At JMU, Obama calls McCain desperate(ref: Holtz-Eakin comment, a stunning bit of straight talk)

[maddezmom]

Source: inrich.com

Sen. Barack Obama today brought his campaign to the Shenandoah Valley, today, telling students at James Madison University, that Sen. John McCain is "desperate" for suggesting that he favors a socialist economic plan.

Obama also took aim at comments by an adviser to McCain, saying they reinforced Obama's notion that American's would be worse off under McCain's health-care plan.

Obama called it a "stunning bit of straight talk, an October surprise from his top economic adviser."

The Illinois senator's October trip to the traditionally Republican Shenandoah Valley is unprecedented for a Democrat in recent presidential elections. The Illinois senator likely is trying to hold down McCain's margin in the region.

In a Richmond Times-Dispatch poll released Oct. 22, McCain led Obama in the Shenandoah Valley/Piedmont region by 57 percent to 34 percent with 9 percent undecided. Statewide, Obama had an edge of 2 percentage points, within the poll's margin of error.

Later tonight, Obama is to hold a rally at Harbor Park in Norfolk. Today's swing is Obama's ninth trip to Virginia since he locked up the Democratic presidential nomination.



Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-28-0194.html

[Virginia Dare]

1. Kicking for my alma mater...

thanks for showing them some love Senator Obama!....:kick:

[underpants]

2. As you know JMU is neo-hippie mountain biker outdoorsman heaven

I am sure they have their frat types too but it is a stereotypical college town in the midst of the Valley. Not to be confuesed with Eastern Mennonite of course :-)

I think Obama is doing three things with this trip
1.Every newspaper in Va will have an article on this-letting Virgnians know that he is thinking about them/elevate their importance
2.Any extra turn out in Harrisonburg dilutes the Valley vote (with its magical voters who appear out of thin air)
3.Front page in every paper from Roanoke to Winchester

[Virginia Dare]

3. Looked like there were a lot of AA's in the audience..

there may be a historically silent minority that he's tapping into there.

[indep_kidd]

9. As you know JMU is neo-hippie mountain biker outdoorsman heaven --- I'll agree

and I'll add that there are tons of smart and stupid yuppie children there along with your mix of everything else (including conservative sluts and a redneck or two or three).


EDIT:

And yes there are plenty of white, black, hispanic, etc. voters in the area that might not have felt like voting but may have been swayed by Obama's visit.

[Faygo Kid]

4. One of the worst papers in the nation: Harrisonburg Daily News-Record

As right-wing a rag as you'll find.

Their heads must have exploded today. http://www.dnronline.com/opinion_details.php?AID=32654&CHID=36&sub=Editorial

JMU is a cool school, though, and it's a beautiful area.

Long lines starting this morning for tonight's speech.

[AnAnonymousDemocrat]

5. Obama mocks McCain advisor's remarks about healthcare

Source: Los Angeles Times

McCain aide Douglas Holtz-Eakin says young, healthy workers probably wouldn't give up their company-sponsored healthcare plans for the $5,000 tax credit McCain plans to offer.

By Seema Mehta and Michael Muskal
5:01 PM PDT, October 28, 2008

REPORTING FROM HARRISONBURG, VA., AND LOS ANGELES -- Barack Obama seized on comments by a top aide to John McCain about the Republican's healthcare plan, saying that they amounted to an "October surprise" at a boisterous rally today in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

"This morning, we were offered a stunning bit of straight talk . . . from his top economic advisor, who actually said that the health insurance people currently get from their employer is, and I quote, 'way better' than the healthcare they'd be getting if John McCain were president," Obama told 8,000 supporters crammed into the convocation center at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. About 12,000 more stood outside.

"This is the point I've been making since Sen. McCain unveiled his plan," Obama said. "It took until the last seven days of this election for his campaign to finally admit the truth. But better late than never."

Obama was referring to a quote from McCain's senior economic advisor, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who told CNNMoney.com that young, healthy workers probably wouldn't give up their company-sponsored plans for the $5,000 tax credit McCain would offer to offset the cost of purchasing private insurance.

"Why would they leave?" Holtz-Eakin said. "What they are getting from their employer is way better than what they could get with the credit."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign29-2008oct29,0,2864131.story

[underpants]

6. Obama pounces on McCain aide's remark about healthcare

Source: LA Times

"This morning, we were offered a stunning bit of straight talk . . . from his top economic advisor, who actually said that the health insurance people currently get from their employer is, and I quote, 'way better' than the healthcare they'd be getting if John McCain were president," Obama told 8,000 supporters crammed into an arena at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and 12,000 standing outside.

The Democratic candidate was referring to comments made by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who was asked on CNNMoney .com about an element of McCain's healthcare plan. McCain calls for eliminating tax breaks on employer-sponsored healthcare benefits but wants to give taxpayers healthcare tax credits -- $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families -- to buy insurance.

Holtz-Eakin, a senior McCain advisor, was asked about young workers fleeing employer plans. "Why would they leave?" he said. "What they are getting from their employer is way better than what they could get with the credit."

Holtz-Eakin accused the Obama campaign of distorting his words.

"My response was that, obviously, if they had better coverage, they would not change," Holtz-Eakin said. "The Obama campaign deliberately took the quote out of context. This continues their disgraceful campaign."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-campaign29-2008oct29,0,7957635.story

[mac56]

7. K & R

I love the obligatory "WAAH! He took me out of context!" reply from Holtz-Eakin.

[indep_kidd]

8. Big Turn-Out

Apparently 20,000 people showed up.

I tried to get in from noon but the crowd control was terrible--at least he gave a short speech outside.

http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/videos-in-the-heart-of-red-virginia-thousands-flock-to-obama/