Obama stops in Decatur

Andrew Minott
staff writer

Illinois State Senator Barack Obama’s campaign tour stopped on Saturday, October 9th, at the Shilling Community Education center at Decatur’s Richland Community College.

Obama entered the conference room to an enthusiastic standing ovation from an audience comprised of young blacks, elderly whites, and everyone in between. Democratic Candidate for State’s Attorney Jack Ahola introduced him to the podium. Obama smiled widely as he joked, “A year and a half ago, you didn’t even know who I was!”

The Democratic hopeful began his speech with what he called “proposals, not promises.”

“I will work for trade agreements that address not only financial questions, but also environmental and labor concerns. I will be rooted in our common values in labor and education as I fight against outsourcing with tax incentives for companies that choose to stay in the United States,” Obama stated.

Obama then leaned into the current administration. “We are in the first generation to pass on a world that is meaner and poorer than the one we inherited. That’s why Bush will not be re-elected in the fall!”

During a short digression, Obama recalled his experience at the Fleet Center, where he gave a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. “I looked around as I walked to the stage, and found myself face to face with celebrities like Peter Jennings, Ben Affleck, and Puff Daddy. Then my wife held my hand, looked me in the eyes, and said ‘Don’t screw this up.’”

Obama’s seemingly celebrity status was not lost on his Decatur audience. “I was so star struck at the prospect of shaking hands with Barack Obama, I felt like a pre-pubescent girl at a Hanson concert,” said Emily Skaja, a Millikin junior English major.

The response of those in attendance was overwhelmingly positive. “He came off as funny, intelligent, and completely genuine and sincere. There was no slick, politician-like attitude—he seemed real," Lily Emerson said, a senior acting major at Millikin. “His speech was optimistic, passionate and hopeful, but not unrealistic. He made sense. I forgot that politicians could do that.”

Nan Williams, of Millikin’s 1951 graduating class, called herself a life-long Republican and an Obama supporter. “I think he’s very, very informed,” she said. Jane Cole, who graduated MU in 1943, added, “I feel that he is sincere.”

At a post-rally press conference, Obama’s comments focused mostly on his then-upcoming debate with Alan Keyes in Springfield. He conceded that Keyes may be the more experienced debater, but he stressed the fact that he felt he was prepared for the face-off.

“I’m going to stick to the things I hear [from the people of Illinois]... the war in Iraq, jobs, providing for a first-class education, and a health care system that is killing individuals.”

Asked about his thoughts about Gov. Blagojevich’s plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, Obama replied that he “supports importation as a short-term solution, but will push for measures to allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies to have patent laws changed to avoid providing the same drugs in different packaging,” which he claims is the main problem causing skyrocketing drug costs.

Obama closed his brief speech in traditional motivating form. “It’s time to kick off the bedroom slipper and put on the marching boots. The work we do in the next three and a half weeks will make a brighter future.”

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