Barack Obama On the Issues

• Ordinary people found the courage to keep the promise alive. (Aug 2008)
• The Ownership Society really means "you're on your own". (Aug 2008)
• Measure progress by observing how ordinary people are doing. (Aug 2008)
• Our government must keep the promise of America. (Aug 2008)
• Fulfilling America's promise means individual participation. (Aug 2008)
• To John McCain: We all put our country first. (Aug 2008)
• The Republicans make a big election about small things. (Aug 2008)
• The American promise is our greatest inheritance. (Aug 2008)
• We have to demand more from ourselves. (Jul 2008)
• GovWatch: Wears flag pin to deflect anti-patriotism critics. (Jun 2008)
• I revere the American flag; I don't refuse to wear flag pins. (Apr 2008)
• FactCheck: Yes, refused to wear a flag pin, last year. (Apr 2008)
• Actions can be seen in 20 years of my public service. (Feb 2008)
• Suggesting that I plagiarized Deval Patrick is silly. (Feb 2008)
• Wouldn't be running if I didn't think I was prepared. (Feb 2008)
• Don't seat MI & FL delegates; they're based on non-campaign. (Feb 2008)
• FactCheck: Ranked most liberal in Senate, based on 99 votes. (Feb 2008)
• The Clinton years were undeniably better than the Bush years. (Jan 2008)
• Turn the page on the failed politics & policies of the past. (Jan 2008)
• FactCheck: Obama praised GOP for having ideas, not GOP ideas. (Jan 2008)
• Objected to Republican ideas; did not compliment them. (Jan 2008)
• Made the right decisions that were not politically popular. (Jan 2008)
• Ran for Congress in 2000 & lost. (Nov 2007)
• Gave away all Rezko "boneheaded" donations to charity. (Nov 2007)
• 2 years older than JFK when JFK ran for president. (Nov 2007)
• On "inexperience": he wrote policy books that media ignores. (Oct 2007)
• Don't know if life beyond earth; focus on life here on earth. (Oct 2007)
• Registered 150,000 young Chicago area black voters in 1992. (Oct 2007)
• Criticizes voter cynicism from decades of disappointment. (Oct 2007)
• Voted with Democratic Party 96.0% of 251 votes. (Sep 2007)
• The Plan: Raise Obama's profile, including African adventure. (Aug 2007)
• Assigned RFK's Senate desk; invokes RFK regularly. (Feb 2007)
• Hopefund PAC donated $500K to Democratic Senate candidates. (Nov 2006)
• Convention speech understood country yearns for unity. (Oct 2006)
• Post-1960s politics more about moral attitude than issues. (Oct 2006)
• Americans dislike partisanship--not solution like Dems think. (Oct 2006)
• Enlist the American people in the process of self-government. (Jan 2006)
• Unflinching progressive but ok to downstate conservatives. (Jul 2004)
• Be strong or be clever and make peace. (Aug 1996)
• Guilt is a luxury that not everyone can afford. (Aug 1996)

Campaign Themes

• We're more decent & compassionate than last 8 years. (Aug 2008)
• The destiny of all Americans is inextricably linked. (Aug 2008)
• ¡Sí, se puede! Yes, we can!. (Jun 2008)
• Key issue is McCain following Bush on war & economy. (Jun 2008)
• Go beyond the divisions so that the government can work. (Feb 2008)
• Life experiences taught me how to bring people together. (Feb 2008)
• People understand we must bring the country together. (Feb 2008)
• I have shown the right judgment to lead. (Feb 2008)
• Labels like "most liberal" prevent problem-solving. (Feb 2008)
• Overcome politics of demonizing opponents. (Jan 2008)
• Focus on Iraq, revising presidential power, and healthcare. (Dec 2007)
• If you join me I promise you we can change America. (Dec 2007)
• Resounds with American theme of overcoming burden of history. (Nov 2007)
• Cultivates comparison to Jack Kennedy. (Nov 2007)
• Campaigns assiduously in black churches. (Nov 2007)
• Viral video "I Got a Crush on Obama" by Obama Girl. (Nov 2007)
• Community politics: merges Alinsky & political activism. (Oct 2007)
• Apply lessons from both Goldwater and McGovern. (Oct 2007)
• Invites supporters to join him on "This Improbable Quest". (Oct 2007)
• Resolve "most electable" vs."most progressive" by being both. (Oct 2007)
• Turn the page: invite GOP & independents to join in agenda. (Sep 2007)
• Seen as both critical outsider and establishment insider. (Aug 2007)
• People have an urgent desire for change in Washington. (Jul 2007)
• A "hopemonger", having seen the power of hope. (Jun 2007)
• Washington can change if we say: Yes we can. (Mar 2007)
• Replace partisan bickering with politics of hope. (Feb 2007)
• On cover of Time magazine, about his book & presidency. (Oct 2006)
• Portrayed as a multiplier instead of a divider. (Oct 2006)
• Progressives should recognize common morality with religion. (Oct 2006)
• "Audacity of Hope" to change politics to reflect common good. (Oct 2006)
• Seek common ground, not a moral crusade. (Oct 2004)
• Offer real hope-not blind optimism-to the American people. (Jul 2004)
• I'm living my parents' dreams and the American dream. (Jul 2004)
• Greatness based on Declaration of Independence, not military. (Jul 2004)
• We are one people all defending the United States of America. (Jul 2004)
• Want common-sense solutions, not liberal-conservative labels. (Jul 2004)

Past Campaigns

• Campaigning on change from the bottom up that King stood for. (Jan 2008)
• 1990: Elected Law Review president with conservative support. (Aug 2007)
• State Senate opponents disqualified on technicality. (Aug 2007)
• Lost campaign for US Congress against Bobby Rush in 2000. (Aug 2007)
• Senate 2004 campaign theme: "Yes we can". (Aug 2007)
• 2004: Won Senate seat against Alan Keyes, 70%-29%. (Aug 2007)
• Lost Congressional primary in 1999 to Bobby Rush. (Feb 2007)
• Ryan quits Senate race amid sex scandal allegations. (Jun 2004)

Personal History

• GovWatch: "Worked his way thru college" meant 2 summer jobs. (Jul 2008)
• FactCheck: Took Rezko's donations, but never represented him. (Jan 2008)
• "Dreams From My Father" is an archetypal search. (Dec 2007)
• Obama REPRESENTS something; doesn't have to DO anything. (Dec 2007)
• Won Grammy for recording "Dreams from My Father". (Nov 2007)
• Real estate deal with felon was "boneheaded" but ethical. (Oct 2007)
• First major politician of the post-Baby Boom generation. (Oct 2007)
• Most decisive moment: transition from high school to college. (Aug 2007)
• High school jock--played football as defensive lineman. (Aug 2007)
• Goal as youth: Leave the world a better place. (Aug 2007)
• Planned on presidency since well before 2004 Convention. (Aug 2007)
• Dreams from My Father originally about Harvard Law Review. (Aug 2007)
• Favorite authors: E. L. Doctorow & Shakespeare. (Aug 2007)
• To understand Obama, understand Hawaii's cultural mix. (Aug 2007)
• Father was first African exchange student at U. Hawaii. (Aug 2007)
• Met Michelle Robinson at law firm; married in 1990. (Aug 2007)
• A reformed smoker but occasionally burns one. (Mar 2007)
• Traces ancestry to Jefferson Davis, President of Confederacy. (Feb 2007)
• Personal story is basis of political desire to unite. (Feb 2007)
• Greeted as hero on visit to ancestral Kenya. (Feb 2007)
• Father died in car crash before Barack got to know him. (Feb 2007)
• Born in Hawaii; lives on Chicago's South Side. (Nov 2006)
• Full name: Barack Hussein Obama; family calls him "Barry". (Oct 2006)
• First black president of the Harvard Law Review. (Jul 2004)
• Mother attacked for playing with a black girlfriend. (Aug 1996)
• Poverty of political organizers was proof of their integrity. (Aug 1996)

Racism & Race

• Taking a black candidate for granted is measure of progress. (Jun 2008)
• Rev. Wright and flag pins re distractions from real issues. (Apr 2008)
• FactCheck: William Ayres never killed anyone with bombs. (Apr 2008)
• Clinton earned a great relationship with African-Americans. (Jan 2008)
• Intertwined search for father and racial identity. (Dec 2007)
• A Bound Man: inner turmoil of 1960s black nationalism. (Dec 2007)
• Rooted in African-American community but also more than that. (Dec 2007)
• Embodies smothering racial power in individual democracy. (Dec 2007)
• More influenced by his race than public perceives. (Dec 2007)
• In college, rejected multiracialism for black identity. (Dec 2007)
• Whites sense that Barack grants them "benefit of the doubt". (Dec 2007)
• Fans see Obama as opportunity to vote for redemption. (Dec 2007)
• Balancing "challenger" for blacks & "bargainer" for whites. (Dec 2007)
• Bradley effect: black candidates poll above actual votes. (Oct 2007)
• Veiled racism in dismissing Obama as "unqualified". (Oct 2007)
• Catching a cab, no one questions he's "authentically black". (Jul 2007)
• Issue of race has given Senate a black eye. (Mar 2007)
• Candidacy taken seriously despite his race or because of it? (Oct 2006)
• Convention keynote speech highlights party's black targeting. (Jul 2004)
• America's race and class problems are intertwined. (Aug 1996)
• Biracial heritage has caused identity crisis. (Aug 1996)
• There is some hope of eventual reconciliation between races. (Aug 1996)
• Racism wasn't merely the cruelty involved, but arrogance too. (Aug 1996)

Religion

• FactCheck: Did not say "I will stand with the Muslims". (Aug 2008)
• GovWatch: never a Muslim, but school listed him as Muslim. (Jun 2008)
• I joined church to commit to Christ, not to Rev. Wright. (May 2008)
• In hard times, people take refuge in traditions, God & guns. (Apr 2008)
• I am a person of faith; and I reach out to people of faith. (Apr 2008)
• Blacks are angry; but I dissociate myself from Rev. Wright. (Apr 2008)
• Religion is foundational; not clinging nor elitist. (Apr 2008)
• Rev. Jeremiah Wright helped bring me to Christianity. (Apr 2008)
• Exposure to Islam taught me that Muslims can partner with us. (Apr 2008)
• I am a proud Christian who believes deeply in Jesus Christ. (Jan 2008)
• Despite attack email, pledges Allegiance & uses Bible. (Jan 2008)
• Attends church with press, to dispel rumors that he's Muslim. (Dec 2007)
• Joined church that emphasized a "Black Value System". (Dec 2007)
• Madrassa myth perpetuated by false email & fabricated story. (Oct 2007)
• Uses prayer to take stock of his moral compass. (Oct 2007)
• Reach out to faith community;faith has role in public square. (Sep 2007)
• Active in the Trinity faith community. (Aug 2007)
• Carries Bible on campaign trail, & refers to it weekly. (Aug 2007)
• Embrace Christ as an ally. (Mar 2007)
• Source of his book title "Audacity of Hope" was a sermon. (Feb 2007)
• Raised secular, but with working knowledge of world religion. (Oct 2006)
• Baptized as an adult in the Trinity United Church of Christ. (Oct 2006)
• Religious concerns ok, if translated into universal values. (Oct 2006)
• There's a call to evangelize in politics. (Apr 2004)
• I'm a big believer in the separation of church and state. (Apr 2004)
• Spent time in both Muslim and Catholic schools. (Aug 1996)

Voting Record

• Biggest mistake was intruding in Terri Schiavo case. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
• Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
• Member of Congressional Black Caucus. (Jan 2001)
• Reject Bush's Florida electors due to election fraud. (Jan 2001)
• Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation. (Dec 2006)

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