Obama Links Broad Ideas to Economic Specifics

[andym]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/27/AR2008042702064.html?hpid=topnews

ANDERSON, Ind. -- Sen. Barack Obama came this past weekend to this factory town, where the loss of hundreds of jobs at the Delphi auto parts plant was only the latest blow, and told 2,000 voters that the way to fix things was not just to vote for him -- but to join a bottom-up mass movement to change the way government works.

He didn't put it that way exactly. But in a noteworthy shift, the Illinois senator is trying to reach working-class and middle-class voters by arguing more explicitly that the reform ideas driving his campaign can address the economic troubles that threaten their way of life. Supplanting lobbyist influence with citizen activism, uniting the country beyond petty partisan gamesmanship and bringing more candor to government, he argues, are not just abstract goals, but concrete steps that can level the playing field and lead to a more equitable distribution of the nation's wealth.
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Stumping through Indiana, he has made the connection explicit, even if it means losing some of the lyricism of his pitch. Obama now presents his reform ideas in list form (lists, a favorite of Bill and Hillary Clinton, had been rare in Obama speeches) and then explains how those changes in approach would produce results.
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He gave as an example his plan to broadcast on C-SPAN the meetings he would hold with industry representatives and congressional leaders to push health-care reform. "If you see a member of Congress who's carrying water for the drug companies instead of carrying your water, you'll be able to hold them accountable," he said in Anderson.

Obama uses this call for a permanent grass-roots mobilization to distinguish himself from Clinton, who he says is too invested in the existing system. "You know I will be fighting for you because I will be accountable to you," he said in Marion. "You funded my campaign, you created the political organization that got me here today, you brought me to this dance, and I dance with the one that brung me."

[FrenchieCat]

1. What Obama states is a real turn on for me!

He gave as an example his plan to broadcast on C-SPAN the meetings he would hold with industry representatives and congressional leaders to push health-care reform. "If you see a member of Congress who's carrying water for the drug companies instead of carrying your water, you'll be able to hold them accountable," he said

[andym]

2. I think transparency is wise policy as well.

I think greater government transparency is wise policy as well.


Also the idea of active citizen participation in politics lies at the heart of democracy and there is an American brand of this that was promoted by Frank Capra in his films in the late 30's and early 40's, like Mr Smith Goes to Washington or Meet John Doe, that has been missing from politics for a long time. The idea that the average citizen, not necessarily an activist, could achieve something important by banding together to promote simple American values of honesty and fairness in government is still appealing, but there is a lot of cynicism out there that needs to be overcome.

[FrenchieCat]

3. That's when he had me........participatory democracy!

[andym]

4. Kick for a policy related post