MOMocrats exclusive: If you got to meet Barack Obama what would you ask?

Barack Obama will be coming to Northern California this weekend for a series of fundraisers, and—exciting news!—the MOMocrats will have a chance to meet with him up close and personal. Before his swanky, $2300 per person fundraiser in Atherton, CA, the MOMocrats will be able to spend about 15 minutes with Obama asking him questions and taking photos. (We know!)

Fifteen minutes and we don't want to look lame so we're asking for your help: If you could ask Barack Obama anything, what would you ask? Would you ask about healthcare? The economy? The war? Or would you ask a personal question? (Should we ask how he does it and see if he cries?)

Please submit your questions in the comments below and to further entice you to participate, if we select yours, not only will we tell Barack Obama that the question came from you, you'll be entered to win this special MOMocrats prize package from Zazzle and other sponsors in our side bar (worth $150!). And if you don't like that prize package, we're happy to offer up one of these! (Indicate which one you'd like in the comments.)

Comments

[Gunfighter]

I would ask him what he planned to do about our increasing indebtedness and subsequent weakness as regards the People's Republic of China... and whether he would continue to militarily back the independence of Taiwan.

I would also ask him what proactive measures he would take to end the genocide in Darfur.

[John J.]

He has already talked a lot about his policies: economic, Iraq, etc. My question is more relevant to the immediate needs of the party - How do you intend to counteract the vitriol and divisiveness growing between your supporters and Sen. Clinton's?

[Robyn]

I would like to know more about his plans for education in this country. NCLB is killing my district and especially our elementary school. Gifted funding has been cut dramatically and the principal has admitted they spend more time and money getting kids up to a passing level while ignoring the high achieving kids. The disparity is incredibly discouraging for parents and kids alike. These gifted and high-achieving kids are the future leaders of the world, whether it's politics, business or technology, and sadly *those* are the kids being left behind by NCLB.

[GromytTheDog]

Wow, INCREDIBLE prize! How'd you pull that off?

[Suebob]

Will you stop the United States from torturing people and holding them without charge or trial?

[debbie - i obsess]

wow! that prize is awesome! what part do we win - the high-waisted jeans? the london fog overcoat? the hair?

must. know. now.

[Lauren]

I would like to know:

Is Obama ever gonna give me up?
Is he ever gonna let me down?
Is he ever gonna run around and hurt me?

[debbie - i obsess]

*giggle*

Lauren, you rule.

[Glennia]

Are we meeting with Clay Aiken, too? Wow!

[Sara]

My biggest question is what can be done to help dual income families, with specific regards to paid maternity leave (which he has addressed briefly, but I would love some more detail on) and access to quality affordable childcare. The fact that some child care waitlists are longer than the human gestation period is a huge problem. The fact that child care is one of the largest expenses for some families is a problem as well. I know that my husband and I will barely be making ends meet once our kid starts daycare. I can't afford to quit my job and stay home with him (which I would do in an ideal world) but we can barely afford for me to keep working, once we factor in childcare costs. And we are what most would consider middle class. I don't know how single parents, or those making less household income than we do can afford it. To me this is a HUGE problem, and one that shows that as much as we (as a society) like to *talk* about being pro family and taking care of working americans, when it comes to actually *doing* something about it, we can't (or won't) put our money where our mouth is. And it's another factor that further increases the socioeconomic divide in this country. The rich can afford with out trouble while the poor either go into debt or barely make it work, and can't save and advance the way the need to to get ahead in life. Not that these issues will solve all of society's issues, but the directly impact so many of them, that addressing these needs and issues could have tremendous impact on other social issues as well.

[GraceD]

Barack! GollDANG, Momocratistas!

My question - What will he do about the rising cost of gas? I know that we need to invest in R&D for alternative energy sources, but that's down the line. I want to know what is the plan for right now, at the gas pump, for the truck drivers, for working folks, for mommy chauffeurs, and for my 16 year old kid who can only drive if she pays for her own gas with money from her three shift a week restaurant hosting job?

Seriously, we're deep in a crisis. Our entire infrastructure is teetering on the edge because of fuel prices. The impact on the trucking industry alone will affect all aspects of American life.

You could also ask him if he knew Robby Naish from his Punahou days. I used to do a lot of windsurfing and was a great fan of Naish, a world class wind and kite surfer.

Finally, I join Lauren - and Rick Astley - in posing those urgent inquiries.

[Amy@UWM]

Very cool!!!

I agree with Sara that you have to ask him what he and most other candidates haven't addressed in other public forums -- what does he plan to do about the horrifically family unfriendly policies of corporate America? How can we better support working moms and working families with paid maternity leave, affordable childcare, etc. Does he see these issues as a priority for his administration?

[Daisy]

Education. Specifically, funding for education, including special education. Adjustments in NCLB can shift money to classrooms instead of paperwork while still maintaining accountability. Ask him how he plans to handle education funding.

[Dog Costumes]

Seems like educational funding is largely being ignored. Guess sending more troops that we can't afford over seas and setting up a muddled health care plan get all the attention from him these days...

-Sandy