Senator Barack Obama made a campaign stop at Plymouth State University on October 9 as part of the Presidential Lecture Series. The Presidential hopeful addressed anxious supporters and laid out his platform to the crowded HUB courtroom.
“Everywhere we go we can see these enormous crowds. 20,000 people in Austin, TX. 20,000 people in Atlanta, GA,” said Senator Obama in the beginning of his speech, “What’s inspiring about these crowds is not just their size, but it’s the make-up of these crowds. There are people from all walks of life.”
Senator Obama made it a point to start off his speech by showing that he appealed to everybody in America, young and old, different race, social class, religion, and political affiliation. Even Republicans, he joked, saying that some come and whisper their support to him in secret.
Senator Obama did not focus on one particular issue, but instead covered a variety of big issues that must be dealt with by the next President, ranging from healthcare to the Iraq war.
“This is a war that has not made us more safe,” said Obama, “but it has diminished our standing in the world, so there are good reasons for people to feel frustrated about this administration, and partly that is why so many people have taken an interest in this campaign.”
“People want to feel that it is still possible for us as Americans to rally around a common purpose,” Obama continued.
Obama told the crowd that Americans need to stand up against President Bush, and when he is elected President, the first thing he will do is bring the troops home. As President, he said, he would use his power to promote diplomacy in the Middle Eastern region of the world.
“The day that I am sworn in,” Obama said, “the world will look at America differently.”
He said that there are lots of great opportunities for young people to serve in Americorps and the Peacecorps.
“We should be recruiting young people to get involved,” Obama said, “and we could use that to help pay for their college education.”
He also spoke on the key issue of healthcare. He told the crowd that there was no need for 47 million people to be out of health insurance. His plan as President would save the average American family approximately $2,500 by providing them with affordable health coverage for every single American.
“[My] plan is to provide coverage for all Americans,” Obama said, “This is not something that will be in place in the next twenty years, but instead by the end of my first term as President.”
“Since you are all paying my salary,” Obama said, “as a taxpayer, you should get at least as good of healthcare as I do.” This was followed by a thunderous applause of approval by the audience.
During a question and answer period with the audience, he received a variety of questions about his platform. During a question on sustainability, Obama said that he would implement an aggressive cap on the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Another audience member asked about soldiers coming home from Iraq. He said that he wished to set up a program to treat them early on after they have returned from duty in hopes to prevent severe cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He said it was a disgrace that the men and women that served for our country had a higher probability of becoming homeless after they have returned.
“Change doesn’t happen from the top down in America,” said Obama with a cheer from the crowd of fired up supporters, “change happens from the bottom up.”