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Our Party BlogHave your say about all things democraticOctober 6, 200821ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP AND JUDGMENT VS. 20TH CENTURY REGRESSIONBy Pat Branham, 3rd Congressional District Hillary Delegate to the Democratic National Convention The first Presidential and Vice Presidential debates are behind us. We have clear choices between the 20th Century politics of Bush/McCain and real change for the 21st Century with Obama/Biden. Obama/Biden offer statesmanship, policies that evidence leadership, and records of clear judgment. McCain and Palin offer more of the same Bush policies that have left us with economic instability and failed foreign policies abroad. Obama/Biden have the characteristics and judgment needed to solve the massive domestic and foreign problems inherited from 8 years of a failed Bush/Cheney administration. These are the same policies that McCain endorsed 90 percent of the time. Obama and Biden look forward with hope to the future and recognize the need for long-term solutions to serious problems at this critical time in our history. Some of the apparent differences between the tickets are the following: Domestic Policy 1) Obama recognizes that the middle class needs tax breaks, and his plan would result in 90% of Americans having lower taxes. The only increase in taxes would be to the wealthy - those making $250,000 a year or more. McCain wants to give tax breaks to corporations like Exxon-Mobil and to continue Bush tax cuts that leave out the middle class. McCain would add $300 billion in tax breaks for big business. 2) Obama plans to provide affordable health care for every American, including the uninsured and underinsured. He knows that hard-working people have gone bankrupt and lost their homes due to health care expenses. Many have died while waiting or received poor care, including our returning Veterans. McCain's plan would tax health care benefits of employees, a new tax for the working poor and middle class, further burdening them. 3) Obama wants to grow green jobs that will result in greater energy independence through renewable energy resources right here in our own country. McCain and Palin want to "drill baby, drill." We have limited resources for drilling. They are not renewable, and we would not see gasoline from additional oil drilling for a decade. They don't recognize that the true cause of global warming is man made. As Joe Biden said, "How can you find a solution if you don't understand the real cause of the problem?" 4) Obama wants to protect the great American dream, home ownership, and protect our retirement plans. McCain is still living in the past and believes in trickle-down economics. 5) Obama wants every child in this country to have educational opportunities and to raise our country's standing educationally in the world. He knows we are 33rd in the world in Math and Science, and he wants to offer public service jobs in return for funding a college education. He wants to strengthen pre-K education. McCain is part of the administration that cut grants and aid to education, even gutting the 21st Century GI bill for returning vets. McCain is part of the former policies that leave millions of children behind and disadvantaged in school. Foreign Policy 1) The candidates are worlds apart in understanding how we should protect ourselves from terrorists and those who attacked us September 11, 2001. Here we stand seven years later, spending $10 billion a month in Iraq, going deeper in debt, while the Iraqis have an $80 billion surplus. Obama wants to hunt down and kill Bin Laden and the terrorists who attacked us. He understands the terrorists are not in Iraq and that Iraq is a costly diversion. Terrorists continue to operate and grow stronger in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Obama and Biden emphasize the importance of putting monetary resources in Afghanistan where our real enemies are still plotting against us. Obama and Biden know that we spend more in 3 weeks in Iraq than we have spent in 7 years in Afghanistan. Obama wants to draw down troops from Iraq and make the Iraqis responsible for their own government. He believes the war in Iraq was a mistake and that we need to focus on getting our real enemy - Al Qaeda. McCain is against a timeline for withdrawal and wants to stay in Iraq indefinitely until we "win," keeping troops and expenses at high levels while Al Qaeda grows stronger. The war in Iraq has drained our monetary resources and has left us short on troops and needed resources for the real war on terror. 2) The difference between the candidates in statesmanlike conduct and diplomatic skills is evident in their records and demeanor. While Obama looked McCain in the eye and called him by name, McCain never made eye contact. He had a condescending approach, personally attacking Senator Obama. He was angry and stiff in his responses. Senator Obama showed the skills of a diplomat, was confident enough to name the points with which he agreed with McCain and ready to say "You were wrong, John" when there were strong disagreements. We don't need negotiators on the national stage who come across angry, will not talk to our enemies, and have Bush's approach to foreign policy. Senator Biden had specific, detailed answers to questions on foreign policy in his debate while Palin played dodge ball and blatantly said she would not answer all the questions. The bottom line for voters is that the policies of the last eight years have been disastrous. McCain and Palin cannot or will not tell us how they would be different from George Bush. Obama and Biden have specific plans to end those failed policies, restore confidence at home and abroad in our government, bring our soldiers home from Iraq, focus to fighting the real terrorists who attacked us, improve educational opportunities, make us a leader in education again, create jobs while cleaning up the environment, protect homeowners, create energy independence, and provide affordable health care for every citizen. McCain and Palin are from the 20th Century and agree with the Bush and Cheney policies. Their policies favor the rich and big corporations and leave out the working poor and middle class. This post has 2 replies... hi, John,
Laurie here. 3 ideas, re: GOP's last-ditch "Alamo": poll disruption: 1) can we try to work around them by getting people in to vote early? i don't think they'd expect us to be organized for watching that as closely. 2) if all else fails, couldn't we rent a van or two for a few days? i'd chip in $50 or more. (i'd even take off to drive) if we could get word out in the communities/projects etc. to set up stops. any word on use of church vans? maybe Mercury or another cab co. could help? 3) is there ANY way incarcerated non-felons can vote? if they still are registered? Post a Reply... Most Recent Posts: 11/19: Make History Again: Help Us Elect Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate 11/14: John Bailes - "I will not puruse another term as Chairman" 11/11: Thanks to the Hundreds Who Worked 11/11: Celebrating Veterans Day~November 11 11/05: You Did It! You Made History! 11/04: Go Vote! 10/31: NOW FOR OUR FINAL PUSH! WHAT CAN YOU DO? 10/30: Paul Smith on High Voter Turnout: The Economy Has Awakened a Sleeping Giant 10/30: Vote Straight Down the Ticket: Obama, Tuke, Berke, Favors, and Brown 10/29: Watch HCDP's "Call To Vote" Commercial Tonight on CBS, Just Before Obama 10/29: Setting New Records: Over 55,000 Have Voted Early! 10/28: Join Us on Election Night at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 10/27: Message to the Hamilton County Democratic Party from Governor Phil Bredesen 10/27: Paul Smith~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/27: Annie Hall~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/24: Only Takes $5 to Make a Difference 10/23: EARLY VOTING HOURS CHANGE DUE TO HIGH VOTER TURNOUT 10/23: Let's GET OUT THE VOTE in Hamilton County! 10/23: New Links at Hamilton County Democratic Website Help Voters 10/21: More than 350 Attend Estes Kefauver Dinner |
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