Barack Obama

Obama packs 'em in, riffs on Iraq, Alito

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

By Jamie Francisco
Chicago Tribune

More than 600 people filled the gym of a northwest suburban middle school Monday to hear U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) answer questions on the conflict in Iraq, bird flu and the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

Obama's appearance at London Middle School in Wheeling was one in a series of town hall meetings that he has hosted throughout the state.

Before taking questions, Obama reiterated his plan to support an unsuccessful effort Monday by some Democrats to mount a filibuster in an effort to block a vote on Alito's confirmation to the high court.

Obama cautioned conservatives as well as liberals that supporting Alito's nomination would compromise civil liberties. He argued that Alito would not question President Bush's policies that allow the government to eavesdrop on private phone conversations under the guise of a national security.

But Obama also noted that a filibuster would not be needed if Democrats regained control of Congress and the White House.

"At some point, the filibuster exhausts itself, and if we don't win elections, you're not going to get the judges you want," Obama said.

The first comment from the audience came from Hoffman Estates resident Frank Verdung,who applauded Obama and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) for their efforts to help veterans receive benefits. But Verdung also said, "Don't turn Iraq into another Vietnam."

Obama thanked the U.S. troops fighting the war in Iraq, but said the conflict among the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds needs to be resolved in order for the country to live in peace now that Saddam Hussein has been removed from power.

"There is no military solution to the war in Iraq," Obama said. "The Iraqis are going to have to make a decision that they want to live together. We can not force them to do so."

Though the topics were serious, the mood in the room was mostly friendly, as Obama joked that only he would be allowed to make speeches during the question-and-answer session.

And as he chose people in the audience who stood to ask questions, Obama also said, "Let me not be biased for one side of the room because I tilt to the left."

Rachel Godlewski, a 5th grader at Frost Elementary School in Mt. Prospect, was the only pupil permitted to ask Obama a question.

"If you had a billion dollars, what would you do and why would you do it?" she said.

Obama joked that he would pay off his mortgage, then give the rest to his wife, Michelle. He added in a more serious tone that he would give the money to charitable organizations.