Open Letter To Obama

The Nation: There Have Been Troubling Signs That You Are Moving Away From Core Commitments

(The Nation)  The following is an open letter to Barack Obama signed by progressive supporters of his campaign published by The Nation.

Dear Senator Barack Obama,

We write to congratulate you on the tremendous achievements of your campaign for the presidency of the United States.

Your candidacy has inspired a wave of political enthusiasm like nothing seen in this country for decades. In your speeches, you have sketched out a vision of a better future -- in which the United States sheds its warlike stance around the globe and focuses on diplomacy abroad and greater equality and freedom for its citizens at home -- that has thrilled voters across the political spectrum. Hundreds of thousands of young people have entered the political process for the first time, African-American voters have rallied behind you, and many of those alienated from politics-as-usual have been re-engaged.

You stand today at the head of a movement that believes deeply in the change you have claimed as the mantle of your campaign. The millions who attend your rallies, donate to your campaign and visit your website are a powerful testament to this new movement's energy and passion.

This movement is vital for two reasons: First, it will help assure your victory against John McCain in November. The long night of greed and military adventurism under the Bush Administration, which a McCain administration would continue, cannot be brought to an end a day too soon. An enthusiastic corps of volunteers and organizers will ensure that voters turn out to close the book on the Bush era on election day. Second, having helped bring you the White House, the support of this movement will make possible the changes that have been the platform of your campaign. Only a grassroots base as broad and as energized as the one that is behind you can counteract the forces of money and established power that are a dead weight on those seeking real change in American politics.

We urge you, then, to listen to the voices of the people who can lift you to the presidency and beyond.

Since your historic victory in the primary, there have been troubling signs that you are moving away from the core commitments shared by many who have supported your campaign, toward a more cautious and centrist stance -- including, most notably, your vote for the FISA legislation granting telecom companies immunity from prosecution for illegal wiretapping, which angered and dismayed so many of your supporters.

We recognize that compromise is necessary in any democracy. We understand that the pressures brought to bear on those seeking the highest office are intense. But retreating from the stands that have been the signature of your campaign will weaken the movement whose vigorous backing you need in order to win and then deliver the change you have promised.

Here are key positions you have embraced that we believe are essential to sustaining this movement:

Withdrawal from Iraq on a fixed timetable. 

A response to the current economic crisis that reduces the gap between the rich and the rest of us through a more progressive financial and welfare system; public investment to create jobs and repair the country's collapsing infrastructure; fair trade policies; restoration of the freedom to organize unions; and meaningful government enforcement of labor laws and regulation of industry.

Universal healthcare. 

An environmental policy that transforms the economy by shifting billions of dollars from the consumption of fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, creating millions of green jobs.

An end to the regime of torture, abuse of civil liberties and unchecked executive power that has flourished in the Bush era.

A commitment to the rights of women, including the right to choose abortion and improved access to abortion and reproductive health services.

A commitment to improving conditions in urban communities and ending racial inequality, including disparities in education through reform of the No Child Left Behind Act and other measures.

An immigration system that treats humanely those attempting to enter the country and provides a path to citizenship for those already here.

Reform of the drug laws that incarcerate hundreds of thousands who need help, not jail.

Reform of the political process that reduces the influence of money and corporate lobbyists and amplifies the voices of ordinary people.

These are the changes we can believe in. In other areas -- such as the use of residual forces and mercenary troops in Iraq, the escalation of the US military presence in Afghanistan, the resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the death penalty -- your stated positions have consistently varied from the positions held by many of us, the "friends on the left" you addressed in recent remarks. If you win in November, we will work to support your stands when we agree with you and to challenge them when we don't. We look forward to an ongoing and constructive dialogue with you when you are elected President.

Stand firm on the principles you have so compellingly articulated, and you may succeed in bringing this country the change you've encouraged us to believe is possible.

To see the full list of signatories, click here.

[vastr-wcon]

The FLIP-FLOP MASTER. If you don''t like his comments just wait an hour, he''ll change them!

hussein''s double-talk is endless:

I will take public financing for my campaign-----I will NOT take public financing for my campaign.
Clinton''s NAFTA is BAD-----Just kidding, NAFTA is GREAT.
I will get the troops home immediately-----I will NOT get the troops home immediately.
"I could no more disown him (rev. wright) than I could disown my ... grandmother."-----I DISOWN rev wright. (Look out grandma, you may be next!).
I support total gun control-----I do NOT support total gun control.
NO on offshore drilling-----YES on offshore drilling.
NO on tapping the strategic oil reserve-----YES on tapping the strategic oil reserve.
I don''t need no stinkin'' flag pin-----I NOW WEAR a flag pin since I''m now patriotic (wink, wink)!
No immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos-----I vote YES on Bush''s immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos.

At last, I finally know what he really means by "change".
"Change we can NOT believe in."

Remember that guy who masqueraded as a "compassionate conservative" to get you to vote for him? Don''t be duped by another chronic, habitual liar!

[sean5002]

############################################

I''ll take the socialist marxist over the NEO-CON republicans ALEX TREBEC, We saw what they ACT are doing to us now . WAR in iraq will cost close to a trillion and is ruining our Economy; Tax breaks for the rich and billionare companies that ship your jobs away.

And for those who cry SOCIALIST , i have news for you Fire , police , ambulance etc . all would fall under that category , its all taken care of by the Government with out tax dollars, guess when you in need any of those SERVICE... you will promptly refuse them, after all they are SOCIALIST.

No different than what Barack say he will do with our tax dollars in passing it on to STATES to address the healthcare system , schools, building roads bridges , creating jobs, the environment etc.

[howdydoody6]

Obama''s continual lies scare me to death as does his affiliations with the likes of this so called Rev. Wright (the raging guy in the pulpit against America) who Obama renounced only because he was forced to and way to late in his primary election. Wake up America! See this fraud for who he really is. Howdydoody6 Aug.05, 2008

[johnny1285]

BARRY HUSSEIN HAS NO COMMITTMENTS...

HE''LL SAY ANYTHING ANYONE WANTS TO HEAR TO GET ELECTED PRESIDENT.

HATE TO SAY IT, BUT HILLARY (WHO DID THE SAME THING- SAID ANYTHING JUST TO GET ELECTED)WOULD MAKE A BETTER PRESIDENT.

PEOPLE ARE JUST WILLING TO ELECT HIM DUE TO HIS SKIN COLOR. HE LOOKS DIFFERENT, THEREFORE HE MUST BE DIFFERENT... THAT''S RACIST IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

YOU KNOW IT IS TRUE...

;)

[wogerwabbit]

Neocon fear mongers... that''s all they know. No answers, no solutions, just more of the same old s**t. Vote for the devil you know, they say. Sorry dudes, I''d rather take a chance on the unknown than to follow McCain the path to hell he envisions for America. More war. More corporate greed. More of the same. No thanks.

[azizthenews]

I will take education ALEX TREBEK (spelled with a K)

While I do have a preference in this election, I hope the person that becomes the President of this country does something about the illiteracy running rampant in this country.

However, I find it to be quite interesting how people are catching on to words like socialist Marxist and Neo-Con. Too bad so many have no idea what they really mean.

Before commiting yourself to a particular ideology I ask my fellow Americans to CRACK A FREAKING BOOK AND READ ABOUT THEM FIRST!!!! THEN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE READ AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF EMBRACING SUCH AN IDEOLOGY, NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF BUT FOR EVERYONE.

Nothing in life is free, and if it sounds too good to be true IT IS!!!

For those of you out there that are struggling to put gas in the tank, feed the kids, pay the mortgage, keep your jobs and then get up the next day to do your best to do that all again, KEEP IT UP! I am right there with all my fellow hardworking Americans (political labels and ideologies aside), this too shall pass.

[johnny1285]

We''re told that Obama is "post-racial," but he invokes his own race whenever convenient (e.g., to suggest his opponents are racists, to win support of people who want to vote for him on account of his race). Indeed, the very idea that Obama is post-racial is postmodern claptrap, since only a black candidate can be post-racial, right? No one would say John McCain transcends race. If being post-racial is something only a (liberal) black politician can do, what is "post" about it? Post-racial is just another convenient term used to advance a left-wing agenda under the guise of some highfalutin buzzwords.

-Jonah Goldberg

[johnny1285]

Leave it to the Irish to cut through the garbage and make the whole issue crystal clear...


Thoughts from across the pond - an email from Ireland to the brethren in the States...a point to ponder despite your political affiliation:


''We, in Ireland, can''t figure out why people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States this year.


On one side, you have a pants wearing woman lawyer, married to a lawyer who can''t keep his pants on, who just lost a long and heated primary that they still haven''t paid for yet, against a lawyer who states he is ''black'' when it is documented that he is only 12% ''black'', who goes to the wrong church, who has stated that he wants his countrymen to learn to speak Spanish rather than English, who refuses to put his hand over his heart and say the pledge of allegiance or wear the flag of the country he wants to run, who can''t remember if there are 50 or 57 states in his own country, who is married to yet another lawyer who doesn''t even like the country her husband wants to run.


Now...On the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate ''Mc'', married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship.



What in Lord''s name are ye lads thinking over there in the colonies??

LOL

;)

[mccurrym4]

"
Reform of the political process that reduces the influence of money and corporate lobbyists and amplifies the voices of ordinary people. "
Open letter got this wrong. NObama supported and agreed to the campaign finance reform to reduce corporate and big money influence on elections and agreed to abide by the same public finance system for his campaign until he saw HOW MUCH MONEY he could take in without it. So he is competing against McCain with a nearly 10 to 1 cash advantage. NObama supports Obama. Read his history. This is how he has operated all his life. NObama is a MASTER of DECEIT

[timofmars1]

5. McCain was for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.

6. When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with predators, McCain criticized him for it. He%u2019s since come to the opposite conclusion.

9. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.

10. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.

18. McCain has repeatedly said it%u2019s a dangerous mistake to tell the %u201Cenemy%u201D when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.

19. McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.

20. McCain staunchly opposed Obama%u2019s Iraq withdrawal timetable, and even blasted Mitt Romney for having referenced the word during the GOP primaries. In July, after Iraqi officials endorsed Obama%u2019s policy, McCain said a 16-month calendar sounds like %u201Ca pretty good timetable.%u201D

38. McCain was against Bush%u2019s tax cuts for the very wealthy before he was for them.

40. McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal. And soon after that, McCain abandoned his second position and went back to his first.

[getcentered]

The Nation,

Core Commitments? Then you go on to name the FISA law...and that%u2019s it? Is that all you got. Is the Nation a publication of nitpickers?

You had it right with this one:

"The long night of greed and military adventurism under the Bush Administration, which a McCain administration would continue, cannot be brought to an end a day too soon."

Obama is a Democrat....his "core" commitments are pretty clear to me. The nation picking one thing, "FISA" to drive the headline: "The Nation: There Have Been Troubling Signs That You Are Moving Away From Core Commitments", shows me that there might be payola going on somewhere.

You want to nitpick someone%u2019s positions, aim it a the John McCain Neo-con Republicans.

After all, Barack Obama being "centrist" would be a GOOD thing for a President......and the Democrats have some control over our government will be a GOOD thing for the "Core Commitments" the DEMOCRATS have within their construct.

FISA....please.......shut-up. I hope the Democrats win in 08.

Obama 08.

[shutupnvote]

Pitiful just pitiful begging the purveyor of hate and bigotry Obama to be what he never claimed he was %u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026 but they must were the team nose ring sad.

[veteran188]

Obama is the only hope for america

mcain is ,mcsame

[jacoblevi-2009]

I am AMAZED by the level of unbiased journalism I have been seeing in this campaign; only an journalistic ethic which insisted on total impartiality would post an open letter to one candidate next to a presidential picture of that same candidate without questioning the content or aims of those writing the letter. I don''t know why some many right-wing nut jobs complain about the supposed liberal bias in the mainstream media; this, combined with the media''s clearly unbiased coverage of President Obama''s. . .I mean, President ELECT Obama''s. . .I mean, Senator Obama''s trip to the Middle East, should put the ridiculous accusations of media bias to rest once and for all.

[getcentered]

jacoblevi

Exactly......its payola.

I can''t tell you many times on this news site alone I see the Exxon sponsorship of a "pro-drilling" story.

The John McCain campaign is built upon proliferating negativity for thriving within the MSM and disseminated to the public by the MSM because of the MSM desire for sensationalism. Negativity sells. No snob pundit from any of the networks can deny this fact.

MSM = Tool of the Tragedian

God bless America.

[noloyalisti]

Obama has to compromise, otherwise the neo con Mafia will take him out. He realizes he is another over-consuming militant American. He cannot rock the fascist boat too far. The big corporations have pretty successfully taken over the military and the government. They are far more powerful than any puny pResident puppet.

[greenk77]

The world with Neo-con domination...Public education would be dismal. The more ignorant the people are, the less they will question what the government is doing, the more likely they will enlist in the military as a career. Big business would dominate, forget about benefits, insurance and worker''s rights, the hell with unions and 40 hour work weeks. Corporate accountability, what accountability? The EPA, FDA, USDA and all other regulatory departments would be even more of a joke than they already are. Privatization would dominate all areas, infrastructure, safety, health care. Our roads would be a mess, potholes, unstable bridges and damns. If you''re sick, you better be part of the wealthy 1% otherwise you''re on your own. Since the neo-cons don''t think any funding should go to schools, they''ll leave our education in the hands of the church. Forget about science, facts and logic, it''s all about blind conformity. Evolution? Bah! Don''t you know that the world is only 13,000 years old! Jesus will make sure he comes down and saves us right after we nuke all the people we hate. Summary: The neo-cons would love so much for you to be ignorant, fat, sick, overworked and depressed. As long as you go to church every Sunday you can dream about going to heaven and not care that they have made your life hell. Why can''t you people snap out of it and empower/educate yourselves? It''s not the liberals you should despise it''s the true oppression that is making this country suck!

[greenk77]

The world with Neo-con domination...Public education would be dismal. The more ignorant the people are, the less they will question what the government is doing, the more likely they will enlist in the military as a career. Big business would dominate, forget about benefits, insurance and worker''s rights, the hell with unions and 40 hour work weeks. Corporate accountability, what accountability? The EPA, FDA, USDA and all other regulatory departments would be even more of a joke than they already are. Privatization would dominate all areas, infrastructure, safety, health care. Our roads would be a mess, potholes, unstable bridges and damns. If you''re sick, you better be part of the wealthy 1% otherwise you''re on your own. Since the neo-cons don''t think any funding should go to schools, they''ll leave our education in the hands of the church. Forget about science, facts and logic, it''s all about blind conformity. Evolution? Bah! Don''t you know that the world is only 13,000 years old! Jesus will make sure he comes down and saves us right after we nuke all the people we hate. Summary: The neo-cons would love so much for you to be ignorant, fat, sick, overworked and depressed. As long as you go to church every Sunday you can dream about going to heaven and not care that they have made your life hell. Why can''t you people snap out of it and empower/educate yourselves? It''s not the liberals you should despise it''s the true oppression that is making this country suck!

[beauin]

all of this is nothing but Bush bashing, Obama might leave an even worse legacy, no one is sure what he will do, and you''re voting for him. yea I like another war in Afghanastan, its so much better than Iraq. The USSR lost there, but Obama knows so much about the military, we will lose twice the soldiers there. If Obama could stick by his words, he might win, but he is just another political blowhard. ELECT HILLARY AND CONDALEZA RICE! real bi-partisanship....

[getcentered]

Republicans are deserting their Party''s "brand name" and lining up to sweep the entire party''s slate of national and state candidates into the dustbin. And, Independent voters are turning their backs on the GOP. National Security starts at home with a strong economy.

The story across this summer will be the national outrage at what the Republicans have done to our economy.

Events are overtaking the national dialogue about race and gender -- we are Americans first and we have started doing something about the attack on our national wellbeing.

All Republicans must go---all must be pushed from their seats of power -- and cast aside in 2008. Every single Republican candidate must be held accountable for their support of the Bush Presidency and its horrendous impact on our nation.

From Maine to Hawaii --- Republicans must be defeated so that we can restore our American priorities and American values. They had their chance -they chose to support Bush - they chose to borrow, borrow, borrow and then -spend and spend and spend -- now they must pay.

[PacificGatePost]

THERE IS AN UPSIDE TO THE OIL SHOCK.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/08/oil-speculators-and-cartels-our.html

Oil prices have done all of us a big favor.

[getcentered]

Sure:

1) Republicans lost 3 straight special elections in Republican Strongholds.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/15/politics/washingtonpost/main4097999.shtml?source=search_storyn

2) 3.6 millions plus new voter registrations since 1-Jan-2008 and 80% of them registered with the Democratic Party. 12% of Republicans switching to the Democratic Party so far.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/28/politics/washingtonpost/main4048905.shtml?source=search_story

3) Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee asked the Tennessee GOP to eliminate all racist commercials about Obama.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/20/politics/main4111829.shtml?source=search_story

4) Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said McBush, Ooops sorry, McCain to shut up about Iran and Iraq.


Shall I go on?

[getcentered]

vbnvbn....there''s more:

The mismanagement of the American "brand" has been recognized by the American electorate, and can be seen in the facts related to the huge number of Congressional seats now "in play." Reports confirm that scores of additional Republican Congressional districts are now considered ready to shift away from the failures of a "Republican" administration that has spent the nation into near bankruptcy.

Big spending Republicans are directly to blame. That''s right, Borrow and Spend, Republicans. What happened to fiscal conservatism? ...ask George W. Bush!!

Normally, Congressional seats are not influenced by American foreign policy blunders, but today, a combination of rising unemployment and skyrocketing gas prices have awoken the American voter to the fact that there is a direct connection between Republican foreign policy and economic crises here at home. Our economy and our children''s future have been mortgaged to China, so Bush could pay for HIS WAR.

The results seem to be pointing toward a tsunami of voter rejection for Republican candidates who are properly seen as aiding and abetting the Bush War in Iraq and the wholesale transfer of American jobs overseas. Blind support by Republicans for Bush has exacerbated our economic crises. And, the Republican "old hands" know it; they are retiring from Congress in droves.

[noloyalisti]

The problem with vbnvbn is that, like most narrow minded conservatives, it is either black and white with him. There is no compromise, if you want universal health care you are a commie. If you want to help the poor instead of the current welfare system for the rich, you are a Marxist.

It just goes to show how education does not give you compassion or broad knowledge. If you are with the Government of Pigs, you are an ignorant person against the people of the United States. After all, those fools voted for McBush twice.

[fedup_w_pols-2009]

"You stand today at the head of a movement that believes deeply in the change you have claimed as the mantle of your campaign."

WHAT CHANGE??? FOR ONCE AND ALL PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CHANGE MEANS!!!! Raising taxes is a change and the only one I know of that he endorses so far. All this other CHANGE and HOPE is pure crapolla without any details. I hope I win the powerball too but I can''t tell anyone HOW I am going to do it.

[platteman]

Obama is a socialist at the very least. He wants to take all the money from the rich and give it to the poor. if he wins the election, we will have the most socialist government ever and will face the worst depression since the Great Depression. Gas will become almost unafordable.

[idnnsg]

Platteman says, "Obama is a socialist at the very least."

What total BS! You don''t seem to have the slightest inkling of what socialism is! Socialism refers to economic and political concepts of state ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods and services.

That definitely does NOT describe Obama.

If you repugs want to criticize Obama, first you are going to have to actually read his stated positions, then you are going to have to come up with a reason to oppose those positions, and you are going to have to provide evidence to support your opposing strategy AND show how your candidate will implement your position.

So far, all you id.iots seem to be able to do is to repeat spoon-fed, slanderous LIES about Obama: calling him a racist, a Muslim, an America hater, a "pretty speechifier", etc., etc.

[wogerwabbit]

Would someone be so kind to explain to us exactly how Obama is going to implement these grandiose plans of his?
Posted by vbnvbn at 03:18 PM

Who cares! We know there''s a trainwreck ahead if we follow McSame. Nothing changes... it''ll only get worse. Why in God''s name would you want to continue the on this assured path to destruction when you could take a litte deke to the left and avoid the collision? Obama''s not a messiah, but he''s an alternative to doing nothing... and McCain offers nothing but nore of the same old depressing s**t.. I love my country too much to let it wallow in this cesspool you have created of our nation and would like nothing more than to see you neocon traitors flushed and buried. Amen.

[idnnsg]

Fedup_w_pols doesn''t seem to understand the concept of "change". It STARTS with eliminating the Cult of Bush and his boot lickers! That would be a VERY BIG change, in and of itself.

If you wish to know more about Obama''s ideas for change, go to his website and read about his positions. "Raising taxes" is NOT high on his list, and the only specific taxes he has said he would raise are those of the wealthiest people. I know you are trying to scare uninformed, impoverished working people into voting for McCain, but McCain doesn''t give a rat''s a$$ about "working" people. He wants to lower taxes FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE ONLY. Everyone else''s taxes will, therefore, HAVE TO GO UP under a McCain government.

[wooleywews]

Yes Obama is for change! He has changed his position on off shore drilling. Politicians are all the same!

[magnetrack]

We need someone who knows what they''re doing, not someone like Obama who''s trying to wing it--as illustrated by shifting ad nauseum...

[dashortround]

Republicans want to go backward. Democrats want to go forward.

We all know what''s already gone on in the past, and it wasn''t always all that great - in fact, a lot of it was downright awful, and we certainly wouldn''t want to repeat it again.

What the future may hold is unknown, of course, and the unknown is truly frightening to many people. It takes a certain amount of genuine courage and to move ahead, toward real progress.

I''d prefer to take my chances following the path forward, wherever it leads, not backward, knowing where that path leads.

Mr. Obama''s got my support, if he can stay on track, and not sell-out his values like I see Mr. McCain doing.

Good article. Well said. Thanks "The Nation"!

[wisepeace]

Mr. O is a mystery... changing with the audience. People are fighting over who he really is and many of us have a very bad feeling about him... At the very least he is inexperienced with no track record at all. He should never have been nominated... but was thanks to societal insanity. Neither should McCain have been nominated...he is simply too old. So now we are stuck again with a bad President because we don''t vet the candidates to be sure they have experience, wisdom, good will, and statemanship. So now what are we going to do?

[ausus-2009]

My concern with Obama is that he would turn the US into Europe-light. This means higher taxes, more regulation and all of the consequences that follow. ($7 to $10 gas prices, 90% taxation, loss of freedom of the press, domestic policy controlled by a myriad of UN resolutions etc).

It can be said that these are not Obama''s stated policies, but articles like this saying to abandon the middle of the road and head down the semi-socialist path may push him in that direction. They may send them that way or he may already have a hidden agenda.

I have witnessed overseas governments that say they will not head down the socialist path, but once elected that is exactly where they go.

Maybe that''s why France, Italy and Germany have abandoned semi-socialist governments and the UK is about to do so as well.

[jn122736]

"You stand today at the head of a movement that believes deeply in the change you have claimed as the mantle of your campaign."

WHAT CHANGE??? FOR ONCE AND ALL PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CHANGE MEANS!!!! Raising taxes is a change and the only one I know of that he endorses so far. All this other CHANGE and HOPE is pure crapolla without any details. I hope I win the powerball too but I can''''t tell anyone HOW I am going to do it.
Posted by Fedup_w_pols at 04:32 PM : Aug 05, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fedup_w_pols;

The favorite lie resonated by republicans since Reagan began the disastrous policy of, cut taxes, borrow and spend, has always been, democrats will raise taxes.

Well I%u2019m afraid Bush has already taken care of that.

By doubling the national debt, the present republican administration has actually effectuated the largest tax increase ever, on ALL Americans.

Only by taxing the income and or assets of AMERICANS can the $10 trillion dollar debt be repaid.

And until the debt IS repaid, an additional $1/2 trillion dollars in taxes will be required annually, just to pay the interest.

That equates to an ADDITIONAL $5 trillion tax increase per decade, even if we don%u2019t borrow or spend another dime.

[jn122736]

"You stand today at the head of a movement that believes deeply in the change you have claimed as the mantle of your campaign."

WHAT CHANGE??? FOR ONCE AND ALL PLEASE TELL ME WHAT CHANGE MEANS!!!! Raising taxes is a change and the only one I know of that he endorses so far. All this other CHANGE and HOPE is pure crapolla without any details. I hope I win the powerball too but I can''''t tell anyone HOW I am going to do it.
Posted by Fedup_w_pols at 04:32 PM : Aug 05, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fedup_w_pols;

The favorite lie resonated by republicans since Reagan began the disastrous policy of, cut taxes, borrow and spend, has always been, democrats will raise taxes.

Well I%u2019m afraid Bush has already taken care of that.

By doubling the national debt, the present republican administration has actually effectuated the largest tax increase ever, on ALL Americans.

Only by taxing the income and or assets of AMERICANS can the $10 trillion dollar debt be repaid.

And until the debt IS repaid, an additional $1/2 trillion dollars in taxes will be required annually, just to pay the interest.

That equates to an ADDITIONAL $5 trillion tax increase per decade, even if we don%u2019t borrow or spend another dime.

[patriot12436]

vbnvbn
It is simple, he thinks he is God and only has to waive his hand to make things right.

[patriot12436]

idnnsg
I think his past associations has already convicted him of these charges.

[dremn1]

Oil coming down in price, gas prices coming down, market going up, Winning the Iraq war, winning on the drilling issue. Pretty soon Osama will not have any issues to run on.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Mr. Obama''''s got my support, if he can stay on track, and not sell-out his values like I see Mr. McCain doing.
Good article. Well said. Thanks "The Nation"!" Posted by DaShortRound

Agreed, I have signed the letter, and urge all Democrats to do likewise, then encourage everyone we know who is eligible to register and vote against BushIII.

[ausus-2009]

Looking at The Nation''s shopping list, I would estimate that implementation of seven of the items would lead to an increase of 20-30% in Federal income taxes for the average working person.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Looking at The Nation''''s shopping list, I would estimate that implementation of seven of the items would lead to an increase of 20-30% in Federal income taxes for the average working person." Posted by ausus

The numbers you post are questionable, as they assume that our tax money will continue to be misspent on war, and corruption, that corporate welfare will continue unabated, and that there will be no effort to reprioritize policies, and that any new effort would require new taxes.

I don''t think this to be the case, the "war" budget alone, at 3.5 trillion and counting, and the budget for bailouts and other forms of corporate welfare, if shifted from spreading death to promoting life, would go a long way towards meeting the goals.

[ausus-2009]

I was actually counting abandoning Iraq as an economic plus for Obama. It was the rest of the shopping list that would cause the tax blowout.

On the corruption issue, Democrats are not immune. Obama comes from Chicago, after all.

I will give a brief look at where the new costs come from: welfare increases, creation of government-funded pretend jobs, creation of vast bureaucracies to further regulate business, rampant trade unionism, shutting down of existing power sources to introduce compulsory green power, increase in medical costs, building of government housing, accommodating a huge increase in illegal migration and dealing with crime increases and loss of production arising from softening crime laws.

[blackyowe]

Obama''s big donations come from the very rich. Big surprise. Can we really expect this man to be any different the the rest of the scumbags in modern politics. I have my doubts. I don''t even know who this man is. He seems to be a Hollywood creation not a real person.

[peterp111]

For those who want to waste their vote on a third party - your vote won''t mean squat- it will only mean you don''t have the guts to make a decision on someone who can make a differance in the right direction.

For those who are supporting Obama, the wrong candidate, these people don''t seem to realize that Obama is making empty promises and is focusing on the wrong direction. He got chosen in the Primary for being a Liberal, now he is pretending to be someone else- If you are following him around like a sheep you are behaving as foolish as a cult follower- He will drop like a stone, because he is choosing to destroy this country with his lack of knowledge about issues and that will be painful for you. Wake up now. If you disagree with me, show some respect and avoid the name calling- that only shows you don''t know what you are talking about. Thanks.

[wellhell3]

Obscamma''s already sold out! He was bought and sold the day he put his foot in the political arena...it was his goal to be so.

Note the Ego-encrusted new airplane, note the hiring of rock bands to draw people to his stumps for the appearance of thousand of adoring syncophants that didn''t even come to see him, note his willingness to corrupt himself with a new mansion in Hyde Park, note the corruptness of his earmark paybacks and payouts, note the votes on legislation he was paid for when his lying words screeched a totally different message...

This man is nothing more or less than a political HACK hell bent on the destruction of the country he hates, and his attempts to fool you, buy you, pimp himself, and lie and scam is almost beyond belief.

[notblue]

Obama stance to get the nomination has now changed in order to win the general election, in other words he will say anything to get elected.

[Syndicate]

To say that a vote for McCain is a vote for Bush is moronic. Perhaps your new to politics, I am not. I have watched McCain fight with Bush for eight years now. I know for a fact the men are fundamentally different. Even if your idiotic statement were true four more years of Bush would be a lot better than four years of Obama.

[bigsk8fan]

good folks don''t vote for mcclone. he offers more war, more recession, more or the same mcbush.

[notblue]

Obama sounds more like Bush and McCain every day.