DENVER - Barack Obama had been accused of being a man of slogans but no substance.
Yes We Can. Change.
Madison Avenue slogans. That convey everything. But mean nothing.
Repeatedly during this week's coverage of the Democratic National Convention, callers to News Talk Online asked another advertising slogan. "Where's the beef?"
Well, last night in Mile High Stadium, Obama not only offered beef. But chicken, pork, vegetables. In fact, virtually any kind of political food one might crave.
He outlined a smorgasbord of issues. So that voters can walk up to the food bar, find what they desire, and select it.
So if your issue is, say, education. You'll find it on the menu. Health care? We've got that too.
It's a great marketing strategy. Except that, when you try to offer all kinds of food to all people, you never excel in any one.
Still, these campaign "promises" are nothing more than ideas that a president would try to implement once elected. A promise is not a guarantee.
Some observations from his speech:
Taxes
Obama says the tax code would not award the lobbyists that wrote it.
There would be no tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas. Those breaks would be transferred to companies creating jobs for Americans.
He'd eliminate capital taxes for small companies and start ups.
He'd cut taxes to all working families.
Energy
Obama would end dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Education
Obama would increase early childhood education possibilities.
He'd increase salaries for teachers but require them to meet higher standards in return.
Those who served the nation would get assistance with their college education.
Health care
Obama says Americans would be afforded the opportunity to get the same kind of health care offered members of Congress.
He'd insure that medical insurance companies live up to their responsibilities to serve the sick.
Social Security
Obama would protect the Social Security system.
Wages
Obama would ensure that there be equal pay for an equal day's work, so that his girls have the same opportunities as the sons of Americans.
Family values
Obama says his administration would urge families to guide their children. He stressed the importance of a father's influence on the family.
Military
Obama is ready to debate John McCain over who would be the best commander-in-chief.
He would go after Osama bin Laden.
He'd set a firm time frame, accepted by the Iraqi government, for bringing the troops home.
Diplomacy
Obama says he would restore America's moral standing with the world.
Unity
Obama says the U.S. isn't red America. It isn't Blue America. It's the United States of America where the patriotism of all, Republican, Democrat and independent, should not be questioned.
Abortion
Obama says while there may not be consensus on the abortion issue, teen pregnancy can be reduced.
Gun control
Again, Obama says while there may not be consensus on this issue, the Second Amendment can be protected at the same time that AK47s are being kept out of the hands of criminals.
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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kightp/2808145584/
3 comments:
I listened, and watched intently to Obama's speech. I give him his due, he was good - only one falter. Did I believe him is the big question.
It sounds like an awful lot of legislation to achieve all those aims. If he set out to achieve all those changes, and some of them are radical, then he would meet lots of resistance, especially since he would have to achieve them largely within a 4 year period in order to achieve a second term.
I have seen a similar menu of promises set out in the UK by Tony Blair. I guess the difference is that he really began to fail during his second term before he cut and ran - now I can't see Obama doing that.
Utopian dreams are hard to achieve, ask MLK and JFK.
Oh, one last thing - there has been a time line for cutting back troops and withdrawl from Iraq for some time. I do believe that is some time over the next year, so let's not kid ourselves if either of the candidates make these promises.
He makes many promises. What I want to know is: WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
Telling me how he'll do this:
Obama says Americans would be afforded the opportunity to get the same kind of health care offered members of Congress.
Obama would end dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Again, Obama says while there may not be consensus on this issue, the Second Amendment can be protected at the same time that AK47s are being kept out of the hands of criminals.
And lastly, he didn't say LETS REDUCE ABORTIONS, he said he wants to limit PREGNANCIES. Well, China did that- by forcing abortion on women with a 1 child only policy.
I don't want to know only the WHAT, I want to know the WHO AND HOW of his promises.
-LD McLellan
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