Republicans DO NOT Make Us Safer

In a rare reaction to Rudy Giuliani's comments today, Obama, Edwards and Clinton struck back. Obama actually issued a statement with comments directly aimed at Giuliani and actually using his name. The step of issuing a statement retalating to another candidates remarks is rare, but justified in this case.

Giuliani actually said “America will be safer with a Republican president.” Unbelievable. He went on to elaborate that only a Republican president will protect the people from terrorists and be on the offense, whereas a Democratic president would only be on the defense the cost and number of deaths will be greater. I don't see how he can make that claim, since the Republicans don't want to withdraw, thus spending more money to finance the war and more war casualties as well. And, didn't September 11 happen under a Republican president and Republican New York City mayor? Obviously the Republicans aren't the great offensive force Giuliani claims. Read his full comments.

While Clinton issued a statement, she did not actually name Giuliani. But Obama had the guts to name him specifically, and Edwards later did as well. Obama said: "Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics. America’s mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. We know we can win this war based on shared purpose, not the same divisive politics that question your patriotism if you dare to question failed policies that have made us less secure. I think we should focus on strengthening our intelligence, working with local authorities and doing all the things we haven’t yet done to keep Americans safe. The threat we face is real, and deserves better than to be the punchline of another political attack.”

Giuliani, you're creating back-lash you cannot afford at this point. He is clearly working to attract more conservatives from the Republican Party, but in doing so, he's making bold and stupid claims he cannot back up. And I don't think the American people truly believe a Republican president will make us safer, instead they're ready to give Bush the boot in a hurry in order to get a fresh perspective on the war and finally end it. Only a Democrat has the courage and smarts to do just that.

Straight from the Horse's Mouth

I continue to share with you e-mails I receive from Barack Obama's campaign. I think it's beneficial to hear the news straight from the horse's mouth from time to time instead of as interrupted by others. This echoes my post from earlier today on Obama's comments during a speech in Chicago that Bush has let America down and has not been a leader.

Here's part of the e-mail that I share with you:

Our foreign policy shapes America's image abroad, but America's role in the world is deeply personal for many of us here at home. We remember how it felt when the American president had the moral authority to speak for free people everywhere.

Maybe you've traveled abroad and seen firsthand how in a few years George Bush has squandered the goodwill America earned over half a century. Maybe the decisions George Bush has made has sent your friend or family member into a war that should have never happened in the first place.

Barack wants to know why a new direction for our foreign policy and restoring America's moral leadership in the world is personal for you. Share your story.

Today Barack gave a major address about why our role in the world is personal for him.

He's been to the border of the Darfur region and seen first-hand what happens when America will not step up and lead. He's seen first-hand that weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union have not been secured under this president. He's met with Israelis and Palestinians who told him that true peace won't be achieved without an American president committed to making it happen.

And he's got concrete plans to right our course and rebuild America's global leadership. Today he laid out five initiatives that an Obama Administration will pursue:

*Bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq and refocus on the critical challenges in the broader region:
*Modernize our overstretched armed forces, building the first truly 21st century military and show wisdom in how we deploy it
*Marshal a global effort to secure, destroy, and stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction
*Rebuild and construct the alliances and partnerships necessary to meet common challenges and confront common threats
*Invest in our common humanity to ensure that those who live in fear and want today can live with dignity and opportunity tomorrow

As Barack pointed out today, the position of "leader of the free world" has been vacant for some time. For too long we've seen the consequences of a foreign policy based on a flawed ideology, and a belief that tough talk can replace real strength and vision. How many millions of Americans and our allies abroad winced when Senator John McCain gleefully sang a tune about starting another war by bombing Iran?

As the Republican presidential candidates repeat the same tired White House talking points, one thing is becoming clear: Democrats have the obligation to turn the page and lead America into a new chapter in history.

And here is his full speech he gave today.

Time for a Gun Law Change

It's not surprising in the wake of the Virgina Tech shootings that gun laws have become a hot-button issue again. While McCain and other Republicans do not believe a change is needed, Democrats have taken the opportunity to speak out and re-address concerns over current laws. They argue the current laws make it too easy to acquire a gun, and with a new Congress in town, maybe now is the chance to finally do something about it. Obama said the shooting highlights serious shortcomings with gun control.

"We're still selling handguns to crazy people," Obama said during a campaign stop at a Nashua senior center on Friday. "We're supposed to have a system that these people are screened out. What's clear is the background check system in this case failed entirely."

Obama is not a hunter, and while he has said he will not take away hunters' or sportsmen's rights, he did say there must be a reasonable balance between those rights and public safety.

"(Cho) had a semiautomatic weapon with a clip that allowed him to take 19 shots in a row," Obama said. "I don't know any self-respecting hunter that needs 19 rounds of anything. The only reason you have 19 rounds is potentially to do physical harm to people. You don't shoot 19 rounds at a deer. And if you do, you shouldn't be hunting."

In an interview with the syndicated radio program "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" Obama said gun laws have to change to prevent the type of killings seen this week at Virginia Tech and on a daily basis in urban areas. The senator says "some common sense" changes are needed, among them, he wants gun laws changed for those who are mentally ill.

Watch what he had to say on the day of the shootings.

Obama and McCain Trade Barbs

McCain and Obama continue their presidential campaign battle over the Iraq War.

In a speech at Virginia Military Institute, McCain derided Democratic anti-war efforts including calls for a U.S. withdrawal. The Republican said he'd rather lose the 2008 presidential contest than have the U.S. fail in Iraq. To that, I say HA. And his stance on the war will lose him the presidency, so no fear there McCain!

"No matter how much this administration wishes it to be true, the idea that the situation in Iraq is improving because it only takes a security detail of 100 soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships to walk through a market in the middle of Baghdad is simply not credible or reflective of the facts on the ground," said Obama in a statement Wednesday referring to a recent McCain visit.

"A power vacuum in Iraq would invite further interference from Iran at a time when Tehran already feels emboldened enough to develop nuclear weapons, threaten Israel and America, and kidnap British sailors," McCain said of the exit timetable proposed by Obama and other Democrats. "If the government collapses in Iraq, which it surely will if we leave prematurely, Iraq's neighbors, from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Egypt, will feel pressure to intervene on the side of their favored factions. This uncertain swirl of events could cause the region to explode and foreclose the opportunity for millions of Muslims and their children to achieve freedom. We could face a terrible choice: Watch the region burn, the price of oil escalate dramatically and our economy decline, watch the terrorists establish new base camps or send American troops back to Iraq, with the odds against our success much worse than they are today."

"What we need today is a surge in honesty," Obama said. "The truth is, the Iraqis have made little progress toward the political solution between Shiia and Sunni which is the last, best hope to end this war. I believe that letting the Iraqi government know America will not be there forever is the best way to pressure the warring factions toward this political settlement."

"Everything's fine," said McCain. "We're moving on, we're moving on, we're moving on."

On Monday, McCain unleashed an unusually biting and blunt broadside against Obama, accusing him of backtracking on a previous commitment to work with McCain in developing a bipartisan proposal for lobbying and ethics reform.

In a letter to Obama on Monday, McCain -- upset by his colleague's support for a reform bill put forward by Democratic leaders as well as a suggestion that McCain's approach might delay the process -- accused Obama of "self-interested partisan posturing" and "disingenuousness."

McCain also told Obama "I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party's efforts to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics, the public interest isn't always a priority for every one of us," McCain wrote. "Good luck to you, senator." If McCain wanted to focus on public interest, maybe he'd do what the public wanted, not what he wanted. The public wants the war to end, but McCain has fallen into party line with the "stay the course rhetoric.

In response, Obama sent a letter back to McCain, saying he was "puzzled" by McCain's reaction and insisting he still supported a bipartisan approach to ethics reform.

"The fact that you have now questioned my sincerity and my desire to put aside politics for the public interest is regrettable but does not in any way diminish my deep respect for you, nor my willingness to find a bipartisan solution to this problem," Obama wrote.

What set off McCain was a letter Obama sent him late last week, after he and several other Democrats attended a meeting hosted by McCain to discuss a bipartisan approach to lobbying and ethics reform.

In that letter, Obama expressed support for a reform bill being pushed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, rather than McCain's proposal for a bipartisan task force to look at legislation.

"I know you have expressed an interest in creating a task force to further study and discuss these matters, but I and others in the Democratic caucus believe the more effective and timely course is to allow the committees of jurisdiction (in the Senate) to roll up their sleeves and get to work on writing ethics and lobbying reform legislation that a majority of the Senate can support," Obama wrote.

In the letter he sent Monday, McCain accused the Democratic leadership of wanting "to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections." And he denied that his task force was designed to short-circuit the Senate committee process.

Obama said he made it clear during last week's meeting that the Democratic caucus would insist that any reform plan go through the normal committee process -- and that he believes Reid's bill "should be the basis for a bipartisan solution."

Substituting for Rush Limbaugh on Limbaugh's radio show, Roger Hedgecock said that the dispute between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain shows "how Democrats treat African-American" officeholders. According to Hedgecock, "[T]hey get put back on the plantation."

Coming Home

Yesterday Obama unveiled a housing program for veterans. He plans to introduce the legislation in Congress that he calls Homes for Heroes, which would establish grant and voucher programs to encourage development of affordable housing targeted for veterans. During a three-day trip to Iowa, (where's he's now visited 20 different counties), he made vets a top priority.

"Veterans are far more likely to be homeless than nonveterans and part of it is because we're not providing services to them as they transition out of the service," Obama said in an interview Friday before a campaign rally. "Part of it is because there is just not enough affordable housing."

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as many as 200,000 are living on the streets or in shelters and perhaps twice as many are homeless at some time in the course of a year.

Obama, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, concluded a three-day trip to Iowa by touring the Iowa Veterans Home and focusing on veterans issues. He said the government spends billions on the war but has consistently shortchanged programs for veterans, whose needs should be a top priority.

Obama said he chose to visit the Iowa Veterans Home because of its solid reputation. The center is essentially a state-financed retirement home for veterans, which Obama believes is a model for the rest of the country.

Not Up for Debate

Today Obama announced he will not participate in the Fox News and Congressional Black Caucus-sponsored Democratic debate this fall, joining Edwards who three days ago announced his refusal to participate. Obama said he would instead participate in the Congressional Black Caucus' debate that will be hosted by CNN in January.

Democrats have been under pressure from liberal activists, such as Jesse Jackson, a supporter of Obama, to avoid Fox-hosted debates. Last month, the Nevada Democratic Party canceled a debate that Fox was to co-sponsor in August. Democratic critics complain that the network displays a conservative bias in its news broadcasts. Last week the Democratic National Committee sanctioned six debates before the 2008 primary season, but did not include the Fox-CBC Institute debate among them.

Although the debates are still scheduled as of now, two major contenders are out, and ColorOfChange.org, an online organization of black activists, is urging Clinton to also pull out of the debate on Fox.

Iowa = Illinois

In Iowa yesterday, Obama said he thinks he may have an advantage in Iowa: the fact that he lives next door.

"I feel like I'm home," Obama told the Associated Press. "Illinois is basically Iowa, and then we have Chicago."

Plenty of coastal residents lump all the Midwest provinces together, as "those square states" one flies over on the way from one shore to another. But it's unusual to hear folks from the Heartland do it themselves.

I doubt people in Iowa are going to like the comment that it's basically the same as Illinois. And people in Illinois but not in Chicago continously complained they're forgotten to Chicago.

Oval Office For Sale

It seems the Oval Office of the White House is up for sale! After reading the startling campaign fundraising numbers, clearly the Oval Office is available for purchase. By the end of the election, it seems these candidates could single-handedly end the national debt!

I must admit that I am happy to see that Obama stole a bit of Clinton's thunder by tying her for money raised, making him a bigger threat than I think Clinton's camp originally estimated and bringing more attention from the American people. He is on par with once-supposed front-runner Clinton. What I respect about Obama's fundraising strategy is that none of the money was from PACs or corporations, but instead all from individuals. To me this shows his vote on hot issues can't be bought by the PAC willing to pay the most. And no one other candidate can say they didn't accept PAC money! And more than half the donors contributed online, demonstrating that online support is growing and quashing some of my earlier fears that online support wouldn't translate to offline support.

While Clinton has honed a vast national fundraising network through two Senate campaigns and her husband's eight years as president, Obama launched his bid for the White House with a relatively small donor base concentrated largely in Illinois, his home state. But his early opposition to the Iraq war and voter excitement over his quest to be the first black president quickly fueled a powerful fundraising machine.

I received this e-mail from Obama's campaign: "I'm proud to tell you that, after the first quarter of the campaign, we've exceeded all of our hopes and expectations. In less than three months, a staggering 100,000 Americans have contributed to our cause -- tens of thousands more than the number reported by any other campaign. That's on top of the hundreds of thousands who have attended rallies, started groups and shared their ideas and energy."

What was a surprise is that former MA Gov. Mitt Romney also raised about the same amount, coming seemingly out of nowhere to raise the most of Republicans. It is reported that a large amount of his donations are from Mormon groups. Help us.

Social Darwinism

Barack Obama, as well as John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, spoke at the Communications Workers of America conference on Tuesday. He accused the Bush administration on of pursuing a policy of "social Darwinism" that leaves every man and woman struggling. He vowed to look out for average workers and changes if elected president.

"It's a strategy that we've seen this administration pursue over the last six years, that basically says government has no role to play in making sure that America is prosperous for all people and not just some," Obama said to applause during an appearance before the Communications Workers of America.

The Illinois senator said the attempt to "divvy up the government into individual tax breaks" may be tempting, but government research and investment is what has made advances possible in the United States.

Poll Standings

Proving yet again that Americans don't vote on candidates for the right reason, John Edwards has gone up five percent in the polls since the announcement last week of Elizabeth Edwards' cancer. Don't get me wrong, I feel for the family, who has already had their share of tragedy, but it's no reason to now throw my support to John Edwards. Edwards is now at 14 percent, but is still third in the standings.

In the same poll, Barack Obama is holding steady at 22 percent, still second to Hillary Clinton, who has 35 percent.

Barack Event

On March 31, Barack Obama will be campaigning live in living rooms throughout the U.S. Demonstrating yet again how his campaign is different in more ways than one, he will hold a live Webcast from the living room of an Iowa family that can be viewed live online. Obama's campaign is encouraging supporters and opposers alike to hold small parties to watch the Webcast and then hold open discussions.

For those who register their event with the Barack Obama campaign, they will receive a kit of materials, including a DVD on Obama's campaign. This is unique to campaigning. As a registered supporter, I received both a phone call and e-mail from his campaign office yesterday urging me to hold an event. I live in a small apartment, so that's not really an option. But on his Web site are a list of registered events by zip code, and many invite other people to attend their event. I plan to attend an area event to view the Web cast and see what it's all about.

The Webcast will be held at 3 p.m. on March 31. Click on the title of this blog for the info about this posted on Obama's Web site.

Clinton: Meet 1984

A mysterious 1984 spin with Clinton has hit YouTube and taken off. Obama says he had never seen it before it was released and had no part of it, and I truly believe that. An unofficial AOL poll asked if people thought Obama knew about it before it aired, and 39,122 people responded. Of these respondents, 44 percent said no, 32 percent said yes and 23 said it was hard to say. AOL also polled as to whether the video would affect Obama campaign, and 38,713 people responded. Fifty percent said no, 39 percent it would affect his campaign negatively and 12 percent said it would affect his campaign positively.

The mystery creator of the Orwellian YouTube ad against Hillary Rodham Clinton is a Democratic operative who worked for a digital consulting firm with ties to rival Sen. Barack Obama.

Philip de Vellis, a strategist with Blue State Digital, acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press that he was the creator of the video, which portrayed Clinton as a Big Brother figure and urged support for Obama's presidential campaign.

De Vellis said he resigned from the firm on Wednesday after he learned that he was about to be unmasked by the HuffingtonPost.com., a liberal news and opinion Internet site.

Blue State designed Obama's Web site and one of the firm's founding members, Joe Rospars, took a leave from the company to work as Obama's director of new media.

"It's true ... yeah, it's me," de Vellis said Wednesday evening.
He said he produced the ad outside of work and that neither Blue State nor the Obama campaign was aware of his role in the ad.

"But it raises some eyebrows, so I thought it best that I resign and not put them in that position."

In a statement released Wednesday evening, the Obama campaign said:

"The Obama campaign and its employees had no knowledge and had nothing to do with the creation of the ad. We were notified this evening by a vendor of ours, Blue State Digital, that an employee of the company had been involved in the making of this ad. Blue State Digital has separated ties with this individual and we have been assured he did no work on our campaign's account."

The Clinton campaign had no immediate comment.

The connection to the Obama camp, however, poses a public relations problem for the campaign. Obama has argued that he is a different type of presidential candidate who rejects negative politics.

The ad was guerrilla politics at its cleverest and had become the boffo hit of the YouTube Web site.

The 74-second clip, a copy of a 1984 Apple ad for its Macintosh computer, has recorded nearly 1.5 million views, with an enormous surge in the past two days. The video's final image reads "BarackObama.com."

De Vellis remained hidden for weeks, protected by the anonymity afforded by YouTube and the absence of federal regulations governing most Internet political speech.

The ad portrayed Clinton on a huge television screen addressing robotic humans in a stark, futuristic hall. A female athlete tosses a hammer at the screen, destroying Clinton's image with an explosive flash. Then this text: "On January 14th the Democratic primary will begin. And you will see why 2008 isn't going to be like '1984.'"

De Vellis said he used footage of an updated Apple ad that portrayed the female athlete wearing an iPod. He said he used standard Apple equipment to modify the video and edit Clinton's image into the clip.

Obama, appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday night, said his campaign knew nothing about the origins of the anti-Clinton ad.

"Frankly, given what it looks like, we don't have the technical capacity to create something like this," he said. "It's pretty extraordinary."

Four Years Later

Four years later, and we're still in Iraq. Mission Accomplished? No. Here's what was posted on BarackObama.com on the fourth anniversary.

Too many have seen friends and family killed or wounded, and all of us have seen the damage to our national security and good standing that will take years to undo.

This strategic blunder will have consequences for a generation of Americans and beyond.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/vim5sq0gjsg/9iO3Ag

Speaking out against this administration's reckless rush to war in Iraq wasn't easy four years ago. Washington didn't go easy on those brave enough to voice their opposition.

The same pattern continues today. From questioning someone's patriotism to accusations of aiding the enemy, almost no smear tactic is out-of-bounds when it comes to attacking those who speak out against this tragic war.

But from the beginning -- before George Bush announced the invasion of Iraq four years ago today -- Barack Obama consistently opposed this war.

Today he's got a plan to end it. His plan to begin a phased withdrawal of our troops by May 1st is the foundation around which Democrats of all stripes have united.

Now it's your time to lead.

From our resource and action center, you can write a letter to the editor, support Barack's plan to bring the troops home, and even upload your own video about why you want to end this war. Take action on Iraq now:

http://action.barackobama.com/iraqaction

On this page, you can also find a link to various ways you can assist troops in the field, veterans who’ve returned home, and the families of those whose service we honor. And so as we work to get them out of harm’s way in Iraq, please take a moment to do something for those who have sacrificed most.

All of us need to act now, because the administration still hasn't gotten the message about this war.

Just this morning, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice demonstrated the Bush administration's head-in-the-sand approach to Iraq.

Asked to name the biggest mistake over the last four years, she couldn't name one. She said, "I don't know. When we look back over time we will know the answer to that question."

The time to fix our course in Iraq is now. We can't wait for the Bush administration to act -- it's up to you.

Shift to Obama

There has been a recent noticeable shift in sentiment among African American voters, who little more than a month ago heavily supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton but now favor the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama.

Clinton continues to lead Obama and other rivals in the Democratic contest, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll. But her once-sizable margin over the freshman senator from Illinois was sliced in half during the past month largely because of Obama's growing support among black voters.

The question is now whether others who have typically supported either Clinton will also shift their support...