If McCain can steal Obama's campaign theme, then Country First Vote Obama is more than appropriate.
Obama, campaigning in Terra Haute, Indiana this morning, thought it interesting that all of a sudden McCain is talking like he's the change agent. We must be doing something right, Obama said.
It's his party--the republicans --that have been in charge for the past 8 years, Obama said. I would add that with Palin on the ticket, Palin-McCain are even more like the Bush administration. McCain has been captured by the wingnuts, led by talk radio show hosts, in hopes of bringing out the evangelical base, just like Bush did. It is noteworthy that Palin-McCain are campaigning in red republican areas, shoring up this base.
Obama brought up the fact that Palin is a hypocrite for saying she doesn't take eamarks but she has. She even hired a lobbyist to get her some juicy earmarks. But she hasn't had to answer to that because Ms. Mooseburger isn't ready to do interviews. But give her Putin and she'll make Moose stew out of him.
The Q&A portion.
Q: No child left behind.
Obama will fund local school districts to recruit and train teachers. There's nothing wrong with having a standardized test, but have it at the beginning or end as a tool for teachers to know where there students are at. Don't punish teachers or make them teach to the test and crowd out art, science and other programs. Teachers need to be inspired.
Q: Will you embrace republicans, asks a republican who wants to convert? Of course. Obama says you don't ask your neighbor: are you a republican or democrat? Obama wonders if McCain missed the two days leading up to his speech. There has to be some consistency. When it starts getting personal, tearing people down, that's not serving anybody. We want to end that kind of politics.
Q: Small flex fuel autos - natural gas.
The oil companies have not been helpful to making natural gas available. We need to look at electric cars but need to develop the battery technology. My point is, we invented the car, so the notion that we're falling behind makes no sense. Obama will provide incentives to auto companies.
I note here that people do care about issues. Not one question about Ms. Mooseburger.
Q: Policies toward Iran and Iraq.
Iraq was an enormous strategic blunder. Troops did everything asked of them. Our leadership was wrong. Missing is the sense of the Iraqis taking responsibility for their country. The only solution in Iraq is a political solution. When we don't put any pressure on them and spend $10 billion a month and they have a surplus, there's a problem. We will pull out 1-2 brigades a month.
Meanwhile, bin laden has set up safe havens.
Q: What I can tell my republican family about jobs.
Economic progress is job creation and incomes going up. He talks about Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae, which will have to be bailed out by the Bush administration, costing taxpayers Billions.
1) stabilize our housing market. 2)stop giving tax breaks to companies who ship jobs overseas. 3) cut taxes for middle class and end Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. We've tried this give more to the top and it trickles down theory, he said. What's better is when people have more income and jobs -- green jobs. 4) reinvest in infrastructure. There isn't a city that doesn't have a need for roads and bridges. Fast track these projects put people back to work. Green and infrastructure jobs could create 7 million jobs. We need high-speed rail. Airplane transportation has become a dreaded affair. Who wouldn't rather just get on a train.
The most important thing we have to do is improve our education system, to create more engineers and scientists. We're losing our competitive edge. Double investment in science and research and help people go to college (with credit for service).
Q: Encouraging youth to care about their communities. Obama talks about how the loathesome (that's my description not Obama's) republicans poked fun at community service, but how honorable it is. He talked about his tuition credit for college students who serve their communities.
Q: I don't have a question. I just want to tell you that I love you and I'm voting for you in November.
Obama reminds people to stay focused on your issues and ignore the nasty politics. If you are confused about my record, contact my staff.
"We believe that the more you know, the more likely we are to get your vote." That statement couldn't be truer.
And, what do you know, not a single question that was off issues. People didn't care about personalities.
