Obama addresses crowd of all ages in St. Louis

By Mary Daly

Published Feb. 5, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., continued to push his message of change at a rally at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Saturday.

In the hours leading up to Obama's speech, the audience was prepared by a lively selection of music, including a performance by the Harris-Stowe State University drum line. Also, in celebration of Mardi Gras, volunteers distributed red, white and blue beads to the crowd.

Obama attracted a racially diverse crowd of all ages. Young children were hoisted in the air alongside elderly onlookers who were waving their canes in support.

Haley Quinn, 16, of Jefferson City, said she feels inspired by Obama.

"I like that his message is 'Yes We Can' instead of 'Yes I Can,'" Quinn said. "It makes me feel like I can make a difference."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., introduced Obama and commented on the diversity of the attendees.

"Look at how this room looks — how much it looks like America," McCaskill said.

McCaskill also spoke about Obama's personal diversity, having a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya.

"Only in America could this skinny kid from Chicago with a weird name compete at the best level," McCaskill said.

Obama opened his speech by commenting how good it feels to be in St. Louis because it is so close to his hometown of Chicago.

He claimed that America couldn't afford to wait to fix problems in areas like health care, schools and the environment. He said now is the time for action.

"I am not running for president because of some long held ambition," Obama said. "I am running because of what Dr. (Martin Luther) King called the fierce urgency of now," Obama said.

Obama stressed the importance of all classes of Americans coming together to make a difference.

"Change in America does not happen from the top down," Obama said. "It happens from the bottom up."

Obama said he plans to change health care so that every person will get the same coverage that the members of Congress receive.

Those who cannot afford health care will receive government subsidies, Obama said. He also promised to lower premiums by the end of his first term.

Obama also intends to help people save money by taking away tax cuts for the wealthy and giving them to the middle class. Senior citizens who make less than $50,000 in a year will not have to pay any income tax.

He also has plans to raise the minimum wage every year to keep up with inflation.

Obama wants to make early childhood education, as well as higher education, readily available to America's youth.

"College should be affordable for everyone," Obama said.

If elected president, he said he would give a $4,000 tuition credit to every college student every year. In return, the student must do community service for the government.

Obama intends to help the environment by putting a cap on emissions of greenhouse gases. This would generate money that he plans to invest in alternative forms of energy, such as solar and bio-diesel, Obama said.

Obama proposed a strong and respectable foreign policy.

"My first job as commander in chief will be to keep you safe," he said.

Obama said he wants to deploy the military wisely and give troops any assistance they need when they return home from duty.

"I don't want to just end the war in Iraq," Obama said. "I want to end the mindset that got us into the war in the first place."

Obama said he intends to communicate with all foreign nations, friends and enemies, in order to promote amiable relations rather than war.

Obama's message of hard work, hope and change seemed to resonate with many students who attended the rally.

MU freshman Evan Bush wasn't sure which candidate he would be voting for before he attended the event on Saturday night, but said he was inspired by Obama.

"He has a fresh approach to government that I think America needs right now," Bush said.

MU freshman Cassie Batchelder said she greatly respects Obama's skill as an orator and was glad to see so many people at the event.

"He's a very energizing person who I think can motivate Americans to come together and work for the greater good," Batchelder said.

Saturday was Obama's last scheduled stop in Missouri before Super Tuesday.