US ELECTIONS BARACK OBAMA SOUTH ASIA
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India will be 'top priority' in my presidency: Barack Obama
Chicago, Oct 23 (IANS) A stronger relationship with India and a close strategic partnership will be a "top priority" of a Barack Obama administration, says the Democratic presidential candidate.
"The US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia," Senator Obama said in an exclusive interview with IANS, the first with a South Asian journalist after his nomination for the presidency by the Democratic party.
"Joe Biden and I will make building a stronger relationship, including a close strategic partnership, with India a top priority."
On his agenda for working with New Delhi, he said: "I also believe India is a natural strategic partner for America in the 21st century and that the US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia."
In the interview, Obama elaborated on a wide range of issues, from comprehensive immigration reforms and making globalisation and trade work for American workers, to seeking the active participation of the Indian American community in the process of change that he has advocated.
He said he would support "comprehensive immigration reform", including the H-1B visa programme "to attract some of the world most talented people to America".
Obama explained that he wanted to end abuses of the H1-B visas that is used by highly qualified specialists to work in US. He added that he would make "immigrant workers less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country, and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers".
The Obama administration, he said, would seek to strengthen ties with the "vibrant" Indian American community and encourage their "active engagement... in making the change we seek".
He asserted the Democratic nomination was running on the manifesto of "inclusiveness, optimism and hope" that will translate into a "progressive presidency".
On the contentious election topics of outsourcing and globalisation, he said: "We know that we cannot and should not put up walls around our economy."
Acknowledging that global competition "is a fact that cannot be reversed", Obama added: "But we must find a way to make globalisation and trade work for American workers."
Obama has deep roots in Chicago, having started his career as a community organiser in the city. From his days as an Illinois senator, he has had strong links with the city's growing Indian American community. He has worked regularly on issues ranging from reforms in immigration and campaign finance, to health care and education, with Illinois' premier Indian political networking group, the Indo-American Democratic Organization.
Excerpts from the interview with IANS:
Q: Immigrants have, over the years, made a critical contribution to the United States. But now the US stands to lose its leadership in the sciences, in part because of restrictive immigration policies. Do you plan to reform immigration laws so that the US is once again a magnet for talent from around the world?
A: I have played a leading role in crafting comprehensive immigration reform and believe that our broken immigration system can only be fixed by putting politics aside and offering a solution that strengthens our security while reaffirming our heritage as a nation of immigrants. I believe we must secure our borders, fix our broken immigration bureaucracy, and require the 12 million undocumented to get on a responsible path to citizenship. They must pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for citizenship. I will also increase the number of people we allow in the country legally to a level that unites families and meets the demand for jobs employers cannot fill.
Q: Many economists have asserted that in an increasingly globalised world, it is counter productive to restrict the flow of capital, labour and increasingly jobs. Do you plan to restrict outsourcing, or would you prefer that American companies respond to this threat by moving up the value chain instead?
A: Revolutions in communications and technology have sent jobs wherever there's an internet connection, and have forced workers in Chicago and Boston to compete for those jobs with workers in Bangalore and Beijing. We live in a more competitive world, and that is a fact that cannot be reversed. We know that we cannot and should not put up walls around our economy. But we must find a way to make globalisation and trade work for American workers.
The American worker needs to be supported and given the tools needed to compete in the global economy. So I would pursue common-sense measures such as offering tax incentives to companies that create jobs in the United States, undertaking policies, such as supporting growth sectors like renewable energy and building up our infrastructure, that will lead to creation of well-paying jobs, and, most importantly, investing in education and job re-training programmes. The United States has faced fundamental economic challenges before and it has met them by expanding opportunity outward, growing our middle class, and investing in the education and well-being of our workers.
Q: Are you worried about the fragile polity in Pakistan coupled with the looming presence of terror networks? Would you continue to consider Pakistan as a trusted ally?
A: I want to build a broad-based and lasting relationship with the people of Pakistan - not just temporary alliances with their government. While the US and Pakistan must continue to work together to combat terrorism that has claimed innocent lives in both countries and to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border, I will make helping Pakistan tackle critical challenges like illiteracy, poverty, and lack of health care a key priority including by increasing aid in these areas. I will stand up for democratic institutions, civil society and judicial independence in Pakistan. I cosponsored legislation with Senator Lugar to triple non-military assistance to Pakistan and sustain it for the next decade.
Q: What are your views on the demand made by several US companies including Microsoft that the US needs to increase the number of work visas (H1B) to protect its technological leadership?
A: I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes improving our visa programmes, including the H-1B programme, to attract some of the world's most talented people to America. I would like to see immigrant workers less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country, and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers.
Q: From an outsider's perspective questions such as whether America is "ready for a black president" sounds almost medieval. Why do you think a democracy which is 232 years old is still grappling with such issues?
A: Just 50 years ago, nine brave African American schoolchildren sought to realise the promise of Brown v. Board of Education by walking past an angry mob and into the doors of Central High School in Little Rock , Arkansas. The event marked a great moment in America 's long march toward equality and freedom. The federal government put itself firmly on the side of justice and equal opportunity for all. And this was only the beginning. That same month, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was signed into law, and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division was created shortly thereafter. In the years that followed, another Civil Rights Act and a Voting Rights Act were passed. These laws, and the institutional practices they created, helped transform our nation into one that is more just, more equal, and more free.
While we have made significant progress over the last five decades, there is no question that we have more work to do. Joe Biden and I will build upon our nation's commitment to equal justice and opportunity for all. We will restore professionalism to the Civil Rights Division and reinvigorate federal civil rights enforcement and reform our criminal justice system so that it works for all, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances. We are running on inclusiveness, optimism and hope, and that will translate into a progressive presidency on issues of diversity and inclusion.
Q: You have voted for the Indo-US nuclear deal. Would you consider India a strategic partner with the United States in its efforts to promote stability in the Asian region?
A: I am an advocate of strengthening US relations with India, the world's largest democracy and a growing economic power. I voted for the India civilian nuclear cooperation deal in 2006 and have since worked to ensure that the agreement is implemented properly so that Indians benefit from expanded energy sources and that nuclear proliferation concerns are addressed. I also believe that India is a natural strategic partner for America in the 21st century and that the US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia. Joe Biden and I will make building a stronger relationship, including a close strategic partnership, with India a top priority.
Q: Indian Americans, like many others, look upon you as an agent of change. What would you like to say to them?
A: As a community organiser, civil rights lawyer, and elected official, I have spent my career working on issues of importance to Indian Americans. I am proud to have worked side-by-side with Indian Americans on a variety of issues, including immigration, civil rights, foreign policy, and education, and Joe Biden and I look forward to strengthening our relationships with Indian Americans during my administration. We will reach out to encourage the active engagement of the vibrant Indian American community in making the change we seek.
India will be 'top priority' in my presidency: Barack Obama
Chicago, Oct 23 (IANS) A stronger relationship with India and a close strategic partnership will be a "top priority" of a Barack Obama administration, says the Democratic presidential candidate.
"The US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia," Senator Obama said in an exclusive interview with IANS, the first with a South Asian journalist after his nomination for the presidency by the Democratic party.
"Joe Biden and I will make building a stronger relationship, including a close strategic partnership, with India a top priority."
On his agenda for working with New Delhi, he said: "I also believe India is a natural strategic partner for America in the 21st century and that the US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia."
In the interview, Obama elaborated on a wide range of issues, from comprehensive immigration reforms and making globalisation and trade work for American workers, to seeking the active participation of the Indian American community in the process of change that he has advocated.
He said he would support "comprehensive immigration reform", including the H-1B visa programme "to attract some of the world most talented people to America".
Obama explained that he wanted to end abuses of the H1-B visas that is used by highly qualified specialists to work in US. He added that he would make "immigrant workers less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country, and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers".
The Obama administration, he said, would seek to strengthen ties with the "vibrant" Indian American community and encourage their "active engagement... in making the change we seek".
He asserted the Democratic nomination was running on the manifesto of "inclusiveness, optimism and hope" that will translate into a "progressive presidency".
On the contentious election topics of outsourcing and globalisation, he said: "We know that we cannot and should not put up walls around our economy."
Acknowledging that global competition "is a fact that cannot be reversed", Obama added: "But we must find a way to make globalisation and trade work for American workers."
Obama has deep roots in Chicago, having started his career as a community organiser in the city. From his days as an Illinois senator, he has had strong links with the city's growing Indian American community. He has worked regularly on issues ranging from reforms in immigration and campaign finance, to health care and education, with Illinois' premier Indian political networking group, the Indo-American Democratic Organization.
Excerpts from the interview with IANS:
Q: Immigrants have, over the years, made a critical contribution to the United States. But now the US stands to lose its leadership in the sciences, in part because of restrictive immigration policies. Do you plan to reform immigration laws so that the US is once again a magnet for talent from around the world?
A: I have played a leading role in crafting comprehensive immigration reform and believe that our broken immigration system can only be fixed by putting politics aside and offering a solution that strengthens our security while reaffirming our heritage as a nation of immigrants. I believe we must secure our borders, fix our broken immigration bureaucracy, and require the 12 million undocumented to get on a responsible path to citizenship. They must pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for citizenship. I will also increase the number of people we allow in the country legally to a level that unites families and meets the demand for jobs employers cannot fill.
Q: Many economists have asserted that in an increasingly globalised world, it is counter productive to restrict the flow of capital, labour and increasingly jobs. Do you plan to restrict outsourcing, or would you prefer that American companies respond to this threat by moving up the value chain instead?
A: Revolutions in communications and technology have sent jobs wherever there's an internet connection, and have forced workers in Chicago and Boston to compete for those jobs with workers in Bangalore and Beijing. We live in a more competitive world, and that is a fact that cannot be reversed. We know that we cannot and should not put up walls around our economy. But we must find a way to make globalisation and trade work for American workers.
The American worker needs to be supported and given the tools needed to compete in the global economy. So I would pursue common-sense measures such as offering tax incentives to companies that create jobs in the United States, undertaking policies, such as supporting growth sectors like renewable energy and building up our infrastructure, that will lead to creation of well-paying jobs, and, most importantly, investing in education and job re-training programmes. The United States has faced fundamental economic challenges before and it has met them by expanding opportunity outward, growing our middle class, and investing in the education and well-being of our workers.
Q: Are you worried about the fragile polity in Pakistan coupled with the looming presence of terror networks? Would you continue to consider Pakistan as a trusted ally?
A: I want to build a broad-based and lasting relationship with the people of Pakistan - not just temporary alliances with their government. While the US and Pakistan must continue to work together to combat terrorism that has claimed innocent lives in both countries and to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border, I will make helping Pakistan tackle critical challenges like illiteracy, poverty, and lack of health care a key priority including by increasing aid in these areas. I will stand up for democratic institutions, civil society and judicial independence in Pakistan. I cosponsored legislation with Senator Lugar to triple non-military assistance to Pakistan and sustain it for the next decade.
Q: What are your views on the demand made by several US companies including Microsoft that the US needs to increase the number of work visas (H1B) to protect its technological leadership?
A: I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes improving our visa programmes, including the H-1B programme, to attract some of the world's most talented people to America. I would like to see immigrant workers less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country, and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers.
Q: From an outsider's perspective questions such as whether America is "ready for a black president" sounds almost medieval. Why do you think a democracy which is 232 years old is still grappling with such issues?
A: Just 50 years ago, nine brave African American schoolchildren sought to realise the promise of Brown v. Board of Education by walking past an angry mob and into the doors of Central High School in Little Rock , Arkansas. The event marked a great moment in America 's long march toward equality and freedom. The federal government put itself firmly on the side of justice and equal opportunity for all. And this was only the beginning. That same month, the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was signed into law, and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division was created shortly thereafter. In the years that followed, another Civil Rights Act and a Voting Rights Act were passed. These laws, and the institutional practices they created, helped transform our nation into one that is more just, more equal, and more free.
While we have made significant progress over the last five decades, there is no question that we have more work to do. Joe Biden and I will build upon our nation's commitment to equal justice and opportunity for all. We will restore professionalism to the Civil Rights Division and reinvigorate federal civil rights enforcement and reform our criminal justice system so that it works for all, regardless of race, wealth, or other circumstances. We are running on inclusiveness, optimism and hope, and that will translate into a progressive presidency on issues of diversity and inclusion.
Q: You have voted for the Indo-US nuclear deal. Would you consider India a strategic partner with the United States in its efforts to promote stability in the Asian region?
A: I am an advocate of strengthening US relations with India, the world's largest democracy and a growing economic power. I voted for the India civilian nuclear cooperation deal in 2006 and have since worked to ensure that the agreement is implemented properly so that Indians benefit from expanded energy sources and that nuclear proliferation concerns are addressed. I also believe that India is a natural strategic partner for America in the 21st century and that the US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia. Joe Biden and I will make building a stronger relationship, including a close strategic partnership, with India a top priority.
Q: Indian Americans, like many others, look upon you as an agent of change. What would you like to say to them?
A: As a community organiser, civil rights lawyer, and elected official, I have spent my career working on issues of importance to Indian Americans. I am proud to have worked side-by-side with Indian Americans on a variety of issues, including immigration, civil rights, foreign policy, and education, and Joe Biden and I look forward to strengthening our relationships with Indian Americans during my administration. We will reach out to encourage the active engagement of the vibrant Indian American community in making the change we seek.
As Obama stays ahead, some suggest a tightening race
Washington, Oct 23 (IANS) Amid a flurry of polls showing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama leading over Republican rival John McCain with an average of seven points, a few indicated a tightening of the race in the home stretch.
In the latest CNN national poll of polls, Obama's support with likely voters stood at 50 percent and McCain's at 43 percent. Seven percent of those surveyed are unsure about their choice for president.
The latest poll represents a slight tightening compared to the previous national poll of polls when Obama stood at 51 percent and McCain at 42 percent, CNN said. Obama's nine-point lead in the previous poll of polls was Obama's widest advantage so far over McCain.
However, an Associated Press-GfK poll, which is included in the CNN's eleven national general election surveys, suggested a much more even race with Obama at 44 percent and McCain at 43 percent.
The latest George Washington University Battleground Poll, conducted by Republican strategist Ed Goeas and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, too showed the Democrat just two points ahead of the Republican among likely voters in the Nov 4 election.
The poll suggested that the White House race had tightened after the final presidential debate, with McCain gaining among whites and people earning less than $50,000, AP said.
The poll, it said, supports what some Republicans and Democrats privately have said in recent days: that the race narrowed after the third debate as Republican leaning voters drifted home to their party and McCain's "Joe the plumber" analogy struck a chord.
During their last debate, a feisty McCain repeatedly forced Obama to defend his record, comments and associations. He also used the story of a voter whom the Democrat had met in Ohio, "Joe the plumber," to argue that Obama's tax plan would be bad for working class voters.
Three weeks ago, an AP-GfK survey found that Obama had surged to a seven-point lead over McCain, lifted by voters who thought the Democrat was better suited to lead the nation through its sudden economic crisis.
In other surveys focusing on likely voters, a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama up by 9 percentage points, while a poll by the non partisan Pew Research Centre had Obama leading by 14. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, among the broader category of people registered to vote, found Obama ahead by 10 points.
Commenting on the "wildly fluctuating poll numbers", CBS said "it's important to remember that every poll is simply a snapshot in time and that each poll measures voter intent slightly differently. There is also a margin of error in all polls.
For instance, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points in the AP poll. "That means Obama could be ahead by as many as 8 points or down by as many as 6," the agency said.
Because of those factors, the most valuable and important indicator is the trendlines of each poll, CBS said.
Since the start of the conventions, the CBS News polls have registered a lead of 8 points for Obama following the Democratic convention, a tie, a 2-point McCain lead and then following that with Obama leads of 5 points, 5 points, 9 points, 5 points and 14 points.
The next poll will show whether that later spread was an anomaly or a trend that is holding but the overall trend since the middle of September has shown a steady lead for Obama, it said.
It's also useful to individually look at all polls taken around the same time frame because they are registering voter feelings in the context of the same general events, CBS said. Obama has increased his lead in most polls since the completion of the debates and as the economic crisis continues to grip the country.
In the latest CNN national poll of polls, Obama's support with likely voters stood at 50 percent and McCain's at 43 percent. Seven percent of those surveyed are unsure about their choice for president.
The latest poll represents a slight tightening compared to the previous national poll of polls when Obama stood at 51 percent and McCain at 42 percent, CNN said. Obama's nine-point lead in the previous poll of polls was Obama's widest advantage so far over McCain.
However, an Associated Press-GfK poll, which is included in the CNN's eleven national general election surveys, suggested a much more even race with Obama at 44 percent and McCain at 43 percent.
The latest George Washington University Battleground Poll, conducted by Republican strategist Ed Goeas and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, too showed the Democrat just two points ahead of the Republican among likely voters in the Nov 4 election.
The poll suggested that the White House race had tightened after the final presidential debate, with McCain gaining among whites and people earning less than $50,000, AP said.
The poll, it said, supports what some Republicans and Democrats privately have said in recent days: that the race narrowed after the third debate as Republican leaning voters drifted home to their party and McCain's "Joe the plumber" analogy struck a chord.
During their last debate, a feisty McCain repeatedly forced Obama to defend his record, comments and associations. He also used the story of a voter whom the Democrat had met in Ohio, "Joe the plumber," to argue that Obama's tax plan would be bad for working class voters.
Three weeks ago, an AP-GfK survey found that Obama had surged to a seven-point lead over McCain, lifted by voters who thought the Democrat was better suited to lead the nation through its sudden economic crisis.
In other surveys focusing on likely voters, a Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama up by 9 percentage points, while a poll by the non partisan Pew Research Centre had Obama leading by 14. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, among the broader category of people registered to vote, found Obama ahead by 10 points.
Commenting on the "wildly fluctuating poll numbers", CBS said "it's important to remember that every poll is simply a snapshot in time and that each poll measures voter intent slightly differently. There is also a margin of error in all polls.
For instance, there is a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points in the AP poll. "That means Obama could be ahead by as many as 8 points or down by as many as 6," the agency said.
Because of those factors, the most valuable and important indicator is the trendlines of each poll, CBS said.
Since the start of the conventions, the CBS News polls have registered a lead of 8 points for Obama following the Democratic convention, a tie, a 2-point McCain lead and then following that with Obama leads of 5 points, 5 points, 9 points, 5 points and 14 points.
The next poll will show whether that later spread was an anomaly or a trend that is holding but the overall trend since the middle of September has shown a steady lead for Obama, it said.
It's also useful to individually look at all polls taken around the same time frame because they are registering voter feelings in the context of the same general events, CBS said. Obama has increased his lead in most polls since the completion of the debates and as the economic crisis continues to grip the country.
Obama wants to reach out to Pakistani people
Chicago, Oct 23 (IANS) Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he will reach out to the Pakistani people to build a lasting relationship, rather than look for temporary alliances with their government.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Obama acknowledged that the US and Pakistan must continue fighting terrorism together, but said working for the people's social and economic welfare is important.
"While the US and Pakistan must continue to work together to combat terrorism that has claimed innocent lives in both countries and to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border, I will make helping Pakistan tackle critical challenges like illiteracy, poverty, and lack of healthcare a key priority including by increasing aid in these areas," Obama told IANS in Chicago where he has deep roots and the city in which he started his career as a community worker.
In what could be seen as a contrast to the Bush administration's Pakistan policy that appeared to stress relations with the Musharraf military regime, Obama pointedly said: "I will stand up for democratic institutions, civil society and judicial independence in Pakistan."
Underlining the orientation that an Obama administration will take if he is elected, he said: "I want to build a broad-based and lasting relationship with the people of Pakistan - not just temporary alliances with their government."
He added: "I co-sponsored legislation with Senator Lugar to triple non-military assistance to Pakistan and sustain it for the next decade."
Last year, while he was running in the Democratic primaries against Hillary Clinton, he courted controversy when he said that his administration could unilaterally take out Al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.
"If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will," Obama said. But now with Pervez Musharraf gone, in this interview he emphasised "working together" with Pakistan "to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border."
US now 'more just, more equal, and more free', says Obama
Chicago, Oct 23 (IANS) The United States is more just and equal, says the first African American presidential candidate of a major party, Barack Obama.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, the Democratic presidential candidate, who is now leading the opinion polls, recalled how the civil rights movement's "long march toward equality and freedom" had transformed American society making his historic candidacy possible.
"While we have made significant progress over the last five decades, there is no question that we have more work to do," he added. Together with his vice presidential running mate Joe Biden, he said he would "build upon our nation's commitment to equal justice and opportunity for all".
Tracking the momentous changes in American society and politics that paved the way for his candidacy, Obama said in his first interview to a South Asian journalist after getting the Democratic party nomination: "Just fifty years ago, nine brave African American schoolchildren sought to realise the promise of Brown v. Board of Education by walking past an angry mob and into the doors of Central High School in Little Rock , Arkansas." Brown vs. Board of Education was a court ruling to end racial segregation in schools that was opposed by many whites.
"The event," Obama told IANS, "marked a great moment in America's long march toward equality and freedom. The federal government put itself firmly on the side of justice and equal opportunity for all. And this was only the beginning."
A series of federal civil rights laws were enacted in the coming days to ensure social and political equality and justice for races. "These laws, and the institutional practices they created, helped transform our nation into one that is more just, more equal, and more free," he said.
Obama views India's moon mission as a challenge
Washington, Oct 23 (IANS) As the White House hailed India's maiden moon mission as "encouraging" and "exciting", Democratic presidential hopeful, Barack Obama saw it as a reminder to revitalise the US space programme and not let other countries surpass it.
"I haven't spoken to the President (George Bush) about it. I saw that story, it was very interesting," White House spokesperson Dana Perino said Wednesday. "We noted it's very encouraging for India, I'm sure, very exciting."
However, Obama viewed Wednesday's historic launch of India's moon mission Chandrayaan I from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh as a challenge.
"With India's launch of its first unmanned lunar spacecraft following closely on the heels of China's first spacewalk, we are reminded just how urgently the United States must revitalise its space programme if we are to remain the undisputed leader in space, science, and technology," he said.
Obama said his comprehensive plan to revitalise the US "space programme and close the gap between the Space Shuttle's retirement and its next-generation replacement includes $2 billion more for NASA - but more money alone is not enough."
"We must not only retain our space workforce so that we don't let other countries surpass our technical capabilities; we must train new scientists and engineers for the next generation," he said.
Obama said his "comprehensive space policy focuses on reaching new frontiers through human space exploration, tapping the ingenuity of our commercial space entrepreneurs, fostering a broad research agenda to break new ground on the world's leading scientific discoveries, and engaging students through educational programmes that excite them about space and science."
"As a child, I remember sitting on my grandfather's shoulders and watching the Apollo astronauts return from a splashdown to Hickam Air Force Base, dreaming of where they had been," he added.
"It inspired my imagination and gave me confidence in what we as Americans could achieve. It's time for a space programme that inspires our children again," said the Democratic nominee who is leading over his Republican rival John McCain in most opinion polls.
"As president, I will lead our space programme boldly into the 21st century - so when my daughters, and all our children, look up to the skies, they see Americans leading the way into the deepest reaches of our solar system," Obama said.
The United States India Business Council (USIBC), representing 280 of the largest US companies investing in India, has also hailed India's maiden moon mission with two US instruments on board as the beginning of long "relationship promoting the opening of the frontier of outer space."
"This unique technology partnership in civil space exploration, which taps India's highly skilled scientific expertise with American instrumentation furnished by Raytheon, beckons what we hope will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship promoting the opening of the frontier of outer space," USIBC president Ron Somers said.
Internet plays increasingly important role in American election
San Francisco, Oct 23 (DPA) If anyone still questioned the power of the Internet to play a key role in the general elections, the recent fundraising figures touted by Barack Obama should put all doubts to rest.
The Democratic presidential nominee raised a staggering $150 million in September - most of which came from small donors who gave less than 100 dollars each through Obama's website.
Thanks largely to the unprecedented use of the Internet, Obama's campaign attracted 632,000 new donors in September. By some estimates Obama's Internet activities have now raised more than $1 billion since he started campaigning two years ago. That's more than 10 times as much as John Kerry raised over the Internet just four years ago.
That staggering achievement may not be the most decisive impact of the Internet on this year's election. According to political analysts, it was the huge flow of volunteers to Obama's website that convinced him that he had a chance to defeat Senator Hillary Clinton, then the overwhelming favourite for the centre-left nomination.
As Obama's online network multiplied, it gave him a decisive edge in the primary battles against Clinton, allowing him to deploy thousands of volunteers on short notice and with devastating effect, said Joe Trippi, a Democratic campaign adviser and online political guru.
"In 1992, it was the economy, stupid," Trippi told the MIT Technology Review. "This year, it was the network, stupid!"
If Trippi is right, the Nov 4 election should be a cakewalk for Obama.
According to the Pew Research Centre, Obama's campaign website has consistently attracted about three times the traffic of the website of his general election opponent, Republican Senator John McCain.
On Facebook, Obama has 2.2 million "friends" compared to 745,000 for McCain. On MySpace, Obama has 588,000 friends compared to McCain's 188,000.
Obama's web team, which includes Chris Hughes, the 24-year-old co-founder of Facebook, has also done a thorough job of integrating online activities with real world actions.
They reach out to supporters through a multitude of platforms - from emails to SMS messages, and from viral videos to posts on the new medium of the moment, the Twitter cellphone network. Obama has even taken out ads embedded in video games, urging voters to head early for the polls.
In contrast, McCain's use of the net seems like an afterthought. His online game is called Pork Invaders - which is styled on the late-1970s game Space Invaders with a twist against government waste, so-called pork. As such, it seems designed not to appeal to the vital young voting demographic, but perhaps to their parents.
McCain has used Internet advertising to his advantage.
He trails Obama badly in the money he can spend on advertising. Putting ads up on the net helps him bridge that gap.
"Thanks to YouTube - and blogging and instant fact-checking and viral emails - it is getting harder and harder to get away with repeating brazen lies without paying a price, or to run under-the-radar smear campaigns without being exposed," wrote Arianna Huffington, the doyen of left-wing bloggers.
"The Internet may make it easier to disseminate character smears, but it also makes it much less likely that these smears will stick."
IANS
In an exclusive interview with IANS, Obama acknowledged that the US and Pakistan must continue fighting terrorism together, but said working for the people's social and economic welfare is important.
"While the US and Pakistan must continue to work together to combat terrorism that has claimed innocent lives in both countries and to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border, I will make helping Pakistan tackle critical challenges like illiteracy, poverty, and lack of healthcare a key priority including by increasing aid in these areas," Obama told IANS in Chicago where he has deep roots and the city in which he started his career as a community worker.
In what could be seen as a contrast to the Bush administration's Pakistan policy that appeared to stress relations with the Musharraf military regime, Obama pointedly said: "I will stand up for democratic institutions, civil society and judicial independence in Pakistan."
Underlining the orientation that an Obama administration will take if he is elected, he said: "I want to build a broad-based and lasting relationship with the people of Pakistan - not just temporary alliances with their government."
He added: "I co-sponsored legislation with Senator Lugar to triple non-military assistance to Pakistan and sustain it for the next decade."
Last year, while he was running in the Democratic primaries against Hillary Clinton, he courted controversy when he said that his administration could unilaterally take out Al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.
"If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will," Obama said. But now with Pervez Musharraf gone, in this interview he emphasised "working together" with Pakistan "to destroy the terrorist sanctuaries along the Afghan-Pakistani border."
US now 'more just, more equal, and more free', says Obama
Chicago, Oct 23 (IANS) The United States is more just and equal, says the first African American presidential candidate of a major party, Barack Obama.
In an exclusive interview with IANS, the Democratic presidential candidate, who is now leading the opinion polls, recalled how the civil rights movement's "long march toward equality and freedom" had transformed American society making his historic candidacy possible.
"While we have made significant progress over the last five decades, there is no question that we have more work to do," he added. Together with his vice presidential running mate Joe Biden, he said he would "build upon our nation's commitment to equal justice and opportunity for all".
Tracking the momentous changes in American society and politics that paved the way for his candidacy, Obama said in his first interview to a South Asian journalist after getting the Democratic party nomination: "Just fifty years ago, nine brave African American schoolchildren sought to realise the promise of Brown v. Board of Education by walking past an angry mob and into the doors of Central High School in Little Rock , Arkansas." Brown vs. Board of Education was a court ruling to end racial segregation in schools that was opposed by many whites.
"The event," Obama told IANS, "marked a great moment in America's long march toward equality and freedom. The federal government put itself firmly on the side of justice and equal opportunity for all. And this was only the beginning."
A series of federal civil rights laws were enacted in the coming days to ensure social and political equality and justice for races. "These laws, and the institutional practices they created, helped transform our nation into one that is more just, more equal, and more free," he said.
Obama views India's moon mission as a challenge
Washington, Oct 23 (IANS) As the White House hailed India's maiden moon mission as "encouraging" and "exciting", Democratic presidential hopeful, Barack Obama saw it as a reminder to revitalise the US space programme and not let other countries surpass it.
"I haven't spoken to the President (George Bush) about it. I saw that story, it was very interesting," White House spokesperson Dana Perino said Wednesday. "We noted it's very encouraging for India, I'm sure, very exciting."
However, Obama viewed Wednesday's historic launch of India's moon mission Chandrayaan I from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh as a challenge.
"With India's launch of its first unmanned lunar spacecraft following closely on the heels of China's first spacewalk, we are reminded just how urgently the United States must revitalise its space programme if we are to remain the undisputed leader in space, science, and technology," he said.
Obama said his comprehensive plan to revitalise the US "space programme and close the gap between the Space Shuttle's retirement and its next-generation replacement includes $2 billion more for NASA - but more money alone is not enough."
"We must not only retain our space workforce so that we don't let other countries surpass our technical capabilities; we must train new scientists and engineers for the next generation," he said.
Obama said his "comprehensive space policy focuses on reaching new frontiers through human space exploration, tapping the ingenuity of our commercial space entrepreneurs, fostering a broad research agenda to break new ground on the world's leading scientific discoveries, and engaging students through educational programmes that excite them about space and science."
"As a child, I remember sitting on my grandfather's shoulders and watching the Apollo astronauts return from a splashdown to Hickam Air Force Base, dreaming of where they had been," he added.
"It inspired my imagination and gave me confidence in what we as Americans could achieve. It's time for a space programme that inspires our children again," said the Democratic nominee who is leading over his Republican rival John McCain in most opinion polls.
"As president, I will lead our space programme boldly into the 21st century - so when my daughters, and all our children, look up to the skies, they see Americans leading the way into the deepest reaches of our solar system," Obama said.
The United States India Business Council (USIBC), representing 280 of the largest US companies investing in India, has also hailed India's maiden moon mission with two US instruments on board as the beginning of long "relationship promoting the opening of the frontier of outer space."
"This unique technology partnership in civil space exploration, which taps India's highly skilled scientific expertise with American instrumentation furnished by Raytheon, beckons what we hope will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship promoting the opening of the frontier of outer space," USIBC president Ron Somers said.
Internet plays increasingly important role in American election
San Francisco, Oct 23 (DPA) If anyone still questioned the power of the Internet to play a key role in the general elections, the recent fundraising figures touted by Barack Obama should put all doubts to rest.
The Democratic presidential nominee raised a staggering $150 million in September - most of which came from small donors who gave less than 100 dollars each through Obama's website.
Thanks largely to the unprecedented use of the Internet, Obama's campaign attracted 632,000 new donors in September. By some estimates Obama's Internet activities have now raised more than $1 billion since he started campaigning two years ago. That's more than 10 times as much as John Kerry raised over the Internet just four years ago.
That staggering achievement may not be the most decisive impact of the Internet on this year's election. According to political analysts, it was the huge flow of volunteers to Obama's website that convinced him that he had a chance to defeat Senator Hillary Clinton, then the overwhelming favourite for the centre-left nomination.
As Obama's online network multiplied, it gave him a decisive edge in the primary battles against Clinton, allowing him to deploy thousands of volunteers on short notice and with devastating effect, said Joe Trippi, a Democratic campaign adviser and online political guru.
"In 1992, it was the economy, stupid," Trippi told the MIT Technology Review. "This year, it was the network, stupid!"
If Trippi is right, the Nov 4 election should be a cakewalk for Obama.
According to the Pew Research Centre, Obama's campaign website has consistently attracted about three times the traffic of the website of his general election opponent, Republican Senator John McCain.
On Facebook, Obama has 2.2 million "friends" compared to 745,000 for McCain. On MySpace, Obama has 588,000 friends compared to McCain's 188,000.
Obama's web team, which includes Chris Hughes, the 24-year-old co-founder of Facebook, has also done a thorough job of integrating online activities with real world actions.
They reach out to supporters through a multitude of platforms - from emails to SMS messages, and from viral videos to posts on the new medium of the moment, the Twitter cellphone network. Obama has even taken out ads embedded in video games, urging voters to head early for the polls.
In contrast, McCain's use of the net seems like an afterthought. His online game is called Pork Invaders - which is styled on the late-1970s game Space Invaders with a twist against government waste, so-called pork. As such, it seems designed not to appeal to the vital young voting demographic, but perhaps to their parents.
McCain has used Internet advertising to his advantage.
He trails Obama badly in the money he can spend on advertising. Putting ads up on the net helps him bridge that gap.
"Thanks to YouTube - and blogging and instant fact-checking and viral emails - it is getting harder and harder to get away with repeating brazen lies without paying a price, or to run under-the-radar smear campaigns without being exposed," wrote Arianna Huffington, the doyen of left-wing bloggers.
"The Internet may make it easier to disseminate character smears, but it also makes it much less likely that these smears will stick."
IANS
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