Obama = Real Change

Okay, today I'm being political. I'm getting fired up for this afternoon, when I am scheduled to attend a house party in support of Barack Obama. The focus of this party is to make calls to Texas and Ohio residents to encourage them to vote for Obama in their primary on Tuesday. Free weekend long distance on cell phones being put to good use. The original goal of this phone campaign was 1 million calls by Tuesday, but they've already exceeded this level so now the goal is 1.5 million calls by Tuesday. This is the same sort of phone-work I did the weekend before the Colorado primary, so I know it's fun and easy. I'm grateful that people all over the country are willing to open their homes to host these house parties. I thought about doing that but let's face it - my house is a disaster during the semester, and there was no way I could clean and prepare even a basic refreshment spread while keeping up with my studies. And as much as I want to work to support Obama, classes come first. However, I do have most of my studying done - just a bit more to read for Philosophy, I love Marx! - so I can go have fun this afternoon with a clear conscience.

"If each and every one of you makes a decision to invest a little bit of time during this small window, just a few months, to try to move this country forward, I am absolutely confident that it's going to happen. And we're not just going to win an election; we are going to transform the country." – Barack Obama

Here's the really political part of this post. I was checking out Obama's website and found lots of good information there which I blatantly ripped off to reproduce here - don't think they'll mind since, A: I'm attributing all of it; B: It is being used to show Obama in a positive light; and C: Any additional exposure for Obama's words is a good thing! As I read these items I knew there was no way I could do them justice by attempting to paraphrase, so here they are:

"We are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. Those things are not contradictory. We have to have stronger border security, but that has to be done intelligently. We need stronger border patrols and electronic surveillance. We have to crack down on employers who are hiring undocumented workers purposely because they don't want to pay U.S. workers decent wages. We need to give illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship. This way, they will no longer be undercutting U.S. workers because they will be following the same laws." – Barack Obama

Thank you, Mr. Obama! It's high time that the powers-that-be recognized that the best way to deal with high numbers of illegal immigrants is to help them become legal citizens! We need an amnesty and an expedited citizenship procedure for those undocumented immigrants who are already in this country, are gainfully employed and have clean criminal records. I believe the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are here simply to work for and hope for a better life, and it is to the advantage of the entire country to help them become legal residents and taxpaying citizens.

"Real change isn’t calling NAFTA a victory and saying how good it was for America until you decide to run for President, like Senator Clinton did. I won’t stand here and tell you that we can stop every job from disappearing because of trade, but I will tell you that when I am President, we will end the tax breaks for corporations who ship our jobs overseas and give them to companies who create good jobs right here in America. That’s real change." - Barack Obama

Right on! One thing I like about Obama is although he's dedicated to producing change, he is also realistic about what sort of changes can be accomplished. There's no way we can stop unethical companies from shipping jobs overseas in order to escape paying livable wages or to avoid pollution laws, but there's no reason we should support these companies by giving them tax breaks to do it!

"Real change isn’t saying that you’ll stand up to lobbyists and special interests when you’ve taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any Democrat or Republican running for President, like my opponent has. I’m the only one in this race who’s actually passed laws to take power away from lobbyists, they haven’t funded my campaign, and they will not drown out the voices of working Americans when I am President. That’s real change." - Barack Obama

Nothing to add here, this says it all.

"Real change isn’t voting for a bankruptcy bill that makes it harder for working families to climb out of debt and then saying that you’re glad it didn’t pass once you start running for President. One of the first things I did when I got to the Senate was fight against the credit card industry’s bankruptcy bill, and when I am President, we’ll reform our bankruptcy laws so that CEOs can’t dump your pension with one hand while collecting their bonus with another. That’s real change." - Barack Obama

Did you know that the bankruptcy reform laws that went into effect under Bush's administration were drafted by a group of executives from the financial sector? The very people who have since made out like bandits as a result of this legislation? (This is according to the documentary "Maxed Out" which examines the credit crisis in the US; you need to watch this one at your earliest opportunity.) Where did W get the bright idea that letting the foxes guard the henhouse would produce good results? I'm so glad that this issue is on Obama's radar and that he's going to make changing these laws a priority of his administration. We've just gotta get him elected first.

"And real change isn’t voting for George Bush’s war in Iraq and then telling the American people it was actually a vote for more diplomacy when you start running for President. The title of the bill was “A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq.” What else were you voting for? I knew what it was, and that’s why I opposed this war from the start, and why I will bring our troops home when I am President. That’s real change." - Barack Obama

This has become my top issue, and it warms my heart to see Obama's declaration of intent to bring our troops home. Bush's imperialistic war must end.

I want to close this post with some quotes from supporters of Obama. Each writer states the reasons behind this choice in her own words, and their words are so thought-provoking that I am reproducing them here without comment, because there is nothing I can add to enhance them.

Dear Senator Obama,
This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it. – Toni Morrison

"A President Like My Father"
Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama. – Caroline Kennedy

"Why I'm Backing Obama"
…The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation's impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded. – Susan Eisenhower, The Washington Post

Another member of the Kennedy pantheon is now behind Barack Obama. Ethel Kennedy, widow of Bobby Kennedy, announced her support for Obama today, comparing the Illinois senator to her late husband. “Barack is so like Bobby, who struggled for the rights of the poor in the Mississippi Delta and Appalachia, traveled to California to stand in solidarity with Cesar Chavez and farm workers, and fought to end another war that cost so many lives," Kennedy said in a statement released by the Obama campaign. “Over these past few years, I’ve watched Senator Obama inspire Americans from all walks of life to believe in real change and a new sense of hope and possibility. He’s a magnetic force, drawing the nation together for the common good and galvanizing us all to help shape our country’s future," Kennedy added.

Peace,
AuntieM