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FacebookObama targets home issues in Vegas visit
Steve Marcus
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama listens Tuesday as Las Vegas homeowner Felicitas Rosel addresses an invitation-only audience at the College of Southern Nevada.
Wed, May 28, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Sun Archives
- Obama's in town, and the housing crisis is on his lips (5-27-2008)
- Obama says he will fight McCain for western states (5-27-2008)
- Democrats on Foreclosures (1-2-2008)
Barack Obama returned to Las Vegas on Tuesday to shore up his weaknesses in Nevada, which is in the heart of a must-win region if he is to take the presidency in November. The freshman senator from Illinois lost the state’s Democratic caucus in January by 6 percentage points.
Obama, who is now close to sewing up the Democratic nomination following a long battle with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, performed poorly with Hispanics during the caucus, losing by a 2-1 margin, according to exit polls.
Both here and in later primaries, working-class Democrats found Obama’s often soaring rhetoric wanting in specifics about “kitchen table” issues, including insecurities about keeping their homes, jobs and health care.
And finally, Democrats hungry for victory questioned whether Obama would take on the Republican nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, with the kind of tough politics required to win a national race.
Obama started his day here at the home of Felicitas Rosel and Francisco Cano, a married couple living in northeast Las Vegas who work at the Bellagio and struggle to pay their bills.
He talked of that visit in remarks later at an invitation-only town hall event at the College of Southern Nevada. Then he unloaded, trying to kill all three birds of prey — those glaring weaknesses revealed by the caucus — with one rhetorical rock.
“I just had the privilege of visiting” the couple, Obama said. “Today, John McCain is having a different kind of meeting. He’s holding a fundraiser with George Bush behind closed doors in Arizona. No cameras. No reporters. And we all know why. Sen. McCain doesn’t want to be seen, hat in hand, with the president whose failed policies he promises to continue for another four years.”
He continued: “I don’t think the American people want to continue the disastrous economic policies that have helped create catastrophes like the housing crisis that we’re here to discuss today.”
In one stroke, Obama made a dig at McCain by tying him to Bush, recalled his conversation with a Hispanic couple struggling to pay the bills, and introduced housing security as an issue he’ll fight for.
It was a clear sign that the Obama campaign had been sharpened by the long primary season.
After his prepared remarks Obama took questions, mollifying another complaint — about his campaign’s lack of back-and-forth with voters.
The camp of McCain, who is campaigning in Reno today, responded quickly.
His spokesman, Tucker Bounds, released a statement: “Whether it’s fighting wasteful government spending, addressing global climate change or advocating a more effective strategy in Iraq, John McCain has clear but respectful differences of opinions with the president. However, it isn’t surprising that Barack Obama is trying to disguise his lack of depth and weak leadership on economic issues with political generalizations and partisan attacks.”
After criticizing Obama’s plan to use activist government policies to stem foreclosures, the statement concluded: “It’s clear that he just isn’t ready to lead our economy.”
And so the pattern, sure to be repeated from now until November, has been set: Obama will tie McCain to Bush and argue that the Republican represents the failed policies of the Bush era. McCain will say Obama is out of his depth, not ready, too liberal.
Nevadans will be inundated with these messages — on TV, in the mail, and during visits from candidates and their surrogates. That’s because if Obama can’t win Ohio or Florida, which have been difficult for Democratic presidential nominees in recent election cycles, he must win three of the following four states: Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire, though a Virginia or North Carolina victory would make the West less necessary.
In his appearances at both CSN and the Rosel-Cano home, Obama laid out part of his proposal for economic security and keeping people in their homes: support for pending legislation that would help borrowers and lenders renegotiate adjustable-rate mortgages and switch to fixed 30-year mortgages; make an additional $10 billion in bonds available for first-time homebuyers and those trying to avoid foreclosure; create simpler, easier-to-understand loan disclosures so that borrowers understand their loans; toughen predatory lending law.
Obama has also proposed cutting some taxes for lower-income people.
McCain would make permanent the temporary tax cuts passed by the Republican Congress and signed by Bush, while also cutting corporate taxes. He believes this would spur economic development.
In a California speech in March, McCain said he’s “committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.”
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Talk is cheap and Obama is in the tank for Wall Street lenders.
Learn the truth about Sub-Prime Obama
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.p...
Seems Obama has tried to make Florida and Michigan a negative issue from day one. These are states dominated by Clinton supporters. The momentum Hillary would of gained from stunning wins in these large states would of made donations soar, and helped many voters in other states decide to vote for Clinton. As a Florida resident and you as a Nevada resident should not support Obama, Clinton has been cheated, and scammed by the party. Support me to sing at the inauguration www.myspace.com/rosemariefpalmer
Obama is an idiot. Plain and simple. I honestly cannot believe anyone in their right mind is considering him as President. I personally think Hillary hit the nail on the head with her comment last week.
JT
www.fireme.to/udi
Even though I am not a McCain supporter, I would vote for McCain or even Clinton over Obama. I simply do not trust the man. It has nothing to do with his color - that is not relevant. If Obama wins, hid your guns because this man is for strong government gun control and confiscation.
Who cares, all a lot of talk with no hope of follow through. As long as Barrack and that witch Hillary don't get elected, I'll be happy!
Reading some of these comments, I'm not surprised that we're in the mess we're in. I'm not saying to vote for Obama, I'm saying open your minds. Don't regurgitate the same talking points his opponents have used against him. He's not going to get rid of your guns (although good luck using those guns to fight global warming which is the biggest threat to the country and the world).
He's not an idiot, but an extremely intelligent, constitutional law professor (meaning, he's more likely to let you keep the guns under the 2nd amendment because he understands how important it is to protect the constitution), he was also president of the Harvard Law Review - real dummy, I guess, and has the exact same resume as another Illinois senator - Abraham Lincoln - when he became president.
Sometimes a fresh voice, thinking outside the box is the best thing that can be done when the hole you're in is too deep. And I believe Obama is that kind of candidate - he thought outside the box when it came to political fundraising, and is now a fundraising juggernaut. He thought outside the box when it came to grassroots organizing and he's on his way to defeating the Clinton's - who have already won the presidence TWICE. I want the same kind of fresh ideas to reinvigorate our housing market, economy, and healthcare system. I want that outside the box diplomacy to get India and China to get more serious about global warming.
I will never trash McCain because when deciding who to vote for, again, it's best to keep an open mind, do your own research, and figure out who is in your best interest when it comes to the issues that will matter MOST. With killer tornadoes a story in the news every week - global warming is one of them, unless you're so rich you can go to your winter home in Aspen when a hurricane, tornado, megafire, etc... (all which are expected to get worse as global warming increases), health care, the economy, and the ability to end the war in Iraq.
Oh johninmontana and friends, you can find the reality of Obama's position on guns and everything else at www.barackobama.com - -
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/additi...
PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS
Respect the Second Amendment: Millions of hunters own and use guns each year. Millions more participate in a variety of shooting sports such as sporting clays, skeet, target and trap shooting that may not necessarily involve hunting. As a former constitutional law professor, Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he greatly respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting. He also believes that the right is subject to reasonable and commonsense regulation.
AND ... you trust McCain more ?? The guy has been a politician for decades, he will have to hand out a lot of favors and secret influence in order to get elected.
invitation-only -only town hall event...LOL.....
Here are the questions from the town hall people...
Obama, I understand you walk on water, are you not the greatest person on earth?
Obama, I love you, love you love you...can you be our President?
Really tough town hall meeting.
I agree with the one poster here who is asking that you keep an open mind. Seems to me from what I read here, many had their mind up from the get go.
Why is it that an educated black man strikes fear in the hearts of many? We all know the republicans have had this mess for going on 8 years and it just got worse year to year. The "its my way or the highway" mode of thought is the absolutely wrong way and McCain seems to be cut from that mold also. He's the shoot first and ask questions later type of guy and that is not a leader.....thats a war monger. McCain otherwise known as Songbird in his POW days, is NOT the right choice at all.
http://vietnamveteransagainstmccain.com/...
As much as I wanted to see a woman as President and was for Clinton early on, I have to say her actions and words early on to this date have soured my hope for her winning. She has set back women many years. The multiple faces of Clinton, playing the racist card and the gender card etc. etc.
Its time for a new face. One who hasnt been courted by K-Street and hasnt used their title to acquire favors.
You can say what you want about Obama, he has fired up the young voters and thats wonderful. Its their future at stake and they need to get involved. Our Military is hurting and many of the young people are not opting to put that uniform on because they are seeing what little concern our administration has for those giving it all for their country.
I will vote for Hussien.
He will get us out of the middle east. Finally, we will stop supporting the evil Zionist in Israel.
He will finally get passed good gun control laws. We do not need every Tom, Dick and Jane having guns.
And thank God he will go after the rich. Anybody making more than $40,000 will finally be forced to pay their fair share to help the poor.
Lastly, those churches that preach hate against gays will lose their tax exempt status.
Regarding jfinance’s comments:
Israel has a right to exist as a free country. Other countries wage war on Israel and promote hatred against the people of that country. If one believes in the Bible, read what God said about those who are against Israel and the Israel people.
Regarding gun control laws: We already have laws, and we have the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The criminals and people with demented minds use guns, and will continue to use guns, in harmful and illegal ways. No amount of legislation will change that. Gun control will remove guns from law abiding citizens who want and need to protect themselves. Then, criminals will have free rein to kill and injure innocent people.
The rich are not those making $40,000 a year. That amount puts one at the very beginning of middle class.
Churches that espouse any sort of hate should be removed from tax preferential treatment.
And Db024 - Senator Obama has a proven track record against guns. He supported Washington D. C.'s total ban on handguns for self defense. In Illinois lawmakers introduced a bill that would exonerate citizens for violating local gun bans if they used a gun to protect their homes. Obama noted NO.
Johninmontana:
Thanks for supporting Hussien's plan to remove tax exempt status of churches that preach against gays.
I heard this preacher say this stuff like homosexuality is a sin.
How dare he!
Hussien would immediately order the IRS to strip that church of tax exemption rights. Hopefully, the church will fold because of the taxes they will have to pay.
Globle warming i beleive is a myth!
Their i said it why? well in 1974 climatologist were saying the exact opposit of today the ice packs are increasing by 15% the temp has dropped 2.7 degrees, oh no its an ice age. google iceage 1974 and see for your self.
Barracks Whole Kenya name is Barrack hussein Muhammand Obama.
Hmmmmmm.
jfnance32: cite a single source that says Obama wants to remove the tax exempt status of a church for hate speech.
Cite a quote from Obama saying he's going to raise taxes on families making more than 40k.
You don't have any sources. You have empty, easily debunked, standard-issue Hannity-Rush-Rove rhetoric. It's sad, really. And Barack's middle name is Hussein. E before I.
casinokid: I have no doubt that "Globle warming" is a myth. Global warming, on the other hand...
Also, you need someone to proofread your posts. Someone like a third-grade teacher. You can't even spell global correctly.
Why do I always have to play the role of red-ink English teacher with these backwater Republican types?
thebs:
You are right about Hussein.
He will not remove the tax exempt status of churches that preach hate.
If he did that then he would have to go against his own church that he attended for over 20 years.
In other words, you have nothing to backup your fabricated loony nonsense.
It's called credibility. And you lack it.
thebs:
I think I love you
Obama08 & 12
Screw all you conservative people out there! You're the reason why we had a quack of a president for 8 looooong years! You're the reason why our troops are losing their lives in a war that meant nothing more than to take over big oil in the Middle East. We were lied to by Bush over this entire Iraq War from the get-go. What makes you think McCain won't continue the same old crap for 4 more years? This country is in dire need for change, and the man to do it is Obama. Barack Obama is a modern-day JFK, in my opinion. He will be a welcome change to this country. It's about time the middle-class get a break! Bush has driven enough of a wedge in between rich and poor in his 8 years in office. Just look at the Katrina disaster. How long did he take to send help? He took his time because he doesn't care about the less fortunate. And recently, he took his time touring Iowa after the Midwest floods, arriving some EIGHT DAYS after the disaster began because he was too busy in another country. Bush cares about no one but his oil executives, because he's one himself!