Watch Obama in Bristol Live

h/t DailyKos

Rough quotes:

"There's a reason why the first public event [since I won the nomination] is right here in southwestern Virginia."  

"I'm going to be paying attention, and I'm going to be listening, and we're going to make life better right here in southwestern Virginia."

"Today, as the Democratic nominee for president, I am announcing that going forward, the Democratic National Committee...will not take a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs...they will not run our White House and they will not drown out the voices of the American people."

"A health care system instead of a disease care system."

"Like George Bush, John McCain has a plan to only take care of the healthy and the wealthy."

"They want something new...that's what America's all about...if you stand with me Virginia...we'll get a lot of things done...God bless you."

[Crowd chanting "Yes We Can!"]

*Question on mental health care for veterans and in general. "I have always been a supporter of mental health parity." "We pay a cost" when we underdiagnose and undertreat mental health problems. "This is especially important when it comes to our troops." PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury are signature injuries of the Iraq war.  Multiple tours increases likelihood of PTSD.  Troops are 7 times more likely to end up homeless than non-veterans, that's a scandal.  Every soldier should get screened before discharge and provided mental health care services they need, "no ifs ands or buts."  No homeless veterans, "zero tolerance." Jim Webb's GI Bill...raise benefits to same as they were for the "greatest generation." George Bush opposes it and John McCain opposes this bill. They say it costs too much money...would cost only about half of what we spend in a month in Iraq. McCain says too many people will want to use the benefit. That makes no sense. "We've gotta get that GI Bill passed, and Jim Webb's done a great job introducing it."

*Question on Obama's health care plan. We'll have to make adjustments, have conversations and negotiations. Get everyone around the table. Drug and insurance companies can have a seat at the table, but they won't be able to buy every chair. If someone has a better idea than me, I will steal their idea...not interested in who gets the credit, just want to get it done. All of you are going to have to hold Congress accountable. We're going to have negotiations in public.

*Mr. Charles Edwards, 95 years old, gives Obama a present.  "If members of Congress don't pass my health care bill, I'm ready, I'll whoop 'em...I'll have that stick."

Lots more on the "flip"
*Question about taking good ideas and making them happen. Criteria for people in Obama administration: integrity ("we're going to shut down this revolving door"), competence ("no more heads of Arabian Horses Association in charge of FEMA"), people with independence ("who will tell me when I'm wrong, who will disagree"). Mark Warner is a great example of how to do this.  Why not focus on the 90% of things we agree on? If American people aren't paying attention, then special interests are.

*Question about foreign policy.  "We have real enemies in the world...first job is to keep you safe."  "I will not hesitate to strike against those who would do us harm."  Maintain strongest military on earth.  It also means using our military wisely. Don't send young men and women into battle unless absolutely necessary.  The war in Iraq was unwise.  "We are bringing our troops home." Time for Iraqis to step up and govern their own country.  Start saving billions of dollars to rebuild our roads, bridges, broadband, infrastructure here in America, scholarships for people to afford college right here in southwest Virginia.  Investments to improve our economy. There's never been a country on earth that saw its economy decline but maintained its status as strongest military power.  Help other countries educate their kids.  When people are living a good life, they're less likely to want to go blow someone else up.  Allies so we're not in it alone. "Coalition of the willing" - right now, over 150,000 troops in Iraq, the next country has a few thousands, and Great Britain is pulling troops out. That's not a real coalition.

*Question on national deficit.  When Bush took office, we had a $5 trillion debt. He's almost doubled it in one presidency. We are taking out a credit card on our children, they'll be paying off this mountain of debt. Over time, dollar starts declining, economy becomes weaker.  Step #1 is to end war in Iraq, we can't afford it, it's bleeding us dry. Step #2 is to stick to "pay as you go." John McCain's basic economic policy is to continue Bush tax cuts for wealthiest Americans, include an additional $300 billion worth of corporate tax cuts. McCain says he'll eliminate "pork barrel projects," but they only amount to $18 billion. Roll back Bush tax cuts on top earners. If you're making $250,000 or more, you're going to pay more in taxes. If you're making $75,000 or less, then you'll get a tax cut ($1,000 middle class tax relief to ordinary families, pay for it by closing loopholes).

*Question on gas prices. "This is wrecking peoples' budgets."  John McCain said let's have a gas tax holiday for 90 days. That's only if oil companies passed on the savings. It also would have taken money out of federal highway trust fund.  That was a gimmick, that's what politicians do. I said, we're not gonna do it that way.  Middle class tax cut to help pay for higher gas, food, medical costs. Long term, the only way we're going to reduce gas prices is if we start using energy differently.  That means we've got to invest in alternative energy, right here in southwest Virginia.  Solar, wind, biodiesel, "clean coal technology."  "I come from a coal state." We were supposed to build FutureGen to develop carbon sequestration, Bush canceled plan when he heard it wasn't going to Texas.  We've got to increase fuel mileage standards.  The technology exists right now to have a hybrid car that gets 75-100 miles per gallon.  Create millions of new jobs by investing in new technologies, jobs that won't be exported. And we're saving our environment. And, we're not sending billions of dollars to hostile nations. I'm going to need every one of you.  

"We will win Virginia, we will win this general election."

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