Text of President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address
Jan 20,2009
 
Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, as delivered.

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Obama Preparing Order to Close Gitmo
RAW STORY

President-elect Barack Obama will order the closing of the Guantanamo Bay US military prison, his advisers say, according to Lara Jakes of The Associated Press:

That executive order is expected during Obama's first week on the job — and possibly on his first day, according to two transition team advisers. Both spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Obama's order will direct his administration to figure out what to do with the estimated 250 al-Qaida and Taliban suspects and potential witnesses who are being held at Guantanamo.

It's still unlikely the prison would be closed any time soon. Obama last weekend said it would be "a challenge" to close it even within the first 100 days of his administration.

Part of the challenge in closing the Guantanamo prison is that not all of the detainees, if released, would be welcome in their home countries. The Pentagon has begun releasing some prisoners to their countries of origin, where they can stand trial or be summarily released

An Ode to Barack Obama By: Madeleine Begun Kane
Dear Obama, congrats on your win.
You have done it. You’ve won it. You’re in!
Now your job will be tough.
(Please don’t take any guff.)
Let the national healing begin!

Obama: Stimulating Economy Top Priority

President-elect Barack Obama said stimulating the economy is a top priority -- even if it means adding to the nation's growing deficit.

"I think what's interesting about the time that we're in right now is that you actually have a consensus among conservative Republican-leaning economists and liberal left-leaning economists. And the consensus is this: that we have to do whatever it takes to get this economy moving again, that we're gonna have to spend money now to stimulate the economy," Obama told CBS' "60 Minutes" in his first post-election interview which aired Sunday.

"And that we shouldn't worry about the deficit next year or even the year after," he continued. "That short term, the most important thing is that we avoid a deepening recession."

He said his goals would be to restore consumer confidence and re-regulate the financial market. His first legislative goal is to pass an economic stimulus package. He added that the potential collapse of the auto industry would be "a disaster" amid today's economic crisis.

"It's my belief that we need to provide assistance to the auto industry," Obama told veteran correspondent Steve Kroft. "But I think that it can't be a blank check."

The Senate is expected to vote this week on emergency loans to the auto industry, though the measure faces strong opposition from many Republicans. The bill would authorize loans to the auto industry from the Treasury Department's $700 billion fund to bail out the financial services industry.

There's No one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

BARACK OBAMA'S FIRST YOU TUBE ADDRESS AS PRESIDENT ELECT

Obama Announces Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff

Statement from Barack Obama:

I am pleased to announce that my good friend, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, has agreed to serve as my White House chief of staff. I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda. And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel.

During his seven years in the Clinton White House, Rahm was the point man on some of the most difficult issues, from the passage of landmark anti-crime legislation to the expansion of health care coverage for children. In just six years in Congress, he has risen to leadership, helping to craft myriad important pieces of legislation and guide them to passage. In between, Rahm spent several years in the private sector, where he worked on large and complicated financial transactions. That experience, combined with his service on the committees on Ways and Means and Banking, have given Rahm deep insights into the challenging economic issues that will be front and center for our Administration. Though Rahm understands how to get things done in Washington, he still looks at the world from the perspective of his neighbors and constituents on the Northwest Side of Chicago, who work long and hard, and ask only that their government stand on their side and honor their values. The son of an Israeli immigrant, Rahm shares a passionate love for this country, and has devoted much of his life to its cause.

His decision to accept this position is a wonderful reflection of that commitment, for it is not easy to give up the significant position he holds today as chair of the House Democratic conference. The post he has accepted also will require more time away from Amy, and their children, Zach, Ilana and Leah, which I know is painful and difficult.

I appreciate his friendship. And I, and all Americans, should be grateful that Rahm is once again answering his country’s call.

Ronald Reagan Endorses Barack Obama for President

Obama Explains His Tax Cut Plans To Joe the Plumber

Plot to Assassinate Obama Foiled
Tuesday, 28 October , 2008

Washington: Federal agents have foiled a plot by two Nazi-sympathisers to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and kill more than 100 African Americans at a school in Tennessee, according to court documents unsealed on Monday.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the two men said they planned to rob a gun store and go on a "killing spree" at a predominantly African American school in Crockett County, Tennessee.

Daniel Cowart and Paul Schlesselman "further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill or assassinate presidential candidate Barack Obama," federal agent Brian Weeks wrote in the affidavit.

Is Barack Obama a real American or a Harvard elitist?
David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers

DURANGO, Colo. — There's no question about it, John McCain's supporters said. We are the real Americans, and folks who support Barack Obama aren't.

If Obama wins, said Craig Jederlinic, an Albuquerque radio station programming director, "It wouldn't be God Bless America, but God help America."

At rally after rally, McCain's supporters chant "USA, USA, USA," wave bright blue "Country First" signs and shake little American flags high in the air. In the Durango High School bleachers, people made it clear that they're part of what GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin called "these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America."

"It means being normal, having a mom and pop making it in a business, paying their fair share of taxes," said Joyce Lipari, a Cortez real estate agent.

"A real American is the average person who works 9 to 5 for an average paycheck, and John McCain understands that," said Jan Gardner, a nurse from Dolores, Colo.. "When Barack Obama talks he seems to be talking down to us."

That kind of talk is as old as the republic is, and over 200 years it's been directed at, among others, Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Native Americans, Chinese-Americans, Jewish-Americans, German-Americans, suspected Bolsheviks, Japanese-Americans, Communist fellow travelers, African-Americans, Mexican immigrants, nattering nabobs of negativism and pointy-headed liberal elitists.

Obama Says Goodbye to his Grandmother

Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, returned from surgery on her broken hip last week, and Obama was told that he should not wait until after the election to make what he believes is probably his final visit to her bedside.

Family friends say that Dunham has cancer among other illnesses, but the Obama campaign has been instructed not to comment. Obama spent time with his grandmother in her Honolulu apartment and took a brief walk around the neighborhood he grew up in.

Obama paid tribute to his grandmother in his August acceptance speech at the Democratic convention. "Thank you to my grandmother, who helped raise me and ... who poured everything she had into me and who helped me become the man I am today," he said.
   
Source: www.nytimes.com 

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama for President
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Colin Powell, a Republican and retired general who was President Bush's first secretary of state, broke with the party Sunday and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, calling him a "transformational figure" while criticizing the tone of John McCain's campaign.

The former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said either senator is qualified to be commander in chief. But after studying both, he concluded that Obama is better suited than McCain, the standard-bearer of Powell's own party, to handle the nation's economic problems and help improve its world standing.

"It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press," where he announced the endorsement and delivered a serious blow to the aspirations of his longtime friend, Arizona Sen. McCain.

But, Powell added: "I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain."

The endorsement by Powell amounted to a stunning rejection of McCain, a 26-year veteran of Congress and a former Vietnam prisoner of war who has campaigned as the experienced, tested candidate who knows how to keep the country safe.

Powell's endorsement has been much anticipated because of his impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is weak. Powell is a Republican centrist popular among moderate voters.

Huge Obama Crowds: 100,000 in St. Louis, 75,000 in K.C.
Margaret Talev and William Douglas | McClatchy Newspapers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Democrat Barack Obama turned out enormous crowds at his two stops in battleground Missouri on Saturday in what campaign aides said was a strategy of using his ability to command huge crowds as a way to build excitement heading into the final two weeks of the presidential campaign.

An estimated 100,000 people showed up in St. Louis Saturday morning to hear Obama speak at the Gateway Arch — the largest crowd ever to hear Obama in the United States.

Saturday evening, a crowd estimated at more than 75,000 thronged the Liberty Memorial near downtown Kansas City for another Obama rally.

With just 17 days to go before the election, campaign aides said they hope to turn out comparable crowds in other battleground states. Obama was headed to North Carolina on Sunday.

"This is the home stretch and our primary goal is to capture the excitement and energy that's surrounded this race," said Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki. To turn out large crowds, the campaign is choosing outdoor venues with virtually unlimited capacity.

Obama Raises $150 Million for the Month of September

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democrat Barack Obama more than doubled his fundraising record with a mammoth September haul topping 150 million dollars to use in the final stretch of his White House campaign, aides said Sunday.

In a video message to supporters, campaign manager David Plouffe said Obama now had more than 3.1 million donors each contributing on average less than 100 dollars.

"Because of your great generosity we had a record-breaking September," he said as he prepared to file the month's fundraising figures with the Federal Election Commission.

"We are going to report tomorrow to the FEC that we raised over 150 million dollars in September which has allowed us to run such a strong campaign in all of these battleground states."

Barack Obama: The Facts, The Truth

By: David Phillips

October 13, 2008

Bio and Background

Barack Hussein Obama II was born on August 4, 1961; in Honolulu, Hawaii. Obama is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and the first African American to be nominated for any major party as their presidential nominee.

Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School (Harvard - Juris Doctor, or Doctor of Jurisprudence and graduated Magna Cum Laude), where he also served as the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.

Obama worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before entering into any elected office.

Elected Office’s

Obama served three terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004.

Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote from the State of Illinois.

Legislation

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, Obama was the cosponsor for the Lugar-Nunn Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006 and the Coburn-Obama Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006.

Obama’s legislation for accountability of funds also created a web site where anyone can see where their dollars are being spent and by who, here is the web site: http://usaspending.gov/

From January 2005 to the present, Senator Obama was the sponsor, co-sponsor or signee of more than 1200 pieces of legislation or amendments of legislation which can be found at the Library of Congress web site: http://Thomas.loc.gov

During the 110^th Congress Senator Obama has made trips to the Middle-East, Africa, Europe and Eastern Europe. He helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel.

Guilt by Association

Senator Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim, Senator Obama is an American, not an African, Senator Obama is smart and well spoken, not an elitist. Senator Obama does not pal around with terrorists, and he’s against terrorism.

The GOP and the McCain-Palin ticket are spreading all of those lies and more; they are saying that Obama “Pals around with terrorists” regarding Bill Ayers a former 60’s radical and leader of the Weathermen Underground. Obama’s only association with Ayers was that both shared a seat on the Board of the Annenberg Foundation which has eight other board members both democrat and republican, the foundation was set up and funded by a republican, Walter H. Annenberg whom Richard Nixon appointed as the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Court of St. James's in England.

The only other commonalities between Obama and Ayers: both taught at the University of Chicago Law School, and Ayers hosted a fund raiser for Obama when he first entered the political arena. Oh and Ayers donated $200 dollars to Obama’s campaign at the time.

Obama has said of Ayers that when he first met him he was not aware of his background and why should he, Obama was eight years old when Ayers was committing his terrorism and Obama has said that Ayers terrorist acts were deplorable. Obama has also said of Ayers that he just another guy in the neighborhood. That is true as well, and there are more than 10,000 people living in that neighborhood.

And after eight years of President Bush and his lack of judgment and intellect, Intelligence will soon return to the Oval office when Barack Obama is elected President.

With as much damage as Bush has done to our country and the world, Obama is our only chance of setting things back on track. And Obama will have his hands full.

David Phillips is a Vietnam Era Veteran, a Democratic Party Activist, and David is also the Publisher and Editor of the online political magazine YodasWorld.org

 E-Mail Questions or Comments: oneyoda@aol.com

You can also read David’s weekly column in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal or you can go to their web site: www.Syvjournal.com

Biden and Palin, Are they ready to step up if needed?

By: David Phillips

September 8, 2008

The Vice President choices are in, Senator Biden and Governor Palin have both given their parties acceptance speeches, one of these two politicians will be a heartbeat away from the Oval office if something were to happen to the President, but are they ready?

Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) has been a US Senator since January 1973, he is currently the fourth longest serving US Senator in Washington. Sen. Biden is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he is the former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has years of experience in both Foreign and Domestic policies. Sen. Biden’s experience will be a great sounding board for President Obama as he attempts to change the way Washington works.

Senator Biden is well known for his gift of gab and off the cuff remarks, this gift of gab, is a strength as well as a weakness for him, because sometimes he puts his own foot in his mouth, but more often than not, he is putting his foot in his opponent’s mouth. Sen. Biden’s years in Washington are an open book and there are very few skeleton’s in his closet that can come back to hurt him or Obama.

Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) is very new to politics and to the American people, outside of Alaska until recently know one really knew who she is and what her political beliefs encompass.

Gov. Palin was the Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska and now Governor the last 18 months

Unfortunately for both Gov. Palin and Senator John McCain much has come out over the last several days about her ability to step in as President if Sen. McCain who is 72 and a four time cancer survivor should not be able to do his job. And what has been learned about Gov. Palin has many wondering if the McCain campaign did its due diligence in vetting Gov. Palin.

The McCain campaign in recent interviews has said that they vetted Gov. Palin but the truth is, they did not.

The Washington Post reported last week that “Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain's vice-presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona, the day before McCain asked her to be his running mate, and she did not disclose the fact that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant until that meeting, two knowledgeable McCain officials acknowledged Tuesday.”

McCain only met Gov. Palin one time before he asked her to be his running mate, and that was several months ago in Alaska for about five minutes.

McCain has said over and over that a Vice President must have the qualifications and the experience to step in as President if needed. The fact that she was not vetted properly and the fact that she has very little experience to speak of, and no experience at all in foreign policy, should have been enough to disqualify her. But McCain did not pick her because of her experience even though he says he did, he picked her because she is young, a women and might garner some of the disenfranchised Hillary supporters.

But one only has to look at her ideology and those of Hillary’s supporters to see that they are totally opposite. The only thing the two have in common is that they are women. I must conclude that McCain is playing identity sexist politics with his pick of Gov. Palin.

Gov. Palin is against stem cell research, against Gay/Lesbian marriages and even civil unions, she is against choice for women to make decisions over their own bodies, she wants Creationism taught as a science in all schools, she opposes sex education, she wants to be allowed to ban books that she herself disagrees with. There is plenty more that separates her from the Democrats who were Hillary supporters, but you get the idea.

She recently said, “What does the Vice President do? She says that she has not been paying any attention to the War in Iraq, and she is currently being investigated for abuse of power as Governor of Alaska.

There is plenty more about Gov. Palin that has come out in recent days and from what we have learned she should have no place on McCain’s ticket.

Any chances that McCain may have had before his naming of Palin on his ticket are now slowing and methodically blowing in the wind all because he and his campaign were too lazy to properly vet Gov. Sarah Palin.

David Phillips is a Vietnam Era Veteran, a Democratic Party Activist, and David is also the Publisher and Editor of the online political magazine YodasWorld.org

 E-Mail Questions or Comments: oneyoda@aol.com

.

You can also read David’s weekly column in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal or you can go to their web site: www.Syvjournal.com

Obama spelled out a number of remedies for the economy last week during his acceptance speech, where he said he would offer working-class voters feeling the squeeze of a stagnant economy: Ending tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas; eliminating capital gains taxes for small businesses and high-tech start-ups; and tax cuts that he said would benefit 95 percent of working families.

"Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less," Obama said. "More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that is beyond your reach."

Obama fixed much of the blame on White House policies that he said would continue under Republican hopeful John McCain.

Biden Criticizes McCain's Economic Views

Dublin, Ohio - Barack Obama and Joe Biden held a "On the road to change" rally at a high school in Dublin, Ohio. The rally is part of their three day bus tour throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

Biden cast John McCain as out of touch, and criticized his analysis of the economy. Biden said "I can walk from here to Cleveland and not run into a single person who would tell me the economy is strong, unless I ran into John McCain." He said John is my friend, but he doesn't see the economy the way he, Obama and the rest of the country does.

He said "if John McCain thinks we are on the right track, well that's not a train I would like to be on"

Which Candidate does the Media Favor More?

By: David Phillips

August 25, 2008

There is a slogan that says any Press coverage is good Press coverage, even if the coverage is negative. The Washington Post a couple of weeks ago wrote that their own paper has a large disparity between the press cover for McCain vs. Obama. The article said that Obama has been in their paper three times as much as McCain. The article also said that it looked bad for the paper and it should change the public’s perspective of this imbalance by covering McCain in their paper more often.

McCain and his campaign have been complaining about the difference in press coverage for several months now. But you may not always like what you are wishing for, because Senator McCain’s gaffes, flip flops and outright lies have been greatly over looked by the Main Stream Media (MSM).

Positive Press vs. Negative Press

The Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) released a report July 28, 2008 that showed the following results:

Study Finds Obama Faring Worse On TV News Than McCain

Barack Obama is getting more negative coverage than John McCain on TV network evening news shows, reversing Obama’s lead in good press during the primaries, according to a new study by CMPA. The study also finds that a majority of both candidates’ coverage is unfavorable for the first time this year.  According to CMPA President Dr. S. Robert Lichter, “Obama replaced McCain as the media’s favorite candidate after New Hampshire.  But now the networks are voting no on both candidates.”

These results are from the CMPA 2008 Election News Watch Project. They are based on a scientific content analysis of 249 election news stories (7 hours 38 minutes of airtime) that aired on ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, and Fox Special Report (first half hour) from June 8, 2008 to July 21, 2008. Previously we analyzed 2144 stories (43 hrs 30 min airtime) during the primary campaign from December 16, 2007 through June 7, 2008.  We report on all on-air evaluations of the candidates by sources and reporters, after excluding comments by the campaigns about each other.

MAJOR FINDINGS:

Since the primaries ended, on-air evaluations of Barack Obama have been 72% negative (vs. 28% positive).  That’s worse than John McCain’s coverage, which has been 57% negative (vs. 43% positive) during the same time period.

Obama ran even farther behind McCain on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with 79% negative comments (v. 21% positive), compared to 61% negative comments (v. 39% positive) for McCain since June 8.  During the primaries Obama had a slight lead in good press on Fox, with 52% favorable comments (v. 48 % unfavorable), compared to 48% favorable (v. 52% unfavorable) for McCain. 

Another poll this month from the Pew Research Center (PEW) found that 48 percent of Americans feel they’re “hearing too much” about Obama. Pew found that only 26 percent feel that way about McCain, and that nearly 4 in 10 Americans feel they hear too little about McCain.

Did You Know

 McCain slammed President Bush for his lack of help and support for Katrina. But on the day hurricane Katrina hit, McCain and Bush were cutting a birthday cake for McCain in Arizona having a good time while people were dying. McCain’s first appearance in New Orleans came six months after Katrina. And McCain never publicly denounced Bush’s handling of Katrina, until this past April. The Media never said a word about this.

McCain railed against Jack Abramoff, Tom Delay and the influence peddling they brought to congress. McCain has spouted how proud he is for never asking for one dime in earmarks or any special favors from lobbyists. McCain’s campaign is being run by these same influence peddlers that he supposedly was against. McCain currently has 104 lobbyists on his campaign staff. But the Media barely says a word about this.

McCain once called the Evangelical right wing of his party, “agents of intolerance”. Since his flip he had embraced the support of Revs. John Hagee and Rod Parsley, both of these men are even more controversial than Obama’s Rev. Wright. But the Media barely said a word about Hagee and Parsley.  

There are just too many flip flops and lies from McCain to write in this story, but you can read a list of 74 McCain Flip Flops at this web address: http://yodasworld.org/id353.html

McCain should keep quit on the press coverage because it’s the only thing that is keeping this race close.

David Phillips is a Vietnam Era Veteran, a Democratic Party Activist, and David is also the Publisher and Editor of the online political magazine YodasWorld.org

 E-Mail Questions or Comments: oneyoda@aol.com

You can also read David’s weekly column in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal or you can go to their web site: www.Syvjournal.com 

Rice Told Embassies To Limit Aid For Obama
By ANNE GEARAN
AP Diplomatic Writer

As Democrat Barack Obama began an overseas tour, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told employees at U.S. embassies to provide only minimal help to visiting presidential candidates.

The orders went to all overseas posts and told government employees not to do anything that might show favoritism or amount to improper campaign activity. The department said the State Department issued similar orders ahead of presumed Republican nominee John McCain's overseas tours to Iraq, Mexico and elsewhere this year, but limited the communication to embassies in countries the Republican planned to visit.

Officials said the orders had been in the works for months and it was just coincidence that they were issued Thursday, the day the presumptive Democratic candidate left Washington for a much-watched trip to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Europe.

Gore Endorses Obama And Promises To Help Him
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
June 16, 2008
 

Al Gore announced his endorsement of Barack Obama Monday and promised to help the Democrat achieve what eluded him — the presidency. In a letter to be e-mailed to Obama supporters, the former vice president and Nobel Prize winner wrote, "From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected president of the United States."

In 2000, Gore won the popular vote but lost the disputed 2000 election to George W. Bush, who captured Florida and its electoral votes after a divided Supreme Court ended the recount. Since then, Gore has made combatting global warming his signature issue, and has been recognized worldwide for his effort — from an Academy Award for a documentary for his effort to the Nobel prize.

Gore is one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, but he maintained a low profile in the primary campaign. He's planning to appear with Obama at a rally in Detroit Monday night.

It's the second time that Obama has rolled out a major endorsement in Michigan, a state he did not campaign in during the primary because its election violated the party rules. Obama is counting on a win in Michigan in November, but brought Gore and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards to help validate him among Democrats in the state after skipping their primary.

"It means a lot, obviously," Obama said of Gore's support, as he greeted workers outside the General Motors Flint Engine South plant. "He's somebody who is a visionary, not just for the party, but for the country."

Gore also asked for donations to help fund Obama's effort — the first time he's asked members of his Web site AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign.

"Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action," Gore wrote. "With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems."

Obama focused on his plan to improve the economy while in Michigan, which has the nation's highest unemployment rate. He told a crowd in Flint, which had a seasonally unadjusted April unemployment rate of 9.3 percent, that they cannot fear globalization but must embrace it as a reality of the future.

"At critical moments of transition like this one, success has also depended on national leadership that moved the country forward with confidence and a common purpose," he said.

Can America Accept a Black President?

By David Phillips

June 2, 2008

Can a black man become President of the United States in the 21^st century? Has the American voting public evolved enough to see past color and elect a man, any man, purely on whether he is qualified to do the job?

I would like to think that the answer to both questions is yes. But deep down inside I sometimes wonder.

From 1861-1865 America was at War with itself; Northern States who were against slavery and Southern States that were for it. In the end, the North led by President Lincoln prevailed and on December 18, 1865 the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution passed and ended slavery everywhere in the United States.

But traditions and feeling towards black Americans did not end there, just because slavery was abolished, many Americans mostly in the Southern States were slow to come around.

100 years after the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment, schools were still segregated by color; places where blacks could eat or drink were separate from white eating and drinking establishments. In fact everything was segregated in the south for black and white Americans, because blacks were still perceived as second class citizens.

That all started to change in the South, first with the landmark case Brown v. The Board of Education in 1954, which was intended to end segregation in schools.

Then came the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the act expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, sex, (and as amended) handicap and family status. It also provided protection for civil rights workers.

One of the greatest black Americans in our countries short history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the civil rights movement in the 60’s that led the Civil Rights Act of 1968. To this day we celebrate the words and achievements of Dr. King. In fact our Government set aside a day of remembrance to honor Dr. Kings legacy.

But still the South was slow on change and still set in the ways of the past. In fact up until the year 2000 in the State of Alabama, it was illegal for a black man to marry a white woman. That law is no longer on their books.

Now here we are in 2008 and along comes a black man by the name of Barack Hussein Obama, a Christian and a US Senator from Illinois who has taken this nation by storm with the promise of change on the way Washington conducts its business.

Sen. Obama throughout his campaign has been attacked by Sen. Clinton and her surrogates because he is black. And Sen. Clinton herself insinuated blue collar Americans would not vote for him because he is black.

The Republican Party and their spin machine have not attacked Obama because he is black, but they have attacked his Christian Pastors and their views and saying that the views of his pastors are his.

If that were true, then the Republican Party would also think that Sen. McCain is a racist because of his Pastor’s, Hagee and Paisley whose racist remarks have been denounced by McCain, but not their endorsements. Or maybe they wouldn’t because of the “R” next to McCain’s name.

The Republican Party is attacking Sen. Obama with vague associations with others who have checkered pasts. Guilt by Association is how Republicans are trying to smear his name and qualifications. And as always, their spin machine thinks that if they repeat lies or misdirection’s often enough, it will stick.

So can a black man become President of the United States and has the voting public evolved enough to see past color?

The answer to both questions is a resounding yes. While there are some in the country who will not vote for him because of his color, the majority of our nation would because they can see past color. And if Sen. Obama’s message resonates loud enough with these voters, come this January, for the first time in our nation’s history a black man will be moving into the Whitehouse.

David Phillips is a Vietnam Era Veteran, a Democratic Party Activist, and David is also the Publisher and Editor of the online political magazine YodasWorld.org

 E-Mail Questions or Comments: oneyoda@aol.com

You can also read David’s weekly column in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal or you can go to their web site: www.Syvjournal.com 

Obama Breaks With Controversial Church
By Deborah Charles

Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama said on Saturday he quit his Chicago church in the aftermath of inflammatory sermons that could become a lightning rod in the November election.

Obama's resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ, which he has attended for 16 years, was an attempt to put the nagging issue behind him as he closes in on the Democratic nomination to run against Republican John McCain for the White House.

"This is not a decision I come to lightly and frankly it's one I make with some sadness," Obama told reporters during a stop in South Dakota. "Trinity was where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized."

The Illinois senator, who would be the first black U.S. president, cut ties last month with Trinity's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who angered many with anti-American and racially charged sermons.

Just as controversy over Wright had died down, a Roman Catholic priest mocked Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during a guest appearance at Trinity United.

In his sermon, the priest, Michael Pfleger, screamed and imitated Clinton and accused her of espousing "white entitlement." Pfleger later apologized for his comments and was condemned by Obama and the archbishop of Chicago.

"It's clear that now that I'm a candidate for president, every time something is said in the church by anyone associated with Trinity, including guest pastors, the remarks will be imputed to me even if they totally conflict with my long-held views, statements and principles," Obama said.

RELATIONS "STRAINED"

His campaign released a copy of a letter Obama and his wife, Michelle, sent to the church announcing their decision.

"Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Rev. Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views," the letter said.

The decision to quit the church appeared to be a sign that Obama wants to put the issue behind him before the general election.

Obama said he and his family would find another church, although he said they would not likely settle on one until early next year. Whoever wins in November will be inaugurated in January to succeed President George W. Bush.

In an effort to quell the controversy over Wright, Obama gave a widely praised speech in March calling for racial healing and offering a nuanced view of Wright, denouncing the pastor's remarks but declining to disown him.

But then Wright made a series of public appearances and stood by his inflammatory comments. He has blamed the U.S. government for the spread of the AIDS virus, declared "God damn America" and blasted the country's history of racism.

Obama was reportedly furious and finally cut ties with Wright last month. He condemned the minister's comments as "outrageous" and "appalling."

Wright's comments posed problems for Obama because they contradicted one of his campaign's central messages -- that he can transcend past divisions such as those involving race.

Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, has attracted strong support in some heavily white states such as Wyoming, Iowa and Wisconsin. But he has struggled to win the votes of white, working-class voters in states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Political analysts have questioned whether Obama's links to Wright might hurt him in the general election.