Spring Break
Barack Obama comes to Philly
By: Aditi Dubey
Issue date: 5/25/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 5:02 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 5:02 AM EST
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 5:02 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 5:02 AM EST
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The 45-year-old Democratic senator from Illinois addressed a packed house of about 2,000 people for about 30 minutes.
"I am thrilled to be back in the city of brotherly love," Obama said. "Spring is here and it is time for us to renew the spirit of America."
Obama is the first presidential candidate to visit the city. Others running for this office, Senators Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden, Governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and former senators John Edwards and Mike Gravel, have yet to address a public gathering in the city.
Obama's call to the people to "change this country" has been the heart of his entire campaign.
Obama talked to the audience about his start in politics and how he drew his inspiration from the Civil Rights movement. He also talked about how politics is no longer viewed positively by people, since it seems to have become a business rather than a mission.
"Our leaders are long on rhetoric but short on follow through," Obama said. "We get discouraged over time. We feel that we can't make a difference, so half of us don't even vote."
Obama encouraged the crowd to take initiative despite the events of the past. He emphasized the idea of mutual obligation within the community, which needs to "transcend our differences."
"Ultimately, we have to lift this idea that we're connected," Obama said. "If there are children in Philadelphia right now that are shooting each other and killing each other, without an education and dropping out, that impacts all of us."
In his speech, Obama heavily criticized the government in Washington on several grounds, drawing applause and cheers from the audience. He said that the current administration has failed to address the disorganized and expensive health care system, the poor state of the economy, and the war in Iraq.
"We have the can't-do-won't do-and-won't-even-try style of government in Washington," Obama said. "We've had a government that defies reason and defies even facts."
Ronke'
posted 5/26/07 @ 5:21 AM EST
Your feature article is very detailed and clearly shows that Obama has diversified support in "Philly" as well as nationally. Let's see what happens when folk get in the voting booth. (Continued…)