As they prepare to hear speeches from President Obama and Vice President Biden about the future of the country, delegates at the Democratic National Convention said the most important issues for them are healthcare and jobs“It’s going to take more than four years for us to get out of this mess and I think he deserves four more years,” said Rose Ann Zimbro, delegate from Minnesota.Zimbro said that President Obama has reached across the aisle to work with Republicans in Congress to create jobs, but now Republicans “need to put out a helping hand” to solve the nation’s economic problems.For Belinda Morgan-Sterling a delegate from Florida, President Obama’s accomplishment in health care reform, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, ending the war in Iraq, repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and presiding over 29 months of private sector job growth are important indications of his success as president.
“I think Obama is going to say believe in me, know that I have your best interests at hand and that I want four more years so that I can accomplish the tasks that I started back in 2009,” Morgan-Sterling said.
She said President Clinton’s speech on Wednesday was important as it used “plain and simple language” to outline President Obama’s accomplishments.
“He really touched on all the points that I think Americans need to know because there is so much misinformation out there in regards to what President Obama has done over his four year term.
Jeanie Brown-Burrows, who is a delegate from South Carolina, said President Obama motivates communities around the country “with his passion and sincerity” for making a difference. Despite consistently high unemployment rates in the African-American community, Brown-Burrows said Obama will strengthen that community in the next four years through education reform.
“He came into such challenging time and he can only do so much in four years,” she said. “Now I think that with the four years that he is going to carry through the plan to help our community.”
Maria Luna is a member of “Latinos for America” and a delegate from New York. She said the most important issues for her are women’s rights and health care.
Luna is also concerned about immigration reform and hopes President Obama will institute reforms for the entire immigrant population expanding on his executive order to provide a path to citizenship for young people under the Dream Act.
“We need to know what is the reason so many people are escaping their country,” she said. “Is it economics, politics and if we are the land of opportunity why not give them the opportunity?”
Ken Evans is an Area One Leader in Broward County and delegate from Florida working to get out the vote with independent and absentee voters. He hopes that organizing in his county will tip Florida in favor of President Obama.
“We all know we still have a lot more work to do,” Evans said. “The Republican Party is right that jobs are important but I really do believe the President’s way is the right way.”
