Issues Overview
Senator Obama has been able to develop innovative approaches to challenge the status
quo and get results. Americans are tired of divisive ideological politics, which
is why Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans to find areas of common ground.
He has tried to break partisan logjams and take on seemingly intractable problems.
During his tenure in Washington and in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama has
accumulated a record of bipartisan success.
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As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Obama has fought
to strengthen America's position in the world. Reaching across the aisle, Obama
has tackled problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction
and stopping the genocide in Darfur.
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Before the war in Iraq ever started, Senator Obama said that it was wrong in its
conception. In 2002, then Illinois State Senator Obama said Saddam Hussein posed
no imminent threat to the United States and that invasion would lead to an occupation
of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. Since
then, Senator Obama has laid out a plan on the way forward in Iraq that has largely
been affirmed by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton.
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Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has been a leader in fighting for
open and honest government. As a U.S. Senator, he has spearheaded the effort to
clean up Washington in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. In a politically charged
election year, Obama acknowledged that corruption was a problem that plagued both
political parties. He subsequently enlisted the help of Republican allies to limit
lobbyist influence, shine sunlight into the earmarks process and promote open government.
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Senator Obama has been a leader in the Senate in pushing for a comprehensive national
energy policy and has introduced a number of bills to get us closer to the goal
of energy independence. By putting aside partisan battles, he has found common ground
on CAFE, renewable fuels, and clean coal.
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As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama is committed
to helping the heroes who defend our nation today and the veterans who fought in
years past. A grandson of a World War II veteran who went to college on the G.I.
Bill, Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans and Democrats in order to honor
our commitment to America's veterans.
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We are failing too many of our children in public schools. Right now, six million
middle and high school students read at levels significantly below their grade level.
Unfortunately, the debate in Washington has been narrowed: either we need to pour
more money into the system, or we need to reform it with more tests and standards.
Senator Obama has worked on bills that cut through this false choice and recognize
that good schools will require both structural reform and resources.
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The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet more than 46
million Americans have no health insurance. Too many hard-working Americans cannot
afford their medical bills, and health-related issues are the number one cause for
personal bankruptcy. Promoting affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care
is a priority for Senator Obama.
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Five years after 9/11, our country is still unprepared for a terrorist attack. From
improving security for our transit systems and chemical plants, to increasing cargo
screening in our airports and seaports, the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission
have been underfunded and ignored. The 9/11 Commission gave the government five
F's and 12 D's on the implementation of its recommendations. Senator Obama is a
member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and has
supported efforts to base homeland security spending on risk rather than pork-barrel
politics. He has also introduced legislation to strength chemical plant and drinking
water security and to enhance disaster preparedness.
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Strong families raise successful children and keep communities together. While Senator
Obama does not believe that we can simply legislate healthy families, good parenting
skills or economic success, he does believe we can eliminate roadblocks that parents
face and provide tools to help them succeed. A husband and father of two, Senator
Obama has promoted strong families in the Senate.
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There is no more fundamental American right than the right to vote. Before the landmark
1965 Voting Rights Act, barriers such as literacy tests, poll taxes and property
requirements disenfranchised many Americans, especially minorities. More than 40
years later, there are still numerous obstacles to ensuring that every citizen has
the ability to vote.
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In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech
on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator
Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for
a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life.
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