www.barackobama.com
McCain's Desperate Claim: Obama is Dangerous. Vote for Me If You Want to Live!
Arianna Huffington
The McCain campaign is all set to roll out its message for the last 30 days of the campaign: "We may not be good for your bank account, your mortgage, your health care, or your job security -- but none of that will matter if you are dead. John McCain: If You Want to Live."
It's coming a little earlier than expected, but with an imploding economy and no solutions from the McCain camp other than yet another round of tax cuts, Team McCain is hitting the GOP's default key: Be Very Afraid!
The title of McCain's latest TV ad says it all: "Dangerous." The ad brands Obama as "dishonorable," "dangerous," and "too risky for America." That's right, folks, it time to appeal to the voters' Lizard Brains.
For the moment, McCain is allowing his high-sticking hockey mom to lead the fear-mongering parade, accusing Obama of "palling around with terrorists" and not seeing America "like you and I see America." For bad measure, Palin also teamed up with her mentor Bill "Henry Higgins" Kristol to re-pry the manhole cover off the Jeremiah Wright sewer.
But Palin's Alaska crude will soon be mixed with McCain's own Maverick mud. At a Colorado town hall last Thursday, McCain was asked, "When are you going to take the gloves off?" His grinning reply: "How about Tuesday night?" So how long into Debate II do you think it will be before McCain brings up Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, or Tony Rezko?
Clearly, McCain has concluded that the only way he can get enough votes is to pay for them with his once-valued dignity and honor. And it appears he's not planning to leave any of that precious personal capital in the bank by the time election day rolls around.
So here it comes. One last desperate, pathetic, sordid attempt to distract the country from anything resembling a real debate about a real issue. Don't have health care? Rezko, Rezko, Rezko. Wonder why our financial system is on the brink of collapse? Ayers, Ayers, Ayers. Worried about whether we'll ever get out of Iraq? Wright, Wright, Wright.
Much to Karl Rove's chagrin, those around McCain have been very upfront about the campaign's intentions. "There's no question that we have to change the subject here," a senior Republican operative told the Washington Post. McCain adviser Greg Strimple cut to the chase, saying the campaign is "looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis." Yeah, who wants to read any more of those boring old stories about foreclosures, job losses, and the market losing another 500 points, especially when there are so many more urgent things to talk about -- like why Barack Obama wants to let his terrorist pals blow us all up?
McCain and his hatchet mom VP nominee are hoping to expose the "real" Barack Obama to the people of America; but what they are really exposing is how morally corrupt McCain has become. And how complete has been his transformation from a noble reformer, willing to stand up to his own party when it failed to meet his moral code, into an ignoble hack, willing to abandon his most deeply held values in his lust for the presidency.
"Sooner or later people are going to figure out that if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future, or you're not ready to articulate it."
That was John McCain in 2000, commenting on the disgusting attacks against him by Karl Rove, George Bush, and a few of the people now doing their very dirty work for him.
Wise words from a man who doesn't exist anymore. To paraphrase the classic Hughes Mearns' poem:
"As I was walking up the stair/I met a maverick who wasn't there/He wasn't there again today/I wish, I wish he'd go away."
Making his disappearing act all the more tragic is the fact that the noble McCain is still around, lurking inside the corrupted candidate, occasionally bubbling to the surface before being shoved back into hiding by his baser instincts.
For instance, it was just this past April when McCain took a principled stand against the muck being flung at Obama over his association with Rev. Wright, saying "there's no place for that kind of campaigning, and the American people don't want it."
A little over five months, and an increasingly blue electoral map later, McCain now stands on the sidelines while Palin unabashedly gives the American people what McCain knew they don't want.
Despite its best efforts, the McCain camp's sneering attacks are not proving that Barack Obama is not like the rest of us. They are proving that John McCain is not like the rest of us. Americans are hungry for a serious conversation about the multiple crises we are facing. And by ignoring that conversation in favor of yet another round of fear-mongering, McCain is showing himself to be the candidate who is "not a man who sees America like you and I see America."
The most revealing thing about the nature of McCain's attacks isn't the contempt he has for Obama (that's been on display for a while now) -- it's the contempt he has for the country he claims to be putting first.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/mccains-desperate-claim-o_b_132350.html
Thursday, 2nd October 2008
Presidential Election 2008
Saturday marks exactly one month until Election Day. That's not a lot of time. You live near a crucial battleground state -- New Hampshire -- where supporters from neighboring states are playing a huge role in helping to put Barack Obama and Joe Biden over the top. This weekend, we're organizing teams of supporters from across the northeast to come to New Hampshire for our Drive for Change weekend canvass. Sign up to come to New Hampshire and help Barack and all Democrats up and down the ticket. New Hampshire has been decided by fewer than 10,000 votes in each of the last two presidential elections, and it was the only state in the country that voted for the Republican candidate in 2000, but the Democratic candidate in 2004. Since 2000, thousands of new voters have moved to New Hampshire and time is running out to reach them before November 4th. Undecided Granite Staters need to hear Barack's message on how he will fix the economy, and we are depending on you to tell them Obama-Biden is the right choice in this election. Join us and Drive for Change to help make a huge difference in New Hampshire: http://my.barackobama.com/CometoNH No prior experience is required. Staff will provide you with everything you need. We can't do this without you. Thanks, Katina TsongasField DirectorNew Hampshire Campaign for Change P.S. -- Want to meet fellow supporters and save gas? Sign up to carpool to New Hampshire and organize your ride: http://my.barackobama.com/NHride
http://students.barackobama.com/page/community/post/www.raphaelholomanfranklinsupportObama08.com/gG5dTZ
National Organization for Women PAC Endorses Obama-Biden
STATEMENT OF KIM GANDYChair, National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC)
September 16, 2008
It is with great enthusiasm that I announce today, on behalf of the nation's oldest and largest women's rights organization, that the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) proudly endorses Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States.
It is no coincidence that I am joined in this announcement by so many allied organizations that collectively represent a broad and diverse cross-section of U.S. women. From teachers to social workers, from business owners to college students, women in this country are lining up behind the candidate who is out there every day standing up -- clearly and consistently -- for women. Women of all ages, races and ethnicities are coming together in support of Sen. Obama and his pledge to fulfill this country's promise of equal opportunity for our daughters as well as all our sons.
Although it is very unusual for us to endorse in a presidential election, this is an unprecedented candidate and an unprecedented time for our country. The NOW PAC reviewed Sen. Obama's record and public statements on issues that disproportionately affect the women of this nation, and I spoke with him at length about his commitment to women's equality. For example:
On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.
On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.
On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act -- of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor -- as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.
On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush's extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women's rights,
For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no" - NO to pay equity, NO to contraceptive access and reproductive rights, NO to appointing Supreme Court judges who will uphold women's rights and civil rights, NO to funding shelters and other anti-violence programs, and NO to supporting working moms and dads with policies that support work/life balance.
NOW supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the primary, and now we join with her in saying "NO" -- No Way, No How, No McCain! And we proudly stand arm-in-arm with her in putting our hopes and our dreams, our hard work and our hard-earned money, behind the next President of the United States -- Barack Obama, and his running mate, longtime friend and ally of women, Sen. Joe Biden.
For more information, visit the NOW PAC Obama website.
http://www.now.org/press/09-08/09-16.html
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues
Huffington Post article "Where are Dem "Leaders" While Barack Twists and Hillary Burns the Party Down?"
In response to an article in the Huffington Press: “Where are Dem "Leaders" While Barack Twists and Hillary Burns the Party Down?"
This is the message I wrote that I’ve been pasting and sending to democratic representatives and leaders. If you’d like to see the tone of the primary change I encourage you to do the same. There are links to the democratic politicians and leaders below. I hope it’s not too late.
(I received an email that was being sent around California, sharing the Huffington article, which was the catalyst for me to share this with the Boston group.Please share with your friends if you agree, if you don’t have time, cut and paste the message I wrote.)
I love Michelle’s stump speech when she talks about them, “Raising the bar.”
But honestly how does the Democratic Party define winning. Somebody will be nominated to take on McCain this fall and hopefully that person will be Barack.
Here is my take:
States won – Obama 27 to 15
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/votes/index.html
Pledged Delegates – Obama 1264.5 to 1165.5
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/
BUT
Super Delegates – Clinton 237 to 197
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html
Popular Vote - Clinton 13,510,350 to 13,278,114
http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2008&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=1
Do you have a good source for information on the race?
What is the fair and just way to decide this?
I find Novak's commentary to be poor at best, and at times criminal.
Obama and the Fixer By Robert D. Novak Monday, March 3, 2008; Page A17
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/02/AR2008030201858.html
... "Sen. Hillary Clinton's operatives have tried frantically, but not effectively, to interest the media outside Chicago in Obama's possible connection with his home state's latest major scandal..." Resko
So of course Novak gives it some air.
Someone shared this in a Progressive Massachusetts for Obama group email:
"If one candidate is trying to scare you, and the other's trying to get you to think; if one is appealing to your fears, and the other is appealing to your hopes - it seems to me you ought to vote for the person who wants you to think and hope."
-- Bill Clinton 10/26/2004
WASHINGTON - The GOP presidential race can be summed up this way: three strong contenders and a hunger for someone else. "There's no question that there's a very open field," said Ken Mehlman, a former Republican National Committee chairman. Unlike in 1980, 1988, 1996 and 2000, "there's not a presumptive front-runner," he added.
The nomination fight has become even more fluid since the year began, which is unusual for a party that typically has a clear heir apparent.
For now, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has the lead in national popularity polls. Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has the most money. Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) may have the superior national political operation.
But none has a clear advantage in all three areas — polling, fundraising and organization — that are traditional measures in determining which candidate is in the best position to become the nominee. Perhaps more telling, Republicans say, is that none has articulated a message or offered an agenda that a majority of the party supports.
"What's missing so far is a clear down-the-line conservative champion, an establishment candidate," said Greg Mueller, a GOP consultant.
Nine months before the leadoff Iowa caucuses, the fragmented field and disenchantment with the top candidates may present an opportunity for a fourth contender to emerge.
That could be an underdog such as Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) of Kansas or two former governors — Mike Huckabee of Arkansas or Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin.
Other prominent Republicans are flirting with a run, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and could shake up the field. The latest to express interest is Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who, friends say, is seriously considering a bid. He is running third in a few national polls without doing anything more than acknowledging he was thinking about running.
Such buzz is evidence of the degree to which GOP voters are seeking alternatives to Giuliani, Romney and McCain. Conservatives who dominate the Republican primary see all as flawed.
In Iowa, Susan and Roger Rowland of Clive are attending campaign events to find someone to embrace. Last week, they saw Giuliani one night and Romney the next. But they were not impressed enough by either to commit. They have not seen McCain and are open to learning more about others, too.
"There are a lot of candidates out there, but I don't really know what I'm looking for," Susan Rowland said, sighing. Her husband said, "If I had to pick today, I'd probably pick Romney, but I'm really glad I don't have to pick today."
The Rowlands are not alone in their uncertainty.
"Significant numbers are really undecided," said David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa political scientist. Short of someone else catching fire or entering the race, he said, "in a year where Republican caucus-goers are focused on electability, they may ultimately hold their nose and pick one of the three."
It is Giuliani, McCain and Romney among the nearly dozen Republican presidential hopefuls who appear best positioned to capture the nomination.
Projecting invincibility, McCain spent more than a year meshing loyalists from his failed 2000 bid with some of President Bush's top political operatives to build what he hoped would be an unrivaled organization. Despite its depth, McCain gradually has faltered.
Last week, he announced raising a disappointing $12.5 million in the year's first three months. During a visit to Baghdad, he made upbeat comments about security only to have Iraqis mock his characterization. He told CBS' "60 Minutes," in an interview to be broadcast Sunday, that he misspoke.
To get back on track, McCain ordered an overhaul of his fundraising operation and better controls on spending. He scheduled policy speeches, including the first this Wednesday in which he will defend his support for Bush's policy in Iraq. Other speeches and an official announcement tour are set for this month as he seeks to regain momentum.
Once he made clear he was serious about running, Giuliani jumped to a double-digit edge in national polls. His built-from-scratch political operation is not yet on par with the others. Still, Giuliani ended the January-through-March fundraising period with a respectable $15 million raised.
He continues to lead in national surveys but his advantage has softened as he has come under increased scrutiny. He has faced questions about his business dealings and about his ties to Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner against whom prosecutors reportedly are pursuing multiple charges.
Giuliani also has had to answer for his abortion-rights stance and clarify statements suggesting his wife would play a significant role if he were president.
Romney set out to prove he was a threat by ensuring he had a stellar fundraising start. He succeeded, collecting a surprising $21 million in the year's first three months.
Yet he remains significantly low in national polls. He continues to be dogged by his reversals on abortion and gay rights, and his equivocations on other issues. He resumed television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire to define himself. His campaign is eager to start debates, where aides believe he will shine.
Ok, so Santa crashes Tulsa's MLK Parade yesterday with the PIMP AMERICA VOTE OBAMA sign. One brothaa VEHEMENTLY insisted Santa DEEP-six "PIMP" from the sign. At first, Santa refused, trying to explain "PIMP" is a good thing in the WHITE neighborhood he hails from, North Pole.
Brothaa PERSISTED and compared the term, PIMP, to that other N-word. At which, Santa wholeheartedly agreed to the said measure of 86'ing 'PIMP.' Ok, maybe it's OK for brothaas to use the word between brothaas, but, it's NOT ok for non-brothaas to use the word.
Whatever. So, the NEW sign: BARACK AMERICA VOTE OBAMA. Just to keep the peace and NOBODY gets confused on Santa's intention at first blush, as the sign rolls in July on its way to New Hampshire for the BIG primary.
And, what is the meaning of giving "dep?" It seems it's ok with the brothaas, but, NOT law enforcement types. To Santa, it's just a good way to press a whole lotta FLESH, without passing kooties.
By GLEN JOHNSON Associated Press Writer
Latest Photos of Mitt Romney
Romney finds peril in checklist for '08
Romney cools friendship with Utah mayor
Romney camp catches flak for Hitler ad
Romney seeks cash lead over competition
BOSTON (AP) -- A millionaire thanks to his work as a venture capitalist, Mitt Romney is acutely aware of the motivating power of money. His presidential campaign hopes it will have a similar effect on college students, which is why it's offering them a cut of their fundraising.
Participants in "Students for Mitt" will get 10 percent of the money they raise for the campaign beyond the first $1,000. While candidates often offer professional fundraisers commissions up to 8 percent, campaign experts believe the Massachusetts Republican is the first to do so with the legion of college students who have historically served as campaign volunteers.
"For the kids that want to get involved in a political campaign and they don't want to spend their summer painting houses, they can help the campaign and themselves at the same time," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.
Others take a dimmer view.
"It may very well succeed, but I'd like to think that he'd approach young people and college students based on their commitment to the country, not because they want walking-around money," said Steve Grossman, a prominent Massachusetts fundraiser and past chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is engaged in a fundraising battle with rivals for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, including such better-known candidates as Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Presidential candidates must report their first-quarter fundraising numbers April 15. Those totals will strongly contribute to perceptions of political viability.
Running third or worse in public opinion polls, Romney is looking to raise at least $15 million to cement his status as a top-tier candidate.
Successful applicants to Students for Mitt get an ID and source code so the campaign can track donations made at their behest.
The participants are asked to contact members of their academic, social and family circles, and point them to Romney's Web site. The students get 10 percent of all money above $1,000 that is contributed under their ID and source code.
"I spend a lot of hours at the campaign here," said Sarah Isgur, second-year student at Harvard Law School, who is raising funds from classmates, friends and family members, among others in the Boston area. "Some students are working at a law firm and earning $3,000 per week. My opportunity cost is pretty high some times, and this can take the edge off that."
The U.S. House of Representatives just handed the President a DIRECT order to pull troops from Iraq by September 2008, by a vote of 218-212. The vote was strictly along party lines, with Republican leaders claiming the vote is tantamount to admitting DEFEAT.
60 US Senators will be needed to send the withdrawal bill to the President, who has VOWED a veto.
It seems at every stop Obama makes he talks about affordable healthcare for all. Certainly I would support some combination of Canadian-style care and privatized model. But, hey, what do I know?
But, one aspect of health insurance system that ALWAYS gets UNDER my skin is healthy, fit, physically-active people subsidize SMOKERS, and FAT people, who cause their OWN demise and make the rest of us pay in the process.
Obama, suppose you set the NATIONAL example to quit smoking and REALLY contributing to ONE solution to the healthcare CRISIS?
Just a suggestion. Santa LOVES ya brothaaaa! Otherwise, he wouldn't have made the suggestion in the first place.
Martha Mattes writes:
By any chance would either one of you know if there are brochures or flyers on Barack Obama available, and if so, how we can get a HUGE quantity for March 31?
Obama08OK would like to have a table at the Tulsa County Democratic Convention on March 31, and we would also like to pass out literature to those attending the Martin Luther King parade that afternoon. As you know, the latter event typically draws huge crowds.
Let me know if you know anything -- thanks!
Well, people, it had to come sometime, the first big Barack disappointment. Elaine Dodd, a member of the Obama in Oklahoma steering committee reports Obama will visit the Tulsa home of George Kaiser. The luncheon, by invitation only, will cost attendees $2,300 per person.
Then, Obama will jet to OKC for maybe another HIGH-dollar event most of us proles won't be able to afford. Oh, well, I knew the first of many disappointments had to come sometime.
Thanks a MILLION for getting our hopes up.
WASHINGTON - Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton called Tuesday for the majority of voters, women, to help her break the nation's highest glass ceiling by electing her the first female president.
"Today, women are a majority of the voters, a majority of students in college, and we are a growing presence in the Congress. But there are still far too few women in leadership positions," Clinton told a crowd of roughly 1,300 at a luncheon for EMILY's List, a national political committee that raises money for Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights.
Christina Tuff also said Sullivan chose to apologize in a letter to the editor that was published in the Sunday Tulsa World because of previous letters the newspaper had published on his comments.
"He feels that his letter . . . speaks for itself," Tuff said. "He realizes the words chosen were inappropriate and decided to respond directly to those who had written letters to the editor that ran in the paper."
Sullivan's apology grew out of reactions to comments he made last month when he introduced a bill to make a memorial to the 1921 riot part of the National Park Service.
During an interview on the legislation, the congressman conceded that some people in Tulsa resist that plan.
"There are people that don't like this. I know, but I don't care. I think that certainly it is something we need to have," Sullivan said.
"If those people think that it is wrong to have a memorial to this, that's their problem. They are either bigots or they don't understand."
Tuff confirmed that it was the use of the word "bigot" and the letters generated by his use of it that triggered the apology.
"I apologize to those I may have offended in a Tulsa World story," Sullivan wrote in his letter to the editor. "The use of inflammatory language, unfortunately, has taken away from the purpose of my interview, which was to promote legislation honoring the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot."
He also encouraged those who disagree with his proposal to read the text of his legislation, examine the findings of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission and visit the memorial once it is completed.
"The 1921 Tulsa race riot was the greatest domestic disturbance since the Civil War," Sullivan wrote.
"By the time the violence had ended, an estimated 300 people were killed, and 35 to 40 square blocks of the Greenwood community were destroyed."
