Obama, Women, and the Economy

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Wednesday September 03, 2008





NEW PHILADELPHIA Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama flew into Ohio today and talked to more than 200 invited guests at Kent State University's Tuscarawas campus at a discussion about Women and the Economy.

Americans are working harder and harder just to get by financially, Obama said. Expenses are rising and people are losing their homes, insurance, jobs or pensions, he said.

"We need someone in the White House who understands what's at stake and is willing to fight for the next generation," he said.





While he complimented his opponent, John McCain, for being a war hero, he contends McCain and Republicans "just don't get it."

It's important that people have good jobs, can pay for college, can raise a family and have good health care, Obama said.

"That's how I measure progress," he told the group.

more: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=9&ID=429169&subCategoryID=0





Republicans have clearly decided to make the election about him, his inexperience, his wife, his preacher, his fame. Whatever, the election is all about Obama. If anyone needed further confirmation, John McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, has provided it. Speaking to the Washington Post editorial board, Davis said this:

"This election is not about issues... This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates.”

Obama, in comments to the audience in New Philadelphia, Ohio today said McCain Rick Davis is wrong. The election is about issues.

He noted that the Republicans spent almost no time talking about the economy last night at their convention in St. Paul, Minn., hardly a word about jobs, pensions, Social Security or college tuition.

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/03/politics/fromtheroad/entry4411885.shtml







Obama slammed Republicans for ignoring economic issues on the first night of their convention -- furthering his argument that his GOP rivals do not understand the concerns of hardworking families.

“Not once did people mention the hardships that folks are going though, not once did they mention what are we going to do about keeping jobs here in Ohio,” he said of the speakers on stage in St. Paul, MN last night. “Not once did they mention what are we doing about all these retirees that are losing their pensions. Not once did they mention how are we going to make sure that Social Security is there for the next generation. Not once did they mention how are we going to make college more affordable so that young people aren’t taking out $40,000 or $50,000 in debt. Not once did they mention how are we going to make sure people can stay in their homes.”

"I guess I don’t blame them, because if you don’t have any issues to run on, I guess you want it all to be on personality,” he told the crowd of about 220 people, assembled by invite only in a boiling hot outdoor courtyard at a satellite campus of Kent State University. “And if you’ve got George Bush’s track record and John McCain voting 90% of the time in agreement with George Bush, then you probably don’t want to talk about the issues either.”

more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/03/1334964.aspx






Obama, D-Ill., was asked about the "Country First" placards all over the GOP convention.

"Let's understand what is going to be at stake in this election," Obama said. "John McCain’s campaign manager says it's about personalities, and what he really means is he wants to make this campaign all about biography. And let me say this. I mean, being a POW for six years, it’s extraordinary, I mean, the courage and the resilience that John McCain showed, you know, nobody disputes that -- we all honor it. And we all admire it.

"But for me, and I think for you, the measure of the next president is how effectively is he going to help make your lives better?" Obama continued. "How well is he going to help create new jobs? Does he have any idea about what the new jobs of the future are going to be? Does he have a sense of how we have to ... reform our education system so every child has real opportunity?"

Obama continued in that vein, listing all sorts of domestic issues that need tackling, from health care to the deficit.

Finally, he wrapped it up, saying, "My definition of putting country first is making sure that we are safe, not hesitating to strike against our enemies. But it also means making our economy strong, because ultimately, if our economy is strong, then our military will be strong, and we will be able to secure our homeland for many years to come."

more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/obama-explains.html




photos: (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

[FrenchieCat]

1. I watched our President speaking there on C-Span.

Loved it!

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2. he was very engaging

and knowledgeable

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3. kick

:kick:

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4. .

:kick: