What does Obama stand for?

[Sir Ron]

His economic stances or lack thereof are enough to keep me from voting for him. He seems like a really nice guy and he's a great speaker. I just don't think he talks enough substance and the substance he does is usually concerning spending more money which is the last thing we need.

 

[MassJester]

Companies are in business to make profits for their investors. The United States already has the highest corporate tax rates in the world.

Gee, Dawn -- I would have thought that even you knew that statement was false. Care to cite your source?

 

[kribit]

*Sigh.* I think there is a portion of the population who likes to think they are asking relevant questions, but then they refuse to read the answers. It's the 'ole you can lead a horse to water thing...

Questions about Obama? See: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

I think the OP was asking a sincere question.

Posting Obamas website to get data on him is like sending someone to the New York Times to get unbiased news.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

Companies are in business to make profits for their investors. The United States already has the highest corporate tax rates in the world. The effective result of taxing companies even more will be;
1. They will pass the tax onto the consumer.
2. They will lay off workers.
3. They will move off shore.

Using my dd's username here (I'm jme829)
......UMMMM how do you explain them happening RIGHT NOW with a Repub in office?
And before you keep spreading about how dems want to tax, tax, tax. I want you to tell me how we are supposed to REALISTICALLY pay off the $3+ trillion debt that GW has run up ?
My dad has lost 4 jobs in 3 years to companies downsizing and going overseas...Guess who has been in office?
But yeah lets freak everyone out and predict that dems who aren't even in the white house yet have caused that huge sucking sound you hear from our economy.
If you don't want to vote for Obama or Hillary, fine , that is your choice, But geez, make an intelligent decision and do it because you dont' believe in his plans not because of some right wing fear mongering crap...Give it a rest it is getting very old very quickly...Find a new argument.

BTW, OT I heard the "administration" is now worried because recent surveys have discovered that less the 25% of the people getting "rebates" are planning on saving or investing them, not spending them as was the idea. So much for that plan huh? Where is THAT going to get us?

 

[Fitswimmer]

I have looked at the websites ALL of them and I could toot my own horn too.



I guess from what I have been reading I wouldn't want to be in the same company as his supporters. I am trying to be very open minded about the election.



I don't want spoon fed anything. I was asking a question isn't that "your homework"? Oh and I don't spend hours planning our Disney vacations I like to pick a date, resort and go.

I guess my frustration is showing-no offense intended. I've been dealing with this comment over and over and over on these boards since the primaries started-"tell me what he stands for". If people really want to know-why can't they do what I did? I read the book, I looked at his website, I looked at www.ontheissues.org , I looked at news sites. Bottom line, I didn't ask other people to explain it to me-mostly because it will be filtered through their own personal bias and interests. I want to see what the candidates are saying about the issues that I'm interested in.

 

[MassJester]

I think the OP was asking a sincere question.

Posting Obamas website to get data on him is like sending someone to the New York Times to get unbiased news.

Or worse, to FOX News

 

[lilyv]

I have looked at the websites ALL of them and I could toot my own horn too.

We use different research methods. I start with a candidate's website, and go from there. I glean from independent political sites, political opinion in newspapers, magazines, etc.

I guess from what I have been reading I wouldn't want to be in the same company as his supporters. I am trying to be very open minded about the election.

I enjoy taking the time to learn about each candidate. And I do mean
each. I didn't start out with a favorite. With careful reading, I feel my time and personal research has paid off.

My vote is important to me. I believe in democracy. I also believe, as a voter, I should invest some effort in my selection of a candidate. So I do!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I've read most of that and while I agree with some and disagree with others, what is his record of accomplishments? Was he able to add 25,000 teachers?
Do kids get free college with a "B" average?

First Senate bill: increase Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100. (Aug 2007)

This is the first bill he introduced? When was he elected to the Senate?

He can vote YES or NO on bills he supports but that doesn't necessarily mean the bill passed or failed to his satisfaction. Politicians frequently tout "they voted this way or that way" or "sponsored this or that bill" but if they weren't successful, it's pretty meaningless.

He has a lot of lofty goals listed. How is he going to implement those? *That's* what people want to know. Don't tell me you want to do something without telling me how you're going to do it. Actions... Not words. I think what a lot of people are hearing now are just words. And they sound good. Reality is a whole lot different though.

Ok, I'll bite-what candidate is showing actions and not words regarding their plans once elected? I've looked at all 3 major candidates websites and I see a lot of words and grand plans on all of them. Every plan that every one of them has is going to change if they actually get elected-it's inevitable. I'm not going to hold any candidate to the exact wording of the plans they've outlined prior to the election, that's just not realistic.

 

[MassJester]

Ok, I'll bite-what candidate is showing actions and not words regarding their plans once elected? I've looked at all 3 major candidates websites and I see a lot of words and grand plans on all of them. Every plan that every one of them has is going to change if they actually get elected-it's inevitable. I'm not going to hold any candidate to the exact wording of the plans they've outlined prior to the election, that's just not realistic.

Well there is McCain on tax cuts. He was against the Bush tax cuts (on principal) before we supported them (for political gain). How very John Kerry of him...

 

[angwill]

What I feel he means by change is that Bush as a republican has been in for 8 years and he is a dem-change. Hillary has basically been in with Clinton for 8 years before that -change. Remember every one running needs a platform and that is his.

I think Obama would be fair when dealing with foreign nations but I do worry about how aloof he seems in public. Will forgeign nations feel the same? This is just my view right now.

Last night when he spoke in Wisconsin he said he plans on paying for all the changes he proposes with the money spent on the war by pulling out troops as well as by closing corporate loopholes. My worry is that we still need to rebuild Iraq so I can't see saving that much money by pulling troops. I also worry that big corps will just find other ways to hide money. Any other views here.

I am unbiased and open to all opinions so I am not trying to say anything to tick people off.

Hope this helps the OP when asking about the change and a few other things I have heard lately.

 

[lilyv]

I think the OP was asking a sincere question.

Posting Obamas website to get data on him is like sending someone to the New York Times to get unbiased news.

I think the website is a good base. Then it's rather easy to start to research and compare. The internet allows someone to do a ton of research in a short amount of time. Maybe I should be more specific about the methods I use.

1. Each candidate's site, as well as other political sites such as ontheissues.org
2. Major periodicals-Time, Newsweek, USNews and World Report
3. Newspapers, local, as well as national like USA Today. Read for content in other areas of the US. Look for newspapers from, say, Illinois, California, Mass.
4. For daily updates...go to google. hit the news button in the upper left hand corner. Use the search on the news page to look for current stories on whatever issue you're interested in learning more about. Sort through the stories. Pay attention to who wrote the article. Look for independent thought.
5. Use the network news sites. ABC, MSNBC, CBS, FOX....Read carefully for content, you'll see bias sometimes, sometimes not. Bias, though, also tells you something.

So much is online!! No more having to make a trip to the library to hopefully find something you want to read. And even better, the information is current!!!

 

[Charade]

Ok, I'll bite-what candidate is showing actions and not words regarding their plans once elected? I've looked at all 3 major candidates websites and I see a lot of words and grand plans on all of them. Every plan that every one of them has is going to change if they actually get elected-it's inevitable. I'm not going to hold any candidate to the exact wording of the plans they've outlined prior to the election, that's just not realistic.

I'm not talking about what he plans to do if he's elected. I'm talking about the goals he stated in the past. He's made a lot of statements of change in the past. How many of them were successful? That's called a track record. That's usually a good indication of future success.

People want specifics. They want results. They usually don't get much of anything they expect or what they were "promised". Sometime they do. This is why I believe politics is the ultimate "shell game".

If he's elected, he'll be president of the USA, not the CEO of a company that can pretty much mandate change at will.

 

[Chuck S]

The politcal ads on TV have just started here, as we start early primary voting next week. Saw an Obama ad about his Mom passing away of cancer, and that he has a plan to save families $2000+ on medical. Anyone have any details of this plan? I'm curious how it differs (or issimilar to) Hillary's medical plans.

 

[MassJester]

The politcal ads on TV have just started here, as we start early primary voting next week. Saw an Obama ad about his Mom passing away of cancer, and that he has a plan to save families $2000+ on medical. Anyone have any details of this plan? I'm curious how it differs (or issimilar to) Hillary's medical plans.

My understanding of the fundamental difference between HC and BOs plan is that HCs calls for mandatory participation. But I'm willing to be corrected on that.

 

[denisenh]

i think he stands for change. just change everything and thats what i think he stands for.
the end.

or eh vwah

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm not talking about what he plans to do if he's elected. I'm talking about the goals he stated in the past. He's made a lot of statements of change in the past. How many of them were successful? That's called a track record. That's usually a good indication of future success.

People want specifics. They want results. They usually don't get much of anything they expect or what they were "promised". Sometime they do. This is why I believe politics is the ultimate "shell game".

If he's elected, he'll be president of the USA, not the CEO of a company that can pretty much mandate change at will.

But again John, the example you cited above is no different than what any other candidate does. They pick and choose the votes that highlight them the best-and they run on those votes whether the actual bill passed or not.

What I'm seeing is that Obama is getting criticized for doing the exact same things that Hillary and McCain are doing. They're all politicians, they're all running for the same office and they're all doing the same things.

 

[Fitswimmer]

My understanding of the fundamental difference between HC and BOs plan is that HCs calls for mandatory participation. But I'm willing to be corrected on that.

They're both modeled after the Federal Employee's plan-but the main difference is that Hillary is mandating coverage and statements have been made about wage garnishing for those who refuse to sign up. Now, again-these are PLANS and they will change a great deal once Congress gets involved. I don't think the mandate will stick, but I do think that there will be some kind of punitive fine for those who could afford to participate, choose not to and then use services expecting others to pay.

 

[Charade]

But again John, the example you cited above is no different than what any other candidate does. They pick and choose the votes that highlight them the best-and they run on those votes whether the actual bill passed or not.

What I'm seeing is that Obama is getting criticized for doing the exact same things that Hillary and McCain are doing. They're all politicians, they're all running for the same office and they're all doing the same things.

I'll ask again. In the past, according to ontheissues, he's made statements of change. Has he actually made any of that change a reality?

 

[kribit]

i think he stands for change. just change everything and thats what i think he stands for.
the end.

or eh vwah

I'm sorry. This was hysterical.

 

[MassJester]

I'm not talking about what he plans to do if he's elected. I'm talking about the goals he stated in the past. He's made a lot of statements of change in the past. How many of them were successful? That's called a track record. That's usually a good indication of future success.

People want specifics. They want results. They usually don't get much of anything they expect or what they were "promised". Sometime they do. This is why I believe politics is the ultimate "shell game".

If he's elected, he'll be president of the USA, not the CEO of a company that can pretty much mandate change at will.

Fair enough -- since people want to see it here:

In Chiacgo he was a community organizer that brought in tens of thousands of new voter registrations. This substantial increase in Democratic voter registration was credited with the success of Sen. Brown's election, and President Clinton's carrying of IL in his first race.

He held another community advocacy position where he worked to improve low income housing opportunities, and have asbestos removed from public housing.

He worked as a civil rights attorney.

He was instrumental in the structuring and passage of several complicated legislative initiatives (crossing party lines to craft a solution) in the IL state legislature on issues including: the death penalty, racial profiling and health care.

He succeeded in passing legisaltion limiting the amount of "gifts" IL politicians could accept from lobyists.

He passed legilsation requiring that police interrogations of murder suspects be videotaped--and in the face of their initial opposition won the support of the police unions for this law.

As a United states Senator he worked with Sen. Lugar (R-Ind.) to pass legislation meant to keep nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists. and worked with Sen. Coburn (R-Okl.) to improve oversight of federal spending after the Katrina mess.

He cosponsored legislation with Se. McCain for sharp mandatory cuts in greenhouse gasses (you can bet McCain won't have that on his website today).