Monday, March 12, 2007

Barack Obama Article

Obama speaks in hometown
by Scott Bolohan
Staff Writer

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was in Chicago last weekend to discuss the Israeli conflict in a regional forum and also spoke at a labor rally.

Since announcing his bid for presidency, the Illinois Senator and Chicago South Side native, Obama has been everywhere from Austin, Texas to Iowa.

On Friday, he spoke at the Sheraton Hotel downtown to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s regional forum, discussing his pro-Israel stance and also discussing the war in Iraq.
Obama had been quiet on the issue of Israel before, but was very staunchly pro-Israel in hopes to impress the forum and gain support.

"Our job is to renew the United States’ efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision," Obama said. "Our job is to do more than lay out another road map; our job is to rebuild the road to real peace and lasting security throughout the region."

Obama discussed the Iraq War and reiterated his opposition of the war from the beginning. He also outlined his plan for a withdrawal of troops beginning in May and with hopes of all troops removed by March 2008.

"Now our soldiers find themselves in the crossfire of someone else’s civil war," Obama said. "This war has fueled terrorism and helped galvanize terrorist organizations. And it has made the world less safe."

Obama said the Iraq War has endangered the U.S. and its ally’s position in the Middle East.

"But a consequence of the administration’s failed strategy in Iraq has been to strengthen Iran’s strategic position; reduce U.S. credibility and influence in the region and place Israel and other nations friendly to the United States in greater peril," Obama said. "Iranian nuclear weapons would destabilize the region and could set off a new arms race…That’s not just bad for the Middle East, but bad for the world, making it a vastly more dangerous and unpredictable place."
Obama also spoke on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency downtown before about 1,500 people at an American Federation of State, Country and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) worker’s union rally.

The rally was in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act passed last week by the House of Representatives. The act grants employees the right to form a union against the wishes of the company. The measure will most likely face tougher opposition from the Senate and Bush has threatened to veto it.

The rally also spoke out against Resurrection Health Care, one of the largest non-profit health care systems in Illinois because they have refused to allow their workers to unionize.
Other speakers at the rally included Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D) and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

Obama’s speech was interrupted by two people protesting against Obama’s remarks about Iran the day before. Obama appeared flustered and said that dissent was welcome, but perhaps they were not aware of his anti-war stance.

Obama also referenced Martin Luther King’s fight for workers and was also very supportive of the workers’ fight for the ability to unionize.

"If some workers are being oppressed, then all workers are being oppressed," Obama said.
After Obama’s speech, the crowd swarmed around him, snapping pictures, shaking hands and getting autographs. His departure stopped the rally for around 10 minutes. Most of the people in attendance did not stay for the remainder of the rally following Obama’s speech.

The DePaulia also participated in a conference call with Obama’s National Press Secretary Bill Burton. The conference call was intended for college newspapers and radios across the country.
Burton said that Obama was running because Obama believes that to change America, the nation’s politics need to change. He said that the failure of leadership is the reason that America has now been able to meet its challenges.

Youth has played big role in support for Obama’s campaign, and Burton said the younger population are going to continue to play a vital role in the campaign.

"He’s committed to making sure college students and young folks everywhere are an important part of this campaign. If you listen to what he says, he specifically points to the fact that at every important juncture in our history, it was young folks that stepped up and forced the change to happen," Burton said. "He considers this to be another such opportunity and looks forward to all that students have to offer."

Burton said that Obama was dedicated to making a college education available to as many people as possible.

"He doesn’t think you should be denied college education just because of where you were born or how much money your folks made. It should be based on whether or not you want to go and whether or not you’re committed to going," Burton said.

Recently Obama has been criticized for his low polling numbers and disconnection that many African American voters are feeling toward his candidacy. Although Obama is considered by some to be the first viable black candidate for the presidency, Burton says that race should not play a role in the outcome.

"He’s always fought to make America a place where you are what you are, and there should be no barriers to your success based on what your race is," Burton said. "I don’t think anyone expected that African Americans, as a group, would vote in a monolithic fashion."

When asked about the Democrat with the highest polling numbers so far, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Burton said Obama was unconcerned with beating a specific opponent.

"Sen. Obama doesn't consider this a race against any one individual or even a group of individuals," Burton said. "He's not just running to win; he’s running because he wants to change business in Washington."

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