President Obama Campaigns in Woodbridge

Cover photo by Dakota Cunningham

President Obama made a campaign stop in Woodbridge, Virginia this afternoon where he pitched his vision for the country over the next four years. He spoke to a crowd of 12,000 people (according to Lt. Dave Cooper, Fire Marshal for Prince William County) at G. Richard Pfitzner stadium home of minor league baseball team the Potomac Nationals. This campaign event marks his 42^nd stop in Virginia since taking office. In 2012 alone he has visited the Commonwealth 13 times.

Before taking the podium the supporters heard from a variety of speakers. Starting things off was George Mason University student Christine Gonzales who performed the national anthem. Following Christine was Jill Borak, a Woodbridge resident and member of OFA-Virginia. She told of the struggles and hardships she and her husband faced in the past. She explained to crowd how she believed the president’s policies helped her family through tough economic times. After Jill came Democratic Senator and former Governor of Virginia Mark Warner.

Senator Warner leveled some attacks at the Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney saying, “Romney’s plan is wrong for America”. He also made subtle reference to Mitt Romney’s controversial statement about the 47% of people who pay no federal income tax. He spoke about the progress he has seen during President Obama’s first term. Senator Warner praised the president for his commitment to the brave men and women serving in harms way overseas. He also praised him for keeping his promises to end the war in Iraq and beginning to end the war in Afghanistan. Warner’s most spirited remarks came when he spoke about the meaning of the 2008 election and the importance of this year’s.

President Obama took to the podium with loud cheers and energy from the crowd. He congratulated the Washington Nationals baseball team for bringing playoff baseball to Washington. He made a prediction that the World Series would be a White Sox versus Nationals affair.

The President moved right into the meat of his speech. He said this election is a “choice between two fundamentally different visions for the country”. He continued by criticizing Mr. Romney and Republicans of wanting to continue the practice of “trickle down economics”.  The president also made mention of Mr. Romney’s statements about the 47% of Americans who pay no federal income tax saying, “I don’t believe we can get very far with a leader who writes off half the nation as a bunch of victims”.

President Obama said he offers a better plan for the future, one that is “Practical and focuses on creating jobs, growing the middle class, and rebuilding the economy on a stronger foundation”. He broke down his five point plan point by point. First he spoke about exporting more products and outsourcing fewer jobs. His second point focused on controlling more of America’s own energy. The third point focused on education and providing skills the American worker needs to compete in the 21^st century. The fourth point of the president’s plan was reducing the deficit. The fifth and final point focused on national security.

President Obama was victorious in Virginia four years ago. It has become a state his campaign has focused in on and looks to carry in 2012.

This is Shane Smith With Mason Votes reminding you to Be Aware, Get Educated, and VOTE!

You can see President Obama’s remarks in full below: