Obama, Huckabee triumph in weekend voting

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama tried to translate weekend victories into momentum going in this week's presidential nominating contests but Republican John McCain's march hit a few bumps in the road.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080210/pl_nm/usa_politics_dc

Maine Democrats trudge to snowy caucuses

Maine Democrats faced snow and bitter winds as they headed to municipal caucuses Sunday to declare whether they favor Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama as their party's presidential nominee.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080210/ap_on_el_pr/maine_caucuses

BARACK OBAMA HOLDS ECONOMIC SUMMIT ON RECLAIMING THE AMERICAN DREAM

2/1/08 Senator Barack Obama today held an economic summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he discussed some of the greatest economic challenges facing working families and outlined his plans to stimulate the economy and help reclaim the American dream.
“In this election – at this moment – it is time to restore that dream for every single American and put America back on the path to prosperity,” Obama said. “It is time to not only provide a much-needed short-term stimulus to our economy, but to finally address the long-term inequities and insecurities that have kept opportunity beyond the reach of too many hardworking Americans.
Obama was joined at the event by Federico Pena, former Mayor of Denver and U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Energy; Bill Daley, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce; Patricia Madrid, former New Mexico Attorney General; Austan Goolsbee, an economics professor and senior Obama economic advisor; and Bonnie Greathouse, the lead organizer for ACORN New Mexico. Madrid announced her endorsement of Obama for president earlier today.
During the event, Bonnie Greathouse shared with the group how at a time when costs are rising and people are working harder just to keep up, the families she works with are increasingly falling victim to predatory lending tactics and find themselves without a financial safety net.
“The working people of ACORN are busy fighting to save our homes from predators and building a world where we can feed our families without working two jobs,” Greathouse said. “It’s been good to have this opportunity to talk to Senator Obama about how to build this world.”
Pena discussed the importance of creating higher-wage jobs, particularly through the investment in new energy technology, and Daley argued that an immediate injection of stimulus into the economy by putting money in the hands of working families is critical for restoring confidence in the economy.
“We need to start making substantial investments in energy research, development and deployment to spur the creation of a new industry in America which will ensure our long-term economic stability,” said Pena. “Barack Obama recognizes the importance of taking this step, and his energy strategy puts us on the right path to renewed economic growth.”
"In order to put the economy back on track, it is critical that we have a short-term stimulus plan like the one proposed by Barack Obama that can deliver results quickly, as well as the kind of leadership that conveys a desire to bring parties together to take swift action to move the economy," Daley said.
Madrid, who helped push through some of the most stringent state laws on predatory mortgage lending as New Mexico Attorney General, applauded Obama’s work on the issue and discussed measures to stabilize the housing market.
“It’s appropriate that Barack Obama is in New Mexico to discuss the state of the economy and the plight of the middle class. This is a state that has been ravished by predatory lending and fraudulent mortgage practices,” Madrid said. “And while our state has responded with legislation, this is a problem that requires federal leadership - leadership that only Barack Obama can provide.”Goolsbee highlighted how investment in education and training can create new higher-paying jobs and boost the US economy.
"Barack Obama has been out front in addressing the squeeze on working, middle class families for the last seven years,” said Goolsbee. “His program of broad based tax relief right now and investing in the skills of our workers and the high technology of the future will help us keep people employed and keep America the greatest economy in the world."
Obama has announced a plan to help working families reclaim the American dream that includes making college affordable and investing in higher-wage job growth, protecting consumers from predatory credit card and mortgage lending and helping more working Americans plan and save for retirement. He also recently rolled out a package to stimulate the economy by immediately placing money in the hands of those most likely to spend it through tax rebates and a Social Security supplement for seniors.
Obama’s plans to strengthen our economy and help working families reclaim the American dream can be viewed in full HERE.

Georgia Secretary of State Handel Announces Advance Voting Week Figures

Secretary of State Karen Handel announced today voter turnout figures from the Georgia Presidential Preference Primary advance voting week. Voters were able to cast ballots at their county’s advance voting centers from Monday, January 28 through Friday, February 1, 2008.

“These numbers demonstrate Georgian’s interest in the Presidential Primary as well as their interest in the convenience of advance voting,” said Secretary Handel.

Monday
22,456

Tuesday
34,651

Wednesday
38,073

Thursday
42,679

Friday
65,761

Total Advance Week Voters
203,620

In addition to these early voters, 44,277 people have cast absentee ballots, either by mail or in office. To date, nearly 248,000 absentee and in-person advance votes have been cast in Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary.

Secretary Handel also anticipates a large turn-out on Election Day, Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Handel projects turnout will be in excess of 30 percent.

“The nomination contests in each party appear highly competitive,” Handel said.

Voters will probably experience lines at polling places during peak times, which are historically from 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 pm, and during the mid-day lunch hour.

In addition, Secretary Handel reminded voters to bring photo ID with them when they vote. Voters will be required to show one of the following six forms of photo ID when voting in-person on Election Day:

A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
Valid U.S. passport;
Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
Valid tribal photo ID.

If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, they can obtain a FREE Voter ID card at their county registrars’ office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Contact information for county registrars can be found on the Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/2000_voter_info.asp.

Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Voters can find voter registration information, including polling locations and legislative districts, by visiting http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/locator.asp or by calling (888) 265-1115.

Anyone with additional questions about Georgia’s photo ID requirements can visit www.GAPhotoID.com or call toll free (877) 725-9797.

Obama Statement On New Jobs Report

2/1/08 Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on this morning’s jobs report.

“This morning’s jobs report brings very troubling news for the economy and for working families who are struggling under the last seven years of George Bush’s failed economic policies, as we lost 17,000 jobs and saw negative job growth for the first time in since August of 2003. This news comes after a day where we learned that we had the slowest economic growth since 2002. It underscores the urgent need for Congress to extend unemployment benefits for more time and to more people as part of any economic stimulus package, something I called for in my own plan three weeks ago. It is time to provide immediate relief to families who are struggling in this economy, and it’s time to turn the page on the failed Bush policies of tax breaks for those who didn’t need them and didn’t ask for them so we can put America back on the path to prosperity and opportunity.”

Census Bureau Releases State Estimates of Voting-Age Population

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released July 1, 2007, estimates of the
voting-age population in each state. The Census Bureau is required by law
to produce these estimates annually for the Federal Election Commission.

The estimates show the total number of residents in each state, the
total population age 18 and older, and the percentage of the total
population 18 and older. They do not reflect citizenship status or voting
eligibility. According to the estimates, California had the largest adult
population, at 27.2 million, while Vermont had the highest percentage adult
population, at 78.9 percent. (In the District of Columbia, the
corresponding percentage was 80.7 percent.) There were 227.7 million U.S.
residents 18 and older, comprising 75.5 percent of the total population.

This is one in a series of population estimates that will be released
over the next several months. In addition to this set, estimates will be
provided for the total population of counties, incorporated cities and
metro areas, as well as the population of the nation, states, and counties
by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.

News Roundup, Mostly McCain

Obama Says He'd Be Better Against McCain
The Associated Press - John McCain. McCain has become Obama's favorite punching bag, an easier mark in front of partisan audiences than the rival Obama will have to beat first to ...

Clinton, McCain lead in national poll
Boston Globe - United States... meaningful than surveys in individual states, Hillary Clinton holds a lead over Barack Obama, while John McCain has a far bigger lead over Mitt Romney. ...

As Super Tuesday Approaches, McCain, Romney, Clinton, and Obama ...
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
John McCain's critics offer up a lengthy bill of particulars against him, and until a few weeks ago they sounded very convincing. ...

Lieberman’s McCain Caravan Hits Stamford
New York Times - United States
After traveling to New York City to rouse phone-bank volunteers making calls for Senator John McCain, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman returned to his home state ...

McCain and Obama gain money and momentum
Guardian Unlimited - UK
In the Republican race, John McCain's cash-strapped campaign has also seen a flood of new funding, with about $1ma day received since he won the New ...

'Special Report' Panel on Dustup Between John McCain and Mitt Romney
FOXNews - USA
JOHN MCCAIN, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The debate after the election of 2006, was whether we were going to have timetables for withdrawal or not. ...

Expecting McCain, Obama cites Iraq, electability
Boston Globe - United States... war and his appeal among independent voters make him a far stronger challenger to John McCain, whom he increasingly believes will be the GOP nominee. ...

Ted Olson Endorses John McCain
FOXNews - USA
Now conservative former Solicitor General, Ted Olson announces he too will endorse John McCain. This is an important endorsement for the Senator from ...

Electability seen as key to McCain's rising support
Reuters - USA
By Tim Gaynor PHOENIX (Reuters) - John McCain has vaulted from long shot to the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for US president. The reason? ...

Schwarzenegger endorses McCain
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on Thursday -- and praised his ability to work with Democrats -- Mitt Romney ...

Huckabee News Roundup

Huckabee: This is Not a Two Man GOP Race
CBS News - New York,NY,USA
That was the word Mike Huckabee used again and again with reporters to emphasize his credibility as a contender for the Republican nomination. ...

Huckabee's got a tiger by the tail
Seattle Times - United States
Mike Huckabee was attacked at the San Francisco Zoo by a gay tiger. Huckabee had scheduled a campaign stop at the zoo where he made his controversial ...

Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul Even Favorites as Republicans to Drop Out ...
Gambling911.com - Miami,FL,USA
With John McCain and Mitt Romney leading among delegates, not surprisingly the oddsmakers have listed both Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul as the even favorites ...

Huckabee stresses conservative credentials in OKC rally
Tulsa World - Tulsa,OK,USA
By AP OKLAHOMA CITY -- Republican Mike Huckabee stressed his conservative credentials in a rally Friday and said he was hopeful of surprising some people ...

Huckabee Hits “Naitonal Media Spin”: Two Man Race? Yeah, Mac and Me
FOXNews - USA
by Fin Gomez Mike Huckabee tonight fired a shot at what he called the “national media spin”that the only two candidates left in the GOP race were John ...

HUCKABEE PRESSES CONSERVATIVE FAITH-BASED POPULISM in San ...
SanFranciscoSentinel.com - San Francisco,CA,USA
BY ARI BURACK Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee ventured into the belly of the Democratic beast today with a visit to San Francisco’s ...

GOP hopefuls Romney, Huckabee make San Diego appearances
San Diego Union Tribune - United States
By Jose Luis Jimenez SAN DIEGO – Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee were in San Diego Thursday to meet with supporters, ...

Huckabee Upbeat Despite Low Numbers
San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
Mike Huckabee was in San Francisco, where he brushed aside suggestions that he should get out of the GOP presidential race. "I'm staying in the race because ...

Huckabee: Romney Shifted on Key Issues
The Associated Press - OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee on Friday defended his previous remark that Mitt Romney didn't reach "political puberty" until recently, ...

Today on the Presidential Campaign Trail
The Associated Press - ___ Romney's political maturity questioned OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee on Friday defended his previous remark that Mitt Romney didn't ...

FORMER CONGRESSMAN FRANK RIGGS ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN

U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that former California Congressman Frank Riggs (CA-01) has endorsed John McCain for president.

"John McCain is a true leader who puts principle before politics and partisanship," said Congressman Riggs. "His record clearly demonstrates that he acts on his convictions and does what he believes is right. I know John McCain is the leader our nation needs in these challenging times and I'm proud to support him for president, as I did in 2000."

John McCain thanked Congressman Riggs for his support, saying, "Frank is a good friend. He has dedicated his life to service of others. I am honored to have his support."

Frank Riggs is a real estate developer and president/CEO of the Charter Schools Development Corporation and its subsidiary, Charter FS, LLC. He represented California's First Congressional District (the Northcoast and northern San Francisco Bay Area) for three terms from 1991-92 and 1995-98 in the 102nd, 104th and 105th Congresses.

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ON VICTORY IN MAINE

Throughout the state of Maine, people have gathered at their local caucus site over the last two days and cast their vote for conservative change in Washington. With only a few caucus sites left to report tomorrow, Governor Romney issued the following statement concerning his victory in Maine:

"Today, the people of Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington. All across the state, men and women gathered to help chart the future course of our country. Tonight, they have made their voice known and have endorsed our conservative vision for a stronger America. Like many Americans, the people of Maine are tired of Washington promises made but broken.

"The need for change in Washington is even more apparent today. With our economy facing uncertain times, we need a leader who actually understands how the economy works and how jobs are created. We also need a leader from outside of Washington who is ready to meet the long-term challenges facing our country. With a career spent working in the economy, creating jobs, turning around faltering institutions and imposing fiscal discipline, I am ready to bring conservative change to Washington. In this campaign, I am proud to have the support of the people of Maine."

Mitt Romney in Atlanta on Monday

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN EVENT WITH
__________________________________________________________
GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY
__________________________________________________________
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2008
NOON
GEORGIA TECH HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
800 SPRING STREET NORTHWEST
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
KINDLY RSVP TO GEORGIA@MITTROMNEY.COM

STATE REP TERRY BARNARD
STATE REP TIM BEARDEN
STATE REP JON BURNS
STATE REP DAVID CASAS
STATE REP MICKEY CHANNELL
STATE REP MIKE COAN
STATE REP JIM COLE
STATE REP BROOKS COLEMAN
STATE REP STEVE DAVIS
STATE REP KATIE DEMPSEY
STATE REP MATT DOLLAR
STATE SEN JOHN DOUGLAS
STATE REP EARL EHRHART
STATE REP JOHNNY FLOYD
STATE SEN BILL HAMRICK
STATE SEN LEE HAWKINS
STATE REP JOHN HEARD
STATE REP BILL HEMBREE
STATE REP CALVIN HILL
STATE REP DOUG HOLT
STATE REP BILLY HORNE
STATE SEN RALPH HUDGENS
STATE SEN BILL JACKSON
STATE REP JAN JONES
STATE REP JEFF LEWIS
STATE REP ED LINDSEY
STATE REP JOHN LUNSFORD
STATE REP GENE MADDOX
STATE REP CHUCK MARTIN
STATE REP JEFF MAY
STATE REP JOHN MEADOWS
STATE REP FRAN MILLAR
STATE SEN DAN MOODY
STATE SEN JACK MURPHY
STATE REP BUTCH PARRISH
STATE REP DON PARSONS
STATE REP MATT RAMSEY
STATE REP TOM RICE
STATE REP CARL ROGERS
STATE SEN DAVID SHAFER
STATE REP DONNA SHELDON
STATE REP BARBARA SIMS
STATE REP BOB SMITH
STATE REP LYNN SMITH
STATE REP RICHARD SMITH
STATE SEN CECIL STATON
STATE REP WILLIE TALTON
STATE REP WENDELL WILLARD
STATE REP ROGER WILLIAMS
CONGRESSMAN PHIL GINGREY
CONGRESSMAN JACK KINGSTON
CONGRESSMAN TOM PRICE
CONGRESSMAN LYNN WESTMORELAND
SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM ERIC JOHNSON
SPEAKER PRO TEM MARK BURKHALTER

We're back...

We've been rather remiss in posting to this blog... we have a number of other political blogs where we've been posting. If you'd like to catch up, take a look at Republican Candidates, JMac Politics and Republican News Sweep.

Plans are to go back and catch up on some of the missed posts that have been piling up for the past four or 5 days. We won't go back through the older Republican updates as you can pop over to the blogs listed above for those.

Caroline Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama

In an op-ed published Sunday in The New York Times, Caroline Kennedy announced her support for Senator Barack Obama, citing his judgment in opposing the Iraq war from the start, his character in running a dignified campaign, and his ability to unite this entire nation around a common purpose.

Senator Obama said, “I am honored to have the support of Caroline Kennedy. Caroline has been a tireless advocate for providing every child with a quality education, most recently through her work with New York City’s public schools. And through her role in selecting Profile in Courage awardees, she has shined a spotlight on leaders who have the courage to tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. It’s also a special privilege to have this endorsement because I’ve always believed that Caroline’s father was one of our greatest presidents. At a time of great challenge at home and abroad, President Kennedy led this nation with judgment and courage, pulling the world back from the brink of war, calling a generation to service, and inspiring this entire nation to reach for new frontiers.”

Caroline Kennedy writes in her op-ed (LINK):

A President Like My Father
By CAROLINE KENNEDY
January 27, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor

"OVER the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn't that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates' goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents' grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

Caroline Kennedy is the Vice Chair of the New York City Fund for Public Schools, a non-profit organization which seeks private sector support for public education. Since 2002, The Fund has raised more than $210 million in support of critical reform initiatives and enlisted record numbers of New Yorkers to volunteer in New York City schools. A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School, Kennedy is an attorney and the author/editor of seven best-selling books on civil rights, American history, politics, and poetry including In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action, and A Pariot's Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love. She writes a column for TIME on the Power of One about people who are making a difference in their communities. Caroline Kennedy also serves on the Commission on Presidential Debates and the Profile In Courage Award Committee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. She and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg, have 3 children.

Secretary Handel Announces Information for Presidential Elector Qualifying

Secretary of State Karen Handel announced the following information relating to qualifying for Presidential electors for the November 4, 2008 presidential election.

In accordance with O.C.G.A. §21-2-131, which states that elector qualifying fees will be 3 percent of the office’s minimum annual salary, qualifying fees for electors are set at $1.50. Political parties or political bodies must pay their presidential electors $50 a day.

Georgia receives 15 votes in the Electoral College. Political parties or political bodies choose their electors.

Both the Georgia Republican Party and the Democratic Party of Georgia will submit a list of qualified electors at the conclusion of their qualifying period. Qualifying for political parties will be held Monday, April 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, May 2, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the applicable state political party.

Political body candidates for President will submit their list of qualified electors when they qualify for office. Qualifying for independent, political body and nonpartisan candidates will be held Monday, June 23 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the Secretary of State.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama Economic Speech

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008 Greenville, SC

This morning, we woke up to bad news from Wall Street. For the second day in a row, the global stock market has continued to plunge as the world continues to fear that the United States government won’t do enough to prevent a recession. We hope that the rate cut announced this morning will restore some confidence and stop the damage, but the fear remains.

It’s a fear that hasn’t just confined itself to those who nervously watch the tickers or scan the headlines of the financial section, but one that I have seen on the faces of working Americans in every corner of this country long before anxiety ever hit Wall Street.

I’ve seen it in the faces of families who are being forced to foreclose on their dream because an unscrupulous lender tricked them into buying a home they couldn’t afford just to pocket a profit.


I’ve seen it in the faces of Maytag workers who labored all their lives only to see their jobs shipped overseas; who now compete with their teenagers for $7-an-hour jobs at Wal-Mart.

And I’ve seen it in the face of a young woman who told me she only gets three hours of sleep because she works the night shift after a full day of college and still can’t afford health care for a sister who’s ill.

In the last several months, their fears have grown worse and are now shared by more and more Americans. What started as a crisis in the housing market has now spilled over to the rest of the economy. Banks are facing a credit crunch, leaving businesses with less money to invest and more Americans unable to get loans. Joblessness rose more last month than at any time since just after 9/11, and oil reached $100 a barrel. People have less money to spend, higher bills to pay, and fewer opportunities for work.


For years, we were warned this might happen. But Washington did what Washington does – it looked the other way. It rewarded lenders and lobbyists with whatever they asked for while ignoring the voices of working people who needed help most. And all the while, we’ve been led by George W. Bush – a President who’s done more to contribute to this country’s widening inequality than anyone since Herbert Hoover; a President whose tax breaks for wealthy Americans who didn’t need them and didn’t ask for them have only encouraged the mindset in Washington and on Wall Street that “what’s good for me is good enough.”


That’s why it’s no surprise that after months and months of watching families struggle to get by in this economy, George Bush finally offered a stimulus plan last week that neglects 50 million workers and seniors who need our help the most; the very people who are most likely to spend and give our economy the boost it needs right now.


Well George Bush’s economic plans haven’t worked before and they’re not going to start working now. More importantly, they don’t reflect who we are as Americans. We haven’t come this far because we practice survival of the fittest. America is America because we strive for survival of the nation – a nation where no one is left behind and everyone has a chance to achieve their dreams. That’s who we are. And that’s who we can be again at this defining moment.


This isn’t an issue I found along the campaign trail. I introduced legislation to stop mortgage fraud and predatory lending almost two years ago. I called for a middle-class tax cut back in September that would put money into the pockets of over 90% of working Americans; that would eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000; that would give a tax credit to struggling homeowners. And that’s why when I announced my economic stimulus package the other week, I called for immediate tax relief for working families and seniors – because they shouldn’t have to wait another day for Washington to act. They need our help right now.


We should send each working family a $500 tax cut and each senior a $250 supplement to their Social Security check. And if the economy continues to decline in the coming weeks, we should do it again. This is the quickest way to help people pay their bills and get them to start spending.

We should also immediately make unemployment insurance available for a longer period of time and for more people who are facing job losses, and we should make sure it benefits part-time and non-traditional workers, something that will particularly help women, African-Americans and Latinos. We should help those facing foreclosure refinance their mortgages and stay in their homes, and we should provide direct relief to victims of mortgage fraud. And we should provide assistance to state and local governments so that they don’t slash critical services like health care or education.


Of course, it’s easy to propose plans and policies when you’re on the campaign trail. You can make all sorts of promises and tell people what they want to hear when they want to hear it.


But in this time of economic anxiety and uncertainty, what this country needs most is a President who says what he means and means what he says; a President who won’t just do what’s right when the politics are easy, but when the politics are hard; a President who’s not just in it to win it; but in it for you.


In the debate last night, we spent some time talking about the economy. And one of the things I brought up that concerned me was that when Senator Clinton first released her economic stimulus plan, she didn’t think that workers or seniors needed immediate tax relief. She thought it could wait until things got worse. Five days later, the economy didn’t really change, but the politics apparently did, because she changed her plan to look just like mine.


It reminds me of what happened when we started debating the credit card industry’s bankruptcy bill – a bill that would make it much harder for working families to climb out of debt. Believe it or not, Senator Clinton said again last night that even though she voted for the bill, she was glad it didn’t pass. I know you can get away with this in Washington, but most of us know that if you don’t want to see a bill pass, there’s a pretty easy option available – you can vote against it.


And we’ve heard her say the same kind of thing about NAFTA and China trade –agreements that sent millions of American jobs – thousands from this very state – overseas. Because only in Washington could Senator Clinton say that NAFTA led to economic improvement up until she started running for President. Now she says we need a time-out on trade. No one knows when this time-out will end. Maybe after the election.


The point is – this is exactly the kind of politics we can’t afford right now. Not when the stakes are this high. Not when the economy is this fragile. Not when so many banks are foreclosing on people’s dreams. We can’t afford a President whose positions change with the politics of the moment, we need a President who knows that being ready on day one means getting it right from day one. And South Carolina, if you give me the chance, that’s the kind of President I’ll be.


In my twenty-five years of public service, my positions haven’t changed when the politics got hard, and neither will the policies I pursue as President.


I started my career as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago, fighting joblessness and poverty when the local steel plant closed. I provided tax relief for working families as a state Senator in Illinois. And when I am President, I’ll take away the breaks that Washington gives to companies who ship our jobs overseas, and give them to companies who create the jobs of the future right here in America.


I won’t wait to raise the minimum wage every ten years – I will raise it to keep pace every year so that workers don't fall behind. I’ll take on the credit card companies who are profiting by driving working families into debt. And I’ll make sure that CEOs can’t dump your pension with one hand while they collect a bonus with the other. That’s an outrage, and it’s time we had a President who knows it’s an outrage.


On health care, I know what it takes to expand coverage to the uninsured. In Illinois, I brought Democrats and Republicans together to expand health care to 150,000 children and parents. And when I’m President, I’ll do more to cut costs for families and businesses than anyone in this race, and I’ll pass universal health care not twenty years from now, not ten years from now, but by the end of my first term in office.


And when it comes to taking away the power of lobbyists and special interests, I’m the only candidate in this race who’s actually done it. In Illinois I passed the first major ethics reform in twenty-five years. In Washington I helped pass the strongest lobbying reform in a generation – we banned gifts from lobbyists, meals with lobbyists, subsidized travel on fancy jets, and for the first time in history, we forced lobbyists to tell the American public who they’re raising money from and who in Congress they’re funneling it to. Last night Senator Clinton defended lobbyists again, who she has said represent real Americans. Well let me tell you – if you really believe that lobbyists represent real Americans, then you don’t. Washington lobbyists haven’t funded my campaign, they won’t run my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of working Americans when I am President.

We know the road ahead will be difficult. None of the problems we face will be easy to solve and change will not happen overnight. It will take a new spirit of cooperation and sacrifice. It will require each of us to remind ourselves that we rise and fall as one nation; and that a country in which only a few prosper is antithetical to our ideals and our democracy. And it will take a President who can rally Americans of different views and backgrounds to this common cause.


I’m reminded every day that I am not a perfect man. And I will not be a perfect President. But I can promise you this – I will always say what I mean and mean what I say. I will be honest about the challenges we face. And most importantly, I will wake up every single day ready to listen to you, and work for you, and fight for you not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. That’s what I did for those men and women on the streets of Chicago. That’s what I’ve done over the last decade for the working families of Illinois. And that’s what I will do for the American people if you give me the chance to lead this country. Thank you.

Republican Candidates

We are posting most, if not all, releases and news regarding Republican candidates on our Republican Candidate blog. Also, you may want to check out Republican News Sweep for a roundup of the daily news.

Clinton, Obama crossfire continues

WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton argued on Tuesday that Barack Obama's frustration with losing prompted him to look for a fight in their latest debate. Obama said his rival and her husband, former President Clinton, were distorting his record.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080122/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_obama

CNN sets debate criteria 1% above Kucinich’s latest poll results, campaign files complaint with Federal Communications Commission

The Kucinich for President campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission yesterday against CNN and its parent company, Time Warner, Inc., for arbitrarily establishing criteria for its scheduled Monday Presidential debate that will exclude the Democratic candidate from participation.

On Wednesday, the campaign was notified by CNN that its criteria included a showing of 5% or better in a national poll. In two polls completed earlier last week by CBS News/New York Times and by the Pew Research Center, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich scored 4%.

“The CNN criteria specifically exclude the diverse and anti-war voice of Mr. Kucinich and his grass-roots supporters,” according to the complaint. “The exclusion of Mr. Kucinich undermines the purpose of the (Federal Communications) Act and is a blatant violation of the Act, including its equal time provisions.” Also, “Mr. Kucinich is a successful candidate because of his anti-war message and strong criticism of the American healthcare system, issues that are not championed by his presidential primary opponents. In these and other policy issues, his opponents share very similar policy platforms that differ from Mr. Kucinich.”

The filing also points out that Kucinich was invited to participate in the upcoming South Carolina debate by the Congressional Black Caucus, which is co-sponsoring the event. The invitation, which he accepted on May 20, stated, in part that Kucinich “will be guaranteed a rare opportunity to present your message to millions of voters unfiltered by any political organization or by any news organization.”

The complaint also argues that the Monday event “is not a true presidential primary debate without including all credible candidates. Instead, it is effectively an endorsement of the candidates selected by CNN” and is a breach of the federal requirement “to operate in the public interest and to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of issues of public importance.”

The campaign is asking the FCC to order CNN to allow Kucinich to participate.

Romney: CREATING JOBS

The Boston Globe: "Nonetheless, Romney's policies are credited with improving the state's competitiveness. His administration promoted high-density development to increase housing production, got a fast-track permitting law enacted by the Legislature to help businesses expand, and revived an agency to help firms move to the state." (Brian C. Mooney, Stephanie Ebbert And Scott Helman, "Ambitious Goals," The Boston Globe, 6/30/07)

Under Governor Romney, Massachusetts Added Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs After The End Of A Deep Recession:Massachusetts Has Added 57,600 Jobs Since The Recession's End In December 2003 Until The End Of Governor Romney's Term. "Massachusetts has added 57,600 payroll jobs since December 2003." (Massachusetts Department Of Workforce Development, "Jobs In Massachusetts Up By 1,700 In December," Press Release, 1/18/07)

In 2006, Massachusetts Added 18,700 Jobs. "Total jobs are up 18,700 from one year ago to 3,224,700." (Massachusetts Department Of Workforce Development, "Jobs In Massachusetts Up By 1,700 In December," Press Release, 1/18/07)

Under Governor Romney, Massachusetts Posted The First Gain In Manufacturing Jobs In Several Years. "For the first time in several years, Massachusetts has posted a gain in manufacturing jobs, according to the 2007 Massachusetts Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers’ News, Inc. (MNI), Evanston, IL. MNI reports Massachusetts has added 3,681 net jobs since August of 2005, indicating a slight reversal in the downturn the Bay state has felt since 2001." (Manufacturers' News, "Industrial Directory Reports Massachusetts Manufacturing Jobs Up," Press Release, 8/30/06)

Under Governor Romney, Massachusetts Became A Better Place To Do Business:

Under Governor Romney, The State's Credit Rating Was Upgraded For The First Time Since January 2000. "Governor Mitt Romney today announced that Standard & Poor's has raised the state's credit rating one notch, from 'AA-' to 'AA'. This is the state's first ratings upgrade since January 2000, when Moody's Investors Service raised the state's credit rating from 'Aa3' to 'Aa2'." (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Governor Romney Announces Bond Rating Upgrade For Commonwealth's Debate," Press Release, 3/15/05)

In Three Years Under Governor Romney, The Number Of Companies In The State's Development Pipeline Went From 13 To 288. "Under Ranch C. Kimball, who became Romney's secretary of economic development in 2004, the number of companies in the Massachusetts development pipeline jumped from 13 to 288 in three years." (Brian C. Mooney, Stephanie Ebbert And Scott Helman, "Ambitious Goals," The Boston Globe, 6/30/07)

The Boston Globe: "Last year, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. chose an 89-acre site at the former Fort Devens over one in North Carolina for a $660 million complex that will create 550 jobs. The deal required a customized tax credit, a $34 million infrastructure bond, and an unusual show of teamwork by Romney and the Legislature." (Brian C. Mooney, Stephanie Ebbert And Scott Helman, "Ambitious Goals," The Boston Globe, 6/30/07)

The Club For Growth: Governor Romney's Record Includes "Solid Efforts To Promote Pro-Growth Tax Policy." "That said, Governor Romney's single term contained some solid efforts to promote pro-growth tax policy." (The Club For Growth, "Mitt Romney's Record On Economic Issues," Press Release, 8/21/07)

INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT: Governor Romney Signed An Economic Stimulus Package Making The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Permanent. (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Economic Stimulus, Supplemental Budget Bills," Press Release, 11/26/03)

BIOTECH MANUFACTURING JOBS TAX REBATE: Governor Romney Proposed And Enacted A Tax Rebate For Manufacturing Jobs Created In The Biotechnology, Life Sciences And Medical Device Fields. (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Economic Stimulus, Supplemental Budget Bills," Press Release, 11/26/03)

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT: Governor Romney Proposed And Enacted An Expansion Of The Research And Development Tax Credit. (Jay Fitzgerald, "Gov Nearly Halves Package; Rebellious Legislators Vow To Override Stimulus Vetoes," The Boston Herald, 11/27/03)

COMMUTER TAX RELIEF: Governor Romney Signed Legislation Allowing Commuters To Deduct Transportation Costs From Their Income Taxes. (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Governor Romney Signs $25.2 Billion FY 2007 State Budget," Press Release, 7/8/06)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Governor Romney Proposed And Enacted A Refundable Tax Credit To Promote Development At The Former Fort Devens U.S. Army Base. (Stephen Heuser, "$660M Drug Plant, 550 Jobs For Mass.," The Boston Globe, 6/2/06)

In August 2006, Governor Romney Signed Permitting Reform To Expedite The Permit Process For New Businesses. "Governor Mitt Romney today signed legislation that reforms and streamlines the commercial permitting process, making it easier for companies to expand and add jobs in Massachusetts." (Office Of Governor Mitt Romney, "Romney Signs Permitting Reform Into Law," Press Release, 8/2/06)

Under Governor Jane Swift, McCain's Chief Economic Surrogate, Massachusetts Lost Jobs Month After Month:

Obama Addresses Ebenezer Baptist Church

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
The Great Need of the Hour
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
Atlanta, Georgia

The Scripture tells us that when Joshua and the Israelites arrived at the gates of Jericho, they could not enter. The walls of the city were too steep for any one person to climb; too strong to be taken down with brute force. And so they sat for days, unable to pass on through.

But God had a plan for his people. He told them to stand together and march together around the city, and on the seventh day he told them that when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn, they should speak with one voice. And at the chosen hour, when the horn sounded and a chorus of voices cried out together, the mighty walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

There are many lessons to take from this passage, just as there are many lessons to take from this day, just as there are many memories that fill the space of this church. As I was thinking about which ones we need to remember at this hour, my mind went back to the very beginning of the modern Civil Rights Era.

Because before Memphis and the mountaintop; before the bridge in Selma and the march on Washington; before Birmingham and the beatings; the fire hoses and the loss of those four little girls; before there was King the icon and his magnificent dream, there was King the young preacher and a people who found themselves suffering under the yolk of oppression.

And on the eve of the bus boycotts in Montgomery, at a time when many were still doubtful about the possibilities of change, a time when those in the black community mistrusted themselves, and at times mistrusted each other, King inspired with words not of anger, but of an urgency that still speaks to us today:

“Unity is the great need of the hour” is what King said. Unity is how we shall overcome.

What Dr. King understood is that if just one person chose to walk instead of ride the bus, those walls of oppression would not be moved. But maybe if a few more walked, the foundation might start to shake. If a few more women were willing to do what Rosa Parks had done, maybe the cracks would start to show. If teenagers took freedom rides from North to South, maybe a few bricks would come loose. Maybe if white folks marched because they had come to understand that their freedom too was at stake in the impending battle, the wall would begin to sway. And if enough Americans were awakened to the injustice; if they joined together, North and South, rich and poor, Christian and Jew, then perhaps that wall would come tumbling down, and justice would flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Unity is the great need of the hour – the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it’s the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.

I’m not talking about a budget deficit. I’m not talking about a trade deficit. I’m not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans.

I’m talking about a moral deficit. I’m talking about an empathy deficit. I’m taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother’s keeper; we are our sister’s keeper; that, in the words of Dr. King, we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny.

We have an empathy deficit when we’re still sending our children down corridors of shame – schools in the forgotten corners of America where the color of your skin still affects the content of your education.

We have a deficit when CEOs are making more in ten minutes than some workers make in ten months; when families lose their homes so that lenders make a profit; when mothers can’t afford a doctor when their children get sick.

We have a deficit in this country when there is Scooter Libby justice for some and Jena justice for others; when our children see nooses hanging from a schoolyard tree today, in the present, in the twenty-first century.

We have a deficit when homeless veterans sleep on the streets of our cities; when innocents are slaughtered in the deserts of Darfur; when young Americans serve tour after tour of duty in a war that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged.

And we have a deficit when it takes a breach in our levees to reveal a breach in our compassion; when it takes a terrible storm to reveal the hungry that God calls on us to feed; the sick He calls on us to care for; the least of these He commands that we treat as our own.

So we have a deficit to close. We have walls – barriers to justice and equality – that must come down. And to do this, we know that unity is the great need of this hour.

Unfortunately, all too often when we talk about unity in this country, we’ve come to believe that it can be purchased on the cheap. We’ve come to believe that racial reconciliation can come easily – that it’s just a matter of a few ignorant people trapped in the prejudices of the past, and that if the demagogues and those who exploit our racial divisions will simply go away, then all our problems would be solved.

All too often, we seek to ignore the profound institutional barriers that stand in the way of ensuring opportunity for all children, or decent jobs for all people, or health care for those who are sick. We long for unity, but are unwilling to pay the price.

But of course, true unity cannot be so easily won. It starts with a change in attitudes – a broadening of our minds, and a broadening of our hearts.

It’s not easy to stand in somebody else’s shoes. It’s not easy to see past our differences. We’ve all encountered this in our own lives. But what makes it even more difficult is that we have a politics in this country that seeks to drive us apart – that puts up walls between us.

We are told that those who differ from us on a few things are different from us on all things; that our problems are the fault of those who don’t think like us or look like us or come from where we do. The welfare queen is taking our tax money. The immigrant is taking our jobs. The believer condemns the non-believer as immoral, and the non-believer chides the believer as intolerant.

For most of this country’s history, we in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays – on the job, in the schools, in our health care system, and in our criminal justice system.

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.

So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others – all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face – war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.

Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts.

But if changing our hearts and minds is the first critical step, we cannot stop there. It is not enough to bemoan the plight of poor children in this country and remain unwilling to push our elected officials to provide the resources to fix our schools. It is not enough to decry the disparities of health care and yet allow the insurance companies and the drug companies to block much-needed reforms. It is not enough for us to abhor the costs of a misguided war, and yet allow ourselves to be driven by a politics of fear that sees the threat of attack as way to scare up votes instead of a call to come together around a common effort.

The Scripture tells us that we are judged not just by word, but by deed. And if we are to truly bring about the unity that is so crucial in this time, we must find it within ourselves to act on what we know; to understand that living up to this country’s ideals and its possibilities will require great effort and resources; sacrifice and stamina.

And that is what is at stake in the great political debate we are having today. The changes that are needed are not just a matter of tinkering at the edges, and they will not come if politicians simply tell us what we want to hear. All of us will be called upon to make some sacrifice. None of us will be exempt from responsibility. We will have to fight to fix our schools, but we will also have to challenge ourselves to be better parents. We will have to confront the biases in our criminal justice system, but we will also have to acknowledge the deep-seated violence that still resides in our own communities and marshal the will to break its grip.

That is how we will bring about the change we seek. That is how Dr. King led this country through the wilderness. He did it with words – words that he spoke not just to the children of slaves, but the children of slave owners. Words that inspired not just black but also white; not just the Christian but the Jew; not just the Southerner but also the Northerner.

He led with words, but he also led with deeds. He also led by example. He led by marching and going to jail and suffering threats and being away from his family. He led by taking a stand against a war, knowing full well that it would diminish his popularity. He led by challenging our economic structures, understanding that it would cause discomfort. Dr. King understood that unity cannot be won on the cheap; that we would have to earn it through great effort and determination.

That is the unity – the hard-earned unity – that we need right now. It is that effort, and that determination, that can transform blind optimism into hope – the hope to imagine, and work for, and fight for what seemed impossible before.

The stories that give me such hope don’t happen in the spotlight. They don’t happen on the presidential stage. They happen in the quiet corners of our lives. They happen in the moments we least expect. Let me give you an example of one of those stories.

There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organizes for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She’s been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and the other day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that’s when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.

She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.

She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.

So Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they’re supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who’s been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he’s there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, “I am here because of Ashley.”

By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.

But it is where we begin. It is why the walls in that room began to crack and shake.

And if they can shake in that room, they can shake in Atlanta.

And if they can shake in Atlanta, they can shake in Georgia.

And if they can shake in Georgia, they can shake all across America. And if enough of our voices join together; we can bring those walls tumbling down. The walls of Jericho can finally come tumbling down. That is our hope – but only if we pray together, and work together, and march together.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for peace and justice, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for opportunity and equality, we cannot walk alone

In the struggle to heal this nation and repair this world, we cannot walk alone.

So I ask you to walk with me, and march with me, and join your voice with mine, and together we will sing the song that tears down the walls that divide us, and lift up an America that is truly indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for all. May God bless the memory of the great pastor of this church, and may God bless the United States of America.