Republicans for Obama

One Of Hillary's QUALITY Super Delegates

Mike DeMazza — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:46:11 EDT

Eliot Spitzer of New York

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23561606?GT1=43001

New York Times

Mike DeMazza — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:50:59 EDT

A story from Sunday, march 9, New York Times ... Senator Obama's first years in the Senate according to the paper that endorsed Senator Clinton

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/politics/09obama.html?hp

Experience and Records .... and a Question

Mike DeMazza — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:42:04 EDT

"Caucus States Are Undemocratic" - so said the governor of Pennsylvania - apparently the new "kingmaker" state - Sunday morning on Meet the Press. It is incredible how much the "big" states are attempting to minimize the "small" states.

If you are curious as to why Senator Clinton so dislikes the caucus states ... places where people sit down and talk face with their neighbors - the very definition of democracy here in New England to this day and in most states at the birth of the Republic - maybe its because neither she nor husband former President Clinton ever does well in caucus states. See below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:1992DemPrimariesPresidential.GIF

Perhaps its just harder to look someone inthe eye and talk honestly about Senator Clinton than it is to do the same about Senator Obama ... or maybe its harder to keep a straight face in front of your neighbors when bragging about her "accomplishments".

Senator Clinton's "record" of bill sponsoirship and successful passage of such bills:

Bill Sponsorship & Cosponsorship - Hillary Clinton

Statistics: Hillary Clinton has sponsored 356 bills since Jan 22, 2001, of which 309 haven't made it out of committee (Extremely Poor) and 2 were successfully enacted (Average, relative to peers). Clinton has co-sponsored 1733 bills during the same time period (Average, relative to peers).

(FROM: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=300022 )

To be fair, Senator Obama has sponsored 129 bills and had one passed with 120 not making it out of committee (FROM: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629 )

Then again, these bill totals are since January 1, 2001 for Senator Clinton and since January 4, 2005 for Senator Obama ... that gives him 4 years to match her stellar accomplishments.

Regarding experience, a rhetorical questions - what ELECTED offices did Senator Clinton hold before 2001? And the same question regarding Senator Obama. Hmmm.

And a real question - is it true that Senator Clinton NEVER had security clearance while she "served" in the White House?

Wyoming?? WHY NOT?

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:30:38 EDT

Another victory! Watching the "talking heads" on the Sunday morning talk shows - amazing how the minimize Senator Obama's success - Ed Rendell (Gov Penn) went so far as to call caucus states "undemocratic"! Amazing!

Good News ... But Don't Relax This Week!

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:10:40 EST

PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT WEEK OF THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN - DON'T RELAX ....

LINK = http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/24/new-poll-puts-obama-ahead-of-mccain-as-clinton-claims-to-be-better-equipped-for-general-election-fight/

Obama, Clinton Fight for Votes as Battle Rages to Take On McCainby FOXNews.comSunday, February 24, 2008

The best political gift of the day for Barack Obama’s campaign has been served up by Iowa’s Des Moines Register, the largest newspaper in the swing state that put the Illinois senator on top in possible head-to-head match-ups in the fall election.

The poll shows Obama ahead of Republican nominee John McCain by a substantial margin, 53-36. A head-to-head match between McCain and Hillary Clinton shows McCain is the preferred choice, 49-40.

The poll comes as Clinton continues on the campaign trail to say that she is best equipped to beat McCain in the general election. The New York senator is under mounting pressure to win both of the big-state contests of Texas and Ohio, which vote with Rhode Island and Vermont on March 4.

If she doesn’t, two Democratic governors suggest it could be curtains for her campaign.

“She’s the leader in both states in the polling now, but what we see in the Obama campaign is really strong momentum in both Ohio and Texas. And if she’s not able to win both, I think it makes it mathematically very difficult for her,” said Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, an Obama supporter.

“She turns that momentum around if she does well there. If she doesn’t, I think she’ll have to review where she stands, and that’s what the former president talked about this week,” added New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, who appeared with Kaine on “FOX News Sunday.”

Out on the campaign trail Sunday, the candidates addressed the big buzz caused by Ralph Nader’s decision to enter the race. The famed consumer advocate announced he will again run for president — his third effort, one that is sure to anger Democrats who are still miffed over his role in the 2000 race that many believe cost Al Gore the election against George W. Bush.

Nader said Sunday he’s not the reason Gore lost the election and blamed everything from voter fraud in Miami to the Supreme Court. In any case, he said, that’s no reason why he shouldn’t run.

“The political bigotry that’s involved here is that we shouldn’t enter the electoral arena? We — all of us who think that the country needs an infusion of freedom, democracy, choice, dissent — should just sit on the sidelines and watch the two parties own all the voters and turn the government over to big business?” he asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he announced his candidacy.

Asked about the possible impact, Obama and Clinton both downplayed it while also criticizing Nader.

“Mr. Nader is somebody who if [you] don’t listen and adopt all of his policies, [he] thinks you’re not substantive. He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work,” Obama said. “Historically, he is a singular figure in American politics and has done as much as just about anybody on behalf of consumers, so in many ways, he is a heroic figure and I don’t mean to diminish him, but I do think there’s a sense now that, you know, if somebody’s not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda then you must be lacking in some way.”

Clinton was also less than enthusiastic.

“Obviously, it’s not helpful to whoever our Democratic nominee is. But it’s a free country. I don’t know what party he’ll run on. Where did he run on last time? Does anybody remember? Was it on the Green Party? Well, you know, his being on the Green Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest president we could have had and I think that’s really unfortunate. I think we paid a big price for it,” she said.

Clinton, who was traveling in Providence, R.I., tried to emphasize that state’s importance, as her campaign noted the latest American Research Group poll has her above Obama by 12 points in that state. The same poll has her down 26 points in neighboring Vermont.

Clinton continued to compare her and Obama’s plans for healthcare, and said universal healthcare is only effective if it’s mandatory.

“Of all our differences, the one that is just inexplicable to me is [Obama’s] refusal to put forth a plan on universal healthcare, and his continuing attacks on my plan to do so. I believe Senator Obama says one thing in speeches, but his campaign does something else. In his speech, he says he’s for universal healthcare, but his plan is not. His plan cannot cover everyone, because there is no requirement that people be covered. That would be as though Franklin Roosevelt had said, ‘Social Security is a good idea, but we shouldn’t make it required. Let’s just sort of go halfway and see what happens.’ Or if President Johnson had said, ‘Medicare is a good idea. Why don’t we cover a lot of but not all of our seniors?’” she said.

Clinton also hit again on Obama’s rhetorical flair, suggesting that while inspiring, he doesn’t solve problems.

“Now I could stand up here and say, let’s just get everybody together. Let’s get unified. The sky will open, the light will come down. Celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know that we should do the right thing, and the world will be perfect. Maybe I’ve just lived a little long, but I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be. You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear,” Clinton said.

For his part, Obama, campaigning in Ohio where the two are set to debate Tuesday night, hit Clinton on her support for NAFTA, the free trade agreement signed into law by Bill Clinton.

NAFTA has cost 50,000 jobs in Ohio, Obama said, while acknowledging that a repeal of the trade deal “would probably result in more job losses than job gains in the United States.”

Still, speaking to factory workers in a working class community west of Cleveland, Obama continued to repeat his contention that Clinton supported the trade deal up until she decided to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. He added that Clinton can’t run from the Clinton administration record, of which she claims to have been a key part.

The former first lady has “essentially presented herself as co-president during the Clinton years. Every good thing that happened she says she was a part of and so the notion that you can selectively pick what you take credit for and then run away from what isn’t politically convenient, that doesn’t make sense,” he said. “If she suggested she had nothing to do with economic policy in the Clinton White House then it would not be fair for me to bring it up but as you know, that’s not the claim that she is making.”

A spokesman for Clinton, Phil Singer, said the former first lady was critical of NAFTA long before she ran for president. He cited remarks from March 2000 in which she said, “What happened to NAFTA, I think, was we inherited an agreement that we didn’t get everything we should have got out of it in my opinion. I think the NAFTA agreement was flawed.”

Singer also said that in 2004 in Illinois, Obama spoke positively of the trade agreement, saying the United States had “benefited enormously” from exports under NAFTA.

Obama also addressed questions about his patriotism, saying that Republicans who want to point to his not putting his hand on his heart during the national anthem or his wife’s comments that she is only now proud of America, will not win the argument.

“The way I will respond to it is with the truth — that I owe everything I am to this country,” he said, adding that he will fight back with the charge that Republicans are the “party that presided over a war in which our troops did not get the body armor that they needed or [are] sending troops over who were untrained because of poor planning, or are not fulfilling the veterans’ benefits that these troops need when they come home, or [are] undermining our Constitution with warrant-less wiretaps that are unnecessary. That is a debate that I am very happy to have. We’ll see what the American people think is the true definition of patriotism is.”

FOX News’ Steve Brown, Bonney Kapp and Aaron Bruns and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TEACHERS AND PARENTS TAKE NOTE

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:14:57 EST

Though he has been derided for his "lack of substance" I believe quite the opposite is true.

As an educator (public high school) for the last 23 years I am particularly excited about Senator Obama's education plans. Here are those plns for your reference:

From Obama '08:

A World Class Education

“I don't want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don't want that future for my daughters. I don't want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.”
— Barack Obama, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007

At a Glance

Speak your mind and help set the policies that will guide this campaign and change the country.

Present your ideas

No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind: The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support and pay those teachers.

Students Left Behind: Six million middle and high school students read significantly below their grade level. A full third of high school graduates do not immediately go on to college. American 15 year olds rank 28th out of 40 countries in mathematics and 19th out of 40 countries in science. Almost 30 percent of students in their first year of college are forced to take remedial science and math classes because they are not prepared.

High Dropout Rate: America has one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world. Only 70 percent of U.S. high school students graduate with a diploma. African American and Latino students are significantly less likely to graduate than white students.

Teacher Retention is a Problem: Thirty percent of new teachers leave within their first five years in the profession.

Soaring College Costs: College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the past five years. The average graduate leaves college with over $19,000 in debt. And between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not go to college because they cannot afford it. Finally, our complicated maze of tax credits and applications leaves too many students unaware of financial aid available to them.

Barack Obama's PlanEarly Childhood Education

Zero to Five Plan: Obama's comprehensive "Zero to Five" plan will provide critical support to young children and their parents. Unlike other early childhood education plans, Obama's plan places key emphasis at early care and education for infants, which is essential for children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Obama will create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote state "zero to five" efforts and help states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.
Expand Early Head Start and Head Start: Obama will quadruple Early Head Start, increase Head Start funding and improve quality for both.
Affordable, High-Quality Child Care: Obama will also provide affordable and high-quality child care to ease the burden on working families. K-12
- Reform No Child Left Behind: Obama will reform NCLB, which starts by funding the law. Obama believes teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests. He will improve the assessments used to track student progress to measure readiness for college and the workplace and improve student learning in a timely, individualized manner. Obama will also improve NCLB's accountability system so that we are supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them.
- Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Obama will recruit math and science degree graduates to the teaching profession and will support efforts to help these teachers learn from professionals in the field. He will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels.
- Address the Dropout Crisis: Obama will address the dropout crisis by passing his legislation to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school - strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time.
- Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities: Obama will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve one million more children.
- Expand Summer Learning Opportunities: Obama's "STEP UP" plan addresses the achievement gap by supporting summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children through partnerships between local schools and community organizations.
- Support College Outreach Programs: Obama supports outreach programs like GEAR UP, TRIO and Upward Bound to encourage more young people from low-income families to consider and prepare for college.
- Support English Language Learners: Obama supports transitional bilingual education and will help Limited English Proficient students get ahead by holding schools accountable for making sure these students complete school.
Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America's Teachers
- Recruit Teachers: Obama will create new Teacher Service Scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a high-need field or location.
- Prepare Teachers: Obama will require all schools of education to be accredited. He will also create a voluntary national performance assessment so we can be sure that every new educator is trained and ready to walk into the classroom and start teaching effectively. Obama will also create Teacher Residency Programs that will supply 30,000 exceptionally well-prepared recruits to high-need schools.
- Retain Teachers: To support our teachers, Obama's plan will expand mentoring programs that pair experienced teachers with new recruits. He will also provide incentives to give teachers paid common planning time so they can collaborate to share best practices.
- Reward Teachers: Obama will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward accomplished educators who serve as a mentor to new teachers with a salary increase. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. And if teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well.
Higher Education
- Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year's tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.
- Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.
Barack Obama's Record
Record of Advocacy: Obama has been a leader on educational issues throughout his career. In the Illinois State Senate, Obama was a leader on early childhood education, helping create the state's Early Learning Council. In the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leader in working to make college more affordable. His very first bill sought to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,100. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, Obama helped pass legislation to achieve that goal in the recent improvements to the Higher Education Act. Obama has also introduced legislation to create Teacher Residency Programs and to increase federal support for summer learning opportunities.

LINKS

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/PreK-12EducationFactSheet.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/CollegeAffordabilityFactSheet.pdf

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/20/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_34.php

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/07/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_31.php

Can You Help? Yes, You Can!

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:12:12 EST

As Americans, we dream of a President who is honest, personable, intelligent, and, we hope, wise when making decisions that will impact our lives and the lives of our children.

We crave leaders with courage and integrity who know and understand the struggles of everyday Americans. A lot of people have stopped believing that may even be possible.

I had stopped believing that true change is possible. As a "Republican For Obama" I am proud to be a part of this movement that is sweeping our nation. I am 50 years old and understand Michelle Obama's message this week of finding something to be proud of again in America - I am not a starry-eyed child, I am not a liberal by any stretch and I am very proud of former students and others now in service to our country - but I am again proud of the American political process that has been reinvigorated by the campaign of Senator Obama. I attended his rally in Hartford, Connecticut two weeks ago with my 17 year old daughter and was thrilled to see the way this man has been able to unite races, creeds and generations in ways I have not seen in my adult life. The quote from the New Yorker Magazine sums it up for me - I thank God that Senator Obama has come along in my lifetime. I disagree that he is a phenomenon - he is simply what Americans want ... someone who wants to work WITH us instead of "for" us. Doing what is best "for me" is insulting - asking me to work WITH others for positive change for the vast majority of Americans is what I want to be a part of. "Going negative" has been a bust. It could never be anything but a bust, because there is no audience for it in the Democratic Party... Barack Obama is a phenomenon that comes along once in a lifetime. Unfortunately for Hillary, it's her lifetime; fortunately for the rest of us, it's ours. I now support Barack Obama as our next President because he is the leader that we need. Join me in supporting Barack by making a donation to my personal fundraising page:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/RepublicnasForObama
(If you type in the page you must type it in as is ... WITH the typo!)

This campaign for the presidency is unparalleled in history. Our need for an honest, fresh-thinking leader could not be more urgent. Americans are hungry for change and I am convinced that Barack Obama will bring that change when he is elected.

Please take a minute to check out my page and make a donation of any size:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/RepublicnasForObama
(Again, if you type it in, do so WITH the typo!)

Republicans, Democrats and the unaffiliated have come together in recent primaries to give Senator Obama the momentum he needs to take to the Democratic National Convention.

Thanks and please forward this email to all who support Senator Obama and his vision of the future of our nation!

The Florida and Michigan Controversy

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:01:06 EST

FROM THE OBAMA '08 SITE

Reality Check On Clinton's Claims on Florida and Michigan DelegatesFebruary 22, 2008

CLINTON RHETORIC: "Let's talk about the agreement. The only agreement I entered into was not to campaign in Michigan and Florida. It had nothing to do with not seating the delegates. I think that's an important distinction. I did not campaign... that's not the case at all. I signed an agreement not to campaign in Michigan and Florida."

REALITY: Clinton Said "It's Clear" That The Michigan Primary Won't "Count For Anything"

Clinton Said "It's Clear" That The Michigan Primary Won't Count For Anything. Clinton, on why she stayed on the ballot for the Michigan primary said, "Well, you know, people in Michigan are flat on their backs. They have the highest unemployment rate in America. They are now grappling finally with what they are going to do with the auto industry. 1 in 10 jobs in America is tied to the auto industry which is -- the American auto industry, which as we know is centered in Michigan. You know, it's clear this election they're having isn't going to count for anything. But I just personally didn't want to set up a situation where the Republicans are going to be campaigning between now and whenever. And then after the nomination we have to go in and repair the damage and be ready to win Michigan in November 2008." [NHPR Interview, 10/11/07]

RHETORIC: "Now, the DNC made the determination that they would not seat the delegates, but I was not party to that"

REALITY: Clinton Top Delegate Adviser Voted To Strip Michigan And Florida Of Their Delegates

Clinton Top Delegate Adviser Harold Ickes Voted For Democratic Party Rules That Stripped Michigan And Florida Of Their Delegates. "Harold Ickes, a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign who voted for Democratic Party rules that stripped Michigan and Florida of their delegates, now is arguing against the very penalty he helped pass. In a conference call Saturday, the longtime Democratic Party member contended the DNC should reconsider its tough sanctions on the two states, which held early contests in violation of party rules. He said millions of voters in Michigan and Florida would be otherwise disenfranchised - before acknowledging moments later that he had favored the sanctions." [AP, 2/17/08]

RHETORIC: "The people of those two states disregarded adamantly the DNC's decision that they would not seat the delegates. They came out and voted. If they had been influenced by the DNC, despite the fact that there was very little campaign, if any, they would have stayed home but they wanted their voices heard. More than 2 million people came out. I mean, it was record turnout for a primary. Florida, in particular, is sensitive to being disenfranchised because of what happened to them in the last elections. I have said that I would ask my delegates to vote to seat."

REALITY: Many Voters Stayed Home Because They Knew Their Votes Would Not Select Delegates To the Nominating Convention

TNR: "Knowing That Their Ballots Meant Nothing, Many Voters [In Michigan And Florida] Stayed Home." "Without ads and stump speeches--Obama's name wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan--the actual primary votes in these states were meaningless beauty contests, and perhaps not even that. Knowing that their ballots meant nothing, many voters stayed home. And, as everyone expected, Hillary romped to victory on the basis of her brand name and voters' lack of familiarity with the alternatives." [Editorial, TNR, 2/8/08]

The Pledge Clinton Signed

WHEREAS, Over a year ago, the Democratic National Committee established a 2008 nominating calendar;

WHEREAS, this calendar honors the racial, ethnic, economic and geographic diversity of our party and our country;

WHEREAS, the DNC also honored the traditional role of retail politics early in the nominating process, to insure that money alone will not determine our presidential nominee;

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Presidential campaigns, the DNC, the states and the American people to bring finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating calendar.

THEREFORE, I, [Name], Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as "campaigning" is defined by rules and regulations of the DNC.

POLITICIANS AND EDITORIAL BOARDS SAY THAT THE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA DELEGATES SHOULD NOT COUNT

Clinton Backer Bob Kerrey Said "You Don't Change The Rules In The Middle Of The Game. Period" When Asked If the Delegates From Florida And Michigan Should Count. "You don't change the rules in the middle of the game. Period," said former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, The New School's president, when asked if the delegates from the Florida and Michigan primaries should be represented at the Democratic National Convention in August. Scoopy ran into Kerrey on Sunday at Chelsea Piers, where Kerrey had taken his young son and a friend bowling. "No new vote and no new caucuses, either. Just stick to the rules that they agreed to," Kerrey said firmly. The Democratic National Committee stripped both Florida and Michigan of all their delegates because, defying party rules, they held their primaries before Feb. 5. The candidates all agreed to abide by that decision and not campaign in those states. Barack Obama withdrew his name from the ballot in Michigan and didn't compete in Florida. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in both states and now says their delegates should be counted toward the total. Although Kerrey endorsed Clinton in December, he clearly doesn't endorse her position on the Michigan and Florida delegates. [The Villager, 2/13/08]

Nancy Pelosi Said That Florida And Michigan Delegates Should Not Be Seated If Those Delegates Would Decide The Nomination. Nancy Pelosi had one more stunner in the interview: She said the Florida and Michigan delegates should not be seated if those delegates would decide the nomination. "Well, I don't think that any states that operated outside the rules of the party can be dispositive of who the nominee is. That is to say they can't make the difference because then we would have no rules," she said. Pelosi added, "But I do think that the best outcome for us is if one of the candidates pulls ahead and this issue is disposed of long before we get to the convention. We certainly don't want to ignore Florida and Michigan, but we can't ignore the rules which everyone else played by." [San Francisco Chronicle, 2/15/08]

Tom Harkin Said He Staunchly Opposed Seating The Delegates From Michigan And Florida. Tom Harkin said he will staunchly oppose seating delegates chosen in the Michigan and Florida primaries for the same reason he will uphold the superdelegates' independent vote: It's the rules. Michigan and Florida Democrats broke the rules when they moved their primaries ahead of Feb. 5 without permission, Harkin said. "No way I'd ever be in favor of seating them," the senator said. [Telegraph Herald, 2/17/08]

Al Sharpton Said Seating Delegates From Florida And Michigan At The DNC Would Be A Grave Injustice. Seating delegates from Florida and Michigan at the Democratic National Convention would be a grave injustice, the Rev. Al Sharpton said Wednesday in a break with prominent civil rights leaders. "I firmly believe that changing the rules now, and seating delegates from Florida and Michigan at this point would not only violate the Democratic Party's rules of fairness, but also would be a grave injustice," Sharpton said in a letter to Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. [AP, 2/13/08]

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Clinton Wants To Seat The Michigan And Florida Delegates And The Obama Campaign Dismisses That As "Hogwash"; The Obama Campaign Is "Right About That." "Clinton says Michigan and Florida should be seated and their delegates divided in accord with the primary vote. She's won support from NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who says the party is disenfranchising minority voters. The Obama campaign dismisses that as hogwash. They say Obama ignored both states at the national party's request and shouldn't be penalized for playing by the rules. Even if we hadn't endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination, we'd have to say he's right about that." [Editorial, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/22/08]

Austin American Statesman: Clinton Wants To Seat The Delegates From Michigan And Florida. "That Would Be Patently Wrong" and "Grossly Unfair To Obama." "Clinton, who won the most votes in the outlaw primaries in Michigan and Florida, now wants those delegates recognized and seated at the Democratic Party national convention in Denver in August. One of her top advisers, Harold Ickes, a Democratic National Committee member who voted to strip delegates from those states, now wants them seated. That would be patently wrong. Party officials told the legislatures in both states they would lose their delegates if they moved their primaries ahead of Super Tuesday, Feb. 5. And the party's presidential candidates agreed not to campaign in states being punished by the Democratic National Committee for setting early primaries...Seating the 156 Michigan and 210 Florida delegates would be grossly unfair to Obama, who, unlike Clinton, didn't go to Florida... The only fair thing for Democratic officials to do is to stick to their guns and ignore the Michigan and Florida delegations or redo the primaries." [Editorial, Austin American Statesman, 2/18/08]

New York Post: "No Changing The Rules In The Middle Of The Game" When It Comes To Michigan And Florida. "No changing the rules in the middle of the game. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean must be prepared to deliver that message to Sen. Hillary Clinton and her allies. With a razor-thin delegate margin separating them and ever-fewer states left on the campaign calendar, Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are working all angles to get to 2,025 - the number needed to win their party's presidential nomination. Which is why the Clinton forces are looking at Michigan and Florida." [Editorial, Editorial, TNR, 2/8/08] ">New York Post, 2/11/08]

TNR: When It Became Clear That Clinton Faced A Potential Battle For Delegates, She Began To Demand The Rules Be Changed In The Middle Of the Game. "But as soon as it became clear, in the wake of Iowa and on the eve of South Carolina, that Clinton potentially faced an extended battle for delegates, she began to demand that the rules be changed in the middle of the game. Her campaign has been arguing that the non-contested elections in Michigan and Florida should be made retroactively meaningful--and, therefore, that Clinton should be handed a gift of nearly 200 delegates. The Clinton team has wrapped its case in the logic of voter disenfranchisement. ‘I hear all the time from people in Florida and Michigan that they want their voices heard in selecting the Democratic nominee,' Clinton has said. There is a perfectly cogent case to be made that Floridians and Michiganders deserve their say. (Some of our best friends and elderly relatives reside in those states.) The way to address this complaint is to schedule new elections so that candidates can advertise, make speeches, organize voters, distribute yard signs--you know, do ‘democracy,' a concept Clinton seems not to understand. The DNC, if it does decide to redress Clinton's complaint, needs to do so immediately." [Editorial, TNR, 2/8/08]

Senator Clinton and NAFTA

Mike DeMazza — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:58:47 EST

FROM THE OBAMA '08 SITE

Hillary Clinton's Support of NAFTA Has Been Well DocumentedFebruary 23, 2008

HILLARY CLINTON PRAISED NAFTA FOR YEARS

2006/2008: Newsday Reviewed Clinton's Statements, Concluded She Supported NAFTA. According to a Newsday issues rundown, "Clinton thinks NAFTA has been a boon to the economy." Newsday wrote in 2008, the word "boon" was their "characterization of how we best understood her position on NAFTA, based on a review of past stories and her public statements." [New York Newsday, 9/11/06; Newsday blog, 2/15/08]

2003: Hillary Clinton Expounded on Benefits of NAFTA, Calling it An Important Legislative Goal. "Creating a free trade zone in North America—the largest free trade zone in the world—would expand U.S. exports, create jobs and ensure that our economy was reaping the benefits, not the burdens, of globalization. Although unpopular with labor unions, expanding trade opportunities was an important administration goal. The question was whether the White House could focus its energies on two legislative campaigns at once [NAFTA and health care]. I argued that we could and that postponing health care would further weaken its chances." [Living History, 182]

2003: Clinton Called NAFTA a "Victory" For President Clinton. In her memoir, published in 2003, Clinton wrote, "Senator Dole was genuinely interested in health care reform but wanted to run for President in 1996. He couldn't hand incumbent Bill Clinton any more legislative victories, particularly after Bill's successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA." [Living History, p.231]

1998: Clinton Praised Corporations for Their Efforts On Behalf of NAFTA. The Buffalo News reported, "As first lady, Hillary Clinton had nothing to do with either trade move. Nor has she repudiated them. In a 1998 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, she praised corporations for mounting "a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of NAFTA." [Buffalo News (New York), 7/16/07]

1996: Clinton Said "I Think Everybody Is In Favor Of Free And Fair Trade. I Think NAFTA Is Proving Its Worth." A questioner pointed out that UNITE opposes the North American Free Trade Agreement, backed by the Clinton administration, on grounds it sends American jobs to Mexico. In March 1996, three years after President Clinton signed NAFTA into law, Hillary Clinton said, "I think everybody is in favor of free and fair trade. I think NAFTA is proving its worth," she said, adding that if American workers can compete fairly, they can match any competition. "That's what a free and fair trade agreement like NAFTA is all about," she said. [AP, 3/6/96]

1996: Clinton "Vowed That Her Husband Would Continue To Support Economic Growth In South Texas Through Initiatives Such As The North American Free Trade Agreement." AP wrote, "Mrs. Clinton vowed that her husband would continue to support economic growth in South Texas through initiatives such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Rio Grande Valley empowerment zone, which allows tax breaks to businesses that relocate to the border." [AP, 11/2/96]

1996: Hillary Clinton "Touted" President Clinton's Support for NAFTA, Saying it Would Reap Widespread Benefit. On a trip to Brownsville, Texas, Clinton "touted the president's support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would reap widespread benefits in the region." [United Press International, 11/1/96]

DURING THIS CAMPAIGN, WHEN ASKED ABOUT NAFTA, CLINTON HAS NOT CLAIMED SHE DID NOT SUPPORT IT

Asked Whether NAFTA Was a Mistake, Clinton Said It Was a Mistake To the Extent That It Did Not Deliver. Clinton, asked whether NAFTA was a mistake, said "Look, NAFTA did not do what many had hoped. And so we do need to take a look at it and we do need to figure out how we're going to have trade relations that are smart, that give the American worker and the American consumer rights around the world. ... NAFTA was a mistake to the extent that it did not deliver on what we had hoped it would, and that's why I call for trade timeout. When I am president, I'm going to evaluate every trade agreement. We do need to get back to enforcing the ones we have, which the Bush administration has not done. They have totally abdicated that. But I think we have to get broader than that. We've got to have enforceable labor and environmental standards. We've got the WTO that enforces financial and corporate rights. We need the International Labor Organization and other mechanisms that will be there to enforce labor rights and environmental rights. And that's what I intend to do as president." [Democratic Debate, 11/15/07] VIDEO HERE

Clinton Didn't Say Whether NAFTA Should Be Repealed; Just Said It Didn't Realize The Benefits It Promised. Clinton, on whether she'd be willing to repeal four things (DOMA, Telecom Act of 1996, NAFTA and Welfare Reform) that happened during the Clinton years said, "NAFTA, you know, I have said that NAFTA did not realize the benefits that it was promised for a number of reasons. This is not just about Mexico but about the tri partied relationship. So I thing generally we've have to generally have smarter trade agreement that not only have labor and environmental standards which I fully support but really have an ongoing evaluation of the impact of trade agreements." [YearlyKos, 8/4/07]

BILL CLINTON CONTINUES TO ARGUE FOR NAFTA

JANUARY 2008: Bill Clinton Said "A Lot Of People Think NAFTA's A Bigger Problem Than it Is. During an event in Las Vegas, Clinton said "She [Hillary Clinton] believes that NAFTA, she believes that all our trade agreements should be reviewed in the first 90 to 120 days of taking office. She would have a total moratorium on all new trade deals until we conducted a review. And one of the things that we have to examine is the point I made earlier. That is, is the trade agreement basically fair, but we just don't enforce it. A lot of people think that NAFTA's a bigger problem than it is. Our problem with Mexico, our trade deficit with Mexico is mostly because we buy oil from them." [Bill Clinton, 1/18/08]

Bill Clinton Defended His Decision To Enact NAFTA And Disagreed With His Wife That It Has Hurt Workers. "President Clinton is closing one policy disagreement with Senator Clinton while keeping another alive, saying his wife is right to forbid the use of torture but wrong that his signature trade deal has ‘hurt' American workers. ... He staunchly defended his decision in 1993 to support the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Mrs. Clinton said over the summer had ‘hurt a lot of American workers.' Asked directly by ABC's George Stephanopoulos if he agreed that the pact had hurt workers, Mr. Clinton replied, ‘No.' He said NAFTA had become a ‘symbol' but America had worse trade deficits with countries such as China and Japan than it did with Mexico." [NY Sun, 10/1/07]

COMMENTERS HAVE CRITICIZED CLINTON FOR HER FLIP ON TRADE

Bloomberg: Clinton "Praised" NAFTA, Friends Said She Was "A Free-Trader at Heart." Bloomberg News reported, "Clinton promoted her husband's trade agenda for years, and friends say that she's a free-trader at heart. 'The simple fact is, nations with free-market systems do better,'' she said in a 1997 speech to the Corporate Council on Africa. 'Look around the globe: Those nations which have lowered trade barriers are prospering more than those that have not.' Praise for Nafta At the 1998 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, she praised corporations for mounting 'a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of Nafta.'' She added: 'It is certainly clear that we have not by any means finished the job that has begun.' Clinton 'is committed to free trade and to the growing role of the international economy,' said Steven Rattner, a Clinton fundraiser and co-founder of Quadrangle Group LLC, a New York buyout firm. 'She would absolutely do the right thing as president.' There was little evidence of a protectionist tilt to Clinton's trade views during either her 2000 campaign or first years in the Senate. She stressed issues such as homeland security and children's health care, and wasn't a major voice in trade-policy debates. As she began to gear up for a White House run, Clinton became less of a free-trade booster and more skeptical about the payoff of globalization." [ Bloomberg News, 3/30/07]

SF Chronicle: Clinton's Position On Trade "Clearly A Flip-Flip To Unions And Industry Sectors" And A "Bid To Outflank Her Rival, Senator Barack Obama." "Add to this Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton's coolness to the idea. Her husband moved earth and sky to win passage of the NAFTA trade pact with Mexico and Canada in 1993. Now she favors periodic reviews to continue such deals, a "timeout" on new ones, and more federal officials to oversee complaints. It's clearly a flip-flop favor to unions and industry sectors hit by layoffs and cheap imports and bid to outflank her rival, Sen. Barack Obama, who is more favorable to free trade." [San Francisco Chronicle, 10/12/07]

Seven Conditions Common to Revolutionary History

Mike DeMazza — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:50:53 EST

Godslave commented on one of my posts and mentioned that he had heard there are "Seven Conditions Common to Revolutionary History", according to sociologists. Here is a link to that article:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/15/7241/

I hope you all find it an interesting read!

REPUBLICANS FOR OBAMA

Mike DeMazza — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:03:24 EST

Here is a site for those who have an interest in working with other Republicans:

http://www.republicansforobama.org

Refuting Anti-Jewish Allegations

Mike DeMazza — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:30:35 EST

It is gratifying to see that Jewish leaders in the United States and in our Congress have spoken out against the smear techniques of Obama opponents ... how much more gratifying it would be if Senator Clinton joined the chorus and similarly spoke up for Senator Obama's character - though the attacks are not from the Clinton Campaign her silence on the issue speaks volumes.

http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nl/content.asp?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=312458&content_id=%7BB03F16FC-B9E1-4AC9-BD73-3B410581C1E7%7D&notoc=1

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/01/seven_unaffiliated_jewish_us_senators_release_letter_condeming_obama_muslim_smears.php

Proud to Be a Republican for Obama

Mike DeMazza — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:21:56 EST

As a "Republican For Obama" I am proud to be a part of this movement that is sweeping our nation. I am 50 years old and understand Michelle Obama's message this week of finding something to be proud of again in America - I am not a starry-eyed child, I am not a liberal by any stretch and I am very proud of former students and others now in service to our country - but I am again proud of the American political process that has been reinvigorated by the campaign of Senator Obama. I attended his rally in Hartford, Connecticut two weeks ago with my 17 year old daughter and was thrilled to see the way this man has been able to unite races, creeds and generations in ways I have not seen in my dult life. The quote from the New Yorker Magazine sums it up for me - I thank god that Senator Obama has come along in my lifetime. I disagree that he is a phenomenom - he is simply what Americans want ... someone who wants to work WITH us instead of "for" us. Doing what is best "for me" is insulting - asking me to work WITH others for positive change for the vast majority of Aemricans is what I want to be a part of.

New Yorker Quote =

"Going negative" has been a bust. It could never be anything but a bust, because there is no audience for it in the Democratic Party... Barack Obama is a phenomenon that comes along once in a lifetime. Unfortunately for Hillary, it's her lifetime; fortunately for the rest of us, it's ours.