Vilsack stumps in Independence for Obama

“Being from Iowa, I’m a little biased,” said Iowa native and current Independence resident Donald Minjire. Minjire joined a crowd of about 50 Sunday at a picnic hosted by former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack at McCoy Park. Vilsack was here to speak on behalf of Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. “I’ve seen the governor many, many times and I’m invigorated that he is here in support of Barack Obama. It’s good to see him supporting Obama.”
Vilsack’s Labor BBQ and Canvass Kickoff here was part of his trip through rural and suburban Missouri to highlight the differences between Obama’s health care plan and Arizona Sen. John McCain’s proposal. McCain is, of course, Obama’s Republican opponent in November’s general election.
“Senator McCain said he has a (health care) plan that would provide $5,000 in tax relief,” Vilsack said to a small spattering of boos directed at the mention of McCain. “But what he has failed to mention is that he wants to tax (employer-provided) health care benefits. That would mean 20 million people would lose their health care insurance because insurance carriers would dump them, and they wouldn’t be able to afford the health coverage.”
Vilsack, who governed neighboring Iowa for eight years, traveled to St. Joseph after leaving Independence to talk about Obama’s health care plan. Vilsack made stops in Palmyra and Jefferson City Saturday.
“Obama has a plan that clearly contrasts McCain’s,” Vilsack said. “He has a plan that every single, man, woman and child in this country has access to health care insurance. He has a plan that would bring the cost down by an average of $2,500 for these families.”
Vilsack also spoke on the differences between Obama and McCain in regard to tax breaks for the wealthy and middle class, war and foreign affairs and renewable energy.
“Obama has always been a strong supporter of renewable energy,” Vilsack said. “For 26 years, John McCain has said no to bio-fuels. Only now has he become ‘Johnny Come Lately.’”
Natalia Link of Independence said she was impressed with Vilsack’s trip to the city. A wife and mother of two small children, Link said Vilsack’s talking points about Obama’s proposals spoke to her and her family.
“It means a lot that he would come down here to speak to us,” Link said shortly after the conclusion of Vilsack’s nearly 30 minute stump. “For people like myself, with a family of two small children, I felt like he was talking to me.”