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U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who has been called by some media the "rock star" of the presidential campaign, attracted his largest crowd yet in an appearance at Georgia Tech on April 14.
Obama thanked the African American Student Union and the College Democrats at Georgia Tech for making the rally possible.
A crowd estimated as large as 20,000 often applauded and cheered Obama during his 40-minute talk. He said it is time to "turn the page" on the war in Iraq, a broken health care system, an economy in which ordinary citizens struggle, the absence of an energy policy and an education system "that is leaving too many children behind."
The war in Iraq drew Obama's sharpest criticism.
"We're not going to be able to get started on some of these problems unless we bring an end to this senseless war in Iraq," he said.
Obama charged that the administration is "trying to preserve its own political viability. It is about stubbornness and obstinacy and we have to keep on ratcheting up the pressure each and every day, each and every week to tell the president it is time to change course. It is time to start bringing our combat troops home from Iraq. Enough is enough."
Obama emphasized that he has been opposed to the war in Iraq from the outset.
"I am proud of the fact that back in 2002 I said this was a bad idea. I stood up and said that this is not going to make us safer. I'm also proud that over the last three years I've said that we have to take responsibility for an exit that is as careful as we were careless getting in."
It is Georgia Tech's policy not to invite current political candidates to campus for speaking engagements. Student groups however are allowed to do so and exercise that privilege on a regular basis.
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