Barack Obama in Barack Obama in His Own Words, by Lisa Rogak
On War & Peace:
We did the right thing in Afghanistan
I have always thought that we did the right thing in Afghanistan. My only concern with respect to Afghanistan was that we diverted our attention from
Afghanistan in terms of moving into Iraq and I think we could have done a better job of stabilizing that country than we have in providing assistance to the Afghani people.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 5
Mar 27, 2007
On Health Care:
Curing AIDS must be all-hands-on-deck effort
We are all sick because of AIDS and we are all tested by the crisis. Neither philanthropist nor scientist; neither government nor church can solve this problem on their own.
AIDS must be an all hands on deck effort.
I don’t think we can deny that there is a moral and spiritual component to prevention--I heard stories of men and women contracting HIV because sex was no longer part of a sacred covenant but a mechanical physical act. Having said that,
I also believe that we cannot ignore that abstinence--may not be the reality. If condoms and potentially microbicides can prevent millions of deaths, they should be made more widely available.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 10
Mar 27, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Embrace Christ as an ally
You need to come to church in the first place precisely because you are first of this world, not apart from it.
You need to embrace Christ because you have sins to wash away--because you are human and need an ally in this difficult journey.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 15
Mar 27, 2007
On Foreign Policy:
U.S. needs to ameliorate trade relations with China
The U.S. should be firm on issues that divide us like Taiwan while flexible on issues that could unite us. We should insist on labor standards and human rights, the opening of Chinese markets fully to
American goods, and the fulfillment of legal contracts with American businesses but without triggering a trade war as prolonged instability in the Chinese economy could have global economic consequences.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 22
Mar 27, 2007
On Principles & Values:
A reformed smoker but occasionally burns one
I’m a reformed smoker; I think that surprises people. I quit, but then during the campaign, when you’re in a car driving through cornfields, occasionally I bum a cigarette or two.
But I did all my drinking in high school and college. I was a wild man. I did drugs and drank and partied. But I got all my ya-yas out.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 23
Mar 27, 2007
On Foreign Policy:
U.S. funds for humanitarian aid to Darfur
The United States should raise the needed funds to ensure that the civilians in Sudan receive life saving humanitarian assistance. We should lead in contributing the lion’s share of these funds so that we can convince others to give their fair share
as well--the United States should support the immediate deployment of an effective international force to disarm militias, protect civilians, and facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance in Darfur.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 26
Mar 27, 2007
On Civil Rights:
Commitment to diversity by CEOs is advisable
I believe in vigorous enforcement of our non discrimination laws.
But I also believe that a transformation of conscience and a genuine commitment to diversity on the part of the nation’s CEOs could bring about quicker results than a battalion of lawyers.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 34
Mar 27, 2007
On Education:
Cut banks out and add $4.5 Billion to college loans
It’s really important that we revamp our college loan programs to free up more money for students. The direct loan program works extremely well--there doesn’t appear to be a need for these student
loan programs to be managed through banks and other private lenders. If we consolidate programs under the Direct Loan program, we would save $4.5 billion.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 37
Mar 27, 2007
On Environment:
Health Care for Hybrids proposal for fuel efficiency
Here’s the deal we can make with auto companies. It’s a piece of legislation I introduced called Health Care for Hybrids, and it would allow the federal government to pick up part of the tab for the auto companies retiree health care costs.
In exchange, the auto companies would then use some of that savings to build and invest more fuel efficient cars.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 39
Mar 27, 2007
On Civil Rights:
Pass ENDA and expand hate crime legislation
We must be careful to keep our eyes on the prize--equal rights for every American. We must continue to fight for the Employment Non Discrimination Act.
We must expand hate crime legislation and be vigilant about how these laws are enforced--.continue to expand adoption rights to make them consistent --and we must repeal the “Don’t ask, don’t tell’ military policy.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 44
Mar 27, 2007
On Civil Rights:
Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill
I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will appeal any proposal to amend the U.S. constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying.
I know how important the issue of equal rights is to the LGBT community. I share your sense of urgency.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 52
Mar 27, 2007
On Foreign Policy:
We cannot afford isolationism
We cannot afford isolationism--not only because our work with respect to stabilizing Iraq is not complete but because our missteps in Iraq have distracted us from the larger threat of terrorism, a threat that we can only meet by working in cooperation
with other countries.
We risk a further increase in isolationist sentiment unless both the administration and Congress can restore the American people’s confidence that our foreign policy is driven by facts and reason, rather than hopes and ideology.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 74-75
Mar 27, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Homeland security must protect citizens, not intrude on them
Every democracy is tested when it is faced with a serious threat. As a nation we have to find the right balance between privacy and security, between executive authority to face threats and uncontrolled power.
What protects us are the procedures we put in place to protect that balance, namely judicial warrants and congressional review. These are concrete safeguards to make sure surveillance hasn’t gone too far.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p. 99
Mar 27, 2007
On Government Reform:
Bush administration has done “great damage” to U.S.
This has probably been the most ideologically driven administration in my memory. And I don’t know how far I’d have to go back to find one, a combination of House, Senate, and White House, that has been so obstinate in resisting facts, dissenting
opinions, and compromise. Everything is based on a set of preconceived notions that ignore whatever reality and information comes at them. I think this administration has done great damage to this country.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.129
Mar 27, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Personal privacy must be protected even in terrorism age
Americans fought a revolution in part over the right to be free from unreasonable searches, to ensure that our government couldn’t come knocking in the middle of the night for no reason.
We need to find a way forward to make sure that we [stop] terrorists while protecting the privacy and liberty of innocent Americans.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.132
Mar 27, 2007
On War & Peace:
Saddam is a tyrant but not a national security threat
Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. The world, and the Iraqi people would be better off without him. But I also know that
Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.143
Mar 27, 2007
On Principles & Values:
Issue of race has given Senate a black eye
When you think of the history of the Senate, what is striking is the degree to which this institution has single handedly blocked the progress of African Americans for much of our history.
That’s a sad testament to our institution. It’s a stain on the institution.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.149
Mar 27, 2007
On Homeland Security:
America must practice the patriotism it preaches
I think it is unconscionable for us to stand by our troops and hoist the flag and suggest how patriotic we are at the same time as the veterans’ budget is being effectively cut.
I’m going to monitor very closely how we are treating 100,000+ veterans wh
are coming home, to make sure the VA has the capacity to provide transition services for veterans who are leaving the service and reentering civilian life--particularly the National Guardsman and Reservists who did not expect to be fighting in Iraq.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.155
Mar 27, 2007
On Homeland Security:
Protecting nuclear power plants is of utmost importance
We have utterly failed to deal with what may be one of the most significant potential terror threats to this country, and that is how we protect our chemical plants across the nation.
These plants are stationary weapons of mass destruction spread across the country. Their security is light, their facilities are easily entered, and their contents are deadly.
Source: In His Own Words, edited by Lisa Rogak, p.160
Mar 27, 2007
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