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Show '•\f-.f''. , 12 • • : ' • -V • * WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29,2010 THE SIGNPOST / Obama: stop whining and get to work' ing a backyard conversation with New Mexico voters, arguing that Republicans MADISON, VWs. (AP) - would reverse the progress Buck up. Stop whining. And he's made on education reform and student aid. "That's get to work. Clearly frustrated by Re- the choice that we've got in publicans' energy-and his this election," Obama said, own party's lack of enthu- underscoring the stakes of siasm - President Barack Nov. 2. Later, at an outdoor rally Obama scolded fellow Demat the University of Wisconocrats even as he rallied sin in Madison, the president them Ibesday in an effort to save the party from big GOP urged thousands of students gains in the crucial mid- 'to stay as inspired and interm elections. In the final volved in this election as they month of campaigning, he's were two years ago. "We can't let this country trying to re-energize young fall backwards because the voters, despondent liberals and other Democrats whose rest of us didn't care enough excitement over his election to fight," he said to loud applause. has dissipated. It was the first of four "It is inexcusable for any large rallies planned for the Democrat or progressive campaign homestretch as. right now to stand on the sidelines," the president the president tries to redeclared in a Rolling Stone kindle some of his 2008 magazine interview. He said campaign magic and fire that supposed supporters up young supporters and who are "sitting on their others who helped elect hands complaining" are ir- Obama but who Democrats responsible because the fear may stay home this fall. consequences of Republi- Top lieutenants Vice Presican congressional victories dent Joe Biden, Democratic could be dashed Democrat- Party Chairman Tim Kaine and Cabinet members also ic plans. fanned out on other college He gave an example durcampuses to call party foot By Liz Sidoti Writer I Assosiated Press soldiers to action. At Perm State University in State College, Pa., Biden noted he was criticized a day earlier in New Hampshire for urging ©emocrats to "remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives." "All I heard when I got here in Happy Valley was the roar of lions. Folks, it's time for us to roar," Biden said, pressing his audience to knock on doors, make phone calls and commit to vote. With the elections looming, the White House and Democratic Party are focused primarily on trying to compel their core voters - liberals and minority groups -as well as the ideologically broad coalition that helped elect Obama in 2008 to participate in the first congressional elections of his presidency. They have little choice. Midterm contests largely turn on which party can get out more of its backers. And polls show that Republicans are far more enthusiastic this year partly because of tea party anger. Also, polls Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet "Breathtakingly perfect...an astonishing experience." - The Herald, Glasgow, Scotland t show Democrats can't count on independent voters who carried them to victory in consecutive national elections. Mindful of that and armed with polling, the White House has started arguing that voters who backed Obama in 2008 must turn out for Democrats this year because the GOP wants to undo what the president has accomplished. "We are focused on motivation, not laying blame or pointing fingers, because the consequences for sitting this election out could be disastrous," said Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director. White House aides said House Republicans "Pledge to America" last week made it easier for Obama to do something he^ been trying for weeks: to frame the election as a choice between Democrats' ideas and Republicans' proposals. By signaling plans for deep spending cuts in popular areas such as education, officials said, the GOP pledge presented an opportunity for the White House to remind voters, and particularly the base, what's at stake in November. Aides say Obama was trying to underscore those stakes in his interview with Rolling Stone, and the final- stretch strategy - in every- some concern that it could thing from rhetoric to events further alienate liberals and - is to underscore that mid- other Democratic critics term elections have conse- who don't think Obama has quences. done enough to pursue is-r "People need to shake off sues important to them. this lethargy. People need to "Ifs not helpful," said buck up," Obama said in the John Aravosis, the editor of interview. "Bringing about the progressive AMERICAchange is hard - that's what blog.com. "The base is de : I said during the campaign. pressed and they're depress"But if people now want to ing it even more, and ifs not take their ball and go home, clear why." that tells me folks weren't Said DailyKos founder serious in the first place," Markos Moulitsas: "They Obama said. wouldn't be in this predicaHe was speaking to all ment if they delivered on Democrats, including first- their campaign promises, time voters in 2008 and lib- rather than waste the last erals who have complained two years putting bipartisan-: that Obama sacrificed his ship above action." campaign promises on Obama's tough-love comhealth care and national se- ments came just days before curity for legislative compro- more than 300 liberal groups mise. planned to participate in a D e m o c r a t i c - l e a n i n g rally on the National Mall on groups have largely been Saturday. missingfromthe TV airwaves During the three-day trip, this fall as GOP-aligned orga- Obama also was trying to nizations pummel Demo- counter the notion that he's cratic House and Senate out of touch as well as sway candidates with attack ads. undecided voters with a seSeeing allies outspent 6-1, ries of backyard visits - in White House aides recently Albuquerque, Des Moines, decided to use that disparity Iowa; and Richmond, Va. to compel their base to vote. - that give him time to exSeveral Democratic strat- plain his policies in everyday egists privately fear that the settings. He's recently emstrategy to motivate Demo- braced this form of intimatecrats with sternness could but-televised event to debackfire partly because it fend and explain his record runs counter to Obama's on the economy, health care carefully cultivated hopeful, and other topics. uplifting image. There's also Three killed in Iraq Attacks on Iraqi security forces have stepped up in recent months as the U.S. BAGHDAD (AP) - Of- military begins to withdraw ficials say three police offi- from the country. cers have been killed in late All officials spoke on night attacks in two north- condition of anonymity beern Iraqi cities, including a cause they were not authobombing that also injured rized to talk to the media. eight bystanders. THIS IS A BREAKING Police said a car bomb NEWS UPDATE. Check exploded Tuesday night back soon for further infornear a popular cafe in mation. AP's earlier story is Tarmiyah. A hospital official below. said the blast killed two poBAGHDAD (AP) - An lice officers and eight cafe American serviceman is customers. being held in Iraq in conLater, officials said at- nection with the fatal shoottackers broke in the home ings of two soldiers and the of a policeman in the for- wounding of another folmer insurgent stronghold lowing an apparent arguof Samarra and killed him. ment, the U.S. military said A health worker confirmed Tuesday. the death. By Mazin Yahya Writer I Associated Press October 9, 2010, 7:30pm Browning Center for the Performing Arts Listen at: wsuculturalaffairs.org . jfc-| 2 / $ 1 5 801-626-8500 Luther fc*/wj J/*. CJhei't* 7~hatsda/} Sejntesri >&*t'30 desftej- -Pot . * * . • " ^SitV 2*O&P'>1 & anits/ . Shephetd Union 232 A statement by U.S. forces said Spc. Neftaly Platero was in custody during the investigation into last week's slayings in Fallujah, a former insurgent stronghold 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad. Col. Barry Johnson, a U.S. military spokesman, said a "verbal altercation" broke out among four soldiers last Thursday and the suspect "allegedly took his weapon and began shooting the other soldiers." Platero is from the Houston area, Johnson said. The Pentagon said Spa John Carrillo Jr., 20, of Stock ton, California, and Pfc. Gebrah R Noonan, 26, of Watertown, Connecticut died the next day. They were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Stewart, Ga. The name of the woundr ed soldier was not released. No other details were immediately available. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan says U.S. forces are "saddened by this tragic event" In an unrelated incident, the Pentagon said another U.S. soldier died last Friday in an accident in Kuwait. A statement said Army Spc. Marc C. Whisenant, 23, of Holly Hill, Fla., died in a military vehicle roll-over. It offered no details, including whether the soldier was inside the vehicle. Whisenant was assigned to the Florida National Guard's 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment that is based at Miami. Some soldiers sent to support the seven-year war in Iraq are stationed in Kuwait, a military shuttle point for equipment, supplies and personnel. * . ;, |