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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Patricia Trinchero who wrote (99110)	2/11/2007 11:27:21 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 361327

IowaPolitics.com: Obama Touts Grassroots Politics To College Crowd in Ames iowapolitics.com By Matt Clark For IowaPolitics.com 2/11/2007 AMES -- Approximately 5,500 people greeted Barack Obama at Iowa State University on Sunday, quite a crowd for a presidential candidate who has only officially been in the race for one day. Obama spoke about the need for active participation from the people who have become cynical about politics, including college students. The same students, Obama said, who historically have embraced grassroots efforts and have brought about real change. “I don’t believe in top-down politics, I believe in bottom-up politics,” he said. “Throughout my career, I have been very consistent in trying to give government back to ordinary voters.” Often praised for his speaking talent, Obama dismissed the notion – sometimes discussed on morning news programs – that he is capable of delivering eloquent speeches but falls short on substance. “Factually, that is incorrect,” Obama said. “I have the most specific plan of any candidate on how to get out of Iraq, I have delivered major speeches over the course of two years before I started running for president, and have written two books that have sold over 1 million copies each and have given people insight into how I think and how I feel about the issues facing America.” Some in attendance had no problem identifying the details of the senator’s proposed policies. “I’m all for his plan for Iraq,” said Suzan Fratzke, an Iowa State undergraduate student. “I’m really excited that he came to campus and I look forward to supporting him.” It wasn’t just college students who were ready to support an Obama candidacy. While introducing the senator, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and state Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced that they were endorsing Obama and will be working on the campaign. Both men agreed that “Obama has all the qualities to lead the nation.” In addition to the mass amounts of Iowa State students in attendance, Obama drew a crowd that included supporters who drove hours to see the man who may become the nation’s first African American president. One Obama fan pointed to the candidate’s impassioned approach to restoring the integrity of politics as being the key to his rock-star status. “I am enthused about his domestic agenda, but am even more happy to know that he is so internationally minded,” said Aaryn Eckert, a 21-year-old student at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. “It’s crazy that we are the world’s only superpower and yet it seems like we don’t know how to have peaceful relationships with other nations. I think if Obama becomes president, he would change that.” Eckert made the three-and-a-half hour trip from Orange City with four fellow college students who were equally excited about Obama’s message of a fundamental change when it comes to interacting with other nations. “Our militarism and hyper-nationalism over the past few years have locked us in a cycle of violence begetting violence,” said James Bierly, 21. “I hope Obama is the next president because he has a plan that stresses diplomacy over pure military might to dig us out of the hole we are in.” In his speech, the Democratic senator from Illinois stressed that he has been a constant voice opposed to the war in Iraq since 2002 and does not support an increased American troop presence on the ground. “We cannot be successful militarily unless it is coupled with a regional strategy for diplomacy and building alliances,” Obama said. Medicare reform and research for alternative sources of energy were two examples of issues Obama cited as having a real and personal impact on all Americans. “Fundamental health care reform is not only good business – as it will make us more competitive in the global marketplace – but I think it is also our moral obligation,” said Obama. As for energy independence, Obama said it was sad that fuel efficiency standards for cars have not increased in two decades, while the country continues to pay billions of dollars to oil-rich countries that can be among the most hostile nations on the earth. Obama suggested that those situations are “holding our economy hostage” and contributing to global climate change.