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2008 Elections
Address to AAI: Sen. Barack Obama
Posted on Friday December 7, 2007
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Sen. Barack Obama's Full Address to the AAI National Leadership Conference
Hello, everyone. Let me begin by congratulating your president and my good friend, Jim Zogby, for his work in putting together this conference. It's an honor to have his support.
As some of you know, my perspective has been shaped not only by my values as an American, but by my experiences as a child in Indonesia and visiting my father's family in Kenya. Like you, I want America to be seen as a moral beacon around the world.
But in the last several years, we've gone off course. We all know the costs of the Iraq War. This is a war that I've opposed from the start at a time when it was not so popular to do so. I have a plan that would start bringing our troops home immediately that would extend our efforts to help displaced Iraqis and that would start admitting at least 7,000 Iraqi asylum applicants because we need to stand with Iraqis who have stood with us.
In addition, my plan would involve strong and principled diplomacy with all of Iraq's neighbors, but we also have to do more to bring a measure of stability in the broader Middle East. Our neglect of the Middle East peace process has fueled despair and extremism. As President, I will make a personal commitment to work toward ending the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis and realize the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security. This is important to Arab Americans. It's important to Jewish Americans, and it is important to me.
And if we want America to be a moral beacon in the world, we have to set a better example here at home. As a state Senator, I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass a bill to ban racial profiling. And when I'm President, the rights of every American will be fully respected and protected.
So, thanks again to Jim, to the members of the AAI Board, and everyone who's taking part in this year's conference. I look forward to working with you in months and years to come. Bye bye.
