I was lucky enough to find out about the economic town hall here in Austin with Senator Obama and get tickets for it. Even though the event began at 9:30 this morning my boss was more than happy to let me attend as long as I brought her a button or a sticker or something. My wife, who had jury duty yesterday was able to snag tickets from UT and a Hispanic Community Center in town. We gave the other pair of tickets to another co-worker who was able to attend as well (our office is slightly liberal to say the least.)
This event was not about hope or change or any of the vague notions that Clinton supporters and/or Obama antagonists have accused the candidate of. The town hall focused specifically on his economic plan followed by a fairly long Q&A. My thoughts on it after the fold.
A basic summary of his plan is (and this is all off the top of my head so don't just take my word for it):
- Get out of Iraq
This is obviously hugely important and was a big applause line each time he mentioned it
- Cut the Bush tax cuts for the rich
- Go back to PayGO
- Raise the cap on Social Security taxes just a bit
- Improve schools by funding mandates and getting rid of NCLB for a sensible assessment of schools involving more than just the test
His prepared remarks were just the appetizer for the event, though, as he received a number of questions. The first was slightly obscure to most as I was the only person who whooped and applauded after it was asked. The questioner asked Senator Obama about his plan for reforming the patent system so it doesn't act as a drag on the economy and hamper innovation. Obama answered in a couple parts that a. we need sweeping patent reform and b. patent examiners need to be paid more than they are now so we are recruiting people much less likely to approve bad patents. Lawrence Lessig supports Barack Obama and it's pretty obvious why as he is knowledgable about technology.
He was next asked by a poor single mom how he would reform welfare so lazy people who don't work can't receive welfare while people who make a quarter above the hourly wage that is considered poverty can't receive benefits. He gave Bill Clinton credit in his answer for welfare reform even though he said he didn't agree with all of the provisions of said reform. He then talked again and in more detail about the $4000 annual college assistance in return for community or national service. He said that if you just needed a couple of years of training to be a nurses assistant that the $4000 would cover it and encouraged community colleges. I appreciated that he didn't just focus on 4 year colleges because the real-world skills that are directly applicable to trades are taught at the community college level.
A well-to-do gentleman said that he benefitted from the Bush tax cuts (at which point Barack interjected "I did too") and asked how Barack would cut the deficit as President. The reply was that he would restore real fiscal responsibility and stop our borrowing from the "Bank of China" (a phrase he used twice throughout the event). He said that we had much investing to do in our country lest we begin a slow decline and that he wouldn't have a "fetish" for reducing national debt. He also said that we should have been "storing our nuts" for winter. (A few people giggled at this and I admit, shamefacedly, that I was one of them.)
Another man asked about Africa and HIV/AIDS to which Barack replied that he would double foreign aid. The most important part of the answer, though, was his defense of foreign aid and his explanation of why aiding other countries is beneficial in the long run. He didn't talk down to people but attempted to sway the skeptics regarding the foreign aid issue.
All-in-all, the session was informative and substantive. Before he entered the building the chants of "Yes we can" "Si se puede" "Fired up/Ready to go" etc. fell flat after a few repetitions. This group seemed to support Barack but was really interested in what he had to say. I found it amusing and touching when the older black lady in a seat near mine would raise her hand when he mentioned how difficult it is to get ahead when you're dealing with predatory credit card debt, medical expenses, wages that have not caught up to inflation and tuition, gas prices and health care that have never cost more. I found myself quite touched that someone is echoing things I've heard from Bonddad, Jerome a Paris, and even myself say. It was like a long long DKOS diary with good commentors and a lot of replies.
Truly, in this campaign, I get a feeling of "What hath the netroots wrought?" This isn't a campaign so far that we can pick apart and criticize every aspect of since many of the things we've wished a candidate would do or would talk about are being done by this guy. I think he's unstoppable and it's not at all because of the force of his personality but because he is running a tight ship, keeping a tight and positive message, and focusing on all 50 states. I feel so honored to be seeing such a great election follow the two horribly flawed elections of this millenium.