This section will present important news about Barack Obama
and his
campaign in a chronological order trying to form a
Barack Obama News Timeline that will trace media coverage of
Barack Obama.
The Wall Street Journal: Poll Shows that Barack Obama is More Popular than Ever
Published: March 4, 2009 A new poll indicates that President Barack Obama enjoys widespread backing from a frightened American public for his ambitious, front-loaded agenda. Americans are hopeful about Obama's leadership. Opposition Republicans on the other hand are getting drubbed in public opinion
Last night, I addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.
To confront the serious economic challenges our nation faces, I called for a new era of responsibility and cooperation. We need to look beyond short term political calculations and make vital investments in health care, energy, and education that will make America stronger and more prosperous well into the future.
A little more than a month into my administration, we've already taken bold steps to address our urgent economic problems.
Through the Recovery Act, the Stability Plan, and the Housing Plan, we're taking the immediate necessary measures to halt our economic downturn and provide much-needed assistance to working people and their families.
But to set our country on a new course of stability and prosperity, we must reject the old ways of doing business in Washington. We can no longer tolerate fiscal deficits and runaway spending while deferring the consequences to future generations.
That's why I pledged last night to cut our deficit in half by the end of my term. Achieving that goal will require making sacrifices and hard decisions, as well as an honest budgeting process that is straight with taxpayers about where their dollars are going.
Central to this plan will be a renewed commitment to honesty and transparency in government. Restoring our country's economic health will only happen when ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to hold their representatives fully accountable for the decisions they make.
I look forward to continuing to work with you as we bring about the change you made possible.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
A Message from Barack Obama to his Supporters - A big first step - Thank You
Published: February 18, 2009 Today, I signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.
This is a historic step -- the first of many as we work together to climb out of this crisis -- and I want to thank you for your resolve and your support.
You organized thousands of house meetings. You shared your ideas and personal stories. And you informed your friends and neighbors about the need for immediate action. You continue to be a powerful voice for change throughout the country.
The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.
It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.
I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you.
That's why my administration has created Recovery.gov, a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.
Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet. If you haven't already, you can read stories from families all across the country:
http://my.barackobama.com/yourstories
Your stories are the heart of this recovery plan, and that's what I'll focus on every day as President.
With your continued support, we'll emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Reuters: US Senate passes $787 bln stimulus plan
Published: February 13, 2009 U.S. Senate approves $787 billion in spending and tax cuts to boost the ailing economy, sending the emergency stimulus legislation to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.
Urgent message from President Barack Obama About His Economic Recovery Plan
Published: February 7, 2009 David Plouffe, Obama's Campaign Manager, sent the following email message to Barack Obama supporters:
President Barack Obama recorded a video to speak directly to you about his economic recovery plan.
America is facing an urgent and unprecedented challenge. The economic crisis requires bold and immediate action.
Watch President Obama's video and share it with your friends and family:
Watch the video
Los Angeles Times: Barack Obama upholds Bush faith policy to fund religious groups that discriminate in hiring
Published: February 6, 2009 During his campaign Barack Obama pledged that religious Groups receiving federal money would no longer be allowed to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion. On Thursday, however, as President Obama disclosed the details of his faith-based program, he left the controversial Bush policy that allows such conduct in place.
New York Times: Daschle Ends Bid for Post; Obama Concedes Mistake
Published: February 3, 2009 Tom Daschle withdraws his nomination as secretary of health and human services after weathering four days of scrutiny over unpaid taxes. President Barack concedes having “screwed up” in undermining his own ethical standards by pushing the appointment.
USA Today - Obama names GOP senator to head Commerce
Published: February 2, 2009 President Barack Obama taps Republican Senator Judd Gregg to be Commerce secretary. This step is described by both parties as a bi-partisan effort to heal the ailing economy.
New York Times: House Passes Barack Obama’s Stimulus Package
Published: January 28, 2009 Without a single Republican vote, President Barack Obama wins House approval for an $819 billion economic recovery plan. Congressional Democrats sought to hold down their own difference over the enormous package of tax cuts and spending. All but 11 Democrats voted for the plan and 177 Republicans voted against it. House Republicans blames Democrats for a package that is tilted heavily toward new spending instead of tax cuts.
YnetNews - Barack Obama's initiative: Demark conference on Gaza smuggling
Published: January 27, 2009 As a result of Barack Obama's efforts to advance the process between Israel and the Palestinians, a meeting of high-ranking officials on arms smuggling into Gaza is shaping up to take place as early as next week in Denmark
washingtonpost.com - Barack Obama meets with GOP House members
Published: January 27, 2009 President Obama says he is optimistic after meeting with Republican House leaders. Obama calles for a suspension of partisan politics as he and lawmakers try to craft a rescue of the nation's economy.
BBC - Barack Obama aims for oil independence (Video & Text)
Published: January 26, 2009 President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats. Read the full story and watch Barack Obama announcing the steps he plans to take toward energy independence.
Video - Associated Press - Barack Obama Orders Review of Emissions Standards
Published: January 26, 2009 President Barack Obama takes steps towards allowing California and other states to target greenhouse gases through more stringent auto emission standards. Obama also orders new federal fuel efficiency rules.
New York Times - Barack Obama Reverses Anti Abortion Policy
Published: January 24, 2009 Barack Obama repealed rules on that restricted federal money for international organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas, sweeping aside a pillar of the social policy architecture of George W. Bush’s presidency.
CNN - Barack Obama's Plan To Recover The Economy
Published: January 24, 2009 President Barack Obama paints a bleak picture of the country's economy on his weekly radio and Internet address and pushes for a stimulus package
How is this unprecedented group of volunteers, grassroots leaders, and dedicated supporters going to help make change a reality?
More than half a million people shared their thoughts and ideas about moving forward, and we listened carefully. Last week, President Obama announced the creation of Organizing for America -- a group that will work alongside the President to support the agenda you fought so hard for.
You've already invested in the future of this country -- whether you voted, donated money, helped organize your local community, or got involved in countless other ways.
But right now, your participation in the political process is more important than ever. We'll soon be asking you to give whatever time or talent you can to support the President. With your help, we can bring change to Washington and the entire nation.
I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.
Thank you,
David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
Questions or feedback? Contact Organizing for America at 1-877-922-4264.
Reuters: President-elect Barack Obama visits the White House
- Video Report
November 8, 2008
BBC NEWS: Meet President-elect Barack Obama's New
Team
This story provides details about
Barack Obama's new team, including Chief of Staff Rahm
Emanuel, Senior Advisor David Axelrod, Transition Co-Chair
Valerie Jarrett, Transition Co-Chair John Podesta, Transition
Co-Chair Pete Rouse and Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
November 7, 2008
CNN: President-elect Barack Obama vows to act swiftly to
restore the nation's economic equilibrium
Watch President-elect Barack Obamas' first news conference:
November 6, 2008
Associated Press: Congressman
Rahm Emanuel has agreed to be President-elect Barack Obama's
White House chief of staff. It's the first major position
filled since Obama's victory. (Nov. 6)
November 5, 2008
CNN: Barack Obama Election Speech - Text and Video on the
same screen
CNN: Final poll shows Barack Obama leads John McCain by 7
points among likely voters, 53 percent to 46 percent
With two days left until election day, a new national poll
suggests that Barack Obama holds a seven-point lead over John
McCain in the race for the White House.
International Herald Tribune: Obama airs
major campaign broadcast
Democrat Barack Obama took to the airwaves
Wednesday with a half-hour paid television appeal, in an effort
to lock in his lead in the polls just six days before a
presidential election that could alter the U.S.
political landscape.
CBS NEWS: Barack Obama leads in most polls but John McCain
is counting on the margin of error and undecided voters
Although John McCain is trailing
in most polls, the margin of error could work for him. But on
the flip side, it could also provide Barack Obama with a
landslide victory. Chip Reid reports.
October 25, 2008
NEWSWEEK: Latest Poll Shows Barack Obama Leads John McCain
53% to 41%
Among registered voters nationwide, Obama now leads McCain
by 13 points, 53 percent to 40 percent. Among likely voters,
Obama's lead is similarly strong, 53 percent to 41 percent.
CBS NEWS: New Poll Shows Barack Obama holds a 13-point lead
over Republican rival John McCain
Obama now leads McCain 52 percent to 39 percent among likely
voters nationwide, roughly the same lead he held
last week. Just five percent are undecided, and more than 9
in 10 of each candidate’s supporters say their mind is made up
NEW YORK TIMES Endorses Barack Obama for President
Senator Barack Obama of Illinois has proved that he is the
right choice to be the 44th president of the United States.
Main points of this ensdorsement:
Barack Obama has shown a cool head and sound judgment
Barack Obama has the will and the ability to forge the
broad political consensus that is essential to finding
solutions to this nation’s problems
Senator John McCain ran a campaign on partisan division,
class warfare and even hints of racism and his choice of a
running mate so evidently unfit for the office was a final
act of opportunism and bad judgment
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Poll shows 53 percent of voters have a
favorable impression of Barack Obama whilte only 36 percent
have a favorable impression of John McCain
As voters have gotten to know Senator Barack Obama, they
have warmed up to him, but as voters have gotten to know
Senator John McCain, they have not warmed.
CBS NEWS: Watch A Video Report About General Colin Powell's
Endorsement of Barack Obama
October 19, 2008
CNN: Republican Colin Powell Endorses Brack Obama For
President
Republican Colin Powell, secretary of state in President
George W. Bush's first administration, has announced that he
will be voting for Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
Colin Powell made the following points:
I will be voting for Barack Obama.
Barack Obama is a transformational figure.
I think that Senator. Obama brings a fresh set of of
eyes, a fresh set of ideas to the table. I think that Senator
McCain, as gifted as he is, is essentially going to execute
the Republican agenda.
Senator Obama has captured the feelings of the young
people of America and is reaching out in a more diverse,
inclusive way across our society.
With regard to the economic crisis, Barack Obama has
demonstrated the kind of calm, patient, intellectual, steady
approach to problem-solving that I think we need in this
country.
To focus on people like Mr. Ayers ... for the purpose of
suggesting that somehow Mr. Obama would have some kind of
terrorist inclinations, I thought that was over the top. It
was beyond just good political fighting back and forth. I
think it went beyond. And to sort of throw in this little
Muslim connection, you know, "He's a Muslim and, my goodness,
he's a terrorist" -- it was taking root. And we can't judge
our people and we can't hold our elections on that kind of
basis.
Chicago Tribune Endorses Barack Obama for President
"On Nov. 4 we're going to elect a president to lead
us through a perilous time and restore in us a common sense of
national purpose. The strongest candidate to do that is Sen.
Barack Obama. The Tribune is proud to endorse him today for
president of the United States."
CNN: Poll Shows Barack Obama Decisively Won the Third and
Last 2008 Presidential Debate
Fifty-eight percent of debate watchers questioned in a
CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll said Democratic candidate Obama
did the best job in the debate, with 31 percent saying
Republican Sen. John McCain performed best.
Watch the full video of the third and last Presidential
Debate
October 15, 2008
CNN: Polls Show that John McCain is Forced to Play
Defense in Some Red States
In Virgina, a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat in a
presidential election since 1964, Barack Obama holds a
10-point lead over McCain -- 53 percent to 43 percent among
likely voters.
In Colorado, a state that hasn't voted for a Democrat in
the race for the White House in 16 years, Barack Obama holds
a four-point edge over McCain, 51 percent to 47 percent.
In Florida, a state that George Bush took by five points
in the last election, Barack Obama has a five-point advantage
over McCain, 51 percent to 46 percent.
In CNN's national general election "Poll of Polls"
released Wednesday afternoon, Obama was leading McCain, 50
percent to 42 percent, with eight percent unsure.
In a seven-page cover story, Barack Obama is talking about
George Bush's failures, John McCain's ugly campaign, and
lessons he has learned from Bill Clinton. Story By
ERIC BATES
Watch a CBS News video report about Barack Obama's surge in
latest polls
October 13, 2008
The Boston Globe Endorses Barack Obama
COME JANUARY, a new president will take charge of a nation
diminished, an America that is far shakier economically, less
secure militarily, and less respected internationally than it
was eight years before. The nation needs a chief executive who
has the temperament and the nerves to shepherd Americans
through what promises to be a grueling period — and who has the
vision to restore this country to its place of leadership in
the world.
Such a leader is at hand. With great enthusiasm, the Globe
endorses Senator Barack Obama for president. The charismatic
Democrat from Illinois has the ability to channel Americans’
hopes and rally the public together, at a time when the winds
are picking up and the clouds keep on darkening.
The New York Times: Obama Details Plan to Aid Victims of
Fiscal Crisis
TOLEDO, Ohio — Senator
Barack Obama proposed new steps on Monday to address the
economic crisis, calling for temporary but costly new programs
to help employers, automakers, homeowners, the unemployed, and
state and local governments.
Hillary Clinton Rallies for Barack Obama at Scranton,
Pennsylvania
Hillary Clinton: "We are in a financial crisis in America, and
it is a crisis born and bred by failed Republican policies,
championed by George Bush, John McCain and the Washington
Republicans. You know what they have said and done, cut
regulations, cut taxes for corporations and billionaires. When
you try to talk about the loan mortgage crisis, which I did
throughout my campaign, they sort of shrugged and said, 'what
loan mortgage crisis?' For two years I and others have said
that people are losing their houses, they've been victimized by
predatory lending, families can't pay their mortgage bills, and
that this mortgage crisis could mushroom out of control and
become a full blown economic crisis, But to President Bush and
John McCain middle class families sinking into debt are
invisible. We can help Americans losing their houses, but we
can only do it by if we make sure the Republicans lose the
White House on November."
Watch the video
October 11, 2008
The New York Times: The Terrorist Barack Hussein Obama by
Frank Rick
Frank Rich writes about the dangerous game McCain and Palin
play: racism.
The article is accompanied by
this powerful caricature, depicting McCain and Palin
releasing the mad dogs
October 10, 2008
CBSNews Video Report About John McCain's Attempt to Play Down
the Nastiness of His Campaign Attacks against Barack Obama
October 10, 2008
NEWSWEEK: Poll Shows Barack Obama Has A Double Digit Lead
Over John McCain
According to a new NEWSWEEK poll, Barack Obama leads 52
percent to 41 percent among registered voters—a marked shift
from the last NEWSWEEK poll, conducted one month ago, when the
two candidates were tied at 46 percent.
The Mercury News: Rising attacks against Obama stoke fears
of violence, accusations of racism
Barack Obama
assailed the Republican ticket on Friday for "stoking anger and
division'' after a remarkably hot-tempered week that saw
searing attacks from John McCain and Sarah Palin at rallies
while their supporters shouted "terrorist" and "traitor" and
even "off with his head'' at the mention of the Democratic
candidate's name.
The Independent: Obama is a traitor, cry McCain supporters
Rallies for John McCain and Sarah Palin are becoming
rabble-rousing events where warm-up speakers encourage unruly
crowds to vent hatred for the Democratic contender, Barack
Obama. Cat-calls of "traitor", "criminal" and "terrorist" have
been heard.
At a 6,000-strong rally in Pennsylvania this week, as the
two candidates on the Republican ticket waited backstage, a
senior party member asked the crowd how they would feel about
having a president with the middle name Hussein. "Think about
how you'll feel on 5 November if you wake up and see the news,
that Barack Obama – that's Barack Hussein Obama – is the
president-elect of the United States," said Bill Platt, the
Lehigh County Republican chairman.
MLive.com: Former Republican Senator Supports Barack Obama
and Says John McCain Is Dividing the Nation
Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican U.S. senator from Rhode
Island criticized McCain for pandering to the Republican
Party's right wing, a strategy he said is dividing the nation
and would make it difficult for McCain to govern.
CNN Poll Shows Barack Obama Is the Winner of the Second
Presidential Debate
Fifty-four percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion
Research Corp. survey conducted after the debate ended said
that Obama did the best job in the debate, with 30 percent
saying Sen. John McCain performed better.
AssociatedPress Report on the Second Presidential Debate
October 7, 2008:
Following the Second Presidential Debate, CBS Poll Shows A
Clear Majority of UncommittedVoters See Barack Obama As Winner
Forty percent of the 516 uncommitted voters surveyed
identified Barack Obama as tonight's winner; 26 percent said
John McCain won, while 34 percent saw the debate as a draw.
C-SPAN: Full Video of the Second 2008 Presidential Debate
Between John McCain and Barack Obama
October 7, 2008
CNN Poll: 55 percent of registered voters say that Barack
Obama "cares more about people like you" than Sen. John McCain
Only 35 percent are saying McCain cares more than Obama.
Poll Question: "Who has a clearer plan to solve the
country's problems?"
Barack Obama leads John McCain on that too. 48 percent of
registered voters say Barack Obama has a clearer plan to solve
the country's problems. Only 33 percent say that about John
McCain.
Barack Obama Reacts to John McCain's Campaign Plans to Step
Up the Personal Attacks On Him
Barack Obama: "My opponent, Senator McCain, his campaign has
announced that they plan to, and I quote, 'turn the page on the
discussion about our economy', and spend the final weeks of
this campaign launching swift-boat style attacks on me. Think
about that for a second. Turn the page on the economy. We are
facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and
John McCain wants us to turn the page on talking about the
economy? I know the policies he supported these past eight
years and the policies he wants to continue for another four
are pretty hard to defend. So I can understand why Senator
McCain would want to 'turn the page' and ignore the economy.
But I also know this: you're trying to pay your bills every
week and stay above water. You can't ignore the economy."
October 6, 2008
Gallup Poll Shows Barack Obama Leads John McCain 50 to 42
The Australian: Barack Obama Heads John McCain with
Significant Lead in Battleground States
Three factors propel Obama's surge in polls: the financial
crisis, Obama's appearance in the presidential debate last
week, the evaporation of the Palin bounce.
AssociatedPress Video Report: Poll Says Barack Obama Has A
7 Point Lead Over John McCain
Democrat Barack Obama has broken
out into a seven-point lead over Republican John McCain one
month before the election, according to a new Associated
Press-GfK poll. (Oct. 1)
25 September 2008
Barack Obama: "Now Is The Time to Come Together"
Barack Obama said Thursday he
plans to go to Oxford, Mississippi following a trip to
Washington, and will proceed with the first presidential debate
Friday
Barack Obama: "Now is the time to
come together, Democrats and Republicans, in a spirit of
cooperation on behalf of the American people. Later today I'll
be traveling to Washington, offering my help in getting this
deal done. And them I'll travel to Oxford, Mississippi, on
Friday, for the first of our presidential debates. Our election
is in forty days, our economy is in crisis, our nation is
fighting to wars abroad. The American people I believe deserve
to hear directly from my self and from Senator McCain about how
we intend to lead our country. The times are too serious to put
our campaign on hold or to ignore the full range of issues that
the next president will face."
24 September 2008
Obama Pledges Deep Cuts in Spending
"As president I'll go through the entire Federal budget,
page by page, line by line, and I will eliminate the programs
that do not work and are not needed so we can start providing
the funding for the programs that do work and are needed.
That's common sense."
19 September 2008
Barack Obama says U.S. in 'Serious Financial Crisis'
Obama called the
troubles on Wall Street a major threat to the U.S. economy.
(Sept. 16, 2008)
from Associated Press
12 September 2008
Obama, McCain Clash Over Lipstick Comment
Referring to John McCain's attempt to present himself as
Change, Barack Obama says: "You can put a lipstick on a pig,
but it's still a pig." The Republicans are outraged by this
comment and say Barack Obama is using a smear against Sarah
Palin. Barack Obama in response to this accusation says:
"Enough! I don't care what they say about me, but I love this
country too much to let them take over another election with
lies and phony outrage and swiftboat politics. Enough is
Enough."
More about Barack Obama's "Lipstick On A Pig" comment on
this CBS story:
September 11, 2008
Barack Obama and John McCain meet on stage at Columbia
University, New York, on the 9/11 anniversary
Karl Rove of the Wall Street Journal says Barack Obama
can't win against Palin
Article summary: Sarah Palin has gotten into
Barack Obama's head and therefore he's making the mistake of
going one-on-one against her, forgetting that he's running
against John McCain for president. Not for vice president.
Barack Obama should avoid attacking Sarah Obama because that
diminishes him, not her. A debate between Barack Obama and
Sarah Palin over executive experience is not smart politics for
Democrats. If Barack Obama gives the impression that he's going
out of his way to attack Sarah Palin, independent women and
Hillary Clinton voters may conclude it's because he has a
problem with strong women.
- Barack Obama raises $52 million dollars in June 2008
through small donations. Republican John McCain raised $21.5
million in June 2008, and only a third came from small donors.
(Yahoo News)
- Barack Obama visits Iraq. He met Iraqi leaders and
discussed timeframe for U.S. combat troops withdrawal.
July 21, 2008
- John McCain airs negative TV ad depicting Barack Obama as
responsible for rising gas prices. The ad goes: “Gas prices -
$4, $5, no end in sight, because some in Washington are still
saying ‘no’ to drilling in America, ‘no’ to independence from
foreign oil. Who can you thank for rising prices as the pump?”
Smug Barack Obama of course.
- The Guardian reports that Barack Obama's bid for U.S.
troops withdrawal is supported by Iraq government. Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated he supports Barack Obama's 16
months timeframe for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
July 20, 2008
- Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun Times brings pictures of the
newly painted
Boeing 757 of the Obama Campaign, as it's poised to depart
from Chicago to the Middle East and Europe.
- Barack Obama calls to focus international efforts on
Taliban and al-Qaida
- After weeks of speculation, the Barack Obama campaign
announced that during his scheduled visit to Germany, Barack
Obama will give a speech in Berlin near the
Brandenburg Gate.
This decision is considered controversial and not generally
welcome by the German people. German Chancellor Angela Merkel
said she does not approve of Barack Obama campaigning at the
site.
Watch former U.S. President Ronald Reagan speak at the Brandenburg Gate
on June 12, 1987. During this speech Reagan called Michail
Gorbachev to open the Brandenburg Gate and tear down the Berlin
Wall.
July 19, 2008
- Barack Obama makes his first visit to Afghanistan. During
his two-day visit Barack Obama meets Afghan President Hamid
Karazi and American forces.
- Barack Obama on CBS' Face the Nation: "The situation is
precarious and urgent here in Afghanistan. And I believe this
has to be our central focus, the central front, on our battle
against terrorism."
