Sen. Barack Obama's campaign claimed a quarter of the audience at Sen. Tom Harkin's steak fry, the Iowa Democrats' signal fundraising festival, thanks in part to 15 hired buses from 10 spots across the state. AP photo.
by Rick Pearson
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Robert Chesnut's search for truth led him on a sunny Sunday afternoon to acres of rolling land usually used to launch hot-air balloons to listen to six major Democratic presidential contenders trying to lure supporters to their cause.
"What am I looking for? The truth," said Chesnut, 81, a retired electrical switch assembly worker from rural Wever in southeastern Iowa.
"I hear promises, but then I begin to hear promises I know they can't keep," said Chesnut, a member of his local Democratic Party's organization, as he accompanied his wife, Virginia, 79. "That's one of the reasons why we haven't made up our minds yet on who to commit to."
The Chesnuts were among an estimated 12,000 Democrats who almost doubled the population of Indianola, the home of the National Balloon Classic, for the annual steak-fry fundraiser of veteran Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin- - a $30 per person event that serves as the party's informal kickoff event for the race to the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses.
For Democrats, the steak fry served as the counterpart for the state Republicans' fund-raising presidential straw poll in Ames held a month ago, with each event looking to display the organizational strength of individual candidates that will be needed to get people to attend party caucuses scheduled this winter.
Just as most Republican contenders bought the fundraising tickets and bused their supporters to the straw poll, Democratic candidates comped some supporters and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's campaign claimed turning out a quarter of the audience, in part by using 15 buses from 10 locations across the state.
Obama and the other contenders, speaking individually to a receptive crowd, each contended they were an agent for change as they assailed the Bush White House, vowed to bring home troops from Iraq and proposed plans for universal health care.
Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut called the lack of coverage for nearly 50 million Americans "shameful."
But much of the candidates' rhetoric stayed focused on Iraq.
"This election is as serious as a heart attack, folks," said Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, adding that the president has "made it abundantly clear that he will not end this war in Iraq." Bush's strategy forward, Biden said, was "simply unconscionable."
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico emphasized that unlike his rivals, his proposal to get out of Iraq would leave no U.S. troop presence in the country after six to eight months, but instead would rely upon an all-Muslim peace-keeping force under the auspices of the United Nations.
"The war cannot end by leaving any troops behind," Richardson said.
Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, whose vote to authorize the war has generated criticism from some anti-war activists, straddled a fine line between attacking the handling of the war while defending the U.S. military for getting rid of Saddam Hussein, allowing for Iraqi elections and giving the nation's new government a chance to proceed.
"They deserve to come home because there is no military solution," Clinton said. "Unfortunately, both the Iraqi government and the Bush administration have failed. The Iraqi government has refused to pursue the political path that was necessary and the Bush administration has turned its back on diplomacy."
But former Sen. John Edwards appeared to question Clinton's claim that she would be a powerful experienced force for change. Edwards has criticized Clinton's acceptance of campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists.
"I don't believe you can bring about the big change that America needs, the bold change that America needs and defend the system in Washington," Edwards said. "I don't believe you can bring about the change that America needs and defend big corporate interests in Washington and their lobbyists. We have to take these people on."
And Obama, a first-term senator, refuted criticism that he was too inexperienced for the presidency by saying that a long tenure in Washington doesn't necessarily translate into "good judgment" and "good character."
"I know there are some who see politics just as a game," Obama said. "But it is my attitude that it is not enough just to look for who can play the game best. We have to bring an end to the game playing."
But like the undecided Chesnuts, who want a believable strategy to deal with Iraq, health care and a burgeoning federal deficit, Dennis Hampton, a retired union electrical worker from Ankeny, said he was still content to wait and see how the Democratic race—and the candidates—develop.
"As far as any of them goes, I'd like to see at least one of them keep their promises once they get in," Hampton said. "They're not coming across forceful enough to the average person."
Tribune staff reporter Bob Secter contributed to this report.
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Comments
This election really is that serious. Think of all the damage after eight years that will need to be undone.
Is Obama good enough? Even with eight years?
Posted by: RomanB | September 16, 2007 7:05 PM
"...Obama... refuted criticism that he was too inexperienced for the presidency by saying that a long tenure in Washington doesn't necessarily translate into 'good judgment' and 'good character.'"
Endorsing Todd Stroger, that shows good judgement and good character?
Accepting a sweetheart deal on his mansion from KNOWN sleaze Tony Resco, that shows good judgement and good character?
Accepting funds from lobbyists and PACS and then marketing himself as The Breath of Fresh Air™... having the audacity to claim that he's proposing a new kind of politics... that shows good judgement and good character?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 16, 2007 7:32 PM
Did he find anyone in the audience who he thought looked like Jethro from the Beverly Hillibillies?
Posted by: JD | September 16, 2007 7:35 PM
Obama has good judgement!
(It took him 17 years to pay a parking ticket)
Obama has good character!
(He's an admitted illegal drug user)
And his middle name is Hussein.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 16, 2007 8:43 PM
An economic heart attack is imminent. The country cannot endure four more years of profligate spending - either on wars in the middle east or on the socialist entitlement programs that the Democrats all want. The next financial bubble may very well be "the big one."
Note to the author: You need to look up the meaning of the word "refuted." It doesn't mean what you think it does.
Posted by: Jive Dadson | September 16, 2007 8:47 PM
This election is very serious. That is why the inexperienced and very ordinary Barack Obama will not get elected. Barack is a media creation, nothing more, nothing less. He has accomplished very little in his career.
Posted by: John D | September 16, 2007 8:47 PM
Though it's not a great phrase for a steak fry, the issue of Iraq may well be as " as a heart attack." But how come the Dems in the Senate, including Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, treated their vote to give George Bush a blank check to wage war as if it were less serious than a pimple? They admit that they did not read the classified intelligence report, which Sen. Graham urged them to read. Not only did Hillary not read that report, she made a speech at the time echoing the Bush administration line that Saddam had ties to al Qaeda -- a line that found no support in the evidence available to her.
Obama is the real deal, and everyone wants to fault him for being less than perfect. True, he's a politician, but he's among the most honest and ethical we've seen. He was the first to disclose his "bundlers," and by pressuring Hillary and others to do so, we now know how much money she was receiving from fugitive-from-justice Norman Hsu: a lot.
Posted by: LD | September 16, 2007 9:08 PM
This election is very serious. That is why the inexperienced and very ordinary Barack Obama will not get elected. Barack is a media creation, nothing more, nothing less. He has accomplished very little in his career.
Posted by: John D | September 16, 2007 8:47 PM
His lack of expereince concerns me though I am waiting on a final judgement. Something tells me though that John D voted for someone who could have fit his above description in 2000 -- George Bush. "He has accomplished very little in his career."
Posted by: kb | September 16, 2007 9:20 PM
Actually, Jive, refute means to disprove a falsehood, but it also means merely to deny the truth of a statement (see American Heritage Dictionary). So the author is justified in using "refuted" in the context of Obama's statements.
Posted by: Bill F | September 16, 2007 9:24 PM
And his middle name is Hussein.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 16, 2007 8:43 PM
Paula = loser. No one is buying onto your nake jive nitwit!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 16, 2007 11:56 PM
What the Swamp won't tell you: The latest national polls of Democrats have Clinton up almost 2 to 1 over Obama--a landslide--with Edwards running third, Richardson with from 1% to 5%, and the rest not even registering.
Obama wins in Swamp coverage (note who gets the only photo in this article). But he gets wiped out among Democrat voters.
Posted by: Bruce | September 17, 2007 1:20 AM
Barack Obama is neither inexperienced nor ordinary. And he's certainly not a media creation -- if anything, the media is consistently looking to bring him down to the level of the others.
Do your own facts-based research, it's all online for Obama (can't say the same for other candidates -- I've looked). Read his books, watch his speeches. If you don't find refreshing honesty, real-world experience uniting opposite views for actual change, and the inspiration of a true leader...well then, you'll just vote your cynicism I guess.
Trust me when I say I've never been political before. Before Barack Obama, I was resigned to vote for Hillary Clinton, or whomever else won the primary (maybe even Guiliani). But now that I have someone to vote FOR, I find myself trying to convince frustrated, cynical Americans that there IS an alternative to all this bickering.
PLEASE don't let the AP-distilled, pundit-filled media fill your brain with worthless sound-bytes -- do your OWN research!! Dodd's right -- it's as serious as a heart attack!!!
Posted by: Trish G | September 17, 2007 1:34 AM
Accepting funds from lobbyists and PACS and then marketing himself as The Breath of Fresh Air™... having the audacity to claim that he's proposing a new kind of politics... that shows good judgement and good character?
Posted by: Anonymous | September 16, 2007 7:32 PM
Anonymous Anti-Obama racist,
These are ALLEGATIONS, no charges have EVER been filed, it's nothing more than propaganda for the Wingnut dittoheads like you.
I'm not surprised that GOP is desperate to spread anti-Obama/Democratic propaganda/lies considering how the "family values" party seems to be falling into the depths of hypocrisy recently, See Below:
"Travelers Ask to See Craig Bathroom"
By Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -
When tourists ask for the bathroom in the Minneapolis airport lately, it's usually not because they have to go.
It's because they want to see the stall made famous by U.S. Sen. Larry Craig's arrest in a sex sting.
"It's become a tourist attraction," said Karen Evans, information specialist at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "People are taking pictures."
Craig was arrested June 11 by a Minneapolis airport police officer. The Idaho Republican pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Craig has since said his guilty plea was a mistake. His request to withdraw the guilty plea will be heard Sept. 26, just four days before he has said he will step down from his Senate seat.
Just 15 minutes into her shift on Friday, Evans said she had been asked directions to the new tourist attraction four times. Other airport workers field the same question.
"It's by the Lottery shop, right next to the shoeshine shop," said newsstand worker Abdalla Said, adding he gets the question daily.
The Royal Zino Shoeshine shop owner's grandson, Royal Zino, said it has been hectic.
"People have been going inside, taking pictures of the stall, taking pictures outside the bathroom door -- man, it's been crazy," he said.
On their way to Guatemala, Jon and Sally Westby of Minneapolis made a visit.
"We had to just stop and check out the bathroom," Sally said. "In fact, it's Jon's second time -- he was here last week already.
Posted by: John E | September 17, 2007 2:05 AM
Wow no criticisms based on substance. And mostly things that are public knowledge and taken out of context like his drug use and middle name and taking lobbyist and pack money while in the STATE SENATE.
Way to go people, you proved the point that he does have the character and the judgment based on your empty attempts at a character assassination.
Because the other two leading dems are just gems of moral authority.
Posted by: Alex | September 17, 2007 3:13 AM
Awww, look at all the jealous little Hill Bots and Republicans. Whats a matter? You can't take the fact that Barack Obama has it and the rest of them don't no matter how hard the Media tries to spin it?
LOL
Posted by: DR | September 17, 2007 6:21 AM
Trish G,
Your post was full of vague, nice sounding canned phrases, but no substantive meaning... in other words quite like an Obama stump speech.
Again I have yo urge you to follow your own advice: PLEASE do some basic research. And make it SERIOUS research. Checking out Obama's Website, reading his self agrandizing autobiographies has given you a very small, very skewed picture.
Alex,
The huge difference between Obama and the other 2 leading Dems is that he is marketing himself as a moral autority, they aren't.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 17, 2007 8:53 AM
Obama wins in Swamp coverage (note who gets the only photo in this article). But he gets wiped out among Democrat voters.
Posted by: Bruce | September 17, 2007 1:20 AM
What do you care you neo-con shill. Propaganda Bruce is at it again. RNC hack. Your a pathetic brainless tool!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 17, 2007 9:06 AM
Anonymous,
Noone here believes you've ever taken the time to listen from beginning to end to an Obama stump speech or so much as researched his policy positions and prescriptions.
You do have a valid criticism when you point out his associations with sleazeball Tony Rezko. Imagine the nerve of the Rezko guy. Using an apartment overlooking the World Trade Center rubble donated for rescue workers to rest and relax in between time searching for the remains of those murdered on 9/11 so that Rezko could have an extra-marital affair. How gruesome? How selfish? How sleazy? And for any person to suggest they know what is best for this country when they have associations with creeps like this Rezko guy is a slap in the face to everyone with common sense.
Posted by: jethro | September 17, 2007 11:06 AM
I would like to congratulate all the Obama supporters here today. You've gone an entire post without calling anyone a racist for not liking Obama....aka...."the empty suit."
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: JD | September 17, 2007 11:16 AM
Clinton, Obama, and Ron Paul are the voices of reason in this campaign.
Personally, I especially like Ron Paul because he's smart, honest, forthright, and speaks his mind without spin. He's his own person and is beholden to no one.
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 17, 2007 2:46 PM
Hi Alex,
Thanks for your reply. The idea behind my post was to encourage folks to rise above this cyber-fodder and do their own actual research. That included not taking my "vague" word for it.
But if you insist on my own detailed reasons for voting for Barack Obama, read my first blog ever:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/trishgray
That should provide more than enough supporting details.
Thanks.
Posted by: Trish G. | September 17, 2007 4:15 PM
Clinton, Obama, and Ron Paul are the voices of reason in this campaign.
Personally, I especially like Ron Paul because he's smart, honest, forthright, and speaks his mind without spin. He's his own person and is beholden to no one.
Posted by: Elizabeth | September 17, 2007 2:46 PM
Elizabeth you read my mind. I like Ron Paul allot. To bad his party won't get behind him.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 17, 2007 10:24 PM
[quote]
Obama has good character!
(He's an admitted illegal drug user)
Posted by: Paulo | September 16, 2007 8:43 PM
[/quote]
And that is WAY MORE than the current moron in the White House has ever done - been upfront about his past failings. Bush got totally smashed on his 40th birthday and still acts like a "dry drunk" today.
Posted by: BC | September 18, 2007 11:27 AM
"Posted by: Bruce | September 17, 2007 1:20 AM"
Bruce - at least when I post the results of a poll, I include the source so that Swamp readers can see the questions and numbers on their own.
Posted by: BC | September 18, 2007 11:29 AM
This election is really serious. Obama is the real deal, and everyone wants to fault him for being less than perfect.
Posted by: Andria | October 8, 2007 3:44 AM