Obama focuses on November; barely mentions Clinton in Beaverton visit

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, May 9, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (35 Reader comments)

Jaime Valdez / Pamplin Media Group

Sen. Barack Obama shook hands Friday morning with employees of Vernier Software & Technology in Beaverton. Obama visited the area during a two-day swing to campaign for votes in the state’s May 20 primary election.

There’s a competitive presidential primary under way among Oregon Democrats, but you wouldn’t know it from hearing Barack Obama Friday morning in Beaverton.

Obama, launching his third Oregon campaign swing, saved his fire for Republican candidate Sen. John McCain during a one-hour appearance with Vernier Software & Technology employees.

Obama never mentioned Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, except in response to questioners — though she has whittled away some of his early polling lead here, and was speaking at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland at the same hour. And he made no effort to discuss Oregon-specific issues.

On a day when Obama picked up four more superdelegate supporters, including U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, the stars seem increasingly aligned for him to win the Democratic nomination.

The Illinois senator used the podium to attack McCain for mimicking President Bush’s policies in Iraq, the economy and health care.

“Sen. McCain is running for president to double-down on President Bush’s failed economic polities,” Obama told several dozen Vermier employees in the invitation-only appearance. “There’s going to be a real difference on the ballot in November.

“He wants to give a permanent tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, who don’t need them and didn’t ask for them, while working people are struggling.”

Obama touted his plan to grant a tax break of $500 per worker or $1,000 per working family.

Obama denounced McCain’s plan to temporarily suspend federal gas taxes as a “gas tax holiday gimmick,” and didn’t mention that Clinton backs the same idea.

When it comes to expanding health care coverage, Obama said his plan and Clinton’s are “95 percent” the same. Obama is often faulted by health insurance experts, who say his plan would fall short of providing universal coverage, unlike Clinton’s.

(That was the focus of Clinton's visit to Portland. She spent about 25 minutes in a chilly Doernbecher outdoor courtyard highlighting her universal care initiative and scolding Obama for not pushing for the same plan.)

Obama said the Massachusetts experience with its state health plan that requires the purchase of insurance left him wary of “mandates,” which require everyone to sign up for coverage, as Clinton proposes. If people choose to feed their family rather than buy insurance, he said, the resulting penalties leave them “worse off than they were.”

“Both Sen. Clinton and my plan are serious attempts to get health coverage for everybody. John McCain’s is not,” he said. “John McCain wants to continue a George Bush approach that only takes care of the healthy and the wealthy.”

Inspirational visit

Vernier employees and owners were thrilled by Obama's visit, saying it was an inspirational event.

“I was very impressed,” said Christine Vernier, co-founder of Vernier Software & Technology. “He has such a good plan for this country.

“As a science teacher, it was very important to hear how he planned on getting kids through college. I also like what I heard about his health plan.”

Christine Vernier said she was honored that Obama chose to visit her company.

“This whole experience has been so exciting,” she said. “For our employees it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear him speak, meet him personally and shake his hand.

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