Obama in Indiana Saturday
TERRE HAUTE -- Sen. Barack Obama pushed his plan to boost the economy during his first campaign stop in Indiana since winning the Democratic presiential nomination.
The visit to Terre Haute on Saturday came on the heels of the Republican National Convention, where GOP speakers leveled a constant barrage of criticism against the Illinois lawmaker. Those criticisms included repeated charges that he'd raise taxes. Obama's opponent, Sen. John McCain, attempted to brand himself as the real change agent.
Obama hit back Saturday in front of a crowd of about 1,500 at the Wabash Valley State Fairgrounds' 4H Arena.
"I mean, come on. They must think you're stupid," he said. "Don't be fooled. These are the folks who have been in charge. John McCain's party, with the help of John McCain, has been in charge."
Obama said his economic plan would provide tax relief to 95 percent of Americans.
"You deserve a break from high gas prices and food prices," he said. "You need a little more money in your pockets."
Obama said investing in alternative energy would boost the economy. In the next 10 years he said he'd create 5 million new jobs in solar and wind power and researching new fuels.
As he returned to his campaign's message of change, he lambasted Republicans and said McCain hasn't offered any specific plans to bring reform.
"Change is not having no plan [...] which is essentially what John McCain has: no plan," Obama said.
Alongside Obama were U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Jill Long Thompson, the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful.
"The time for change has come, and Barack Obama is the change," Bayh said. "Barack Obama understands that our country can no longer be divided into red and blue states, but must once again be reunited as fifty red, white and blue states."
Obama took questions from the audience after he finished his speech. The questions dove deeper into Obama's stances on issues like No Child Left Behind. Obama said he accepted the idea of NCLB, but wanted to make changes.
"We have to have high standards," Obama said. "Our kids have to compete not only with kids in California or North Carolina, they've got to compete against kids in Beijing and Bangalore, India."
Obama finished by suggesting tests be administered at the beginning or end of a school year so teachers would be able to gauge how their students were performing and learning.
Obama said America is at a defining moment in terms of both its economy and national security.
"And if we don't [...] decide to move in a different direction and get this country back on track we could be the first generation in a very long time that doesn't pass on a country that's more unified and more prosporous than the one we inherited from our parents and grandparents," he said. "And that is not a future I accept."
