Obama Blueprint For Change
Obama Blueprint For Change
Obama Blueprint For Change
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CONTENTS
Obama’s Plan for America
1 Opening letter
3 ETHICS
6 HEALTH CARE
10 ECONOMY
16 Seniors
20 Education
24 Energy
28 Fiscal
31 RURAL
35 WOMEN
38 Immigration
41 Poverty
45 SERVICE
48 Civil RIGHTs
50 Foreign Policy
56 Veterans
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A Message from Barack:
But I also hope that this booklet sparks a dialogue and that after you’ve finished reading it, you get in touch
with our campaign and give us your thoughts on the policies you find here. It’s time to put government back
in your hands, where it belongs. If we want to have policies that are good for the American people, then we
need the American people to help shape those policies.
We all know what’s at stake. This is a defining moment in our history. Our nation is at war. The planet is in
peril. The dream that so many generations fought for feels as if it’s slowly slipping away. We’ve never paid
more for health care or for college. It’s harder to save and retire. And most of all, we’ve lost faith that our
leaders can or will do anything about it.
But it is because of their failures that this moment of challenge is also a moment of opportunity. We have
a chance to bring the country together in a new majority - to finally tackle problems that Washington has
ignored for too long. And that is why the same old Washington textbook campaigns just won’t do in this
election.
The Democratic Party has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when
we’ve led not by polls, but by principle; not by calculation, but by conviction; when we summoned the entire
nation to a common purpose - a higher purpose. And I run for the presidency because that’s the party
America needs us to be right now. I run to offer this country change that we can believe in.
I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over.
I’m in this race because I want to stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without health
care and start actually doing something about it. I’m in this race to end our dependence on Middle East oil
and save our planet from the crisis of climate change so we can give our children a planet that’s cleaner and
safer than we found it.
As president, I will end the war in Iraq, a war that I opposed from the beginning and that should never have
been authorized. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common
threats of the 21st century - nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and
disease.
America, our moment is now. I don’t want to spend the next year or the next four years re-fighting the same
fights that we had in the 1990s. I don’t want to pit Red America against Blue America, I want to be the
President of the United States of America.
That’s why I’m asking you to stand with me, that’s why I’m asking you to caucus for me, that’s why I’m
asking you to stop settling for what the cynics say we have to accept. In this election - in this moment - let
us reach for what we know is possible. A nation healed. A world repaired. An America that believes again.
So thank you for taking the time to read this booklet, which lays out very clearly how I will achieve these
goals for the people of Iowa. And if you have any questions or want to get involved or want to offer your
ideas about how we can make our policies stronger, I hope you’ll visit http://iowa.barackobama.com, call 515-
883-2008 or drop into one of our more than 37 offices across the state.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
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“I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists
that their days of setting the agenda in
Washington are over. I have done more than any
other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists
– and won. They have not funded my campaign,
they will not get a job in my White House,
and they will not drown out the voices of the
American people when I am president.”
-- Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007
Barack Obama’s Plan to Change Washington
At a Glance
A Leader for Reform
Obama reached across the aisle and challenged leaders of both parties to pass historic ethics reforms both in
Washington and Springfield, IL. Unlike other candidates, he refuses to accept campaign contributions from
PACs and Washington lobbyists.
Close the Revolving Door
Obama will close the revolving door between the executive branch and K-Street lobbying shops. Obama’s
appointees will serve the American people, not their own financial interests.
Increase Transparency
Obama will increase transparency so that ordinary Americans can understand their government and trust
that their money is well spent.
End Wasteful No-Bid Contracts
Obama will clean up government contracting and end the abuse of no-bid contracts.
THE PROBLEM
Lobbyists Write National Policies
For example, Vice President Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force of oil and gas lobbyists met secretly to
develop national energy policy.
Secrecy Dominates Government Actions
The Bush administration has ignored public disclosure rules and has invoked a legal tool known as the ‘state
secrets’ privilege more than any other previous administration to get cases thrown out of civil court.
Wasteful Spending is Out of Control
The current administration has abused its power by handing out contracts without competition to its
politically connected friends and supporters. These abuses cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
3 ETHICS
BARACK OBAMA’s Plan
Shine Light on Washington Lobbying
Centralize Ethics and Lobbying Information for Voters: Obama will create a centralized Internet
database of lobbying reports, ethics records, and campaign finance filings in a searchable, sortable and
downloadable format.
Require Independent Monitoring of Lobbying Laws and Ethics Rules: Obama will use the power
of the presidency to fight for an independent watchdog agency to oversee the investigation of congressional
ethics violations so that the public can be assured that ethics complaints will be investigated.
Support Campaign Finance Reform: Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free
television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. Obama introduced
public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and is the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored
Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) tough bill to reform the presidential public financing system.
OBAMA’S RECORD
Federal Ethics Reform
Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was
described as the “gold standard” for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized
corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists’ bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new
restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law. The
Washington Post wrote in an editorial, “The final package is the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from
Congress yet.”
Illinois Reform
In 1998, Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance
law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and
banned most gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among
50 states for its campaign finance regulations.
A High Standard
Unlike other candidates Obama’s campaign refuses to accept contributions from Washington lobbyists and
political action committees.
5 ETHICS
Barack Obama’s Plan for a Healthy America
At a Glance
Universal Coverage
Obama will sign a universal health care plan into law by the end of his first term in office. His plan will
provide affordable, quality health care coverage for every American.
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.
7 HEALTH CARE
Lower Costs by Modernizing the U.S. Health Care System
(1) Reducing Costs of Catastrophic Illnesses for Employers and Their Employees. Catastrophic
health expenditures account for a high percentage of medical expenses for private insurers. The Obama plan
would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold
if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums.
(2) Lowering Costs by Ensuring Patients Receive and Providers Deliver Quality Care:
Helping Patients.
Support Disease Management Programs: Seventy five percent of total health care dollars are
spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood
pressure. Obama will require that providers that participate in the new public plan, Medicare or the
Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) utilize proven disease management programs.
This will improve quality of care, give doctors better information and lower costs.
Coordinate and Integrate Care: Over 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease and
these chronic conditions cost a staggering $1.7 trillion yearly. Obama will improve coordination and
integration of care of those with chronic conditions by making sure programs are fully implemented
and encouraging team care.
Require Full Transparency about Quality and Costs: Obama will require hospitals and providers
to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality, including data on preventable
medical errors, nurse staffing ratios, hospital-acquired infections, and disparities in care. Health plans
will also be required to disclose the percentage of premiums that go to patient care as opposed to
administrative costs.
OBAMA’S RECORD
Health Insurance: In 2003, Barack Obama sponsored and passed legislation that expanded health care
coverage to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults. In the U.S. Senate, Obama cosponsored the Healthy Kids Act
of 2007 and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007 to ensure
that more American children have affordable health care coverage.
Women’s Health: Obama worked to pass a number of laws in Illinois and Washington to improve the
health of women. His accomplishments include creating a task force on cervical cancer, providing greater
access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, and helping improve prenatal and premature birth services.
9 HEALTH CARE
“I’m in this race to take those tax breaks away
from companies that are moving jobs overseas
and put them in the pockets of hard working
Americans who deserve it. And I won’t raise the
minimum wage every ten years – I will raise it
to keep pace so that workers don’t’ fall behind.
That is why I am in it. To protect the American
worker. To fight for the American worker.”
-- Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007
Barack Obama’s Plan to Strengthen the Economy
At a Glance
Taxes
Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.
Trade
Obama believes that trade with foreign nations should strengthen the American economy and create more
American jobs. He will stand firm against agreements that undermine our economic security.
Technology
Obama will encourage the deployment of the most modern communications infrastructure to reduce the
costs of health care, help solve our energy crisis, create new jobs, and fuel our economic growth.
Labor
Obama will strengthen the ability of workers to organize unions. He will fight for passage of the Employee
Free Choice Act. Obama will ensure that his labor appointees support workers’ rights and will work to ban
the permanent replacement of striking workers. Obama will also increase the minimum wage and index it to
inflation to ensure it rises every year.
Home Ownership
Obama will crack down on fraudulent brokers and lenders. He will also make sure homebuyers have honest
and complete information about their mortgage options, and he will give a tax credit to all middle-class
homeowners.
Bankruptcy Reform
Obama will reform our bankruptcy laws to protect working people, ban executive bonuses for bankrupt
companies, and require disclosure of all pension investments.
Credit Cards
Obama will establish a five-star rating system so that every consumer knows the risk involved in every credit
card. He also will establish a Credit Card Bill of Rights to stop credit card companies from exploiting con-
sumers with unfair practices.
Work-Family
Obama will double funding for after-school programs, expand the Family Medical Leave Act, provide low-
income families with a refundable tax credit to help with their child-care expenses, and encourage flexible
work schedules.
11 ECONOMY
THE PROBLEM
Wages are Stagnant as Prices Rise
While wages remain flat, the costs of basic necessities are increasing. The cost of in-state college tuition has
grown 35 percent over the past five years. Health care costs have risen four times faster than wages over the
past six years. And the personal savings rate is now the lowest it’s been since the Great Depression.
Trade
Fight for Fair Trade: Obama will fight for a trade policy that opens up foreign markets to support good
American jobs. He will use trade agreements to spread good labor and environmental standards around
the world and stand firm against agreements like the Central American Free Trade Agreement that fail to
live up to those important benchmarks. Obama will also pressure the World Trade Organization to enforce
trade agreements and stop countries from continuing unfair government subsidies to foreign exporters and
nontariff barriers on U.S. exports.
Amend the North American Free Trade Agreement: Obama believes that NAFTA and its potential
were oversold to the American people. Obama will work with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to fix
NAFTA so that it works for American workers.
Improve Transition Assistance: To help all workers adapt to a rapidly changing economy, Obama would
update the existing system of Trade Adjustment Assistance by extending it to service industries, creating
flexible education accounts to help workers retrain, and providing retraining assistance for workers in sectors
of the economy vulnerable to dislocation before they lose their jobs.
Labor
Ensure Freedom to Unionize: Obama believes that workers should have the freedom to choose whether
to join a union without harassment or intimidation from their employers. Obama cosponsored and is strong
advocate for the Employee Free Choice Act, a bipartisan effort to assure that workers can exercise their right
to organize. He will continue to fight for EFCA’s passage and sign it into law.
Fight Attacks on Workers’ Right to Organize: Obama has fought the Bush National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB) efforts to strip workers of their right to organize. He is a cosponsor of legislation to overturn
the NLRB’s “Kentucky River” decisions classifying hundreds of thousands of nurses, construction, and
professional workers as “supervisors” who are not protected by federal labor laws.
Protect Striking Workers: Obama supports the right of workers to bargain collectively and strike if
necessary. He will work to ban the permanent replacement of striking workers, so workers can stand up for
themselves without worrying about losing their livelihoods.
Raise the Minimum Wage: Barack Obama will raise the minimum wage, index it to inflation and increase
the Earned Income Tax Credit to make sure that full-time workers earn a living wage that allows them to
raise their families and pay for basic needs.
13 ECONOMY
Ensure More Accountability in the Subprime Mortgage Industry: Obama has been closely monitor-
ing the subprime mortgage situation for years, and introduced comprehensive legislation over a year ago to
fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Obama’s STOP FRAUD Act
provides the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increases funding for federal and state law enforce-
ment programs, creates new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and requires
industry insiders to report suspicious activity.
Mandate Accurate Loan Disclosure: Obama will create a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit
(HOME) score, which will provide potential borrowers with a simplified, standardized borrower metric
(similar to APR) for home mortgages. The HOME score will allow individuals to easily compare various
mortgage products and understand the full cost of the loan.
Create Fund to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures: Obama will create a fund to help people
refinance their mortgages and provide comprehensive support to innocent homeowners. The fund will be
partially paid for by Obama’s increased penalties on lenders who act irresponsibly and commit fraud.
Close Bankruptcy Loophole for Mortgage Companies: Obama will work to eliminate the provision
that prevents bankruptcy courts from modifying an individual’s mortgage payments. Obama believes that
the subprime mortgage industry, which has engaged in dangerous and sometimes unscrupulous business
practices, should not be shielded by outdated federal law.
OBAMA’S RECORD
Housing: In the U.S. Senate, Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties
for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers, well before the
current subprime crisis began.
Predatory Lending: In the Illinois State Senate, Obama called attention to predatory lending
issues. Obama sponsored legislation to combat predatory payday loans, and he also urged the
state to more closely regulate some of the most egregious predatory lending practices.
American Jobs: Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax
credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America
relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America; pay decent
wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who
serve in the military.
15 ECONOMY
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO STRENGTHEN RETIREMENT SECURITY
“We … have an obligation to protect Social Security and ensure that it’s
a safety net the American people can count on today, tomorrow and
forever. Social Security is the cornerstone of the social compact in this
country. …Coming together to meet this challenge won’t be easy. …It
will take restoring a sense of shared purpose in Washington and across
this country. But if you put your trust in me – if you give me ‘your hand
and your heart’ – then that’s exactly what I intend to do as your next
President.”
–Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA,
October 27, 2007
AT A GLANCE
Commitment
As someone who was largely raised by his grandparents, Obama has first-hand knowledge of how hard
America’s seniors have worked to defend our country, teach our children and grow our economy. He will
honor their lifetime of work.
Protect Social Security
Obama will preserve Social Security by stopping any efforts to privatize it and working in a bipartisan way to
preserve it for future generations.
Secure Hard-Earned Pensions
Obama will fight to ensure that companies don’t dump their pension obligations.
Help Americans Save More
Obama will make retirement savings automatic.
THE PROBLEM
Insecure Retirement Savings
Retirement savings are near a historic low and 75 million working Americans lack employer-based retirement
plans. Too many companies have dumped their pension obligations, leaving workers in the cold.
Income Security
With skyrocketing health care, energy and housing costs, and the risk of being defrauded by insurance
companies, too many seniors do not have the resources to live comfortably.
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Protect Social Security
Obama is committed to ensuring Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people, now and in
the future. Obama will be honest with the American people about the long-term solvency of Social Security
and the ways we can address the shortfall. Obama will protect Social Security benefits for current and
future beneficiaries alike. And he does not believe it is necessary or fair to hardworking seniors to raise the
retirement age. Obama is strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security.
Obama believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system.
Currently, the Social Security payroll tax applies to only the first $97,500 a worker makes. Obama supports
increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security and he will work with Congress and
the American people to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least
the next half century.
Strengthen Retirement Savings
Reform Corporate Bankruptcy Laws to Protect Workers and Retirees: Current bankruptcy laws protect
banks before workers. Obama will protect pensions by putting promises to workers higher on the list of
debts that companies cannot shed; ensuring that the bankruptcy courts do not demand more sacrifice from
workers than executives; telling companies that they cannot issue executive bonuses while cutting worker
pensions; increasing the amount of unpaid wages and benefits workers can claim in court; and limiting the
circumstances under which retiree benefits can be reduced.
Require Full Disclosure of Company Pension Investments
Obama will ensure that all employees who have company pensions receive detailed annual disclosures about
their pension fund’s investments. This will provide retirees important resources to make their pension fund
more secure.
Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less Than $50,000
Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This will provide
an immediate tax cut averaging $1,400 to 7 million seniors and relieve millions from the burden of filing tax
returns.
Create Automatic Workplace Pensions
Obama’s retirement security plan will automatically enroll workers in a workplace pension plan. Under his
plan, employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan, will be required to enroll their employees in
a direct-deposit IRA account that is compatible to existing direct-deposit payroll systems. Employees may
opt-out if they choose. Experts estimate that this program will increase the savings participation rate for low
and middle-income workers from its current 15 percent level to around 80 percent.
Expand Retirement Savings Incentives for Working Families
Obama will ensure savings incentives are fair to all workers by creating a generous savings match for low and
middle-income Americans. His plan will match 50 percent of the first $1,000 of savings for families that
earn less than $75,000. The savings match will be automatically deposited into designated personal accounts.
Over 80 percent of these savings incentives will go to new savers.
Prevent Age Discrimination
Obama will fight job discrimination for aging employees by strengthening the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act and empowering the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to prevent all forms of
discrimination.
17 SENIORS
Affordable Health Care
Provide Cheaper Prescription Drugs: Our seniors pay the highest prices in the world for brand-name
drugs. To lower drug costs, Obama will allow the federal government to negotiate for lower drug prices for
the Medicare program, just as it does to lower prices for our veterans. He also supports allowing seniors to
import safe prescription drugs from overseas, and will prevent pharmaceutical companies from blocking
cheap and safe generic drugs from the market.
Protect and Strengthen Medicare: Obama is committed to the long-term strength of the Medicare
program. He will reduce waste in the Medicare system, including eliminating subsidies to the private
insurance Medicare Advantage program, and tackle fundamental health care reform to improve the quality
and efficiency of our healthcare system. Obama supports closing the “doughnut hole” in the Medicare Part
D prescription drug program.
Provide Transparency to Medicare Prescription Drug Plans: Many seniors are enrolled in Medicare
prescription drug plans that are actually more expensive for them than other available plans. Obama will
require companies to send Medicare beneficiaries a full list of the drugs and fees they paid the previous year
to help seniors determine which plans can better reduce their out-of-pocket costs and improve their health.
Strengthen Long-Term Care Options: As president, Obama will work to give seniors choices about their
care, consistent with their needs, and not biased towards institutional care. He will work to reform the
financing of long term care to protect seniors and families. He will work to improve the quality of elder care,
including by training more nurses and health care workers.
OBAMA RECORD
Social Security and Pensions
In the midst of the 2005 debate over Social Security privatization, Obama gave a major speech at the
National Press Club forcefully arguing against privatization. He also repeatedly voted against Republican
amendments that aimed to privatize Social Security or cut benefits. Obama has also voted to force
companies to properly fund their pension plans so taxpayers don’t end up footing the bill.
Medicare
Obama has supported a number of efforts to strengthen Medicare, including voting for legislation to allow
Medicare to negotiate for cheaper prescription drug prices and to extend the enrollment period for low-
income beneficiaries.
Protecting Seniors
After reports that lobbyists, but not the American people, received information about the most unsafe
nursing homes in the country, Barack Obama demanded the Department of Health and Human Services
release that information. Following Obama’s letter, the names of the four Iowa care facilities cited for
unsafe care were released to the public. Obama’s efforts follow his successful efforts in Illinois to make
nursing home information public and strengthen elder abuse laws.
19 SENIORS
PLAN TO GIVE EVERY AMERICAN CHILD
A World Class Education
At a Glance
High-Quality Zero to Five Early Education
Obama will launch a Children’s First Agenda that provides care, learning and support to families with
children from birth up to five years old.
Reform No Child Left Behind
Obama believes that the goal of No Child Left Behind was the right one, but that it was written and
implemented poorly and it has demoralized our educators and broken its promise to our children. Obama
will fund No Child Left Behind and improve its assessments and accountability systems.
Improve K-12
Obama will improve our schools by recruiting well-qualified teachers to every classroom in America. Obama
will improve teacher compensation by rewarding expert, accomplished teachers for taking on challenging
assignments and helping teachers succeed. Obama also will reduce the high school dropout rate and close
the achievement gap by investing in proven intervention strategies in the middle grades and in summer
learning and afterschool opportunities.
Make Community College and College Education Affordable
Obama will create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that will make tuition at the nation’s community
colleges completely free and will cover up to two-thirds the cost of tuition at the nation’s public colleges and
universities. This $4,000 tax credit will be fully refundable and available at the time of enrollment in college
– when families need the money.
THE PROBLEM
No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind
The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the
Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and
undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and
failed to adequately support and pay those teachers.
Students Left Behind
Six million middle and high school students read significantly below their grade level. A full third of high
school graduates do not immediately go on to college. American 15 year olds rank 28th out of 40 countries
in mathematics and 19th out of 40 countries in science. Almost 30 percent of students in their first year of
college are forced to take remedial science and math classes because they are not prepared.
High Dropout Rate
America has one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world. Only 70 percent of U.S. high
school students graduate with a diploma. African American and Latino students are significantly less likely
to graduate than white students.
Teacher Retention is a Problem
Thirty percent of new teachers leave within their first five years in the profession.
Soaring College Costs
College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the past five years. The average graduate leaves college with
over $19,000 in debt. And between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not go to
college because they cannot afford it. Finally, our complicated maze of tax credits and applications leaves
too many students unaware of financial aid available to them.
21 EDUCATION
K-12
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.
Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America’s Teachers
• 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.
• 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.
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 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.
Higher Education
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.
OBAMA’S RECORD
Record of Advocacy
Obama has been a leader on educational issues throughout his career. In the Illinois State Senate, Obama
was a leader on early childhood education, helping create the state’s Early Learning Council. In the U.S.
Senate, Obama has been a leader in working to make college more affordable. His very first bill sought
to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions committee, Obama helped pass legislation to achieve that goal in the recent improvements to the
Higher Education Act. Obama has also introduced legislation to create Teacher Residency Programs and to
increase federal support for summer learning opportunities.
23 EDUCATION
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE
AT A GLANCE
Tackle Climate Change
Obama will implement a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level
recommended by top scientists.
Create Millions of Green Jobs
Obama will invest $150 billion over ten years to deploy clean technologies, protect our existing
manufacturing base and create millions of new jobs.
Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil
Obama will reduce oil consumption overall by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels of oil, by 2030.
THE PROBLEM
Foreign Oil
America’s 20-million-barrel-a-day oil habit costs our economy $1.4 billion a day, and $500 billion in 2006
alone. Every single hour, we spend $41 million on foreign oil.
Climate Change
As a result of climate change, glaciers are melting faster; the polar ice caps are shrinking; trees are blooming
earlier; more people are dying in heat waves; species are migrating, and eventually many will become extinct.
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
Cap and Trade: Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce
carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama’s
cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that
all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal
and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the
development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs,
including helping American workers affected by this economic transition.
Confront Deforestation and Promote Carbon Sequestration: Obama will develop domestic
incentives that reward forest owners, farmers, and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands, or
undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
25 ENERGY
Support Next Generation Biofuels
Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes
and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first
two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.
Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is
from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a
number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Barack Obama will establish a National Low Carbon
Fuel Standard to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuel
suppliers to reduce the carbon their fuel emits by 10 percent by 2020.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be
included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels
like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.
Set America on Path to Oil Independence: Obama’s plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35
percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would
import from OPEC nations by 2030.
Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan
will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers,
so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in
advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.
27 ENERGY
Barack Obama’s Plan for Restoring Fiscal Discipline
“The cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the
federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing
our cities and states of critical investments in infrastructure like
bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of
critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our
seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on. … If
Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we’d see
an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal
policies.”
– Barack Obama, Speech in the U.S. Senate, March 13, 2006
At a Glance
Restore Fiscal Discipline in Congress
Obama will reinstate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) budget rules, so that new spending or tax cuts are paid for by
spending cuts or new revenue elsewhere.
THE PROBLEM
Increasing Debt
Under President Bush, the federal debt has increased from $5.7 trillion to $8.8 trillion, an increase of more
than 50 percent.
OBAMA’S RECORD
PAYGO
Obama voted in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to reinstate PAYGO federal budget rules.
No-Bid Contracts
Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts.
29 FISCAL
“We are at that critical and urgent moment. If
Washington continues policies that work against
America’s family farmers, our rural communities
will fall further behind – and so will America. But
if we reject the politics that has shut ordinary
folks out, we can create a new story for rural
America. … The dreams of rural Americans are
familiar to all Americans – to make a good living,
to raise a healthy and secure family, and to leave
our children a future of opportunity. It’s time
for real leadership for rural America to extend
that American dream. That’s the dream of
opportunity that I’ve spent my life fighting for.
And that’s what our rural agenda will do.”
– Barack Obama, Speech in Fairfax, IA,
October 16, 2007
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES
AT A GLANCE
Family Farms
Obama will ensure our farm programs help family farmers, not giant corporations. He will fight to enable
family farmers to have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions, and fair prices for
their goods.
Alternative Fuels
Obama will help farmers continue their leadership in the renewable fuel economy and harvest more of our
energy from Americans farms.
Investing in Rural Communities
Obama will invest in rural small businesses and fight to expand high-speed internet access. He will improve
rural schools and attract more doctors to rural areas.
Protecting the Rural Environment
Barack Obama will work for tougher regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to
prevent air and water pollution.
THE PROBLEM
Family Farmers are Being Squeezed
Farm consolidation has made it harder for mid-size family farmers to get fair prices for their products and
compete on the open market.
CAFOs Pollute the Environment
Between 1992 and 2004, there were more than 450 manure spills from CAFOs in Iowa, killing millions of
fish and jeopardizing public health.
Rural Communities are Often Left Behind
Rural communities often struggle to attract capital because of lack of infrastructure and remote distances.
There is less access to quality doctors, and schools have trouble recruiting teachers.
31 RURAL
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Ensure Economic Opportunity For Family Farmers
Strong Safety Net for Family Farmers: Obama will fight for farm programs that provide family farmers
with stability and predictability. Obama will implement a $250,000 payment limitation so that we help
family farmers – not large corporate agribusiness. Obama will close the loopholes that allow mega farms to
get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations.
Prevent Anticompetitive Behavior Against Family Farms: Obama is a strong supporter of a packer
ban. When meatpackers own livestock they can manipulate prices and discriminate against independent
farmers. Obama will strengthen anti-monopoly laws and strengthen producer protections to ensure
independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions, and fair prices for
their goods.
Regulate CAFOs: Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency will strictly regulate pollution from large
CAFOs, with fines for those that violate tough standards. Obama also supports meaningful local control.
Establish Country of Origin Labeling: Obama supports immediate implementation of the Country of
Origin Labeling law so that Americans can distinguish American products from imported ones.
Encourage Organic and Local Agriculture: Obama will help organic farmers afford to certify their
crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers. He also will promote regional food
systems.
Encourage Young People to Become Farmers: Obama will establish a new program to identify and
train the next generation of farmers. He will also provide tax incentives to make it easier for new farmers to
afford their first farm.
Partner with Landowners to Conserve Private Lands: Obama will increase incentives for farmers and
private landowners to conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands, and forests.
OBAMA RECORD
A Record on Rural Issues
In 2006, Obama supported legislation that would have reversed $2 billion in cuts for U.S. Department of
Agriculture programs including conservation, rural development, nutrition, and forestry programs that are
vitally important to our rural communities. In addition, he supported legislation providing full funding
for agricultural programs that were authorized by Congress in the 2002 Farm Bill. Obama has supported
funding for Illinois communities through the Rural Community Empowerment Program, which includes
the establishment of rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities, as well as other federal
programs that maintain and build upon the assets of rural communities. Obama has worked on numerous
efforts in the U.S. Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels, including corn-based and cellulosic
ethanol. He cosponsored legislation to investigate the root causes of health disparities including for rural
areas and to start addressing them. He cosponsored legislation that became law to combat the scourge of
methamphetamines. Obama also introduced legislation to remedy years of discrimination against black
farmers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
33 RURAL
“We also need to change a system that is
stacked against women. Forty percent of
working women do not have a single paid sick
day. More and more women are denied jobs or
promotions because they’ve got kids at home.
As the son of a single mother, that is not the
America that I believe in. I’ll be a president who
stands up for working parents. We’ll require
employers to provide seven paid sick days each
year. We’ll enforce laws that prohibit caregiver
discrimination. And we’ll encourage flexible
work schedules to better balance work and
parenting for mothers and fathers. That’s the
change that working families need.”
--Barack Obama, Speech in Bettendorf, Iowa,
November 7, 2007
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO RECLAIM THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR
WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES
AT A GLANCE
Pay Equity
Barack Obama will better enforce the Equal Pay Act, fight job discrimination, and improve child care
options and family medical leave to give women equal footing in the workplace.
Reproductive Choice
Obama has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving a women’s right to
choose under Roe v. Wade a priority as president. Obama also supports expanded access to contraception,
health information and preventive services to reduce unintended pregnancies.
Health Care
Obama will tackle diseases and illnesses that disproportionately affect women.
Domestic Violence
Obama introduced legislation to combat domestic violence and cosponsored and helped reauthorize the
Violence Against Women Act.
THE PROBLEM
Discrimination at the Job
For every $1.00 earned by a man, the average woman receives only 77 cents. A recent study estimates it will
take another 47 years for women to close the wage gap with men at Fortune 500 corporate offices.
Need for Paid Leave
The 78 percent of employees covered by the Family Medical Leave Act who have needed leave but have
not taken it report that it is because they could not afford to take unpaid leave. Furthermore, low-income
families are less likely to have the resources or savings to compensate for time off.
Violence Against Women Continues
One-in-four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Family violence accounted for 11
percent of all violence between 1998 and 2002.
Women’s Health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, accounting for nearly 39 percent of all female
deaths. Studies show that after a first heart attack, women are less likely than men to receive followup care,
and are more likely to have a second heart attack. Women are also more likely than men to report having
arthritis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and depression. Health care disparities among minority and poor
women are especially pervasive.
35 WOMEN
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Fight for Pay Equity
Obama believes the government needs to take steps to better enforce the Equal Pay Act, fight job discrimi-
nation, and improve child care options and family medical leave to give women equal footing
in the workplace.
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 the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
Obama will reform the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by making it refundable and allowing low-
income families to receive up to a 50 percent credit for their child care expenses. Coupled with Obama’s
“Making Work Pay” tax credit, this proposal will help put more money directly in the pockets of hardwork-
ing low and middle-income parents.
Paid Sick Days
Obama will require that employers provide seven paid sick days per year to their employees.
Encourage States to Adopt Paid Leave
Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50 states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama will provide a
$1.5 billion fund to help states jump-start paid-leave programs consistent with their local needs.
Expand Flexible Work Arrangements
Obama will create a program to inform businesses about the benefits of flexible work schedules; help busi-
nesses create flexible work opportunities; and increase federal incentives for telecommuting. Obama will
also make the federal government a model employer in terms of adopting flexible work schedules.
Protecting a Women’s Right to Choose
Obama will make safeguarding women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority. He opposes any constitutional
amendment to overturn that decision.
Reducing Unintended Pregnancy
Obama will work to reduce unintended pregnancy by guaranteeing equity in contraceptive coverage, provid-
ing sex education, and offering rape victims accurate information about emergency contraception.
Ending Health Care Disparities
Obama will invest in research to examine gender and health disparities. Obama will also establish communi-
ty outreach programs in underserved areas to help make sure women have health care and maintain healthy
lifestyles.
Ending Violence Against Women
Obama will appoint a special advisor who will report to him regularly on issues related to violence against
women. Obama will also pass legislation that provides job security to victims of domestic violence
and sexual assault.
OBAMA RECORD
Record of Advocacy
Barack Obama has a long record of standing up for women. In Illinois, he passed the Equal Pay Act to give
330,000 more women protection from pay discrimination and passed another law that ensured victims of
domestic violence could seek treatment without losing their jobs. In the U.S. Senate, he introduced and
cosponsored legislation to reduce unintended teen pregnancy, strengthen families by supporting fathers who
are doing the right thing and cracking down on those who are not, guarantee workers paid sick leave, and
ensure that women are not receiving less pay than men for comparable work. And throughout his career, in
both the Illinois Senate and the U.S. Senate, Obama has stood up for a women’s right to choose, consistently
earning 100 percent ratings from pro-choice groups.
37 WOMEN
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM
AT A GLANCE
Comprehensive Reform
Barack Obama has fought for comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border, fixes our broken
immigration bureaucracy and puts the 12 million undocumented immigrants on a responsible path to
citizenship.
Commitment
If Congress does not act in the interim, Obama will revive immigration reform in the first year of his
presidency.
THE PROBLEM
Undocumented Population is Exploding
The number of undocumented immigrants in the country has increased more than 40 percent since 2000.
Every year, more than a half-million people come illegally or illegally overstay their visas.
Immigration Bureaucracy is Broken
The immigration bureaucracy is broken and overwhelmed, forcing legal immigrants to wait years for
applications.
Immigration Raids are Ineffective
Despite a sevenfold increase in recent years, immigration raids only netted 3,600 arrests in 2006 and have
placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families.
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Create Secure Borders
Obama wants to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and
technology on the border and at our ports of entry.
Improve Our Immigration System
Obama believes we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal
immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.
Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally
Obama will remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire
undocumented immigrants.
Bring People Out of the Shadows
Obama supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine,
learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.
Work with Mexico
Obama believes we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal
immigration.
OBAMA RECORD
Crack Down on Employers
Obama championed a proposal to create a system so employers can verify that their employees are legally
eligible to work in the U.S.
Fix the Bureaucracy
Obama joined Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to introduce the Citizenship Promotion Act to ensure that
immigration application fees are both reasonable and fair. Obama also introduced legislation that passed the
Senate to improve the speed and accuracy of FBI background checks.
Respect Families
Obama introduced amendments to put greater emphasis on keeping immigrant families together.
39 IMMIGRATION
“I’m in this race for the same reason that I fought
for jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless
on the streets of Chicago; for the same reason
I fought for justice and equality as a civil rights
lawyer; for the same reason that I fought for
Illinois families for over a decade…That’s why
I’m running, Democrats – to keep the American
Dream alive for those who still hunger for
opportunity, who still thirst for equality.”
– Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007
Barack Obama’s Plan to Combat Poverty
At a Glance
Help More Americans Climb the Job Ladder
Obama will help low-income Americans enter the workplace and move up the career ladder.
THE PROBLEM
Poverty Rising
There are nearly 37 million poor Americans. Most Americans living in poverty work, but still cannot afford
to make ends meet.
41 POVERTY
BARACK OBAMA’s Plan
Expand Access to Jobs
Help Americans Grab a Hold of and Climb the Job Ladder: Obama will invest $1 billion over five years
in transitional jobs and career pathway programs that implement proven methods of helping low-income
Americans succeed in the workforce.
Create a Green Jobs Corps: Obama will create a program to directly engage disadvantaged youth in en-
ergy efficiency opportunities to strengthen their communities, while also providing them with practical skills
in this important high-growth career field.
Improve Transportation Access to Jobs: As president, Obama will work to ensure that low-income
Americans have transportation to their jobs. Obama will double the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Com-
mute program to ensure that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need com-
munities and that urban planning initiatives take this aspect of transportation policy into account.
Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Supports: Obama will work to ensure that
ex-offenders have access to job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and employment op-
portunities. Obama will also create a prison-to-work incentive program and reduce barriers to employment.
Strengthen Families
Promote Responsible Fatherhood: Obama will sign into law his Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy
Families Act to remove some of the government penalties on married families, crack down on men avoiding
child support payments, and ensure that payments go to families instead of state bureaucracies.
Support Parents with Young Children: Obama will expand the highly-successful Nurse-Family Partner-
ship to all 570,000 low-income, first-time mothers each year. The Nurse-Family Partnership provides home
visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families.
Expand Paid Sick Days: Today, three out of four low-wage workers have no paid sick days. Obama sup-
ports guaranteeing workers seven paid sick days per year.
Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing
Create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Obama will create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to
develop affordable housing in mixed-income neighborhoods.
Fully Fund the Community Development Block Grant: Obama will fully fund the Community De-
velopment Block Grant program and engage urban leaders across the country to increase resources to the
highest-need Americans.
OBAMA’S RECORD
Tax Relief for Low-Income Working Families
Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and success-
fully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax
relief over three years.
Housing
In the Illinois State Senate, Obama championed multiple pieces of legislation to help low-income families
find adequate affordable housing.
43 POVERTY
“Your own story and the American story are not
separate – they are shared. And they will both be
enriched if we stand up together, and answer a
new call to service to meet the challenges of our
new century. … 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. This will not be a call issued in
one speech or program; this will be a cause of
my presidency. ”
-- Barack Obama, Speech in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, December 5, 2007
Barack Obama’s Plan for Universal
Voluntary Public Service
At a Glance
Ask All Americans to Work Together to Meet Our Common Challenges
Obama will expand AmeriCorps to 250,000 slots and double the Peace Corps and dedicate these positions
to addressing America’s common challenges. He also will provide new service opportunities for working
Americans and retirees.
THE PROBLEM
Americans Not Asked to Serve After 9/11
President Bush squandered an opportunity to mobilize the American people following 9/11 when asked
Americans only to go shopping.
45 SERVICE
BARACK OBAMA’s Plan
Enable All Americans to Serve to Meet the Nation’s Challenges
Expand Corporation for National and Community Service: Obama will expand AmeriCorps from
75,000 slots today to 250,000 and he will focus this expansion on addressing the great challenges facing
the nation. He will establish a Classroom Corps to help teachers and students, with a priority placed on
underserved schools; a Health Corps to improve public health outreach; a Clean Energy Corps to conduct
weatherization and renewable energy projects; a Veterans Corps to assist veterans at hospitals, nursing
homes and homeless shelters; and a Homeland Security Corps to help communities plan, prepare for and
respond to emergencies.
Engage Retiring Americans in Service on a Large Scale: Older Americans have a wide range of skills
and knowledge to contribute. Obama will expand and improve programs that connect individuals over the
age of 55 to quality volunteer opportunities.
Expand the Peace Corps: Obama will double the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 2011. He will work with the
leaders of other countries to build an international network of overseas volunteers so that Americans work
side-by-side with volunteers from other countries.
Show the World the Best Face of America: Obama will set up an America’s Voice Initiative to send
Americans who are fluent speakers of local languages to expand our public diplomacy. He also will extend
opportunities for older individuals such as teachers, engineers, and doctors to serve overseas.
47 SERVICE
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL RIGHTS
“The teenagers and college students who left their homes to march
in the streets of Birmingham and Montgomery; the mothers who
walked instead of taking the bus after a long day of doing somebody
else’s laundry and cleaning somebody else’s kitchen – they didn’t brave
fire hoses and Billy clubs so that their grandchildren and their great-
grandchildren would still wonder at the beginning of the 21st century
whether their vote would be counted; whether their civil rights would
be protected by their government; whether justice would be equal and
opportunity would be theirs. … We have more work to do.”
--Barack Obama
Speech at Howard University,
September 28, 2007
AT A GLANCE
Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement:
Obama will staff the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department with lawyers who prosecute civil rights
violations, employment discrimination, and hate crimes instead of political cronies.
Protect the Right to Vote
Obama will remove discriminatory barriers to the right to vote.
Promote Fairness in the Criminal Justice System
Obama will work to ban racial profiling, eliminate disparities in criminal sentencing, and encourage the
THE PROBLEM
Pay Inequity Continues
For every $1.00 earned by a man, the average woman receives only 77 cents, while African American women
only get 67 cents and Latinas receive only 57 cents.
OBAMA RECORD
Record of Advocacy
Obama has worked to promote civil rights and fairness in the criminal justice system throughout his career.
As a community organizer, Obama helped 150,000 African Americans register to vote. As a civil rights
lawyer, Obama litigated employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and voting rights cases. As a
state senator, Obama passed one of the country’s first racial profiling law and helped reform a broken death
penalty system. And in the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote,
helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers
to voting.
49 CIVIL RIGHTS
Barack Obama’s Plan to Secure America and Restore Our
Standing
AT A GLANCE
The War in Iraq
Obama is the only major candidate who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq War from the beginning. He
will end the war responsibly by bringing our troops home within 16 months, pressing for a political solution
to Iraq’s civil war, and launching the diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives that are need to bring stability
to Iraq.
Terrorism
Obama will fight terrorism and protect America with a comprehensive strategy that finishes the fight
in Afghanistan, cracks down on the al Qaeda safe-haven in Pakistan, develops new capabilities and
international partnerships, engages the world to dry up support for extremism, and reaffirms American
values.
Iran
Obama has stood up against going to war with Iran, and called for a new approach. He will lead tough
diplomacy with the Iranian regime, and offer Iran the choice of increased international pressure or
incentives if it stops its disturbing behavior.
Renewing American Diplomacy
Obama will turn the page on the Bush-Cheney diplomacy of not talking to countries that we don’t like. He
will talk to our foes as well as our friends, and he will restore American leadership and alliances abroad.
Nuclear Weapons
Obama has a bold agenda to reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation. He will secure loose nuclear materials
from terrorists, and lead the world toward the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.
21st Century Military
Obama will give the finest military in the world the support it needs to face the threats of the 21st century.
He will expand our ground forces, develop new capabilities, and restore the trust between the commander in
chief and those who serve.
51 FOREIGN POLICY
IRAN
The Problem
Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders
threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military
options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That’s why Obama stood up to
the Bush administration’s warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq.
Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling
Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which says we should use our military presence in Iraq
to counter the threat from Iran. Obama believes that it was reckless for Congress to give George Bush any
justification to extend the Iraq War or to attack Iran. Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate
declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization
to attack Iran.
Diplomacy
Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without
preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would
offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will
offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move
toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic
pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to
make progress.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
A Record of Results
The gravest danger to the American people is the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and
the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes. Obama has taken bipartisan action to secure nuclear
weapons and materials:
• He joined Senator Dick Lugar in passing a law to help the United States and our allies detect and stop the
smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world.
• He joined Senator Chuck Hagel to introduce a bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global
nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
• And while other candidates have insisted that we should threaten to drop nuclear bombs on terrorist
training camps, Obama believes that we must talk openly about nuclear weapons – because the best way
to keep America safe is not to threaten terrorists with nuclear weapons, it’s to keep nuclear weapons away
from terrorists.
Secure Loose Nuclear Materials from Terrorists
Obama will secure all loose nuclear materials in the world within four years. While we work to secure
existing stockpiles of nuclear material, Obama will negotiate a verifiable global ban on the production of
new nuclear weapons material. This will deny terrorists the ability to steal or buy loose nuclear materials.
Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Obama will crack down on nuclear proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty so
that countries like North Korea and Iran that break the rules will automatically face strong international
sanctions.
Toward a Nuclear Free World
Obama will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons, and pursue it. Obama will always maintain a
strong deterrent as long as nuclear weapons exist. But he will take several steps down the long road toward
eliminating nuclear weapons. He will stop the development of new nuclear weapons; work with Russia to
take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair trigger alert; seek dramatic reductions in U.S. and Russian
stockpiles of nuclear weapons and material; and set a goal to expand the U.S.-Russian ban on intermediate-
range missiles so that the agreement is global.
53 FOREIGN POLICY
BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY MILITARY
The Problem
The excellence of our military is unmatched. But as a result of a misguided war in Iraq, our forces are under
pressure as never before. Obama will make the investments we need so that the finest military in the world
is best-prepared to meet 21st-century threats.
Rebuild Trust
Obama will rebuild trust with those who serve by ensuring that soldiers and Marines have sufficient training
time before they are sent into battle.
Expand the Military
We have learned from Iraq that our military needs more men and women in uniform to reduce the strain
on our active force. Obama will increase the size of ground forces, adding 65,000 soldiers to the Army and
27,000 Marines.
New Capabilities
Obama will give our troops new equipment, armor, training, and skills like language training. He will also
strengthen our civilian capacity, so that our civilian agencies have the critical skills and equipment they need
to integrate their efforts with our military.
Strengthen Guard and Reserve
Obama will restore the readiness of the National Guard and Reserves. He will permit them adequate time
to train and rest between deployments, and provide the National Guard with the equipment they need for
foreign and domestic emergencies. He will also give the Guard a seat at the table by making the Chief of the
National Guard a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
55 FOREIGN POLICY
“Keeping faith with those who serve must
always be a core American value and a
cornerstone of American patriotism. Because
America’s commitment to its servicemen and
women begins at enlistment, and it must
never end.”
–Barack Obama, Speech in Kansas City, MO,
August 21, 2007.
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO KEEP OUR SACRED TRUST
WITH VETERANS
AT A GLANCE
A Sacred Trust
Barack Obama believes America has a sacred trust with our veterans. He is committed to creating a 21st
Century Department of Veterans’ Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation’s veterans deserve.
Help for Returning Service Members
Obama will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA’s broken benefits system, and
combat homelessness among veterans.
Improved Mental Health Treatment
Obama will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related
psychological injuries.
THE PROBLEM
Wounded Troops Suffer
The Walter Reed scandal showed that we don’t always provide returning service members with the care they
deserve.
Veterans Budget Shortfalls
In 2005, a multi-billion dollar VA funding shortfall required Congress to step in and bail out the system.
Benefits Bureaucracy is Broken
There are currently more than 400,000 claims pending with the Veterans Benefits Administration. VA error
rates have grown to more than 100,000 cases a year.
There is a Shortage of Care for PTSD
Veterans are coming home with record levels of combat stress, but we are not adequately providing for them.
57 VETERANS
BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN
Ensure a Seamless Transition
Obama will demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a seamless transition from active
duty to civilian life.
Fully Fund VA Medical Care
Barack Obama will fully fund the VA so it has all the resources it needs to serve the veterans who need
it, when they need it. Obama will establish a world-class VA Planning Division to avoid future budget
shortfalls.
Allow All Veterans Back into the VA
One of Obama’s first acts will be reversing the 2003 ban on enrolling modest-income veterans, which has
denied care to a million veterans.
Strengthen VA Care
Obama will make the VA a leader of national health care reform so that veterans get the best care possible.
He will improve care for polytrauma vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women’s
health.
Improve Mental Health Treatment
Obama will improve mental health care at every stage of military service. He will recruit more health
professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer.
Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury
Obama will establish standards of care for Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature injury of the Iraq war.
Expand Vet Centers
Obama will expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.
Fix the Benefits Bureaucracy
Obama will hire additional claims workers, and improve training and accountability so that VA benefit
decisions are rated fairly and consistently. He also will make the paper benefit claims process an electronic
one to reduce errors and improve timeliness.
Combat Homelessness among Our Nation’s Veterans
Obama will establish a national “zero tolerance” policy for veterans falling into homelessness by expanding
proven programs and launching innovative services to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness.
Fight Veterans Employment Discrimination
Obama will crack down on employers who commit job discrimination against guardsmen and reservists.
OBAMA RECORD
Record of Advocacy
As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Obama passed legislation to improve
care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors recovering at places like Walter Reed. He passed laws
to help homeless veterans and offered an innovative solution to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into
homelessness. Obama led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to halt the military’s unfair practice
of discharging service members for having a service-connected psychological injury. He fought for fair
treatment of Illinois veterans’ claims and forced the VA to conduct an unprecedented outreach campaign to
disabled veterans with lower than-average benefits. Obama passed legislation to stop a VA review of closed
PTSD cases that could have led to a reduction in veterans’ benefits. He passed an amendment to ensure that
all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for traumatic brain injuries. He introduced
legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix disjointed records systems and improve outreach to members
of the National Guard and Reserves.
59 VETERANS
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P A I D F O R B Y O B A M A F O R A M erica