Obama Responds to Bush's Veto

"With one stroke of his pen, President Bush has stubbornly ignored the will of the American people, the majority of Congress and, most disturbingly, the realities on the ground in Iraq.

"Now we call upon our Republican colleagues in Congress to help override this veto and acknowledge what the President will not – that there is no military solution to a political conflict that lies at the heart of this civil war.

"Only the Iraqi leadership can make peace, and the best way to pressure them to do so is still a phased withdrawal of American forces with the goal of removing all combat troops from Iraq by March 30th, 2008.

"It is time to end this war so we can bring our troops home and redeploy our forces to help fight the broader struggle against terrorism and other threats of this new century."

-Senator Barack Obama, May 1st, 2007

No Other Candidate Matches Obama's Record of Environmental Activism

Campaigning over the Earth Day weekend, Senator Barack Obama pledged his support to roll out California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard policy nationwide.

The California policy, brought forth by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, would reduce annual gas emissions by 100 million metric tons — equal to taking 32 million cars off the road.

“The problem is not the lack of policy, the problem is the lack of will and the lack of urgency,” Obama said to a crowd of 12,000 at the University of Iowa.

While other Democratic candidates campaigned separately on the issue, only Obama has a proven history of environmental activism and advocacy.

For your consideration:

As an undergraduate at Columbia University, Obama's served three-months with a Ralph Nader offshoot organization organizing recycling programs at City College in Harlem.

Working as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, Obama fought for lead abatement in the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood.

As an Illinois state senator, representing the 13th district on Chicago's South Side, Obama distinguished himself as a leader on environmental and public-health issues.

In 2003, Obama was one of six state senators to receive a 100 Percent Environmental Voting Record Award from the Illinois Environmental Council.

The League of Conservation Voters named him a 2004 Environmental Champion, one of 18 sitting and prospective members of Congress to receive the award.

At this critical juncture in global environmental policy, wise voters will choose a candidate for whom the environment is more than a simple Earth Day fashion statement.

Obama Remarks on Immigration, Veterans Affairs

Happy Monday, everyone. Here's some Barack Obama reading for the new week:

• Obama to unveil a new plan for housing veterans. (Boston Globe)
• Obama's remarks on immigration reform. (Des Moines Register)
• An editorial on Obama's early years in Hawaii. (New York Times)

As Campaign Evolves, Obama Must Get "Policy Serious"

Aside from well-publicized attacks from Fox News, Senator Barack Obama has faced very little scrutiny from the mainstream media. For the most part, he is hailed as a "rock star" candidate with legions of adoring supporters in tow.

Now, as the first quarter of 2007 draws to a close, the reality of a marathon campaign sets in. The mainstream media has finally shown Obama in a more realistic lens. Having experienced his first minor missteps in recent weeks, the Illinois Senator finds his star settling back to Earth, at least for the time being.

Of even greater concern, however, is the notion that Obama has thus far soared on style and alone, and that unless he takes some serious policy stances, and soon, he may find himself flying on vapors.

Cheers to the mainstream press for asking a little more of Obama at a time when he really needs to capitalize on his momentum and differentiate himself from the competition on a policy level.

When campaigns report their quarterly fundraising numbers on March 31st, Hillary Clinton should come up strong, especially following her visit to California. Naturally, speculation will percolate whether Obama can compete with the Clinton money machine, especially with so much of the campaign trail left to blaze.

This subtle change of sentiment on behalf of the mainstream media, coupled with increased fundraising pressure from Clinton, means that now is the perfect time for Obama to get serious , to satisfy those Democrats who are sitting on the fence, hungry for serious policy discussion.

What subjects can Obama tackle to set himself apart from the pack? He's proven himself on the Iraq issue. Health Care is Hillary's pet project. The economy shouldn't be a major issue until gasoline breaks above $3.00 again.

Spring Break is over, Senator Obama. Let's hear more of what you have to say about education.

Obama on the Issues: Honoring Our Veterans

In an effort to draw attention to Senator Obama's position on key issues, here is his official stance on Veteran care.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/

Also, from the Army Times, coverage of the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/tnsmedboards070217/