SCDems News
Obama is right leader for challenges ahead
August 28, 2008
Tonight in Denver, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party will throw open the doors of the convention, with more than 70,000 people gathering at Invesco Field to hear our nominee. But this isn't just about drawing a huge crowd; it's about literally throwing open the doors to a better, more secure future for all American families.
It can be argued that America has faced bigger crises in our history. But after eight years of Bush-Cheney-McCain policies, it seems we've never had so many daunting challenges at one time than we do now.
Around the world, America is fighting two wars that have stretched our military to its limits while old rivals like Russia flex their military muscles, belligerent leaders in Iran look to obtain nuclear weapons, and emerging powerhouses China and India change the global economy.
Our challenges at home are no less grim: a coming crisis in Medicare and Social Security as our population ages; a broken health-care system; the loss of millions of jobs; out-of-control energy prices, and hundreds of thousands of Americans struggling just to stay in their homes.
Tonight Sen. Barack Obama won't simply recite this sad litany, and he won't do his best to ignore it as does John McCain, who as recently as last week said the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Tonight, Sen. Obama will speak to all of us about "the fierce urgency of now." He will lay out a vision and a plan to confront these issues head-on.
But, as deep and as broad as our problems are, there are people in America who are doing quite well -- the entrenched power brokers in Washington, oil companies who are profiting at the expense of everyday Americans, and a certain U.S. senator who can't quite remember how many homes he owns.
These people will fight tooth and nail to hang onto their influence in Washington because four more years of the last eight years suits them just fine. That's why Sen. Obama will also remind Americans that no one leader and no single political party can solve America's problems.
John McCain would like you to believe that Sen. Obama will speak tonight in front of 75,000 people simply because he's a celebrity. But Sen. Obama doesn't draw large audiences because people just want to see him -- thousands of Americans gather to hear Sen. Obama because they are hungry for real change, for lasting change, for change we can believe in.
If we are truly to confront the very serious, the very dangerous, issues we face at this moment in history -- if we are to truly change the system -- all Americans must come together and demand change. Tonight Sen. Obama will give voice to our call for change, our determination to meet our challenges head-on and our hopes for a renewed America.
The Greenville News
