Obama Muses On Family Stresses

OSKALOOSA -- Barack Obama was joined by wife Michelle and their two young daughters as he campaigned on themes of patriotism and family at Independence day Celebrations in Iowa today.

The Obamas found the crowd at their first stop, a brick-walled steakhouse in Oskaloosa, to be full of flag-waiving parents and kids.

Michelle Obama said the stresses of the campaign trail weren't unbearable. The family, she said, was "doing fine" and their sacrifices were "relatively minor." The campaign had asked the full Obama brood to join Daddy on Tuesday. But Michelle Obama said her two daughters
nixed the plan because they were excited about a summer camp field trip. "Family is first to us," she said.

Obama admitted it was tough to be on the road so often.

"When Michelle and I were deciding to to do this race, we know how hard it was going to be," Barack Obama said. "There's nothing more difficult than me being on the phone, hearing about their soccer game hearing about what went on their school and knowing that I'm not there to be part of their life right now," he said. "I love my Secret Service guys but I'd like to go to the stores by myself if I had an option," he said later. "I don't like all the fuss. I'm not an entourage guy."

The other side of the trade-off, he said, was the "possibility through our campaign to create a different spirit in our political life."

Trotting out a traditional campaign mainstay, Obama joked that his wife didn't want to be president herself because she was "too smart." "She just wants to be able to tell the president what to do," he said.

The Obama family is traveling in a decked-out RV driven by a Secret Service agent.

Comments

Mark, are you ever gonna ask Obama a substantive question?

Posted by david mizner | July 4, 2007 11:55 AM

Such as...

Why does you keep saying you're health care plan is universal when experts estimate it would, at best, leave 15 million people uninsured?

Do you regret supporting Joe Lieberman in the Primary?

Do you agree with your campaign spokesperson, who said your position on coal to liquid had been "consistent"?

I look foward to hearing what he says.

Posted by david mizner | July 4, 2007 3:02 PM

Marc, can you add any details to the AP report of Obama's press conference and how he handled the Clinton questions?

David, those are good questions. Are you suggesting the same sort of thing for the Clintons? If so, please add: how do you square your criticism of the President's actions vis a vis Scoorter Libby with your Last-Day-Pardons atrocities? Did you really say you were going to clean sweep corruption in the White House with a straight face, or was it just tongue in cheek? Oh by the way, how many people did Hillary's healthcare fiasco in Clinton I leave uninsured?

Posted by Mark Wiz | July 4, 2007 4:00 PM

>>Why does you keep saying you're health care plan is universal when experts estimate it would, at best, leave 15 million people uninsured?

And why should we believe some paper tiger mandate would change that? Why is it taken as a given that Edwards' plan, for example, would cover everyone when Mass, with all its mandate, still has plenty without insurance. Fla and Cali both mandate auto insurance, and still have millions uninsured.

Please. Obama's plan is one that focuses on cleaning up the holes in the market while driving down costs and increasing focus on preventative care. Its a good plan and the campaign is on record saying that should it fall short of 100% coverage, they are committed to re-visiting the issue to do whatever is necessary to achieve 100% coverage. Some BS red-meat lip-service to individual mandates won't make him more substantive.

I also don't get what the problem is with his coal to liquid position. He was for the bill; his constituency spoke out to him against it. He responded by withdrawing his support and saying in the future we'd need massive improvements in the technology (addressing the concerns of his constituency) to regain his support. Or do you not like politicians who respond to their constituencies?

Posted by Michael | July 4, 2007 4:26 PM

Bravo! Family is the main most important unite of society. Unlike the Clintons who are not a good family role model. I hope all women and families are aware of this important fact and draw conclusions that will guide their vote and support for the best more well-rounded candidate.

Posted by Berta A. | July 4, 2007 11:14 PM