11:47 a.m. No calls for Clinton to drop out of the race. No question about Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Obama told the crowd he believes the Democrats will unite no matter who’s the nominee because, apparently, Clinton is a better alternative than McCain, according to Obama.
Obama’s out after an hour and 20 minutes. I’m out, too. Obama’s team is moving on from here to Allentown. Keep logging on here to follow along. I have an interview to get to.
11:43 a.m. A challenge to parent better from Obama.
“We need every parent, to parent. So unless parents are willing to turn off the TV set and put away the video games and make kids do their homework and instill in our children a sense of excellence. Then you know, schools and teachers can only do so much.”
11:37 a.m. A question on why Obama voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
He didn’t answer directly, going right for Bush’s executive order controversy, where the president has exempted himself from some laws. Said he would reverse the accumulating of power in the executive branch of government should he be elected.
11:26 a.m. Obama’s promising to convene a meeting with all those involved in health insurance, and he vows to conduct these negotiations “on CSPAN so the American people know what’s going on.”
Next, on FOX Saturday night, the newest, baddest, bloodiest reality TV show …
11:15 a.m. Oh man, a Ron Paul supporter’s here, and he’s asking a question about dissolving the U.S. government and merging us with Mexico and Canada. A lot of chuckles by the national press.
“I see no evidence of this actually taking place. I think this is something that has been ginned up by certain blogs on the Internet.”
Check out Factcheck.org to see what they say about Paul and this issue. Can we please get back to the issues?
Obama shifts the conversation to NAFTA.
11:12 a.m. First question is from a woman who has a son in the military. “What can you say to the mothers so they feel their sons and daughters have not died in vain?” Great question.
Obama just said getting rid of Saddam was an “accomplishment” and added the military did it’s job. It’s the “civilian leadership” that’s failed. He wants military sacrifices “will be made in a good strategy.” He launches into his speech that pulling troops out will force the Iraqi factions to “stand up” and create a strong central government.
11:07 a.m. It’s question-and-answer time.
11:04 a.m. All due respect to the Stevens people, but this facility has bad acoustics, because this crowd I know is excited, but it doesn’t have the same explosiveness the town hall meeting in Harrisburg did last night. You’d a thought the Beatles had come back last night.
Obama’s on foreign policy, says “our foreign policy right now doesn’t make sense.” Says he will not hesitate to “strike at those who intend to do us harm.” Tepid response to that one. He brings the crowd back when he talks about improving veteran health care, though.
“Hillary Clinton and John McCain had a chance to exercise good judgement … .
“This war has not made us more safe. It has piled up a mountain of debt for the American people.”
Obama promises to end the war in 2009. Again, loudest response. At least with Obama supporters, this place is decidely anti-Iraq, probably the most important issue to them compared to education and health care.
10:57 a.m. Obama’s message about education wins points with this crowd, talking about not teaching to the test, but when Hillary Clinton explicitedly says she will rescind No Child Left Behind, her rallies explode with support. Obama for some reason never comes out and says he will eliminate NCLB.
10:56 a.m. “John McCain takes it. Hillary Clinton takes it. I don’t. You’ve funded my campaign.” More talk about PAC and lobbyist money.
“We can tell the lobbyists their days of running business in Washington are over.”
He’s moving on to health insurance now, one of the three top issues of this campaign. Obama’s trying to sell the notion that government can offer affordable health care, but make simply an option for everyone to take. Clinton’s plan, which isn’t much different, is a requirement. She says the rates will be low enough for everyone to afford, but as Obama points out, she hasn’t explained exactly how she intends to penalize those who don’t have health insurance.
10:52 a.m. “Change will not happen just changing political parties in the White House.”
Obama’s suggesting because he doesn’t accept PAC or lobbyist money for campaign contributions, and Clinton does, electing Clinton will mean the status quo on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I just sensed all the Clinton backers reading this cringe and ready to lash out at this assessment.
10:50 a.m. Here’s the joke about Dick Cheney. You may have seen reports that Obama is a distant cousing of Dick Cheney. “That’s really embarrassing,” Obama said.
10:49 a.m. New material now in Obama’s speech about the subprime mortgage crisis.
He’s telling about Countrywide Financial, which agitated the subprime mortgage market, went under and the two people in charge walked away with $19 million, according to Obama. Here’s the populist appeal, us versus them, poor and middle class feeling left out of the Washington process wanting a larger piece of the pie that the wealthiest Americans have been eating.
10:45 a.m. “My faith has been vindicated … (The American people) are ready to write a new chapter in American history,” Obama said, and another standing ovation.
You know, I’ve heard the word change so many times I sometimes miss the word when candidates speak it. Every candidate from municipal races to battles for the White House. I’m still not sure why Obama’s “change” rhetoric is resonating so well with the electorate. Help me out, Talkbackers. Why do you think Obama’s change message is tugging at people?
10:41 a.m. “This is the first economic expansion we went through where at the end of it people’s living standards are no better than we started,” Obama said, pointing out how costs have risen but wages remain stagnant. “It’s harder to save, it’s harder to retire.”
Waiting for his part about education, because what I’ve learned about on this campaign trail, with both Obama and Clinton, education prompts the loudest cheers.
For those interested in fashion, Obama’s wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt and maroon tie.
10:39 a.m. Obama’s running through the speech he’s delivered throughout Pennsylvania, talking about the “fierce urgency of now.”
First Iraq mention. Overwhelming standing ovation for saying the war should never have been authorized.
10:36 a.m. Obama’s on a stage a little off center, but it’s right in the middle of the crowd. Some of them are on the risers, others seated on the basketball court.
“We played some basketball with Bob Casey, and none of us got injured,” Obama said, then mentioned how the Obama tour has stopped at a few sports bar and “had a few beers.”
10:33 a.m. Obama thanked Mayor Rick Gray and said “he is part of a threesome of outstanding mayors who are supporting this campaign.” It included John Brenner of York and the mayor of Reading.
State Rep. Mike Sturla got a shout out, too.
10:29 a.m. Obama is walking into the gymnasium right now. Newt Gingrich didn’t receive this kind of enthusiasm when he spoke here last fall for the GOP banquet.
10:16 a.m. Obama is speaking in the John E. Barley gymnasium, and it’s packed. And it’s raucous, more pep rally than political rally. They’re singing and chanting in here. At least 2,000 people, probably going to get to about 3,000 before it’s all over.
This morning, we just learned U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will endorse Obama, adding another superdelegate to his count. The Wall Street Journal has the story, adding that the entire North Carolina House Democratic delegation is expected to back Obama, too.
Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is in Harrisburg today. She’s visiting the Capitol Diner, a lil’ eatery just off Route 283 North outside of Harrisburg, then holding a rally in Fairliss Hills. She’ll be moving throughout the state at a whirlwind pace during the next three days, probably to counter any momentum Obama may be building with this ongoing bus tour he’s on.
9:39 a.m. Hey all!
Barack Obama’s traveling press pool arrived in Lancaster a few short minutes ago. Gonna try my best to bring you the action as it happen, so just keep updating your browser on this thread. Expect Obama to cover a lot of topics, and whenever you have a Q&A with the crowd, anything can happen. So if you couldn’t make it to the event this morning, the Nest is traveling with the Illinois senator and we’ll be your eyes and ears on the ground.
