Marty Sanchez of Pilsen Neighbors and
Gamliel of Metro Chicago Questions Senator Barack Obama
at Heartland Presidential Forum
Asks about the Role of Government in Solving the Healthcare
Crisis
 DES MOINES, IOWA – On Saturday,
December 1, Marty Sanchez, president of Pilsen Neighbors
and Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, traveled to HyVee Hall
in Des Moines, Iowa to participate in the Heartland Presidential
Forum. The event gave everyday people from throughout
the country the opportunity to speak directly to presidential
candidates about issues that matter to all Americans.
Senator John Edwards, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator
Hillary Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Barack
Obama participated. The forum was sponsored by the Center
for Community Change (CCC) and Iowa Citizens for Community
Improvement (Iowa CCI).
During the forum Sanchez told Senator Obama, and a crowd
of 3,600 people, about the need for public health programs
for everyone, including immigrants who she said have been
deliberately excluded from these programs.
“I believe that this country needs a health care
program that ensures that everyone gets the health care
they deserve. For decades political leaders from both parties
have told us to rely on the private market. And have even
bragged about reducing government,” said Sanchez. “Are
you willing senator, to tell the American public that in
some ways there is a need for more government?”
 In response to Sanchez’s
question Obama talked about the role of government in
addressing the healthcare crisis.
“Government has a role to play in making sure that
the American people can live out their dreams. They don’t
expect government can solve all the problems. But they
can expect government to break down the barriers between
them and their dreams,” said Obama. “And the
notion that the private marketplace can take care of that
is just not true.”
The Heartland Presidential Forum put community values
voters on the political map and made clear they are a decisive
force in this election. The power was returned to the people,
as the grassroots community ignited a new values debate
in American politics. They made their case at the highest
political level, sharing personal stories of injustice
with the presidential candidates.
“The forum was a big deal to all of us who share
in these important issues at stake in this election and
who are tired of the status quo,” said Deepak Bhargava,
executive director, Center for Community Change, which
helped organize the event. “Too often, presidential
politics have resorted to a divide-and-conquer strategy.
But the people want hope and possibility, not fear and
division.”
During the forum, moderated by
Cathy Hughes, founder and chairwoman of Radio One all
the candidates were asked if they would embrace the concept
of community values—the
idea that together we can do so much and that government
must play a role in solving social problems. They all agreed
to support community values.
The audience included more than 2000 undecided, likely
caucus goers from Iowa and another 1,600 voters from 32
states, who organized community buses for the journey to
Iowa. Of the 30 grassroots leaders on stage who shared
their stories and questions with the candidates, the majority
were from Iowa.
“This was an important first step toward a vital,
national conversation,” said Hugh Espey, executive
director, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. “Polls
continue to show that many caucus goers are undecided.
The Heartland Presidential Forum put aside political rhetoric
to talk about what Iowans and Americans really value.”
Sponsored by Iowa Citizens for
Community Improvement, the Center for Community Change
and the Campaign for Community Values (a coalition of
more than 300 grassroots organizations nationwide), the
forum’s emotional questions and
audience reactions to the candidates were captured live
on movementvisionlab.org. During the Iowa caucuses and
throughout the 2008 election, the Campaign for Community
Values will mobilize community values voters as this election’s
most prominent swing voter block.
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