Nelson Mandela Speaks Out; and Ralph Nader Seeks Attention

Mandela Mauls Mugabe


Today, for the first time, former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela spoke out against the controversial actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. In his description of the crises, he talked about "the tragic failure of leadership" of Robert Mugabe. This adds to the calls of South African leaders to postpone the June 27th run-off due to the violence plaguing the campaign. Like many other leaders, Mandela has been tentative about speaking out against the violent campaign of Zanu-PF loyal militias against fellow Zimbabweans.

Once regarded as a hero of the struggle for independence in Africa, Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe much like a dictator. As his country has spun into turmoil, Mugabe has clung on to control, blaming colonialists like Britain for all of the problems even the hyperinflation that has destroyed the once booming economy of Zimbabwe. However, the international community seemingly has had enough. Virtually every nation is calling the election a sham, and nothing epitomizes this change of heart more than Britain's stripping of an honorary knighthood given to Mugabe.

Call me a cynic, but all I can think of when reading of various international condemnation of Mr. Mugabe is... what took so long?!?!? Where was Mr. Mandela when various leaders, including Morgan Tsvangirai and Tendai Biti, was arrested numerous times before the election? Why wasn't Mr. Mbeki more involved during the more than a month's time that passed before the "official" results were released? While the old saying goes "better late than never," I fear that the situation has spiraled too far out of control for the international community to control.

The Last Act of a Desperate Man

During his lifetime, Ralph Nader has led a distinguished career. He has been a fierce advocate for consumers' rights, a man standing up for ordinary citizens, and, less pleasantly, a spoiler. While I disagree with him on many counts, he has always been a respectable man. However, in recent years, he has become desperate for attention, doing anything for media spotlight. And today, Mr. Nader went after Barack Obama, accusing him of "talking white," meaning he has ignored issues pertaining to the African American community like predatory lending and the overall inequality in the U.S. economy.

What Mr. Nader fails to realize is that Obama has in fact talked about these issues. He has talked about the need to alert consumers of the risk involved in taking loans. If you don't believe me, http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#credit-cards, look it up at this location, or just remember his speeches dealing with these exact issues.

If Barack Obama has talked about the issues, then why would Ralph Nader need to distort his record? The answer is a hard pill for Mr. Nader to swallow. His campaign has failed to gain traction and he longs for the spotlight of his suprise campaign in 2000. His status in American politics is waning, as anti-establishmentarians are abandoning him for libertarians (in my mind, crazies) like Ron Paul and Bob Barr. And, with his rapidly decreasing stature, Mr. Nader, a once respected fighter, has stooped to the very level of politics he once fought against, and that is just deplorable.

Coup d'etat

Hello everyone! I'm the younger brother of the former author of this blog. He was ousted in a bloodless coup over the weekend, and I ascended to power. Disgraced, Balke said "I can't wait to see your blog! What an improvement it shall be. Go get em'." The New Mexico Progressive will stay on the same track, witht the only difference being that I am not a young political activist blogging for change. I'm just a teenager blogging for the love of all things politics. Now, onto the top story of today.


Bubba Finally Comes Around

Today, former President Bill Clinton embraced (indirectly) the candidacy of Barack Obama. He couldn't have done it in a more timely fashion either. He only waited 17 days after his wife dropped to endorse the presumptive Democratic nominee. His spokesman, Matt McKenna, issued a one sentence statement that read "President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States."

Clinton's role in the campaign is the subject of the current debate in the Democratic Party. The former president is still extremely popular from his two terms in the White House, particularly amongst working class whites which would help Barack Obama who has struggled with that demographic. This advantage would help in the swing states of Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Furthermore, his keen political instincts would also be very valuable to Senator Obama as he goes up against a desperate Republican Party.

However, there are many downsides to an increased role for Clinton in the campaign. During his wife's primary campaign, he proved to be reckless and uncontrollable. Several of his statements sparked controversy and he alienated African Americans, a major voting bloc in the Democratic Party. In addition, his shady overseas business deals and his refusal to give up the donors to his foundation and presidential library are another roadblock to a role in the campaign. Finally, the very fact that he represents the past directly conflicts with Barack Obama's promise of change.

That's it. Enjoy! There's more to come, maybe.

Signing off--at least for a while

So long...for now:
As part of my fellowship with the Barack Obama Campaign, I'm not permitted to offer open political commentary in the form of a blog. This, I think, is a perfectly legitimate expectation on the campaign's behalf, as it would be nearly impossible to track the comments of thousands of staff across the country and, as a result, ensure that each is maintaining comments in line with the campaign's message.

Still, it does mean that, at least over the next five weeks, the New Mexico Progressive will take a breather. We appreciate your readership and can't wait to report back to you in late July and early August on all things political as Election Day approaches!

Cheerio,

--The New Mexico Progressive

Off and running with the Obama Organizing Fellows

NM Fellows Pick Up Steam:
I am off and running on my fellowship with the Barack Obama campaign. The campaign has begun an initiative called the 'Obama Organizing Fellows' program, which is comprised of 3,600 activists from across the country, who will spend the next six weeks of their lives organizing for, and supporting the activities of, the Barack Obama campaign for president.

Here in New Mexico, there are just over 41 fellows, with a roughly even split of those native to the Land of Enchantment and those from as far away as Washington, D.C. and New England. After three days of initial training in Albuquerque (today, Monday, represents day three), we will deploy with out small groups (roughly ten folks) to specific regions of the state. My team will be based in Las Cruces and other areas around Southern New Mexico, including, but not limited to, Hobbs, Roswell, and Carlsbad. I'm particularly excited about the opportunity to organize for the Obama campaign in Las Cruces, given that I grew up there and feel I have a good understanding of the area's political dynamic, which will enable me to better support the Senator's efforts therein.

Our responsibilities as Obama Organizing Fellows are multi-faceted. Our top priority is to recruit, train, and retain volunteers. There is absolutely nothing more essential to the victory of the campaign in November then recruiting and training volunteers today, and that will be a key priority for Fellows in the days and weeks to come.

More immediately, our efforts center around voter registration. Each week, we'll work with our small groups to hit our 'numbers', that is quantifiable goals for the number of new voters we register, or folks who've recently moved to, or from another place within, New Mexico and now need to re-register (we will also work to reach 'number' goals in terms of the number of volunteers we recruit, as well as the number of volunteer 'shifts' we fill).

Also, one of our first projects as Fellows is organizing and then implementing to 'Obama Unite For Change House Parties', which are set for Saturday, 28 June. The goal of UFC House Parties is to bring together Obama supporters, former Clinton supporters now supporting Obama, independents, and even Republicans who are tired of their party's performance in the White House and like what they hear from Barack. At the meeting, we'll engage in a group discussion about the issues we feel most important in moving our country in the right direction, as well as specific things we can do to help elected Senator Obama in order to forge that better future we would all like to see.

Moreover, the parties will serve as an event for folks to commit to volunteering for the Obama Campaign and, more specifically, engaging in a voter registration drive in their community on the 4th of July. A critical responsibility of mine in organzing the UFC House Parties is recruiting a host that can bring in a dynamic, politically-engaged group of attendees whom would be likely to get out there and work for Senator Obama. Ideally, each meeting will have 20 participants, not including me or the host, but I would certainly like move that number up by at least 25 or, perhaps, 50, percent. I've already initiated the process of identifying and reaching out to hosts I think would be particularly dynamic. My top prospects are local elected officials, who, formerly, strongly backed the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.

As a supporter of Barack Obama, one of the most important efforts I think we need to engage in at this point as we court victory for the fall is reaching out to former Clinton supporters and beginning a discussion on all the things that unite us as progressive citizens. During the primary campaign, the media focused the bulk of its attention on the difference between Senators Obama and Clinton, but I, and most, know that there exists far more that connects these two leaders than divides then, and, in the form of the UFC House Parties, I believe an exciting opportunity presents itself to start the discussion of reconciliation between Obama and Clinton supporters across the country.

All told, I'm loving my fellowship experience thus far. Not only have I might an outstanding group of dynamic activists from all walks of life and a wide range of locales, but I also feel that my work as an organizer will be particularly important in an election that could turn on one or two states. With New Mexico representing one of the most critical swing states around, any efforts that increase the turnout for Senator Obama on Election Day stand to play a significant role in determining to whom the Land Of Enchantment's five electoral votes go. I, for one, plan to work with all my passion, intelligence, and exuberant flare for progress to see to it that our home is, for once, neither red, nor green on 04 November- on that day, I hope, we'll be solid blue.

Irish Vote Down EU Lisbon Treaty

Irish Voters Say 'No' to EU Integration Pact:
Voters in Ireland, yesterday, considered the recently concluded Lisbon Treaty, a pact that would strengthen the institutions of the European Union and unite the continent's countries' political, commercial, and security endeavors in an unprecedented manner.

Much to the dismay of my brother, Padraig, whose real name, Patrick, has shifted to its Irish counterpart in light of the country's recent surge in attention, citizens of the Emerald Isle voted down the pact, becoming the first of 15 European countries to give the deal a thumbs-down. Ireland, moreover, was the only country in the EU to consider the Lisbon Treaty by way of a country-wide referendum, which, of course, ran the risk of leaving the decision of whether or not to pass the deal up to voters who may not have been informed as to precisely the impact it would have on their lives.

Indeed, media reports (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7453560.stm) have suggested that thousands of voters who ultimately cast their vote 'no', did so largely because of lingering questions regarding what the pact would actually entail. This, of course, was a risk known to policymakers as they took the bold step of selecting the referendum as the method by which Ireland would way in on the EU deal.

Still, while the country is to be commended to leave such a significant decision in the hands of the populace, the result of Thursday's ballot, I believe, is disadvantageous for the island state and evidences that officials must do more to fully educate voters on the finer points of referendum issues.

As my brother shows in a well and passionately written piece below, integration into the European Union has been a boon for the Irish economy, with the country's economy growing at the fastest clip in the continent for the better part of the last 15 years, before slowing last year. Corporate tax reductions, coupled with the unifying facilitation provided by EU membership, drew a wealth of foreign direct investment from countries across the continent into Ireland.

Moreover, lax immigration rules established by the pact, which encourage the movement to Ireland of laborers from sluggish economies in places like Lithuania, Romania, Poland, and other Eastern European coutnries has provided Irish employers with cheap labor, giving them an advantageous way in which to advance their operations. These rules, coupled with the appealingly low corporate tax rate also encourage foreign multinationals to set up shop in the Emerald Isle, bringing with them a swath of well-paying jobs for the country's citizens.

So, why, then, would Irish voters turn down a pact that would seemingly intensify the process that has ushered in a new wave of economic prosperity by a sturdy six point margin. The answer, it seems, lies in the reality that many voters, rightly or wrongly (in fact, often rightly and sometimes wrongly), still vote with their hearts and not their heads. When I visited Ireland last summer, there was a great deal of talk amongst the folks with whom we conversed about the detrimental impact that the flood of Eastern European immigrants was having on Irish culture. There are rumored to be as many as one million Polish migrants alone inside of Ireland, and the total number of those from other countries isn't far behind. While economists seem to agree that enough jobs exist to account for this rush of new labor and that their presence significantly bolsters the domestic economy, it is equally as clear that newcomers do not so quickly drop the cultural practices and customs of their homeland.

My question, however, is how could, and why should, they. Indeed, this seems to be one of the finer points of globalization that its most vehement proponents often miss. As the Jihad v. McWorld dichotomy explores, a zero-sum game, or cultural tug-o-war exists as globalization brings disparate countries ever closer, while different cultures simultaneously cling more tightly than ever to their unique ideals and traditions.

Indeed, as ideas, goods, and even people cross national borders with increasing ease, groups in countries across the world, developed and developing alike, feel threatened that their ability to retain that which makes them independent might be weakening. And don't we see this when we think about parts of the Muslim World, whose violent backlash to the spread of Americana no doubt constitutes a not-so-veiled attempt to strike back against the imposition of Western ideals on their everyday existence. Or how about in Israel, where citizens seem exceedingly willing to open up their country to, and become a more significant part of, an increasingly global economy, while providing Arabs living within their country a more genuine place within the national narrative seems out of the question.

Yet, as the Irish vote on the Lisbon Treaty powerfully demonstrates, the Muslim and Jewish Worlds do not represent the only places in which cultural sensibilities often trump people's desires to open up to a broader world, a reality that extends to the ballot box, as well. In Ireland's Treaty vote, we see people voting down a measure in order to fight something they see as a threat to their culture and their life as an Irish nation in its purest form. Despite the fact that the improved political, economic, and security conditions that the Lisbon Treaty may engender would better enable Irish citizens to celebrate and share their culture, they have given the old '86' to a deal they saw as no good for national heritage.

Padraig, perhaps, if given another shot, those in the Emerald Isle will reconsider (again, see below for my brother's commentary).

Padraig's Piece:
I don't care what Gerry Adams or Declan Ganley says, it's not a good day to be Irish. With this vote, the future of a more powerful and united EU is in jeopardy. The European Commission said today that other nations should continue to ratify the treaty, but Czech President Vaclav Klaus said that ratification could not continue now. Maybe it's just the fact that I do not live in Ireland and in my extensive research I have missed the hidden anti-Irish laws of the EU and the Lisbon Treaty, but I am absolutely baffled that it would be Ireland that would be the bulwark (good word, eh) to the new EU. Ireland. IRELAND!

Ireland is arguably the country that has most benefited from the EU. Remember, it was further integration into the EU and the switch to the Euro that helped unleash the Celtic Tiger, parts one and two. In the 1980s, the economy of the Republic of Ireland was absolutely horrendous. High borrowing, unemployment and tax rates led to the Irish economy becoming the laughing stock of Europe. Soon, however, the economic climate began to improve partly thanks to increased EU investment in the country. Ireland's economy surged and it soon became one of the richest countries in the world and the incomes of its citizens surpassed some of its Western European counterparts And, while Ireland's economy has been susceptible to global economic trends, it remains strong with predictions of 5% growth in 2010.

So, why did the Lisbon Treaty fail to pass. www.lisbonvote.com The only way I can explain the failure is the misrepresentation used by the No campaign. While every major party supported Lisbon, unless you consider Sinn Fein to be a major party, there was a very extensive campaign to paint a message linking the new EU to a New World Order which would take all the power away from the Irish people. Unfortunately, this populist, nationalist, isolationist, etc.-ist has worked and the future of the EU is in limbo.

I leave you with an Irish blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Tim Russert's Sudden and Tragic Passing

Russert a Modern Journalistic Hero:

The Sudden Fall of a Media Icon

At 58 years of age, Tim Russert has died. His passing was sudden and came just a day after he returned from a family trip to Italy, where he was celebrating the college graduation of his son, Luke. Condolences immediately swept in from all ends of the political spectrum, as President Bush and White House contenders Barack Obama and John McCain issued statements to commemorate the loss of this media titan, considered by many to be the preeminent political journalist of his time.

Meeting Russert in Iowa:

When I reflect on Russert’s passing, my mind immediately comes to the night I met him earlier this year on a frosty night in Des Moines, Iowa, as I staffed an Obama Rally at Hoover High School, less than 24 hours before caucuses opened in that state’s historical contest. I and other campaign workers were busy welcoming and shuffling in the final arrivals to Obama’s final speech before Caucus Day, when a young man, who looked to be in his early 20s, asked me if I would take a picture of him with his dad. I, of course, said that I would and turned around to find a casually dressed and high-spirited Tim Russert smiling and putting his arm around his son, whom I later found out was roughly my age and named Luke.

What struck me most about Russert was that, in this moment, he seemed like less of a prime-time political journalist than a simple fan of politics, basking in the excitement of a candidate and campaign that comes once in a generation, if that. I’ve long senses that Russert, like many of his colleagues, supports Obama. I feel that he was a man who, more than anything, loved his country and longed to see it head in a new, better, and more hopeful direction. He saw Barack Obama, I believe, as representing precisely the type of change agent necessary to get the country moving in the right direction. I left that encounter and my trip to Iowa, more generally, delighted to have had this personal encounter with a person for whom I hold a great deal of respect, not only for his professional expertise, but for his compassion, kindness, and dedication as a family man.

An Ordinary Person with an Extraordinary Mission:

Russert was born in 1950 and throughout his life was, if nothing else, a fan of all things Buffalo, his hometown. Fans will remember his consistent and often unrealistic predictions of Bills Super Bowl glory, as well as the down-to-earth attitude with which he approached his work.

More specifically, however, Russert will be remembered by former interviewees and colleagues as someone who absolutely loved politics and was unparalleled to the rigor with which he approached his work as a journalist. This year was said to have been particularly exciting for the former Democratic activist, as the historic primary battle between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton drew millions of new voters to the polls and forged an excitement surrounding politics rarely seen in the United States.

Russert got his start in politics soon after completing law school at Cleveland State University, working for the campaigns of former New York Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Mario Cuomo, as well as long-time New York Senator and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, also a Democrat. Following his campaign work, Russert served as Moynihan’s chief of staff in the Senate and gained a reputation as a passionate, forceful Democratic activist.

Meet The Press:

In 1984, Russert went to work for NBC as a political commentator. In 1991, he took the helm at ‘Meet the Press’, the network’s long-running (in fact, it’s the longest running show in the history of television) Sunday morning political talk show. Russert quickly established himself as a tough but fair questioner, working above all else to force candidates to reveal what was truly on their minds.

Russert was also distinguished by his efforts to make politics make sense to the average voter. He is reported to have claimed that he knew he was doing a good job if, while watching ‘Meet The Press’, the ‘folks in Buffalo’ both understand what was transpiring, as well as learning more about political issues. Interestingly, until recently, Russert was a virtual no-show as a moderator of high-level debates, though he did fill this role on occasion during the ’08 primary season.

Tenacious Inquirer:

Some candidates, I’ve learned, feared Russert’s fierce questioning and were loathe to have him put them on the spot in a television, let alone, debate setting. In 2000, for example, during the lead-up to Hillary Clinton’s initial campaign for the U.S. Senate, Russert served as moderator for a debate between Clinton and her Republican challenger, Rick Lazio. The boisterous journalist from Buffalo spent his evening swiping at the candidates, but doing so in an honest, reasonable manner, which forced the candidates to articulate their platforms in a way that would allow voters to make informed decisions about the two at the ballot box. Several of my friends at George Washington University who majored in political communication often recalled watching this debate as the model of how journalists and candidates (both Clinton and Lazio were in good-form) should perform during campaign debates. Putting candidates on the hot seat and forcing them to give meaningful answers to difficult questions, I reckon, should be seen as the true job of any political journalist.

Moving Forward:

Tim Russert is not replaceable. However, his passing does leave an immediate void in NBC’s Sunday morning political repertoire that need be filled. Personally, I would like to see MSNBC Chief Political Correspondent Chuck Todd (with whom my brother is quite enamored) take over the helm at MTP. Still, no matter whom is tapped to fill in for the Buffalo boy, there will simply remain a void that will linger on the airwaves for some time. Today, we mourn the loss of a titan and, most importantly, a good man.

Tim, we’ll miss you. This year, we’re all Bills fans.

As Economy Screams, Country Needs Bold, Focused Leadership

Back in the Saddle:
After an action-packed seven days traveling the country with my students, I've made a much-anticipated return to Gallup and am happy to make my first posting in a week's time. I joined with chaperones and ten remarkably talented 4th/5th grade musicians from my school, Church Rock Academy Elementary in the great Navajo Nation, as we made a 2+ day train trip across the country to perform at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

To put it simply, the young stars rocked the house and dazzled the audience, which one NMAI staffer estimated featured 1500 excited onlookers, with an eclectic mix of Native American drums and flutes, Caribbean steel drums, as well as African djembe drums. As we toured the U.S. Capitol the following day (many thanks to the gracious and hospitable staff of Senator Jeff Bingaman's D.C. Office), I noted the wide eyes and even wider grins plastered onto my students faces and felt assured that our trip represented an experience they shan't soon forget. Making our way back across the Great Plains, I delighted in listening to my students describe how they missed (and, now more than ever, appreciated) their homes in Northwestern New Mexico.

The goal of our trip was two-fold: first, we wanted to build in our students an assurance that if they dream big and work hard, then their potential is only limited by the extent to which they can dream; secondly, we wanted, in taking such a far-reaching journey, to instill in our students a new and more profound appreciation of from where they come and the complex beauty of their Navajo heritage and culture. On both counts, I can say confidently, we succeeded.

Now that the train has docked in Gallup and I'm well into a morning of much-needed relaxation, it's great to have an opportunity to share some thoughts on the latest breaking political news and commentary dominating our country's electoral dynamic as we move toward November. With that said, let's jump right in and cover some of the upcoming events in Presidential Election '08, as well as shed light on the mouth-watering scenario unfolding around Democratic nominee Barack Obama's possible pick for a running mate. Off we go!

Obama Hopes to Build New Connection with Blue-Collar Workers:
This week, newly-anointed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama takes his show on the road, campaigning in a number of swing states, whose outcomes will be critical to the outcome of Election '08. Having struggled to capture many of these states in his recently concluded primary contest against Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Illinois Senator is keen on strengthening his ties to blue collar and industrial workers that will play a major role in deciding key battleground states like Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Michigan, to name just a few. While eyeing the Democratic-trending U.S. Southwest for important electoral pick-ups, pressuring McCain in the Heartland is seen by the Obama Campaign as one possible route to attaining an Election Day mandate.

Obama’s Opportunity Amongst Blue-Collar Workers:
Obama’s alleged 'problem' in capturing the support of this demographic is skin-deep and has less to do with any shortcomings in his specific policy prescriptions and more to do with a lack of familiarity between him and labor communities that maintain close ties to, and a strong affinity for, the Clintons, under whose administration they enjoyed relative economic prosperity in the 1990s.

Interestingly, it was Hillary’s husband, Bill, whose spirited endorsement promoted and ultimately secured passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which, perhaps more than other legislation of its kind, has led to a flood of manufacturing jobs away from cities like Youngstown, Ohio, Flint, Michigan, and other blue-collar locales across the Midwest and Southern United States.

NAFTA Hurt Obama in Ohio Primary, Presents Opportunity in General:
NAFTA’s effect on the U.S. economy, in general terms, remains up for debate. However, its impact on blue-collar U.S. laborers seems clearer. With government retraining programs failing to provide sacked blue collar workers with an effective means by which to transition into other, well-paying careers, many Americans who lost their jobs in the aftermath of NAFTA have been forced to drain retirement savings in order to pay mortgages, health care costs, their children’s college tuition bills, and other expenses.

Hillary Clinton’s desire to distance herself from her husband’s intimate ties to NAFTA's passing were quite apparent on the campaign trail in Ohio, the state on whose primary the trade pact had perhaps the most profound impact. She rounded up surrogates that held high-ranking policymaking positions within Bill's administration to bolster statements that she always harbored misgivings toward NAFTA, all the while chiding Obama for his alleged double talk on the agreement.

Criticisms of this variety came to a fore when her campaign pounced on statements made by a leading Canadian official, who claimed that high-ranking Obama advisers told him in a closed-door meeting that the candidate’s rhetoric lambasting NAFTA represented little more than political posturing designed to court the backing of voters in Ohio’s industrial pockets, for whom the trade deal had come to represent a political swear word. While it is unclear how much of an impact this back-and-forth had on the election's outcome, Clinton enjoyed one of her finest hours of the primary campaign in Ohio, capturing the Buckeye state by more than 10 points.

The Timing is Right: Obama Should Set the Story Straight on Economic Proposals

With Obama’s primary defeats in Ohio, as well as Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and other blue-collar heavy swing states, the timing is right for the nominee to hit the road and give voters straight-talk on why he is the candidate best-suited to assuage their pressing economic concerns.

What has been lost in the short-sighted, ill-willed rhetoric that characterized much of the criticism coming at Obama during the primary season was that he is more of an economic realist than any either Clinton or his general election opponent, Arizona Senator John McCain.

For example, as skyrocketing global oil costs for oil sent domestic gas prices through the roof, Clinton and McCain engaged in a dose of political populism designed to score points with cash-strapped voters and give them a one-up on the Illinois Senator. Each called for a so-called ‘gas tax holiday’, which would remove the Federal tax on gasoline. Noting that the tax constitutes only a small portion of the per-gallon costs consumers pay at the pump, Obama denounced the holiday as unable to solve the country’s long-term energy crisis or provide lasting relief to the budgets of low- and middle-income families.

Moreover, Obama rejected the gas-tax holiday as a political stunt, claiming that a broader approach to our country’s energy needs is necessary in order to provide individuals with real, sustainable economic hope. The gas-tax holiday rebuff offers just one example of Obama’s unwillingness to compromise long-term economic prosperity for short-term political gain- exactly the type of foresight and strength of mind required of an effective head of state.

On Economy, Obama Offers Progress, not Platitudes:
In order to spur the type of sustainable, comprehensive economic advance that our country so badly needs, Barack Obama has constructed a comprehensive strategy that takes into account numerous issues and factors in the critical impact on our economy of topics ranging from climate change to international political stability.

This week, he takes this plan to the heartland of our country’s political dynamic, discussing with voters the important roles the government and general public will both have to play, as well as sacrifices they'll have make, in order to place our economy back on a track to prosperity.

For instance, Obama will promote increased government investment in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, as well as subsidies to encourage families to recycle more regularly.

However, he will also challenge citizens to do their part to curb climate change and reduce the U.S.’ dependence on foreign oil sources by using less gas and purchasing more energy efficient hybrid and electric vehicles. Curbing climate change and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil, Obama will argue, represents a crucial task for the United States, as it seeks to forge a more favorable economic path. In this critical endeavor, Obama believes that public-private partnerships can and should assume important leadership roles. His calls on the populace to sacrifice for the betterment of U.S. society writ large calls to mind the broad proclamations made by an ambitious young president from Massachusetts more than 45 years ago, the same iconic leader to whom Obama has received so much comparison. Any real progress by the U.S. in its quest to establish a sustainable solution to its energy challenges will require citizen and government officials alike to make sacrifices geared toward benefiting the country's long-term interests. Senator Obama seems to understand this and has the charisma to unite a reluctant population around a broad call to action.

Tax Relief for the Middle Class:
Obama has also proposed slashing the Bush tax cuts for the most wealthy U.S. earners and ushering in an era of relief for low- and middle-income workers. Specifically, the Obama plan would call for an immediate $250 tax rebate for more than 150 million working Americans, and, if economic conditions continue to worsen, an additional $250 cut would be issued. Putting money back into the pockets of working class citizens taxpayers would help them through trying economic times and ensure that family budgets are not stretched to the point of explosion.

Moreover, Obama pledges to provide seniors, whom, research suggests, are those citizens most likely to reinject added income immediately back into the economy through increased spending, with a one-time $250 supplement to their monthly social security check. Doing so would go a long way in ensuring that seniors living on fixed incomes have the cash-boost necessary to help them through difficult times, as well as aiding the domestic economy by encouraging increased spending in U.S. businesses.

Fair Trade:
On trade, President Obama would put competitiveness back into the U.S.'s trade doctrine. Under the Bush Administration's damaging proposals, foreign markets have been opened to the benefit of U.S.-based multi-national executives, while opening domestic markets to the detriment of hard-working Americans. While expanded free-trade lowers the costs of consumer goods for working class folks, domestic workers should not be forced to compete with laborers abroad whose government's give little credence to the importance of internationally-recognized labor and environmental standards.

President Obama, in each trade agreement, would ensure that our trading partners are meeting their pledges to the International Labor Organization in terms of providing worker rights on pay and organization, as well as meeting global environmental regulations. He would also provide more meaningful 'trade adjustment assistance' to U.S. workers whose jobs are lost due to outsourcing. Current TAA programs are underfunded and do not provide help to those folks whose jobs were lost as a result of outsourcing to countries with whom the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement (FTA). Obama's plan fixes that and would help sacked domestic employees acquire the skills necessary to seek and obtain gainful employment, even if their jobs were moved to a country that does not have an FTA with the U.S.

We Need Real Talk:
The last thing those of us who have felt the crunch of the current economic contraction need is political posturing from ambitious politicians. What we do need, though, are real solutions and the type of bold, charismatic leadership required to reify them. Barack Obama offers that leadership, and, in the weeks and months ahead, his support amongst voters from all across the country will bear this out.