Obama Issues Call for Public Service

[babylonsister]

Obama Issues Call for Public Service

By Jeff Zeleny

MT. VERNON, Iowa – Senator Barack Obama implored young Americans “to step into the currents of history,” by not only supporting his presidential candidacy, but committing to form a new generation of public service.

In a speech here today at Cornell College, Mr. Obama said he would seek to restore America’s standing in the world by doubling the size of the Peace Corps, increasing the strength of the Foreign Service and creating a national network – modeled after Craigslist – to connect volunteers to areas of need across the country.

“I won’t just ask for your vote as a candidate, I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States,” Mr. Obama said, drawing applause and a standing ovation from hundreds of students and residents of this eastern Iowa town. “This will not be a call issued in one speech or program, this will be a cause of my presidency.”

Before presenting his proposals calling for a renewed commitment to national service, Mr. Obama was endorsed by Harris Wofford, a former senator from Pennsylvania who helped form the Peace Corps during his time in the Kennedy administration. As he introduced Mr. Obama to the crowd, Mr. Wofford said he had not felt as inspired “since the days of John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.”

“Barack Obama has picked up the torch that they lit,” Mr. Wofford said.

more...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/obama-issues-call-for-public-service/

[Andy823]

1. I am confused

If I am not mistaken, Edwards has already called for this, and has talked about it a long ways back. Is this just another example of Obama "following" in Edwards footsteps?

Now Obama would be my second choice, but he really needs more time, and he really needs to come up with some "original" ideas.

[Connie_Corleone]

2. All of the candidates have called for public service.

Obama is outlining his plan, just as Edwards outlined his. I'm sure Hillary will outline her own plan.

It's not unusual for candidates in the same Party to have similar ideas.

[Vickers]

7. "he really needs more time"

He wouldn't be sworn in for another year.

[Andy823]

8. OK

More "time" as in 8 years from now, does that help?;)

[Vickers]

10. He'll be in his mid 50s then...I'm tired of old men running the country.

Does that help? :P

[EFerrari]

3. Calls for public service from any of these candidates can never sound true

while they are taking so much money to fund their campaigns.

I know Obama is just working within the system and that he didn't set this system up. But he or anyone else that forwards this idea just sound like hypocrites while they rake in millions of dollars to do what they do.

[babylonsister]

4. Now I'm confused. What does funding a campaign have to do

with a call to public service? Why would one influence the other?

[EFerrari]

6. Maybe I'm confused, lol, but funding campaigns the way we do

is inherently undemocratic. So, the corporate sector has much more influence than I do, for example.

So, it's a little weird to hear any candidate (not just Obama) calling on people to pool their resources into volunteer efforts when their campaign relies on corporate funding to thrive. They are participating in one undemocratic system and calling for citizens to invest their own time and energy in a altruistic, real democratic system.

In other words, they aren't doing their thing on their own dime but are calling for people to serve on theirs. It's sort of a "practice what you preach" situation.

[hedgehog]

11. For me, the bright spot is Obama's dependence on individual donations. nt

[EFerrari]

12. I loved that about Dean, too, and although not a Deaniac,

I did send in my few bucks.

My point isn't about Obama at all, really. And if I derailed the thread, I'm sorry. :blush:

[babylonsister]

13. ...

:spank: :spank:

:hi:

[BeyondGeography]

5. Perfect issue for the ex-community organizer to be pushing

[EFerrari]

9. kick

[Skip Intro]

14. Do I have to show up?

:shrug:

[calteacherguy]

15. A very important need in our fragmented society.

I hope the entire Democratic Party takes up this cause...all the candidates.