Barack Obama, ‘Listening And Learning’
January 16, 2007, 8:08pm
Barely two years into his political career on the national level, Sen. Barack Obama today officially formed a committee to explore a bid for the presidency.
“For the next several weeks,” the Illinois Democrat said, “I am going to talk with people from around the country, listening and learning more about the challenges we face as a nation, the opportunities that lie before us, and the role that a presidential campaign might play in bringing our country together.”
Without naming President Bush directly, Obama implied that Bush’s leadership the past six years has left the country in “a precarious place.” ”
“Our economy is changing rapidly, and that means profound changes for working people,” he said. “Many of you have shared with me your stories about skyrocketing healthcare bills, the pensions you’ve lost and your struggles to pay for college for your kids. Our continued dependence on oil has put our security and our very planet at risk. And we’re still mired in a tragic and costly war that should have never been waged.”
Obama said he will make a final decision about a presidential run Feb. 10, when he makes an announcement in Illinois. The full text of his online video announcement is available at the exploratory committee’s Web site.
Categories: Producer's Picks, Sen. Barack Obama, Presidency 2008, Barack Obama
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January 21st, 2007 at 1:59 am
[…] The Democrats — Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois — played up the idea of a conversation with American voters. Brownback’s theme was one of “hope and ideas” at a time when hopelessness is threatening the American dream for some people. […]
January 21st, 2007 at 4:38 pm
[…] All of the Democrats officially in the race so far have sounded similar themes — listening to and learning from voters, engaging them in conversation or inviting them to act now to change the country for the better — but Vilsack jumped on that bandwagon first. […]