This Week for Obama: A Weekly Diary
Fri Jun 01, 2007 at 07:42:22 AM PDT
I've just started reading The Audacity of Hope, and it's challenging me and affirming my support for Obama. His discussion of the Constitution is just one of the sections I've found compelling:
What the framework of our Constitution can do is organize the way by which we argue about our future. All of its elaborate machinery--its separation of powers and checks and balances and federalist principles and Bill of Rights--are designed to force us into a conversation, a "deliberative democracy" in which all citizens are required to engage in a process of testing their ideas against an external reality, persuading others of their point of view, and building shifting alliances of consent. Because power in our government is so diffuse, the process of making law in America compels us to entertain the possibility that we are not always right and to sometimes change our minds; it challenges us to examine our mostives and our interests constantly, and suggests that both our individual and collective judgements are at once legitimate and highly fallible.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the book and highly recommend it everyone.
It's been a busy week! Follow me below the jump for the news roundup.
Obama's Schedule:
June 1 Seattle:
June 2 Piedmont, CA
June 3 Debate in NH
June 4 Nashville
June 9 Walk for a Change
June 29 Minneapolis
July 25 National Urban League Conference/St. Louis
Obama's Health Care Plan:
Obama's plan retains the private insurance system but injects additional money to pay for expanding coverage. Those who can't afford coverage would get a subsidy on a sliding scale depending on their income, and virtually all businesses would have to share in the cost of coverage for their workers.
Obama on the Environment:
"I think the slow chipping away against clean air and clean water has been deeply disturbing. Much of it hasn't gone through Congress. It was done by fiat," he said. "That is something that can be changed by an administration, in part by reinvigorating the EPA, which has been demoralized"
Obama added: "When you've got folks at the top who are not serious about enforcing environmental laws, then all through the civil service people get discouraged."
Obama Turnout in Nevada:
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama made his first campaign appearance today in Reno, where about 4,000 people turned out to welcome him.
That's about 500 more people than attended Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's rally at Reno's Hug High School at midday on a Sunday last month.
Obama Support in Nevada:
"It's not about charisma. I am a person looking for change. This election is not just about homeland security and the war in Iraq.
"It is also about survival of the people in this county. We still have people who are displaced because of (Hurricane) Katrina. We have children going to bed at night hungry. Poverty is rampant.
"That is the work that we need to do in this county. And, with Sen. Obama working with people like (U.S. Sen. Harry) Reid, we can make this nation the phenomenal country that it once was."
Obama Being Candid with Constituents:
It may not be all that unusual for a Democrat to castigate automakers in an environmental speech. But when Obama did the castigating, it was in front of the Detroit Economic Club. Nor did he help his chances of winning the endorsements of the city's big unions by asserting that any aid Washington gives the automakers for their soaring health-care costs should be tied to improving fuel efficiency.
"We anticipated that there weren't necessarily going to be a lot of applause lines in that speech. It was sort of an eat-your-spinach approach," Obama conceded when I asked him about the stony silence that greeted his address. "But one thing I did say to people was that I wasn't going to make an environmental speech in California and then make a different speech in Detroit."
Obama Interview in Iowa:
Matt: I work in your state now but I grew up here [Iowa] and I would be the first to tell you that this is hardly the bastion of diversity- given that thought, are you seeing indications that this presidential campaign can get beyond race?
Barack: Oh absolutely, we are going to places where there is not a big African American population and we are drawing thousands of people- great enthusiasm, terrific volunteers. When I ran for the US Senate, people assumed that we could not get votes in downstate Illinois other than a few pockets where there were African American voters. We ended up winning the White vote in rural Illinois- both within the primary and in the general- so my experience has been that people are looking for somebody who can help them in their lives: help them pay for healthcare, help them save for their children's college education, help them deal with rising gas prices, get their kid home from Iraq- those are the issues people are really concerned about and if I make a credible presentation that I am the person to lead this country in a better direction I think people will vote for me.
Obama talks to Veterans:
Obama says, "If we cannot bring back the fallen, then we have a solemn obligation to treat those who do come back, who have put themselves at risk and yet still have a life to be led, that we are embracing them." Obama's 20-minute speech didn't mention his campaign until the very last lines.
Obama says: "I promise you that should I have the great privilege of being the next commander in chief, that I will understand that solemn obligation to make sure that I send young men and women into battle only after it is clear that we have done everything we need to prepare them for war and just as importantly, that we've done everything we need to prepare them for peace."
Obama on Executive Pay:
I believe public discussion and debate over executive compensation packages would force corporate boards to think twice before signing over millions of dollars to CEOs. Certainly, many CEOs are ably steering their firms and deserve their paychecks. But the rate at which executive pay has grown, as compared to stagnating wages among American workers, is rightfully frustrating shareholders and employees alike, especially given the lackluster performance of many of the companies paying these high salaries.
In 2005, the average CEO in the United States earned 262 times the pay of the average worker. Put another way, a CEO earned more in one workday than an average worker earned in a year. In 2005, the average CEO of a Standard & Poor’s 500 company received a 16% increase in CEO pay over 2004.
Obama on Darfur Sanctions:
"President Bush's announcement today that he will finally impose tightened sanctions on the Sudanese government is welcome. But, it falls well short of what is necessary to compel Khartoum to stop the four year-old genocide."
"Conspicuously absent from this package of sanctions is maximal punitive action against the Sudanese oil industry, which the Administration once touted as a critical element of its so-called "Plan B." Targeted pressure by the international community against the Sudanese oil economy is a much-needed step to stop the killing and displacement of innocent civilians in Darfur."
"Also needed is the deployment of a strong international force, led by the UN, with an enforcement mandate to protect civilians. The U.S. should work with our allies and partners to compel the Sudanese government to accept such a force and establish a no-fly zone over Darfur."
Obama's Bill to Recognize and Fund Predominantly Black Institutions:
U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) last week introduced a bill that would create an official designation in higher education law and provide funding for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The PBI designation would provide grants to approximately 75 urban and rural colleges and technical programs that serve a large number of African American students – many who are the first in their families to attend college.
"Many students attending Predominantly Black Institutions have already beaten the odds to progress this far," said Senator Obama. "These institutions have for years given our children the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s economy, and their recognition is long overdue. To restore America’s competitiveness we must invest in the success of traditionally underrepresented groups. This bill provides a good start in reaching that goal."
Obama in Seattle:
The freshman Illinois senator will speak at the WaMu Theater in the Qwest Field Event Center at 5:30 p.m., with as many as 5,000 people expected. Tickets are $25, $50 and $100, depending on seats. Admission is free for those 16 and younger.
Obama's Foreign Affairs Essay:
People around the world have heard a great deal of late about freedom on the march. Tragically, many have come to associate this with war, torture, and forcibly imposed regime change. To build a better, freer world, we must first behave in ways that reflect the decency and aspirations of the American people. This means ending the practices of shipping away prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far-off countries, of detaining thousands without charge or trial, of maintaining a network of secret prisons to jail people beyond the reach of the law.
Citizens everywhere should be able to choose their leaders in climates free of fear. America must commit to strengthening the pillars of a just society. We can help build accountable institutions that deliver services and opportunity: strong legislatures, independent judiciaries, honest police forces, free presses, vibrant civil societies. In countries wracked by poverty and conflict, citizens long to enjoy freedom from want. And since extremely poor societies and weak states provide optimal breeding grounds for disease, terrorism, and conflict, the United States has a direct national security interest in dramatically reducing global poverty and joining with our allies in sharing more of our riches to help those most in need. We need to invest in building capable, democratic states that can establish healthy and educated communities, develop markets, and generate wealth. Such states would also have greater institutional capacities to fight terrorism, halt the spread of deadly weapons, and build health-care infrastructures to prevent, detect, and treat deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and avian flu.
And, for some of the fun stuff:
Michelle Obama Likes to Razz Her Husband:
Michelle Obama has a few gripes about her husband, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, and she's not shy about sharing them with thousands of people she doesn't know.
He doesn't put his worn socks in with the dirty clothes. He's worse than a 5-year-old at making the bed. And after he eats, he doesn't put away the butter.
``Today, he still didn't put the butter up after he made his breakfast. I was like, 'You're just asking for it, you know I'm giving a speech. Why don't you just put the butter up?''' she told a roaring crowd at a recent Chicago fundraiser for women backing her husband's campaign.
Obama on the Court
"Every time he tried to score, I fouled him," Martin Nesbitt recalled. "I grabbed him, I’d hit his arm, I’d hold him." Michael Ramos, another participant, explained, "No blood, no foul."
Mr. Obama, like everyone else on the court, was laughing. And with a head fake, a bit of contact and a jumper that seemed out of his range, Mr. Obama sank the shot that won the game.
People's Most Beautiful People Heart Obama:
CLOONEY: I'm just hoping Gingrich gets in. Come on, Newt! Actually there's a really good field out there. I like Barack Obama a lot. I've spent some time with him.
PITT: You just cost him votes.
CLOONEY: I've actually had that conversation with him, just saying "Look, I'll give you whatever support you need—including staying completely away from you." Actors have done a lot of damage to candidates lately. My father ran for Congress in 2004, and it was "Hollywood vs. the Heartland!" My father was Hollywood.
PITT: I'm just hungry for some honesty and leadership. And I'm following them all—on all sides.
DAMON: I'm an Obama guy too. I think a lot of the problems in the world would be mitigated if he were the face of our country. I haven't ever met him or talked to him, but he's the first person in a long time who I've been inspired by.
Fun Obama Tshirts
My favorite? Retrievers for Obama.
This Week for Obama Schedule:
June 8: smardemmg
June 15: DraftChickenHawks
June 22:
June 29:
(you get the point - we need people)
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