MOMocrats-- punditry from a motherly perspective dedicated to putting a Democrat in the White House-- today unveiled their exclusive interview with Barack Obama on issues close to the hearts and minds of American families.
The 23 contributors to MOMocrats, including myself, an OffTheBus member, hail from across the U.S. and weigh in daily on the candidates and issues of election 2008. Most recently, following the ABC debate that angered bloggers and received poor reviews from the press, MOMocrats decided to draft a list of questions they wish had been asked of the candidates. They then sent these questions to the Obama campaign. Of the questions, Obama responded to 5, submitted by both readers and MOMocrats contributors and ranging from foreign policy to family leave.
First off, the senator was grilled on poverty and affordable housing and responded:
"I believe that inserting simplistic tag lines or one-dimensional goals are
unlikely to be helpful in meeting this challenge."
He elaborated further by describing his plan to tackle the problem of affordable housing with his Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
"The Affordable Housing Trust Fund would use a small percentage of the profits of two government-sponsored housing agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to create thousands of new units of affordable housing every year."
In addition, Obama wrote that he would
"ensure that all Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs are restored to their original purpose."
Obama was asked in another question, what he would do as President to address the mortgage crisis and crushing debt burden so many U.S. families now face. His response:
"Six months ago, I announced my plan to put a middle-class tax cut worth $500 per person or $1000 per family into the pockets of workers who deserve it. I also proposed eliminating income taxes for seniors making under $50,000 and creating a universal mortgage credit for homeowners who do not itemize, which will provide an average of $500 to 10 million homeowners.
"And because this kind of relief can't wait until the next President takes
office, I proposed a plan in January to provide an immediate tax cut of $250
for workers and their families and a temporary $250 bonus to seniors in
their Social Security checks. These tax cuts will help to stimulate the
economy by immediately putting money into the pockets of working Americans
who need it and will spend it. And if the economy continued to worsen, I
called for an additional $250 to workers and seniors to help them get by."
He further detailed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund, and a Credit Card Bill of Rights that would ban
"unilateral changes to credit card agreements, applies interest rates
increases only to future debts, and prohibits interest on transaction
fees."
Most significant of Obama's answers on domestic family issues was his response to expanding Family Leave for workers and supporting state paid leave programs.
"As a state legislator and a U.S. Senator, I have always supported family friendly policies. As president, I will initiate a 50 state strategy to encourage all of the states to adopt paid-leave systems, and I will provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with start-up costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers."
You can read more of Obama's answers on raising the federal minimum wage, his view on torture, and Child Care and Dependent tax credits along with the full text of the interview here.
MOMocrats has also issued an open invitation to the Clinton campaign for their response to the questions.
Follow Christine Escobar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/greenparentchgo
We must end the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton Dynasty and not get sucked into these crappy stupid divisive dirty tricks.
I used to like Hillary, but I'm sad to see her resort to such low ball behaviour. Puke!
snow ball chance in hell to win the general election. He
hates whites he hates Jews and he hates this country.
Or he is really stupid. How can you sit for thirty years in
sermons, have a relationship so close to those sermons
that you actually write a book about one of them. Then
say that you are offended by the underlying beliefs of all
that is said and practiced by the person giving the sermons.
Come on,I knew those were Jeremiah Wright's beliefs three
month's ago. He's known the guy for thirty year's and it's just
now that he is offended. That is such a load of crap. The guy
went to Harvard he can't be that stupid. THe American people
are not going to buy this.
Get a life, will ya?
Do something to eliminate the politics of personal destruction, gridlock, and fear.
Remember, it's your life, and your standard of living that is at stake. Thanks.
be nuts. I know all I want and need to know about Obama and I am voting for him. I also know a lot
about her. I've gotten a wealth of information about her on the internet and much of this record is
unknown to the majority of Americans.
Oprah?
Andrew Young?
Hollywood?
Rockers?
he needs you all NOW !
BTW...Andrew Young is no friend of Obama's. He made has made numerous disparaging remarks about him throughout the campaign.
He's basically stated what Clinton has said about Iran , just in nicer words. no different however.
Obama said keeping Iran free of nuclear weapons would be one of his top priorities in the White House."I will take no options off the table when it comes to preventing them from using nuclear weapons or obtaining nuclear weapons," he said. "And that would include any threats directed at Israel, or any of our allies."
swallow hard. Obama has been riding Clintons coat tails for answers this whole year. mimicking her responces in alot of long winded ways as to sound his own.
Since that excuse was used, Obama has appeared on "The Today Show", "Anderson Copper's 360" and will spend one hour with Tim Russert on "Meet The Press".
That sure is alot of time in the studio for a man who says he won't debate Hillary because he doesn't want to spend any time in the studio.
Now, he's doing "fantasy league" debates with himself on blogs, which he stated disdainfully that he doesn't read.
The guy is a real piece of work.
When looking for a President, do you think "cowardly" is a good trait to look for?
If Obama is too afraid to debate Hillary, how can anyone in their right mind expect him to be able to talk to and stand up to the world leaders who are hostile to us? He won't be able to cower and assume the fetal potion sucking his thumb when dealing with these people, the way he is doing so now.
The media is too juvenile to be given the spotlight again in the primary process. Moreover, we've had enough debates. Blame Charlie and George for being shills and messing up the process. What does George care, he's guaranteed a spot in the white house should Clinton successfully pull off her Southern strategy.
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Sweet: Obama, on campaign plane says he does not read blogs.
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Obama Takes the Pillow, Not the Bait
The senator shook a few print reporters' hands -– told a few bloggers he doesn’t read blogs –- and then headed to the back of the plane -– a part he dubbed "the fun part of the plane" -– where the photographers sit.
What are you going to do to take down the Carlyle Group (BCCI)?
Can we pass legislation forcing the business community to pay for all the 'productivity increases' that have been forced on workers, over the last two decades, without compensation?
Can we stop the Bush Library/Think Tank from being put on the campus of Southern Methodist University?
What will you do about the House of Saud? Specifically, how can we hold Saudi Arabia responsible for 19 of the 9-11 hijackers as well as 80% of the fighters coming into Iraq to fight our troops?
I have more ...
Try on some real issues for a change, before mommy loses her house, and you have to move out of the basement.
"He elaborated further by describing his plan to tackle the problem of affordable housing with his Affordable Housing Trust Fund."
Question:
If home prices continue to fall won't all housing be Affordable Housing at some point?
"Six months ago, I announced my plan to put a middle-class tax cut worth $500 per person or $1000 per family into the pockets of workers who deserve it.
Comment:
I know that I deserve it but I'm not so sure about the rest of you.
Is this old style pandering or what?
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The media is fueling its own agenda and hi-jacking what we hold most sacred in this country...
our democratic process... the truth and nothing but the truth.
to Obama. This month's Progressive dared to have this from Adolph Reed who knows
Obama. btw when will you ask him about the Exelon seed money for his meteoric rise?
How about the GE/Exelon contract signed 12/11/07 to provide taxpayer funded nuclear
reactors he voted for and Hillary voted against thereby damning her presence on GE
entities like Newsweek, MSNBC and Washington Post where former Clinton supporters
like you changed to Obama to protect their future earnings? Shame on you for not asking
who benefits from his election and why following the money is not happening in the media..
The Clintons former pastor was sentenced Friday to THREE YEARS IN PRISON for inappropriately touching a 7yr old in his home last March by judge Micheal Dwyer.
Accountable by Association ??
Why is Hillary pastor getting a pass. Why isn"t this story in the news?
THERE IS CLEARLY A DOUBLE STANDARD HERE or are we saying child molestation is OK in America, just like we don't ask Catholics to denounce, reject the Pope who has shielded and harbored their thousands of priest who have molested tens of thousands of young children.
What's wrong with our thinking, There is something fundamentally wrong with this picture.
For the rest...I agree with you 100%.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-escobar/clinton-and-obama-silence_b_93536.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-escobar/obama-clinton-fill-super_b_88114.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-escobar/obama-rolls-the-dice-with_b_78741.html