Obama Goes After Republicans On His Own

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(KANSAS CITY, MO.) - Democrats may be getting heat for not going after John McCain on the first day of the Convention, but Barack Obama wasted no time attacking his opponent today.

"I just don't think he gets it. He is out of touch. I don't think he realizes what ordinary American families are going through," Obama said as a small crowd applauded.

Speaking at an overhaul base for American Airlines, Obama focused on the ailing economy and tried to prove that he is the candidate who identifies most with the middle class.

"Who has a track record of fighting for you?" he asked, "'Cause that's what you need – you need somebody who every single day gets it and understands that you're not looking for a handout."

Obama's jabs were not limited to McCain, as he tried to put blame on the Bush Administration and the Republican Party.

"Over the last eight years, you've been falling behind, over the last eight years, your lives are less secure, over the last eight years, you are more likely to have lost your health insurance, over the last eight years you are more likely to not be able to save, over the last eight years your home values have started to drop," Obama said.

However, he tried to portray a more prosperous time during the Clinton presidency, when he says Americans were earning substantially more. "When Bill Clinton was president the typical family income went up $6,200," Obama said, "Up under Democrats, down under this administration."

Hillary Clinton will address the Convention tonight while Bill Clinton speaks tomorrow evening.

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by notbuynit August 27, 2008 6:17 PM EDT: There is still plenty of time for Johnny Shot Down to trip up on his own. His age and experience may not carry him through after all. Even if he does get elected somehow, he will be even weaker than Bush. Able to do almost nothing without a lot of cooperation. It''s almost meaningless for him to be President. He will have no power either way.; Reply to this comment


by concerns47 August 27, 2008 12:25 PM EDT: McCain will make the middle-class into upper middle-class by bring jobs back to this country, securing our borders, ports and cities and not just using diplomacy will keep terrorists away.

Be careful of government healthcare, look at other countries, you have to wait forever to get a doctor.; Reply to this comment


by benighse August 26, 2008 10:20 PM EDT: McCain claims his overall experience is the status as a POW. Did you see him on Leno? He is becoming a one-liner, or rather a one-worder: POW!

He''s beginning to remind us of the old TV Batman series in the ''60s. You remember Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin when they would get in their fights with The Joker, and The Penguin and The Riddler, and the rest. The cartoon signs would be inserted in big letters on the screen: BANG! BONK! DING! BOINK! ZING! ZAP! ZOWIE! POW!....I knew you''d remember....It seems John only remembers POW! and inserts GOP! occasionally...Not enough for a tv show, and certainly not enough for a sequel!

Yelling POW! every time he forgets where a country is, or how many homes he has, or whether Sunni''s and Shia''s and Kurd''s like each other, or why he never learned much about economics other than to marry into it, or why affordable healthcare and the housing and mortgage crisis mean something to middle income Americans and why their taxes should be lowered not the multi-millionaires, simply will not suffice as a convincing argument.

I respect your service; I respect your status; but you are treating it like a joke when you ignore issues and throw out the word POW! like it is your magic wand. It means more than that to the other 600 prisoners of war who were brought home also.; Reply to this comment


by benighse August 26, 2008 10:19 PM EDT: I learned more about military integrity and personal integrity from my WWII Dad who seldom even mentioned or talked about his war days. He kept his medals respectfully in a box. It was only late in life that we learned what his Bronze Star was for. His view as he raised us was he did what his country asked, no explanation or excuses needed, and no special treatment asked for; and then he firmly told all of us to go get an education so we could learn enough to prevent wars, and earn our way with our families, and provide the leadership for our kids when it was the next generation''s turn to lead.

I am guided by his words. It is time for the next generation to put that education to work and provide the leadership that will make the world a better place. I will work for Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. Join in this effort. Make our nation proud!; Reply to this comment


by kmccliment August 26, 2008 10:14 PM EDT: putin would pick his teeth with skinny Barry Soetoro!!! oops , aka Barack Obama!!

McCain ''08; Reply to this comment


by tulcak August 26, 2008 8:48 PM EDT: hey! the GOPHOLES are here! don''t vote for Sen. Obama because he''s black! please, you are embarassments. Americans are supposed to be intelligent and independent.... but, you losers are just brown nosing lackies to the rich and powerful... go away; Reply to this comment


by noloyalisti August 26, 2008 8:45 PM EDT: Just one good reason to vote for the Grand Oil Party of McSame. Just one good thing they have done for this country, please. Are we better off then we were 4 years ago? The rich fascist corporations of America are.; Reply to this comment


by forevertru-2009 August 26, 2008 8:35 PM EDT: OBAMA vs. RUSSIA

I don''t think so....; Reply to this comment


by tulcak August 26, 2008 8:10 PM EDT: this truly is a defining moment in American history. Who is elected our next president will say everything about what we have become as a nation. this election will define what Americans look like and who they are. this is a battle between those who know that government is the only way to chart our course and move and grow; and those that resent government and wish only to be left to their selfish needs. It will decide whether we are a family or competitors; Reply to this comment


by im4honesty August 26, 2008 8:06 PM EDT: The republican party consists of the incredibly wealthy, the incredibly confused and the incredibly stupid. If your net worth is less than eight figures (that''s $10 million or more)and you vote for republicans you are a fool. You''ve been hood-winked!! The so-called ''conservatives'' would like to eliminate the middle class. Also, if you call yourself a christian and vote republican, you''re an idiot. There is absolutely nothing ''Christ-like'' when you tell the poor they cannot have basic health care. Think about it... oh, that''s right you can''t.; Reply to this comment