Why+Tennessee+should+vote+for+Barack+Obama

Tennessee Page NICE ADDITIONS, KATIE! :))




 * ==Practice your questions, Katie and Teal, for Mr. Obama when he comes.==

Movie on who obama is: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid452323111?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=280&width=270 Obama wants to strengthen the economy and give immediate tax relief. Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii. It was there, at the University of Hawaii, where Barack's parents met. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams in America. Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983. Remembering the values of empathy and service that his mother taught him, Barack put law school and corporate life on hold after college and moved to Chicago in 1985, where he became a community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment. The group had some success, but Barack had come to realize that in order to truly improve the lives of people in that community and other communities, it would take not just a change at the local level, but a change in our laws and in our politics. He went on to earn his law degree from Harvard in 1991, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Soon after, he returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. Finally, his advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. “I believe that America's free market has been the engine of America's great progress. It's created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It's led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other's success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.” — Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007**"**
 * Meet Obama**
 * "**Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.

Political Career
"It has been the rich and varied experiences of Barack Obama's life - growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas - that have animated his political journey. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today's public debate, he still believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain. In the Illinois State Senate, this meant working with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. In the U.S. Senate, he has focused on tackling the challenges of a globalized, 21st century world with fresh thinking and a politics that no longer settles for the lowest common denominator. His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. He has also been the lead voice in championing ethics reform that would root out Jack Abramoff-style corruption in Congress. As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing the terrorist threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, he traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world. And knowing the threat we face to our economy and our security from America's addiction to oil, he's working to bring auto companies, unions, farmers, businesses and politicians of both parties together to promote the greater use of alternative fuels and higher fuel standards in our cars. Whether it's the poverty exposed by Katrina, the genocide in Darfur, or the role of faith in our politics, Barack Obama continues to speak out on the issues that will define America in the 21st century. But above all his accomplishments and experiences, he is most proud and grateful for his family. His wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, live on Chicago's South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ."

“We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination .... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities.” — Barack Obama “I don't want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don't want that future for my daughters. I don't want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.” — Barack Obama, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007
 * He wants to work on Civil Rights and other racial issues such as hate crimes and racial profiling.
 * [|Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement]
 * [|Combat Employment Discrimination]
 * [|Expand Hate Crimes Statutes]
 * [|End Deceptive Voting Practices]
 * [|End Racial Profiling]
 * [|Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Support]
 * [|Eliminate Sentencing Disparities]
 * [|Expand Use of Drug Courts]
 * He also wants equal opportunities for disabled people.
 * Improving the economy is another major thing Obama will work on if he becomes President.
 * [|Tax Fairness for the Middle Class]
 * [|Strengthen America's Workforce]
 * [|Strengthen & Enforce International Trade Agreements]
 * [|Support Small Businesses]
 * [|Invest in American Innovation]
 * [|Address the Subprime Mortgage Issue]
 * [|Level the Playing Field for American Businesses]
 * [|Create a Climate that Promotes Business Innovation]
 * [|Help Low-Income Workers]
 * [|Provide Universal Health Care Access]
 * [|Energy Independence and Creating New Jobs]
 * Education, the environment, and health care are also on his agenda.

— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, October 14, 2007**
 * “Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses — we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil.”

“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates… My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.” — Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007

"The Problem

 * Millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured because of rising medical costs:** 47 million Americans — including nearly 9 million children — lack health insurance with no signs of this trend slowing down.
 * Health care costs are skyrocketing:** Health insurance premiums have risen 4 times faster than wages over the past 6 years.
 * Too little is spent on prevention and public health:** The nation faces epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases as well as new threats of pandemic flu and bioterrorism. Yet despite all of this less than 4 cents of every health care dollar is spent on prevention and public health.**"**

"Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All
>>
 * **Obama's Plan to Cover Uninsured Americans:** Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The Obama plan will have the following features:
 * 1) Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
 * 2) Comprehensive benefits. The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
 * 3) Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
 * 4) Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.
 * 5) Simplified paperwork and reined in health costs.
 * 6) Easy enrollment. The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to coverage.
 * 7) Portability and choice. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
 * 8) Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met."
 * Ethical things such as family and religion is another.
 * "Education**
 * Zero to Five Plan:** Obama's comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama's plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state "zero to five" efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.
 * Expand Early Head Start and Head Start:** Obama will quadruple Early Head Start, increase Head Start funding and improve quality for both.
 * Affordable, High-Quality Child Care:** Obama will also provide affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families.
 * Reform No Child Left Behind:** Obama will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama believes teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama will also improve NCLB's accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
 * Make Math and Science Education a National Priority:** Obama will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. He will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.
 * Address the Dropout Crisis:** Obama will address the dropout crisis by passing his legislation to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school - strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time.
 * Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities:** Obama will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more children.
 * Expand Summer Learning Opportunities:** Obama's "STEP UP" plan addresses the achievement gap by supporting summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children through partnerships between local schools and community organizations.
 * Support College Outreach Programs:** Obama supports outreach programs like GEAR UP, TRIO and Upward Bound to encourage more young people from low-income families to consider and prepare for college.
 * Support English Language Learners:** Obama supports transitional bilingual education and will help Limited English Proficient students get ahead by holding schools accountable for making sure these students complete school.

Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America's Teachers
 His offical web sight is http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php
 * **Recruit Teachers:** Obama will create new Teacher Service Scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a high-need field or location.
 * **Prepare Teachers:** Obama will require all schools of education to be accredited. He will also create a voluntary national performance assessment so we can be sure that every new educator is trained and ready to walk into the classroom and start teaching effectively. Obama will also create Teacher Residency Programs that will supply 30,000 exceptionally well-prepared recruits to high-need schools.
 * **Retain Teachers:** To support our teachers, Obama's plan will expand mentoring programs that pair experienced teachers with new recruits. He will also provide incentives to give teachers paid common planning time so they can collaborate to share best practices.
 * **Reward Teachers:** Obama will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward accomplished educators who serve as a mentor to new teachers with a salary increase. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well.
 * **Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit:** Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year's tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.
 * **Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid:** Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application**"**
 * [|Support Working Families]
 * [|Strengthen Our Schools]
 * [|Help American Families Stay Healthy]
 * [|Protect Homeownership]
 * [|Strengthen Families at Home]
 * [|Strengthen Retirement Security]
 * Iraq, the biggest thing, is on his plan.
 * He wants to bring our troops home.
 * [|Judgment You Can Trust]
 * [|Bring Our Troops Home]
 * [|Press Iraq’s leaders to reconcile]
 * [|Regional Diplomacy]
 * [|Humanitarian Initiative]