Obama, McCain Cite Founding Spirit on 7/4

(AP)  President Barack Obama sought to rally support for his domestic initiatives, while Sen. John McCain called for Americans to support millions of Iranian election protesters.

The onetime presidential rivals both cited the spirit of the nation's founders in their U.S. Independence Day radio and Internet addresses Saturday.

Mr. Obama said an "unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans" and led people during the nation's history to explore the West, persevere during the Depression and build a robust industrial economy.

"That is the spirit we are called to show once more," President Obama said. "We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy - and our nation itself - are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil."

He said the same spirit will be needed to deal with problems "we cannot defer any longer," citing several areas:

Revamping the education system, demand more from teachers, parents and students and "build schools that prepare every child in America to outcompete any worker in the world."

Overhauling the health care system "that is imposing crushing costs on families, businesses, large and small, and state and federal budgets."

Making clean energy "the profitable kind of energy so that we can end our dependence on foreign oil and reclaim America's future."

The House narrowly passed Mr. Obama's energy bill, and Congress is developing legislation to overhaul the health care system, making care more affordable and providing coverage for millions of the uninsured.

McCain, an Arizona Republican, says the United States has a moral obligation to publicly denounce the Iranian government and support Iranians who feel cheated by the election.

"Today, we stand with the millions of Iranians who brave batons, imprisonment and gunfire to have their voices heard and their votes counted," McCain said. "They do not ask us to arm them or come to their assistance with anything other than public declarations of solidarity, and public denunciations of the tyrants who oppress them. We have a moral obligation to do so."

After quashing huge street demonstrations, Iran's leadership has been trying to erase any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by portraying the unrest as sparked by foreign meddling, not by public anger over the June 12 election, which the protesters said was fraudulent.

Mr. Obama has tried to balance being supportive of the protesters without giving the Iranian government more cause to crack down.

Republican lawmakers have pushed President Obama to more forcefully denounce Iran's leadership. More than two weeks ago, the president issued his strongest statement against the actions of the Iranian regime. "No iron fist is strong enough to shut off the world from bearing witness to the peaceful pursuit of justice," Mr. Obama said at a news conference. He expressed doubt about the legitimacy of the national election.

While McCain on Saturday pushed for a more forceful international voice, Mr. Obama rallied support for his domestic programs.

The president said some critics of his programs "would have us try what has already failed; who would defend the status quo."

But he said those critics need to remember history.

"They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change," he said. "We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America."

"We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it," Mr. Obama said. "And on this July Fourth, we need to summon that spirit once more."


For more info:

President Obama's Weekly Address

Republican Party Weekly Address
By Associated Press Writer Will Lester
By Associated Press Writer Will Lester

[HGOODGUY]

BASIC RIGHT WING CONSERVATIVE PHILOSOPHY

HOORAY FOR ME AND SCREW YOU!!!

[whitemale08]

Until America looks passed the partisan puppets, we don't stand a chance.

It's not about left-right, Democrats vs. Republicans, liberal vs. conservative.

It's about us vs. Goldman Sucks, JP Morgan and all of the banksters here and the Anglo-Dutch financiers that are looting us for every dime we could muster through these fraudalent bailouts.

Until we understand that bailing out 1.4 quadrillion in worthless derivatives and credit-default swaps is not only impossible but it is a take over of our sovereignty by private-financiers.

WAKE UP AMERICA AND STOP THE PARTISANSHIP...LOOK PASSED THE PUPPETS!

[didserve]

McCain take liberman and go live in the middle east! you seem to like it better over there!

America does not need or want you!

[nextgenman09]

McAlzheimer's can't remember his last depends change much less remember any real history about the founding of our Nation.

[xlib]

I didn't this love fest between the two so someone will have to tell me what the messiah apologized for. I mean, probably the "excess" of the whole Independence Day. I mean, gosh, shouldn't we be out community organizing or something.
Oh yea, heard the messiah is going to Africa but not visiting is deserting dad's homeland.How come??

[gold_standard]

In 1776 Americans rebelled against a government that was far less oppressive than what we have now.

[hungry1968-16]

by jgg00000008 July 4, 2009 9:06 AM PDT

are you blaming clinton for 9/11? Or are you trying to rationalize this looming disaster you helped elect to president? BTW have you heard he just approved doubling the troops into afghanistan after doubling the number of troops for this "surge"? Where's that story?







Why blame Clinton for 9/11?

He warned Bush about the pending threat 8 months before the attack, and various federal agencies warned him at least 8 times of the pending threat, and he ignored those threats / warnings too.


Were you REALLY expecting Clinton to read the intelligence and act on it 8 months after he left office, since Bush wouldn't / couldn't?

[hungry1968-16]

by jgg00000008 July 4, 2009 9:35 AM PDT

***actually, in six short months obama has taken over the US auto industry, the financial and insurance industries and is moving to takeover the the medical and energy industries. In those same short 6 months he has tripled our national debt, and made us more indebted to china who are now trying to dictate the value of our currency. In that short, hilarious 6 months he has also absolutely slaughtered small business as well as totally confused consumers. Oh, and he also got two monstrous bills passed without anybody reading them.







He's "taken over" all of those companies?

When did that happen?

Just now?

[cattiej]

McCain brought on Palin and there-in lost the race. Who ever told McCain this witch of the north would make a good VP must have been smoking something weird.
Obama spent 3 years campaigning here in Illinois to be President. Meanwhile, Illinois was going down the tubes and because of Obama inability to communicate with the state we now have Roland Burris in the Senate. Another corrupt, greedy Illinois politican. Burris is already campaigning for election to the Senate when this term is up. This term he bought and paid for. Obama had to know Gov. Blagojevich was dirty and he did nothing. Now our state is broke, and where is Obama, why he is living rent free in the White House..and Illinois people are going to the poor house. 467 thousand people lost their jobs in June, the car plants in St. Louis closed Thursday, we dont make our own products and many American's don't care. Think about what we are suppose to celebrate today, The Birth of our Nation. Well, our nation is in the poor house and soon we will be known as just the North American States and each state will be going broke until another rich country buys them out one at a time. Want to be a real American, stop buying all the foreign goods.
McCain has nothing I care to hear and neither does Obama. They are both self-serving to themselves and their wallets.

[cattiej]

Today we see Obama headed out with family on Marine One. I hope he isn't taking is illegal alien aunt, who I think still lives in government housing on any of these trips. This woman was deported but came back and then never left...no wonder our government is broke and so corrupt.No one talks about all the illegal aliens who have kids in our schools, they go to school free, they get public aid, public housing, they don't have any physical exams and many have TB and other contagious diseases. Who the heck is watching the store?
Meanwhile,
Today is the day that many LEGAL new Americans are becoming citizens. We applaud these new Americans. You became an American the right way. You took the oath to become a LEGAL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN...WELCOME.