|
America has been speeding in the wrong direction for nearly eight years. Under the Bush administration, our nation has become mired in an unjustified war; our economy has suffered from a weakening dollar, astronomical oil prices, mortgage crises and widespread bank failures; the EPA has failed to regulate the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming; and the number of Americans uninsured by health coverage has reached 47 million. Change is in order, and the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election will decide our nation's ability to effect that change.
The Republican nominee for President, Senator John McCain of Arizona, has a heroic war record and reputation as a "maverick." Sadly, Senator McCain has evolved into a spokesman for Bush administration policies, vigorously supporting Bush's expansion of the war in Iraq and changing his position on issues like offshore drilling and tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent of Americans. On the economy, Senator McCain's lack of knowledge is alarming. Senator McCain is clearly not the agent of change our nation sorely needs. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), the Democratic nominee for President, will change our country's course on issues like the war in Iraq, the environment, economic policy, and open government. Senator Obama's command of the issues is impressive, and he displays the potential to appeal across demographic boundaries and reach consensus on critical issues facing our nation. For a nation mired in military, economic, and environmental quagmires, the 2008 election offers a crucial opportunity to achieve positive change. Senator Barack Obama is clearly better equipped to effect such change, and the New Jersey Media Corps enthusiastically endorses him for President.
Support Barack Obama by writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper:
New Jersey area newspapers: Go to our NJ Media Corps Online Action Center:
http://www.usmediacorps.org/nj/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,40/
National media: Use the Congress.org Media Guide at: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
Barack Obama on the issues:Barack Obama has said he is running in this race because of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called the "fierce urgency of now". If elected President, Senator Obama will: 1) Immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months.2) Jump-start the economy by providing middle class and senior citizen tax relief. He will act to prevent mortgage foreclosures and provide relief for states and local governments hardest hit by the mortgage crisis. 3) Make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, by allowing everyone to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. 4) Invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of bio-fuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy, invest in low-emission coal plants, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid. 5) Increase funding for federal workforce training programs and direct these programs to incorporate green technologies training, such as advanced manufacturing and weatherization training, into their efforts to help Americans find and retain stable, high-paying jobs.
6) Address the infrastructure challenge by creating a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to expand and enhance, not supplant, existing federal transportation investments. 7) Support the Employee Free Choice Act, a bipartisan effort to assure that workers can exercise their right to choose whether to join a union without harassment or intimidation from their employers. 8) Fight for fair trade and modernize trade adjustment assistance. 9) Implement a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. 10) Make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. References:Obama videos on economic issues: http://www.barackobama.com/tv/economy.php Full text of Obama's latest speech on Iraq: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/full_text_of_obamas_iraq_speec.php#more Obama's platform: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ Barack Obama's speech on race in America and building a more perfect union: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hisownwords Barack Obama's rating from the League of Conservation Voters: http://presidentialprofiles2008.org/voterguide/obama-page.html Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki supports Obama's withdrawal plan http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/19/iraqi-pm-backs-obama-troo_n_113751.html Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Confronting an Economic Crisis http://www.usmediacorps.org/nj/documents/Remarks%20of%20Senator%20Barack%20Obama.htm |
