Observer (UK): State that made Obama gives its verdict on him (Iowa)

[Jackeens]

State that made Obama gives its verdict on him

Paul Harris in Carroll, Iowa
The Observer, Sunday 26 April 2009

It was in Iowa that Barack Obama won his first, stunning victory over Hillary Clinton to take a huge step towards the Democratic nomination and the White House. Last week, he returned to the rural, mainly white state to unveil his plan for a greener America - and found that many Iowans like what he has done, but fear for their future

Douglas Burns works on a newspaper in the small town of Carroll, Iowa, whose 10,000 souls live near the banks of the Middle Raccoon River amid a wide expanse of quintessential American farmland.

Burns is a columnist on Carroll's Daily Times Herald, a post that would not normally see him command the attention of those who aspire to occupy the White House. Yet Burns has interviewed Barack Obama a staggering six times. "It is remarkable, I suppose," he said. Burns's position of power comes from the unique role Iowa has played in the rise of Obama to the White House.

Rest of article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/26/barack-obama-iowa-greener-america

[GoCubsGo]

1. I don't get some of these people...

Like the guy who is upset that he might have to pay more out of taxes for his health care. What is it about these people who don't seem to understand that they will be paying regardless? They are already paying, most likely. Just about everyone has to chip in at least a portion of their health insurance premiums as it is. What is the difference if they pay that way or via taxes??? They'll whine about "rationing", but ignore the fact that they've been fighting for months with their HMO to see a specialist. Good grief. People can be so blind and stupid.

[Cha]

2. We got ourselves a radical Prez..thanks for the article, Jackeens.

<snips from your article>

"The choice of Newton was apt, as the town represents in microcosm what Obama hopes for the entire American economy. Newton was once dominated by a huge Maytag factory that made electrical appliances. But now new - smaller - plants are opening in Newton, making wind turbines.

After touring a new factory, Obama outlined his vision for a greener economy that would create local jobs from alternative energy, helping to break America's reliance on oil. "I am confident that we can be - that we will be - the benefactors of a brighter future. That can be our legacy. A legacy of vehicles powered by clean renewable energy travelling past newly opened factories; of burgeoning industries employing millions of Americans in the work of protecting our plane," Obama said. It was a small-town setting for a such a grand national vision.

Obama's vision for a green economy is radical, yet it is only part of the huge overhaul of America that he has already overseen. He has responded to the economic crisis, not by cutting back on his ambitions, but by scaling them up."