Obama says war taking economic toll
President Bush sought to link success in the five-year-old war in Iraq to economic issues, warning of dire consequences if the US withdraws too soon and al Qaeda wrests control of Iraq's oil fields.
Today, Barack Obama made a similar connection -- but to make a different point. The war he wants to end has already taken a toll on the US economy and burdened working families.
"At a time when we're on the brink of recession -- when neighborhoods have 'For Sale' signs outside every home, and working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs -- ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war," he told a crowd in Charleston, West Va.
The Democratic senator from Illinois also argued that the $10 billion a month being spent on the war could have been invested for better purposes.
"Instead of fighting this war, we could be fighting for the people of West Virginia," he said, according to prepared remarks provided by his campaign. "For what folks in this state have been spending on the Iraq war, we could be giving health care to nearly 450,000 of your neighbors, hiring nearly 30,000 new elementary school teachers, and making college more affordable for over 300,000 students."
Today's speech followed up on one Wednesday in North Carolina in which Obama argued the strategic costs of the Iraq war, saying it had diverted attention and resources from Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, and other security challenges.
The first thing we need to do is elect a Congress that remembers that it is comprised of public servants who are supposed to serve the will of the people not Presidential servants serving a tyrant and corporate interests. Americans have made it very clear that they want an end put to illegal immigration. Congress and the Senate continue to try to find an end around to their constituents' demands on this issue.
The Labor Department reports job losses in the thousands and the economy continues to slow, yet the U.S. House of Representatives, while we are distracted by sermons and sex scandals, is considering legislation to import more foreign workers, flooding the labor pool.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) has introduced the Innovation Employment Act (H.R. 5630), which would DOUBLE the current H-1B visa cap to 130,000 per fiscal year. H.R. 5630 would further raise the cap to 180,000 beginning in 2010 if the 130,000 cap is reached during the 2009 fiscal year.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has introduced the Strengthening United States Technology and Innovation Act (H.R. 5642), which would TRIPLE the current H-1B visa cap to 195,000 in 2008 and 2009.
These workers will serve corporate greed by working for less money and force more Americans into the unemployment lines. In other words, they will accomplish the same thing that failing to enforce immigration laws has.
Please write, call, email, fax your Congressman and let them know that we do not want this to happen.
Ron Paul is the one who has pointed out the economic burden of the war from the start.
Education is a wonderful thing,but what good is it if there are no jobs and no income. Then you cannot eat a book. Save the jobs going out of this country by cutting back on tax breaks given to the ones moving out and give the breaks to the ones staying here.
I may not be able to vote yet one thing is for shure if I was I would not vote for Obama because there are a lot of questions about him and why put a question mark in to run this country!The deomcrats are only looking to make history and not thinking about the pepole!
I may not be able to vote yet one thing is for shure if I was I would not vote for Obama because there are a lot of questions about him and why put a question mark in to run this country!The deomcrats are only looking to make history and not thinking about the pepole!
Does Obama think this is a NEW conclusion? This is what the American people have been saying for years.
great job Senator Obama
"It's the economy stupied"
Hillary spoke at Boston Symphony Hall last Fall and she spoke about ALL the issues. Obama spoke about nothing. This is nothing more than a deflection from the Wright controversy. We see through that. Boston Globe give it up - and I'm a liberal. Look at D. Patrick - no experience - "just words".
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com
browse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com