Okay, gang--
So we're almost done watching the speeches, and for the first part of the assignment I'd like you to do for McCain's speech what you already did for all the others, and then post it to the Comments section.
After that, I'd like you to choose one issue that both candidates discuss, pick a side and write a defense of your position. Remember, find at lease three different criticisms of the position you chose and work them into the argument while explaining why these critiques are wrong. You must also include three other sources that also hold your position, and work these into the essay as well.
While writing the piece, make sure to remember that this is a SPEECH. Use all the rhetorical tricks we've learned so far from the politicians. Also remember that the most compelling argument is not always (in fact rarely) the most sophisticated. You want to persuade us by any means necessary. That doesn't mean lying, but it also doesn't mean you can't bend the truth. Think about the "lipstick on a pig" comment and how that gets taken wildly out of context. Your video should change all of our minds. Post a YouTube link as well as the text to the comments section.
That should keep you busy...
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22 comments:
Eunjin Choi (Christina)
To the great citizens of the U.S, today I approach you with my new economic plan for our great people. I will help families who struggle to pay rising bills and burdens. A part of my plan that will help jumpstart our economy is my $25 billion state growth and another $25 billion in a Job and Growth fund. These two funds will help improve our roads and bridges therefore helping to maintain jobs. My new plans to help the middle class will start by lowering income taxes. My new plan “Making Work Pay” is a tax credit of up to $500-$1000 for a person or a working family.
In responses to my economic plans, many have criticized it. The “Chicago Sun Times” had stated that John Mccain’s economic advisor, Kevin Hassett had criticized my economic plans by saying the following; “He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own, If I were a professor I'd give him an F and try to get him kicked out of school for something this terrible ... I remember Mrs. Clinton saying shared prosperity and I remember the bill that she introduced in August for infrastructure. The fact is these are things Obama has taken as his own without crediting the source of the ideas which was Mrs. Clinton." To this criticism all I can say is that I am flattered. This lets me know that Mccain is somewhat threatened by my plans. He knows who his opponent is and I look forward to running against him. Many have also criticized saying that my economic plans and ideas are stuff they’ve heard before. An article that I read stated that “all this is the old liberal agenda from years past, old wine in new bottles, a new face with old ideas that have been tried and failed repeatedly over the past generation.” These ideas might be old but with these old ideas and my new plans I will not fail you. These ideas might have failed from the many in the years past but I will not fail you. Follow me and I will bring change. My opponent also criticized my economic plans by stating that my “ideas are not always as impressive as his rhetoric." I believe these tactics toward me are just out of desperation.
I believe that America is a country of passion and dreams. With unity and effort we can rise to where we were 8 years ago. 8 years ago when our economy prospered and we were led safely by our former president Bill Clinton. 8 years is enough! I will bring you change. Say no more!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/02/obama_on_economics.html
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/2/14/1329/28824
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign2-2008aug02,0,1709770.story?track=rss
you tube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWNv-6OMPCk
Part 1
For John McCain no success came without a fight, as did his presidential nomination. McCain is married and has seven kids; his wife is his biggest inspiration. When John McCain was five his father and grandfather went off to fight in WWII. After coming home from the war his grandfather suddenly died, but he died for the honor of his country. McCain fought in Vietnam. He felt invincible while in Vietnam he was a tough guy but on his 23rd mission his plane crashed in a field and was captured and thrown into a prison cell. He broke both is arms and his leg and never received proper medical treatment. It was at that time McCain felt the limits of his selfish independence. McCain was given a chance at freedom but he turned it down to help his fellow solders. After this experience he wasn’t his own man anymore he was his countries man. America saved McCain and he will always fight for her.
John McCain says that he works for us the citizens of America not for a party, not for special interests, and not for himself, unlike Obama. Obama wants to make America a bureaucracy with his healthcare plan. McCain says he has the scars to prove that he can help America Obama doesn’t. Obama doesn’t have the experience to back America McCain does.
America to McCain is an ambitious country and has faced greater challenges than it is facing now. The American people can do anything when they put their mind to it. America is the country that made McCain the man he is today and he will return the favor.
Part 2
My fellow Americans, citizens of this great nation, we are all here today for one major reason and that is to protect our planet and our pockets from rising energy costs that are now less efficient and more harmful to our planet. The urgency is clear to everybody who tries to fill up their gas tank, with gas prices now well over four dollars. We have also reached the point of no return when it comes to the global climate crisis. Our dependence of oil in America has to change and my party will do just that we will create this change.
If elected this fall I plan on providing all American families a $1000 emergency energy rebate which will help families pay for their rising energy bills. Now some of our critics have said that this plan is only going to reduce the supply and increase the demand for gas its been stated that this plan “makes as much sense as trying to put out a fire by dowsing it with jet fuel.” (Donald J. Boudreaux). But I assure you this is not the case; this plan will buy us some time to implement our long term energy plans, and it will also offer you relief when you need it most over the holiday season.
Republican Congressman Eric Cantor has stated that I do not have the experience or resources to help America become an energy independent country. Well let me tell you something Eric Cantor, was a potential vice-presidential candidate for John McCain, but instead McCain chose Sarah Palin, who praised my plan to make America energy independent. She said and I quote “I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska's natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” “this past week demonstrated that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.” (Sarah Palin) end quote. Now John McCain is a smart man he chose a vice president that knows America has the potential to do anything unlike Eric Cantor who has a pessimistic veiw of America. I assure you that over the course of my presidency I will eliminate our need for Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Oil.
I have been mocked by the other party because they believe my energy plan is a joke. John McCain’s campaign manager has said that my energy plan consists of making sure your tires are properly inflated because you will get more miles to the gallon by doing so (Rick Davis). While that statement may be true there is one thing Republicans don’t want you to know and that is thay have filibusted every bill that we democrats tried to pass to ensure the development of renwable energy. Senator Carl Levin said it best I quote “Energy is certainly a priority, but you know we’ve been filibustered now, we Democrats, about 80 times. We had an energy bill where we simply wanted to renew the existing energy credits on solar and wind; just the existing credits which run out in December would be renewed. That’s been filibustered by the Republicans.” end quote. This shows us that Republicans are just not willing to develop renewable energy sources that will make this world greener and better for future generations.
I will insure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. This may sound farfetched but it is closer to the truth than you think. Robert Kennedy Jr. has stated that for a tiny fraction of the projected cost of the Iraq war, we could completely wean the country from carbon. Homes and businesses will become power plants as people cash in by installing solar panels and wind turbines on their buildings, and selling the stored energy in their plug-in hybrids back to the grid at peak hours. By kicking its carbon addiction, America will increase its national wealth. Everyone will profit from the green gold rush. All of this is possible and will be possible under my time in office I will make sure this become a reality so that world would be a better place for everybody.
Thank you and God Bless America.
Info used
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/04/mccain-camp-mocks-obama-energy-plan/
http://bearingdrift.com/2008/08/04/cantor-critiques-obamas-energy-plan/
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/29/1304936.aspx
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/25/kennedy.energy/
http://www.michiganmessenger.com/1838/elected-officials-gush-over-obamas-energy-plan
http://cafehayek.typepad.com/hayek/2008/08/obamanomics.html
Youtube Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg_hdMAMRiI
John McCain was raised mostly by his mother because his father was often at sea. He had a brother and sister. He's father and grandfather both fought during World War Two. He himself fought in Vietnam. During his military part of his life he learned what it is like to see your country suffering. He also saw what it was like to lose all yours and loved ones at battle. Both of McCain's arms were broken during war, along with one of his legs. He didn't even have time to recover before he was sent to become a prisoner of war. Although his arms and legs were broken, his spirit was not. From these experiences he learned to see the beauty in American when there was plenty of ugliness.
John McCain believes that with Barack Obama as president our country will still be stuck in the situation it is in now. As he cuts taxes Obama will raise them. As he cuts government spending, Obama will raise it. McCain's tax cut will create jobs, Obama will eliminate them. Obama doesn't have what it takes to be our president. John McCain is running for president because his country saved him and he will fight for her as long as he can.
America to John McCain is a country he loves, and would do absolutely anything for. He believes as Americans we should take pride in the country we live in. He wants to get America back on the road of prosperity and peace. He believes that in America we change things that need to be changed. He also thinks that the government is what needs to be changed the most. He has the experience to make the changes our country needs through first hand experience, unlike Obama. We as Americans can do anything we put our minds to. We must fight for our country and defend whats right. As John McCain says "Americans never give up. We never quit. We never hid from history. We make history".
I honestly believe there is no difference between the parties. Both parties want to make changes to the same issues like, health care, education, the war, taxes, and oil. The changes are also very similar that both opponents want to make. What is hard though is trying to figure out who is actually telling the truth.
Essay: Education
Welcome my fellow Americans. It is an honor to be speaking here in front of you, and it is an honor to be an American myself. To me being a true American is defined as having equal rights and the same opportunities as the people around you. It also means being able to reach your goals, and getting the education you need to reach those goals no matter what circumstances you or your family are in. I believe that with John McCain as our president our educational rights will not be taken away from us, and we will be able to be the true Americans that we are.
Education is something we all have a right to no matter how much money a family makes. Knowledge is said to be a gift that keeps giving, but with boundaries set around the kind of education an individual gets our knowledge is no longer something we can control. Just because an individual can’t afford to go a top notch school doesn’t mean they should have that option taken away from them. John McCain is in favor of school vouchers. He believes that all students should have equal opportunities. Parents should also have the right to send their child or children to the school that they believe they will be the most successful in. He wants to create vouchers for low-income children to attend private school. Unlike his running opponent, Barack Obama disposed the idea of any sort of private school vouchers for low-income Americans, which is why the teachers union loves him. Arizona Senator stated after hearing Obama’s view on school vouchers that, “All of that went over well with the teachers union, but where does it leave families, and their children who are stuck in failing schools? No one should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity”. McCain wants to give parents that choice, and children that opportunity by expanding the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (school voucher program), and increasing the budget from eighteen million to about twenty million, and by adding at least a thousand more families to this program.
John McCain is a firm believer in that parents and children are at the center of the education process. Parents are their children’s first teachers. They are their mentors throughout their life. Parents and the children themselves are responsible for their education. If the parents don’t care than the children don’t care. Not all teachers are to be blamed for the lack of effort their students put into their work, but teachers should be blamed for the lack of effort they put into theirs. Teachers who do not do their jobs profoundly, and with the students best interest in mind do not deserve to be teaching. John McCain wants to get rid of the teachers who have lost their sense of teaching, and he wants to raise the pay of teachers who choose to work in less academically achieving schools, and have demonstrated improvement in their students. These are the teachers of America. Many Educational Associations disagree with these actions. They believe their pay has nothing to do with how well their students succeed in their class. The Ohio Educational Association says that, “during his twenty five years in political office he has consistently voted against public schools. As president we can expect the same. He thinks teachers should be paid based on students test scores, academic improvements, and supports school vouchers.” Randi Weingarten says that, “he repeatedly cast teachers unions as obstacles to educational reform.” If teacher’s pays aren’t based off of how well their students do than what are they based off of; for showing up for work? But with the bad always comes the good. Coral Gables of Florida states that, “choice and competition is the key to success in education in America. That means charter schools, that means homeschooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers, and finding bad teachers another line of work”.
Whatever happened to the No Child Left Behind act? Don’t we have goals to support high standards and accountability for the learning of all children or did we lose that when we lost our sense of teaching? John McCain supports the NCLB, but he believes that we can no longer accept low standards for some and high standards for others. We have to shift our focus from group averages to making sure that each student is capable of reaching his or her own potential. Obama believes the law needs adjustment he just hasn’t figured out quite yet what it is that needs to be adjusted. What the law needs is change, changes that McCain will make. As U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings said, “McCain will continue to support the law if he is elected. He voted for No Child Left Behind. He’s been supportive ever since”. Robin states that “McCain wants to change the law but not replace it. It sounds like anything that is good for students McCain is for”.
My views of education match the views of John McCain. I believe with him as president our futures as students, parents, and teachers will prosper. We need to unite and fight for the education that we deserve. We need to be the true Americans that we are and make the changes that America needs.
References:
http://www.johnmccain.com/
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
http://usconservatives.about.com/od/johnmccainontheissues/a/McCainEducation.htm
http://www.blogher.com/john-mccain-education
http://cbs4.com/campaign08/mccain.naacp.education.2.772382.html
http://2008election.procon.org/viewadditionalresource.asp?resourceID=1595
Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkhIFgMWjU8
John McCain refers to himself as the "countries man". He proves to be just that. He has fought in many wars and served as a true military man. McCain has had his share of difficulties starting from age five. When he was five years old a navy officer came to his house and told his father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and he didn't see his father from four years after that. His grandfather came home from that same war, very exhausted, and died the next day. When he was in the Vietnam War he had formed friendships, but many of his friends did not end up coming home. During his 23rd mission he thought he was very tough until both his arms, and one leg were broken. He was thrown into a dark cell, he was later given the choice to leave but he felt the other men should be allowed out before him. Because of that decision they made it harder for him.
McCain hates war and doesn't want any of our families to have to go through the hardship of it. He wants our country to be safe at all times. In America, he feels we must change things. He says that we are all G-d's children and we should all be rewarded for our hardwork. All Americans have something to contribute and everyone should be able to reach their own potential. He wants America to get to prosperity and peace. America faces many problems from economy, education, and war, but McCain is going to try his best to change America to become better.
McCain doesn't think that Obama has "the scars" like he does. He feels if Obama knows what is right for America then he would know that you have to use all your resourses and develop all the techonology you can in order to achieve energy independence. McCain is ready to put up a fight and has a great chance of winning this election.
Thank you, thank you, thank you very much, I appreciate your support, thank you, thank you very much my fellow American citizens. Today, we stand in the steps of a nation which once was skyrocketing, in every field. We had prosperity and happiness in every corner. We worked less and enjoyed life more. I will give you hope, that we will once again bring those old days and get away from hardship. We will get through financial difficulties, we will change our nation, and we will achieve change. We will achieve change if we concentrate on our territory, not some barn yard way out of our field. We need to make change, change in our lives and change in our society.
I oppose the war! I know that there are still many patriots out here today! I am not a scared cat I am the American Man.
I support our patriotism; I support the people of this country, but don’t support a dumb war!
McCain says that he will change; well all he can change is our nation’s production of boar’s head.
John McCain wants to continue George Bush’s War, I want to end it.
McCain refuse to admit that we make mistake, we all make mistakes!, he says that he didi not make any, like George Bush.
The truth is our force will not lead the Iraqi’s to take responsibilities. It’s their lives and we cannot manipulate them.
We need to let the Iraqi’s know that we will not be there for ever! We need to end the war, that why I am here for!
We need to start new and fresh for the safety of our country!
For the Change of America!
John McCain and others see him as a Maverick, someone who doesn't go along with a group or a party, he beats to his own drum. As a young boy his father was away most of the time, leaving it up to his mother to raise him and his two siblings. When his grandfather came back from WWII the very next day he passed away. John McCain served in Vietnam, and made some of the closets friends there, some of them who didn't return home with him. Before becoming a POW he thought of himself as a tough guy and pretty independent, that all changed. On his 23rd mission he was taken as a POW, and he learned his limits. He says that he survived thanks to the men who were there. He came back a changed man, a fighter. John McCain sees Barack Obama as someone with out a record, military and politically. McCain wants to make taxes low Obama wants to raise them. McCain wants to cut government spending Obama wants to increase it. McCains tax cuts will increase jobs whereas Obama's increase in taxes will get rid of jobs. McCain wants to start drilling to rid ourselves or foreign oil dependency. McCain wants to stay in Iraq to keep the country safe and to prevent any future attacks. John McCain sees America as a place where no man can always stand alone, and where "great things are always within our reach." Where government shouldn't stand in someones way but rather on his side. By just listening to the speeches given by the two presidential nominees and their VPs, it's hard to tell any difference between the two parties without going into deeper research. Just from looking on the surface and at each of there speeches to me at least it's hard to tell any difference between the two parties.
My fellow Americans, it is my honor and privilege to be here tonight. America is a place that gets through hard times and stands on its own two feet. That is why we need to end our dependence on foreign oil, and start using our natural resources. We need to start drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, we need to put our reserves to better use. By tapping into our reserves we will cut the price of gas thus, taking a burden off the American people. Sen. Barack Obama wants to institute a Windfall Profits tax, which would give a $1,000 rebate to the American people. Don't get me wrong that'd be great if it didn't increase our dependence on foreign oil and decrease the investments for oil reserves right here in the US.
Some have agreed with me some have opposed me, thats ok. A certain governor from California says I'm just blowing smoke. Others down by the New Jersey Shore say I care "more about Big Oil than American consumers." I'm here to show you their wrong. Republicans and Democrats are now willing to consider the offshore drilling if the states have the choice. My running mate, Sarah Palin, says that we should use our resources and put them to the test, and as the governor of Alaska she would know. I'm not saying drilling is the long term goal. We should also research and develop clean coal technology, which would make new jobs and put the US as a leader in the international green economy. We should also construct more nuclear power plants, a zero-emission source of energy, which today only produces 20% of our power. But drilling is the start, "Drill Here , Drill Now." Thank you, God bless you, and god bless our troops, and god bless America
http://www.johnmccain.com
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/schwarzenegger.html
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/most_nj_politicians_oppose_mcc.html
http://tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article630094.ece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0oxnOmFvuE
Part 1: McCain RNC Speech
John McCain was raised by his mother, since his father was often serving out at sea in the navy. McCain’s grandfather, along with his father, served in the military during WWII, and shortly after returning from the war, his grandfather died. McCain also served in the military, and crashed his plane in the middle of a lake in North Vietnam. He broke both his arms and one of his legs, and was captured by the Vietnamese. He spent six years in a dark cell as a prisoner of war. His captors offered to release him, but he refused because there were other men who had been shot down before him. Later in his life McCain would go on to serve as a senator in Arizona.
McCain believes everyone in America has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their potential. He says that in America, we change things that need to be changed, and that each generation makes its contribution to our greatness. One word McCain uses in his speech is ‘fight’. He asks the people of America, “fight with me. Fight for what’s right for our country.”
McCain promises to cut taxes and keep them low, and says that Obama will raise taxes. McCain wants to open up new markets, and says his opponent will close them. McCain says that cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. He is also in support of drilling for oil. McCain also plans to continue the war on terror in Iraq.
Part 2: Health care reform
Good evening fellow Americans. Tonight I want to speak about an issue that is affecting millions of Americans across the nation. That issue is health care. Today, over 46 million Americans, over 8 million of which are children, are uninsured, simply because of the increase of health care costs. Health insurance premiums have risen to the point where these millions of Americans can longer afford health care, due to the fact that wages have not increased along with the cost of health care. Now I want to talk to you tonight about a man with a plan to cover uninsured Americans, and that man is Barack Obama. Obama wants to make a new national health plan that will make affordable coverage available to all Americans. And when he says all Americans, he means ALL Americans. Everyone will be guaranteed to be eligible for this plan, which will give complete benefits and affordable premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. Obama will also make the coverage of children mandatory. If elected President, Obama will lower costs by modernizing America’s health care system. He wants to strengthen laws that will prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for malpractice insurance. To make it more efficient, Obama also wants to update the medical record-keeping system, where patients’ records are still stored on paper. Obama plans to adopt an electronic based system over the next five years. He also plans to lower costs by increasing competition in the insurance and drug markets, which will lead to more affordable prescription drug costs. Health-care expert Stuart Butler of the Heritage Foundation disagrees with Obama’s health care plan, saying, “Such a task would be enormously difficult.” Butler says that the “costs would be staggering”. However this cost will be lowered through the money made from discontinuing Bush’s tax cuts for those who make more than $250,000 a year. Other critics have said that Barack Obama’s health plan will “sow the seeds of destruction for private health insurance,” however this is just plain false. Obama’s plan calls for a national health insurance exchange to help individuals to purchase a private plan. Other critics say that Obama’s plan is a government takeover of health care. However, Obama’s plan will still allow private insurers, and at the same time bring public coverage to Americans in need of health care. I belive that once implemented, Barack Obama’s plan will succeed in insuring those millions of uninsured Americans, and bring the change we desperately need to our health care system. Thank you my fellow Americans.
Pages Cited:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/01/experts_doubt_obamas_healthcar.html
http://healthpolicyandmarket.blogspot.com/2008/03/detailed-analysis-of-barack-obamas.html
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTVmY2QxNWMzN2YzNmUzZGU0MGM5MmQzOWQ4MmUyYzc=
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb88MTAYDgc
Part1
John McCain was a victim of the Vietnam War. In a mission, the plane he’s taking was crashed and he was captured by the enemy. They put McCain in a prison without any medical cares. As the victim of the war, McCain knows how’s the harm and damages a war will bring to soldiers and the country. Now, McCain comes out to run for the president and wish to prevent more people to have the same experience as him. In his acceptance speech, he declares he won’t let you down. He wants to help the America keeps going up from those problems such as economic crisis. To McCain, he believes we are all men to use our opportunity to help America. The government will not make choices for us, we have to make by ourselves. McCain wants to make America starts work again and back on the road of pretty. He also believes the government should stands on your side not on your way and fight for the future. That’s the government he wants to create. That’s the future McCain wants to make for us.
Part2
Welcome and thank you very much my fellow American citizens. Tonight, I would like to introduce a real man we need to have for the next four years, Barak Obama. Obama will make the society change from the past and lead us to the better country. Obama is the man who fights for the justice and truth. Obama is the man who can make changes to improve our world. I know there are some critiques about his economic plans and now I would like to defend it. When Obama say raising the tax, he is talking about raising the tax on people like Senator McCain himself, he is talking about raising tax on those who owns so many houses that he could not remember. Yes I agree this is a liberal versus conservative thing, but I do want to remind everyone that doing as little as possible in the last eight years as Sen. McCain said, has led us into this economic downfall and the huge mess we're in. It’s the way to fight for the working class. It’s the way to shorten the differences between wealth and poverty.
And to those who think America does not have the money to run the program. We are spending $341.4 million per day to pay for the war. And there are many companies and head executives that are not paying the amount of tax that they're suppose to pay. If we can squeeze the money out of their hands, I'm sure the program will work as planned.
Not only works on tax, Obama will also put money on invention of new cheap and clear energy to solve the energy crisis to lower down the costs of commodities. He also wants to open the foreign market to create good jobs for American to solve the unemployment problems to excite the economic prosperity. Recently, economy comes out many problems; stock falls, unemployment, the raise of commodities. The plan will solve every problem. Maybe there are still some problems the plan doesn’t cover up, but Obama will make changes. If the plan is not perfect, he will fix it until it is perfect. I believe this the plan we need for now. This is the man we need to lead us back to the beautiful America. Thank you for participation for tonight. God bless America.
Reference:
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/03/26/mccain-returns-fire-on-obama-economic-criticism/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hale-stewart/obamas-economic-plan-is-_b_86593.html?page=2
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18227334
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/14/ST2008021400104.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2008/05/30/obama-vs-mccain-who-has-the-better-economic-plan/
John McCain is man who fought for this country and a man who wants to continue to fight for this country. McCain fought for this country in the Vietnam War and continued to fight and stand up for this country, while being hurt and tortured as a prisoner of war. Not only did he not give in, he also refused to leave the other American soldiers behind when he was given the opportunity to leave. No matter how much he got beaten and no matter how much pain he was in he never gave up and never stopped defending his country. John McCain has a deep love for this country and so he will doing anything he can to make it better and more powerful.
John McCain plans to make this country better by fighting for it and its people. His goal is to get this country back on the right road, the road of prosperity and peace. He plans to do this by making the government work and fight for the nation, not against it. He plans to change the views of the Republican Party so that we don’t have a repeat of the past 8 years.
John McCain will fight for the hard working families by cutting taxes and keeping them low. He will cut government spending by eliminating programs that don’t work and by decreasing the amount of money we give to other countries. He will make healthcare plans more affordable unlike Obama, who plans to make a government healthcare plan. This way we get to keep the healthcare plan that’s right for us and our needs. He plans to change unemployment laws and create more jobs. He will give those who lost their job the opportunity to go to community college and get the appropriate training for a new job. He plans to fix the energy problem by building more nuclear power plants, increasing the use of wind and solar energy, and decrease our dependence on oil. McCain plans to improve education by hiring better teachers and getting rid of the bad ones. He also will take away all boundaries, this way parents get to pick which school they want their child to go to.
John McCain plans to use his military experience to improve the military’s strategies. He also plans to bring world peace so the security of the nation won’t be threatened. He will secure the peace by talking to other world leaders and will stand up to those that threaten the peace.
My fellow classmates
How do you view abortion? Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Abortion is a very controversial topic amongst all. Is abortion always considered murder or is it considered murder depending on the fetus’s growth?
The Supreme Court case Roe VS. Wade came up with a decision that the government has followed ever since. On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court declared that the government cannot restrict a women’s right to an abortion, during her first trimester. However, during her second trimester the state controls the abortion process. The state may allow the abortion process to take place, “in ways that are reasonably related to mental health.” The decision also stated, that the state could choose to restrict abortion as it sees fit during the third trimester.
The Roe vs. Wade case decision is pro-choice and I believe that the Supreme Court gave expecting mothers the right to murder. I believe that abortion should not be permitted, unless the mother’s life is in danger. Presidential candidate, John McCain, is pro-life and wants to overturn the Roe vs. Wade decision. He plans to slowly end abortion by giving the power back to each individual state, to decide their laws on abortion. John McCain will provide expecting mothers with compassion. He will make sure that the civil society meets her and her newborns every need. And to those mothers who don’t want to keep their baby, McCain will promote adoption as their first option.
Obama on the other hand, is pro-choice and pro- murder. He agrees with the Supreme Court decision and will fight against any constitutional amendment that wants to overturn the cases decision.
New York Senator and former Presidential Candidate Hilary Clinton, disagrees with the abortion laws. As a mother of two daughters she believes that abortion is murder and should be made rare. She supports adoption and foster care as their first option.
Abortion is also frowned upon by the Catholic Church, Judaism, and Islam. According to these religions, abortion is a very big sin and should not be an option unless the mother’s life is in danger.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards and Kansas Governor Mrs. Kathleen Sibelius strongly oppose the elimination of abortion and believe that the government should not decide for women whether they should keep their baby or not. However, if it is not right for the government to decide for the women then why is it right that the women is deciding the future of this unborn child.
Abortion is a murder of life. I believe that every life is unique and put into this world by G-d for a reason. No one knows what unborn life is capable of doing for the world and its generation. And so abortion is not just the murder of one life but also the murder of everything that child had to offer.
ABORTION SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION
ADOPTION IS THE RIGHT OPTION
THANK YOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdHZZz3Lurw
My fellow Americans, I am proud to be standing in front of you today. I am here to discuss the importance of stem cell research. you may not know but it is a great improvement to our medical studies. Stem cells are a huge medical advancement because of their ability to clone into any kind of cell. for example neural cells in the brain and spinal cord that are damaged can be replaced by these cells. one major disease that we are struggling to find a cure for is cancer. all though we have many treatments it doesn't change the fact that we don't have the cure. with these cells they can replace the ones affected by the radiation and chemotherapy. there are three main sources to getting the stem cells. Adult cells, cord cells, and embryonic cells. adult cells can be obtained from bone marrow and the peripheral system. Peripheral stem cells can be taken without any damage to bones but may take more time. stem cells can be taken from the umbilical cord as well. Even if you don't have an exact DNA match between the recipient and the donor, the scientists have created different methods to increase the transfer and reduce any risks. Embryonic stem cells are taken from the embryo at the stage when it is called a blastocyst which has 100 cells. The can duplicate in 2-3 days and can be kept alive. The blastocyst has no human features so there is no destruction of a human. Many women want to abort their babies at this stage so might as well use them for medical treatment to help other people. In 2001 President Bush even authorized federal funding for the research of 15 stem cell lines. McCain and Obama are both for stem cell research. If both candidates are willing to do this and see no harm then so should we. vote stem cell research to help save more lives. G-d Bless America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yonnxjg-NAY
Part One:
John McCain’s story is one which encompasses ideas of what it means to be a true patriot and a fighter for the United States. He vouches that he wants only what’s best for America and that through his previous experiences he knows exactly what choices he needs to make in order to make the nation progress. McCain comes from a legacy of courageous warriors; his father fighting in Pearl Harbor as his grandfather died “carrying the American burden” during the same war. The senator, himself, had the “honor” of being a “servant of his county” when he went to fight at Vietnam. Taken as a captive and tortured at the Golf of Tonkin, he learned the limits of his selfish independence and stood by his fellow soldiers even when allowed freedom. Together with the commanders of the war, McCain built the tools for America‘s peace, urging us to believe that with this war as well, he will know what tools to use to guarantee our success. Because of this experience, McCain believes that he very well suited to lead our country in general, and through the ongoing war as well. Unlike Obama, McCain has spent a relatively good amount of time working with politicians and being involved in passing laws, making him both more experienced and aware of his responsibilities. McCain states that he has truly grown to love serving the Unites States and its people, and therefore doesn’t care who gets credit for the ideas that change the country, but only that the necessary changes are met. He states that he’ll fight off the big spenders and will stop nonsense wasting of money so that more people will be able to take initiative in their lives and will be presented with more opportunities. Rather than concurring with the values of the Bush presidency and his own party, McCain compares himself to great leaders (as Obama did) such as Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan, and states that the immense changes brought about during those presidencies, which turned the economy and society, will be brought about if he is elected President. McCain also states that he’ll most importantly help America’s economy by attacking their educational system; allowing more people to be better trained in specific fields. He will hire better teachers and if someone doesn’t have a job, he’ll make sure that the government gives him a temporary one with good pay until he is capable of standing on his own two feet once more. McCain understands that no success comes without a fight in life, and he is more than willing to do all he can to fight for America’s best at this point of time.
McCain displays Barak Obama as his complete opposite. During his speech, McCain listed the numerous things he intends on doing in order to bail America out of this tough situation (such as fixing health care and getting our troops out of Iraq), stating after each of his ideas that Obama is out to do the opposite for America. Obama’s story according to McCain is a negative one, one which “America knows better” than to follow. McCain feels that Obama does not have the right characteristics and ideas to become the next leader of the United States and has not gone through influential experiences that could’ve given him ideas on how to take on the problems that the nation is going through. He feels that Obama will stop the nation from reaching their full potential of excellence because he’d be working for himself and not focus as much on the country. According to McCain, Obama does not fully understand what the American nation is capable of and will hold back its greatness by putting forth wrong ideas and policies, which ultimately won’t help America. McCain states that America should “fight with him” because they need to change America drastically, and that change is not one which Obama is capable of giving them.
America to McCain is a cause worth fighting for and a blessing onto the people. The state is the collaboration of many people’s works and efforts towards greatness. The decency, justice, and goodness of the people that McCain found among the nation is what he sets as being different and ideas which characterizes the country as a whole. In one sense, McCain is implying that the nation is a sum and an image of its people, those which created it and molded it, making it into what it is today. The way the people go about their work and the morals they hold is what America stands for and what America is in essence. On the other hand, McCain mentions another idea; that all men are created equal and that everyone has the opportunity to succeed in this country. McCain assures all citizens that there will be an open door of opportunity for them; a blessing at its best.
Part Two:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this point of time, our solemn nation is faced with a heavy burden. A burden that neither you, the people, nor I have brought onto the back of America. An error that, until now, we have neither handled nor ignored. A situation so somber that we pay the price for its mistake daily. The war against terror is a cause which our beloved sons and daughters and soldiers of America have been sacrificing their lives for since 2001. For seven long, spiteful, years we have watched troops make their way into Iraq, only to find disappointment at the other end. How much longer should we watch our loved ones die at the hands of others? Why must we suffer from this plight any longer? Until when will the good citizens of America be held responsible for the tragedies of another country? NOT ANY MORE, not if Senator Barack Obama is elected as the President of the United States, for he will assure political progress in Iraq. A mass spending of $2.7 trillion was wasted away in Iraq, only to leave the United States, a country of honor, vulnerable to the globe and more divided at home. Barack Obama will not only give Iraq the support it needs to continue as a democratic country on its own, he will give us the courage and opportunity to gain success in our own lives as well.
Just like Barack Obama understands your pain and sorrow, he understands the mishaps that are occurring in Iraq and will work hand in hand with the military commanders on the fields of Iraq and their government to restore peace in the country. Unlike John McCain, Barack Obama has established the war in Iraq as a priority on his list and looks forward to successfully releasing all troops from their responsibilities in Iraq by the summer of 2010. By then, the Iraqi army and police will indisputably be ready to assume responsibility for their own security and safety (Source 1). This will not be a rushed exit like some may think (source 6) and its out coming peace will last. A meticulously phased withdrawal will occur from Iraq, removing two army brigades each month for sixteen months, forcing the Iraqi government to finally take accountability over their situation. The Iraqi government will then be able to use their surplus money as well as their oil revenues, that John McCain has so distinctly ignored, towards the reconstruction of their country and lives. By slowly reducing the monetary support we give Iraq, they will not only learn to politically compromise, but will also experience how to deal with situations in a democratic manner (source 2). Accompanied with the freedom Obama will be giving the Iraqis to restart their country, he will provide them with protection and support throughout. He will instate residual forces remaining in the area to target counterterrorism missions against al Qaeda’s plots of demolishing the growing democratic country; keeping the people of Iraq, their neighboring countries, and of course, the Unites States, out of harm’s way. This aggressive effort will secure the nation’s borders and will resolve the worry many have of Iraq’s former allies transforming Iraq into a pool of genocide between the two Muslim sects if American troops leave the area (source 4). These temporary bases, approved by Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Ordierno, also shield and protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel as well as supporting and training Iraq’s security bases, as long as their leaders step towards political reconciliation and away from sectarianism. Barack Obama has stuck to keeping the removal of our troops from Iraq a morally profound process as well, and therefore he has confronted their humanitarian crisis. Disproving thoughts of the UNHCR goodwill ambassador, Obama will present $2 billion to expand refugee services to neighboring countries and will make sure that each refugee will be able to find peace within their own country. As the ambassador states there are people in pain in Iraq as many surrounding countries have shut down their support for them. This is why Barack Obama finds it not only necessary, but crucial, to give a hefty amount of aid to them temporarily, so that the country will eventually learn to survive on its own. But if we would permanently give to them, as the ambassador finds necessary, when will Iraq’s reliance on America end? When will this country support for itself? John McCain finds it morally correct to remain in Iraq to help the civilians. Is it morally correct for him to be giving up the lives of American citizens instead? John McCain finds it morally correct to spend an endless amount of money supplying Iraq when they have a surplus of money. Is it morally correct to allow your own country’s economy to fail due to lack of attention and disregard? Ladies and Gentleman, Barack Obama knows what’s morally correct, however he greater understands what is best for his nation as well.
Thank you, may G-d bless the United States of America.
Source 1= Lt. Gen. James Dubik, the American officer in charge of training Iraq’s security forces
Source 2= Juan Cole, an Iraq specialist at the University of Michigan
Source 3= Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Ordierno
Source 4= Victor Davis Hanson is a military historian at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and the author of the forthcoming "A War Like No Other" (Random House).
Source 5=Angelina Jolie, a UNHCR goodwill ambassador.
Source 6=Dr. Jean Y. Haine of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qKxqOzIbEU
Part 1
While growing up John McCain's father was in the Navy and was out at sea, so he was mostly raised by his mother. Both his father and grandfather fought in World War II, however a day after his grandfather came back from the war he passed away. McCain served in the Vietnam war and was captured by the Vietnamese after his plane crashed, which caused both of his arms and one of his legs to break. The Vietnamese had offered to release him but he declined because their were still eing held captive. John McCain wants to lower taxes and increase jobs. John McCain wants to continue to fight in Iraq unlike Obama because he thinks it will stop terrorists from plotting another attack. McCain wants to provide health care so that everyone can afford it and get the treatment that they need.
Part 2
My fellow Americans, I am honored to speak in front of you tonight to discuss who I believe should be the next president of the United States of America, and that man is Barack Obama. An issue that is affecting every American now is the constant increase of everyday items such as gas. In state college tuition has increased thirty five percent over the last five years and the personal savings rate happens to be the lowest it has been since the Great Depression. The problem that president Bush has created is that he gives people who make over one million dollars a year a tax cut that happens to be one hundred and sixty times larger than the one’s received by middle class Americans. Barack Obama’s plan to jumpstart the economy involves a windfall profits tax to give a one thousand dollar emergency rebate to American families. Obama Also plans on providing fifty billion dollars to jumpstart the economy and help one million Americans from losing their jobs. Obama unlike McCain wants to provide middle class working families with one thousand dollars in tax relief. Obama thinks that trading with foreign nations should strengthen the American economy and start more jobs for Americans. Barack Obama wants to fix the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico so that it will work for American Workers. Obama wants to end tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. If elected Obama would invest one hundred and fifty billion dollars over the course of ten years to advance renewable energy, create low emission coal plants, and by doing this would create five million new jobs. Obama wants to support small business owners by giving them five hundred dollars tax credit to every worker in the country. Obama strongly believes in workers rights and the right to unionize. He also wants to increase the minimum wage and protect workers who are on strike. I believe that if Barack Obama is elected president, America will return to the state it was in before George Bush was in office. By electing McCain we will just have another 4 years of the same thing, Obama will bring change to America. Thank you my fellow Americans and God bless America.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16438329/
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
http://www.obama.senate.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/barack_obama.htm
youtube video:
will post in the morning if the video uploads
In McCain’s life “no success has come without a good fight”. His father was often at sea fighting in Pearl Harbor and he never saw him again. His mother was alone left to raise him and his sister. His grandfather came from the WWII and died the next day. He is a veteran of Vietnam War and he knows what it feels like to be in a war. He was tortured and thrown in a cell. He was offered the opportunity to come back to American, but he refused. He didn’t want to leave without those people whom he became so close to. His two arms and one leg was broken.
His opponent Obama will raise the taxes, he will lower taxes and cut them where he can. Obama will close new market, he will open new markets, Obama will increase government spending and he will cut government spending. His tax cut will create jobs, Obama's tax increase will eliminate them. His health care system will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health insurance, whereas Obama’s plan will force small business to cut job and reduce wages an force family to a government run health care system. He’s fought for more troops when it wasn’t a popular thing to do for the security of Iraqis.
McCain intents to get the country back on road of prosperity and peace. He will make the government work for the people not against people. He intends to stand on American’s side and fight for their future. He will get back to basic and everyone has something to contribute.
Part 1 of HW
John McCain is the presidential nominee for the Republican party. John McCain is an American hero who fought in the Vietnam war serving duty to his country. During his duty in Vietnam, his plane was shot down and was held captive by the Vietcong for 5 years. During his capture, he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg and received poor medical treatment due to being a Prisoner of War. During his captivity, he was offered the choice to be released but declined because he would be the only one released from his prison camp. John McCain represents true heroism and patriotism and as America seeks a new president, it is important to consider how important this country really is to him.
Part 2- Speech
My fellow Americans, politicians of both parties are talking about health care nowadays. The United States should have a national health care system and that is why I am here to talk about Barack Obama, democratic nominee for the President of the United States. It is a shame that health care has become a business instead of a social service as it should have been all along. Big companies charge too much money for their products and services and as a result, 18 thousand uninsured people die to serious illness. I believe this is where the government should intervene. If you are already insured, the only thing that will change for you is the amount of money you spend on it. I can assure you that it will be much lower. No one should have to lose their jobs if a serious illness occurs to them or a family member. Health care should be a right not a privilege that we have today. I believe in one health system in which everyone can get health care coverage. I am asking everyone to put in some effort to help build a universal health care system. Other countries including third world countries have universal health care installed, and as the wealthiest nation on the planet, we still have people dying because they don’t have insurance. That’s just selfishness by these health care providers. Our current system is very depended on employers to provide insurance, because of this people stay with their jobs that anyone would have quit but stay just to hold on to their insurance. Michael Ragain, the Chairman of Family Medicine claims “Barack Obama talks a lot about change in his campaign. Health care reform offers him the chance to put that rhetoric into action. Unfortunately, all his plan does is offer empty talk and shallow ideas. Senator Obama, are you really serious about change? If so please show us some substance in your health care plan.” My friends, Barack Obama sponsored and passed legislation that expanded health care coverage to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults. This includes the Healthy Kids Act of 2007 and the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 to ensure that more American children have affordable health care coverage. Now is the time to change. Many Americans lose their health insurance every year. Universal health care is the most important thing we can do to provide security for American families and workers.
References-
http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog/2008/03/a-detailed-anal.html
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/obamas_health_care_plan.html
Youtube Video:
will post later, this takes forever.
John McCain’s Speech:
In his speech at the Republican National Convention, John Mccain put a lot of his emphasis on fight. Just as Barrack Obama had a difficult past, he too went through a lot in his life. As a prisoner of war who was beaten down and tortured over and over by our enemies in Vietnam he never gave up. When he was offered to go home, although he was in a lot of pain and missed America so much he thought about all the other prisoners and how some had it even worse than him, he turned down the offer. We see here that John Mccain is not a quitter, and he will fight for us till his last breath. Unlike Barrack Obama, he has the experience of working in office. He knows what it’s like and therefore he will be able to deal with the issues that come up. Mccain promises to bring change and help America. And they have the experience, strength, and the record to keep their promises. He says how the real test is what you fight for, not that you can fight. He will try to lower taxes and create more jobs for people. He believes strongly in the culture of life. He wants to make a government that works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself rather than a government that makes the choices for you. Mccain said how he rarely saw his father for four years after the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor. And how his grandfather came home from that war exhausted and died the next day. When he was in Vietnam he formed some of the closest relationships of his life, and some of those friends never came home. Mccain hates war; he’s running for president to prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war. He wants to create long lasting peace for America by finishing what they started in Iraq. He has the record, experience, and the scars to prove that he can help America. He will fight for what’s right, just as he did before. Mccain will fight for the children’s future. And bring justice and opportunity for all. He will defend our country from its enemies. Americans never give up. With hard work, strong faith, and courage great things can happen. John Mccain will fight to make sure every person has a reason to thank God.
My Speech: My dear friends I am here to talk to you about an issue that has been facing so many Americans today. Over these past two years we have been fighting in a war with Iraq. And ladies and gentlemen I am here to tell you that with John Mccain as our president we are assured a secure and long lasting peace. He believes it’s important to stay in Iraq until they become capable of governing themselves. Before this happens he doesn’t think we should withdraw American troops from Iraq. Unlike Barrack Obama he is willing to risk staying in Iraq to insure us a better future and a long term peace. If we fail to succeed in Iraq we would most probably have to end up going back into Iraq or go into a wider and more costly war. In order to insure a secure and long lasting peace we have to establish a stable, prosperous, and democratic state that poses no threat to its neighbors. American troops can come home when Iraqi troops can safeguard their own country.
Senator Joe Lieberman supports Mccain and says how they both want the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible, but they don’t want to do it in a way that’s going to compromise all the hard work and gains that the American and Iraqi troops did in Iraq. If we back out now all those soldiers who died for this cause and all the troops’ hard work goes to vain. There would be no point of even going to war in the first place if we end it now. Because we started the war we have to finish what we went there for. Admiral Michael Mullin also agrees with Mccain. He believes that coming out now is not only pointless; there could also be very dangerous consequences. He agrees that making a reduction on some troops based on their conditions is important, but bringing all of them back now is a mistake. Hawkeye also agrees that we should stay in Iraq because were making progress by being there. He says how it may not be as fast as we would like it to be, but were still making progress. The Iraqi citizens realized the U.S troops are there to help them, so as a result they have driven Al-Qaeda out of many areas.
Barrack Obama believes that the war in Iraq distracted us, so we failed to hunt down Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and rebuild the country. So he thinks that the war was pointless and we should come out right away. But that’s not true we’ve seen how the war in Iraq has brought progress and drove away Al-Qaeda from some parts of the country. Doug Bando also believes that we should come out because too many people are dieing. I don’t agree because Obama’s plan to end the war right away can have very dangerous consequences, and it doesn’t insure our security for the future. Anthony Arnove says how we had no right to enter the war in the first place because they posed no threat to us, so we should end the war right away. But we had reason to believe that Sadaam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and was planning on using it against the world. So for our protection the U.S decided to go and search for those weapons.
We see here that John McCain’s plans for dealing with the war in Iraq would be best to insure our security for a long time. I would like to thank all those soldiers who risk their lives and fight for our security everyday. God bless you and God bless America.
I will put up youtube link when it comes up.
McCain speech:
John McCain said in his speech that has been “a servant first, last, now, and always to his country.” McCain is known as a maverick and he explains that it can be used in a positive and negative way. When McCain characterizes himself as a maverick, though, the definition for him is that a maverick is someone who understands who he is working for and he is working for America. McCain’s goal if he wins this election is to make the government start working for us so we can gain peace and prosperity and make the government gives us more choices in our everyday lives. He wants to fight for our future and he tells the people of America that he is trustworthy and he doesn’t break promises to the country he loves. His mother taught him “were all men to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country” and that’s what he is planning to do. If he goes into presidency he will bring his experience, judgment, and strength along with him. He will lower taxes, reward hard work, keep strong defense, stop excess government spending, and preserve the culture of life. McCain convinces us he always has his countries interest first than his own when he decided to send more troops to Iraq which saved us from an even worse war. When he did that it wasn’t the most popular thing to do and he was told his chances of winning the election are slim but he responded saying “I rather lose an election than see my country lose a war.” McCain also believes that we need to stop sending money to countries that don’t like us and he will make it his goal to create good relations with Russia. Also he wants to drill new energy to take a step forward to energy independence and create millions of new jobs. McCain is not afraid to face the problems that are making America suffer. He is prepared and knows how to stand up and he gains these characteristics from serving in the Vietnam War. In the Vietnam war he was held captive with two broken arms and one broken leg and when given the opportunity to be free he didn’t take it because he didn’t want to leave his soldier friends behind who he knew where suffering more than him but they were still fighting. And with this story that he said at the RNC he proved that he hates war and would never want to put his country in harm’s way.
On Obama, McCain respects him but believes he doesn’t have the experience to lead this country. McCain points out in his speech that Obama was involved in passing out another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. Also he said that Obama is not looking out for America’s best interests. He is going to raise taxes, close new markets, increase government spending, and increase unemployment. When it comes to schooling McCain disagrees with Obama’s idea to have the schools answer to the unions but he believes they should answer to the parents and students. Obama has said that energy independence should be achieved without drilling but McCain argues that we must use all resources necessary to rescue the economy from rising oil. To McCain Obama doesn’t have the strength to lead this country and unlike McCain, Obama doesn’t have the scars to prove what he will do for his country.
To McCain America is an ambitious country. He believes that much more unites us than divides us and that we are all God’s children. What threatens to disturb our peace to McCain is when the rule of law is not properly enforced. McCain believes when he is in office he will help America show the world again how we Americans lead. The Republican and Democrats are almost similar to their ideas and what they want to achieve but instead of one being red and the other blue the main difference I see between these two parties is that the republicans find solutions to the problem that are the fastest way and might be only temporary, while the democrats try to solve the main cause of the problem.
VIDEO:
Education is a jewel in America that should not be taken for granted. Our ancestors have fought hard to make sure everyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity can have an opportunity to an equal education. Today this enrichment of knowledge we have experienced through education is about to slip out of our hands by our leaders who are careless and lack the effort to improve our public school systems. John McCain has proposed that school vouchers are the answer to fixing public school systems. He wants to use these school vouchers to give families funds and to send their children to schools of their choice. I am here to tell you citizens of the United States of America, that Senator McCain is wrong! This voucher will remove funds from the public schools and go to private or parochial schools. McCain says school vouchers will bring competition to the public school system. McCain says school vouchers will force the public system to improve. McCain says “shake up schools with competition.” Well I say no more games, enough is enough, America has been shaken up for the past eight years and we won’t tolerate it anymore. He is making our education system more about competition than learning, more about who can get in the better school than simply going to school to receive knowledge to help our children become better citizens. Education is not a game.
A supporter of the school vouchers, the president of the Board of Education in Massachusetts, insists that it is not meant to be a “Darwinian death struggle.” Well I insist that he has not been studying his history. When there is competition there are always winners and losers. The one with the best resources will win and taking government funding away from public schools will prevent all public schools from offering the same type of technology, faculty, and books so that all children can have an opportunity to an equal education. This competition that will be brought to the schools will make schools in communities disappear causing high unemployment rate for people involved in the public school system. Along with that the children in the communities will move and eventually the community overall will disappear.
Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, argues that vouchers won’t improve education; smaller classrooms and better paid teachers will improve education. Public school systems have been called unfair and Author, Lance T. Izumi believes it is respectful of parent’s rights to be able to choose a school. But what is fair and respectful? Is it fair that school vouchers don’t cover the whole tuition? Is it respectful to give false hope? Is it fair to take funds out of public schools that need it to survive? Is it fair to give false hope to parents who think they have control at what school their child will go to but in the end the private school decided “your child is not qualified for our standards”? Who is really in control? Journalist Roland S. Martin is sick of watching children being stuck in failing schools and supports school vouchers claiming it can help solve the problem now. The keyword is now; school vouchers are not a permanent solution and it will just cause more problems because it will not solve the root of the problem. What is really the reason schools fail to educate children? The real reason is poverty, racism, violence, and inadequate funding by the government. Instead of giving vouchers for children to change schools that money should be given to help public school systems create programs to help troubled children and create more afterschool activities that will keep them away from violence. And if teachers are really the problem than it’s the job of the government to make sure these teachers are certified to teach our children. The key to improving education is improving the community. Children can go to other schools but when they still come home they go home to poverty.
Another issue that can arise from vouchers is the government funding children to go to schools such as a school of the church of the white supremacist. Hilary Clinton believes this is what will come out of vouchers, the government giving money so children can go learn how white people are superior to others. And if you don’t give the voucher it will be considered discrimination because you would already have given it to the Catholic and Jew to go to their religious schools. What it comes down to is that it is unconstitutional. The vouchers are going against the amendment of separation of church and state. So when McCain is supporting these school vouchers who is he trying to benefit? Professor Bruce Fuller mentions that these “experiments with vouchers” have failed to achieve better education. So how does this time make it any different? Does McCain know what he is doing or is he just that ignorant of the public education system? Does he really care? A system like this seems corrupt, he is not fixing the root of the problem he is just covering up the problem with vouchers that will go directly to the poor and solve their problem for a little while. We all know that even with these vouchers the problem will still exist. Our job is to stand up to these vouchers that threaten our equality and tell McCain we don’t want to be shaken up! God Bless America!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_75BFShP7Y
I finally was able to post the video
youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsMWbV91sSI
Part One:
John McCain has led such an inspirational life that comes with a great package of stories. His success did not come without a fight. He is happily married to the inspiration of his life, his wife and has seven children…not all with the same wife. Serving his country first came from his roots, his father and grandfather who both served in World War 2. His grandfather died shortly after coming home, when he was five. Following their footsteps, McCain served and fought in the Vietnam War. I guess you can say along with strength comes power which allowed McCain to feel indestructible while at war. On his 23rd mission his plane had crashed and he was captured and led to the prison cell where he was kept captive. This experience living as a captured soldier changed his life forever. He didn’t receive the right medical attention and he broke both his legs and arms, which still affects him today. He had the opportunity to escape and go home but he turned it down to help his nation. He was now a self-proclaimed American hero. America gave him the second opportunity at life and for that, he is ever so grateful.
The scars on McCain prove to be a powerful defense against Obama. He says that he works for the citizens of the United States, not for the Republican Party and not for himself. His scars show that he has served his country and knows how to best help them. His main defense is that Obama does not have the same experience as McCain, and in some regards…this is true. McCain believes that America is a country that can achieve so much more and has battled tougher struggles than what we are facing today. His ideology is that the American people can do anything they want when they put their mind to it. He is ready to return the favor to America, for him serving in the war and coming out alive. He is ready to give back.
Part Two:
Good afternoon my fellow Americans! I am here today not only as your fellow classmate, but as a student, a daughter, and an American supporting Barack Obama. I can completely come to terms with the conditions we are facing in today’s society. Having gone through the education system I see where it has its faults and what can be altered to better suit the American people. Throughout high school I lived with the motto, do your best and you can pursue anything. Anything to me meant going to my dream school, New York University. However because of the economy, and the faults in the education system with college tuition soaring that dream was crushed. The children of America should not have to give up their dreams because of the lack of opportunities in today’s education. We need change. Change is what we need. Say it with me, WE NEED CHANGE! WE NEED CHANGE! WE NEED CHANGE! I had the opportunity to go to college and pursue my dream, but will the next generation? We need to make sure of this and make sure it is possible for each individual to strive for nothing less than the best. After all, we are America!
Everyday on my way to school, I was inspired by the amount of joyous students on their way to class. They had such enthusiasm and joy for what they were doing and it was evident. There’s a reason behind this and that is because their schools are wonderful, their teachers are well paid and enthusiastic. They are in wonderful facilities that breach a whole new world of learning. This joy instilled in these youngsters should be the joy that America as a whole demonstrate. I know the importance of education and so does Senator Obama. Neither of us grew up in wealth or with power, and we worked for where we are today. No student should be lacking the opportunity to succeed. These are America’s children and the future of our workforce. It is of the utmost importance to make sure they are on their way to achieving better and bigger things.
Jane LeCasse has worked in the education field for over 36 years. I personally think that she deserves a standing ovation. She has experienced being a teacher, a principal, and a supervisor…what a well-rounded individual. Jane is impressed by Senator Obama’s commitment to supporting our teachers and principals in order to provide them with the help and support they need to teach our students. She feels that Obama has put forward an intelligent and ambitious education agenda and genuinely understands that supporting our public schools is key to addressing many of our nation’s challenges. I couldn’t agree more. What Jane was most impressed about was that Senator Obama included everyone in his plan and because of his ambitious goals and commitment he will be successful. Author of The Sandbox Investment, David L. Kirp compliments Obama on his plans to strengthen “zero to five” programs that have proven their value, like Early Head Start and state prekindergarten, and giving parents affordable choices. As a parent, I can see where he comes from and I fully understand how every child deserves the wisest parents to educate them. Ladies and gentlemen it is time to put our children’s dreams and potential first. Christopher Edley Jr. admires how Obama recognizes that, second only to families, teachers matter most. Obama is your choice for change!
John McCain has repeatedly mentioned that my programs costs are absurd but I can assure you they are going to good use. Unlike McCain who is investing $750 million for virtual schools, Obama’s budget will support the chances every student needs. As far as the No Child Left Behind Act, Obama believes that it is ineffective and inadequately funded. It relies too much on poorly designed tests to gauge progress in reading and in math at the expense of a well-rounded education. One of the main points that I wanted to address is vouchers. Obama is open to giving parents more options when picking a school, but limits choices to public schools and will not offer vouchers for private and parochial schools. McCain supporters argue that they will support vouchers for all schools to create competition between schools. Now I don’t know about you, but if a student needs to attend a private school, it’s because there’s an issue with the public school. So how about, we fix that instead. One of the biggest issues in today’s education world is college costs. Obama is set to issue a new tax credit that allows student’s to have four grand for free in exchange for 100 hours of community service. This is a great way to inspire change within the community and make a difference. McCain advisor, however has said that he will create a big increase in pell grants that congress approved for needy students in 2007. The problem here though McCain, we aren’t all needy but we still cannot afford college so that’s a shut down.
My fellow Americans, the choice is clear. We want an education. We want it the Barack Obama way. This is our nation and we should be in a land with opportunity and hope. We want an education. We want it the Barack Obama way. American’s should be able to afford college and not be living in debt forever. We want an education. We want it the Barack Obama way. It’s clear, the choice is open for discussion…but little remains to be discussed. Until next time, have a good day and may God Bless America.
Sources:
Obama:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Nov_20/ai_n27451944
McCain:
1.) Lisa Graham Keegan: She is a former superintendent of public instruction in Arizona and a close friend to McCain. She advised him during his first presidential run in 2000 and was on the short list to become President Bush's secretary of education. If McCain is elected, Keegan will be the leading candidate for that post.
2.) Phil Handy: He is a former chairman of Florida's State Board of Education.
3.) Jane Swift: Former governor of Massachusetts.
My Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPSSgB4dcEA
My fellow Americans, today I am here to address the issue that’s effecting all the American people. Iraq war is a big issue in this presidential race simply because it is hurting the United States in different ways. The United States’ military and civilians have given enormous sacrifices as well as Iraqis for this illegal war . One thing is clear that this war was an illegal war fought at the wrong time at the wrong place with the wrong people. This war was based on false accusation that Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction which was proven wrong. But the real question is what are the plans of both presidential nominees to end this war in a respectful and successful way. According to my understanding Senator McCain has a better plan to end this war and restore the image and credibility of the United States in the world which seems to have been deteriorated by this war.
Someone might suggest that Senator Obama has a better plan to pull the troops out of Iraq . Obama’s plan is simple that provides us a time table for pulling the troops out of Iraq . This does seem to make sense because this war is hurting the already troubled U.S. economy. U.S. is pouring billions of dollars in Iraq for reconstruction and fighting militants. In this situation providing a timeframe for the troops by Obama seems appealing to the nation, but reality is different. ABC news Martha Raddath reports that Obama’s plan to withdraw troops from Iraq is not appreciated by the military officers in Iraq who think that mission will be incomplete if we withdraw any troops right now (par. 7).
Iraq war is not just about America, it is about the democratic future of Iraq . The United States is committed to spread democracy in the world. But, there is a lot of work which is needed to be done in Iraq . Senator Obama is an inexperienced person who does not have any military experience what so ever. The decision to pull out the troops should be made by the military Generals in Iraq not by some politicians in Washington. Iraq is divided into sectarian factions like Sunnis, Shities and Kurds. Each of these groups want a tight grip on power.
Iraq is a complicated country with very diverse population. The diversity of the population has a history of ethnic and sectarian violence. We cannot leave the country at a crucial time when sectarian level of violence is down significantly and troops surge is working. The country is recovering quickly from the devastated effects of this war and moving towards democracy. As Conculla reports in the New York Post saying General Petraeus that we have seen major improvements as a result of this surge. (Para. 2) Unlike Senator Obama Senator McCain was a big supporter of this surge from the beginning. So experience does count in this war.
Senator John McCain will make a better commander in chief of the United States for several reasons . He is an experienced man who has fought for this country. He is a Vietnam War veteran. He understands what does it mean to be in a war and more importantly win a war. He emphasizes on the importance of victory in Iraq . He understands that an unstable Iraq would deteriorate the image and credibility of the United States as super power and will encourage the hostile States to criticize it.
Senator McCain has been in the Senate for over thirty years. He understands that a quick pull out by the American troops in Iraq will increase the sectarian violence in Iraq where Shittie will kill the Sunnis and vice versa. It will also increase the level of terrorism in Iraq . Iraqi civilians would be living a chaotic life without food, education and shelter.
The Americans have lost thousands of troops in Iraq and poured billions of dollars that could have been spend to Improve the American’s lives. Countless Iraqi civilians have been killed in this war. The point is that Troops withdrawal decision should be made by the military commanders in Iraq instead of some politicians in Washington. That’s exactly what Senator McCain is advocating for that we will withdraw our troops as soon as the purpose is served. If we withdraw our troops quickly as suggested by Senator Obama, the whole purpose of the war would be killed and all the sacrifices given by American soldiers and Iraqi civilians would be pointless and useless. Just because we fought an illegal and unnecessary war does not mean that we have to lose it. Thank you and God Bless America.
my video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb3acvp-wHc
Eunjin Choi (christina)
youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LyseZhi4XU
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