Obama links cost of war to economic hardships

[jefferson_dem]

Obama links cost of war to economic hardships
Posted at 1:29 PM

http://blogs.trb.com/news/politics/blog/Obama%20in%20WVA-thumb

Sen. Barack Obama greeted Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) on arrival in Charleston, W.Va., today. AP Photo by Alex Brandon.

by Mike Dorning

CHARLESTON, W.V.—Barack Obama came to economically struggling West Virginia today to highlight the financial burden that the five-year-long Iraq War presents for the government and broader economy and link the war’s costs to the economic hardships of everyday Americans.

Obama often touches on the theme in campaign appearances. But his speech at the University of Charleston marks an attempt to generate greater attention for an economics-based argument against the war at a time when the nation appears to be falling into a recession and voters are putting a higher priority on economic issues.

The speech was his first appearance as a presidential candidate in West Virginia, which holds its presidential primary May 13.

The Illinois senator, an early opponent of the war, argued that the Iraq War has contributed to rising gasoline prices as well as a swelling national debt that has weakened the economy. At the same, he argued, the war is draining resources that could be used to expand access to health care, improve public education and rebuild roads and bridges.

“Ordinary Americans are paying a price for this war,” Obama said. “It’s not the same price, obviously, as the price borne by our troops and their families. But it’s a price.”

“When you’re spending over $50 to fill up your car because the price of oil is four times what it was before Iraq, you’re paying a price for this war,” Obama added.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/obama_links_cost_of_war_with_e.html

[whistle]

1. It must be said: "Guns or butter, you can't have both"

[polichick]

2. Great - bread and butter issues!

[Romulox]

3. I link Obama's support of NAFTA and "free trade" to economic hardships

Michigan was in a recession before the Iraq war. :eyes:

[Cha]

4. Obama being practical

in West Virginia..and thanks to hilary and her ilk we are in Iraq for 5 bloody years now and how many deaths and treasure have we and the Iraqis lost forever?

[Straight Shooter]

5. It's part of it, not all of it. The sub prime debacle is even worse.

Also, let me go back a few decades and blame that rat bastard Reagan for lulling people into believing they could enjoy the good life without making the necessary adjustments required to become less of an oil-based society.