Kurt Nicklas
2008-10-27 23:36:29 UTC
<Of course, there is nothing new in what Hussein is promising. It's
the old,
tired tax 'n spend democrat line repackaged for the X Generation. If
he thinks
his promise of 'unity' is going to silence those of us who know the
real substance
of what he is asking then he is in for a surprise.>
Obama promises to deliver `unity over division'
By BEN FELLER – 1 hour ago
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD943405G0
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Closing his case for the presidency, Barack Obama
presented himself Monday as a unifier for an embattled country,
promising to deliver days of "hope over fear."
Obama's bid for a knockout blow, delivered in the vitally competitive
state of Ohio, was not bare-knuckled. Rather, buoyed by front-runner
status and frenetic crowds, Obama used the moment to get beyond the
sparring with John McCain and restore a theme of inspiration.
"In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the
promise of change over the power of the status quo," Obama said. "In
one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once
more choose our better history. That's what's at stake."
The speech also was aimed at positioning Obama as a statesman-in-
waiting. His soaring language was a throwback to a time before the
conversation drew more specific and ugly.
"The change we need isn't just about new programs and policies," Obama
said to a roaring crowd at Canton's civic center. "It's about a new
attitude, it's about new politics — a politics that calls on our
better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts."
Polls shows Obama ahead, but in a tight race, with McCain in Ohio. No
Democrat has won the presidency without the support of the state since
John F. Kennedy in 1960.
With valuable campaign time slipping away, Obama and McCain both spent
Monday mining for support in Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania. Either
state could swing the election.
Obama repeated his speech in Pittsburgh, where he was greeted by
deafening cheers.
Broadening the language of his daily campaign routine, Obama tried to
remind voters why he ran in the first place. He summoned all the
rhetorical flair for which he has become known.
Obama spoke of restoring a sense of higher purpose to the country. He
kicked up patriotic echoes of his 2004 speech at the Democratic
National Convention that put him on a national stage. He said America
is about "seeing the highest mountaintop from the deepest of valleys."
To be sure, though, Obama took his shots at McCain. He accused his
rival of resorting to smear tactics in a desperate attempt to win
votes.
"Sen. McCain might be worried about losing an election, but I'm
worried about Americans who are losing their homes, and their jobs,
and their life savings," Obama said. "I can take one more week of John
McCain's attacks, but this country can't take four more years of the
same old politics and the same failed policies. It's time for
something new."
McCain held his own campaign event in Ohio. In Cleveland, he told
voters his economic plan would generate jobs, recharge the stock
market and help people keep their homes.
The Republican candidate also ridiculed Obama's argument that his tax
plan was based on fairness. "There's nothing fair about driving our
economy into the ground and we all suffer when that happens," said
McCain.
Obama has been fending off criticism that his plans to raise the tax
rate on wealthier people — and his comment about redistributing wealth
— amounts to socialism.
Obama shot back Monday that he wanted to offer help for the middle
class, and make sure that businesses had customers who could afford to
spend.
"That's how we've always grown the American economy — from the bottom-
up," he said. "John McCain calls this socialism. I call it
opportunity."
Obama also spelled out a foreign policy agenda that, again, painted
him as a needed change from Bush and McCain. Such topics have been
dwarfed by economic concerns for months.
Obama said flatly he would end the war in Iraq and restore America's
moral standing.
"I will never hesitate to defend this nation," he said. "But I will
only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred
commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle, and the
care and benefits they deserve when they come home."
The campaign called Obama's speech nothing less than a closing
argument. The jury is out, though, until the election on Nov 4., and
McCain vows to pull out a late victory.
Obama's message of hope came on the day federal law enforcement agents
reported breaking up a plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate
him and shoot or decapitate 88 black people. His campaign had no
comment.
the old,
tired tax 'n spend democrat line repackaged for the X Generation. If
he thinks
his promise of 'unity' is going to silence those of us who know the
real substance
of what he is asking then he is in for a surprise.>
Obama promises to deliver `unity over division'
By BEN FELLER – 1 hour ago
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD943405G0
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Closing his case for the presidency, Barack Obama
presented himself Monday as a unifier for an embattled country,
promising to deliver days of "hope over fear."
Obama's bid for a knockout blow, delivered in the vitally competitive
state of Ohio, was not bare-knuckled. Rather, buoyed by front-runner
status and frenetic crowds, Obama used the moment to get beyond the
sparring with John McCain and restore a theme of inspiration.
"In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the
promise of change over the power of the status quo," Obama said. "In
one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once
more choose our better history. That's what's at stake."
The speech also was aimed at positioning Obama as a statesman-in-
waiting. His soaring language was a throwback to a time before the
conversation drew more specific and ugly.
"The change we need isn't just about new programs and policies," Obama
said to a roaring crowd at Canton's civic center. "It's about a new
attitude, it's about new politics — a politics that calls on our
better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts."
Polls shows Obama ahead, but in a tight race, with McCain in Ohio. No
Democrat has won the presidency without the support of the state since
John F. Kennedy in 1960.
With valuable campaign time slipping away, Obama and McCain both spent
Monday mining for support in Ohio and neighboring Pennsylvania. Either
state could swing the election.
Obama repeated his speech in Pittsburgh, where he was greeted by
deafening cheers.
Broadening the language of his daily campaign routine, Obama tried to
remind voters why he ran in the first place. He summoned all the
rhetorical flair for which he has become known.
Obama spoke of restoring a sense of higher purpose to the country. He
kicked up patriotic echoes of his 2004 speech at the Democratic
National Convention that put him on a national stage. He said America
is about "seeing the highest mountaintop from the deepest of valleys."
To be sure, though, Obama took his shots at McCain. He accused his
rival of resorting to smear tactics in a desperate attempt to win
votes.
"Sen. McCain might be worried about losing an election, but I'm
worried about Americans who are losing their homes, and their jobs,
and their life savings," Obama said. "I can take one more week of John
McCain's attacks, but this country can't take four more years of the
same old politics and the same failed policies. It's time for
something new."
McCain held his own campaign event in Ohio. In Cleveland, he told
voters his economic plan would generate jobs, recharge the stock
market and help people keep their homes.
The Republican candidate also ridiculed Obama's argument that his tax
plan was based on fairness. "There's nothing fair about driving our
economy into the ground and we all suffer when that happens," said
McCain.
Obama has been fending off criticism that his plans to raise the tax
rate on wealthier people — and his comment about redistributing wealth
— amounts to socialism.
Obama shot back Monday that he wanted to offer help for the middle
class, and make sure that businesses had customers who could afford to
spend.
"That's how we've always grown the American economy — from the bottom-
up," he said. "John McCain calls this socialism. I call it
opportunity."
Obama also spelled out a foreign policy agenda that, again, painted
him as a needed change from Bush and McCain. Such topics have been
dwarfed by economic concerns for months.
Obama said flatly he would end the war in Iraq and restore America's
moral standing.
"I will never hesitate to defend this nation," he said. "But I will
only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred
commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle, and the
care and benefits they deserve when they come home."
The campaign called Obama's speech nothing less than a closing
argument. The jury is out, though, until the election on Nov 4., and
McCain vows to pull out a late victory.
Obama's message of hope came on the day federal law enforcement agents
reported breaking up a plot by two neo-Nazi skinheads to assassinate
him and shoot or decapitate 88 black people. His campaign had no
comment.