taking a quick tour, he answered folks' questions about energy and listened to their concerns. Although this was a forum about energy, one of my favorite moments came when an audience member asked Barack what is on his recommended reading list:
We just left Marion, Iowa, where Barack held a special "BBQ & A" with ten people from across the state.
The guests enjoyed brats, burgers, and grilled corn as they discussed topics from education to the environment with Barack.
Molly Cassens of Fairfield, whose husband is originally from Mozambique, asked what Barack would do to fight poverty and disease in Africa. Barack said that he'd begin by pulling our troops out of Iraq, so that America could refocus its efforts and resources into making positive contributions in the world. Jason Nissen of Fairbank asked Barack what he would do to help his daughter, who has autism. Barack replied that we need to first acknowledge the exponential growth of autism and begin to figure out its causes -- and that, unlike the Bush administration, he'd fund and support scientific efforts, rather than stifle them.
Karen Osbourne of New London didn't have an issue-specific question. She said she believed most of the Democratic candidates shared the same policy perspectives, and that, as a result, she hadn't fully made up her mind about who she wanted to support.
She said she wanted to know what informs Barack's values; she wanted to understand what it is that ultimately drives him to take a stand. He told her that whenever he needs to make a decision, he tries to imagine what it's like to be someone else -- he tries to step inside the shoes of the people who will actually be affected by a policy. He said that's the way he's thought about things throughout his life, beginning from his days as a young boy, when he saw other children living in poverty. "Did I answer your question?" Barack asked Karen.
Karen nodded. "You did, yes you did."
Stay tuned for a video.
Michelle Obama spoke to an audience of over 150 people today at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa today, declaring that American voters are being presented with a brief window for change this election. Watch the video:
Many of you will recall that Buddy Holly played the Surf Ballroom the night before he, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash shortly after taking off from a Mason City airport in 1959.
The ballroom was kind enough to put Barack's name up on the marquee!
Tom Miller, Iowa’s great attorney general, did the introduction. And Barack took the stage to a standing ovation.
A much-deserved shout-out goes to the Hancock, Cerro Gordo, and Winnebago County Democrats and the folks at the Surf Ballroom for this event. The decorations looked amazing!
For many of the Road to Change events Barack has kept his remarks to a minimum so he could respond to the specific issues raised by the audience. But this was a keynote speech so Barack injected a significant amount of policy into his remarks.
He hit three big issues:
Health Care
If we invest in prevention, make sure everyone has a primary-care physician and is getting regular checkups, we will save money. ... Transitioning to electronic medical records will save us $100-$150 billion each year and we can take that money to ensure that every American has universal health care by the end of the next president's first term - by the end of my first term as president of the United States.
...
Transitioning to electronic medical records will save us $100-$150 billion each year and we can take that money to ensure that every American has universal health care by the end of the next president's first term - by the end of my first term as president of the United States.
And there is no reason we can’t fix our education system. Teachers tell me all the time that the kids who are behind are the ones who start out behind. If we want to fix that, we need to invest in early childhood education. ...If we invest those resources early in life there is no reason these children can’t succeed. ... And we must also invest in our teaching corps - the most important people at the head of the classroom. Why wouldn’t we pay them more money? Why wouldn't we give them more flexibility to tailor lessons to their specific classes? We should tell them don't just teach to the test, we’re not going to punish you, we’re going to reward you when you do good.
If we invest those resources early in life there is no reason these children can’t succeed.
And we must also invest in our teaching corps - the most important people at the head of the classroom. Why wouldn’t we pay them more money? Why wouldn't we give them more flexibility to tailor lessons to their specific classes? We should tell them don't just teach to the test, we’re not going to punish you, we’re going to reward you when you do good.
We must re-engage the world in ways we haven’t in a very long time. I imagine going before the United Nations in my first year as president and saying America is back. We’re going to lead - and not just with our military but with our values and ideals. We want to work with you to defeat terror and on nuclear proliferation. We want to work with you on Darfur, and to build schools in the Middle East that teach math and science - not just hate of America. ... And we're going to close Guantanamo and restore habeas corpus because that’s not who we are.
We want to work with you on Darfur, and to build schools in the Middle East that teach math and science - not just hate of America.
And we're going to close Guantanamo and restore habeas corpus because that’s not who we are.
Barack is confident in his ability to lead our country - otherwise he wouldn't be running. But he can't do it alone. He is fond of saying that change in America never happens from the top down, it happens from the bottom up. It happens because ordinary people decide they want to make their voices heard.
You can take a look at Barack's specific policy ideas here:
But the fact is, nothing will happen unless everyone makes their voices heard.
If you're in Iowa, sign up as an Obama supporter here, and let us hear your voice!
Tomorrow is a big day, with several events in Waverly and Cedar Rapids. Then it's off to Des Moines for the big debate on Sunday!
When I first met him, he was this hotshot Harvard law student...And I thought, this guy can't be all that. And I made assumptions, like a lot of people do. I made assumptions like we do in America about people...As his advisor I had to take him out to lunch on that first day---which was good because I had to talk to him, I had to actually get to know him, and I learned that we actually had a lot in common...that integrity matters in this world, that there's nothing more important in life than your family and your community...
When people tell you Barack Obama is not experienced enough to be in the race, that's the political game speaking. Are we ready to move beyond convention? It's a leap of faith that we can move away from the things that haven't worked but have felt secure to us.
Barack addressed the Tama Rural Summit this afternoon, declaring that the core values of rural Americans represent the core values of all Americans. Watch the video:
Our latest stop: Tama, Iowa, where Barack is meeting with Iowa farmers to discuss agriculture policy at the Tama Rural Summit.
In conjunction with the Rural Summit, we convened an online virtual summit over the last few days. Anyone could come to our website and submit their ideas and concerns related to the three breakout sessions that summit participants have divided up into - agriculture, energy, and rural economic development and quality of life.The number issue that the agriculture breakout session identified -- caps on farm subsidies -- was submitted online via the virtual summit. Here's the question:
Many are unaware of how harmful the subsidies that go to Agribusiness are to those who live in developing countries. While subsidies may help Agribusiness in the short term, they pose significant threats to our long-term national interests. What is the best way to restructure agricultural subsidies so that they do not exacerbate poverty abroad, benefit small farmers and not Agribusiness, and reflect a commitment to developing renewable, domestic energy sources? Our domestic agricultural subsidies and priorities are a big part of our national security.
"This breakout session is particularly important," said Barack. "Many of us have concerns about the latest Farm Bill. I think we need a more aggressive cap on payments. I want to make sure I'm listening to all of you to get a strong sense of how you think our policy needs to be directed."
Among those who shared their concerns was Mr. Joe Lyon, who we met with yesterday.
After the summit, Barack met with Joe's wife, Norma "Duffy" Lyon, who presented Barack with the Butter O.
Jaime and I just spoke with Oliva, who showed up to the Saints Rest Coffee Shop in Grinnell to meet with Barack.
She pointed to a small pin with a gold star on her shirt and told us that four years ago, just before Bush made his "Mission Accomplished" speech, her grandson was killed in Iraq.
"He graduated from West Point, he spoke five languages, he could have done so much," she says. "He got a free education but paid with his life."
"I'd never been to a military funeral," she remembers. "Coming out of that church were old veterans of various wars. They didn't know him but they were there. It was amazing."
The war has left a deeply personal imprint on her family. "The war, it mushrooms all over the place. Many many people were affected by his death. His parents and his grandparents, his friends, his siblings. His mother still puts fresh flowers on his grave every week. This is happening to so many families because we're still over there and they're still dying."She says her main priority in this election is, simply, "peace."
Here in Grinnell, Barack is meeting with local activists, young and old, at the Saints Rest Coffee Shop.
"I have memories of being a young organizer, underpaid and underappreciated," said Barack. "I want to make sure I acknowledge the young underpaid and underappreciated from my campaign. Tyler Lechtenberg, the field organizer in this area, is one of these people. Tyler is from Strawberry Point, Iowa and he's an example of the young people who have energized the campaign."
"People aren't just coming out because they're against something," he said. "They want to be for something. Americans are sharing their hopes and desires that we can come together around a sense of common purpose."
This morning's stop on the Road to Change is Grinnell, Iowa, home of Grinnell College, the first four-year school west of the Mississippi River.
We're heading to Saints Rest Coffee Shop, where Barack will meet with local activists and hear about their concerns. We'll keep you updated.
Ed Alcock, who serves as President of AFSCME Local 12 in Iowa, was leaning towards Obama but hadn't yet made up his mind. After seeing the Senator speak in Waterloo yesterday at the state AFL-CIO convention, he was convinced and signed a supporter card. Watch the video:
In Council Bluffs this morning, Barack showed once again that he is the candidate who will turn the page on foreign policy. Here, he lays out his plan for a new direction:
On our way to the State Fair, we stopped by Tama, Iowa, to chat with Ms. Norma Lyon, who, for decades, sculpted the Butter Cow. Here she is at the local supermarket warming up after spending an hour in the refrigerator room, where she's finishing up her latest work.
Norma retired from her official duties this past year, but she and her husband Joe are Barack fans, so she made a special Butter O for tomorrow's event in Tama.
Norma invited us back to her family's dairy farm, where we got to meet some of the characters who've inspired her famous sculptures.
The Lyons have been married for 56 years. "It's been a fun ride," said Joe.
"There's been a lot of despair over the past several years. Hope is something we haven't seen for a while," said Joe, "But we see it in Obama."
Stay tuned for a short documentary on the Lyons.
