The campaign trail
Obama disscusses Iraq war at the University of Charleston Thursday
Jennifer L. Chapman
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: News
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The full house of about 900 people chanted, "yes we can" as U.S. senator and presidential candidate Obama crossed the stage to his podium, shaking the hands of veterans and supporters along the way. His speech, titled "The Cost of War" was the first of two scheduled events in West Virginia Thursday. After the U.C. event, Obama and his staff traveled to Beckley for an evening appearance at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center Arena.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who has officially endorsed Obama as a presidential candidate, introduced the Illinois senator as "the real deal."
"The thing about Barack is that you know he's a real person when you see him," Rockefeller said, adding that he is not glossy, but authentic.
When Obama took the stage, he thanked Rockefeller and referred to the senator's wife as Gayle, who is actually the First Lady of West Virginia. Moments later he corrected himself and mentioned Sharon, the actual name of Sen. Rockefeller's wife, is the daughter of former Illinois senator Charles H. Percy. Rockefeller and Gov. Joe Manchin, who sat next to each other in the audience, both laughed at the mistake with the rest of the crowd.
But the feedback from the audience did not end with the chuckles about his mistake. Obama immediately jumped into his speech regarding the cost of the war but paused periodically to allow for the overwhelming cheers and applause.
"The costs of war are greatest for the troops who love them, but we know that war has other costs as well," Obama said.
He added that the economy has paid a major price during the war and, in turn, so have Americans.
"Because at a time when we're on the brink of a recession - when neighborhoods have For Sale signs outside every home, and working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs - ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war," Obama said.
Obama, who was a self-proclaimed opponent of the war in Iraq from the beginning, said Americans were lied to about the costs of the war. He referred to the execution of war as incompetent and careless and said no one disputes this very aspect has compounded the price of the fight.
"The truth is, this is all part of the reason I opposed this war from the start," Obama said. "It's why I said back in 2002 that it could lead to an occupation not just of undetermined length or undetermined consequences, but of undetermined costs. It's why I've said this war should have never been authorized and never been waged."
But as he stated earlier in his speech, soldiers are the exception to underserved financial support. Obama said when he becomes President, he will spare no expense when it comes to the necessities of the troops.
"Just think about what battles we could be fighting instead of fighting this misguided war," he said. "Instead of fighting this war we could be fighting for the people of West Virginia. For what folks in this state have been spending on the Iraq war, we could be giving health care to nearly 450,000 of your neighbors, hiring nearly 30,000 new elementary school teachers and making college more affordable for over 300,000 students."
He suggested that offering a tax credit could potentially "put a college degree within reach for anyone who wants one," which rang in the ears of at least one student in the audience.
Patricia Baigo, freshman University of Charleston pharmacy student from Ghana, said education is one of the most important issues to her.
"The biggest issues are the war, immigration - because I'm not from here and I have family that has had immigration problems - and education," Baigo said.
The U.C. event was the second time Baigo has heard Obama speak. In 2006, he spoke at her brother's graduation in Illinois.
"I didn't pay that much attention to him then, but now I wish I had," Baigo said. "I just love Obama."
And in November, Obama said Americans like Baigo will have the chance to vote to see change in the issues that are most important.
"When I am your nominee, the American people will have a choice in November," Obama said. "Between change and more of the same, between giving Bush policies another four years, or bringing them to an end. And that is the choice the American people deserve."
After about a half hour of a speech, the Illinois senator closed the event saying this election is America's chance to reclaim the future.
"Those are the battles we need to fight. That is the leadership I want to offer," Obama said. "And that is the future we can build together when I'm President of the United States."
Jennifer L. Chapman can be contacted at chapman92@marshall.edu.
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