By Claire DeRoin–
President Barack Obama spoke at Morningside College on Saturday, September 1, at 5:45, stressing the importance of the middle class, affordable education, and bringing troops home from Afghanistan.
Before the President arrived, a series of introductory speakers took the stage:
Julio Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Elizabeth Petrie-Smith, a student and Obama For America volunteer, sang the National Anthem.
Pastor Mark Groves of New Life Lutheran Church delivered the invocation.
Patricia Ramirez, an Obama For America volunteer, gave remarks on how Obamacare changed her life for the better.
Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, made remarks largely regarding the President’s foreign affairs accomplishments.
Rob Hach, a local small businessman and self-proclaimed Republican for Obama, introduced the President after a small pitch about his wind energy business.
The President took the stage and immediately won cheers and laughter from the crowd by commenting that there was one issue he didn’t dare discuss in Sioux City: the rivalry between Hawkeye and Husker fans.
The quad between Lewis Hall and Charles City was packed full of people from all walks of life, some of whom had been waiting in line for hours to hear the President speak. “Forward” campaign signs waved wildly throughout the crowd amid cameras being held high. Secret Service agents in navy blue suits stood guard at various places throughout the area, and snipers stood guard on top of Roadman Hall. Dozens of cameras and reporters from both national and local media outlets were packed into a designated press area.
Various Morningside students and alumni stood on risers behind the President. A single “Forward” sign adorned the front of the podium, as if no other decoration was needed because the message was that simple.
With the Republican Convention still very fresh in everyone’s minds, President Obama took no liberties in immediately poking fun at the Republicans and his opponent Governor Romney.
“The economy isn’t where it needs to be. It’s Obama’s fault,” Obama said as his interpretation of the main message of the Republican Convention. He went on to say that instead of focusing on their own campaign, his opponents were simply bashing his plan. “If I had their plan, I wouldn’t talk about it, either!” Obama laughed. The crowd cheered and broke into applause.
The President drew a few more laughs from the crowd by commenting that the Republican’s messages were so old-fashioned that a viewer may as well have been watching the convention on black and white television with rabbit ears.
He continued to comment on his healthcare plan, which has been nicknamed “Obamacare.”
“I like that name,” the President mentioned with a grin, “because I do care.”
Audience members applauded wildly before breaking into a “four more years” chant.
In an unanticipated turn away from his message focusing on the middle class and the economy, the President followed Vilsack’s lead and commented on foreign policy. He promised that by the end of the month, 33,000 troops would return home from Afghanistan.
“I promised to end the war. We did. I promised we’d take out Bin Laden. We did.”
The President promised that by 2014, all of the troops remaining in Afghanistan will be home. “They’re gonna come home,” the President emphasized.
To connect to the college students present, Obama illustrated the fact that he supported affordable education. Towards the end of his remarks, the President mentioned that people should register to vote at gottaregister.com, and then vote at gottavote.com.
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