Obama speaks on threats, McCain speaks to NAACP

Democrat Barack Obama followed up his major foreign policy speech with a summit today on the threats the United States faces -- and which he says have gone ignored with the failed focus on Iraq.

Republican John McCain addressed the nation's oldest civil rights group as a new national poll shows a wide chasm between blacks and whites.

Obama -- who on Tuesday forcefully stood by his plan to withdraw the vast majority of combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office and called for sending more troops to Afghanistan -- was at Purdue University in Indiana this afternoon to, as his campaign says, "to discuss security issues in a changing world -- including nuclear non-proliferation, bioterrorism, cyber security and emerging national security threats."

Obama argues that the treasure and attention spent on Iraq by the Bush administration has come at the cost of preparedness for the threats of a nuclear, biological, or cyber attack by terrorists or rogue nations.

He recalled his memories of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, then said the Bush administration had failed to adjust to the new world.

"[We] are constantly fighting the last war – responding to the threats that have come to fruition, instead of staying one step ahead of the threats of the 21st century," Obama said. "This is what the 9/11 Commission called our 'failure of imagination.' And, after 9/11, nowhere was this more apparent than in our invasion of Iraq. Instead of adjusting to the stateless threats of the 21st century, we invaded and occupied a state that had no collaborative relationship with al Qaeda. Instead of taking aggressive steps to secure the world’s most dangerous technology, we have spent almost a trillion dollars to occupy a country in the heart of the Middle East that no longer had any weapons of mass destruction.

"It’s time to update our national security strategy to stay one step ahead of the terrorists -- to see clearly the emerging threats of our young century, and to take action to make the American people more safe and secure. It’s time to look ahead -- at the dangers of today and tomorrow rather than those of yesterday. America cannot afford another president who doesn’t understand the threats that confront us now and in the future," he continued. "Today, we will focus on nuclear, biological, and cyber threats -- three 21st century threats that have been neglected for the last eight years. It’s time to break out of Washington’s conventional thinking that has failed to keep pace with unconventional threats. In doing so, we’ll better ensure the safety of the American people, while building our capacity to deal with other challenges -- from public health to privacy."

He highlighted his efforts in the Senate to control loose nuclear weapons and material around the world, his proposal for $5 billion over 3 years to forge an international intelligence and law enforcement infrastructure to deal with bioterror and terrorist networks, and his pledge to declare cyber-infrastructure a strategic asset and appoint an adviser reporting directly to the president.

He was joined at the summit by Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, both believed to be under consideration as Obama's running mate.

Obama also unveiled a new TV ad on the new threats.

"Forty years ago it was missile silos and the Cold War," the announcer says in the spot. "Today, it’s cyber attacks…loose nukes…oil money funding terrorism. Barack Obama understands our changing world. On the Foreign Relations Committee, he co-sponsored a law to lock down loose nuclear weapons. As president, he’ll rebuild our alliances to take out terrorist networks. And fast-track alternatives so we stop spending billions on oil from hostile nations. New leadership for a changing world."

McCain, meanwhile, was in Cincinnati this morning to speak at the NAACP annual convention -- a gathering that he and other Republicans skipped during the primaries last year.

"I hope you’ll excuse me for passing on the opportunity at your convention last year," he said. "As you might recall, I was a bit distracted at the time dealing with what reporters uncharitably described as an implosion in my campaign. But I’m very glad you invited me again."

McCain, who received a polite though not enthusiastic reception, acknowledged that he is unlikely to win significant support from black voters in November -- a reality made clear in a New York Times/CBS News poll published today that shows McCain with a paltry 5 percent approval rating among African-Americans. In the poll, 57 percent of blacks say they have an unfavorable rating.

White voters, on the other hand, are divided about Obama, who is seeking to become the first black president, with 31 percent having a favorable opinion of him and 37 percent an unfavorable opinion. While any Democrat presidential candidate has traditionally fared better among black voters than white, the Times says the poll shows Americans are sharply divided by race.

"I am a candidate for president who seeks your vote and hopes to earn it," McCain told the NAACP, which heard Monday night from Obama, who continued preaching his message of responsibility in the black community. "But whether or not I win your support, I need your goodwill and counsel. And should I succeed, I’ll need it all the more. I have always believed in this country, in a good America, a great America. But I have always known we can build a better America, where no place or person is left without hope or opportunity by the sins of injustice or indifference. It would be among the great privileges of my life to work with you in that cause."

McCain also took time to praise Obama: "Don't tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways. He has inspired a great many Americans, some of whom had wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. His success should make Americans, all Americans, proud. Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes. But it makes me proud to know the country I've loved and served all my life is still a work in progress, and always improving....There is no better evidence of this than the nomination of an African-American to be the presidential nominee of his party. Whatever the outcome in November, Senator Obama has achieved a great thing -- for himself and for his country -- and I thank him for it."

McCain focused his speech on education, arguing that it is time for a break from conventional thinking and the public school establishment.

McCain pledges to offer a reform agenda that includes school choice for all who want it, an expansion of scholarships, and alternative certification for teachers. He also proposed bonuses for teachers in troubled schools and expansion of online education with $500 million in current federal funds and another $250 million to support state programs, including the creation of new public virtual charter schools.

"Education reform has long been a priority of the NAACP, and for good reason," he says in the prepared remarks. "For all the best efforts of teachers and administrators, the worst problems of our public school system are often found in black communities. Black and Latino students are among the most likely to drop out of high school."

Black parents and children are particularly hurt by failing public schools, he said. "You know better than I do how different the challenges are today for those who champion the cause of equal opportunity in America. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school?"

Obama's campaign responded: “We applaud Senator McCain for addressing education in his speech today, as it is a central challenge for our long-term economic future and the future of all of our children. But making education the national priority will require more than campaign speeches, or recycled bromides. It will require a genuine and sustained commitment to policies that will strengthen and not undermine our public schools."