Published: April 12, 2008 12:11 am         

Dem hopeful Obama says he wants to restore diplomacy to foreign policy

TERRE HAUTE — Democrat Barack Obama said he would pull U.S. combat troops out within 16 months under his plan to end American military involvement in Iraq.

“We will do it carefully … I am talking about one to two brigades per month and that will take 16 months from the time I take office” if elected president, Obama told more than 2,000 people Friday evening in the gym at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.

“George Bush isn’t going to pull out more troops. That means we’re talking two years from now. This war has lasted longer than World War I, Word War II and the Civil War.

“It will be seven years by the time we have our combat troops out. Under my plan, we will have been there seven years. If we can’t get the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own government in seven years, we won’t do it in 14 years, in 21 years, in 35 years or the 100 years that [Republican presidential candidate] John McCain is talking about; it won’t happen,” Obama said.

The U.S. senator from Illinois said as commander-in-chief he would “keep you safe. I will not hesitate to strike against those who would do us harm.”

He said the U.S. military should also be treated properly “when they come home. No more homeless veterans, begging for disability payments, no more waiting in line at the VA [Veterans Administration].

“It also means using our military wisely. The war in Iraq was unwise. That is why I opposed it in 2002 and that is why I will bring it to an end in 2009. It is time to bring our troops home,” he said to a standing applause.

Obama spoke using a podium used by former President John F. Kennedy during a presidential campaign visit to Terre Haute on Oct. 5, 1960.

Looking at the podium, Obama said he wants to restore diplomacy to foreign policy.

“I was reminded of what John F. Kennedy said. John F. Kennedy, who spoke on this lectern, he said, ‘We can never negotiate out of fear, but we can never fear to negotiate.’ That is what strong countries and strong presidents do. They talk to their adversaries, they tell where America stands and try to resolve differences without resorting to war,” Obama said.

He said the United States would still work to snuff out networks of terrorists but “will also lead in trying to reduce nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation, and lead by helping poor countries deal with HIV AIDS and lead on human genocide in places like Darfur,” a region in Sudan.

On health insurance, Obama said he would lower health insurance premiums by $2,500 per family and “people without health insurance should get health insurance at least as good as a member of Congress.”

Obama said he would “stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, we will give those tax breaks to companies that are investing right here in Terre Haute, right in the United States of America. We will roll back the Bush tax cuts on the top 1 percent of the wealthiest Americans.

“We will give tax relief to working class Americans. If you make $75,000 or $50,000, you are going to get an offset on your payroll tax. That will save $1,000 per family to help pay those high gas prices and help pay for those high grocery bills,” he said.

“If you are a senior citizen, and bring home less than $50,000, you shouldn’t have to pay income [tax] on your Social Security, you’re already having a tough time on a fixed income,” he added.

He also proposed a home foreclosure prevention fund to help people negotiate to get a fixed interest rate mortgage to stay in their home as a way to stabilize the mortgage and housing market. He also proposed to make a 10 percent across-the-board mortgage interest deduction available.

His biggest audience applause came when he suggested teachers should be paid more and said he does not “think that No Child Left Behind and measuring standards just by a single high-stakes standardized test is the right way.”

“If the federal government wants to help, don’t leave the money behind, don’t leave the money behind for special education,” he said. “And finally make college affordable for every young American.”

Obama said he plans to offer a $4,000 tuition credit to every student annually during college to offset college expenses.

“We would ask that you give something back in return, you’ve got to spend some time in community service, in national service, work in a homeless service, work in a veteran’s home, work in the Peace Corps,” he said.

“We will invest in you. You invest in America. Together we will move this country forward. That’s what we are going to do,” he said.

The Democratic U.S. senator from Illinois was punctual, starting exactly at 8:15 p.m., and spoke until 8:54 p.m. He then took about six questions from the audience. One question asked his position on foreign aid, with Obama saying he will increase U.S. spending on foreign aid, greater than the current 1 percent of the national budget.

Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com