Obama gives closing pitch to voters
Making his "closing argument" to voters, Democrat Barack Obama put their choice in 8 days in simple terms today:
"The question in this election is not 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?' We know the answer to that. The real question is, 'Will this country be better off four years from now?' "
In a speech this afternoon in Canton, Ohio, Obama declared that America will be -- but only if the failed policies of President Bush are thrown out, and new priorities and politics come to Washington. And that will only happen, Obama says, if he is elected instead of Republican John McCain.
Obama urged his supporters not to get complacent, saying, "We can’t afford to slow down, sit back, or let up for one day, one minute, or one second in this last week. Not now. Not when so much is at stake."
While most of his speech is about his proposals, the Democrat also went after his Republican foe on the economy.
"Look – we’ve tried it John McCain’s way. We’ve tried it George Bush’s way. Deep down, Senator McCain knows that, which is why his campaign said that “if we keep talking about the economy, we’re going to lose.” That’s why he’s spending these last weeks calling me every name in the book. Because that’s how you play the game in Washington. If you can’t beat your opponent’s ideas, you distort those ideas and maybe make some up. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run away from. You make a big election about small things."
"But as I’ve said from the day we began this journey all those months ago, the change we need isn’t just about new programs and policies," he added. " It’s about a new politics – a politics that calls on our better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts; one that reminds us of the obligations we have to ourselves and one another.
"That is why what we have lost in these last eight years cannot be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits alone. What has also been lost is the idea that in this American story, each of us has a role to play. Each of us has a responsibility to work hard and look after ourselves and our families, and each of us has a responsibility to our fellow citizens. That’s what’s been lost these last eight years – our sense of common purpose; of higher purpose. And that’s what we need to restore right now."
On Sunday, Obama launched a two-minute TV ad in battleground states that synthesizes the same point, outlining his proposals to help the middle class.
In many ways, Obama's address came back full circle, emphasizing the broad themes of change and hope as much as specific policy details.
And it closed with a similar call to arms as earlier speeches: "Don’t believe for a second this election is over. Don’t think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does. In one week's time, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels prosperity from the bottom-up.
In one week, we can choose to invest in health care for our families, and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future. In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history.
That’s what’s at stake. That’s what we’re fighting for."
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds responded, “It’s fitting that during Barack Obama’s ‘closing argument,' he was unable to support his rhetoric with a single accomplishment. What’s worse, Barack Obama cannot point to a single instance in which he stood up to his own party and the Pelosi-Reid agenda of ever more reckless spending – which is no ‘small thing.’ The fact is John McCain called for tighter regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac over two years ago, while Obama bowed to his party and opposed critical legislation. In fact, John McCain has called for more regulation of our financial markets more than twenty-five times, and each time Barack Obama refused to support those calls in favor of his own ambition. Barack Obama’s ‘closing argument’ is the same old argument in favor of job-killing tax increases and massive new spending -- it's an argument for closing down opportunity while closing down our economy.”
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Obama sounds like a true leader and one who will bring change to this country. We are in desperate need for a change and I can only see Obama working to bring this change to America.
I agree 100% that McCain has yet to even lay out a plan for what he calls change to the White House and this will lead to his defeat on 11/4/08.
Go Obama!!!!
PUHLEEEZE. Has Obama ever even tried or defended a case, civil or criminal, as a prosecutor, or as lead counsel for the plaintiff or defense? Not from what I have seen in the public record. Still, it doesn't stop Foon Rhee from fawning over him like it's just one more courtroom appearance in the long and distinguished career. Sheesh.
For Post# 2!
I was about to comment on what you said, until I noticed you are from NH.
Explains a lot
Go Obama!
So it's better to be experienced and act frighteningly erratic and without direction, than to have limited experience, but still mangage to hold your composure, maintain temperament, and, I don't know.....make sense?
Obama has purportedly played basketball in his past, and rhetorically, it seems to be the slam dunk the people need to believe in. McCain can't seem to find the ball court yet, but keep us posted if somehow stumbles through the door.
It`s pretty simple. How was the economy when Bush entered the whitehouse? How is it today? Are we in a deficit? Were we when Bush assumed the whitehouse. McCain discusses Joe the Plumber (250k a year?) That`s his platform. Show me middle income Americans making 250k per year with a mortgage and 2 kids and I`ll make sure Elvis shows up for McCains inaug address. Go Obama and Biden next week!!!
Please don't lump all Granite State residents in with NHViewpoint. Most of us are rational, intelligent, and interested participants in the political process and can sort out truth from fiction and meaningful information about a candidate from the blarney. I am a lifelong resident of New Hampshire, my family goes back to the founding of the state, and I am proud to support Senator Obama for President.
I hope Obama wins. This country needs a change. Not more importantly, but very important to Americans: I hope the political parties take away from this campaign that negative ads don't work. Secondly, I love the programs that 'check the facts' or truth and totally discredit negative ads that also use lies. I really hope the parties move away from negative ads that mistate the facts or lie about the facts....they don't work.
I'm voting for Mad Mac and Governor Dumb-Dumb!
Obama is what we all need, we need a change in this country before we end up like be were in 1929, we need a president who is intellegent enough to run a country, and familliar enough that we can sit down and have a ligitamate conversation with. Obama is our ladder out of the hole bush threw us into.
Go Obama!!!
This country does not need change. This country is America. This is a great country where anyone can be successful. Obama will make America less great. Change is not always a good thing.
One reason Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Biden, et al. are opposed to off shore drilling is that it is a threat to ethanol production in the nation's corn belt. Big agribusiness companies like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Noble, and Cargill are pouring a fortune into the Democratic re-election coffers so they can continue to get massive corn subsidies from the US treasury. General Electric is making the technology and guess what ? They own MSNBC-NBC- the Obama network 24/7 with Chris Matthews, nut case- Keith Olbermann and Andrea Mitchell - we arent sure if she is a woman. They praise Obama and trash
Hillary , McCain and Palin !!
In addition to sharply raising world-wide food prices, this is wreaking havoc on the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, OK, SD, WY, CO, and NM. The environmental consequences of the Ogallala Aquifer running dry is staggering and the huge increase in corn production for ethanol is seriously stressing and depleting the nation's major water supply.
This is similar to how Big Sugar and sugar cane production has threatened the Everglades and South Florida's water supply. If you think running of oil is bad, how about running out of water? See how greed can buy the White House for Obambi ??
junglejim123
This country doesn't need change! We need to keep borrowing from China to pay Saudi Arabia who in turn churns out terrorists who attack us!
This country doesn't need change and should keep invading sovereign nations who pose no direct threat to the U.S.!
This country doesn't need change and should keep torturing!
This country doesn't need change in our helath care system, it's perfect!
This country doesn't need change in our financial system!
This country doesn't need change for our infrastucture! We don't need new roads, bridges, power grids and electrical systems!
This country doesn't need a change in tone from our politicians who talk about "real' America and "fake" America!
This country deosn't need change as much as we don't need a new President.
This country doesn't need to change it's Constitution which many Americans have sworn to protect from all enemies foreign and domestic. Obama and his socialist policies are a domestic threat to the United States Constitution.
Joe Biden didn't seem to think Iraq posed no direct threat to the U.S. I agree with the torturing statement.... If we have to torture 1000 Iraqi's to protect 1 American from getting a paper cut we should. Our health care system works for me. Our financial system works for me. We well get new roads, bridges, power grids, and electrical systems regardless of who is in the white house. Sarah Palin apologized and clarified the statement you referred to and I accept her apology.
How many times are we going to hear the issue of experience in this campaign? Imagine you are The Boss of a company ready to hire... which team would you hire? With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an ***unusually critical*** election year. Let's look at the educational background of your two options: Obama: Occidental College - Two years. Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations. Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude & Biden: University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science. Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.) vs. McCain: United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899 & Palin: Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism Now, which team are you going to "hire"? And... I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight... Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded. If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive. If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's. If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable and patriotic. OK, much clearer now. It's quite unbelievable how blindly Republicans are willing to follow their party and accept anything they say or do. It was a Republican President that invaded a country that had nothing to do with 911 and had no Weapons of Mass destruction, and yet I'm sure all of you can still probably find a way to justify it.