28 January 2008

Obama: History will not be kind to Bush

In a post-State of the Union response, White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama--enjoying endorsements today from Sen. Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and Toni Morrison--pans President Bush's "empty rhetoric" and says "I do not believe history will judge his administration kindly." Full text of Obama's response follows the video...


"Tonight, for the seventh long year, the American people heard a State of the Union that didn't reflect the America we see, and didn't address the challenges we face. But what it did do was give us an urgent reminder of why it's so important to turn the page on the failed politics and policies of the past, and change the status quo in Washington so we can finally start making progress for ordinary Americans.

"Tonight's State of the Union was full of the same empty rhetoric the American people have come to expect from this President. We heard President Bush say he'd do something to cut down on special interest earmarks, but we know these earmarks have skyrocketed under his administration.

"We heard the President say he wants to make tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent, when we know that at a time of war and economic hardship, the last thing we need is a permanent tax cut for Americans who don't need them and weren't even asking for them. What we need is a middle class tax cut, and that's exactly what I will provide as President.

"We heard the President say he has a stimulus plan to boost our economy, but we know his plan leaves out seniors and fails to expand unemployment insurance, and we know it was George Bush's Washington that let the banks and financial institutions run amok, and take our economy down this dangerous road. What we need to do now is put more money in the pockets of workers and seniors, and expand unemployment insurance for more people and more time. And I have a plan that to do just that.

"And finally, tonight we heard President Bush say that the surge in Iraq is working, when we know that's just not true. Yes, our valiant soldiers have helped reduce the violence. Five soldiers gave their lives today in this cause, and we mourn their loss and pray for their families.

"But let there be no doubt – the Iraqi government has failed to seize the moment to reach the compromises necessary for an enduring peace. That was what we were told the surge was all about. So the only way we're finally going to pressure the Iraqis to reconcile and take responsibility for their future is to immediately begin the responsible withdrawal of our combat brigades so that we can bring all of our combat troops home.

"But another reason we need to begin this withdrawal immediately is because this war has not made us safer. I opposed this war from the start in part because I was concerned that it would take our eye off al Qaeda and distract us from finishing the job in Afghanistan. Sadly, that's what happened. It's time to heed our military commanders by increasing our commitment to Afghanistan, and it's time to protect the American people by taking the fight to al Qaeda.

"Tonight was President Bush's last State of the Union, and I do not believe history will judge his administration kindly. But I also believe the failures of the last seven years stem not just from any single policy, but from a broken politics in Washington. A politics that says it's ok to demonize your political opponents when we should be coming together to solve problems. A politics that puts Wall Street ahead of Main Street, ignoring the reality that our fates are intertwined; a politics that accepts lobbyists as part of the system in Washington, instead of recognizing how much they're a part of the problem. And a politics of fear and ideology instead of hope and common sense.

"I believe a new kind of politics is possible, and I believe it is necessary. Because the American people can't afford another four years without health care, decent wages, or an end to this war. The woman who's going to college and working the night shift to pay her sister's medical bills can't afford to wait. The Maytag workers who are now competing with their teenagers for $7 an hour jobs at Wall Mart can't afford to wait. And the woman who told me she hasn't been able to breathe since her nephew left for Iraq can't afford to wait.

"Each year, as we watch the State of the Union, we see half the chamber rise to applaud the President and half the chamber stay in their seats. We see half the country tune in to watch, but know that much of the country has stopped even listening. Imagine if next year was different. Imagine if next year, the entire nation had a president they could believe in. A president who rallied all Americans around a common purpose. That's the kind of President we need in this country. And with your help in the coming days and weeks, that's the kind of President I will be."

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Politics that say it's ok to demonize your opponent."

Jesse Jackson, Jr., the day after Hillary's New Hampshire win, on MSNBC:

"We didn't see any tears from Hillary after Katrina," implying Hillary didn't care about blacks.

Done willfully, to send a political dirty trick dog whistle to the Blacks in South Carolina.

Barak Obama did not apologize on behalf of his campaign co-chairman, nor has he fired him.

Put up or shut up, Barak.

Anonymous said...

simply stated, he spoke in terms that don't need too much thought, where we don't have to wait, figuring out where bones were being thrown. Bush offered many things, that looked good in headlines, but his bottom line was the providing silk to pockets filled and spilling over with silk. Obama, doesn't leave the headline open for conjecture, unlike our fear leader.

I like that.

Tom Ritchford said...

Mr. Obama's only a decent candidate by comparison with Bush. What does he really offer us? He also wants to cut taxes -- but we're already spending more than we collect. He wants to spend MORE money on the military -- how does he reconcile that with the lower taxes?

In 2001, the defense department was tested. It failed completely -- zero out of four. Yet, we changed nothing -- not one person lost their job -- and we continue to funnel more money into the military, more money than all other countries in the world put together!

Mr. Obama's just going to continue this tradition of helping the "Defense" department waste hundreds of billions of dollars of the American taxpayer's money so it can go into the pockets of rich, violent men. His one attraction for me is that he's not a Republican and might win: I don't see any positive features about Obama at all.

(PS: If you didn't guess, this applies even more to Mrs. Clinton, who's even more of a hawk than Mr. Obama...)

Anonymous said...

^^^^^
ron paul supporter lmao

Anonymous said...

Obama sounds like every other well-rehearsed politician. Same old jargon, same old complaints. All talk, little to show for his actions. You want to make the right changes? Ron Paul 2008!

Anonymous said...

Obama will NOT BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER. He WILL BE UNABLE TO BRING THE TROOPS HOME. He IS JUST A GREENHORN.

Anonymous said...

Obama is a pandering wannabe. He will not be the predident of the United States, so why is he decidedly placing himself on the far left bank of politics? He looks like a "characture" of a black man. Black men can't respect this guy. He's nothing. If that's the best the democrats have....get ready to lose again.

Anonymous said...

You have him quoted wrong in your transcript:

"that's the kind of President I will be."

should say:

"that's the kind of President I hope to be."




This speech made me, a grown man with children, cry. I cried because I have so much pride and care for a country so failed - and for so long I have been despondent and without hope for my country.

Now, I dare to hope again. I pray for this mans success.

~David
Portland, Oregon

Anonymous said...

Obama, as a Ron Paul supporter, you'd best stick to what you're promising.

While I believe you to be a better candidate than the mainstream republicans, that's saying precious little.

You'd best stick to your claimed ideals, because, crazy some some may sound, you've hit a nerve in America, and reneging on them would be fatal for your campaign.

Unknown said...

Demonize...pot/kettle. Same ideas as any other politician. Different way of going about it. It's funny that I hear the word change every two years and nothing has changed.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Ron Paul supporters make me laugh too. He does have a few good ideas and some great sound bites, but in the end his whole idea is to isolate us from the rest of the world and push all the tough work off to the states. He doesn't offer any practical solutions because his initiatives would get stonewalled by both parties in congress. He'd be a disaster as president and that's why he has such a small (but vocal) following.

Anonymous said...

"You have him quoted wrong in your transcript"

Thanks for pointing it out, but the transcript of the prepared text was as released by the Obama camp.

"Now, I dare to hope again. I pray for this mans success."

You're not alone, David. I've never heard anything quite like him in my lifetime either, but as you can expect the haters are out in full force. Some people can't accept ANY modicum of change. They're married to their misery and cynicism.

Anonymous said...

jacob: "It's funny that I hear the word change every two years and nothing has changed."

Cut Obama some slack, the man hasn't been elected president yet.

Anonymous said...

He's so full of crap. I have yet to see his "plan" to do all of what he says he'll do. Empty rhetoric, strong charisma! It's actually frightening to see so many people falling for him because of his looks and charisma. This is exactly what brought a Bill Clinton into office. We should grow up and not be electing good-looking charlatans into office anymore. Anyone seen the good looking charlatan who's the governor of Texas. Nightmare on Elm Street!

Anonymous said...

Either way, if he is going to get rid of Wal-Mart and stop the oversale of foreign goods, you cant ask for much more. That will strengthen the economy and give alot of people jobs back. Companies like Wal-Mart should be selling American made goods, but they are too cheap so theyd rather pay some Indonesian. I dont have anything against these countries, but its time that we started doing things the right way. If Wal-Mart started selling American made goods, the economy would boost. Because people would be buyin those goods, then Company X has to make more, paying their workers, who then in turn go and buy more things with their wages. Right now all the money being made through Wal-Mart goes to one man who is saving a bundle by screwing the American economy.

Anonymous said...

attention to all 12 of you Ron Paul supporters, here are some suggestions:

1. stop reading reddit.
2. move out of your parent's basement.
3. get a job.

unfortunately, the republican party has been sabotaged by the disgrace we have in office now. you're going to have to wait a while before a TRUE republican like Ron Paul gets elected into office. democrats are taking this one. I just pray to a non-existent God that it isn't Clinton.

Anonymous said...

David and Guzman, I resonate with your posts very much so. Obama strikes me mainly because I think he is the only candidate that is offering clear, distinct, drastic change. And he's using common sense!! I feel like I can trust him. Yes he has to go along with all the political bs, but he only takes it as far as it needs to go and he's interested in the common good...our nation as a whole. THAT, above all, is what we need right now - to come together...balance things out. I hope for the best with him...but truthfully, I think any change will benefit us now taking into consideration the complete mess Bush has gotten us into. I think (or I hope) that no one else could possibly outdo him in that arena. It's perfectly clear among the majority of voters that we need drastic improvment, so in that respect..let's just hope we all pick the right guy/gal.

Anonymous said...

OBAMA IS GOING TO BE THE DUDE. HE IS THE PERFECT PERSON TO HEAL THIS COUNTRY. WE ARE SICK AS A NATION AND BARAK IS THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED. HILARY WONT DO SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD BUSH AND CLINTON FOR 19 YEARS AND WHERE HAS THAT GOTTEN US? WHERE WE ARE RITE NOW IS A DIRECT RESULT OF TWO FAMILIES RULING THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND 20 YEARS WAS NOT ENOUGH, THEY WANT 28 YEARS. THEN WHAT, JEB BUSH FOR 8 YEARS AND THEN THE CLINTON DAUGHTER FOR ANOTHER 8. WITH 300 MILLION AMERICANS I SHOULD THINK WE HAVE MORE CHOICES THAN THAT.

Kevin said...

To those who are criticizing Obama because he hasn't shared the specifics of his plans yet. Quit parroting what you've heard others say. It is impossible for a candidate to lay out their entire plan(s) for how they will accomplish things. They will have advisor's, they will have access to all of the information, and if they did outline their plan, America as a whole would fall asleep because of the boring details. And then he'd be criticized for being too dry.

People who criticize a politician for "not laying out their plan" think that the country runs like a bumper sticker. They want a nice, clean, easy to repeat, bullet point list, not to exceed 7 points because then the plan is too complicated. If you're deciding for whom you will vote based on a specific detailed plan, then I guess you'll never vote. And if you do find that candidate, it's highly unlikely that plan will actually happen.

Anonymous said...

Bush has shamed Lady Liberty and this citizen, too. Obama, with our help, can turn it around. We need A President Obama and stronger Democrats in Congress. Let's roll...

Anonymous said...

Bush was a total idiot. In Australia we had a LABOUR government come into power this year and we know that SOCIALISM and a Welfare State is the result of this kind of politics. Obama is talking like a Socialist. Every term we have experienced of a Socialist government in australia and new Zealand has ALWAYS ALWAYS been really BAD for us. Socialism is not good. America Be prepared for the competent and able to be robbed to pay for the incompetent Poor and hopeless. It won't be good in the end.