Barack Obama
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Born: 11/04/1961
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Key Campaign Platform (source: www.barackobama.com)
- Iraq War: Senator Obama introduced legislation in January 2007 to offer a responsible alternative to President Bush's failed escalation policy. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008 -- a date consistent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group's expectations. The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the 13 benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met.
- Fighting for the Poor: Senator Obama took these important experiences to the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, where he has been a consistent proponent of expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), creating a living wage, ensuring low-income students have access to the best and brightest teachers, lowering the costs of college education, and helping Americans purchase their own homes without relying on predatory mortgage lenders.
- Global Warming: Senator Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. The cap-and-trade system will include an initial partial auction of pollution credits to raise money to upgrade our energy infrastructure, create hundreds of thousands of new, high-wage jobs, and make America truly energy independent.
U.S.-India Relations
- Sen. Obama has been a long-time admirer of India, and has said so in many of his speeches. In a 2005 speech, he spoke about India has the ability to adapt itself to a "flat" world.
- Obama voted in favor of the United States-India Energy Security Cooperation Act of 2006.
Notable Achievements
- Co-sponsored the all-important Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act in 2005 along with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
- In 2006, he added important amendments to Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-PA) Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act
- He worked along with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) to expand the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, and make the law even stronger to prevent proliferation of both conventional and nuclear weapons.
- In what is considered as one of the most significant speeches given in recent times, Sen. Obama spoke for changing America at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, an oration that put him instantly on the national political map.
