Obama trumps his proposals for the American economy in Michigan; Obama criticizes ‘Absentee fathers’ phenomenon among black families; Reports highlight Obama’s links with ethanol lobby
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    • Sen. Obama visited Michigan on June 16 as part of his two-week outreach tour to ‘problem’ states - North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio and highlighted his plans to improve the American economy. In his address at University of Flint, he laid out his agenda to make the economy more competitive. Among his other proposals included the need to improve the primary education system, strengthening energy security by diversifying into bio-fuels, renewable energy and low-emission coal plants, and providing for more federal aid to research and development activities. He also pledged to increase the enforcement of trade deals and to update copyright and patent systems.

    Obama’s statements however drew flak from Blair Latoff, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman, who charged that his proposals for raising taxes and limiting free trade would make America less competitive and would not create new jobs or promote prosperity1.

    Speaking at the Apostolic Church of God near Lake Michigan, Sen. Obama also touched upon the delicate issue of ‘absentee fathers’ in black families. He urged black fathers to take more responsibility of parenting which would also involve getting themselves a better education. The speech, where he drew comparisons with his own childhood - raised by a single mother and maternal grandparents, was praised for its openness by Rep. James E. Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina and an Obama supporter. The Rev. Al Sharpton on his part called the remarks “courageous and important,” but cautioned that Mr. Obama’s words would not be well received by all sections of the community. Later, on June 20, Obama announced that he would co-sponsor a bill with Senator Evan Bayh to address the “national epidemic of absentee fathers.” If passed, the legislation would increase enforcement of child support payments and strengthen services for domestic violence prevention2.

    Sen. Obama also met the Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari on June 16, and exchanged views on the Iraq war. The Illinois Senator announced that he would soon be visiting Iraq3.

    Meanwhile, recent news reports highlighted the possible role played by the ethanol lobby in Sen. Obama’s candidacy. Reports pointed out that Sen. Obama’s (representing Illinois, America’s largest corn-growing state) strong support to federal subsidies on ethanol and for taxes on imported sugar cane-based ethanol (which was more energy efficient) represented advocacy of special interests of the region. These would seem to be at variance with the senator’s assertions in recent past on reducing the role of such groups in American politics. Reports noted that his support for the ethanol lobby would also militate against efforts to tap inflation, which was rising due to the adverse impact of corn-based ethanol on fuel prices as well as on the imperative of augmenting energy security while balancing the demands of food security and climate change.

    Further, one of his close economic advisors, Tom Daschle, a former Senate majority leader from South Dakota, served on the boards of three ethanol companies and also worked at a Washington law firm. His online job description notes that Daschle “spends a substantial amount of time providing strategic and policy advice to clients in renewable energy.” Mr. Obama’s lead advisor on energy and environmental issues was also Jason Grumet, who joined the campaign from the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan initiative associated with Mr. Daschle and Mr. Bob Dole, the Kansas Republican who is also the former Senate majority leader. Reports noted that Mr. Grumet was a big ethanol backer and had close ties to the agri-business giant Archer Daniels Midland4.

    On the republican side, Sen. McCain McCain attacked Obama’s support for corn-based ethanol and stated that one of the errors of American energy policy was subsidizing corn-based ethanol which had destroyed the market and caused inflation. He further added that he would end subsidies supporting American ethanol production5. In an interview to a Brazilian newspaper, McCain also extended his support for Brazil’s candidature in an expanded UN Security Council as well as at the G-8.

    Sen. McCain also supported President Bush’s proposal for lifting the federal ban on offshore drilling. This pronouncement by the Republican candidate went against his well-documented support for initiatives to mitigate climate change and earned the wrath of environmentalists. Sen. Obama on his part opposed the move, stating that on-shore drilling would not make much of a difference to American energy security, besides causing significant environmental damage6.

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