Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the Community Choice Act
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Ortiz
Washington, DC -- Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) released the following statement in advance of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Health
Subcommittee hearing on "Medicaid's Critical Role for Americans with
Disabilities." The hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
"There remain severe shortcomings in our country's efforts to break down the barriers that exclude people with disabilities and deprive them of true equality of opportunity and independence.
The United States must lead the world in empowering people with disabilities to take full advantage of their talents and become independent, integrated members of society. We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination. Policies must be developed, attitudes must
be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone can live independently as full citizens in their communities.
For that reason, I support the passage of the Community Choice Act of 2007, which would allow Medicaid-eligible Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in their community, rather than having to live in a nursing home or other institution. This legislation is vitally important to
the independence, community integration, and equality of hundreds of thousands of Americans with disabilities."
The Community Choice Act of 2007 was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL). Senator Obama is a cosponsor of the legislation.
Hello, - I agree and support Barack on the Community Choice Act. But it alone does Not go far enough with overall Financial support. The laughable so-called "poverty-level" set by Our Congress needs seriously readjusted immediately! It is way off. In most states it is $10,210 for a household of One. How many of You can exist on $195/week?! And that is suppose to be for EVERYTHING!! Start adding it All up!! For 2008, $14-15,000 would be closer to a bare survival income. - And how many of the 2008 Presidential Candidates are actually Active in seeking the Disabled Votes??!! "None"! 20,000,000 of the eligible Disabled Voters do not Vote! Oh well Congress, keep proudly supporting War, Crime, Big-Corporations, and $Special-Interests, over the Disabled Citizen, and Our U.S. Constitution. -43040
Posted by: Joe Ward | January 17, 2008 at 08:23 AM
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES VOTE!
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Senator Clinton and Senator Obama
The Time has Come to
END THE
INSTITUTIONAL BIAS
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The Community Choice Act will result in
OUR HOMES NOT NURSING HOMES
OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS
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COMMUNITY FIRST!
Include it in your Platforms and Plans
Accessible, Affordable, Integrated Housing
Community Choice Act
INTEGRATION, INCLUSION and INDEPENDENCE
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For info: Disability Vote!
512/442-0252
Posted by: Metamorphosis | February 18, 2008 at 08:47 PM
We need to pick our President based on something more than one issue...
Personally, I think that Obama is arrogant...and this will be his downfall amongst educated, well-rounded, mature and informed American voters.
I also believe that websites like the one listed below could ultimately determine why more and more Democrats will defect to John McCain's camp.
Unfortunately, there is little about Obama that a website like the one below says that can be refuted...that is, unless you've flunked Philosphy 101 in college,or never got to college in the first place.
Check it out:
http://www.chilkootmarketing.com/index.htm
What can be done?
Sooner or later all of us will have to reckon with our conscience and higher intellectual powers and when this occures we will invariably be forced to choose between either 'principle' or the physical attributes of the other candidate.
Which candidate is traveling down the wrong road on critical issues?
Which do you think will win out, come November?
'Higher principles' or the 'physical' attributes of a particular candidate?
Predictably, older voters will vote in favor of 'principle'... obviously, because they are more concerned about what happens after death and the legacy they will leave behind.
In contrast, the younger voters, since they have more time left in life to recant, are more likely to be reckless and procrastinate with any decision in favor of principle, and will likely vote in favor of 'idealism'...
...and these are the young and youthful voters that Obama appeals to and also why a lot of us older folks see Obama as 'the Pied Piper of the niave'.
However, (which is the next question that begs itself): 'When does Barack's own conscience begin to bother him?'
Personally, I think Obama needs to start thinking about what he can do to 'remake' his image if he wants to win this election.
I'm not sure that he'll want to be that person he's beginning to look like against John McCain...who today represents everything that America stands for.
BUT, if Obama thinks he can win going the way he's headed, then let him go for it.
But, as for me and many like me who sit on the fence until election time in November, we'll still be thinking about having to live with ourselves long after this election is over in November and maybe these are the thoughts that the new young voters haven't entertained yet...
...and, there's still a lot that can happen between now and November...
...and, this probably means that Obama faces a huge political swamp ahead...one that he has created for himself by being too impetuous on some very important issues...
...which has already gotten him into trouble with some of the very wise old parents of the younger generation.
- Jim Carder
Posted by: Lutak | June 16, 2008 at 06:42 PM