Confident, Cutting Obama Rallies the Youth
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa--A semi-hoarse Barack Obama told a sizeable crowd in this western Iowa town Tuesday night, "Washington is in its last throes, as my cousin Cheney would say."
It was a notably pointed remark from Mr. Obama, who often gets more gently humorous mileage out of his distant shared heritage with the vice-president. But it played into the Illinois senator's broader closing argument in Iowa that he, rather than Hillary Clinton or John Edwards, is best placed to deliver change.
He slapped at both his closest rivals here, though as usual without naming them. In a clear allusion to Mrs. Clinton, he said it was not credible to claim simultaneously that one was "steeped in conventional thinking" yet also about to chart "a bold new course" in foreign policy.
In an equally transparent attempt to repudiate Mr. Edwards' idea that he is too conciliatory by nature, Mr. Obama said, "We don't have a shortage of anger in Washington, we don't have a shortage of bitter partisanship in Washington. We don't need more heat, we need more light."
Toward the end of his 47-minute address, Mr. Obama also complained about being the subject of negative attacks. Again referring to unnamed opponents, he excoriated "shadowy mailings" and "phone calls saying 'Obama is this, Obama is that.'" He made particular note of claims that his health care plan would not bring about universal coverage - a charge that most often emanates from Mrs. Clinton's campaign - and said, "They know that's not right."
Despite the intensity of the Iowa campaign's closing days, Mr. Obama did his best to inject some dry humor into the proceedings. He empathized with Iowans who he said he knew "are tired of hearing 'and I approved this message.'"
And he poked fun at himself even when engaged in the serious business of trying to win over undecided voters:
"A light bulb will go off, a beam of light will shine down, and you will say to yourself, 'I need to caucus for Barack," he claimed in mock-grandiose style.
Mr. Obama's buoyant spirits may be due in part to the result of the new poll published in Tuesday's Des Moines Register. It gave him a seven-point lead over Mrs. Clinton and an eight-point edge over Mr. Edwards. His 32 percent share was a four-point improvement over his rating last month and put his lead for the first time beyond the Register poll's margin of error.
Still, the poll's screening methods aroused the annoyance of some other campaigns and even the pronouncements of Mr. Obama's advisors suggested they saw it more as a useful fillip for morale than as a practical guide to the actual state of this uncommonly tight and volatile race.
Similarly, while Mr. Obama sounded confident in many ways - telling the audience that Iowans had already "vindicated" his "faith" in a new kind of politics, and later stating that his general approach "looks like it might have worked" - he also went all-out to answer the most common criticisms leveled against him.
He insisted, as he does in almost all his speeches in these closing days, that "hope isn't blind optimism" or naivete. He emphasized that he knew improving education or reducing poverty was "a lifelong task" not something for which a quick fix could be found. And he mocked those who have suggested he is insufficiently seasoned by suggesting they think "we need to boil all the hope out of him so he sounds more like us."
Mrs. Clinton and her surrogates, including her husband, have been stressing her toughness and purported electability in recent days.
Mr. Obama was not ceding any ground on that issue, insisting that the latest polls "show that I beat every single Republican. I beat 'em all."
The reason behind this alleged electoral strength, Mr. Obama asserted, was that he was capable of "attracting independents and Republicans in a way that no other candidate can."
Expanding on his now-standard soundbite relating to the construction of political coalitions - "I'm tired of division, I want addition" - Mr. Obama insisted that those Republicans "who have lost trust in government" could be drawn in to a new progressive majority.
This may have been a particularly apposite argument in Council Bluffs, which nestles in the midst of Iowa's Fifth Congressional District, the broadly conservative swath of the state represented by stridently anti-illegal-immigration Republican Steve King.
The crowd for Mr. Obama, which numbered around 1000 even on an evening of forbidding cold, seemed to be comprised primarily of young enthusiasts and dyed-in-the-wool Democrats, however.
One audience member, Bill Bowerman, afterwards expressed himself "stunned" by the power of Mr. Obama's oratory and his ability to connect with an audience.
Unfortunately for Mr. Obama, the silver-haired Mr. Bowerman was visiting from Lawrence, KS., and is therefore ineligible to caucus on Thursday.
The younger Iowans in attendance, however, seemed enthused not just by Mr. Obama's speech but by a brief set from singer-songwriter Conor Oberst which preceded it.
Mr. Oberst, better known to some under the name Bright Eyes, hails from just across the state line in Omaha, Neb. He told the crowd, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today."
One of the songs Mr. Oberst performed, 'One Foot in Front of the Other' includes the beseeching line, "Don't walk away, don't walk away."
In the circumstances, it sounded like it might capture Mr. Obama's own sentiments about the young supporters who have promised to caucus for the first time on Thursday, and upon whom so many of his hopes depend.
- Poll
- Obama (D)
- McCain(R)
- Spread
- RCP Average
- 46.1
- 41.4
- Obama +4.7
- Candidate
- Favorable
- Unfavorable
- Spread
- Obama
- 55.7
- 33.0
- +22.7
- McCain
- 52.7
- 34.1
- +18.6
Obama deserves lots of credit for his campaign and strategy which the media barked at during the course of the campaign. He remained the same during the good times and bad and has closed the gap between him and his rivals. He deserves a lot more credit for the amount of money he has raised and the organization he has built. Saying he isn't seasoned enough isn't going to cut it because for a person in his position going up against Bill Clinton has seem to show that he is the new leader for the Democratic party. Hillary had to bring Bill front and center because Obama is a force not to be under estimated. Voting now will tell us once and for all the strength of this guy.
Hear, Hear!! Could not have said it better (Crews2me). The message from Barack has stayed consistent through 2007. His perseverance, intelligence, oratorical skills, and grassroots connnection to progressive and independent voters will leave the Clintons wondering "how and why?" It's in the cards and no one can stop the train.
If you are considering Obama, PLEASE research! Your county deserves better that a player like obamawinphrey!
I think it’s a big mistake to believe that obama will win because older Americans will not come out in bad weather to support another candidate like Hillary or Edwards! I’m 67 yr old mixed race man and I can tell you that the older generation is wide awake and very much realizes we need the experience and not a snake oil salesman that needs a TV talk show host to get noticed, obama is just yelling with no substance. Its obvious in EVERY debate he kept losing his thoughts in the middle of making one, (pay attention to all the “ahhs” and “umms” he says between words, sign he doesn’t know what he’s talking about because he can't remember what is “written for him”(not a leader) he’s running on Hillary and Edwards solutions. Notice also, once the media has begun to report his short comings, oprah is no where in sight, feeling pretty foolish at this point id imagine.
He did not show up to vote in the senate often in his short time there, missed 130 votes out of 153! bashes ALL the other 72 senators who voted for the war based on the intelligence they were provided by OUR PRESIDENT, but he will not answer any reporter on how we would voted at the time. But his record after fact shows he supports the war, voted twice in 2006 against bringing America's troops back home. He votes for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater. His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal!!!!Which if not suspended, still keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come? Obama when faced with tough choices always gave in to pressure from the Bush administration or corporate lobbyists. Such as Obama voted for Bush's energy bill, sending more than $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to oil, coal, and nuclear companies. Obama voted with Republicans to allow credit card companies to raise interest rates over 30 percent, increasing hardship for families. Obama voted for one of Bush's top priorities - expanding Nafta to South America - even as President Bush obstructed all the top Democratic priorities. Obama voted with Bush to make it harder for ordinary people to hold big corporations accountable when they do things like sell toxic toys, poisonous pet food, or just plain rip you off. Obama was the Senate's biggest Democratic advocate of subsidies for liquid coal, even though liquid coal produces twice the global warming pollution of the crude oil it's meant to replace (Obama "backed off" this position after being pummeled by environmentalists for several months, but still voted for increased subsidies, albeit with conditions)
Obama, a Hamiltonian believer in free trade and supporters of globalization has lent his support to the "Hamilton Project formed by corporate-neoliberal Citigroup chair Robert Rubin and other 'Wall Street Democrats' to counter populist rebellion against corporate tendencies within the Democratic Party. Obama provided assistance to pro-war candidates (such as Joe Lieberman). Obama voted for "business-friendly 'tort reform' bill that rolls back working peoples' ability to obtain reasonable redress and compensation...from corporations!!! Obama considers single payer universal health care too socialist and has stated that he prefers voluntary solutions.
I am rather tired of Barack Obama, and the cultish crowds that follows him. I must admit I find this quite difficult to understand. Maybe I am to grounded on the "reality community" to appreciate the Pollyanna quality that Obama brings. Away from the fact that he is unelectable in Nov 08, the fellow is quite disingenuous. His criticism of Hillary and Edwards will come back to hunt the Democratic Party later this year. Criticism that, I must say is dishonest by far. I guess that you democrats deserve what you get. and if Obama is nominated, you will get another eight years of neo-con rule in the white house. Now that is a sobering thought that should send shrivels down anybodies back, even the lobotomized, worshipers of the new cult! Scientology ask for your money: Obama will negate your future.
Anonymous is simply misinformed about the number of votes that Obama was present for. He missed just a few more votes than Clinton or Edwards. As for the rest of his critiques, I'd like him to show me a major democratic candidate with a more solidly liberal voting record. He matches the other dems on universal health care and he was against the war from the start. Some bills you do have to vote for even if they're not perfect because they're as good as it's going to get.
Robert_V, if you think Obama is unelectable, you need to explain why given that Obama is 4-7% better than Hillary against all of the major Republican candidates according to AVERAGE polls (source: realclearpolitics.com). You should explain how Edwards plans to fight the first several months of the general having accepted federal matching funds and having made it a principle of his campaign to not accept help from outside groups. Finally, you need to explain why Obama has racked up a massive advantage among independents and even registered republicans in Iowa according to the latest DMR poll.
Obama is gaming the system and the easiest target are young people. He is playing a risky game hanging his hat on youth support, which have been rather non-existent in previous caucuses. If 175,000 people turn out to caucus he might have a chance.
[[[[Obama is 4-7% better than Hillary against all of the major Republican candidates according to AVERAGE polls (source: realclearpolitics.com).]]]]
1. Obama has had a free ride with the Republican media. 2. To go by polls one year out is insane and naive.
[[[why Obama has racked up a massive advantage among independents and even registered republicans in Iowa according to the latest DMR poll.]]]]
In primaries where voters can flip-flop and vote the other side, you will see this tactic done. If you are a republican and you want to take Hillary out, what would you do? Vote Obama. If you don’t see this you are blind.
i do not think that the obama bashing that appeared above was personally written. it is just too large of an endeavor for anyone that supports hilary clinton. it's point by point retorts the pros of obama are ambiguous attacks that attempt to cast doubt upon issues and voters where obamas winning. im not concerned from this act of desperation though cause I watch the numbers.
Barack Obama is the only candidate in either party who is capable of bringing the country together in a way that changes our politics. Without this kind of change, we will NEVER achieve the kind of transformational change necessary to end the war in Iraq with honor, provide universal healthcare, secure Social Security and Medicare, bring about meaningful immigration reform or seriously address global climate change.
Bill Clinton, a much more talented politician than Hillary, did NOTHING to advance the cause of: universal healthcare, climate change, Social Security & Medicare reform, or immigration reform. Do you really think that the most polarizing politician in the country can do better?
John Edwards spent 6 years in the Senate talking and voting like a moderate Democrat (pro-NAFTA, pro-Iraq war) and did NOTHING to advance the causes he now claims to be "fighting" for. At best, he's had a change of heart since his one and only position in elective office.
Barack Obama has already amassed a more impressive legislative record in the Senate than either Hillary or Edwards, to say nothing of his 8 years in the state legislature. Moreover, unlike the other two, his campaign style has not wavered depending on his position in the polls. No 527's (unlike Edwards) and no scurrilous character attacs (unlike Clinton). Perhaps this is why Obama, and Obama alone, defeats all Republicans in the most current polling data, and why Obama attracts the strongest support from independents.
If you want more of the same, vote for Clinton. If you want a LANDSLIDE and new progressive majority, vote for Obama.