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Obama Strikes Presidential Pose
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ShareJune 20, 2008 2:29 PM
ABC's Sunlen Miller reports: Senator Barack Obama held a roundtable with 16 of the nation’s Democratic governors Friday to discuss economic and other concerns in their states, in a setting that was remarkably presidential in its staging.
In Obama's hometown of Chicago, the Democratic nominee sat at the center of a U-shaped table, flanked on either side by the array of governors. Obama's central seat included a podium featuring a circular seal, highly reminiscent of the presidential seal, with a bald eagle and the latin phrase "vero possumus" between its wings.
While many in the press corps scratched their heads about the meaning of the phrase, they accurately guessed that it was latin for the campaign slogan, 'Yes We Can.' Latin scholar Matthew Crozier explains that the precise definition of vero possumus is "In truth we are able."
"Close enough," Crozier concluded.
The Senator seized the moment to praise the governors for their outside the Beltway points of view.
“I’ve always been struck by the essential common sense and pragmatism of governors, in comparison to some of the stuff that goes on Washington,” Obama said as he opened up the meeting, “You’ve got to solve problems, ultimately the buck stops with you, you’ve got to balance your budget, if you’ve got a badly drafted piece of legislation, you’re the ones who have to live with it, and as a consequence, you end up spending less time posturing and trying to score ideological points and some more time trying to govern.”
Each governor discussed the concerns in their states and praised the presumptive Democratic nominee for reaching out to them and hosting the meeting. The Obama campaign says that all of the nation’s governors – including Republicans - were invited to attend..
Issues of top concern to the governors were energy independence, health care, job loss, and education. Governors Janet Napolitano, of Arizona, and Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, spoke about the need for immigration reform.
Obama defended the states' need to seek federal money and argued that kind of support is not always special interest spending or 'pork' as John McCain has implied, “We’ve fallen into the rhetoric that John McCain often likes to use that every bit of government spending is pork. And you know part of the reason why the public I think accepts often that characterization is because you hear stories about how congress is allocating these dollars based on politics as opposed to some clear criteria of what is needed.”
Obama was in agreement with many of the governors that one way to limit pork spending in a federal budget is to include the input of multiple voices, not only those in Congress: “If we could create a capital budget that is also based on scientists and engineers saying here are the priorities, input from governors, it doesn’t seem to be completely driven by who happens to be the chairman of what committee, then I think it’ a lot easier to make the case, and that would be I think the start of that process.”
Four of the governors present -- Sebelius, Richardson, Ted Strickland of Ohio, and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania – are also names that have been floated as possibilities for Obama’s Vice President. Governors Strickland and Rendell – governors of the key battleground states in the general election - supported Senator Hillary Clinton during the primary campaign. Strickland, on Tuesday, was Shermanesque in saying he would “absolutely” not be Obama’s running mate and has seemingly taken himself out of consideration.
June 20, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (114)
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Very interesting
Posted by: Kojo, Dublin Ireland | Jun 20, 2008 3:25:28 PM
Obama is a flip flop liar. He is the same old politician. He flip flop about Public Funding and NAFTA. During the primary, he said he did not aware of his staff talking to the Canadian about NAFTA but look at his position about NAFTA now, it is exactly what his staff said to the Canadian that time. He lies to Americans to get votes. This is change that you can expect from him. Also, at the Al Gore endorsement Obama rally, when the Governor of Michigan mention Hillary name, Obama's supporters boo her rudely. This is the Unity that Obama promise you. This is another change that you can expect from Obama. After all of this, I suggest all Americans do not ever listen to anything Obama say but look at what Obama did instead. He will never get my support or my vote no matter what Hillary say to convince us to support him. I simply can not support a flip flop liar.
Posted by: eugene | Jun 20, 2008 3:26:04 PM
Obama your the best!!!Go get um....
Posted by: Mic | Jun 20, 2008 3:44:50 PM
rdotx: The article has only focused on one issue of the meeting. All governors of all 50 states had been invited. It did not matter if you are Dem or Rep governor you where invited to attend. He did not leave anyone out.
Posted by: Becky | Jun 20, 2008 3:58:25 PM
eugene: while I am here, I am wondering why is it, that when McCain changes his mind and flip flops (which is everyday hour to hour) it is ok because the issues of day have required him to do so, but when Obama changes his view on issues that require him to take a second look then it is just a flat out lie????
I am really interested in your answer to my question.
Posted by: Becky | Jun 20, 2008 4:03:42 PM
Ok Ometum, you have a right to vote for a candidate of your choice. I am not questioning that. All I am saying is that the whole concept is so irrational and so illogical. Voting for a man with one foot in another country, one foot in another religion, with zero acts of wisdom to date! Just words. Well, every country throughout history has has it's share of rise and fall...
Posted by: Sue | Jun 20, 2008 4:17:41 PM
Sue and Omentum,
Someone else wants to be Dee for awhile. I didn't say those things, but for some real fact checking, go to newsweek and read there about this campaign finance, and how the facts are being twisted by both sides. You have to get your news from more than one place now, and you can't just be spoon fed by the talking heads. They all have agendas now, and we are on our own to find the truths/
Posted by: D | Jun 20, 2008 4:18:31 PM
sorry. Edit.
I have to admit , new polls have come out showing Mc Cain crushing Obama in the 4 major states.
Ohio, Penn , Florida and Michigan.
Word on the street is California will also fall to Mc Cain.
I wish Obama wasnt such an empty suit.
Posted by: Omentum | Jun 20, 2008 4:20:05 PM
The historical Governor's meeting addressed by the President means they listen and the President talks. It is nice to finally hear the governors being asked for their feedback directly.
Obama invited all the governor's but the GOP governors thought they did not need to hear the same old thing, and did not come because of this.
Maybe it will be better next time.
Posted by: Glen Parker | Jun 20, 2008 4:20:43 PM
So what if Mc Cain was in the Vietnam war, was shot down , survived having his legs and arms broken, and lived a miserable existence in a POW camp for 5 years?
Two of which were solitary confinement.
Hey, better him than me.
Obama 08 .......blame america first.
Posted by: Omentum | Jun 20, 2008 4:27:26 PM
I don't want obama for my state what he is doing for his state. whatever it is.
Posted by: geevill | Jun 20, 2008 4:31:11 PM
Pledged signed by Barack Obama on October 29, 2007.
Posted by: geevill | Jun 20, 2008 4:34:38 PM
Mc Carter is way better than Mc Bush
Posted by: Omentum | Jun 20, 2008 4:37:06 PM
Just curious, but with all the small donations made on credit cards through the internet, I'd like to know how many will actually end up being funded by the credit card companies when the card holder doesn't pay.
Posted by: tiredtoo | Jun 20, 2008 4:37:45 PM
Geevil,
I can see you're doing what you do best. WHINE.
Haven't you realized that whining doesn't prevent hope and truth from rising to the top.
Haven't you realized that ultimately you will be saying "President Obama" this time next year?
Haven't you realized it's now time to give up the occupation of Whining without cause, because WHINING DOESN'T PAY.
OBAMA 08
Posted by: Nat Turner | Jun 20, 2008 4:43:27 PM
Sue, I feel very sorry for you.
The only thing that makes me feel better is that what you have is not contagious and there are not too many people like you. I guess is inherited.
Barack Obama will be your next President and you know what? you are going to like him as well.
cheers!
God bless America!
Posted by: Tomas | Jun 20, 2008 4:46:03 PM
Obama is a loser .
Mc Cain 08
Posted by: sam | Jun 20, 2008 4:46:26 PM
I dont understand you Obama fools. He is a total loser.
new polls show him losing in Illinois.
Posted by: john smith | Jun 20, 2008 4:47:27 PM
I agree with most here.
Obama is a loser. Worse than Mc Govern
Posted by: archie | Jun 20, 2008 4:47:55 PM
Nat Turner,
Don't you know that is all Gevill can do now is whine? Think of it, POOR GEVILL lost his mommy Hillary a few weeks back and he hasn't got over it yet...
Poor Gevill, just another dried-up Hillary sore loser, with nothing good to say about he next president of the United States Barak Obama!!!!
Posted by: Davis | Jun 20, 2008 4:49:36 PM
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