The news media commentators have told us that the nation experienced a historic event over the weekend when Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a black politician, formally announced his candidacy to become the next president of the United States.
So far, most of the news-media pundits have been “reporting” on the race issue and his charisma and not his substantial policy positions.
However, just because the news media has not yet given in-depth reports of his legislative history does not mean Obama does not have a record of coherent policies.
In his lesser-known speeches given at policy institutes, Obama has detailed the logic behind his many policy proposals.
In his speech at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations given well over a year ago, he advocated many of the realist policies that are recommended in the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report. He also has the academic background that we have come to expect from our presidents, having taught constitutional law at the prestigious University of Chicago.
Obama also has fundamental principles that determine the policies he proposes and votes for.
Over four years ago in his speeches in the Illinois Legislature, Obama publicly stated his opposition to the war in Iraq.
During his time in the Senate, he has always advocated for negotiations with Iran and Syria, a political solution and a time-tabled withdrawal from Iraq.
Whether you agree with these specific policies is not the point, but it shows that Obama cannot be labeled a flip-flopper on the Iraq war as other Democratic candidates can be.
The second value he believes in is social justice. His legislation in the Illinois Legislature exemplifies this value. His more recent demand for a universal health-care system is also dictated by this principle.
This is why a year ago he gave a speech proposing government intervention to alleviate the incredible health-care costs that plague the American auto industry.
A third principle he holds is the necessity of compromise. In the earlier part of this decade, he accomplished a major reform of Illinois’ death-penalty system, working with both a Republican governor and Legislature.
More importantly, Obama recognizes that when both he and his Republican counterparts have the same goal they can work together to accomplish it.
In the Senate, he and Republican Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., co-authored a significant piece of nonproliferation legislation.
This initiative, which was signed by President Bush last month, partners with other nations to help stop unsecured conventional arms from falling into the hands of terrorists and helps stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
His immense charisma is on his side, but Obama will encounter the obstacles that underdog candidates face when vying for the country’s highest office.
Nevertheless, Obama appears to be an honest, hard-working and thoughtful politician. Even if he loses the race for his party’s presidential nomination, Obama will still be an influential legislator in the Senate for many years to come.
Gilde is a fourth-year history student.