Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee, told a group of nearly 1,300 in a sweltering-hot S&T Student Recreation Center on Wednesday, his policies are the best choice for an “America at the crossroads.”
When the Illinois senator arrived about 3:12 p.m., Obama was accompanied on-stage by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon, and he was introduced by U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.
Rolla native Peachy Myers, the field director for the Obama Missouri Campaign, introduced another Rolla native, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, and her mother and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan.
Tieless, wearing a light-brown suit and later shedding the jacket, Obama spoke of his plans for improving the economy, solving the energy crisis, Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, tax relief and foreign policy, specifically improving relations with Cuba.
While the theme for the Townhall meeting was economics, Obama, who will turn 47 on Monday, took every opportunity to be critical of the policies of his presumptive Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
“If we don’t have an economic balance on Main Street, then we won’t have it on Wall Street,” Obama said. “My opponent has a different policy. He’s running for George Bush’s third term. We can’t do the same things over and over again and hoping for a different result. That’s madness,” Obama said.
Despite the heat, those in attendance rose from their chairs and cheered time and time again as the senator punctuated each policy note, with his voice gaining in intensity, offering a variation of his first statement “and that’s why I need your support to be the next president of the United States,” he said as Rolla Police Department officers circled the cat walk above keeing a watchful eye on the crowd below. Security was tight as Secret Service, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Rolla PD officers loomed everywhere, monitoring radio communications among the frequent applause.
Obama also spoke of changing tax policies and giving breaks to families and seniors.
“(I’m) in favor of closing corporate loopholes, providing a tax cut to 95 percent of tax payers, $1,000 to families. I’d favor an additional deduction for mortgage holders and change the tax laws so if you’re a senior making less than $50,000 you don’t pay any taxes on your Social Security (income),” Obama said to cheers.
Addressing the oil and energy crisis, Obama called upon America to come up with a solution.
“When John Kennedy said we need to get to the moon in 10 years, he set a goal,” Obama said. “We just need to set a goal to solve our energy situation and just get there. We are resourceful. We need to make a decision and pull together to solve this — black, white, Democrat, Republican, and I’m here to tell you I’m just the person to be your president and take you there,” Obama said as people rose again to applause.
“Let me tell you what the Republicans are saying: They’ll tell you, ‘We realize we’re not looking too good right now, but you can’t risk our country on Obama. He’s new, and he doesn’t look like other presidents,” Obama said, again drawing both cheers and laughter.
“I’m asking you: Are we going to risk doing what we’ve done the last 10 years? No! The stakes are too high,” Obama said.
“We want solutions, and we should expect solutions,” Obama said. “If you stand with me, and vote for me, Rolla, we can win and find these solutions.”
Obama wrapped up his nearly hour-long townhall meeting by taking questions from the audience.
Obama was asked what he would do about the carnage in Darfur, whether he would move troops from Iraq and place them in Afghanistan, asked about Veterans’ Administration benefits, heard concerns from a displaced Briggs & Stratton worker and lastly about whether he would consider normalizing relations with Cuba.
Responding to the concerns about Darfur, Obama said the U.S. needs to be a leader in organizing sanctions, establish a no-fly zone and negotiate a compromise between the rebel groups.
Concerning Afghanistan, Obama said he has always considered the war in Afghanistan as the front on the War on Terror.
Melinda Blanchard asked about veterans benefits, specifically for her brother-in-law, who was made to feel “he was looking for something for nothing” when he sought VA assistance.
Obama said he is sensitive to veterans benefits, and when he toured Walter Reed Medical Center and heard veterans were paying for their own meals and phone calls, he worked to change that.
“I made sure the VA is fully-funded. It’s not charity, it’s what they deserve,” Obama said of veterans. “I am also for zero tolerance for homeless veterans. If you served our country and you are a veteran, you will not be homeless,” Obama said.
Obama told Wade McBride, the former Briggs & Stratton worker, that he is in favor of removing tax breaks for companies that choose to relocate off America’s shores. Furthermore, Obama told McBride he would be in favor of a program that would allow the unemployed, such as McBride, to aid in solving the energy problems.
“We could have you building windmills or solar panels,” Obama said. “We’re going to create 5 million manufacturing jobs in America, so that’s how we’re going to restore your Briggs & Stratton jobs.”
Responding to a teacher from Country Club Hills, Ill., concerning alternative fuels, Obama said current policies of using grain for ethanol are causing food and feed prices to increase dramatically. The Illinois senator said while he favors alternative fuels, such as ethanol, he is leaning toward other sources to make ethanol, such as wood chips, which could lessen the burden on corn supplies.
The final question came from a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy’s submarine corps, asking whether, as president, Obama would do anything to normalize relations with Cuba.
Obama said with Fidel Castro taking less a leadership role, the time may be right for normalizing relations, particularly loosening up the restrictions on Cuban-Americans who seek to send monetary aid to family members still living there.
Rolla Mayor William S. Jenks, III, attended the gathering and said Obama is “correct in his approach of waging war on soaring energy costs,” Jenks said. “We had a wake-up call in the ’70s, and while we heeded it, we went right back to our ways. We need to solve this thing, and I believe he has the right approach: We need to set a plan,” Jenks said.
As Obama left the podium he thanked the crowd.
“I’ve had a wonderful visit here in Missouri,” Obama concluded. “Thank you, everyone. God bless you.”