(Tb Page A2 1 rt lattò COhseruer Obama Draws Crowds N ew C au cu s L ead er Talks of new spirit, unity cratic field vying fo r the nomina­ tion. But he’ s already ig niting ex­ citement w ith his exploratory trip. The freshman senator said the government should be able to help make sure ail Americans have basic h e a lth in s u ra n c e , a lte rn a tiv e Black lawmakers to wield more power in Congress $ (A P )-lllin o isS e n . Barack Obama drew large crowds curious about his presidential prospects during his First trip to the pivotal campaign state o f New Hampshire w hile he decides whether toenterthe Demo­ cratic race. Several hundred New Hampshire voters turned out to hear Obama speak at a signing fo r his best­ selling book, "A u da city o f Hope," where he spoke about a new p o liti­ cal spirit to unite Americans and solve their problems. New Hampshire’ s first-in-the- nation prim ary is over a year away and O bam a h a s n 't even said whether or not he w ill jo in the Demo­ December 13. 2006 (A P )-T h e Congressional Black Caucus has lapped Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick as its chairwoman for the next two years, when black lawmakers will wield more power in Congress than ever. Kilpatrick, D-Mich., a former school teacher and the mother o f Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, was chosen unanimously. She suc­ ceeds Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C. "Watch for us," Kilpatrick told reporters. "We will take this caucus to another level." Because Democrats will be in control when Congress convenes a new session Jan. 4, the 43-member caucus will take up a historic slate of leadership positions, including the third- ranking member in the House, Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina. It also will count as members four likely committee heads, up to 20 subcommittee lead­ ers, and the only black senator, Barack Obama of Illinois, a possible presidential candidate. "That's more power than African-Americans have ever had in the Congress of the United IF L* U.S. Sen. B arack Obam a, D-lll. s p e a k s S unday a t a D e m o cra tic P arty c e le b ra tio n in M a n ch e ste r, N.H. (AP p h o to ) sources o f energy to reduce depen­ dence on foreign o il and a d ip lo ­ matic power that matches its m ili­ tary might. He said Am erican slaves, im m i­ grants, women and workers have been able to change the country, and the current generation needs to recover that spirit. “ C ertainly our politics is not ex­ pressing it," Obama said. “ What w e’ ve come to be consumed by is 24-hour, slash-and-burn, negative ad. bickering, sm all-m inded p o li­ tics.” He said he saw an awaking o f Am erican voters in last month's midterm election, and played to the States," said Ronald Walters, a political scientist and director o f the African American Leader­ ship Institute at the University of Maryland. Kilpatrick said she would continue the organization's focus on issues such as health care, housing and education. Watt said the caucus also would seek to address racial ineq­ uities in the cri minai justice system and the crisis in Sudan's Darfur province. The shift marks a dramatic turnabout from current Republican rule; there are no black Republicans in Congress much less committee chairmen or party leaders. The black representatives will have direct oversight on issues such as tax policy, home­ land security and the legal system. With their committee gavels will come the ability to shape the public agenda through hearings and to regu­ late which bills get a public airing. "The Congress is going to look like America. At least our side of the aisle will look like America." said Georgia Democrat John Lewis, a civil rights leader who marched alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s before winning his House seat in 1986. "This is a historic Congress. It's amazing what we're going to be able to do." "Our problem is going to be more than any­ thing else to find the resources," he added. Kilpatrick. 6 1, has represented a Detroit-area district since 1997. seriousness that New Hampshire voters take w ith their responsibil­ ity as the nation's first presidential prim ary state. Dianetics can help you live a better and happier life. , «op»*» -A » t^uag*»■■kA Read th e b ook used by m illions to reduce stress, anxiety and unhappiness.This is th e road to a b e tte r life w ith few er problem s. Just get it, read it and try it, and you'll never be th e same. Available at your local b o okstore or fro m ’ THE MOOEAN SCIENCE OE MENTAL HEALTH Dianetics Foundation, 709 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR. 97205 Phone 503.228.0116 i www.dianetics.org Paperback $8.00 • Free shipping • All orders shipped within 24 hours JOG. BPI All B ig h t, R ,M # v ..., D IA N I TICS n ,, tr.td etn ktk a n d R f w , m a i l o w tw d b y R p ltgiou , r tfls e ■d d w v ith '**■ its * p erm ission Technology C en ter a n w d l n 99 Rep. Carolyn C heeks K ilp a trick, D-Mich. le a d s the C o n g re ssio n a l B la ck C aucus. Smith Turns Against War /> i/iu a/ "Keep Alive The Dream ” Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith has started criticizing the Iraq war after years of hacking up the Bush administration. Smith said U.S. troops in Iraq too often find themselves "being target practice in the middle o f sectarian strife" that they neither created nor can stop. A Republican who faces re-election in 2008. Smith said he voted in favor o f the useof forcetooverthrow Saddam Hussein, but does no, support a strategy that ap­ pears to place U.S. troops in harm's way without a chance to win. Smith called for changes in U.S. policy that could include rapid pullouts o f U.S. U.S. Sen. Gordon troops from Iraq. He said he never would S m ith , R-Ore. have voted tor the conflict if he had known the intelligence that Bush gave the Am erican people was inaccurate. Tribute to: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When? Monday January 15th, 2007 12:00P.M.-6:00P.M. ,, (AP p h o to ) W here? NEW LOCATION! Highland Center 7600 N.E. Glisan Portland, Oregon Prince to Perform at Super Bowl Who? Guest Speakers Musical Guests Entertaining Performers Community Figures & More Funk rock veteran Prince will perform during the h alf­ tim e show at the S uper Bowl. The 48-year-old Rock and Roll Hall o f Fam e inductee w ho ro se to fam e on the s tre n g th o f su ch tu n e s as " L ittle R ed C o rv e tte " and "L et'sG o C razy ," will perform at D olphin Stadium near M i­ ami on Sunday. Feb. 4. I he gam e will be televised on C BS. ______ It's unlikely Prince will have problem s with censors from the netw ork and the National Football League. He has be­ com e a Jehovah's W itness and Donation: $3.00 or 3 cans of non-perishable food L iv e Broadcast/Sim ulcast Portland C o m m u n ity M edia (P C M ), K B O O 90.7 F M SPONSORS: Safeco Insurance, Portland Association of Teachers, McDonald's of Oregon and SW Washington, Dignity Memorial Locations, Oregon Education Association, Providence Health System, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Concordia University, Portland General Electric, Portland Community College, African American Chamber of Commerce, Portland Community Media, KBOO RADIO For program information & event schedule log onto: www.worldartsfoundation.org A Production of World Arts Foundation, Inc. I disavowed the k in k ie r tunes _________ that m ake up a hefty chunk o f his catalog. His S u p e r B owl p e rfo r­ m ance was announced on the CBS sports show "N FL T o­ d a y .” three days after he re­ ceived five nom inations for the ■ I Prince G ram m y A w ards, the m usic in d u stry 's m ost p re stig io u s ev en ,. I