What has happened to the Barrack Obama we knew back in January and February? Then he was all fired up, ready to go – and so were we. What has happened to the audacity? What has happened to the hope?
I have composed a suggested speech that Barrack Obama should be giving on the campaign trail these days. It contains a number of things Barrack has been saying, and some new approaches as well. It is much "tighter" than the usual Barrack speech. Succinct, simple points, integrated topics, and a major theme. Barrack needs to get back to the "fired up" style of his primary campaign. Being cool is not cool when you are fighting Republican tactics.
PROPOSED OBAMA SPEECH:
There they go again. The Republicans tell you one thing and then do another. When will we learn?
Running for election in 2000, George Bush said he was a "compassionate conservative." In office, he tried to reduce fees for Medicare doctors, creating a possible shortage of doctors willing to take elderly patients. He threatens to veto an extension of health care for children. He reduced funding for Medicaid, child care and housing. Once elected, compassion turned into heartlessness.
When will we learn?
Republicans bring promises and shell games. After Katrina, George Bush went to New Orleans and promised a full effort to help restore the city. Large parts of New Orleans still lie in ruins. We were told there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. None there? Oh well. After 9/11 President Bush said he wanted Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." Instead, he diverted our forces to invade a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. Bin Laden is still at large. George Bush promised to "bring American troops home when the Iraqi troops were trained. "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." The Iraqi army is now standing up, but we are not standing down.
When will we learn not to believe Republicans?
Where are the funds for No Child Left Behind? Where are the alternative sources of energy that Republicans NOW say they believe in, but have done nothing about in the past 8 years? [Other examples]
When will we learn not to believe Republicans?
John McCain promises change in Washington – no more earmarks, no more K street lobbyists, a change to decency, civility and bi-partisanship. That’s what he says. What he does is put out vicious attack ads, staff his campaign with K street lobbyists, accept large contributions from PACs, and select a running mate who took gobs of earmarked funds for her home town and for Alaska.
When will we learn?
John McCain wants victory in Iraq. What is victory? A stable government that includes Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds working together. How do you achieve victory? Wean the Iraqis from dependency on U.S. forces. Promising victory while refusing to wean shows more of the same uninformed policy-making that got us into Iraq in the first place.
When will we learn?
John McCain has a new slogan: "Country First" Was he thinking of "Country First" when he chose Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away from taking on the awesome responsibility of being President? Or was he thinking: "How can I get myself elected?"
One thing John McCain has NOT promised: To do something about the economy and economic stress that Americans are suffering. On yes, he has promised to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. This money in the hands of the wealthiest is supposed to trickle down and help everyone by creating jobs. The Bush tax cuts have been in effect for seven years. Where are the jobs?
I (Barrack Obama) promise to do something about the economy that will benefit all working people. I will cut taxes on everyone making less that $250,000. (If you make less than $250,000, don’t let the McCain campaign lie to you when they say I will raise your taxes.) I will remove tax loopholes which make it profitable to ship jobs overseas. I will invest a great deal of money in alternative energy products like wind, solar, cars fueled by non-carbon sources, etc. That will create jobs in America and at the same time reduce global warming. It will invest in our crumbling infrastructure – highways, schools, etc. That will create jobs. And I will ensure the Wall Street is properly monitored to prevent unsound financial schemes such as happened with mortgages.
I also promise affordable health care for everyone. John McCain will let those who can afford high premiums have a tax deduction. His plan would not help the many millions of Americans who do not pay income taxes or pay less than $5,000.
I will protect the environment. I will see to it that food and toys are safe. I will bring quality education to every child in America, no matter where they live. Unlike Republicans, I believe quality education cannot be bought on the cheap.
There are millions of people around the country, young and old, rich and poor, black and white, who believe in the future – who have hope for a better day. Many of these are working to help me get elected because they believe in my message of hope. We can have a better day if we discard the politics of the past and work together for a better world for everyone. In my administration, honestly will replace deception, reason will replace rancor, and the people, not the powerful, will once again govern.