We were a small group from Lake Arrowhead, who drove to Las Vegas the weekend of October 17th. We felt that our efforts had great impact and we were happy to meet lots of fellow Californians there. It was a huge turn out. This was so rewarding! 9 more days! VOTE!!!! Vote Early! Great experience for our middle-school kids, they learned what democracy in America is all about. If anyone can go this coming last weekend, DO IT!!!
The last couple of days I have received so many emails with LIES about Barack Obama's postions on many things. I looked in SNOPES and was surprised to see that Barack is being ATTACKED by EMAIL LIES like no one else. Check it out!
Here is the email I received, with my rebuttal. It looks like it is a combiniation of two spam lie emails in one. One about Baracks position and the other about his Tax plan. Please feel free to use this to respond to anyone who sends these lies around.
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2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS
 ISSUE
JOHN McCAIN BARAK OBAMA
Yes No Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it (Subjective and absolutely no basis for this)Yes No Served in the US Armed Forces - TRUEYes No Amount of time served in the US Senate FALSE. Obama was elected to Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate.22 YEARS 173 DAYS Will institute a socialized national health care plan – (HALF TRUE) Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. This is a VOLUNTARY PLAN if you are happy with the current insurance run healthcare you can keep it. Check it out for yourself.No Yes Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy TRUE – Barack does not feel it is up to him to decide for a woman, and feels women should have that choice. What he does believe is finding a way to minimize abortions. He does not want to go back to the time when women were dying because of unsanitary and hidden abortions. God said it is not up to us to judge. Let people make their own choices. No Yes Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately - HALF TRUE – Barack has repeatedly said, depending on the conditions on the ground, discussions with the Generals, plus he will force the Iraqis to take over the military operation, and bring our troops home safely in a responsible timeline. He WILL NOT pull them all out immediately. No Yes Supports gun ownership rights FALSE – Supports the constitutional right to bear arms and enforce our existing gun laws. He said this again at his nomination speech.Yes No Supports homosexual marriage – TRUE – Though he believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, he thinks the government should only civil unions so that gay couples are not discriminated. No Yes Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase – HALF TRUE – Only the top 5% will see an increase. (see below and in snopes) No increase on capital gains, and in fact lower taxes and programs supporting small business owners.No Yes Voted against making English the official language HALF TRUE – The bill in question was an amendment to an existing immigration reform bill. There were some problems with the bill so Barack voted against it. Here is Barack’s statement on this bill
“I believe the American people understand in order to succeed in our society, immigrants need to learn English. But the amendment would do a number of things that are problematical. The first is that it is contrary to the provisions of law that exist in many States. For example, in New Mexico, you have in their State Constitution, a provision that says that many of the documents within that State have to be provided in both English and Spanish. The same thing is true for the State of Hawaii. I believe this is a States’ rights issue, and those constitutions of those States ought to be respected. I do not believe it is a matter we ought to be imposing here from Washington DC.
Also, this amendment would undo an executive order conceived by President Bill Clinton and implemented by President George Bush. Both recognized it is important that people who have limited English proficiency receive the kinds of services so they can understand what is going on in terms of the interface between the Government and themselves. “
No Yes Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals – HALF TRUE – This was NOT about giving SS benefits to illegal aliens, it was about whether a select group of formerly illegal workers (i.e., those who might obtain legal immigration if the 2006 immigration reform act would pass), should receive credit for payments already made into the Social Security system using phony numbers.No Yes
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. Â (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)
DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN 15% (no change) OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')
INCOME TAX
MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500Single making 50K - tax $12,500Single making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 60K- tax $9,000Married making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 125K - tax $31,250 OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400Single making 50K - tax $14,000Single making 75K - tax $23,250Married making 60K - tax $16,800Married making 75K - tax $21,000Married making 125K - tax $38,750Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!
INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax) OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.
NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
The Republican convention really upset me because of all the lies. It seems to me the RNC can only win on a lie. I gathered some of the facts. There was also a woman (friend of Carly Fiorina) who indicated that the President of the US has no power over the free-choice issue, so even though she was with Hilary and believed in pro-choice she was with McCain now. What she failed to note is that the President can chose the next 3 supreme court judges so far right that they will overturn Roe vs. Wade, and who knows what else in the name of GOD! and... I mean in the name of God as Governor Palin has tried to do so in her previous admininstrations.
· McCain said they had vetted Palin for weeks, but the truth has surfaced and indicates that McCain made a quick harsh decision in one day, which is why all this crap is coming up about her. Palin has a 20% chance of becoming President of the US and they didn’t do a background check??? How scary is that, check out all that has come out about her below, here is the source about the vetting process: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090203462_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008090203591&s_pos= & http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26527513/
· On Governor Palin being a reformer and anti-Washington. Complete BS, here is information about her earmarks and taxes in her own state –
o 1st ever mayor to bring big politics to a small town ($27M for a town of 9K): http://news.yahoo.com/story/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
o Real Tax Plans: http://thecitizens.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palins-big-lie.html
· On free choice, banning of books in library, no sex ed in schools and cut funding for teenage pregnant mothers:
o Banning Books- http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_2008_09_people_for_response_to_revelations & http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837918,00.html ,
o Cut Fundiing-http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html ,
o Oppose sex-ed- http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Palin_opposed_sexed.html
o anti-choice even in cases of rape and incest- http://www.naral.org/elections/election-pr/pr08292008_palin.html
o Palin on US being the Gods army to bring the message in Iraq and across the world and Jewish are the enemies of Christians: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html videos about the Jews http://www.wasillaag.net/ (was taken off line yesterday).
o Opposes the use of birth control and condoms - http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/08/30/worst_pick_ever.html
· Does not believe global warming is contributed by man, sued to remove the polar bear from endangered species because it will interfere with oil industry efforts:
o Global warming - http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/palin-global-wa.html .
o On polar bears - http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2145097820080522
o On drilling liabilities - http://www.ktva.com/ci_10337913?source=most_viewed
o Arial Hunting using government funds to educate people but won’t help teenage mothers??? - http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
· Said Obama has never authored a bill or law. LIES!
o First Obama bill was passed into law back in October 2006, signed by Bush: http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2006/10/03/News/Bush-Signs.Obamas.First.Bill.Into.Law-2327689.shtml
o Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
o Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
o Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate. Details for all 3 - http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/21/164117/783/290/461422
o Really good visual of the type of bills he has introduces and voted on - http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
o Obama will cut taxes for people making under $250K (about 95% of the population) and increase on those making over $650 (attached is the pic) while McCain cuts it for the top with minimal cuts at the bottom.
o Voting record, missed 45% of votes : http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/
o Here is McCain’s record, missed 68% of votes- http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/m000303/
· This is why there are so many rumors about her covering up her daughters pregnancy, taking her daughter out of school because of mono for 5-8 months during the time of Trig’s birth.
o Palin really poor judgment: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/palins-leaking-amniotic-fluid.php
· She has a track record going back to when she was mayor of a town of 7K.
o Of course there “Troopergate”, abuse of power trying to fire her x-brother in-law. McCain attorney’s trying to stall because the evidence appears to be compelling. Decision is due October 31st, could be detrimental to the Republicans right before election: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-lawyer-stonewallin_n_123179.html
o Palin on ethics, firing those who did not support her (never heard of in a small town): http://cliffschecter.firedoglake.com/2008/08/31/palin-fired-city-employees-for-not-supporting-her-reelection/
o Attempted recall due to the firings - http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F79408854D0C20B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
o Lying about the “bridge to nowhere”, which she supported until it became a joke - http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/08/well_that_didnt_take_long.php
o Dairygate - http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/dairygate-sarah-palin-and-myst.php and
o leaving town with $20M debt - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html
o Quote about not prepared by own Alaskan colleagues - http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510249.html
This is just some of the stuff, there is a lot more, but I only picked the ones that had real source and were verified.
The anticipation of hearing from Barack Obama about his Vice-Presidential choice and the impact this choice will have on the campaigning road ahead, pushed me into consulting the cards. I don't really know who the potential candidates are, so I can't be certain who the cards are referring to, but I can describe this person. I will provide a brief overview of what I see in Barack's VP choice, then the selection and what to expect the days ahead
http://spellspace.blogspot.com/2008/08/barack-obamas-vp-choice-and-look-ahead.html
I received an email yesterday that had a huge email list and was such crap that, this time, I did not simply delete it, but responded to all. Apparently the Republicans have been using email as a way to get the lies to senior citizens and hispanics. (my father really believed that Barack was a muslin because of a credible republican email he received). This email, like all the others are complete LIES! Here is the response I sent and then the email I received follows. Fight back against these lies, we don't want another 4 years of BUSH=MCCAIN.
"Neither Jay Leno nor Letterman said this- as verified at snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp
This was also laughably attributed to Letterman at one time. Outside of the fact that these people are too cowardly to attach their own names to this claptrap, it's amazing that they believe that assigning this drivel to comedians who exercise their first-amendment rights by basing most of their acts upon ridiculing the government somehow lends it a semblance of legitimacy. I think most people who read this folderol understand it in code: whiners are "left-wing liberals". Notice how it quickly devolves into a "God and Country, love it or leave it" mentality. That somehow newspapers and free speech is associated with unappreciative losers and being unpatriotic. That keeping your mouth shut and praying to God for things to get better is the way to go.
It takes no courage to say nothing when faced with the outrages this government has inflicted on its people in the name of protecting them. It is a coward's mentality to witness our citizens and those of other countries killed and maimed by the legion in the name of a lie only to stand by and recognize George Bush as anything but the incompetent warmonger he is. That the short-sighted and ill-planned, yet often fore-warned, misadventure in Baghdad is anything less than a debacle that has put our troops in harm's way on a fool's errand.
Yes, I thank God everyday. I thank him I'm not someone who swallows this blather and proclaims himself a patriot.
From someone who dares to question."
Tess (i changed the header from "good read" to what is noted below, but the rest is unchanged)
_________(below is the email )__________________________________
"VERY BAD AND SCARY reading – STOP THINKING, DON’T QUESTION, STOP READING NEWS BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WHO SEND THIS EMAIL CRAP THINK THAT IS BEING PATRIOTIC! If that is true then America the Free is LOST!!!!"
No matter what your political convictions are this is eye opener.Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see.... 'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know.. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander-in- chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media'told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ' 'general' discharge, an other-than-honorable' discharge or, worst case scenario, a'dishonorable' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative..' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'' Jay Leno Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to read this and grasp the truth of it all
Not sure if I have the facts straight as I am writing about something my mother heard on TV...She heard a report that campaign offices were so crowded with volunteers that desks are pushed up next to each another. Am concerned because OSHA and FPA regulate aisle width and egress path, violation of which could result in mandated shutdown. Hope there are people on staff who are knowledgeable and are checking that stuff out. Maybe these locations have a temp variance. Just wanted to provide a heads up!!
Mark your calendars! July 25th 7pm is the Lake Arrowhead Voice Platform meeting, at our home, where we will discuss what the most pressing issues are and let Barack know- register at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gvd2 . Then July 27th at 10am between Arrowhead and Running Springs another breakfast meeting, is the mountain concerns meeting - register at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gwzv . Finally, Pimp Your Ride, to show your support for Barack and our country - register at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gwcx.
Time for CHANGE!!!! You can make it happen.
Lots of flags and celebration this 4th of July as we show our support for Barack Obama for PRESIDENT!
I don't blog all that often, usually something has to grab me to make me put my feelings down for everyone to read. The speech Barack Obama gave on Father's day grabbed me in that way. It made me cheer, it made me cry, it made me feel yet again that he is the one man that can change our country to be what I always thought it should be. Those last eight years have been such a painful disappointment for me, having come here as an immigrant and becoming a citizen by choice, with a strong believe in the constitution, but having to watch that same constitution erode slowly but surely under a government that felt it did not apply to them. The same government that called the geneva convention "quaint", and thought that as long as one did not die, hurting them was not torture.
Taking responsibility for ones action starts with the individual, and it moves all the way up the ladder to the leaders of our nation. The speech stressed individual responsibility, and in my mind if people learn to take responsibility for their actions at home, the expectation for our leaders grows exponentially.
Maybe I am reading too much into this, maybe I am hoping too much, but with all the scary news that I am reading from the Middle East these days I need that hope.
Marianne
