Saturday, May 31, 2008
Results of Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting
I couldn't bear to watch much of the coverage today of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting but here's the outcome:
Florida's delegates will be seated in full, BUT, each delegate will only get a half-vote at the convention: Clinton would get 52.5 delegates, Obama would get 33.5, and Edwards gets 6.5.
Michigan's delegates will also get a half-vote. The upshot of which is that Clinton would get 34.5 delegates, and Obama would get 29.5. The superdelegates would get half votes.
This is great news for everyone but the whining sociopaths in the Clinton camp who today made idle threats about taking their feckless bitching to the convention. There won't be much chance of that happening, in my estimation. It would garner her nothing.
Thank God this stage of the insanity is over. Please, God, let the next week shut the harpy and her cohorts up for good.
Obama Quote of the Day
"We all misspeak sometimes. I've done it myself. So on such a basic, factual error, you'd think that Senator McCain would just admit that he made a mistake and move on. But he couldn't do that. Instead, he dug in. And the disturbing thing is that we've seen this movie before -- a leader who pursues the wrong course, who is unwilling to change course, who ignores the evidence. Now, just like George Bush, John McCain refused to admit that he made a mistake. And that's exactly the kind of leadership that we've had through more than five years of fighting a war that should've never been authorized, and should've never been waged.
We don't need more leaders who can't admit they've made a mistake, even when it's about something as fundamental as how many young Americans are serving in harm's way." - Barack Obama, today.
Clinton Demonstrators Threaten to Vote for McCain
This is exactly the wrong sentiment to be spreading for the national news media to grab onto.
Regardless of your support for either of the Democratic candidates, it is unhelpful for the Democrats' changes in November to be repeating the wounded "I'll take my toys and go home" canard that if someone can't have their candidate nominated, they'll go vote for the other party.
I have seen this sentiment echoed on sites like MyDD.com for months. And now, a bunch of Clinton supporters demonstrating outside the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting are continuing and heightening the threat:
"We are all a nation together, there are 50 states, not 48," said Constanta Nour-Hinkle, 35, who traveled by train from Reading, Pa. today to attend the rally. "I felt I needed to make my voice hear and I wanted to show solidarity with the 2.3 million voters [in Florida and Michigan] whose voices were not heard."
Mrs. Nour-Hinkle said she would rather vote for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, than for Mrs. Clinton's rival, Sen. Barack Obama -- echoing the sentiments of many protesters.
"It would be the first time in my life I would vote Republican for president," said Mrs. Nour-Hinkle, 35. "I think Obama is an empty shirt, the same as [President] George W. Bush but only a Democrat."
John Overton, who shouted pro-Clinton slogans outside the hotel, said he would leave the party if Obama receives the Democratic nomination for president.
"I can't stand for the Democratic Party if they don't stand for voters' rights," said Mr. Overton, who traveled from his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., to attend the rally. The party "would no longer exist to me as a party."
"I don't scream like this normally, I'm a rational guy, but I've never felt like this before," he added. "This had been a travesty of democracy."
Look, I know a lot of bad things have been said and done by supporters of both candidates in this campaign.
But, the simple fact is that Clinton OR Obama would do a LOT more for progressive issues, like ending the war in Iraq, universal health care and reversing the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy, than John McCain and the Republican Party ever would.
We really need to stop this madness. The race will be decided soon, the RBC will make their decision, and the last primaries will be held. We will have a nominee and we need to focus on unity, not childish threats.
Update: Here's more commentary on the insanity:
Howard Dean may hope that the "healing will begin today," but two blocks away from the northwest Washington Marriott where the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting right now to try to figure out Florida and Michigan, the Hillary protesters are occupying an utterly alternate (and healing-free) universe: a universe in which one of the big lawn rally's speakers yells that the Democratic Party no longer is in the business of "promoting equality and fairness for all"; in which a Hillary supporter with two poodles shouts, "Howard Dean is a leftist freak!"; in which a man exhibits a sign that reads "At least slaves were counted as 3/5ths a Citizen" and shows Dean whipping handcuffed people; and in which Larry Sinclair, the Minnesota man who took to YouTube to allege that Barack Obama had oral sex with him in the back of a limousine in 1999, is one of the belles of the ball.
Snip.
Clusters of people in Hillary shirts ask to take their photo with him, one woman covered in Clinton buttons introduces him to Greta Van Susteren, and he estimates he has handed out 500 fliers. "You could improve your credibility if you downplayed the gay sex and focused on the drugs," sagely advises one Hillary supporter with auburn hair and elegant makeup. But in this universe, Sinclair's credibility doesn't seem to be suffering too much. In fact, he's treated nearly as well as he might be at a meeting of the Vast Right-wing Conspiracy. In the thirty minutes I stand with him, only one woman expresses disgust at his fliers and his willingness to chattily discourse on whether Obama is "good in bed."
Snip.
It's easy to sink into despair here. Standing and watching all these Democrats chat up Sinclair--who's retained Montgomery Blair Sibley as his lawyer and says the Republican National Committee has also been in touch with him--makes me want to fall to my knees, rend my garments, and start insanely screaming, "Wake up! Wake up! You'll hate a President John McCain!" But the rhetoric from the top has imparted its poison below, and the bitterest criticisms of Obama gain traction as they circulate through the virulently-pro-Hillary echo chamber. "Would you rather have a president who had an affair [Bill Clinton] or one who was a murderer [Obama]?" Jeannie, the Greensboro Democrat, asks a fellow in a floppy Tilley hat and Hillary buttons. "That's a good point," he replies.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Cluster Bomb Ban Opposed By McCain/Clinton Passed by 100 Countries
What have we been left with over the past 8 years of George W. Bush with regard to international treaties?
Over and over again, the U.S. stands alone in opposing treaties that have overwhelming support in the international community.
Remember the Kyoto protocol? The global warming treaty signed by 178 countries and rejected by the Bush administration?
Well, here we are again.
A group of 100 countries came together in Dublin Ireland and agreed today to a treaty that would ban the use of cluster bombs, those canister munitions filled with bomblets that are often left in civilian areas long after the conflict is over where they maim and kill the innocent, especially children.
If Hillary Clinton, John McCain and George W. Bush had their way, the U.S. would again stand nearly alone in the developed world in supporting the use of cluster bombs.
From The Swamp:
The U.S. has opposed the treaty because it wants to maintain the military option of using them as a defensive weapon, a position that has placed it at odds with global human-rights groups. The U.S. is joined by Russia and China in opposing the ban. It's not just the Bush Administration that opposes the treaty. There was a telling vote in September 2006 on legislation that would have banned the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas. Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain voted against the ban which failed 70-30. Sen. Barack Obama voted for the ban.
Here's Wikipedia on cluster munitions:
While all weapons are potentially dangerous to civilians, cluster bombs pose a particular threat to civilians for two reasons: they have a wide area of effect, and they have consistently left behind a large number of unexploded bomblets. The unexploded bomblets remain dangerous for decades after the end of a conflict.Cluster munitions are opposed by many individuals and hundreds of groups, such as the Red Cross, the Cluster Munition Coalition and the United Nations, because of the high number of civilians that have fallen victim to the weapon. Since February 2005, Handicap International called for cluster munitions to be prohibited and collected hundreds of thousands of signatures to support its call. 98% of 13,306 recorded cluster munitions casualties that are registered with Handicap International are civilians; however they also note releasing the report "Despite a general lack of information on casualties both during and after strikes..."
Please, God, let this election deliver us from hawkish cowards, who stand up in Congress and vote with the fear that they shall be seen as weak on national security.
Please, God, give us a President who has the strength and courage to stand up for what he believes and join the international community in addressing serious dangers like global warming and humanitarian blights like cluster bombs.
Podemos con Obama
In time for the Puerto Rican primary this weekend, here is a new star-studded Spanish-language video from producer Andres Levin:
Tick-tock, Clarice
Who's taking bets on when she drops out?
An homage:Fifty percent (50%) of New York Democrats say it’s time for Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race for the White House. Just 43% believe she should keep going. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey also found that most New York Republicans—52%--want Clinton to keep striving for the nomination. Overall, among all Empire State voters, 45% believe she should drop out while 43% disagree. (See Video)
Just 16% of New York Democrats think Obama should drop out of the race.
Forty-seven percent (47%) of New York voters believe Obama is the stronger general election candidate. Forty-three percent (43%) believe Clinton would be better.
The survey also found that Obama is now viewed more favorably than Clinton in New York. Sixty-two percent (62%) of New York voters have a favorable opinion of Barack Obama while 55% give Hillary Clinton such positive reviews. For Obama, those ratings are up four points from a month ago while Clinton’s are down three points. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is viewed positively by 44%. His ratings are down six points from the previous survey.
[Voters]: ["White voters"?] That was an especially nice touch, [Hillary]. Yours?
[Hillary]: Yes.
[Voters]: Yeah. That was good. Pity about poor [Michigan and Florida], though. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
Bill O'Reilly on Gay Marriage
It's not what you think. Bill O had some everyday gay marriage opposer on his show the other day. And, guess what? Neither of them could think up a good reason to oppose gay marriage. And, to boot, Bill O was the one to take the guy to task for not having a decent any justification! Am I in the Twilight Zone?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
People-Powered Politics
Obama's candidacy is bringing out some really encouraging instincts in people. Check out this new site, OhBoyObama.com, where people can submit suggestions for Obama's policy positions and other people can rate them up or down.
Check out the one I just submitted:
Drive and Champion Respect for Athiests
I am a die-hard supporter of Barack Obama and feel that he will have a golden opportunity to ratchet back the rampant intertwining of politics and religion G.W. Bush has foisted upon us. I suggest that Obama take the opportunity to legitimize one of the largest minority groups in this country: Atheists. Recent surveys (e.g., see http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/atheist4.htm) show that Atheists make up more than 14% of the American public! It is time that our views, non-faith and non-belief are legitimized.
Young Hillary Clinton
I feel just a little guilty for enjoying this so much but, well, it just writes itself, doesn't it?
Chuck Hagel's Wife For Obama
Very interesting... Sens. John McCain and Chuck Hagel have long been friends. Fellow Republicans and Vietnam War veterans, their Senate offices are just across the hall from each other. But at least during the presidential primary, Hagel's wife, Lilibet, is helping McCain's likely Democratic rival, Barack Obama. According to Federal Election Commission records, Mrs. Hagel donated twice to Obama's campaign in February for a total contribution of $500. The contributions were first reported by the Washington Post
Obama Was Right on Iraq in 2002
In the wake of former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's new book describing in detail the lies, distortions and propaganda used by the White House to pressure, intimidate and cajole Congress and the American people into approving his invasion of Iraq, lest us not forget that Barack Obama was right on the Iraq war from Day One, while John McCain and Hillary Clinton let themselves be walked down the yellow brick road to the morass we find ourselves in today.
“But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors...and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.”
“I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.”
“I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. “
“I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.”
“What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression.”
“That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.”
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Click 4 Obama
Here is an interesting site that the developer just clued me into. Click 4 Obama hosts a series of short quiz questions on government, politics and Obama. Every correct answer is a "donation" toward a piece of a pro-Obama ad placed all over the internet, which are ultimately paid for by the site's advertising revenue. Seems like a neat idea.
Click 4 Obama
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Truth About Barack Obama
I admit that I didn't much get YouTube as early as a year or two ago. But when you see something like this, you really come to realize its value. Forward this video to everyone you know who received some silly Obama smear email (e.g. Obama is a Muslim, Obama is an alien from Mars, etc.):
Break From Politics
I just saw this video over on The Daily Dish. It's not political, although doesn't it sometimes feel like we're in a strange, trippy fantasyland these days?
It's too mesmerizing not to pass along. I find remixing fascinating. Maybe I need to borrow my mom's new keyboard...
Quote of the Day 2
Here's a quote from a reader at The Daily Dish that sums up one of my biggest concerns about seating Michigan and Florida:
I am Floridian, and was told from the beginning that "my state would not count." For that reason, I stayed home ... to now "count" the Fl vote would disenfranchise me even more than if Fl were not to count at all. To the DNC & Howard Dean: I played by your rules, decided that you were telling me the truth when you said Fl votes would not count so I stayed home. Now, you're going to count it? Well, screw you.
How many tens of thousands of people (like this person) decided to stay home and not vote because they were told their votes wouldn't count?
Snippet From Obama's Wesleyan Speech
I was struck this morning by a quote from Obama's Wesleyan commencement address (highlighted by Fallows). Can you actually imagine a person of this level of understanding, humanity and speaking ability being our President after the last 8 years?
Each of you will have the chance to make your own discovery in the years to come. And I say “chance” because you won’t have to take it. There’s no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should buy. You can choose to narrow your concerns and live your life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s.
But I hope you don’t. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get here, though you do have that debt.
It’s because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story.
Neo-Con Francis Fukuyama for Obama
Francis Fukuyama, a Neo-Con Iraq-war-booster turned "traitor" to the cause, today endorsed Obama in an interview:
Hat tip: Andrew SullivanELEANOR HALL: So which president do you think would be the best placed to handle these challenges? Would it be president McCain, president Obama or a president Clinton?
FRANCIS FUKUYAMA: Well, it is a little bit difficult. In my own thinking since I have to vote in this next election, I personally actually don't want to see a Republican re-elected because I have a general view of the way democratic processes should work and if your party is responsible for a big policy failure, you shouldn't be rewarded by being re-elected.
Democrats More Confident of Win in November
This new poll is a pretty dramatic. WAY more Democrats have faith in their chance of winning the election in November. This is going to translate into some really interesting turnout numbers:
A new Gallup Panel survey, conducted May 19-21, finds 61% of Democrats saying they are confident their party will win the election, including 35% who are "very confident." Meanwhile, only 39% of Republicans are confident, with only 13% saying they are very confident.
Petition FedExed to the DNC
Here's the cover letter I attached to the 400+ page petition I just sent off to the DNC.
Democratic National Committee
Attn: Governor Howard Dean and
the Members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee
430 South Capitol Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
RE: Michigan and Florida Delegate Controversy
Dear Governor Dean and Members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee:
Beginning in early February, I started a petition to urge Senator Hillary Clinton and the DNC to not seat the Michigan and Florida delegations in the proportion allotted by each state's primary elections. I, and the over 4,500 signatories to the petition, agree with the DNC that it was unfair for both states to move up their primaries and believe that to change the rules in mid-stream would be highly unfair to the candidates and the thousands of people in each state who did not vote because they believed their votes would not count.
The petition has garnered a huge response, with over 4,500 people from all over our great country signing the petition and providing their own narrative view of why they oppose changing the rules at this stage in the game. As you’ll note, the attached petition runs to nearly 400 pages.
I hope you will review and consider our petition and the words of the thousands of people who signed it. We humbly believe that it is important for the DNC to consider the opinions of the everyday Americans who took the time out of their busy lives to both sign the petition and write down their personal views about this profoundly important decision.
Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to a strong Democratic victory in November!
Earlier: 4,500+ Signatures Against Seating MI/FL Off to DNC
Quote of the Day
Not content with pissing on your leg and telling you it's raining, [President George Bush] tries to convince you that your leg has been dry all along. It is a continuum not of policies - on that front [Senator Hillary Clinton] is closer to Barack Obama than either of them would concede - but a mindset that has served America ill these past seven years. Creating a bespoke reality out of whole cloth and then hoping people will not just buy it, but wear it.
Gary Younge
Read More: Clinton has run her campaign the same way Bush has run the country
When the 1992 Race Was Really Over
Oh, Bill, didn't you know it's dangerous to put facts and "truth" in written form? When you or your wife decide later on to lie about such "facts", it can be kind of embarrassing:
When Was the 1992 Presidential Race Over?
Despite Sen. Hillary Clinton's insistence that her husband didn't clinch the Democratic presidential nomination until June 1992, Bill Clinton had a very different recollection in his own memoir, My Life.He writes: "On April 7, we also won in Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. On April 9, Paul Tsongas announced that he would not reenter the race. The fight for the nomination was effectively over."
Monday, May 26, 2008
Obama Consistently Outperforms Clinton Against McCain
Don't let any naysayers or spinsters from the Clinton campaign steer you wrong. In every monthly poll average of this year, Obama consistently outperforms Clinton in hypothetical head-to-head matchups:
In poll after poll, more voters say they would vote for Barack Obama than Hillary Clinton against John McCain.
American Ignorance Not Atypical
I like this new post from Ben Smith. It speaks for itself.
Jonathan Martin and I wrote last week about the deep, viral spread of a variety of myths about Obama's beliefs and his behavior.
And indeed, according to Pew (.pdf), about 10% of Americans believe Obama's a Muslim; other surveys have found higher numbers.
One relevant piece of context: large minorities of Americans consistently say they hold wildly out-of-the-mainstream views, often specifically discredited beliefs. In some cases, those views should make them pretty profoundly alienated from one party or the other.
For instance:
22% believe President Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance.
30% believe Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.
23% believe they've been in the presence of a ghost.
18% believe the sun revolves around the earth.What this means: Obama may well be elected president with a substantial minority of the citizens despising him, and convinced that his beliefs are irreconciliably foreign to theirs. Which, after all, is the current state of affairs. It's only that the people who believe those things about Bush and the people who believe those things about Obama live in different parts of the country.
Obama Commencement Speech at Wesleyan
Here's the video of Obama standing in for ailing Ted Kennedy at Wesleyan's commencement ceremony:
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Obama Continues to Maintain His Integrity
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are a perfect study of contrasts with regard to the question of integrity. Consider these two illustrative examples:
First, remember the "bitter" comments Obama made at a fundraiser in California? Remember how Hillary Clinton unmercifully pounced at the opportunity to take his words and repeatedly twist them, ad nauseum, into some "elitist" caricature worthy of a Willie Horton redux?
Second, take Clinton's false and disturbing comments on Friday about her reasons for staying in the race including the chance that Obama might get assassinated. How did Obama and his camp respond? They first released a one-line statement taking exception to it ("Sen. Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign"), and then, when Clinton issued her apology"clarification" later that day, Obama strongly stated that he took Clinton at her word:
I have learned that when you are campaigning for as many months as Senator Clinton and I have been campaigning, sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make and I think that is what happened here. Senator Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it and I will take her at her word on that.
In other words, he gave her the benefit of the doubt that she had refused to give him.
This is a seriously cool, calm and collected man that has maintained the vast bulk of his integrity throughout this campaign.
Thank you, Barack Obama.
Read Another Take
Friday, May 23, 2008
Olbermann on Clinton's Outrageous RFK Assassination Reference
Thank God for Keith Olbermann sometimes. Reacting to Clinton basically saying today that she is staying in the race just in case Obama gets assassinated, Olbermann gave a special comment tonight that excoriated her for such an exceptionally inflammatory and egregious reference.
Earlier from MSNBC:
Here's video of Hardball on the comments:
Hillary Brings Up RFK's Assassination as Reason to Stay In
This is truly beyond the pale.
Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama.
"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said, dismissing calls to drop out.
Translation: "I'm still in this thing because somebody might yet (pretty please) assassinate my opponent Barack Obama". (!!!)
Is it just me or should a presidential candidate be a little more circumspect about the potential of her rival to be assassinated!? She has to be stopped!
Read More
Update: Here's CNN's take:
My Email to the DNC re: MI and FL
Dear [X],
I spoke with a representative at DNC headquarters today and she suggested you as the point of contact for a petition I have been circulating over the last few months.
Beginning in early February, I started a petition to urge Senator Hillary Clinton and the DNC to not seat the Michigan and Florida delegations in the proportion allotted by each state's primary elections. We agree with the DNC that it was unfair for both states to move up their primaries and believe that to change the rules in mid-stream would be highly unfair to the candidates and the thousands of people in each state who did not vote because they believed their votes would not count.
The petition has garnered a huge response, with over 4,500 people from all over our great country signing the petition and providing their own narrative view of why they oppose changing the rules at this stage in the game. Including each signer's commentary, the attached petition, when printed, runs to nearly 400 pages.
I hope you will consider forwarding this petition on to Governor Dean and the Rules & Bylaws Committee. I think it is important for the DNC to consider the opinions of the thousands of everyday Americans who took the time to both sign the petition and write down their personal views about this important decision.
Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Monitor]
Earlier: 4,500+ Signatures Against Seating MI/FL Off to DNC
Thursday, May 22, 2008
4,500+ Signatures Against Seating MI/FL Off to DNC
Thanks to everyone that made the petition I started to stop Hillary Clinton from stealing the nomination by seating the Florida and Michigan delegations a roaring success. Only by word of mouth, and without any kind of mainstream exposure whatsoever, the petition has garnered over 4,500 signatures from people all across this great country of ours in a few short months.
Now that the time is upon us, I am printing out the 400 pages that all of these intrepid signers (and their commentary) take up and am sending them out in a package to Howard Dean, the DNC, and the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the DNC.
If you haven't signed the petition, do so NOW! I will send off an addendum next week with everyone that signs in the next 7 or so days.
Make your voice heard! Don't let Hillary Clinton bludgeon her way to some measure of power in this race! Down with the Washington politics of the last 16+ years!
If you want to see the 400-page petition, with the commentary of 4,500 signers across our great land, click here.
If you want to do a bit of data dissection on where everyone comes from and the comments they left, check out the .CSV file by clicking here.
Yes, we can!
The Nightmare Ticket is Dead
Oh God, please let this be true. If so, this is some of the best news I've heard in weeks. According to sources close to both campaigns, Hillary Clinton explicitly asked to be Obama's VP and Obama turned her down in no uncertain terms. One of the scariest things imaginable to me during this campaign is that Hillary would somehow find a way to force herself onto the ticket. I won't go into the litany of reasons why this would be abhorrent but, thanks to this news, we needn't worry:
The Field can now confirm, based on multiple sources, something that both campaigns publicly deny: that Senator Clinton has directly told Senator Obama that she wants to be his vice presidential nominee, and that Senator Obama politely but straightforwardly and irrevocably said “no.” Obama is going to pick his own running mate based on his own criteria and vetting process.
Read More
Clinton Compares MI, FL Votes to Zimbabwe
This woman really has gone off the deep end. She is now comparing the situation with Michigan and Florida's delegates (that she freaking supported just a few short months ago) with the recent election-rigging in Zimbabwe. Seriously. It's times like this I wish a party elder like Al Gore had a super power like a freeze beam with which to shut her down immediately.
Desperate to get attention for her cause to seat Florida and Michigan delegates, Hillary Clinton compared the plight of Zimbabweans in their recent fraudulent election to the uncounted votes of Michigan and Florida voters saying it is wrong when “people go through the motions of an election only to have them discarded and disregarded.”
“We’re seeing that right now in Zimbabwe," Clinton explained. "Tragically, an election was held, the president lost, they refused to abide by the will of the people,” Clinton told the crowd of senior citizens at a retirement community in south Florida.
“So we can never take for granted our precious right to vote. It is the single most important, privilege and right any of us have, because in that ballot box we are all equal. You’re equal to a billionaire. You’re equal to the president, every single one of us.”
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
David Gergen Challenges Hillary to Denounce Racist Voters
This is truly refreshing. In last night's punditry after Hillary's Kentucky win, David Gergen and the other arrayed pundits called on her to stand up and tell racist voters that she doesn't want their vote. Will she? Fat chance.
Here's the video:
Money Quote from David Gergen:
You know race is really playing an increasing issue. And it also raises the question in my judgment of whether she shouldn't say, you know, if you want to vote against him because he's black, I don't want your vote. I don't want to win that way. This has no place in this primary.
Hillary and the Flesh Wound
I've seen comparisons made to this gem from Monty Python but now some dedicated supporters have edited in an Election 2008 soundtrack to it. It's hilarious.
Obama Leads McCain by 10 Points
A new Zogby poll says this morning that Barack Obama leads McCain 47%-37% in its Thursday-Sunday national telephone survey of 1,076 voters.
Obama Only 62 Delegates from the Nomination
Now that the tallies have been added up from Kentucky and Oregon, Obama is only 62 delegates away from locking up the nomination!
Racist Appalachians in Kentucky
Don't pay much mind to Clinton's win in Kentucky last night.
As noted on the Purple State Blog:
MSNBC just reported that 20% of Democratic primary voters in Kentucky told exit pollsters that race was a factor in their decision. And 90% of those voters voted for Senator Clinton.
That's 18% of all Democrats in Kentucky.
And those are the ones who felt comfortable telling a perfect stranger they were uncomfortable voting for Senator Obama [on the basis of his race].
As Andrew Sullivan noted, far be it from Hillary Clinton to openly reject the racist vote:
[Reader Comment:]The Clintons have only one principle: their own power. Minorities are there to serve their purposes. If not, not. I saw this very vividly in the 1990s. They haven't changed. It's always only about them.When will Hillary ever speak out against how horrible, how evil it is to vote against a black man -- because he's a black man? Seriously. I saw the same exit polls tonight and started to feel sick. 20% in Kentucky had no problem telling a total stranger they proudly voted against a black man?
But then I got angry because you know Hillary saw the exact same exit polls and passed up a chance to speak out against them. It would have been a mildly redeeming moment, too. After speaking fondly of Ted Kennedy, she could have brought up his civil rights record and then pivoted to how America is better than this. But no, she still selfishly and repulsively continues to drive her race and gender wedges for personal gain.
James Baker: Talking to Enemies not Appeasement
James Baker, obviously a weak-kneed liberal (who was Chief of Staff to Reagan and Secretary of State to George H.W. Bush) noted recently on Faux News that talking with your enemies is NOT "appeasement".
He went on to discuss his 16 trips to Syria (which was a state sponsor of terror at the time) during the first Bush administration and the fact that the administration -- via diplomacy (remember diplomacy?) -- was able to get Syria to tacitly recognize Israel's existence.
Here's the video:
Obama Victory Speech in Iowa - Video
Here is the video from Obama's victory speech in Iowa last night. As some commentators have noted, he stopped short of fully claiming the nomination but everyone knows (except maybe for Appalachia) that this thing is almost over (thank God!).
Time to Push Her Out
I agree with The Jed Report and Rachel Maddow on this. It is time to push Hillary Clinton out of the race. Barring a meteorite strike, she ain't getting out until she gets locked in the basement and someone throws away the key.
Obama Has a Majority of Available Pledged Delegates
With Obama's 16-point win over Clinton (58%-42%) in my home state of Oregon last night, he now has an absolute majority of the 3,253 pledged delegates from the primaries and caucuses that will vote in this primary season. The AP reports that Obama will likely come out at around 1,956 pledged delegates.
From the Obama camp:
We have won an absolute majority of all the delegates chosen by the people in this Democratic primary process.
Read More
Quote of the Day
Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's normally on-message surrogate admitted yesterday that Obama will win the swing states of Ohio and Florida. So why is Hillary still in this thing?
Clinton’s most on-message talking head brings up his boss’s strength in Florida and Ohio before saying, "If Sen. Obama's the nominee, can we win these states? Of course."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Obama Dominates Nearly ALL Demographics
Ok, so now Gallup makes it official. Can we PLEASE stop feeding into the "working-class white people like Hillary" media ridiculousness?
Gallup shows Obama ahead of Clinton in ALL demographics, including whites (tied), women, less educated voters, working class voters, more educated voters and other minorities including Hispanics. The only demographic Clinton still does better in is old people. End of story. Full Stop.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Gallup: Obama Leads Clinton by 16%
In case you forgot the primary race is still ongoing, the newest Gallup tracking poll shows Obama with a whopping 1116% lead over Clinton:
Obama's previous largest lead was 11 percentage points, in May 15-17 and April 12-14 polling. His widening lead over Clinton has been evident in each of the last three days of tracking, after the two had been more closely matched earlier in the month.
75,000 Oregonians say "Yes, We Can"
I am so proud of my home state (where my sister just gave birth to my darling new niece, Madelyn Mey). Barack Obama drew a record crowd of 75,000 to his rally on the waterfront in Portland.
The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and power boats bobbing on the Willamette River. More hug the rails of the steel bridge that stretches across the water and crowds are even watching from jetties on the opposite shore.
Here's a video to show you the mind-boggling number of people that turned out:
Update: Here's More, which includes parts of his speech:
Update: More Pics:
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Mas Trabajo
Sorry for the infrequency of my posts lately but I'm flat-out on a project and working the weekend.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Right Wing Nut Gets Owned on Hardball
After watching this clip, in which Chris Matthews destroys a loud-mouthed rightwing talking head, makes me so very hopeful for the Democrat's chances in the fall. If this is all they got, the Republican party is going to be decimated.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Video of John Edwards Obama Endorsement Speech
Go John Edwards! I think the timing of his endorsement is fantastic. It helps mute any little press coverage of Hillary's meaningless WV win.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
John Edwards to Endorse Obama!
Former Presidential candidate Senator John Edwards is set to endorse Barack Obama in a speech in an hour!
Read More
NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Obama
This is quite a nice coup for Obama. Today the national NARAL PAC, NARAL Pro-Choice America, endorsed Obama:
Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC is proud to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president. Sen. Obama has been a strong advocate for a woman's right to choose throughout his career in public office. He steadfastly supports and defends a woman's right to make the most personal, private decisions regarding her reproductive health without interference from government or politicians.
Sen. Obama has been a leader on this issue in the United States Senate. Since joining the Senate in 2005, he has worked to unite Americans on both side of this debate behind commonsense, common-ground ways to prevent unintended pregnancy. Sen. Obama supports legislation to provide our teens with comprehensive sex education, prevent pharmacies from denying women access to their legal birth-control prescriptions, and increase access to family-planning services.
We are confident that Barack Obama is the candidate of the future. Americans are tired of the divisive politics of the last eight years, and will unite behind Obama in the fall. We look forward to working with a pro-choice Obama White House in January.
States Where Obama Won > 60%
Here's a nice bit of perspective I got this morning:
States & elections won with 60% or more of the vote:
BARACK OBAMA: 15 States + DC + VI
* Virgin Islands (89.9%)
* Idaho (79%)
* Hawaii (76%)
* Alaska (75%)
* District of Columbia (75%)
* Kansas (74%)
* Washington (68%)
* Nebraska (68%)
* Minnesota (67%)
* Colorado (67%)
* Georgia (67%)
* Illinois (65%)
* Virginia (64%)
* Maryland (62%)
* North Dakota (61%)
* Wyoming (61%)
* Mississippi (61%)
HILLARY CLINTON: 2 States
* Arkansas (70%)
* West Virginia (67)
BARACK OBAMA: 15 States + DC + VI
* Virgin Islands (89.9%)
* Idaho (79%)
* Hawaii (76%)
* Alaska (75%)
* District of Columbia (75%)
* Kansas (74%)
* Washington (68%)
* Nebraska (68%)
* Minnesota (67%)
* Colorado (67%)
* Georgia (67%)
* Illinois (65%)
* Virginia (64%)
* Maryland (62%)
* North Dakota (61%)
* Wyoming (61%)
* Mississippi (61%)
HILLARY CLINTON: 2 States
* Arkansas (70%)
* West Virginia (67)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Um, Yay?
I am watching MSNBC's coverage of the West Virginia results (which, of course, Hillary won) and just listened to Andrea Mitchell describe the race:
This was a predominantly white, older, less-educated vote. It is the perfect vote for Hillary Clinton.
Um, yay for her?
How, in the vast expanse of twisted Washington thinking, do we think that the same idiot mass of racist, small-minded George Bush backers is a BONUS for the democratic nominee?
The time of the drooling, unthinking redneck voters is over. Let them thrash and whine about voting for the "colored guy".
Without any sympathy or quarter, let us show everyone, in this election, that you either evolve in this modern society or slink back to your ramshackle cellar to make funny business with your second cousin paramour.
Feh.
I (heart) Huckabee
As always, I have pause before praising former Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee but, well, i repeatedly and consistently find him to be a generally honest, forthright person. I am watching MSNBC for the WV results and just heard Huckabee talk about the race, Obama and Clinton and,well, he reminded of an actual, normal, fair-minded person.
Sure, I find a vast bulk of what he advocates to be abhorrent but he seems like such a candid, likeable person.
In the grand scheme of things, I think the Republicans made a big mistake in nominating McCain. I think Mike Huckabee would be enough of a "real" person, with the right mix of base-pandering and acceptable personality to surpass what McCain will do. I think the sheen of McCain will slowly but inexorably rub off to show him for the wishy washy, lying hack that he is.
Mike, stay how you are.
Obama Tells Donors to Avoid 527s
Ah, what a breath of fresh air this man is:
Senator Barack Obama’s campaign is steering the candidate’s wealthy supporters away from independent Democratic groups, calling into question what had been expected to be the groups’ central role in this year’s Democratic offensive against Senator John McCain.
Obama’s national finance chairwoman, Chicago hotel mogul Penny Pritzker, told supporters at a national finance committee meeting in Indianapolis May 2, and in other conversations, not to give money to the groups, people familiar with her comments said.
Accidental Poetry
I accidentally came up with this when talking about the race today:
"Out with the old, in with the new.
A generational shift, long overdue."
Great Electoral News for Obama
From Andrew Sullivan:
Obama finally overtakes Clinton on the "Strong Leader" measure in ABC News' polling. More good news for the O-team:
Relatively few mainstream Democrats (as opposed to independents) say they'd cross over (13 and 10 percent, respectively). And as many Republicans say they'd defect the other way – 10 percent for Clinton if she faced McCain; 15 percent for Obama vs. McCain...
In another measure, 26 percent say the more they hear about Obama the more they like him – more than say that about Clinton (15 percent) or McCain (14 percent). Obama's the only one among them to have gained as much as he's lost in the recent public glare.
And the "wrong track" number is now 82 percent. This has the potential of an electoral earthquake.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Obama Ahead by 7% in New Gallup
Obama, the presumptive nominee, is now leading Hillary Clinton by 7% according to the most recent Gallup tracking poll:
Winner of Obama in 30 Seconds
Here's the winning video from the Obama in 30 Seconds contest. It should play well in swing states I suspect.
Obama Up 23 Superdelegates Since Last Week
As of recently, Obama has netted 23 superdelegates since last week:
He's picked up his net 23rd delegate since last week just moments ago -- Dolly Strazar of Hawaii.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Why Hillary Clinton Thinks the Race Should Go On
This is a hilarious bit from SNL last night with Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton. Thanks to my stepdad for highlighting it.
The best bit: "My supporters are racist." Close runner-up: "I have no ethical standards."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Obama Nets 9 Supers for the Day
As of now, Obama has gained 9 superdelegates today.
Here's the latest:
Virginia's Joe Johnson caps Obama's best superdelegate day, a gain of nine, including Payne's switch, an Obama aide says.
Obama's now ahead in our superdelegate count, not a tremendously meaningful measure, but another sign of the coalescing party.
Superdelegates Pouring In
Here's some more from today (added to the ones I posted earlier):
A New Mexico add-on, who'd been chosen over the objections of Clinton backers in that state, goes with Obama, as the trickle speeds up to something more like a steady flow.
The Obama campaign announced the backing of Hawaii Congresswoman Mazie Hirono Endorses Barack Obama.
Wilber Lee Jeffcoat, the Democratic Party Vice Chair in South Carolina and superdelegate endorses Barack Obama.Vernon Watkins of California tells the AP he's going with Obama. "The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," he said.
Ed Espinoza, the California superdelegate blogging as Mr. Super, goes for Obama.
Rasmussen Calls the Race for Obama
Nice:
Rasmussen Reports will soon end our daily tracking of the Democratic race and focus exclusively on the general election competition between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Barring something totally unforeseen, that is the choice American voters will have before them in November. While we have not firmly decided upon a final day for tracking the Democratic race, it is coming soon.
Panetta Calls for Clinton to Concede
Former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta said today:
It's pretty clear unless there's a bolt of lightning, Barack Obama is likely to win the Democratic nomination. She's put up a good fight and put up a good race, but I think there's a time now where she needs to concede and unify the party.
If she remains in the race until the final primary on June 3, Panetta says:
I guess what I would do if she is going to do that is warn them they should remain on issues, they shouldn’t engage in personal attacks... Whether the winner wins will depend an awful lot on how the loser loses.
Obama Surpasses Clinton in Superdelegates
From ABC:
For the first time this campaign season, Barack Obama has surpassed Hillary Clinton's support among superdelegates, according to the ABC News delegate estimate.
Sen. Obama, D-Ill., picked up two superdelegates this morning giving him a new metric to tout in addition to his current commanding leads in pledged delegates, popular votes, states won, and money raised.
Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., switched his endorsement from Clinton to Obama and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., endorsed Obama. DeFazio was previously uncommitted.
With these endorsements, Obama has the support of 267 superdelegates and Clinton has 265 superdelegates.
More Endorsements for Obama
The biggest superdelegate news of the day: Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey switches to Obama. He's the first black member of congress to switch since John Lewis's migration, and his moves puts pressure on other members of the CBC backing Hillary.
Oregon's Peter DeFazio goes for Obama in time for the primary.
The public workers' union chief in MD, John Gage, a superdelegate, goes with his union and endorses Obama.Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Endorsements Pour Forth
The day holds much good news for Obama in terms of endorsements and superdelegates:
1 Superdelegate: Virginia's state representative and DNC member Jennifer McClellan has flipped from Clinton to Obama, the AP reports. (h/t Ben Smith)
2 Superdelegates: Obama picks up North Carolina Democratic Party chairman Jerry Meek and Inola Henry, a member of the D.N.C. from California.
1 Superdelegate: North Carolina official Jeanette Council endorsed last night.
Seven Reasons Hillary Should Quit
Here is a list of seven reasons Hillary should quit now by Marc Ambinder:
1. It's over. Forget the sideshows and the hypotheticals. Once the party has its nominee, and only then, can the process of healing begin. The longer Clinton stays in the race, the more she postpones the point at which the party comes together.
2. The reality principle. "Anything is possible," is what campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said today. Well, no. Something things are impossible; many others are highly improbable.
3. Her legacy. In many quarters, it's been damaged by the presidential race. The sooner she exits, the more gracefully she exists, the better the chance is for her to shake off this presidential race and resume her Senate career.
4. Bill's legacy. In many quarters, it's been irrevocably (and perhaps unfairly) damaged by this presidential race.
5. Obama. Even if there are plausible, selfish reasons for her to stay in, her duty to her party should trump them. She should devote herself fully to the service of Obama.
6. Her staff. They are tired and many are demoralized, even as they love and lionize their boss. Give them a rest.
7. Florida and Michigan. The sooner she drops out, the sooner those states will find their delegations seated.
More Calls for Hillary to Quit Soon
I know, I know, don't get my hopes up... But, well, let me dream - just for today.
Richelieu:
He crushed her in North Carolina and lost Indiana only by a slim margin margin (as predicted here last week). Indiana was indeed the tie-breaker. It was a tie, which broke her. Now it is truly over. I think she's out in a week or less.
America Blog:
We've just been told that General Wesley Clark, a strong Clinton supporter and fellow Arkansan, called Hillary tonight to tell her it's over. [Update: His camp denies it.]
Washington Blade (which previously endorsed Hillary):
Last night's results in the North Carolina and Indiana primaries have left Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton out of options. She ran a tough and spirited campaign that will be talked about for a generation. But it's over. The time has come for Clinton to adopt a gracious and conciliatory tone, end her campaign and endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (a huge Clinton supporter)
“I think the race is reaching the point now where there are negative dividends from it, in terms of strife within the party,” Feinstein said. “I think we need to prevent that as much as we can.”
Rep. Dale Kildee (a Clinton supporter)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) told The Hill that Clinton should reassess her prospects after losing to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) by 14 points in North Carolina and edging her rival in Indiana in Tuesday’s primaries.
“I urge her to take the day off and think very seriously about doing what’s best for the country and best for the party,” said Kildee.
“I got straight A’s in math,” added Kildee, implying that Obama’s delegate lead would be impossible to overcome in the few primaries left on the Democratic calendar.
And, just for fun...
Chicago-Tribune:
The Clintons are like a cat that gets run over but refuses to die. It crawls off the road and makes it to a backyard, hiding under the deck, in the shadows, eyes like slits, panting for days, stubbornly refusing to give it up.
Andrew Sullivan:
Hillz is now that person at the party who's had 6 too many jello shots, is talking abnormally loudly and is incapable of understanding the fact that she has overstayed her welcome. And she's starting to hiccup.
C'mon Hillz, let's get your coat and we'll walk with you to the door..."
Lawrence O'Donnell:
A senior campaign official and Clinton confidante has told me that there will be a Democratic nominee by June 15. He could not bring himself to say the words "Hillary will drop out by June 15," but that is clearly what he meant. I kept saying, "So, Hillary will drop out by June 15," and he kept saying, "We will have a nominee by June 15."
McGovern Calls for Hillary to Quit
Former Senator (and now former Clinton supporter) George McGovern called today for Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race. We could only be so lucky.
Contra-Hillary
I just found a phenomenal list over on Think on These Things that sums up many of the reasons why I do not support Hillary Clinton's candidacy. My apologies for the copy-and-paste but it's just too good:
Democracy
- In Iowa, the Hillary Clinton campaign actively worked to suppress the votes of Iowa students.
- In New Hampshire, the Hillary Clinton campaign harassed “get-out-the-vote” workers at the polls to hinder their efforts.
- In Nevada, the Hillary Clinton campaign’s supporters filed a lawsuit that aimed to suppress the vote of culinary union members.
- In Nevada, the Hillary Clinton campaign shut the doors on caucus-goers 30 minutes earlier than the official rules stated. Caucus-goers were not allowed to participate.
- The Clinton campaign announced that they would go after Barack Obama’s pledged Democratic delegates (the delegates he won in the primaries and caucuses) if the nomination went to the convention. In other words, if you voted or caucused for Obama, your vote may not count. After public outrage, the Clinton campaign backtracked.
- Hillary’s name was on the Michigan primary ballot. Barack Obama and other major candidates’ names were not on the ballot. Hillary believes the Michigan primary was fair and should count in her favor. What is this a dictatorship?!
- It is a sad day when America becomes dominated by two political families–the Bush family and the Clintons. America should be a democracy, not a dynasty.
Economic Concerns
- In 1998, Hillary Clinton praised NAFTA, the bill President Bill Clinton signed into law. Now she opposes it. Barack Obama opposed it. NAFTA has been devastating to rural America.
- Hillary Clinton has gone to other countries and proclaimed that “outsourcing will continue.” However, in front of American audiences she tempers this and talks about the problems with outsourcing American jobs. Why isn’t she saying the same things in both places?
- Hillary Clinton misled an Iowa voter about her position on social security. The voter is still unsure where she stands.
- Hillary Clinton argued that Americans who make over $97,000 per year are the middle-class.
- The Washington Post gave Barack Obama an A- for his economic stimulus plan and gave Hillary Clinton a C+.
- Hillary Clinton has had numerous problems with debt and unpaid bills to small business owners, universities, charities, and even health insurance companies. How people run their campaigns may give us insight into how they will handle a national job market, housing market, or health care system.
Electability
- The polls consistently show that Barack Obama does better against John McCain than does Hillary Clinton.
- Hillary may have trouble winning Iowa and New Hampshire in a general election after she trashed the Iowa caucuses once they were over and went back on her word to New Hampshire, leading the New Hampshire Union Leader to declare, “New Hampshire voters, you were played for suckers.”
The Environment
- The League of Conservation Voters gave Barack Obama a higher score on his environmental voting record than all the other Democratic nominees.
Ethics and Lobbyist Reform
- Barack Obama has a superior record to Hillary Clinton on confronting lobbyists and special interests.
- Barack Obama does not take federal PAC or federal lobbyist funding for his Presidential campaign, while Hillary Clinton does. In fact, Hillary Clinton said, “Lobbyists represent real Americans.”
- Barack Obama has released his personal income tax returns to the public for scrutiny, while Hillary Clinton has not. (Update: Hillary Clinton finally released her tax returns in April 2008.)
- Hillary Clinton uses more earmarks and pork spending than any other Democratic nominee or Republican nominee.
- Barack Obama passed the toughest ethics reform legislation in the U.S. Senate since Watergate, while Hillary has not passed a bill yet of this magnitude.
- The majority of Barack Obama’s campaign funding comes from small donors, while the majority of Clinton’s comes from large donors.
- Barack Obama was the leader in revealing to the public all of his federal earmark requests, while Hillary Clinton was not.
Experience
- Barack Obama has both sufficient experience and a record of good judgment.
- Barack Obama will have held elected office for 12 years before becoming President. Hillary Clinton will only have held office for 8 years
- She cited her experience as the reason she voted to go to Iraq, so that nullified her experience argument.
- Even Bill Clinton said when people criticized him for being inexperienced in the 1990s that, “The same old experience is not relevant.”
- Barack Obama will be older than Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy were before they took the presidency. He can’t help that he takes care of himself and ages well.
- As John Kerry argues, Barack Obama has more legislative experience than either Hillary Clinton or John Edwards.
- Barack Obama has passed more progressive legislation in his lifetime than Hillary Clinton. As an Illinois Senator he passed over 200 of the bills he wrote. These bills include:
- A bill that expanded healthcare to over 100,000 people in Illinois.
- A bill that set up community health centers to serve underserved populations.
- A bill that provided the earned income tax credit to thousands of Illinois families.
- A bill that reformed the death penalty that had sent innocent people to death row
- A bill that banned gifts and meals from lobbyists.
- And much more.
- While Hillary Clinton has spent more time in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has gotten more substantive legislation that affects the American people passed while he’s been there. Many of Clinton’s bills were about naming post offices and buildings. However, Obama’s legislation includes:
- A bill with Senator Richard Lugar which bans the development of nuclear weapons.
- A bill that created a public database where average Americans can see how the government is spending their money.
- A bill that provided important assistance to address the situation in the Congo.
- A bill that Nancy Pelosi calls “one of the toughest ethics reform” bills in this history of the Congress.
Foreign Policy
- Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq War, while Barack Obama opposed the war from the start.
- Hillary Clinton did not read the National Intelligence Estimate report before voting to send troops to Iraq.
- Barack Obama agrees that America should talk to countries that are our foes, while Hillary Clinton takes issue with his position.
- Barack Obama understands the basic facts about Pakistan’s electoral system better than Hillary Clinton.
- While Barack Obama has proposed a detailed foreign policy plan, Hillary Clinton has not provided Obama’s level of detail.
- Hillary Clinton’s current foreign policy advisers were largely supportive of the war in Iraq. Obama’s current foreign policy advisers are more “forward thinking” and generally did not support the war. We need people advising our president who have good judgment on foreign policy, not people who carry the old conventional wisdom.
- Hillary Clinton said she would like to create an “umbrella of deterrence” in the Middle East which means that the U.S. would get involved in Middle East conflicts to an extent that even George Bush and John McCain have not advocated.
Health Care
- Hillary Clinton should be applauded for her work trying to get health care passed during the 1990s. However, Obama should be applauded as well for his eight-years of writing health care legislation and getting it signed into law at the state level. Obama has a lesser known, but impressive record of getting results on health care.
- Hillary Clinton has said that she would be willing to garnish people’s wages if they do not sign up for her health care plan. Is that really politically feasible to get passed?
Homeland Security
- CIA officials agree more with Barack Obama’s approach to finding Osama Bin Laden than with Hillary Clinton’s.
- Hillary Clinton’s assessment of America’s homeland security status contradicts the assessment offered by national intelligence agencies.
Human Rights
- Hillary Clinton was the last Democrat to support the torture pledge.
- Hillary flip-flopped on the issue of whether America should use nuclear weapons.
- Obama voted to ban the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas. Hillary Clinton voted against the ban. Cluster bombs have a high failure rate and are often mistaken by children for toys. They are indiscriminate and result in thousands of civilian deaths.
Judicial System
- Hillary Clinton attacked Barack Obama for his position on mandatory minimum sentencing behind-the-scenes, while she touted her support for it in front of minority audiences.
- Hillary Clinton was the only Democratic nominee to oppose retroactivity for mandatory minimum sentencing. All the other Democrats supported it. Even George Bush and the Supreme Court supported it.
- While Hillary Clinton is opposed to retroactivity for crimes of poor people, she does not hold this standard for crimes of the rich.
Lying
- News reporters have shown that Bill Clinton lied to voters about being opposed to the Iraq War from the start. The reporters have video of the Clintons expressing support for Bush’s actions back in 2002.
- While Hillary Clinton gives traditional Washington non-answers to questions, Barack Obama has been praised by commentators for telling the truth.
- All the Democrats made a pledge not to campaign in Florida or Michigan because the two states broke Democratic rules by moving their primaries ahead of other states. While Obama and Edwards abided by the rules and took their names off the Michigan ballot, Clinton kept her name on the ballot. Right before the Florida primary, Clinton started working to get the Florida delegates counted even though she agreed not to do so at the beginning of the primary season. If she cannot keep her promises during the campaign season, how will she keep her promises as President?
- Hillary was found to have been dishonest about her support for NAFTA. She has told voters that she opposed it, but after an advocacy group sued to have her First Lady records released, the records revealed that she had indeed advocated for the policy.
- Hillary was found to have been dishonest about a trip to Bosnia in 1998 that she used to explain her foreign policy credentials.
- Hillary was found to be dishonest about what she did in the peace efforts in Northern Ireland.
- Hillary Clinton told supporters at her rally that she began criticizing the Iraq War before Barack Obama did once he got to the Senate. As ABC News reports, that was completely untrue.
Poverty
- Hillary Clinton has the weakest formal platform of the top three Democratic nominees on addressing urban poverty.
- Barack Obama has gotten more anti-poverty legislation signed into law in his lifetime than Hillary Clinton has. He passed numerous bills during his work in Illinois.
Technological Innovation
- TechPresident rated Barack Obama’s technology platform as superior to Hillary Clinton’s.
Women’s Rights
- In New Hampshire, the Hillary Clinton campaign misled female state senators to sign a letter attacking Senator Barack Obama’s women’s rights record. After the New Hampshire primary, the senators apologized for misleading people about his record and took issue with the Clinton campaign’s practices. This incident left great division among women’s rights activists in New Hampshire.
- When women’s rights came under attack in South Dakota, women’s rights activists asked all the senators in Congress to write a letter and help fundraise on their behalf. Barack Obama was the only Senator who wrote a letter and fundraised on their behalf. Hillary Clinton did not.
- Hillary Clinton also tried to mislead voters about Barack Obama’s commitment to helping victims of sexual abuse, an issue on which he has been a strong advocate.
- Hillary Clinton has declined to give back campaign money from a company that has been accused of wide-scale sexual harassment of its female employees. Many other Democrats, including Senator Barack Obama, have chosen to give back money from men working for this corporation.
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