Barack Obama Following the Foot Steps of Theodore Roosevelt Who was a Reformer

When Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks about change, those in Washington are more cynical about him, but those in the heartland of America shares his reform agendas.

Today, the Illinois native politician spoke about his 21^st century reform agenda to a crowd of over 600 people in a school named after the last century reformer Theodore Roosevelt.

Warmly welcomed, Sen. Obama told the cheering crowd that in the past 6 years; more than $1.1 billion of tax dollars has been issued to more than 172,000 dead people as farm subsidies.

He said "That's a problem when your tax dollars are going to dead people. That's not crazy, it is wrong," said Mr. Obama who through his political and private endeavors has demonstrated a strong level of integrity and transparency.

He reminded the crowd that over 100 years ago, Roosevelt took the changes against all odds and helped eased the powerful monopolistic forces that were in Washington by given "the American people a shot at the American dream," Obama pointed out.

Among all the presidential candidates from both parties, Mr. Obama is the only candidate that is not receiving any campaign contributions from lobbyist or political action committees that often set the agendas in the twilight of the night.

And for the Washington crowd, the danger of not getting the free meals, which they are used to in the past 16 years, manifested in their creation of a mounted front to tag Mr. Obama as inexperience and hope monger. The business-as-usual crowd in Washington is constantly strategizing on how to bring his campaign down, but based on what I saw today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, their strategies may fall on deaf ears.

Mr. Obama also reminded voters in Iowa that when he was a state legislator in Illinois, people were cynical about his resolve to end the massive corruption that was destroying the integrity of the state. In the end, he was able to work out a bipartisan consensus to end the historical waste in the state.

Also in his speech, Sen. Obama buttressed his point by saying that among all his colleagues, he is the only candidate with the most consistence ethical records, and he pledged to make it the pillar of his presidency.

"That's the reason I've offered the most far-reaching ethics and lobbying reform plan of any candidate in this race right now," he further said, he will make "The White House the people's house," said Mr. Obama.

The Hill reported in March 29, 2006 that "Sen. Obama, a fast-rising leader in the Democratic Party, and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), whom conservatives view as their most principled spokesmen, have forged an unlikely alliance in the debate on lobbying reform...An aides to Coburn said that his boss admires Obama's integrity. 'He has a lot of respect for him,' said John Hart, Coburn Communications director. 'He sees him as someone who has a good heart and principled and not mindlessly partisan.'"

Voters across the country are fed up with the increasing corruption rate in Washington, and they are leaning their ears more and more to Mr. Obama's crusade of bringing government back to the people.

A Cedar Rapids resident Brad Kiburz who came to graced Mr. Obama's speech pointed out " I listen to all the candidate and the more I hear him speak I see him a real genuine, honest person who is trying to make positive change for his country," said the Kiburz.

Ironically, it was reported earlier today that Hillary Clinton who in the 90s was caught up in several corruption scandals, this month, received $10,000 in campaign contribution from the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Hillary Clinton is vigorously courting various lobbyists and special interest groups from Indian outsourcing companies to Chinese PAC groups. Sources within her campaign who did not want her name to be mentioned, pointed that on the issue of ethical reform, free trade and corruption, she may not be able to have any deep root in showing any credibility, as her fingers are on the stain of NAFTA and corruption in the 90s.

During the last CNN/YouTube debate, Hillary Clinton was the only major candidate with no health care plan. Among all her rivals, she has received the highest campaign contributions from health care lobbyist and special interest groups who have mounted a mask on the breathing space of health care in the country.

On the other hand, Sen. Obama during the debate pointed out that the reason why there is no progress in education, health care, energy and other domestic issues, is because of the massive control which K-street marathons of lobbyists have on elected officials. He maintained that as the only candidate without receiving any campaign contribution from the special interest and lobbyist, he is freer to do the will of the American people.

Voters across the country whose interest are not represented, shares the same sentiment with Mr. Obama. They reasoned that any candidate who is receiving PACs money, he or she is married to the goals and agendas of the interest groups.

According to several polls conducted in past months, voters are desperately in need of change as they don't see their government working for their interest. In the end, Obama may be the needed symbol of change that resonates with voters in the heartland. Those in Washington are still very cynical about his candidacy, because their cloak of secrecy may be exposed.
Resource: www.Thehill.com