Media Credit: Jim Gibbs [Click to enlarge]

Barack Obama (D) Senator from Illinois

Ben Williams: Barack Obama is the runner-up of the Democratic Party. Despite running a very strong campaign, Obama is slipping even further in the polls to the almost shoe-in Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

In his health care strategy, Barack Obama addresses numerous issues ranging from the worldwide fight against AIDS, mandatory children's health insurance coverage, and investment in electronic health information technology systems. The major headline is that Obama would create a new national health plan to allow individuals without access to affordable insurance coverage to buy coverage similar to that available to members of Congress.

The National Public Health Plan will have guaranteed eligibility, comprehensive benefits, affordable premiums with subsidies, expansion of SCHIP, flexibility for new state plans, and portability and choice of plans between jobs.

Without getting too much into the nuts and bolts of Obamas' plan is socialized medicine. It places the responsibility and control of our health care system in the large hands of the federal government. Furthermore, it places the burden of cost on employers and taxpayers.

Obama is in favor of a larger, more powerful federal government.

Wes Kimbell: Obama is perhaps the most charismatic candidate across the board, among both the Democratic and Republican Party candidates. Obama grew up in poor conditions with a single parent and gradually worked his way up through an education at Columbia University and Harvard Law. He put off his lawyer degree to work as a community organizer. His life story and background alone almost make you want to vote for the guy.

But then you get to the politics. The issue many have with Obama, and rightfully so, is skepticism about his short record. The best way to judge a candidate is their voting history and consistency. Obama has spent little time in elected office with no long voting history. For this reason, many shy away from endorsing Barak Obama.

Obama isn't too vociferous on the protection of civil liberties. Searching his official campaign website I found nothing promising their protection. This is especially important during the War on Terror and the fanfare of controversial programs the Bush administrations has pursued which include domestic spying, illegal wiretapping of civilians and everything else that comes with the Patriot Act. Perhaps he's playing the political card early. After all, he won't win an election if he's labeled "soft" on terrorism.

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