Secretary of State Handel Joins NASS in Declaring September 2008 National Voter Registration Month

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today joined fellow members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in declaring September 2008 National Voter Registration Month. Secretary Handel is working with Georgia’s local election administrators to make the state’s eligible voters aware of registration deadlines and requirements for this year’s General Election.

Secretary Handel serves as Vice-President of the Southern U.S. Region for NASS, which represents chief state election officials in 39 states.

“Citizens across Georgia and the nation are taking a special interest in the upcoming General Election,” Secretary Handel said. “I encourage all eligible Georgia citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot in this important election.”

To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you plan to vote, and at least 17 ½ years old. You may not register to vote if you are currently serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony or judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.

Citizens who are not registered to vote in the county in which they reside must submit a voter registration application by Monday, October 6, 2008 in order to vote in the General Election. Citizens who are registered to vote at a former address within the county where they reside are encouraged to submit a change of address card to their county registrar. Voters who are currently registered at the correct address do not need to submit a new voter registration application.

Georgia voters can verify their registration status at the Secretary of State’s Election Center website: http://sos.georgia.gov/ElectionCenter.

You can contact your local county registrars’ office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools, and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. Voter registration is offered when renewing or applying for a driver’s license at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office. College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar’s office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Secretary Handel encourages any individual or members of an organization conducting a voter registration drive to become deputy registrars. Deputy registrars receive comprehensive training on voter registration procedures, and applicants who return a completed voter registration form to a deputy registrar are considered as having applied on that date. For more information, please contact your county registrars’ office. Contact information is available at the Secretary of State’s Election Center website: http://www.sos.georgia.gov/ElectionCenter.

NASS established National Voter Registration Month to encourage voter participation and to increase awareness of state voter registration requirements and deadlines.
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Obama Campaign and the Campaign for Change Hold 50-State Working for Change Weekend of Action

This Labor Day weekend, just after Barack Obama officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president, the Obama campaign and the Campaign for Change organized a Working for Change Weekend of Action to mobilize volunteers and voters at the grassroots level in all 50 states.

Across the country, volunteers and staffers will spend part of their Labor Day weekend preparing our grassroots organization for the final two months of the campaign. At house parties, picnics, organizational meetings, and local rallies, grassroots supporters of Senator Obama will register first-time voters and recruit volunteers by talking to people in their community about the Obama plan to change Washington and contrasting it with the McCain plan to extend President Bush’s economic policies for another four years. Participants will be able to organize and find events online at my.barackobama.com.

“Our grassroots supporters and volunteers are the unsung heroes of this campaign. And this Labor Day, they will come together for a massive working weekend to organize our efforts for the final two months,” Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe said. “Our energy and support at the grassroots – among Democrats, Independents and Republicans -- is what is making traditionally red states competitive, and what will put us over the top in November.

”This week the Obama campaign announced a new voter registration tool: VoteforChange.com. Aimed at simplifying the election process for voters as we gear up for a historic general election, VoteforChange.com allows voters across the country to verify their registration status, register to vote for the first time, or get the relevant absentee voting information for their state – all online.

With unprecedented grassroots support and enthusiasm, the Obama campaign has organized in all 50 states. With over 4,000 events planned, this Working for Change Weekend of Action is another manifestation of people working from the bottom up to bring real change to Washington.
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"A Reform Ticket"

"For starters, we'd say Governor Palin's credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama's." -- The Wall Street Journal

"A Reform Ticket"
Editorial
The Wall Street Journal
August 30, 2008

If any doubt remained that former fighter pilot John McCain loves to take unconventional risks, he put them to bed Friday by picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Introduced in Dayton by Mr. McCain, Governor Palin swung the bat pretty well. We'll now see if she can hit curve balls.

It's a daring pick because Mrs. Palin has never faced national scrutiny and hasn't had to deal with foreign policy. Most VP choices are designed to do no harm, and we tend to agree with the maxim. Democrats are already saying they can't wait for Mrs. Palin's debate against "statesman" Joe Biden. On the other hand, the record shows that Sarah Palin's political career is a case study in taking on the big boys. We suspect her record of fighting the status quo was uppermost in John McCain's decision.

Barack Obama aside, Senator McCain's biggest problem is a Republican brand that has suffered -- both among independents and the GOP base -- from the party's business-as-usual mentality in Washington. The public wants change. This pick could prove Mr. McCain is serious about changing his party.

Sarah Palin's reform resume would be remarkable in any political career. She entered politics at 28, winning a seat on the Wasilla city council as an opponent of tax increases. After she defeated Wasilla's three-term incumbent mayor four years later, she swept the mayor's cronies out of the bureaucracy.

In 2003, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski appointed her to the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Bear in mind that Mr. Murkowski had already served as junior U.S. Senator from Alaska for 22 years. Mr. Murkowski was junior senator for so long because Senator Ted Stevens (who was recently indicted for corruption) had lifetime tenure in the senior post.
Shortly after joining the oil and gas commission, Mrs. Palin commenced an ethics probe of the state's Republican party chairman, Randy Ruedrich, involving conflicts of interest with oil companies. The probe resulted in a $12,000 fine for the party chair.

She crossed party lines in 2004 to join a Democratic representative's ethics complaint over an international trade deal against the Republican Attorney General Gregg Renkes, who had ties to the Murkowski machine. Mr. Renkes resigned.

In late 2005, Mrs. Palin announced her run for Governor before then-Governor Murkowski had announced his intention to stand for re-election. In a three-way primary, Mrs. Palin got 51% to Mr. Murkowski's 19%. At the center of this campaign was a debate over competing proposals to build a natural gas pipeline across Alaska.

These columns wrote about Gov. Murkowski's smashing defeat by Mrs. Palin, noting that his pipeline proposal had been tainted by reports of sweetheart deals with energy companies. The editorial ended: "If Republicans are run out of Congress in November, one big reason will be that, like Mr. Murkowski, they have become far more comfortable running the government than reforming it." That is what happened, as disgusted GOP voters turned away from their own party and ceded control of Congress to the Democrats.

Against the odds, Mrs. Palin won that 2006 election against the state's former Democratic governor Tony Knowles. Most recently, she promoted the effort of her GOP lieutenant governor to unseat U.S. Congressman Don Young, who with Senator Stevens created the earmark that sank the GOP, the notorious "bridge to nowhere."

Experience?

For starters, we'd say Governor Palin's credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama's. Mr. Obama rose through the Chicago Democratic machine without a peep of push-back. Alaska's politics are deeply inbred and backed by energy-industry money. Mr. Obama slid past the kind of forces that Mrs. Palin took head on. This is one reason her selection -- despite its campaign risks -- seems to have been so well received by Republicans yesterday. They are looking for a new generation of leaders.

Don't expect this remarkable personal Palin narrative to get an Obama-like break from the national media. Their main focus will be her lack of experience, claiming it undercuts Mr. McCain's criticism of Barack Obama. One mispronounced foreign leader's name, and she's going to be hammered.

If she can survive this gantlet, Governor Palin could help Mr. McCain with some liabilities of his own. The alternative would have been a ticket of two familiar GOP names in a political cycle where the Democrats have seemed to be the party of energy and freshness. A self-described "hockey mom" with a commercial-fisherman husband, Governor Palin will have more credibility with families than a Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. With energy supplies and prices one of the top issues, Alaska's Governor also should bring some first-hand realism to the debate over drilling and the environment.

* * *
Senator Obama's acceptance speech made it clear that his campaign strategy is pegged to linking Mr. McCain to the Beltway Republicans and the struggling economy. It's a powerful argument, and John McCain needs an answer to Mr. Obama's list of Democratic bromides. The vulnerability in the Obama plan is there's little in it that is new. He'd mostly replace one status quo with an earlier status quo of government spending schemes. Joe Biden is no help on that.
Mr. McCain's instinct clearly is to offer himself to voters as a reformer. With Sarah Palin, a genuine reformer, Mr. McCain may have found the right idea and the right person to make his run.

Read The Editorial
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McCain Picks Sarah Palin, Alaska Governor as VP

U.S. Senator John McCain today announced that he has selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president.

Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.

Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.

In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.

As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.

Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.

Obama Commemorates Women’s Equality Day

Senator Obama issued a statement today honoring Women’s Equality Day and said:

“Beginning with a meeting in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848, women organized themselves and worked to secure the right to vote so they could make their voices heard through the ballot box. On this day in 1920, the 19th Amendment passed and women could no longer be denied that right. As we honor the heroic women who would not accept the world as it was, we are reminded that we can remake the world as it should be. That belief drives me today as I think about the kind of world I want for my daughters and future generations. Now, 88 years later, women are still fighting for change and I intend to lead that fight as President.

“With a struggling economy, a government that serves corporations instead of our middle class, there is so much at stake for women and families in this election. Women voters will decide this election and the direction of our country, and I encourage them to register to vote and exercise this hard fought victory by casting a ballot on November 4th.”

In Denver, Colorado, Michelle Obama marked the day by holding a roundtable discussion on the economy with the nation’s female governors – including Governors Sebelius, Napolitano and Gregoire -- and female delegates from across the country struggling to balance work and family and build good lives in a struggling economyThe campaign released the first Obama-Biden blueprint, “Strengthening Economic Security for Women and Families” which can be found at www.barackobama.com/women.

To commemorate Women’s Equality Day the Obama campaign will host hundreds of house parties nationwide in key battleground states. The campaign will also have a national phone bank with women who support Obama for president calling undecided women in battleground states to discuss the reasons they support Obama and the choice women face November 4th. In addition, there are other Women’s Equality Day activities in states all across the country and a women’s statewide canvass training on Wednesday, August 27th.

In 1971, Congress designated August 26, the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, as Women’s Equality Day. The Constitutional Amendment grants women full voting rights as a result of the Women’s Suffrage Movement that formally began in 1848 at the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York.
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Statement by John McCain on the Situation in Georgia

U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on the situation in Georgia:

"Russia today took a significant and negative step in recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two separatist Georgian provinces. In April, I warned that Russia was pursuing a policy of de facto annexation that threatened to undermine security and stability in the region. Today's decision, the culmination of a long effort aimed at splitting these two regions away from Georgia, represents a major step forward in that process. Moscow's action deserves condemnation from the entire international community, and Russia must understand that its violations of international law carry consequences.

"I also remain deeply concerned about Russia's continued refusal to comply with the terms of the ceasefire ending hostilities with Georgia. Reports indicate that Russian troops remain around the port city of Poti, a location that has no connection to South Ossetia or even to the 'buffer zone' Moscow is attempting to establish around it. Russia's deployments around Poti seem aimed at maintaining an economic stranglehold over Georgia's major Black Sea port.

"At a time of high energy prices and instability in global markets, it is important to understand that events in Georgia, part of a strategic energy corridor, affect individual lives far beyond the Caucasus. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which brings oil from the Caspian to points west, traverses Georgia. If that pipeline were destroyed or controlled by Russia, global energy supplies would be even more vulnerable to Moscow's influence, with serious consequences on the world energy market.

"There are some encouraging signs that our allies are responding to these events. I welcome French President Sarkozy's convening of an emergency European Union summit next week to discuss the crisis, as well as German Chancellor Merkel's call for a summit of Caucasus nations to discuss Georgian reconstruction and regional stability. It is critical that these and other discussions are followed by action to chart a path for the reconstruction of Georgia and to ensure its continued independence. Americans have for generations sacrificed for the security of our European partners. Now is the time for the transatlantic community to come together to secure, in concert, the peace for a generation of Americans.

"In addition, I am proud that Cindy is currently visiting Georgia on a humanitarian mission. She has carried out this kind of important work all over the world, and it is clear that the Georgian people are suffering in the aftermath of Russia's invasion. Given the level of need there, I am proud that she has traveled to that war-torn country at this time."

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Day 4 in Denver: Michelle Obama to Kick Off Delegate Service Day

The Obama campaign today announced that Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will kick off the Democratic National Convention’s Delegate Service Day, assembling care packages for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As co-chair of the Democratic National Convention’s Delegate Service Day, Michelle Obama, along with co-chair and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter, will aim to unite and inspire citizens to take responsibility and pride in a renewed commitment to service and America’s future.

Building on Senator and Mrs. Obama’s lifelong commitment to public service, and the Democratic Party’s efforts to encourage public service, delegates from across the country will participate in service day on Wednesday, completing projects in and around Denver.

Mrs. Obama will also be joined by her family and friends, including her mother Marian Robinson and her two daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.

This service project kicks off a day of activities in which Democrats from across the country will participate. This project, part of the DNCC’s Delegate Service Day Initiative, will be in gratitude to the city of Denver which is hosting the delegates this week.
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Day 3 in Denver : Sen. Joe Biden to Join Michelle Obama for Economic Roundtable with Governors and Working Women Tuesday

The Obama campaign today announced that Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Joe Biden, will join Michelle Obama for a roundtable discussion in Denver on Tuesday, for his first major Democratic National Convention Appearance in Denver . Together, they will hear the stories of women from across the country and discuss the economic challenges facing women and families. In this discussion, Senator Biden and Mrs. Obama will share the Obama/Biden plans to strengthen the economy and provide economic security for America ’s families.

Senator Biden and Mrs. Obama will be joined Tuesday by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

“As President, Barack is determined to change Washington so that instead of just talking about family values, we actually have policies that value families. Policies that make it easier for working parents to support, care for, and raise their children. Policies that strengthen the middle class and create new economic opportunities for women and families,” said Mrs. Obama.
"These have been eight tough years for working women and their families. When Barack Obama is President, we’ll have a leader in the White House who won't just repair the damage of the last eight years but will stand with women and help working families on every issue from jobs and wages to health care and retirement savings," said Senator Joe Biden. "The fight for economic fairness is personal to all of us. It's who we are, and this November we have as clear of a choice as I can remember between the status quo and policies that will move us forward together."

Throughout the campaign, Mrs. Obama has hosted roundtable discussions with working women across the country to hear their stories and bring their concerns and questions back her husband and his campaign. Obama has recently shed light on the unique challenges that military spouses face juggling the same pressures their non-military peers endure, while coping as single parents while their loved ones are deployed overseas.

Tomorrow, the campaign will circulate a 12-page Blueprint for America ’s Working Women and Families, detailing the Obama/Biden agenda to help women balance work and family, to keep themselves and their families healthy, and to prosper in a changing economy.

You can read the Blueprint here.
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Michelle Obama’s Prime-Time Speech Details the Obama Family’s Life, Values and

Sent out prior to Michelle Obama's speech at the Convention last night:

Michelle Obama will deliver the first headline prime-time speech of the Democratic National Convention this evening. Michelle Obama will talk about her husband, Democratic nominee Barack Obama, the values that have driven him as a father, husband and public servant, and why she believes he will be an extraordinary president. As the person who knows him best, there’s no one who can do a better job introducing Barack Obama to the country.

In her speech, Michelle will give the country a personal view of Barack Obama – her husband, and Sasha and Malia’s Dad. She will talk about their life together, and building a family grounded in faith and values. The more America learns about this family, the more they’re going to want to send them to the White House.

Michelle will also talk about her upbringing on the South Side of Chicago. Her story is a great American story: modest means but big dreams—and encouragement from loving parents that she and her brother could accomplish whatever they put their minds to if they worked hard. Like Barack, Michelle was also taught to give back to the community and the country that has given her so much. Now, as a working mother of two young girls, Michelle is continuing to give back to the community and country she loves.

Like many moms, she’s learned to juggle the responsibilities of work and family. She knows what it’s like for millions of women who face the same challenges every day. She’s made a career of bringing people together and finding solutions to seemingly intractable problems in her community and that’s exactly what she’ll do as First Lady.

Over the last 19 months, Mrs. Obama has demonstrated a unique ability to connect with people across the country on the campaign trail and share in their American experience. People have come away from her campaign events knowing that they will have a first lady who truly understands their challenges and is committed to helping women and families.

South Side Girl will preview Michelle Obama’s speech. Narrated by her mother, Marian Robinson, the film describes Mrs. Obama’s family background, highlighting her upbringing and the values that have shaped her as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, mentor and dedicated community service advocate. Craig Robinson will then introduce Michelle, sharing his personal perspective on his little sister, their upbringing and their family.

Below is some brief background on those appearing in South Side Girl the film:

Marian Robinson
Marian Robinson goes by many titles. Malia and Sasha Obama call her Grandma. Barack and Michelle Obama call her Mom. She’s been called “the linchpin of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign”—because when Barack and Michelle are on the campaign trail, she takes care of the most important people in their lives.

“I’m standing here, breathing in and out with any level of calm, because my mother is home with my girls,” Michelle frequently says when she’s on the road. “There’s no one like Grandma.”

Marian Shields was born in Chicago in July 1937. She grew up in Woodlawn on the South Side, and married her husband, Fraser Robinson, in 1960. Fraser worked for the Chicago water department, while Marian stayed home and raised their two children: Craig, who was born in 1962, and Michelle, who came along two years later.

The family was very close, spending long hours talking around the dinner table. “We felt like center of our parents’ universe, because they put us there,” Michelle says.

When Michelle entered high school, Marian went back to work, becoming a secretary in a bank. She retired last year. She still lives in the home that the Robinson family shared on the South Side. Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha live just a few miles away, and Mrs. Robinson and her granddaughters see each other almost every day. She is also the proud grandmother to Craig’s two children: Avery, 16, and Leslie, 12.

Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson has had two lifelong loves: his family and basketball. Growing up, Craig was a star player for his high school team. His parents and sister were his biggest fans. “We spent every Saturday on a basketball court somewhere, watching my brother play,” Michelle says. He went to Princeton, where he became one of the best basketball players in the history of the university and the first two-time Ivy League basketball player of the year. Following two seasons of professional basketball in England, Craig returned to the states and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and spent seven years as a vice president for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

But Craig never gave up his love for the game. In 1999, while he was a managing director at the Chicago investment banking firm Loop Capital Markets, he got a call from one of his coaches from Princeton. Craig’s former coach was now the coach at Northwestern, and he wanted Craig to work for him. After some serious thought, Craig decided to leave the world of finance and get back on the basketball court. Craig spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern. Then he spent two seasons as the head coach at Brown. This spring, he was named the head basketball coach at Oregon State. His basketball career has come full circle. “Every day, I’m doing something I love,” he says. Craig will be joined this evening by his wife, Kelly, and kids Avery, 16, and Leslie, 12.

Jobi Peterson Cates
Jobi Peterson Cates met Michelle Obama in 1993 at Public Allies, a youth leadership training and Americorps national service program, of which Mrs. Obama started the Chicago chapter. They worked together for two years, and have remained friends since. Jobi Peterson Cates went on to become the Vice President of External Relations at the Heartland Alliance, a service bases human rights organization in Chicago. She also served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, where she led a restructuring and organizational development process. Peterson Cates is now the Human Rights Watch Director for the Chicago & Midwest Region.

Yvonne Davila
Yvonne Davila first met Michelle Obama twenty years ago when they were young staffers together in the office of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, and they have remained incredibly close. Now, they juggle the day to day balance of work and family together, shuttling their daughters of comparable ages to school, play dates, pizza parties and soccer games. Since the Mayor’s office, for over 15 years, Ms. Davila has been worked as a public relations executive, and is currently a partner at D & T Communications, Inc., a firm specializing in public relations and marketing strategies that include media and community relations, governmental affairs, policy and crisis management. She is the mother of two daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine.

Charles Ogletree
Charles Ogletree, a professor and mentor of Michelle Obama’s at Harvard Law School, is the Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and Vice Dean for the Clinical Programs. Ogletree began his career at Harvard Law the same year Mrs. Obama arrived as a student.

Travis Rejman
Travis Rejman met Michelle Obama at Public Allies, an Americorps national service program and youth leadership training program in the Chicago community, of which Mrs. Obama was the Founding Director in the early 1990s. Mr. Rejman has since become the founding Executive Director of the Goldin Institute, a global forum dedicated to supporting grassroots partnerships for global change in the areas of poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, and reconciliation that began in 2002. Prior to creating the Goldin Institute, Travis served as Director for the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, leading the development of the program for the 2004 (Barcelona) and 1999 (Cape Town) Parliaments of the World's Religions. Prior to working in the interreligious field, Travis worked in the environmental movement, focusing on coalition building, grassroots education and civic engagement.
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Obama: Iraq Budget Surplus Highlights Need for Change In Washington

6/9/08 United States Senator Barack Obama delivered the Democratic Radio Address this week, his first as the presumptive nominee. In his address, Senator Obama discussed the stark contrast between America’s huge budget deficit and Iraq’s budget surplus, pointing out that while this Iraqi money sits in American banks, American taxpayers continue to spend $10 billion a month to defend and rebuild Iraq.

Obama also contrasts his commitment to ending the war in Iraq and offering tax cuts to middle class families with Bush administration policies, like staying in Iraq indefinitely and cutting taxes for the wealthy – policies McCain has embraced and promises to extend.

Click HERE to listen to the address.

Text of Radio Address:

This is Senator Barack Obama. This morning, I’d like to talk to you about why America needs to move in a new direction.

In recent days, we’ve seen two stark examples of exactly what’s wrong with Washington, and what’s at stake in this election.

First, we learned that the federal budget deficit could reach nearly half a trillion dollars next year.

Eight years after we had a record surplus, we’re now faced with record deficits. This mortgaging of our children’s future is a direct result of the Bush Administration’s dangerously failed fiscal policies.

Instead of helping Americans who are struggling, we’ve seen loopholes and lavish giveaways for corporations that ship jobs overseas, and tax cut after tax cut for the wealthiest Americans who don’t need them and didn’t even ask for them.

Now, Senator McCain proposes to continue these costly and unfair Bush tax policies. He would continue to put special interests ahead of Americans who are struggling, while short-changing the investments we need to get our economy moving again.

The second thing we learned this week was that the Iraqi government now has a $79 billion budget surplus thanks to their windfall oil profits. And while this Iraqi money sits in American banks, American taxpayers continue to spend $10 billion a month to defend and rebuild Iraq.
That’s right. America faces a huge budget deficit. Iraq has a surplus.

Now, Senator McCain promises to continue President Bush’s open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq, while refusing to pressure Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country.

Let me be clear: we are well over five years into a war in a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Our brave men and women in uniform have completed every mission they’ve been given. Our country has spent nearly a trillion dollars in Iraq, even as our schools are underfunded, our roads and bridges are crumbling, and the cost of everything from groceries to a gallon of gas is soaring.

Now think for a moment about what we could have done with the hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars that we’ve spent in Iraq. We could have rebuilt American schools and roads and bridges. We could have made historic investments in alternative energy to create millions of American jobs. We could have headed-off $4 dollar a gallon gas and begun to end the tyranny of oil in our time.

Instead, the President decided to spend our money on tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, and a war in Iraq that has already lasted longer than World War II. And Senator McCain has fully embraced these Bush policies.

So the choice in this election could not be clearer.

The American people are worse off than they were eight years ago. Everywhere I go, I meet people who are working hard for their families – but are still falling behind. Our government has lost touch with the most fundamental American values – the belief that everyone should be able to live the American Dream; the sense that we are all in this together as Americans.

Senator McCain talks about putting our country first, but he is running for a third term of the very same policies that have set our country back. We can’t afford to take that chance. We can’t afford to keep running up record deficits while we favor the few over the many. We can’t prioritize a misguided war in Iraq over the urgent needs of the American people.

I believe that we need to move in a new direction.

It’s time to restore balance and fairness to our economy, and to give working people immediate and meaningful relief.

It’s time to stop giving tax cuts to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and to put a tax cut into the pocket of 95 percent of working Americans and their families.

It’s time to end the war in Iraq responsibly by asking the Iraqis to take responsibility for their future and to invest in their own country.

It’s time to make a historic effort to end our dependence on foreign oil by investing $150 billion over the next decade in alternative energy and more fuel efficient cars, even as we push oil companies to increase production. This will create millions of new green jobs – good jobs that lift up our families and communities.

This is a defining moment in our history. We can either continue down a failed course, or we can choose a better future. With your help, I know that we can come together as Americans to meet the challenges of the 21st century, to renew our common purpose, and to reclaim the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.

Thank you and God bless America.
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Daddy Yankee Endorses John McCain

"[John McCain] has been a fighter for the Hispanic community." -- Daddy Yankee

John McCain And Daddy Yankee
Remarks
Phoenix, AZ
August 25, 2008

John McCain: "And it's a great legacy and a great responsibility for me to follow in the footsteps of some of those great leaders, both Republican or Democrat. So I hope you'll be involved. But most importantly, I know why you are sitting here, and that is not to listen to me so much, but I brought a special friend along with me today, a great American success story. As you know, he's from Puerto Rico. He's been married for 15 years. He has children aged 14, 12 and 10. One of his most famous songs, I know you're very familiar with, Gasolina. Well, here he is, Daddy Yankee."
...
Daddy Yankee: "Good morning. Good morning. It is a very special honor to be here this beautiful morning with everybody right here. This is very special school. It is a big pleasure to be with you.
...
"It is a big pleasure that you guys invited me, and thanks to Senator McCain. And I am here endorsing Senator McCain because I believe in his ideals and his proposals to lead this nation. And like I said before, he has been a fighter for the Hispanic community, and I know that for me personally, I chose him as the best candidate because he has been a fighter for the immigration issue. So for me he is the best guy to lead this nation. And once again, I want to say thank you to everybody for the support it has given me in my entire career. This is a great honor sharing this beautiful morning with everybody. I am a man of few words but with a lot of action like I always said. Senator McCain, pleasure."

Watch The Endorsement
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John McCain 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Debra"

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its latest television ad, entitled "Debra." The ad features Debra Bartoshevich, a lifelong Democrat and former Clinton delegate, explaining why she supports John McCain. Because John McCain has the experience and judgment we need at these challenging times, millions of Democrats from across the country are supporting him. The ad will air in key states.

VIEW THE AD HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=597YG23mAWs

Script For "Debra" (TV :30)

DEBRA BARTOSHEVICH: I'm a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat.

She had the experience and judgment to be President.

Now, in a first for me, I'm supporting a Republican, John McCain.

I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he's the one with the experience and judgment.

A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It's okay, really!

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.
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Join Statement on the Presidential Debates

8/21/08 Today, the McCain and Obama campaigns released the following statement on the Presidential debates:

"The Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in September and October sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The campaigns have come to the earliest agreement on presidential debates reached in any general election in recent history. This announcement reflects the presidential campaigns' agreement on dates, locations, and the formats for the fall debates. Campaign-appointed debate negotiators House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said they were pleased to have reached an early agreement to provide the American people with the opportunity to see and hear the candidates debate the critical issues facing the country. The two campaigns have accepted sponsorship of the debates by the Commission on Presidential Debates, subject to the debates being conducted under the terms of their agreement."

Summary Of McCain-Obama Debate Agreement:

The two campaigns agreed today on a framework for four General Election debates, to be sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Key elements of the agreement are:

1. First Presidential Debate:

- Date: September 26 - Site: University of Mississippi - Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security - Moderator: Jim Lehrer - Staging: Podium debate - Answer Format: The debate will be broken into nine, 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment. After these initial answers, the moderator will facilitate an open discussion of the topic for the remaining 5 minutes, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment

2. Vice Presidential Debate

- Date: October 2nd - Site: Washington University (St. Louis) - Moderator: Gwen Ifill - Staging/Answer Format: To be resolved after both parties' Vice Presidential nominees are selected.

3. Second Presidential Debate

- Date: October 7 - Site: Belmont University - Moderator: Tom Brokaw - Staging: Town Hall debate - Format: The moderator will call on members of the audience (and draw questions from the internet). Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. Following those initial answers, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for a total of 1 minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment. In the spirit of the Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience (or internet), and not the moderator.

4. Third Presidential Debate

- Date: October 15 - Site: Hofstra University - Topic: Domestic and Economic policy - Moderator: Bob Schieffer - Staging: Candidates will be seated at a table - Answer Format: Same as First Presidential Debate - Closing Statements: At the end of this debate (only) each candidate shall have the opportunity for a 90 second closing statement.

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, and last for 90 minutes. Both campaigns also agreed to accept the CPD's participation rules for third-party candidate participation.
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McCain Nightly Memo

Sunday, 8/24/08
72 Days to the Election of John McCain
McCain Nightly Memo
From: SE Regional Offices, Tallahassee
To: McCain Team Member
Topic: The Obama Record on Foreign Policy
In Case You Didn't Know...The foreign policy divide between John McCain and Senator Barack Obama is immense. John McCain has a lifetime of foreign policy experience, while Barack Obama has consistently demonstrated a complete lack of foreign policy judgement.

Despite the stunning security improvements that the Troop Surge has brought to Iraq, Barack Obama still refuses to admit that the Surge was a success. Meanwhile, Oba ma's new running mate, Senator Joe Biden, has repeatedly praised John McCain's early call for sending more troops to Iraq.

Senator Barack Obama has said that he would meet unconditionally with leaders like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other leaders of state sponsors of terror. The fact that Barack Obama would even consider meeting with Ahmadinejad demonstrates how naive and unknowledgeable Obama is about foreign policy. Both John McCain and Senator Joe Biden have criticized Obama on this matter.

Senator Obama has demonstrated a complete disinterest in foreign policy matters. Barack Obama's running mate, Senator Joe Biden, criticized Obama for being absent from the Iraq War debate. In addition, Senator Obama did not hold a single hearing on Afghanistan while at the helm of the subcommittee on European Affairs on Senate Foreign Relations Committee which overseas NATO.Must ClicksHillary Clinton was passed over for Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential pick, despite winning 18 million votes in the Democratic primary. Why did Obama not pick the most popular Democrat available to be his running mate? Is it because Clinton has stated that Barack Obama is not ready to be President?
Hillary Clinton Passed Over

John McCain makes his weekly radio address:
Listen to McCain's August 23rd Radio Address Here.

Must Reads

Little Rhetoric Riding Hood
By George Will
The Washington Post
August 24, 2008
Obama has also promised that "we will get 1 million 150-mile-per-gallon plug-in hybrids on our roads within six years." What a tranquilizing verb "get" is. This senator, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, is going to get a huge, complex industry to produce, and is going to get a million consumers to buy, these cars. How? Almost certainly by federal financial incentives for both -- billions of dollars of tax subsidies for automakers and billions more to bribe customers to buy cars they otherwise would spurn.

Conservatives are sometimes justly accused of ascribing magic powers to money and markets: Increase the monetary demand for anything, and the supply of it will expand. But it is liberals such as Obama who think that any new technological marvel or other social delight can be summoned into existence by a sufficient appropriation. Once they thought "model cities" could be, too.

Where will the electricity for these million cars come from? Not nuclear power (see above). And not anywhere else, if Obama means this: "I will set a hard cap on all carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to curb global warming -- an 80 percent reduction by 2050."

To read more, click here: Little Rhetoric Riding Hood

Biden, Obama at Odds Over Lobbyist Donations
By Jennifer Haberkorn & Jerry Seper
Washington TimesAugust 23, 2008

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama has made a pledge not to a ccept money from lobbyists, but his running mate - Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. - has collected over $200,000 from registered lobbyists in this year alone, according to a search of Senate lobbying records.

Mr. Biden's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign and his still-pending race to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate in Delaware, according to the records, collected another $86,000 from lobbyists this year. The senator's political action committee, Unite Our States, also received $120,500 from lobbyists this year, the records show.

To read more, click here: Biden, Obama at Odds Over Lobbyist Donations

Finally This Evening...

John McCain will be accep ting the Republican nomination just over a week from now at the Republican National Convention. Are you willing to host a Convention Watch Party at your home or business?This is a great way to support John McCain with your family and friends, without even having to leave the comfort of your home. It is very important to have as many Convention Watch Parties as possible in North Carolina. A large number of Convention Watch Parties will demonstrate to the media and voters that momentum is building for our campaign.

The process for creating a Convention Watch Party is very simple. You can sign up on John McCain's website at www.johnmccain.com/conventionparties.
Reform, Prosperity and Peace
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John McCain 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Biden"

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its latest television ad, entitled "Biden." As the ad highlights, before he was selected to run on the Democratic ticket, Joe Biden questioned Barack Obama's lack of experience and said he would be "honored" to run with John McCain. The ad will air in key states.
VIEW THE AD HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVUPqoowf8
Script For "Biden" (TV :30)
ANNCR: What does Barack Obama's running mate say about Barack Obama?
ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You were asked, "Is he ready?" You said, "I think he can be ready but right now, I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."
JOE BIDEN: I think that I stand by the statement.
ANNCR: And what does he say about John McCain?
BIDEN: I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

AD FACTS: Script For "Biden" (TV :30)

ANNCR: What does Barack Obama's running mate say about Barack Obama?

ABC'S GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You were asked, "Is he ready?" You said, "I think he can be ready but right now, I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."

JOE BIDEN: I think that I stand by the statement.

· Joe Biden Said Obama Is Not Ready To Serve As President. ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "You were asked is he ready. You said 'I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.'" Sen. Biden: "I think that I stand by the statement." (ABC's, "This Week," 8/19/07)

ANNCR: And what does he say about John McCain?

BIDEN: I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

· Joe Biden Said He'd Be Honored To Run With McCain. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "You may end up going against a Senate colleague, perhaps McCain, perhaps Frist?" Sen. Biden: "John McCain is a personal friend, a great friend, and I would be honored to run with or against John McCain, because I think the country would be better off -- be well off no matter who..." Stewart: "Did I hear, Did I hear with?" Sen. Biden: "You know, John McCain and I think" Stewart: "Don't become cottage cheese my friend. Say it." Sen. Biden: "The answer is yes." (Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" 8/2/05)
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Statement by John McCain on Sen. Obama's Selection Of Sen. Biden As Running Mate

Today (8/23/08), McCain spokesman Ben Porritt issued the following statement on Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his running mate:

"There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden. Biden has denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing -- that Barack Obama is not ready to be President."

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McCain Campaign: What They're Saying About Obama-Biden

"The Candidate Of Change Went With The Status Quo":

The Associated Press's Ron Fournier: "The Candidate Of Change Went With The Status Quo." "The candidate of change went with the status quo. ... He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate -- the ultimate insider -- rather than a candidate from outside Washington..." (Ron Fournier, "Analysis: Biden Pick Shows Lack Of Confidence," The Associated Press, 8/23/08)
· Fournier: "[B]iden is anything but a change agent, having been in office longer than half of all Americans have been alive." (Ron Fournier, "Analysis: Biden Pick Shows Lack Of Confidence," The Associated Press, 8/23/08)

ABC's Jake Tapper: "The Freshman Senator Selected As His Running Mate A Six-Term Senate Institution..." "Obama is running on the slogan change we can believe in, but the freshman senator selected as his running mate a six-term senate institution, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 8/23/08)

· ABC's Jake Tapper: Biden Taking Lobbyist Money "A Direct Contradiction Of The Obama Message." "Obama may decry lobbyist cash (or at least federal lobbyist cash), but Biden has taken $344,400 from lobbyists since 1997 -- making lobbyists the 10th biggest contributing industry. That seems a direct contradiction of the Obama message." (Jake Tapper, "Obama Decries Lobbyist Cash; Biden Has Reaped It In," ABC News, 8/23/08)

Los Angeles Times: "Biden Is A Washington Insider." "At the same time, as a 36-year Senate veteran, Biden is a Washington insider, an image that is at odds with the theme of change Obama has promoted." (Stuart Silverstein And Johanna Neuman, "Biden's The Pick, Sources Confirm," Los Angeles Times, 8/23/08)

· McClatchy Newspapers: Biden Is "A Washington Insider." "The decision to go with Biden, 65, a Washington insider, over a younger politician with a lesser known national profile, such as Obama's friend Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, reflects how tight the contest is between Obama and Republican John McCain." (Margaret Talev and David Lightman, "Obama names Sen. Joe Biden as his vice-presidential pick," McClatchy Newspapers, 8/23/08)

· New York Post's Charles Hurt: "Biden Is A Consummate Washington Insider." "On the downside, Biden is a consummate Washington insider. He was first elected to the Senate in 1973 at the age of 29 and plagiarism charges forced him from the 1988 presidential contest." (Charles Hurt, "Joe Biden Wins The Veepstakes," New York Post, 8/23/08)

CNN's Candy Crowley: "Well, the downside is, this is a campaign of change, who is selecting -- which is selecting a man who's been in the Senate for over three decades. There is that." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 8/22/08)

Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan: "Biden has been in the United States Senate for 36 years -- he was elected in 1972, the year Barack Obama turned eleven -- making him, for better or worse, a quintessential Washington insider." (Tom Bevan, "Obama Goes With Biden," Time's "The Real Clear Politics" Blog, time-blog.com, 8/23/08)

Biden Pick Only Highlights Obama's Inexperience:

The Associated Press' Ron Fournier: "[T]here's the 2007 ABC interview in which Biden said he would stand by an earlier statement that Obama was not ready to serve as president. It seems Obama is worried that some voters are starting to agree." (Ron Fournier, "Analysis: Biden Pick Shows Lack Of Confidence," The Associated Press, 8/23/08)

Newsweek's Howard Fineman: "[Obama] All But Confessed His Lack Of Knowledge Of Foreign Affairs By Selecting As His Running Mate The Senate's Senior Democratic Leader On That Topic." (Howard Fineman, "No Ordinary Joe: The Politics Of The Veep Pick--And What He Brings To The Party," Newsweek, 8/23/08)

Real Clear Politics' Tom Bevan: "He wanted someone who could reinforce his message of change, but he needed someone with experience." (Tom Bevan, "Obama Goes With Biden," Time's "The Real Clear Politics" Blog, time-blog.com, 8/23/08)

· Bevan: "[O]bama has spent the last 2 years discounting the experience of folks in the Bush administration, discounting the experience of Hillary Clinton, and now discounting the experience of John McCain by saying that what matters is judgment, not the number of years someone has spent in Washington. Obama's pick belies that notion, especially since the core of Obama's 'judgment' argument centers on his opposing the Iraq war from the beginning. Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war." (Tom Bevan, "Obama Goes With Biden," Time's "The Real Clear Politics" Blog, time-blog.com, 8/23/08)

Political Weakness Leads To New, Negative Obama:

The Associated Press' Ron Fournier: "For All His Self-Confidence, The 47-Year-Old Illinois Senator Worried That He Couldn't Beat Republican John McCain Without Help From A Seasoned Politician Willing To Attack." "The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn't beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden pick is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative -- a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image." (Ron Fournier, "Analysis: Biden Pick Shows Lack Of Confidence," The Associated Press, 8/23/08)

· Fournier: "A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his boss has expressed impatience with what he calls a 'reverence' inside his campaign for his message of change and new politics. In other words, Obama is willing -- even eager -- to risk what got him this far if it gets him to the White House." (Ron Fournier, "Analysis: Biden Pick Shows Lack Of Confidence," The Associated Press, 8/23/08)

Time Magazine: "It's a measure of how badly the last month has gone for the once high-flying Obama campaign that they're willing to risk taking on board a shoot-from-the-lip running mate like Biden." (Massimo Calabresi, "Behind Obama's Bet on Biden," Time Magazine, 8/23/08)

The New York Times: "Mr. Obama's choice of Mr. Biden suggested some of the weaknesses the Obama campaign is trying to address at a time when national polls suggest that his race with Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is tightening." (Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate," New York Times, 8/23/08)

The Washington Post: "As the Associated Press's Ron Fournier noted in an analysis this morning, picking Biden shows that Obama and his team are concerned that questions of whether the Illinois senator is ready for the job have the potential to be politically dangerous." (Chris Cillizza, "Analysis: What Biden's Pick Means," Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, 8/23/08)

Off-Message:

Time's Mark Halperin: "[O]ne quality that has afflicted Biden for as long as anyone can remember: a persistent tendency to say silly, offensive, and off-putting things." (Mark Halperin, "Halperin On Biden: The Pros And The Cons," Time, 8/23/08)

· Time's Mark Halperin: "The central mystery for those who have watched Biden over the years is this: how could someone so smart, experienced, and articulate be his own worst enemy by saying just the wrong thing at just the wrong moment?" (Mark Halperin, "Halperin On Biden: The Pros And The Cons," Time, 8/23/08)

The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody: "Biden's Good For A Good, Let's Call It Five Gaffes Before November 4th If It's Biden Here We Go Again." "I mean if the Obama campaign, when they knew this pick was coming, they realized, Biden's good for a good, let's call it five gaffes before November 4th. They know this. They understand this. They're willing to take that risk, if it's Biden here we go again." (CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," 8/22/08)

CNN's Jessica Yellin: "The big other problem is that Biden has had a tendency to make gaffes on the trail, he's not always very disciplined." (CNN's "CNN Saturday Morning News," 8/23/08)

Newsweek's Howard Fineman: "He can't keep his mouth shut. Sometimes he talks before thinking. He is not always a systematic thinker. He loves to hear himself talk. He can get carried away with his enthusiasms." (Howard Fineman, "No Ordinary Joe: The Politics Of The Veep Pick--And What He Brings To The Party," Newsweek, 8/23/08)

[New York] Daily News: Biden "Veers Wildly Off Message." "But he can also be a motormouth who veers wildly off message. Even he admits to his tendency to 'bloviate.'" (Michael Saul, "Foreign policy? Joe Biden's no schmo," New York Daily News, 8/23/08)

Politico: "But while Biden, 65, made strides during the primary season on curbing his legendary penchant for leaving no thought unspoken, those who have watched him -- and listened to him -- over the years know the Obama team will spend some sleepless nights wondering what he might say at any given moment." (Carrie Budoff Brown and Bill Nichols, "The Ticket: Obama-Biden," Politico, 8/23/08)
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Statement by Senator Obama on the 73rd Anniversary of Social Security

“On this anniversary of Social Security, let’s reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Social Security remains a safety net that seniors can count on today, tomorrow, and always. It is impossible to fully measure Social Security’s value for its recipients, as well as for those who look after and love them. Nearly 13 million seniors depend on it each month to keep from falling into poverty, and millions more depend on survivor and disability benefits to protect their retirement.

“As President, I will protect Social Security for today’s seniors and future generations. That means strengthening Social Security’s solvency while protecting middle class families from benefit cuts, tax increases or increases in the retirement age. It means treating Social Security not as a political football or describing it as an “absolute disgrace,” but instead honoring it as the cornerstone of the social compact in this country. And it means opposing efforts to privatize Social Security, as I did when President Bush proposed risky private accounts a few years ago.

Privatization is wrong and tears at the fabric of Social Security – the very idea of mutual responsibility – by subjecting a secure, earned retirement to the whims of the market. The Bush privatization plan that Senator McCain now embraces would tell millions of elderly Americans that they’re on their own, putting them at risk of falling into poverty. That’s not what this country is about.

“It’s time to reclaim the idea that in this country, we’re all in it together. That is America’s very promise – and Social Security’s very guarantee. And it requires a President who will change the ways of Washington, protect the people’s interests, and bring Americans together to meet the great challenges of our time. That is exactly the sort of leadership I intend to offer.”
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Bob Barr Signs Petition for Academic Sports Freedom; Presidential Candidate Urges Title IX Reform

Former Georgia Republican Congressman Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party’s Presidential candidate, has signed the College Sports Council’s petition calling for “straightforward and common-sense” reform of Title IX. On the 36th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the CSC launched an online petition calling for reform of the unfair and inflexible regulations that govern Title IX.

“I am pleased to join the thousands of Americans including athletes, coaches, and parents and Olympic Greats who are calling for an end to Title IX’s gender quota system that has devastated so many of our collegiate sports programs,” said Congressman Barr.

Passed by Congress in 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

In 1979, the Carter Administration promulgated a three-point test of an institution’s compliance with Title IX. However, in order to avoid litigation, institutions have relied on the first prong, known as “proportionality.” In order to comply with the proportionality standard, the gender ratio of a school’s undergraduate student enrollment must mirror the gender ratio of the total number of athletes on its varsity sports. In turn, this has forced colleges and universities to either cut men’s teams or shrink their roster size in order to comply.

The Olympic sports of track and field, swimming, wrestling, and gymnastics have suffered the loss of hundreds of their collegiate teams since the passage of Title IX. These sports traditionally rank among the top medal earners for the US during the summer Olympics.

But if the Department of Education would carve a safe harbor for schools that would like to use online surveys to gauge student interest in athletics – one of the reforms called for in the petition – colleges and universities would be freed from complying with a de-facto quota system that has led to the elimination of so many men’s programs.

“As we watch our athletes compete in the Olympic games in Beijing, we can be proud not only of their tremendous athletic performances, but also of the uniquely American collegiate sports system that developed many of our Olympic competitors. It is a tragedy to see so many collegiate men’s teams that have produced Olympians for the US eliminated, like UCLA gymnastics and swimming, University of Miami diving, and Fresno State wrestling,” said Congressman Barr.

CSC President, Leo Kocher said, "Title IX reform is a big issue in the state of Georgia. There are tens of thousands of school age wrestlers in Congressman Barr's home state - but not a single NCAA wrestling program. In this case, the gender quota advocates in Washington DC, who have fought all reasonable measures to reform Title IX’s proportionality standard, are blocking the legitimate interests of the tax paying parents in Georgia. If the state’s schools were simply allowed to use online surveys to measure actual interest, they would be able to add wrestling programs without fear of running afoul of the law."

Recently the Georgia state House (House Resolution 246) and Senate (Senate Resolution 397) adopted resolutions urging the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and its member institutions to establish programs for intercollegiate wrestling.

As of earlier this week, the petition has drawn almost 4,900 signatures. The petition can be located online at: http://www.petitiononline.com/csc2008/petition.html

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA. Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.
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McCain: "We Are All Georgians"

"This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it." -- John McCain

"We Are All Georgians"
John McCain
The Wall Street Journal
August 14, 2008

For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.

As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.

Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.

Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.

Despite a French-brokered cease-fire -- which worryingly does not refer to Georgia's territorial integrity --- Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.

Moscow's foreign minister revealed at least part of his government's aim when he stated that "Mr. Saakashvili" -- the democratically elected president of Georgia -- "can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went." Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.

In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.

The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.

At the same time, we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.

The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.

Read The Op-Ed
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John McCain Addresses The Crisis In Georgia

"And I told him that I know I speak for every American when I say to him, today, we are all Georgians." -- John McCain

John McCain
Town Hall
York, PA
August 12, 2008

John McCain: "As you know, over the past several days, we have seen that international aggression is, tragically, not a thing of the past. We thought we'd put a lot of that behind us at the end of the twentieth-century. But now we find it's rearing its ugly head in the twenty-first. The small nation of Georgia has been subject to Russian attacks that threaten its very existence.
"Some Americans, when they read this news, may wonder where Georgia is or why we should care about the conflict between Georgians and the Russian army. It's after all a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places. And it's being made in Georgia today.

"Georgia itself, my friends, has a long and remarkable history. It was a fourth-century convert to Christianity, one of the first nations on Earth to convert to Christianity -- if you go to Georgia, as I have several times, you'll see churches that go back to the fourth- and fifth-century -- and it's been a part of the grand sweep that comprises Western civilization. But because of their location, their history hasn't been easy. Through the centuries, they have seen invasions and attacks from Mongols, Russians, Turks and Persians. And through it all, they maintain their language, their cultural identity, and their national pride. And as you know, they were part of the Soviet Union and were able to achieve their independence when the Soviet Union disintegrated. And they're facing terrible trials today, but they'll get through this, too.

"And, my friends, and I'll talk about this more in a minute -- but they're at a strategic crossroads. There's a pipeline, an oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, which brings oil from the Caspian to points west and traverses Georgia -- that's the very pipeline that the Russians tried to bomb. And I don't have to tell you about the price of oil and disruption of oil supplies.

"In this country -- it's that little country, a country whose territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty NATO countries reaffirmed at their summit in April -- terrible violence has occurred. Now let me just remind you exactly what has taken place here.

"On Friday, Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel, across an internationally-recognized border, and into the Georgian province of South Ossetia. Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia, my friends, and we went through this barricade, and as soon as we got into this place, which the Russians are maintaining hundreds and now thousands of troops, there's this huge billboard and it said, 'Vladimir Putin, Our President.' Have no doubt about Russian ambitions in this area.

"The Russian government stated it was acting only to protect Ossetians, and yet, on Saturday, its bombing campaign encompassed the whole of Georgia. Hundreds of innocent civilians have been wounded and killed -- possibly thousands. Military bases, apartment buildings, and other infrastructure all came under Russian fire. And the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast.

"Before the weekend ended, Russian troops drove the Georgians out of South Ossetia and stepped up their offensive in the region of Abkhazia -- Abkhazia is another area that the Russians have controlled in violation of Georgian territorial integrity. And Georgia asked for a ceasefire, and Russia responded by bombing the Tbilisi Airport.

"Yesterday, Russian troops advanced on one city after another. Gori, Senaki, Poti, and other cities were attacked. In 2006, I visited Senaki and reviewed the Georgian troops who had served with honor beside American soldiers in Iraq -- 2,000 of them served beside American soldiers in Iraq, and we're proud of that.

"President Medvedev stated that he has halted the offensive, but reports indicate that Russian military forces have continued attacks in some areas and the situation remains fluid and dangerous. Foreign Minister Flavor announced that Russia seeks regime change in Georgia, and that it's democratically-elected president 'better go.'

"In the face of this threat, the leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia -- you know there's a common thread there amongst them, they all suffered under Soviet domination -- they've all announced that they'll travel to the region, and the French president is in Moscow in an attempt to help resolve the crisis. They understand that it's a responsibility of the leading nations of the world to ensure that history continues to record reform and make progress toward respecting the values and security of all free people.

"This is the situation in Georgia as we meet here this morning. The impact of Russian actions goes beyond their threat to a democratic Georgia. Russia has used violence against Georgia to send a signal to any country that chooses to associate with the West and aspire to our shared political and economic values.

"My friends, we learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. With our allies, we must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to withdraw its troops from Georgia. There must be an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions. And we should ensure that humanitarian aid can be airlifted to Georgia's capital, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. And we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability, and piece of that world.

"My friends, today the killing goes on and aggression goes on. Yet, I know from speaking this morning to the President of Georgia, Misha Saakashvili, who I've known for many years, that he knows that the thoughts and the prayers and support of the American people are with that brave little nation as they struggle today for their freedom and independence. And he wanted me to say thank you to you, to give you his heartfelt thanks for the support of the American people for this tiny little democracy far away from the United States of America. And I told him that I know I speak for every American when I say to him, today, we are all Georgians."

Watch John McCain's Remarks
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Obama Campaign Features Washington’s Biggest Celebrity in New Ad: “Embrace”

The Obama campaign today released a new 30-second television spot highlighting the record of the biggest celebrity in Washington, John McCain. The ad entitled “Embrace” addresses the numerous ways in which the special interests in Washington have embraced John McCain and how McCain has hugged right back, employing lobbyists in top positions and giving tax breaks to oil and drug companies, instead of working to ease the burden on middle-class families.
The ad will begin running on national cable on Tuesday.

You can view the ad HERE.

You can read Obama’s plan to restore faith in Washington HERE.

Script: “Embrace” – TV - :30 sec
Visual
Audio
Footage of John McCain as talk-show guests

Audio from SNL
ANNCR: For decades, he’s been Washington’s biggest celebrity. John McCain
Footage of John McCain and George Bush hugging.
And as Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back.
Footage of McCain with lobbyists

CG: McCain’s Low Road Campaign
The lobbyists – running his low road campaign.
Footage of McCain speaking

CG: Billions for oil and drug companies
CG: Nothing for you
The money – billions in tax breaks for oil and drug companies, but almost nothing for families like yours.
Footage of McCain with aides, Bush, and on SNL

Audio from SNL
Lurching to the right, then the left, the old Washington dance, whatever it takes. John McCain
Footage of McCain with Bush

CG: John McCain - Same old Washington games.
A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games.

Approved by Barack Obama.
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Bob Barr Calls for Federal Airline Tax Refunds

“Airline fares are rocketing upward, along with higher fuel prices,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. “And so are government taxes. Yet even if you cancel the ticket, you still get stuck with the tax. And if you change your flight, you get hit again,” notes Barr.

“Anyone who looks at the cost breakdown when they buy a ticket will see a federal excise tax, a security fee, and airport charges. They make even a cheap ticket expensive for many families,” notes Barr. “And it’s not obvious that we get good value for our money—ask yourself how safe you feel the next time you are standing in an airport security line and the TSA employees confiscate someone’s bottle of water.”

“Even more outrageous, though, the government keeps your money even if you change your ticket,” he notes. “At least the airlines give you credit—minus a hefty ‘change fee,’ of course. But the federal government just pockets the money. When asked about this unfair practice, government employees say that’s just the way the regulations are written—regulations that they, of course, wrote!”

“The airport taxes might be small change compared to the federal income tax, but they exemplify how the government cares more about collecting money than treating taxpayers fairly. That will change in a Barr administration,” he says.

“One of the priorities of my administration will be to sharply cut and significantly simplify federal taxes. We pay too much and spend too much time figuring out how much we have to pay. That needs to change,” insists Barr. “Lowering and simplifying taxes will make all of us better off, and make our country both freer and more prosperous.”

Barr adds, “I will also ensure that the American people stop paying taxes on services that they don’t receive. Like airline travel. We don’t let businesses get away with charging us for services that they don’t perform. We should hold government to the same standard. As President Barr will do.”

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA. Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.
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Russia-Georgia Conflict Demonstrates Importance of Avoiding Unnecessary Foreign Entanglements, Says Bob Barr

“George Washington long ago warned America against ‘entangling alliances,’ and he was right,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “Russia and Georgia risk falling into a full-scale war in which the U.S. can and hopefully will avoid any involvement. But had Georgia been a member of NATO we would now be risking a full-scale confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia,” Barr observes.

“Obviously, America should encourage both countries to back down and resolve their differences peacefully,” explains Barr. But “the status of South Ossetia, as well as Abkhazia, another Russian-supported separatist zone within Georgia, matters a lot more to Russia, on which the two territories border, than to the U.S. Moreover, Washington itself set a precedent for Russia when it intervened in Kosovo a decade ago, attacking Serbia to win independence for the separatist ethnic-Albanian majority,” notes Barr.

“The purpose of alliances is to defend America,” says Barr. “We should not create or expand alliances where the U.S. does not have vital interests. If the Europeans want to defend distant countries like Georgia, they can do so—after all, the European Union has a larger population and bigger GDP than America, without any of Washington’s other global military commitments. It is time for Europe to accept responsibility for its own security.”

“Any war is tragic, but not every war requires American intervention,” explains Barr. “We can do our best to mediate between Russia and Georgia, but we should avoid any military involvement. It is time to put the defense of America back into America’s defense policy.”

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA. Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.
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Bob Barr Condemns Bungled Police Raid as Example of Unaccountable Law Enforcement Agencies

“We typically make fun of bungled police operations by saying they were conducted by the gang that couldn’t shoot straight,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “In this case they could shoot straight—as a result, they killed a family’s two dogs in the midst of a misguided drug raid.

In the case in Berwyn Heights, Maryland, county police raided the mayor’s home, in a case in which he appears to have been victimized by drug smugglers, who shipped marijuana to the addresses of a half-dozen unsuspecting families. “Rather than carefully checking the facts, including talking to the local police department, the county authorities acted rashly, illustrating how the drug war threatens the liberties of all Americans,” notes Barr, a former U.S. Attorney. The police broke down the door rather than knocking and charged in with guns drawn. They killed the couple’s two Labradors, one while it was running away. Mayor Cheye Calvo spent two hours in hand-cuffs while in his boxer shorts; his mother-in-law was hand-cuffed in another room, left beside one of the dead dogs.

“Absent exigent circumstances, not present here, so-called no-knock raids are an affront to the Constitution,” explains Barr. “So is a shoot first, ask questions later philosophy by the police. Yet the Prince George’s police have done this before—last fall they invaded a house at the wrong address and shot the family dog. All Americans are at risk when the police behave this way. Just ask yourself what might happen if a suspicious package is delivered to your home and the cops bust in,” says Barr

“But there is an even larger point. Law enforcement agencies have become more arrogant and less accountable in cases other than those involving drugs. Most people are aware of well-publicized examples like Waco and Ruby Ridge, but similar abuses are common across the country, though they usually receive little or no public notice,” notes Barr. “We all want police to do their jobs well, but part of doing their job well is respecting the people’s constitutional liberties.”

“As president I will ensure that federal law enforcement agencies set a good example for the rest of the country,” says Barr. “In a Barr administration, government officials will never forget that it is a free people they are protecting.”

Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA. Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.
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Statement by John McCain on the Crisis in Georgia

Today, in Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator John McCain delivered the following statement regarding the current conflict between Georgia and Russia:

"Americans wishing to spend August vacationing with their families or watching the Olympics may wonder why their newspapers and television screens are filled with images of war in the small country of Georgia. Concerns about what occurs there might seem distant and unrelated to the many other interests America has around the world. And yet Russian aggression against Georgia is both a matter of urgent moral and strategic importance to the United States of America.

"Georgia is an ancient country, at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and one of the world's first nations to adopt Christianity as an official religion. After a brief period of independence following the Russian revolution, the Red Army forced Georgia to join the Soviet Union in 1922. As the Soviet Union crumbled at the end of the Cold War, Georgia regained its independence in 1991, but its early years were marked by instability, corruption, and economic crises.

"Following fraudulent parliamentary elections in 2003, a peaceful, democratic revolution took place, led by the U.S.-educated lawyer Mikheil Saakashvili. The Rose Revolution changed things dramatically and, following his election, President Saakashvili embarked on a series of wide-ranging and successful reforms. I've met with President Saakashvili many times, including during several trips to Georgia.

"What the people of Georgia have accomplished in terms of democratic governance, a Western orientation, and domestic reform is nothing short of remarkable. That makes Russia's recent actions against the Georgians all the more alarming. In the face of Russian aggression, the very existence of independent Georgia and the survival of its democratically-elected government are at stake.

"In recent days Moscow has sent its tanks and troops across the internationally recognized border into the Georgian region of South Ossetia. Statements by Moscow that it was merely aiding the Ossetians are belied by reports of Russian troops in the region of Abkhazia, repeated Russian bombing raids across Georgia, and reports of a de facto Russian naval blockade of the Georgian coast. Whatever tensions and hostilities might have existed between Georgians and Ossetians, they in no way justify Moscow's path of violent aggression. Russian actions, in clear violation of international law, have no place in 21st century Europe.

"The implications of Russian actions go beyond their threat to the territorial integrity and independence of a democratic Georgia. Russia is using violence against Georgia, in part, to intimidate other neighbors such as Ukraine for choosing to associate with the West and adhering to Western political and economic values. As such, the fate of Georgia should be of grave concern to Americans and all people who welcomed the end of a divided of Europe, and the independence of former Soviet republics. The international response to this crisis will determine how Russia manages its relationships with other neighbors. We have other important strategic interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued flow of oil through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days; the operation of a critical communication and trade route from Georgia through Azerbaijan and Central Asia; and the integrity an d influence of NATO, whose members reaffirmed last April the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Georgia.

"Yesterday Georgia withdrew its troops from South Ossetia and offered a ceasefire. The Russians responded by bombing the civilian airport in Georgia's capital, Tblisi, and by stepping up its offensive in Abkhazia. This pattern of attack appears aimed not at restoring any status quo ante in South Ossetia, but rather at toppling the democratically elected government of Georgia. This should be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together in universal condemnation of Russian aggression.

"Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the U.S. and Europe. It is time we moved forward with a number of steps.

"The United States and our allies should continue efforts to bring a resolution before the UN Security Council condemning Russian aggression, noting the withdrawal of Georgian troops from South Ossetia, and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgian territory. We should move ahead with the resolution despite Russian veto threats, and submit Russia to the court of world public opinion.

"NATO's North Atlantic Council should convene in emergency session to demand a ceasefire and begin discussions on both the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia and the implications for NATO's future relationship with Russia, a Partnership for Peace nation. NATO's decision to withhold a Membership Action Plan for Georgia might have been viewed as a green light by Russia for its attacks on Georgia, and I urge the NATO allies to revisit the decision.

"The Secretary of State should begin high-level diplomacy, including visiting Europe, to establish a common Euro-Atlantic position aimed at ending the war and supporting the independence of Georgia. With the same aim, the U.S. should coordinate with our partners in Germany, France, and Britain, to seek an emergency meeting of the G-7 foreign ministers to discuss the current crisis. The visit of French President Sarkozy to Moscow this week is a welcome expression of transatlantic activism.

"Working with allied partners, the U.S. should immediately consult with the Ukrainian government and other concerned countries on steps to secure their continued independence. This is particularly important as a number of Russian Black Sea fleet vessels currently in Georgian territorial waters are stationed at Russia's base in the Ukrainian Crimea.

"The U.S. should work with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and other interested friends, to develop plans to strengthen the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

"The U.S. should send immediate economic and humanitarian assistance to help mitigate the impact the invasion has had on the people of Georgia.

"Our united purpose should be to persuade the Russian government to cease its attacks, withdraw its troops, and enter into negotiations with Georgia. We must remind Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. World history is often made in remote, obscure countries. It is being made in Georgia today. It is the responsibility of the leading nations of the world to ensure that history continues to be a record of humanity's progress toward respecting the values and security of free people.

"Thank you."
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