Now that the RNC is over, and all the smiling faces are back home, I hope the children and community leaders of those delegates are thanking them for pointing out that community service and outreach programs are for the lame. Ministers should be patting the delegates on the back. Thier children should be tearing up National Honor Society service goals.

Is the only service to this country's values, performed in a military uniform?
McCain's service is noble, patriotic and deserving of praise.
However, that does not give his campaign the right to belittle Barack Obama's serivce to this country as a community organizer, who helped low income families find housing.
This piggy backs off of using patriotism as a bludgeon.

A student graduating from college with massive student loans has several options, they can get a job and start paying them off, or join an organization like the AmeriCorp or PeaceCorp etc. and defer their loans until their time volunteering is over. I say, significantly help pay student loans for people who serve their country in whatever way they choose. Give them more options!

His major speech on race should be considered one of several. He is a thoughtful candidate who brings depth and nuance to his positions - there's plenty of time for sound-bites, but Obama should plan every three weeks to issue a major policy statement, which would reflect the detailed policy positions he's taken on his web site (that most aren't going to read).

Americans are tired of a government that throws away its resources while calling on its citizens to do nothing, or even to be selfish. Americans want a higher purpose and want to help fix the mess. Personal service and sacrifice have been important to Obama's career and he should evoke this in his campaign.