Obama Election Watch

One of our viewers asked us to write down some compelling facts, or so-called “killer lines,” that Obama could use possibly to put an end to the McCain contention that he is on the side of ordinary American voters.

This viewer said to us, “I don’t mean gentle lines like, ‘John, I agree with you
but . . . .’ I mean lines that could put a stake in the heart of the McCain campaign.”

Here are our suggestions:

• “John, you say you worry a lot about the millions of hard-working Americans who have lost their jobs. Would you tell voters why you have voted at least 18 times against supporting the nation’s unemployment benefit program that for more than 70 years has helped many millions of folks get through tough times.”

• “John, you keep telling Americans how important it is for young Americans to get a college education. If this is such a big concern for you, why is it that over your 22 years in the Senate you have voted at least 26 times against federal Pell Grants, the only effective program to help poor kids go to college?”

• “John, you keep saying you are a ‘maverick.’ Is this really a correct statement when the Congressional Record shows that over the past eight years you have voted for the position of the Bush administration over 90 percent of the time?”

• “John, I’m sure you know that there are 8 million children in the United States who are not covered under any health insurance plan. You say you are concerned about this. Why don’t you explain to voters why in at least 13 Senate votes you have opposed healthcare assistance to children of working-class families.”

• “Senator, millions of hard-working Americans who earn the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour are having trouble putting food on the table and paying for gasoline. Maybe you should explain to these voters why over your Senate career you have voted at least eight times against raising the minimum wage.”

• “John, you say how proud you are to support our soldiers and sailors overseas. So am I! Why, then, have you voted in the Senate no less than two dozen times against benefits for disabled veterans and their families? How is it that you even voted against research into prosthetics for veterans who have returned home with missing limbs?”

• “John, many of our senior citizens go without proper medical care because they can’t afford the cost of prescription drugs. Could you explain why over 22 years you have voted 20 times against legislation aimed to slow down the costs of prescription drugs?”

• “Senator, there are over 20 million voting-age Hispanic Americans. Millions of them are having a tough time financially. Federal Pell Grants are their only chance for college. Why should Hispanic Americans vote for you when you have always voted against these Pell Grants that make it possible for them to go to college?”

• “John, you and Governor Palin keep speaking about Wall Street greed. If you disapprove of greed, why have you voted dozens of times to protect the profits of drug companies at the expense of senior citizens and others who struggle to pay for the cost of their prescription medicines?”

• “John, lots of times you answer questions about your voting record with a story about when you were a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Senator, the nation is proud of your record as a prisoner in Vietnam. So am I. But won’t you please answer the questions that are asked?”