from MSNBC's First Read:

Hours after Exxon-Mobil announced a record $12 billion quarterly profit, Obama whacked the oil industry. “While big oil is making record profits,” he said, “you’re paying record prices at the pump, and our economy is leaving working people behind.”

Obama defended his opposition to expanded offshore oil drilling, saying it wouldn’t provide “short-term relief or medium-term relief or, in fact, long-term relief.”

“Now, although it won’t save you dollars at the pump, I have to say that it has helped raise campaign dollars,” he added. “Because last month, Senator McCain raised more than a million dollars from -- guess who? -- oil and gas company executives and employees – most of whom, most of these campaign contributions came after he went to Houston to meet with a bunch of oil executives and announce that he was in favor of offshore drilling. That’s not a strategy designed to end our energy crisis, it’s a strategy designed to get politicians through an election.”

"You see, I took a trip overseas recently, and visited some wounded soldiers in Iraq."

It sounds hypocritical to me to be talking up your visiting troops to attack McCain for politicizing the troops. Just skip right into the paragraph talking about the gym trip. A few in the media have been pushing back on the wounded troop visits for him, he shouldn't be speaking about it.

There's a point where any candidate has to stand up and say "this has crossed the line."

This speech is admittedly more confrontational than Obama is used to giving. But I strongly feel that this is exactly what is needed to smack down the Rovian influence on McCain's campaign. If ignored, it will only grow worse...

Glad you liked it. I am too humble to send such things to them, but I heartily encourage you to do the same:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

Please, encourage him to give this speech!

-CW

That was the best speech Senator Obama will ever see from his own hand or from any of his speechwriters! I was really getting pumped. Strange, Obama's speeches have never affected me like that before.

I trust you've sent this along to campaign headquarters!