Obama says he wants a mandate for change
(Dina Rudick/Globe Staff)
Senator Barack Obama answers questions from the Boston Globe editorial board.
Barack Obama predicts that the Republican presidential nominee -- unless it's John McCain -- will try to win next year on two issues: fear of terrorism and fear of immigrants.
Obama told Boston Globe editors today that he would welcome that debate and that the GOP game plan won't work. "I don't believe the strategy of fear will work in this election," he said.
And, Obama declared, he is the best Democratic candidate to combat the strategy because he can "reset" America's relationship with the Muslim world and make the country safer and because he can deliver the progress on healthcare, retirement security, taxes, and jobs to improve the economic standing of American workers, make them less fearful of immigrants, and clear the path for comprehensive immigration reform.
He and the other leading Democrats have largely similar proposals on domestic policy, he said, so the difference comes down to who can work with Republicans and independents -- and who is free enough from special interests -- to enact major change.
"Who's going to actually push when it's uncomfortable?" he asked.
That candidate, Obama said, is not his chief rival, Hillary Clinton. Though he praised her as smart, capable, and tough, he said if Clinton is the nominee, it would be a replay of the 2000 and 2004 elections, when the 5 percent of voters in the middle and in swing states will decide the outcome and result in a divided country.
"Even if we win, we will have just eked out a victory," he said. "We will not be able to govern.....I have the opportunity to break through."
Obama, who is in his first term in the US Senate, sought to rebut assertions that he needs more seasoning, contending that more time in Washington is not an advantage. The pundits, he said, seem to be asking: "Why haven't you gotten more steeped in this culture that is dysfunctional?"
Obama also dismissed doubts that he lacks experience as a chief executive, saying launching his candidacy was akin to launching a $100 million start-up against the "Microsoft of Democratic politics" -- the Clinton campaign -- and raising more money than his main rival and creating a better on-the-ground organization.
Much of the longer experience that other candidates claim, he said, is not in actually governing, but more in campaigning on the national stage.
And he argued that his relative newness is an advantage because he's only four or five years removed from dealing with balancing his credit cards and a year removed from buying his own groceries -- he's still connected to the daily aspirations and concerns of Americans.
Obama, whose campaign promises a new kind of politics, said he and his wife Michelle talked about that a couple of days ago.
"She said, 'We're still pretty normal.' "
He used to buy his own groceries. Wow, he is truly a man of the people.
Upon seeing this man today, he was very humble and I watched as he allowed a fellow minister and employee of the newspaper to pray for him.
You have my mandate, Senator Obama.
...."he's only four or five years removed from dealing with balancing his credit cards"...
Does this mean that he doesn't balance his budget anymore?
"...and a year removed from buying his own groceries..."
Indicates that he's closer to being my Peapod/Stop&Shop driver than President !!
He is the only candidate who can unite the country and we don't need to continue the Bush/Clinton family dynasties.
You have my mandate Senator Obama.
here we have an ambitious and tragic figure...right out of shakespeare. i'm glad some of you enjoyed the show.
“Clinton was elected to the Senate in 2000, her first experience of public office. Obama was an Illinois state senator for seven years before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.” In terms of experience in elective office, Obama has more!
There is so many aspects to Obama that it has made this individual who has never been involved in a presidential race involved. This individual would serve our country well. And his wife Michelle is just as awesome.
Let's all work hard and helping Obama get to the White House.
Go Obama 08
He is what America needs at the moment. An intelligent leader at the evy league level and yet very humble. Carries no baggages of the Iraq war an important factor in mending our relations with those we elienated. He realy need all our support.
Funny that actually functioning in society as a human being and not just some puppet celebrity differentiates him from Hillary Clinton, who hasn't been a real person in almost 30 years.
obama boma
You also have my mandate, Senator Obama
It is more than a bit insulting to say that the difference between Obama and the other Democrats comes down to who can work with the Republicans, especially after the past 15 years of Republicans destroying the notion not only of bipartisanship, e.g., impeaching Clinton, but also the idea of "my fellow American," e.g., their petty, provincial response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
The last thing I am looking for in a Democrat running for president is someone who thinks he can work with the Republicans.
He is the only candidate with the "it factor" going for him. He separates himself from all others with his tone, presentation and more importantly, ideas. Those who are playing the experience card are the same people who get their backsides kicked at work by the younger generation with no experience, but the drive and determination the older folks who lean on experience only wish they had.
Brian F--
You are the embodiment of the smallness of our politics.
He *is* a man of the people - he has a track record of serving the community rather than his bank account. THAT (among other things) is what I want out of our leader.
I really enjoyed his speech in Boston Sunday night - very magnetic personality! I have to say that he is right, that many of the democratic platforms are similar, and the one thing that makes this guy stand out is his integrity and refusing to accept funding (ie bribes) from large corporations and special interests...
Wait... you guys met with Senator Obama and didn't get to the bottom of kindergarten-gate? Did you file an FOIA request for the essay locked away in the Obama family archives?
No... I support Obama and am looking forward to seeing him inaugurated in 2009.
I think Obama should release the files from KINDERGATE. That would add some humor to this otherwise ugly fight. The funny part is, as a former Kindergarten teacher, I bet Obama sat a table of boys who wanted a quick idea the teacher would love so they could skip to recess and settled on president. I loved how my students sitting at tables would all turn in essays and drawings with oddly similar themes :)
Obama supports banning semi-automatic guns, when 99.99% of all non-muskets are "semi-automatic". So that means he's for banning most all guns.
Sure people shouldn't shoot each other and most do not. Sorry, I'm keeping my side arm Obama, to protect me those those who ignore gun restriction laws no matter how noble their intent.
Other than that, he's people oriented on most issues except when it comes to AIPAC, he's fully in the pocket of AIPAC.
Obama, the man who would be king. A mandate? What a turn off. That is exactly what the last bozo who became President said he had and then he used it as a shield to do whatever he wanted.
Ah, we're really getting to it now. Seems like he must have had a night off, or something. This is all fresh material. I hope this makes it into the new speeches.
Barack Obama owes the American people an explanation for all of his "present" votes in the senate. A little more honesty would also be appreciated when he is out campaigning.
The man is an empty suit with a great smile.
If you are in New England and support Obama make every effort to tell your friends in New Hampshire why and encourage them to support him as well. Additionally, if you have friends in Feb. 5 primary states, reach out to them as well. He will win Iowa. He will do well in New Hampshire. The key is for him to win Feb 5 primaries and most of them show him behind Clinton. As Obama has said, and I paraphrase, "this election is more about you than it is about me." If you want him to be President take an active role in this campaign, it will make a difference.
First. abt me. I am approaching 60 yrs. of age & currently enrolled as a Conservative, yet I consider myself more liberal than most of them. I was a Democrat for many years but unfortunately the Democratic party went to far to the left - extreme liberal & socialist. Most (not all) believe God should be banned from nearly everything; and their catering not to the needy (which I totally support) but to the greedy & lazy in an effort to gain political support & vote is dishonorable. Many times I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans based on the individual. More people should do the same rather than voting down party lines.
It upsets me to hear statements being made such as Mr. Driscole's comments above, because we really do need to come together as American's. We should look closely at all the candidates and vote for the one who's values are the closest to our own.
I am researching to find an Honest & Honorable candidate who I can support and vote for in the next Presidential Election. During my search I often wonder how people who make comments like the one I mentioned above, can truely have any values whatsoever.
One thing is for certain. If we want change - which I believe most of us do - then we must come together as Americans. Our politicians must be bi-partisan on many issues. Neither party has done this so far in any meaningful manner & if you don't agree then maybe you should look closer.
For me, the jury is still out. Obama speaks intelligently and sounds honest, but I will need to watch & "listen" closely before making my decision. Hope everyone reading this does the same.
First. abt me. I am approaching 60 yrs. of age & currently enrolled as a Conservative, yet I consider myself more liberal than most of them. I was a Democrat for many years but unfortunately the Democratic party went to far to the left - extreme liberal & socialist. Most (not all) believe God should be banned from nearly everything; and their catering not to the needy (which I totally support) but to the greedy & lazy in an effort to gain political support & vote is dishonorable. Many times I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans based on the individual. More people should do the same rather than voting down party lines.
It upsets me to hear statements being made such as Mr. Driscole's comments above, because we really do need to come together as American's. We should look closely at all the candidates and vote for the one who's values are the closest to our own.
I am researching to find an Honest & Honorable candidate who I can support and vote for in the next Presidential Election. During my search I often wonder how people who make comments like the one I mentioned above, can truely have any values whatsoever.
One thing is for certain. If we want change - which I believe most of us do - then we must come together as Americans. Our politicians must be bi-partisan on many issues. Neither party has done this so far in any meaningful manner & if you don't agree then maybe you should look closer.
For me, the jury is still out. Obama speaks intelligently and sounds honest, but I will need to watch & "listen" closely before making my decision. Hope everyone reading this does the same.
Obama is the man!!!!!! I'm 23 years old and currently enrolled at City College in San Diego, CA,and I would love to see Obama as the next president. I fear that if McCain were to be the next president, we would have another four years of Bush policy and another war on our hands. I also belive that without Obama, we could see a lack of progress towards global warming and new forms of energy. Don't let the fear of higher gas prices scare you into voting for McCain, off -shore drilling is not the answer, investing your time and money in new technologies is....Anyways, vote Obama and watch our country & world change for the best.....
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