Senator Barack Obama (official site), who’s polling a strong second in New Hampshire, is the next presidential candidate to step up and answer our technology-related policy questions.
The score card is now even, with two democrat (Obama and Edwards) and two republican (Romney and McCain) candidates.
Last week Senator Obama released a position paper on tech. Our questions take a deeper dive on some of the key issues.
The senator is continuing to take a very strong stance on net neutrality. He may understand the issue - and its importance to the tech community - better than any other candidate. But we didn’t stop there. Senator Obama also outlined a broad strategy for increasing privacy protection. Other key points below:
- He doesn’t feel the FCC went far enough in promoting competition with the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auctions.
- He supports Federal intervention to encourage more ubiquitous broadband Internet access and delivering technology to schools.
- He wants to keep the Internet tax free, and he wants to “close the loophole” that allows venture capitalists to recognize investment profits as capital gains.
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He supports temporary increases in the H1-B visa program from the current levels
He plans to make big investments in renewable energy, and supports caps on carbon emissions.
The full transcript is below.
Q&A With Senator Barack Obama
Net Neutrality
Michael Arrington: What is your position on net neutrality? Specifically, should tiered pricing be allowed by the access providers?
Senator Barack Obama: As I stated during my visit to Google on November 14, I will take a backseat to no one in my commitment to network neutrality. The Internet is the most open network in history. We have to keep it that way. I will prevent network providers from discriminating in ways that limit the freedom of expression on the Internet. Because most Americans only have a choice of only one or two broadband carriers, carriers are tempted to impose a toll charge on content and services, discriminating against websites that are unwilling to pay for equal treatment. This could create a two-tier Internet in which websites with the best relationships with network providers can get the fastest access to consumers, while all competing websites remain in a slower lane. Such a result would threaten innovation, the open tradition and architecture of the Internet, and competition among content and backbone providers. It would also threaten the equality of speech through which the Internet has begun to transform American political and cultural discourse. Accordingly, network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others. This principle will ensure that the new competitors, especially small or non-profit speakers, have the same opportunity as incumbents to innovate on the Internet and to reach large audiences. I will protect the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy.
Privacy
MA: Should the government involve itself in protecting personal privacy online? Since current measures are doing little to solve the problem, what do you think can be done to address the issue?
BO: Dramatic increases in computing power, decreases in storage costs and the huge flows of information that characterize the digital age bring enormous benefits, but also create risk of abuse. We need sensible safeguards that protect privacy in this dynamic new world. As president, I will strengthen privacy protections for the digital age and will harness the power of technology to hold government and business accountable for violations of personal privacy.
Specifically, I will do the following:
To ensure that powerful databases containing information on Americans that are necessary tools in the fight against terrorism are not misused for other purposes, I support restrictions on how information may be used and technology safeguards to verify how the information has actually been used.
I support updating surveillance laws and ensuring that law enforcement investigations and intelligence-gathering relating to U.S. citizens are done only under the rule of law.
I will also work to provide robust protection against misuses of particularly sensitive kinds of information, such as e-health records and location data that do not fit comfortably within sector-specific privacy laws.
I will increase the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement budget and will step up international cooperation to track down cyber-criminals so that U.S. law enforcement can better prevent and punish spam, spyware, telemarketing and phishing intrusions into the privacy of American homes and computers.
Mobile Spectrum Auctions and Rules
MA: What is your position on the mobile spectrum? Should government force open access or should it simply auction it off to the highest bidder and let the carriers decide what types of services to offer?
BO: I will confront the entrenched Washington interests that have kept our public airwaves from being maximized for the public’s interest. As president, I will demand a review of existing uses of our wireless spectrum. My bottom line is that rural America needs more and better wireless broadband service, networks should be as open to innovation as possible, and the consumer needs greater freedom and choice. We must make sure the nation’s airwaves are licensed to maximize their public benefit. Auctions have most recently been conducted without sufficient incentives to encourage full use and competition. With respect to the upcoming 700 megahertz auction, many experts believe that this spectrum in question is the last remaining available space in the airwaves for auction with the promise to get wireless broadband deployed to every community. I would have gone further than the Federal Communications Commission has done to date to make sure that this spectrum will be used and open to innovation, but I support the direction the FCC is moving in toward more competition and encouraging new entrants into this market and I will direct my administration’s FCC to continue moving in that direction.
The Digital Divide
MA: What is your opinion of the E-rate program? What else can be done to increase access to technology in our schools? What can be done outside of schools to address the digital divide more generally?
BO: I consider the E-rate program a success because it has helped make broadband nearly ubiquitous in America’s public schools and I am honored that Reed Hundt and Bill Kennard, the FCC Chairmen under President Clinton who oversaw the plan’s creation and implementation, have chosen to endorse my candidacy for President. Unfortunately, we have not made further progress under the Bush Administration and I will recommit America to ensuring that our schools, libraries, households and hospitals have access to next generation broadband networks. I will also make sure that there are adequate training and other supplementary resources to allow every school, library and hospital to take full advantage of the broadband connectivity. In terms of bridging the digital divide outside of schools, I will reform the two major programs which can drive broadband into underserved communities. I described a bold approach to reforming spectrum policies in the previous question. In addition, my administration will establish a multi-year plan with a date certain to change the Universal Service Fund program from one that supports voice communications to one that supports affordable broadband, with a specific focus on reaching previously un-served communities. Finally, I will encourage innovation at the local level through federal support of public/private partnerships that deliver broadband to communities without real broadband.
Education
MA: How would you define “technically literate?” What technology skills should every eighth grader possess? What do you think is the best way to reach the goal?
BO: To me, technical literacy means ensuring that all public school children are equipped with the necessary science, technology and math skills to succeed in the 21st century economy. As president, I will make math and science education a national priority and provide our schools with the tools to educate 21st century learners. Access to computers and broadband connections in public schools must be coupled with qualified teachers, engaging curricula, and a commitment to developing skills in the field of technology. All children must have access to strong math and science curriculum at all grade levels, including the pre-K level. That’s why I will also invest in research and development in science education to determine what types of curriculum and instruction work best. At the college level, I will work to increase our number of science and engineering graduates, encourage undergraduates studying math and science to pursue graduate studies, and work to increase the representation of minorities and women in the science and technology pipeline, tapping the diversity of America to meet the increasing demand for a skilled workforce. If we export our best software and engineering jobs to developing countries, it is less likely that America will benefit from the next generation innovations in nanotechnology, electronics, and biotechnology. We must have a skilled workforce so that we can retain and grow jobs requiring 21st century skills rather than forcing employers to find skilled workers abroad.
Internet and Taxes
MA: What is your position on Internet-only taxes? What is your position on the capital gains tax rate? What is your position on the way venture capitalists should be taxed on carried interest?
BO: Internet-Only Taxes: I support the moratorium on Internet-only taxes and will support all efforts to keep the Internet tax free.
Capital Gains Taxes: I will promote tax fairness by adjusting the top dividends and capital gains rate to a level that would be closer to, but no higher than, the rates set during the Reagan Administration in 1986.
Carried Interest: I will close the carried interest loophole.
Immigration and H1B Visas
MA: What is your position on H1B visas in general? Do you believe the number of H1B visas should be increased?
BO: Highly skilled immigrants have contributed significantly to our domestic technology industry. But we have a skills shortage, not a worker shortage. There are plenty of Americans who could be filling tech jobs given the proper training. I am committed to investing in communities and people who have not had an opportunity to work and participate in the Internet economy as anything other than consumers. Most H-1B new arrivals, for example, have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent abroad (42.5%). They are not all PhDs. We can and should produce more Americans with bachelor’s degrees that lead to jobs in technology. A report of the National Science Foundation (NSF) reveals that blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans as a whole comprise more that 25% of the population but earn, as a whole, 16% of the bachelor degrees, 11% of the master’s degrees, and 5% of the doctorate degrees in science and engineering. We can do better than that and go a long way toward meeting industry’s need for skilled workers with Americans. Until we have achieved that, I will support a temporary increase in the H-1B visa program as a stopgap measure until we can reform our immigration system comprehensively. I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes improvement in our visa programs, including our legal permanent resident visa programs and temporary programs including the H-1B program, to attract some of the world’s most talented people to America. We should allow immigrants who earn their degrees in the U.S. to stay, work, and become Americans over time. As part of our comprehensive reform, we should examine our ability to replace a stopgap increase in the number of H1B visas with an increase in the number of permanent visas we issue to foreign skilled workers. I will also work to ensure immigrant workers are 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.
Intellectual Property
MA: Do you think changes are needed in the way the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reviews and grants patents?
BO: I know that it is essential we have a system that produces timely, high-quality patents. By improving predictability and clarity in our patent system, we will help foster an environment that encourages innovation. Giving the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) the resources to improve patent quality and opening up the patent process to citizen review will reduce the uncertainty and wasteful litigation that is currently a significant drag on innovation. With better informational resources, the Patent and Trademark Office could offer patent applicants who know they have significant inventions the option of a rigorous and public peer review that would produce a “gold-plated” patent much less vulnerable to court challenge. Where dubious patents are being asserted, the PTO could conduct low-cost, timely administrative proceedings to determine patent validity. As president, I will ensure that our patent laws protect legitimate rights while not stifling innovation and collaboration.
Renewable Energy
MA: Should carbon emissions be taxed? What will you do to encourage U.S. innovation into renewable/sustainable energy sources?
BO: I support implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. I will start reducing emissions immediately in my administration by establishing strong annual reduction targets, and I’ll also implement a mandate of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. I will use some of the revenue generated from the cap-and-trade permit auction to invest in climate-friendly energy development and deployment. This will transform the economy and create millions of new jobs. I will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy, invest in low emissions coal plants, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.
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…and the ONLY candidate not taking money from any PAC groups, or lobbyists. Think about that…
Of the ‘top’ tier candidates - I believe Edwards isn’t taking any lobbyist money either.
I’m surprised you didn’t ask anything that would bring up his positions on mandating government adoption of web 2.0 technologies. What I’ve read about his ideas on government wikis, open forums for public commenting on pending bills, etc seems intriguing and I would have loved to have read something about that here.
“I will also work to ensure immigrant workers are less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country” — this is HUGE. I studied, then worked in the US under an H1B visa and eventually left out of frustration, partially due to this issue of being tied to one company. But if Obama can make this happen, it will make the US a lot more attractive for skilled workes.
For markets to be really efficient, workers (including those on H1Bs) need to be able to move around freely to maximise overall productivity. It seems like Obama ‘gets it.’
“Highly skilled immigrants have contributed significantly to our domestic technology industry. But we have a skills shortage, not a worker shortage.”
You mean you have a shortage of *workers* with *skills*. That sounds like a worker shortage to me.
“There are plenty of Americans who could be filling tech jobs given the proper training.”
Given the proper training, level of intelligence, and whatever dumb-luck factors make someone a good engineer instead of an artist or a boxer, the entire population could be filling tech jobs. But they won’t and they aren’t, which is why the free market should be, well, free so that any imbalance can be quickly corrected by the invisble hand.
It’s not that I was expecting a straight answer from Obama on the immigration issue. Humans are pack animals, xenophobic and racist by nature, and, although they’ve accepted the free market for the most part, they will never fully support applying it to foreign trade, foreign capital and foreign workers as a rational species would. But at the same time they have to appear non-racist to fit into their pack, so they’ll go on and on and on claiming that not letting someone live in a certain place or take a certain job based purely on where they were born is not discrimination. This is rather like claiming that black is white (pun intended). But Obama’s answer is particularly transparently meaningless.
There is NO “worker” shortage or skill shortage…The only thing that’s lacking is American’s preference for a Living Wage..and American Wage.
Foreign workers are paid at least one third less than their American counterparts and THAT is the only reason greedy corporations (with the help of greedy politicians) are willing to hire them. ..not
You’re cheap labor….That is your only asset.
When Mr. Obama states that he would change the “capital gains rate to a level that would be closer to, but no higher than, the rates set during the Reagan Administration in 1986″ he is suggesting that the capital gains tax be raised from its current 15% to around 28% (which BTW was also the max regular income tax rate at the time). That will kill innovation and is in and of itself a non-starter for him to get my vote.
To be totally honest I think this series of posts (interviewing politicians) is a complete waste of time and space. Get people in the business to ask them what they think ha?
Quite diplomatic, wasn’t he?
With Oprah hitting the campaign trail with him, how can he not take the lead over lowly Hillary?
Amazing how powerful blogging has become.
Compare this to the last election when they were just making use of the Web as a promotion avenue
Especially two elections ago, when some candidates did not even have Websites
The best response he had for technology (IMHO) is his support for more competition in the Broadband Internet market. But still - when he wouldn’t hold his hand over his heart AND wouldn’t actually say our pledge of allegiance, made me lose what interest I did have in this guy. Ron Paul anyone?
http://www.tekbite.com/2007/11.....blems.html
Moratorium on Internet taxes… Hmm, we’ll see…
BO has definitely learned fast to tone down his language and adjust his rhetoric.
#11, tketch, make sure you research your “facts” about not saying the pledge. I think that’s a BS story (based on a little googling!)
Such a succinct, direct, and forward response/plan toward a green economy. This might be a good point to tease out which dem is really best for change.
Total pandering empty shirt.
I liked the “live” telephone interviews you did with McCain and Romney. Did you do the Obama and Edwards one on the phone? Could you post the audio if you did?
Maybe I’m just lazy, but it is so much easier to listen then to read.
As a nurse working in IT, and a Master’s candidate in Informatics, I’m very excited to see some of these proposals happening. This is the guy who is responsive to the realities of the every day people’s lives, not to Washington’s lives. I can’t believe his grasp of knowledge in nearly every area broached. He gets it, and it will be great to see what he can get done, as he works so well with people on both sides of this massive divide that has been created. Deadlock is the goal for half of them, preserving their positions is the goal for the other half; if we get someone who can inspire them to work together, imagine what can change for us. He’s also reasonable enough to listen to ANY suggestions, so go ahead and make them to HQ!And by the way, I’m so tired of hearing that RNC smear technique about the Pledge of Allegiance I could spit; I was at the event and didn’t put my hand over my heart for it either; IT WAS THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER, and it’s not even the standard response, it’s because as a populous we just don’t know which we are supposed to do any more. Get the facts.
Seems to be a trend here.
Republican candidates: live interviews, live responses.
Democratic candidates: email interview, canned responses.
At least give us an apples to apples comparison. Any politician can turn a question over to his staff to develop a policy statement on it that he reviews and approves. How many politicians give worthy responses when left on their own to think?
This approach makes it harder to sift the wheat from the chaff. If the candidate was unwilling to do a live interview, at least state that.
@#17 .. not lazy.. there’s more to the audio than just not wanting to read…
yeah… this written response stuff is really not very great… let’s give them the questionnaire and let their braintrust fill it out and send it in… it takes cohones to get on the phone and conduct an off the cuff interview… why is it appearing as though the republicans are not afraid and the democrats are? This is the valley for god’s sake.. this is their territory and they are afraid to talk openly with a influential member of the “Valley” community… wtf does that say about their ability to be a strong and decisive leader? If they can’t even get on the phone (for what amounts to a very friendly and respectful interview) and talk to Mike so we can hear their tone and get a sense for how long it takes them respond, etc… aka “judge them” by their presentation then i, for one, don;t really want them in the oval office talking to other world leaders… they can’t even talk to a blogger!!!
grrr… i’m so mad at Barack for copping out on this one… so mad i could cry. so far Mit Romney is the strongest candidate (if my gauge was the TC interview alone… thank god it is not… lol.) We simply cannot endure another republican administration… think of the supreme court people… thats the single most important factor right now… what type of justices are going to be appointed… take a peek, the SC is extremely rightwinged and not balanced at all… bush has molested the Supreme Court to the point of embarassment. We simply cannot afford another ultra conservative Justice.
I cannot back these responses from my favorite candidate… because it was obviously a very tactful and strategic response, crafted to give you what you wanted to hear… and it hurts me bad. I like this guy, he seems very real and very serious about pioneering “real” change around here… that’s so bright and awesome.. but then this, a written reply… i expect a written reply from john edwards because he has never been really good at that thing where you open your mouth and sound comes out… but Barack? the man can probably wake someone up from a coma with his powerful ability to speak… and he chose to stifle his most powefull asset… his genuineness.
I guess by being first and being live (on the phone that is… where we can hear him) gives Mit the unbeatable advantage as the “clear winner” of the TC debate… everyone else now knows the questions and can fashion well rehearsed responses to each category. (or they do like McCain did and simply answer a different question than the one asked… lol. classic maneuver.)
ok.. sorry for my very long comment… I’m also sorry for my radical abuse of the ellipsis.
I agree 100% with Austin, all interviews should be live or not posted at all, The republican candidates have had live interviews where the democrats have filled out questionnaire’s.
well.. fooey… #19 said it so much better (aka: short)
(and i didnt mean to still have the Duncan thing in my name… hehehe. Forgive.)
Obama good for tech? Get real.
A higher capital gains tax means less venture capital. Period.
Romney is in favor of eliminating capital gains taxes. Period.
Whoever dreamed up this double-taxation phenomena was a complete wacko. We work hard, earn money, and pay taxes on it. Then we invest the savings. And pay taxes on any growth from our savings that we already paid taxes on. Ridiculous.
America is built on capital investment. The higher the taxes on capital gains, the less investment, the less growth. Not just bad for tech, but bad for everyone.
“To me, technical literacy means ensuring that all public school children are equipped with the necessary science, technology and math skills to succeed in the 21st century economy. As president, I will make math and science education a national priority and provide our schools with the tools to educate 21st century learners. ” - this sounds much easier than done.
The real question is how he is going to motivate kids to get into science and technology? The way things are structured in this country, “coolness” factor is missing when it comes down to science and technology. For example, Washington State is a home to Microsoft. One would expect that given the wealth generated by Microsoft, every kid would want to become a software engineer or the next Bill Gates. But the truth is that a majority of the students are graduating in non-tech majors and engineering schools are relying on foreign students to fill their seats. Most of the kids are interested in camping and hiking the mountains than mastering C# or PHP.
Why in countries like India and China are different? Because there is a coolness factor attached to becoming a techie. They don’t make movies such as “The Revenge of the Nerds”.
truly a once in a generation candidate. enough said.
obama in ‘08.
This man is The Man.
I can’t believe more Americans don’t see it. He thinks, he wants to understand, he wants to solve, he wants to lead, and lead well.
He may not say things that match perfectly with what each of us wants, but if we look beyond our own individual goals, he seems to want to to the best for the majority, for our long term future, and for our success (and sometimes those 3 don’t always go together).
The US of A needs a great leader. Someone with morals, and courage and intelligence.
He gets my vote.
I disagree with the principle that sticking technology in our schools will breed more techies. Anyone who has stepped inside a school recently and observed why students don’t learn, it’s not due to the absence of technology.
It’s a lack of personal motivation. They don’t care.
There are lots of reasons for that (another discussion another day), but additional access to technology won’t change a lack of motivation. The Bill Gates Foundation put some massive money into tech-driven high schools and the results have been completely abysmal, with no educational advantage at all.
High-level sound-bytes go nowhere to getting my vote. Start using data, not buzzwords.
2 Things Consistently overlooked…. by all candidates.
1) How are we going to stop pollution that kills algae. Algae is the largest converter of carbon dioxide into oxygen thus getting rid of it. The earth is a closed loop control system. More CO2 causes warmer temps. Warmer temps cause more algae to grow. The more algae converts more CO2 into oxygen and regulates the planet. Why is there no initiative to keep this system in balance. It seems to one sided.
2) The largest offenders of CO2 emissions are not western countries. What about treaties and foreign policy to aide/push the big violating countries to clean up their act. If the US didn’t give off any CO2 from our mechanical emissions the situation would still get worse. We can’t do this alone no matter how much pressure we put on our citizens or businesses.
This all seems to be missing enough key problems to improve the overall situation enough to make an impacting difference.
@Erin - you are right on the money about money/technology being put into schools making a difference. Studies have shown that throwing money or tech at the problem won’t make much of a difference.
Kids have to care. They have to want it.
The Bill Gates foundation isn’t the only one to poor lots of money into schools, buy tech for them, and see dismal results. This is one problem you can’t throw money at. Even if it’s billions and billions.
Republicans: live answers directly from the candidates
Dems: canned answers from campaign staff
I prefer to hear my politicians lie.
#5 - “The US of A needs a great leader. Someone with morals, and courage and intelligence.”
This is the problem with those of you who think that government involvement in our lives is beneficial. A powerful government requires “someone with morals, courage…” and a billion other virtues that are directly contrary to the personality of someone who desires this power to govern. Instead, vote to reduce the power of government and thus to reduce the potential for corruption.
@7
Apparently you didn’t test your crappy blog in Internet Explorer 7. I suggest you take a look before you try to come out and bash the TC staff. Get a life dude. Don’t be bitter just because they don’t want to highlight your crappy apps.
BO’s answers are some of the most direct and red-tape free comments I have read in awhile.
off topic, but i hit the print posts button and what happened next was kludgey at best: a little window opens up allowing me to select several posts, i click the ok button and wait and wait and wait for a pdf to be created, delivered to my computer then opened up (automatically) and finally my computer’s ready to print. the pdf shows a rendering of the page in html.
you can accomplish the same thing by creating print css settings. a lot less waiting although the HP sponsorship might go by the boards.
#32, Thanks for the constructive criticism.
I would like to agree with everyone who has posted about the non-live interviews of the last two candidates. Could you at least tell us if the interview is live or not? It seems sort of biased that you aren’t. To me, it seems a lot more like the Democratic positions are “Utopia, here it comes! Elect Me!” because it sounds like their responses are canned. The Republicans at least had some personality in their answers, if for no other reason than we could hear their voices.
I also liked some of the sillier questions: Mac vs. PC, What’s on your Ipod, etc.
Keep the interviews coming though - they’re very interesting to read.
Why is it that the Democrats only take Q&A’s and the Repubs are open to phone/audio interviews?
While I understand everyone is busy, the audio at least assures you that they are speaking from their heart (or their head) and not reviewing the questions with campaign staff.
Note: When is Hillary going to be interviewed? And can you make it phone/audio please.
Michael: The scariest thing I’ve seen Goog is trading at 666…..be afraid, be very afraid. I think I will drink today, line up the shots!
@26 — couldn’t have said it better myself. I cannot for the life of me figure out why more Americans are not jumping on the Obama bandwagon.
Since when did the majority of us start aspiring for mediocrity amongst our presidential candidates? Obama is the first candidate I have seen in a long time with the potential to be truly GREAT.
I know at least 4 people over 30 who have never voted in their lives who will be participating in this election because they realize the significance of this man running for office.
This is a unique election, in many ways. Americans will really be put to a test because they have never:
1. Voted for a woman as President.
2. Voted for an African American person as President.
3. Are uncomfortable with seeing a Mormon President.
4. Are uncomfortable with Giuliani being pro-choice.
Is there anyone credible left to be elected?
How about a Kucinich interview?
Better yet than a Kucinich interview: a poll to see whether or not we should interviews him.
As one of several billion people without a vote in this election, I beg any American reading to help elect this person. PLEASE. It’s important.
@23 - “Whoever dreamed up this double-taxation phenomena was a complete wacko. We work hard, earn money, and pay taxes on it. Then we invest the savings. And pay taxes on any growth from our savings that we already paid taxes on. Ridiculous.”
Sounds to me like your candidate should be Ron Paul then. He is the ONLY candidate addressing the non-government Federal Reserve and the resulting income and inflation tax (http://youtube.com/watch?v=abV9tgbG-bA) we all are forced to pay. This money from thin air approach is obviously the reason for our shaky dollar, and neo-con Empire building foreign policy. This can’t go on forever, it will collapse.
@39 - “I know at least 4 people over 30 who have never voted in their lives who will be participating in this election because they realize the significance of this man running for office.”
Thousands are saying the same thing about Ron Paul. The say specifically “Dr. Paul cured my apathy.”
Better link for a video introduction to Dr. Ron Paul:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsDlO2Lr_cg
His answer are hack. Temporary H1B visas? Why temporary? Politicos are really frustrating. NEXT!
You will never get a straight answer, on any subject, from any politician.
He’s black, no matter what he says he won’t win!
But I did like his responses. So far he’s got my vote.
ps. The pledge of allegiance and ‘radical ideological Muslim’ rumors are not true.
Thanks Auston - now please crawl back under the rock you came from, people like you do absolutely nothing for what Obama is trying to accomplish here.
Obama understands technology better than any candidate I have listen to or read.
More importantly, he is able to align the issues with his own principles and values and creates an exciting hope for the future of America.