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Obama Calls for Faith-Based Aid Expansion

Patriotism tour continues with outreach to religious voters

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 1, 2008 1:43 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Barack Obama today called for even more federal dollars for President Bush’s initiative funding faith-based social service groups, the AP reports. His plan will let the groups hire and fire based on religion, a controversial move that's part of an organized effort to court evangelical voters. The candidate says he wants to make the program a “moral center” of his presidency.

“The challenges we face today ... are simply too big for government to solve alone,” the candidate said at a community center in Ohio. Discussing the plan, the ex-director of Bush’s faith-based initiative program invoked "much that was best in both then Vice President Al Gore's and then Texas Governor George W. Bush's respective first speeches on the subject in 1999."

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., center, talks to Rev. Bill Briggs, foreground, as he tours the East Community Ministry in Zanesville , Ohio, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., center, talks to Rev. Bill Briggs, foreground, as he tours the East Community Ministry in Zanesville , Ohio, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks to students in a youth program while touring the East Community Ministry in Zanesville , Ohio, on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks to students in a youth program while touring the East Community Ministry in Zanesville , Ohio, on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets audience members after speaking at the Truman Memorial Building in Independence, Mo., Monday, June 30, 2008.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets audience members after speaking at the Truman Memorial Building in Independence, Mo., Monday, June 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about fatherhood at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago Sunday, June 15, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about fatherhood at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago Sunday, June 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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