Commonwealth Times

Media Credit: Pat Kane Sen. Barack Obama talks to supporters during the rally as Democratic Attorney General hopeful Creigh Deeds looks on. [Click to enlarge]

Sen. Barack Obama criticized the Bush Administration during a rally in Charlottesville Monday, voicing concern for its policies both in Iraq and at home.

His message was received by a crowd of more than 4,200 people who gathered outside at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

Obama took to the stage, telling the cheering crowd that they were an inspiration to him. He said it is their diversity that inspires him to work toward an America that looks past bipartisanism.

"America is not just a collection of red states and blue states," he said.

Even though Obama is trailing Hillary Clinton in popularity polls, Obama's visit drew more spectators and money than Clinton's visit to Charlottesville in September, a Pew Research Center survey said.

The Democratic presidential candidate was praised by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who spoke at the event. Kaine endorsed Obama in February and expressed his hope that Obama turns Virginia into a mostly Democratic state for the first time in decades.

Kaine called Obama the underdog, but Obama is secondseated among Democratic party candidates, according to the Pew Research Center.

The only way Americans will see the changes they want to see is if the current political system is changed, Obama said.

Congress should not be influenced by lobbyists, heads of corporations or big oil companies, he said.

"Congress should be held accountable by you," he said.

He said he would bring back the civil liberties the Bush Administration has taken away. If elected, Obama said he would review every executive order established by Bush and reverse any law that encroaches upon the nation's civil liberties.

Strongly promoting basic human rights, Obama also said that if elected, he would work to end the genocide in Darfur and stop the AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa.

On health care issues closer to home, he promised to lower premiums and get everyone, including 47 million uninsured Americans, insured by the end of his first term.

Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq, saying the war has cost the country billions of dollars and thousands of lives. He promised that if elected, he would start bringing troops home immediately. "It will be the first thing I do," he said, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Obama expressed concern for Congress, saying they need to stand up to the president on tough issues, such as the war and energy plans. He pledged that if he were elected, he would work to raise the fuel efficiency on automobiles to 40 miles per gallon, ending U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East.

If elected, he also promised he would keep the well-being of the average voter in mind.

"Everyday I will wake up and ask: 'How can I fight for a better country?' " he said.

He said his ability to know what the average American wants comes from votes, and he encouraged everyone to go to the polls for elections both big and small, including Tuesday's local elections.

As he left the stage, shouts of "We believe!" were heard throughout the crowd.

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Media Credit: Pat Kane Sen. Barack Obama talks to supporters during the rally as Democratic Attorney General hopeful Creigh Deeds looks on. [Click to enlarge]

Sen. Barack Obama criticized the Bush Administration during a rally in Charlottesville Monday, voicing concern for its policies both in Iraq and at home.

His message was received by a crowd of more than 4,200 people who gathered outside at the Charlottesville Pavilion.

Obama took to the stage, telling the cheering crowd that they were an inspiration to him. He said it is their diversity that inspires him to work toward an America that looks past bipartisanism.

"America is not just a collection of red states and blue states," he said.

Even though Obama is trailing Hillary Clinton in popularity polls, Obama's visit drew more spectators and money than Clinton's visit to Charlottesville in September, a Pew Research Center survey said.

The Democratic presidential candidate was praised by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who spoke at the event. Kaine endorsed Obama in February and expressed his hope that Obama turns Virginia into a mostly Democratic state for the first time in decades.

Kaine called Obama the underdog, but Obama is secondseated among Democratic party candidates, according to the Pew Research Center.

The only way Americans will see the changes they want to see is if the current political system is changed, Obama said.

Congress should not be influenced by lobbyists, heads of corporations or big oil companies, he said.

"Congress should be held accountable by you," he said.

He said he would bring back the civil liberties the Bush Administration has taken away. If elected, Obama said he would review every executive order established by Bush and reverse any law that encroaches upon the nation's civil liberties.

Strongly promoting basic human rights, Obama also said that if elected, he would work to end the genocide in Darfur and stop the AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa.

On health care issues closer to home, he promised to lower premiums and get everyone, including 47 million uninsured Americans, insured by the end of his first term.

Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq, saying the war has cost the country billions of dollars and thousands of lives. He promised that if elected, he would start bringing troops home immediately. "It will be the first thing I do," he said, prompting cheers from the crowd.

Obama expressed concern for Congress, saying they need to stand up to the president on tough issues, such as the war and energy plans. He pledged that if he were elected, he would work to raise the fuel efficiency on automobiles to 40 miles per gallon, ending U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East.

If elected, he also promised he would keep the well-being of the average voter in mind.

"Everyday I will wake up and ask: 'How can I fight for a better country?' " he said.

He said his ability to know what the average American wants comes from votes, and he encouraged everyone to go to the polls for elections both big and small, including Tuesday's local elections.

As he left the stage, shouts of "We believe!" were heard throughout the crowd.

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