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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama stood before a cheering crowd in his home state Saturday and announced he will seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
Invoking the memory of fellow Illinoisan and the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, the first-term senator addressed thousands packed into the Springfield, Illinois, town square on a chilly day in America's heartland.
To chants of "Obama! Obama!," he told the crowd: "It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people -- where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America."
Invoking the memory of fellow Illinoisan and the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, the first-term senator addressed thousands packed into the Springfield, Illinois, town square on a chilly day in America's heartland.
To chants of "Obama! Obama!," he told the crowd: "It was here, in Springfield, where North, South, East and West come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people -- where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America."
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"And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America."
It appears he's saying he's going to bring the country together and the nation's hopes and dreams will come true.
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Obama told the crowd he would tackle problems like poor schools, economic hardships and oil dependence, saying a "failure of leadership" is to blame for not meeting the nation's challenges. He also implored the crowd to demand that there be "universal health care in America by the end of the president's first term."
He called the Iraq war a "tragic mistake" and said, "It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war. That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008.
He called the Iraq war a "tragic mistake" and said, "It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war. That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008.
This has been a long running issue in the US. Bush's no child left behind policy doesn't seem to have helped the poor intercity schools in Seattle, Washington yet.
I wouldn't mind placing my vote for Obama if he truly intends to fix this issue that many Americans wish to have solved. I also like the idea of a national health care.
Personally, its nice that our troops are trying to get stability over in the Middle East but I don't see it happening until one organization controls each nation. I've talked to family and friends who've served over there and they say they've been helping the people a lot over there. I think in that sense its good to help people less fortunate than us. But at some point the US needs to help their own people too.
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He also lauded what he called the founding fathers' "genius" in creating a system of government that can be changed. He cited examples throughout history -- from the American Revolution to the Civil War to the Great Depression -- in which Americans have demanded, and effected, change.
So...It looks like he wants to be like Lincoln or something.
I haven't looked too much into the candidates for the election though, but he seems to have a sound plan. But then again what politician has totally succeeded in their plans to fix our nation in their presidency time slot in the past 50 years?
