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Barack Obama Post-Debate Comments About John McCain

2008-09-28T08:45:00.003-05:00

Barak Obama's post-debate comments about John McCain. (Reportered in the LA Times)
At (a) Greensboro rally, Obama said: "The truth is, through 90 minutes of debate, John McCain had a lot to say about me. But he had nothing to say about you."Didn't even say the words 'middle class.' Didn't say the words 'working people.' You see, I think Sen. McCain just doesn't get it. He doesn't get this crisis on Wall Street. He doesn't get the fact that it hit Main Street long ago."
Obama said that for two weeks, McCain had been "shifting solutions . . . looking for a photo op and trying to figure out what to say and what to do" about the nation's financial woes. "Well, North Carolina, I know what we need to do," Obama said.
"We need to stop giving tax cuts to corporations and CEOs on Wall Street and start standing up for families on Main Street."
Obama also chided the Arizona senator for reusing a familiar line in the debate. In condemning federal pork-barrel projects, McCain had cited a study on grizzly bear DNA.
"He railed against some study on bears in Montana," Obama said. "That's an old line he's been using since the beginning of this campaign. But he had nothing to say about the fact that more and more Americans can't afford to pay for their college education; can't afford healthcare for their families; can't afford a retirement that is dignified and secure."
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WATCH THE FULL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (Sept 26)

2008-09-27T14:18:00.001-05:00

Watch the full debate from Mississippi.

Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) on SNL Again

2008-09-27T14:11:00.001-05:00

From WatchingTheMediaForYou.com
Maybe Tina Fey can rescue SNL once again. Fey is expected to return tonight as Palin on 'Saturday Night Live', according to TMZ.com
Sources tell TMZ Emmy darling Tina Fey will reprise her role as Sarah Palin on tomorrow night's episode of "Saturday Night Live." Anna Faris is the host, Duffy (who?) is the musical guest. We're also told Chris Parnell ('memba him?!) will play the roll of Jim Lehrer, who is moderating tonight's McCain/Obama debate.

This will be a good thing. Fey was the fantastic hit on the season opener of SNL two weeks ago. Last week, the show got off track with some mediocre political skits. I'll be glad to see her back.
That said, there is this scuttle... the Fey didn't really want to do the Palin skit. Here's a bit of the story posted on MSNBC from 'Access Hollywood'.
On the Emmy red carpet, Fey revealed to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush she actually refused to play her political look-a-like when it was first proposed.
“I was fighting them all week on it,” Fey said. “I kept saying, ‘I don’t want to do it, I’m not an impressionist.’ I kept telling (‘SNL’ producer) Lorne (Michaels), ‘No! I’ll show up ... I’ll do anything except play her. I can’t do it.’ Then, I was worn down. Lorne wore me down by the end of the week.”

See the full skit here.

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CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
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Reaction To The Presidential Debate -- BLAH

2008-09-27T13:55:00.001-05:00

From WatchingTheMediaForYou.com
The presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama was just a a few degrees better than watching paint drive. Niether hit a home run. Both seem control. Obama seemed more clearly focused on his rehearsal answers. McCain was just plan. I watched on CNN HD and enjoyed the voters reaction live along wtih the rankings from the CNN experts.

Dana Milbanks at the Washington Post hit the target: "Lukewarm"
And both were so mild that moderator Jim Lehrer didn't know what to do. "Talk to each other," he urged. "Say it directly to him," he pleaded. "Do you have something directly to say, Senator Obama, to Senator McCain about what he just said? . . . Respond directly to him about that, to Senator Obama about that. He's made it twice now."

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John McCain About Freddie Mac Connection

2008-09-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
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Barack Obama In Florida

2008-09-23T21:09:00.000-05:00

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Campaign Related: John And Cindy McCain Boost 'The View'

2008-09-20T16:34:00.002-05:00

You just have to wonder... are Americans so interested in the presidential race because of the economy or the war?

John and Cindy McCain helped "The View' to some of it's best ratings.... EVER. This from TV Week.
John and Cindy McCain’s appearance on “The View” on Sept. 15 was the talk show’s fourth most watched telecast ever with 4.62 million total viewers.
The appearance helped the show deliver its highest-rated week in a year and a half among total viewers and the seventh best week of its 12-year run with 3.95 million viewers.
“The View” placed in the top three daytime programs for women 18-49 for the second straight week with a 1.3 rating. The show also attracted a 0.9 rating for women 18-34, placing it in the top three for the demographic.

Take a look at some of the highlights.

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Palin, Clinton On Saturday Night LIVE

2008-09-14T20:57:00.002-05:00

I try to limit my posts after the conventions to Barack Obama and John McCain... but last night's Saturday Night LIVE with Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton characters was great. Here it is. You can also find a clean version at nbc.com.

By the way... here are the ratings for the show... courtesy TV Week.
“Saturday Night Live’s” 34th season premiere featuring Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and Lil Wayne, plus cameo appearances from “30 Rock’s” Tina Fey and William Shatner, hit a ratings high not seen since 2001.
The show drew a 7.4 rating/18 share in overnight metered households in 55 markets, according to preliminary Nielsen Media Research data.
That opening is the highest for "SNL" since its first episode after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which aired on Sept. 29 and was hosted by actress Reese Witherspoon.Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama had planned to make an appearance on last night's show as well. However, he canceled because of Hurricane Ike. "In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Sen. Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on 'Saturday Night Live,'" Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Compared with last year’s season-opening “SNL,” this year is up 64% in Nielsen metered markets.
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CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
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Barack Obama and John McCain At The Presidential Service Summit

2008-09-14T20:50:00.002-05:00

John McCain and Barack Obama took part in a Q&A Thursday about service in America. See their full interviews.\

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Barack Obama on Letterman

2008-09-14T20:48:00.001-05:00

Barack Obama discussed the 'lipstick' campaign comment during an appearance on David Letterman';s show.

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John McCain On 'The View'

2008-09-14T20:45:00.002-05:00

John McCain dumped himself right into a fire pit by appearing on the 'The View' on ABC. It was not comfortable... or pretty for that matter.

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Barack Obama - 'Lipstick on a pig' Comment and Reaction

2008-09-10T19:17:00.002-05:00

Here is Barack Obama's 'lipstick on a pig' comment that has caused controversy. He also talked about it today... when he was scheduled to focus on education.

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Barack Obama At The DNC (Full Speech)

2008-09-09T21:51:00.002-05:00

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Joe Biden At The DNC (Full Speech)

2008-09-09T21:49:00.004-05:00

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John McCain At The RNC (Full Speech)

2008-09-09T21:49:00.002-05:00

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Sara Palin At The RNC (Full speech)

2008-09-09T21:41:00.004-05:00

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John McCain About Britney Ad.. and Light Sabers

2008-08-03T09:15:00.002-05:00

From ABCNews.com....
We’ll continue to have humor in our campaigns,” McCain said. “Those ads really were focused on two things. They were focused on the fact that Sen. Obama wants to raise taxes, and I’m opposed of it. And he opposes an energy policy which would work, including offshore drilling. So the message there is there’re stark differences between myself and Sen. Obama.”
But McCain wasn’t done joking, either.
“I kind of enjoy ‘em,” McCain said of the ads. “You gotta have a sense of humor in this.
“You know, a few days ago, Sen. Obama said he challenged me to a duel," McCain said. “I’m for the light sabers as weapons of choice.”
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Barack Obama On Off Shore Drilling Position

2008-08-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama told The Palm Beach Post early into a two-day swing through Florida. ((Reported on CNN.com))
But on Saturday morning, Obama said this "wasn't really a new position."
"I made a general point about the fact that we need to provide the American people some relief and that there has been constructive conversations between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on this issue," he said during a press conference in Cape Canaveral.
"What I will not do, and this has always been my position, is to support a plan that suggests this drilling is the answer to our energy problems," Obama added.
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Barack Obama About Lieberman and McCain Roles

2008-08-03T09:10:00.001-05:00

“See, you are setting me up for trouble,” he says. “I would have them – “ He pauses. “Senator McCain, I would have him serve in the role of loyal opposition.”“In the minority,” he adds. “Now there is an important function to be served there. It is important to have an opposition that is giving you a hard time and keeping you on your toes and calling you out.”
Reported in the New York Times.... Obama's response about a role for Joe Lieberman and John McCain
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Obama and McCain On Energy Plan

2008-07-31T20:52:00.001-05:00

The New York Times reports...
“So under my opponent’s plan, the oil companies get billions more and we stay in the same cycle of dependence on big oil that got us into this crisis,” Barack Obama told more than a thousand people in a college gym here. “That’s a risk that we just can’t afford to take. Not this time.”...
“We can’t have a policy that tinkers around the margins while going down an oil company’s wish list — it’s time to fundamentally transform our energy economy,” he said. These steps are not far-off, pie-in-the-sky solutions.”
----
“He suggested we put air in our tires to save on gas,” John McCain said. “My friends, let’s do that, but do you think that’s enough to break our dependence on Middle Eastern oil? I don’t think so.”
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CAMPAIGN RELATED: Daddy Hilton Contributes To McCain Campaign... Before The Ad

2008-07-31T20:47:00.002-05:00

From WatchingTheMediaForYou
Mollygood has some scoope on John McCain and that ugly ad that compares Barack Obama to the celebrity of Paris Hitlon. Apparently.... daddy Hilton is a big contributor to the McCain campaign.
Just one day after releasing an attack ad that equates Barack Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears – thus calling the Democratic nominee a vapid celebrity – John McCain has been apprised of the news that Rick Hilton, Paris’ father, is a big donor to his campaign. Rick gave $4,600 to McCain last March, presumably not expecting that his money would be used to shit all over his own daughter months later. Yay, politics!
I hate to give my opinion on this one.. but geez. Haven't political campaigns learned to check these things? Perhaps the McCain camp should have at least alerted the Hilton's that the ad was coming.

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John McCain And Dalai Lama About China

2008-07-28T20:25:00.002-05:00

“I urge the Chinese leaders to engage in talks and make progress with his Holiness's representatives in addressing the just grievances of the Tibetan people," McCain said and was quoted by CBCNews.com

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Barack Obama at UNITY Journalists Convention

2008-07-28T20:22:00.002-05:00

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Obama In Germany. See The Speech - BBC Coverage

2008-07-28T20:19:00.002-05:00

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CAMPAIGN RELATED: Jesse Jackson Apologizes For Comments About Barack Obama -- SEE THE VIDEO

2008-07-09T19:38:00.003-05:00

Jesse Jackson was caught saying things about Barack Obama he wished no one heard....
There was an open microphone...
FOX News and Bill O'Reilly show the clip tonight...
Now, Jackson is apologizing well ahead of the tapes....

Here is how Jackson described what happened.... (from CNN this afternoon).
I was in a conversation with a fellow guest at Fox on Sunday. He asked about Barack's
speeches lately at the black churches. I said it can come off as speaking down to black people.
The moral message must be a much broader message. What we need really is racial justice and
urban policy and jobs and healthcare. There is a range of issues on the menu.
And frankly, I think that is his basic urban policy position. No one else has put one together
except him in the situation.
And then I said something I felt regret for -- it was crude. It was very private, and very much a
sound bite -- and a live mike. And so I feel -- I find no comfort in it, I find no joy in it. So I
immediately called the senator's campaign to send my statement of apology to repair. READ THE FULL CNN TRANSCRIPT.

Here's the apology from Jackson. "For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment. My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.... That was the context of my private conversation and it does not reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading it, whom I have supported by crisscrossing this nation in every level of media and audience from the beginning in absolute terms."

A spokesperosn for Obama said this on his behalf: “As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children’s lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson’s apology.”

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John McCain - Why He Supports Free Trade

2008-07-07T19:38:00.001-05:00

As reported in the New York Times, “Five years ago, the outdoor footwear company, Crocs, was started by a couple of entrepreneurs with a great idea, ingenuity and drive." “This former small business now employs 600 people in Colorado alone, and sells over 50 percent of its products in 90 countries around the world. Building barriers to Crocs or any American company’s access to foreign markets will have a devastating effect on our economy and jobs, and the prosperity of American families.’’
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CAMPAIGN RELATED: Obama To Accept Nomination At Mile High Stadium?

2008-07-05T21:23:00.001-05:00

TVNEWSER.com has the scoop.
First on TVNewser: Network insiders tell TVNewser an emergency meeting of the five networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX & NBC) will occur Monday afternoon to determine what to do about Thursday's news that Sen. Barack Obama may accept the Democratic nomination for president at Invesco Field at Mile High rather than at the Pepsi Center where the first three days of next month's convention will be held.
No decision has been made but insiders tell us the Obama campaign is expected to announce the move on Monday. While the Pepsi Center can hold about 21,000 people Invesco Field can accommodate more than 76,000
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Barack Obama - Changing His Iraq Policy?

2008-07-04T16:22:00.003-05:00

From MSNBC.com.
“I am going to do a thorough assessment when I’m there,” Barack Obama said. “I’m sure I’ll have more information and continue to refine my policy.”
“Apparently I was not clear enough this morning,” he said. He blamed any confusion on the McCain campaign, which he said had “primed the pump with the press” to suggest “we were changing our policy when we haven’t.”
“I have said throughout this campaign that this war was ill-conceived, that it was a strategic blunder and that it needs to come to an end,” he said. “I have also said I would be deliberate and careful about how we get out. That position has not changed. I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position.”
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Barack Obama - About Abortion

2008-07-04T09:53:00.002-05:00

As reported on MyWay.com, Barack Obama said prohibitions on late-term abortions must contain "a strict, well defined exception for the health of the mother."
"Now, I don't think that 'mental distress' qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term." ...

"There was a bill that came up in Illinois that was called the 'Born Alive' bill that purported to require life-saving treatment to such infants. And I did vote against that bill," Obama said. "The reason was that there was already a law in place in Illinois that said that you always have to supply life-saving treatment to any infant under any circumstances, and this bill actually was designed to overturn Roe v. Wade, so I didn't think it was going to pass constitutional muster."
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John McCain - About Wesley Clark and Barack Obama

2008-07-01T20:09:00.002-05:00

"I think it's up to Sen. Obama now to not only repudiate him, but to cut him loose," McCain said to a small group of reporters somewhere between Indianapolis, IN, and Cartagena, Colombia. (Reported by ABCNews.com)
For two days, the Obama campaign has been off message, forced to manage the fallout surrounding comments Clark made about McCain's war service in a broadcast interview Sunday. ..."I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president."
Onboard his plane Tuesday, McCain was asked if Obama -- who did reject Clark's comments on Monday --had done enough to repudiate the general. He didn't take the bait. "That's up to others to decide," said McCain. "I'm not going to worry about the comments General Clark made."
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Barack Obama - About Religious Groups

2008-07-01T20:05:00.002-05:00

Barack Obama is quotes in the New York Times.
“The fact is, the challenges we face today — from saving our planet to ending poverty — are simply too big for government to solve alone,” “We need all hands on deck.”
“Now, I know there are some who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square,” Mr. Obama intends to say. “But the fact is, leaders in both parties have recognized the value of a partnership between the White House and faith-based groups.”
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Barack Obama - Word Association On FOX Business

2008-06-26T18:00:00.002-05:00

Check out this clip from FOX Business. It's Barack Obama in a game of work association with Alexis Glick

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Barack Obama - Responds To James Dobson

2008-06-24T18:07:00.002-05:00

On ABCNews.com, Barack Obama responds to criticism from James Dobson, leader of the Christian group Focus on the Family.
"I have no idea what he's referring to. Anybody who's read that speech will tell you that I extol the need for people with religious faith to express their views in the public square and I don't interpret the Bible in the ways he's referring to," Obama said.
"Either he didn't read the speech or he's just trying to score political points and either way, I don't think it's a particularly useful way to talk about these issues,"
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John McCain - About Another Terrorist Attack Comment

2008-06-24T07:07:00.004-05:00

Reported on CNN.com about a John McCain adviser saying that a terror attack on the U.S. would benefit McCain.
"I can not imagine why he would say it. It's not true," McCain said. "I've worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear."
McCain cited his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee and his role in creating the 9/11 Commission in describing his efforts to stop terrorist attacks on American soil.
"If he said that, and I do not know the context, I strenuously disagree," McCain said.
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John McCain - About The Future Of Cars

2008-06-24T07:04:00.001-05:00

Reported in the New York Times:
“I further propose we inspire the ingenuity and resolve of the American people,” Mr. McCain said, “by offering a $300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.”
“Whether it takes a meeting with automakers during my first month in office, or my signature on an act of Congress,” he said, “we will meet the goal of a swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil.”
“As taxpayers, we foot the bill for the enormous subsidies paid to corn producers,” he said. “And as consumers, we pay extra at the pump because of government barriers to cheaper products from abroad.”
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CAMPAIGN RELATED: Tom Brokaw To Host 'Meet The Press' Through The Election

2008-06-22T10:02:00.004-05:00

Read more here.
Brian Willaims hosted 'Meet The Press' this morning. At the end of the broadcast, Williams menioned that while he would host the show from time to time, Tom Brokaw would host the show for the near future. Williams added that Brokaw would handle the program at least through the election season. That's a great relief to this loyal viewer of the show. It provides some stability... and still allows NBC time to find the appropriate next anchor to follow Russert.
---
The release from NBC News:
TOM BROKAW TO SERVE AS MODERATOR OF "MEET THE PRESS" THROUGH 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
(New York) - June 22, 2008 - Beginning on Sunday, June 29, NBC News' Tom Brokaw will serve as moderator of "Meet the Press" through the 2008 presidential election. The broadcast will continue to originate from the NBC News Bureau in Washington D.C. The announcement was made today by NBC News President Steve Capus.
"A lot has been said in recent days about what 'Meet the Press' means to NBC News and to the nation," said Capus. "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."
â€œSome of my best memories from covering the last several presidential elections have included working closely with Tom, so I know just how lucky we are to have him step in as moderator for 'Meet the Press,'" said executive producer Betsy Fischer. "His intellect, focus and calming presence is exactly what we need to move forward smartly and remain the No. 1 public affairs show on television as we head into one of the most pivotal elections in our nation's history."
For his part, Brokaw said, "I've been appearing on 'Meet the Press' since the days of Watergate when it was moderated by Lawrence E. Spivak right through the distinguished tenure of my great friend, Tim Russert, so I feel right at home. Tim made 'Meet the Press' the center of the universe for informative and lively discussions of public affairs, particularly the exciting 2008 campaign for president, and I intend to continue that commitment to our viewers."
Betsy Fischer is the executive producer and Michelle Jaconi and Rebecca Samuels are the producers of "Meet the Press," which is seen on the NBC Television Network from 9-10 a.m. ET in most markets. In Washington D.C. and New York City, the broadcast is seen from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET. Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (www.mtp.msnbc.com) for television and radio broadcast times in your area.

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John McCain - Faces A Week of Controversy

2008-06-22T08:11:00.001-05:00

As reported on Huffington Post (via the Associated Press), Friday's trip to Canada brought more controversy.
McCain arrived aboard his chartered campaign jet, yet told reporters at a news conference, "this is not a political campaign trip." The senator added he didn't feel it was appropriate to have the government to pay "while I am the nominee of my party."
The centerpiece of the six-hour visit was a speech to the Economic Club of Canada that amounted to a cross-border political attack. McCain criticized Obama, without mentioning him by name, for his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls," he said.
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John McCain - Blasts Barack Obama On NAFTA

2008-06-22T08:04:00.001-05:00

John McCain blasts Barack Obama on NAFTA (reported on FOXNews.com), “For months, Barack Obama said that he would ‘make sure that we renegotiate’ NAFTA, demanded unilateral changes and threatened to unilaterally withdraw if he did not get his way. Barack Obama knew better. America has not had a protectionist president since Herbert Hoover, but Barack Obama held his position anyway to further his cynical political purposes in the primary campaign."
“Now he claims: ‘I’m not a big believer in doing things unilaterally.’ Barack Obama should know words matter — especially in a campaign based on rhetoric rather than a record of accomplishment. The American people and our allies deserve better than calculated efforts to re-invent positions to sound less irresponsible.”
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Barack Obama - Talks About The Republican Campaign Against Him

2008-06-22T07:59:00.002-05:00

As reported on ABCNews.com, "It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy," Obama told a fundraiser in Jacksonville, Florida. "We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?"
"We know the strategy because they've already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn't moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us," he said.
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Barack Obama - About John McCain's Plan To Help Cities

2008-06-22T07:52:00.003-05:00

Barack Obama, speaking at the U.S. Conference of Mayors (reported on CNN.com), said, "Because while Sen. McCain is a true patriot ... he won't be that partner. His priorities are very different from yours and mine. ... He isn't proposing a strategy for America's cities. Instead, he's calling for nearly $2 trillion in tax breaks for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans."
Obama also hit hard on McCain's trip to Iowa this week to see firsthand the effects of devastating flooding.
"Both Sen. McCain and I have traveled recently to the areas that have been devastated by floods. And I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. ... And I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."
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Barack Obama - To Campaign With Hillary Clinton

2008-06-20T17:43:00.002-05:00

As reported in USAToday: Clinton and Obama met privately on June 5 after ditching reporters to make sure there would be no photos or coverage of the first post-race meeting. Obama was asked Wednesday whether they were talking.
"I have not had conversations with Senator Clinton because she has been getting a well-deserved vacation," he said at the time. "We will be speaking I think in the next few days or certainly the next week and will be having an ongoing conversation."

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Barack Obama - About John McCain and Offshore Drilling

2008-06-20T17:39:00.002-05:00

"When I hear McCain say that he is now in favor of the same oil drilling off the coast that he was opposed to just a week ago, what he doesn't tell you is that George Bush's own energy department has said that this would have no impact on consumers until 2030," Barack Obama said (and reported on CNN.com, "no appreciable impact for the next 22 years. Something they're not telling consumers."
"John McCain's proposal, George Bush's proposal to drill offshore here in Florida, and other places around the country, would not provide families with any relief, this year, next year, five years from now," he said. "Believe me, if I thought there was any evidence at all that drilling could save people money who are struggling to fill up their gas tanks by this summer or the next few years, I would consider it, but it won't."
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Barack Obama - About The Economy

2008-06-19T19:12:00.001-05:00

As reported on FOXNews.com, “The economy is not working the way it should be, and that’s going to be the goal of an Obama presidency — to make sure we’ve got bottom-up economic growth instead of the kind of tired, worn-out, trickle-down ideologies we’ve been seeing for so many years," Barack Obama said.
“I’m going to meet with corporate CEOs sometime next week to hear from them about what they think we need to do to make the economy more competitive. But I want everybody here to understand the reason we wanted to organize this is that if our economy is not benefiting the average person … then it’s not doing its job.
“In fact, the economy, for big chucks of the last eight years, has actually grown. The problem is that all the benefits have gone to a handful of people and the vast majority has seen their actual income and wages go down effectively at the same time as the price of everything from gas to food has gone up.”
***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

Barack Obama - About Not Accepting Public Financing

2008-06-19T19:02:00.002-05:00

About public financing, Barack Obama said (as quoted in the New York Times), “The public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system, John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs. And we’ve already seen that he’s not going to stop the smears and attacks from his allies running so-called 527 groups, who will spend millions and millions of dollars in unlimited donations.”
“Instead of forcing us to rely on millions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs, you’ve fueled this campaign with donations of $5, $10, $20, whatever you can afford,” he told his supporters in the video message. “And because you did, we’ve built a grassroots movement of over 1.5 million Americans.”
***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

John McCain - Criticizes Obama On Public Financing Decision

2008-06-19T18:59:00.003-05:00

"Sen. Obama's reversal on public financing is one of a number of reversals ... that he has taken," John McCain said, as reported on CNN.com.
"This election is about a lot of things, but it's also about trust. It's also about whether you can take people's word. ... He said he would stick to his agreement. He didn't."
"We''l have to reevaluate in light of his decision," he said. But he said he leans toward taking public money.
***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

CAMPAIGN RELATED: Who Should Replace Tim Russert on 'Meet The Press'

2008-06-16T21:53:00.003-05:00

From Watching The Media For You: It’s the question causing a lot of chatter since Tim Russert’s sudden death Friday at NBC’s Washington, DC bureau. Who will replace Russert on the ‘Meet the Press’ anchor desk?

Here’s my two cents: TOM BROKAW needs to do ‘Meet the Press’ at least through the November election. He should be named interim host to lead the show through one of the most historic elections in modern history. The show needs it. NBC needs it. The election process needs it. As Russert often said, ‘Meet the Press’ was the star of the show… not him. Brokaw may not want to ink the deal for the long haul but he certainly could help stabilize things through November. NBC does not need a distraction of bringing in a new face and a new approach during this election process. Please, please, please NBC. Use Tom Brokaw now. And, use this time to search for an appropriate anchor for this show. Don’t make a rushed or rash decision that could harm the show so many of us political junkies love!
Having said that, who else may be a good fit for the long haul if Brokaw doesn’t want it? I’ll begin with some names that few people are talking about… but could really be good for the show.
Ted Koppel – This was an interesting suggestion I heard from a friend who works in TV news in Indianapolis. Koppel is a respected, known quantity in TV news.
Unfortunately he is battling a sickness... but Tony Snow would have the political chops to handle the chair.
Aaron Brown – Many seem to have forgotten that Brown was a strong force for CNN during 9/11. He’s a respected journalist.
Harry Smith – This may be highly unlikely… but Smith is the strongest interviewer on the “Early Show’, I also enjoy watching him on Sunday morning’s when he subs on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’.
Chris Wallace – It would be a return for Wallace. If given a chance to anchor ‘Meet the Press’, Wallace should jump at it. Like Snow, he would have the political insight to keep the show at an elevated level.
Dan Rather – How about that? LOL. It would create a lot of chatter but even I can’t make that case.
Now the rest of the list…
David Gregory – He’s on everyone’s list. I like him but I believe ‘Meet the Press’ really needs a veteran news person at the helm.
Katie Couric – Some are making the case that it’s a good fit. I don’t think so. I like Katie too… but ‘Meet the Press’ is not for Katie.
Brian Williams – He too is on many lists. But he needs to stay focused on keeping the ‘Nightly News’ ship full steam ahead.
Andrea Mitchell – I like her too… but even she admits she’s not an anchor.

OTHER LISTS/SUGGESTIONS: New York Times, Associated Press, Gawker, Newsday

Be sure to vote in the poll on Watching The Media For You. Spread the link around… let’s see if any of the names I’ve mentioned above actually click in the poll.

John McCain - "We are winning in Iraq"

2008-06-16T18:38:00.004-05:00

John McCain in Arlinton, Virginia reports that "We are winning in Iraq." Video is from the Associated Press.

Plus this from NECN.com which quoted content from McCain's press conference.
I will be mentioning I was once in the United States Navy, stationed their, the commonwealth of Virginia in the Tidewater area. So we have to work hardhere in Virginia. I do not take it lightly, I watched the results of recent elections in this state, so I do have a lot of work to do.
Congratulate senator Obama for his excellent use of the internet, we are working very hard at it as well. And as the father of young men and women, ranging from 16-23, I understand from them, not only their issues, by how important, and vital role the internet plays.
I am happy with the degree of unity our party has. Now, do we have a lot of work to do, of course. But I am confident the progress we are making issignificant and substantial.
Consequences of Senator Obama's advocacy for time for withdrawal, set dateswithout regard for conditions on the ground, in my view leads to chaos andgenocide.
***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

John McCain - How Oil Prices Are Affecting Consumers

2008-06-16T18:29:00.003-05:00

As reported on FOXNews.com, the GOP presidential candidate said a recent run-up in the price of oil was having an adverse effect on consumers.
“We’ve seen the impact of it in the form of food prices, in the form of gasoline, in the form of threats of inflation and indeed indications of inflation, and we must we must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil,”
***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

Barack Obama To Visit Iraq

2008-06-16T18:25:00.003-05:00

“We have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said as reported in the New York Times. “I gave him (Iraq's foreign prime minister) an assurance that should we be elected, an Obama administration will make sure that we continue with the progress that’s been made in Iraq – that we won’t act precipitously, but that we will move to end U.S. combat forces in Iraq.”
"My concern is that the Bush administration, in a weakened state politically, ends up trying to rush an agreement that in some ways might be binding to the next administration, whether it’s my administration or Senator McCain’s administration. The foreign minister agreed that the next administration should not be bound by an agreement that’s currently made.”

***
CANDIDATE WEBSITES:
John McCain -- Barack Obama

Barack Obama - Speaking In Chicago Church About Parents Missing In Action

2008-06-15T15:29:00.008-05:00

Barack Obama spoke in a mostly black Chicago church about parenting (from the New York Times): “Too many fathers are M.I.A, too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.” “I know the toll it took on me, not having a father in the house. The hole in your heart when you don’t have a male figure in the home who can guide you and lead you. So I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle — that that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my children.”
About nutrition of children: “I know how hard it is to get kids to eat properly. But I also know that folks are letting our children drink eight sodas a day, which some parents do, or, you know, eat a bag of potato chips for lunch. Buy a little desk or put that child at the kitchen table. Watch them do their homework.”
Also… “But we also need families to raise our children. We need fathers to realize that responsibility doesn’t just end at conception. That doesn’t just make you a father. What makes you a man is not the ability to have a child. Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” SEE THE SPEECH

***
CHECK OUT "Watching The Media For You"

John McCain - Goes After Clinton Voters

2008-06-15T08:01:00.004-05:00

John McCain is hoping to appeal to Hillary Clinton voters. From ABCNews.com: "I assure you, with confidence, at the end of my first term you will see a dramatic increase of women in every part of the government, in my administration. I look you in the eye and I promise." "Every place that I go, I'm told that Sen. Clinton inspired millions of young women in this country," McCain said. "And not necessarily young women -– inspired a whole generation of young Americans in this country.""I think we have to convince people that our view, that the rights of the unborn are as important as rights of the born," McCain said. "Because I think we share the same respect for human life."
***
CHECK OUT "Watching The Media For You"

Barack Obama - Helps Sandbagging and Talks To A Young Boy

2008-06-14T22:45:00.004-05:00

Barack Obama visited Quincy, Illinois. He helped with sandbagging to prevent flooding. While doing that, he talked with a young boy.
***
CHECK OUT "Watching The Media For You"

CAMPAIGN RELATED: Michael Moore's Plans To Disrupt The Republican Convention

2008-06-14T22:34:00.003-05:00

Michael Moore apparently has some special plans for the GOP convention in St. Paul. If you check out his website, you'll find a push to 'shutdown the RNC'. Here's part of the plan published on his website.
"...The direct action framework will allow SDS chapters to work with those engaging in similar tactics, both within and outside SDS. Finally, chapters are free to theme their actions how they see fit and there could conceivably be SDS actions highlighting everything from the occupation of Iraq to the rising cost of tuition. Regardless of the themes and tactics chosen, imagine the excitement that we would all feel if SDS held down a few intersections and played a key role in shutting down the RNC... To that end, we are calling on SDS chapters to both endorse and participate in a three-tiered system for disrupting the RNC on its opening day. At a gathering of over 100 anti-authoritarians from around the country in August of 2007 (facilitated by the Twin Cities based RNC Welcoming Committee), the following direct action strategy was adopted to shut down the RNC:
Tier 1: Blockade the Xcel Center - Establish 15-20 blockades utilizing a diversity of tactics, creating inner and outer rings around St. Paul's Xcel Center.
Tier 2: Immobilize Delegates' Transportation - Immobilize the delegates' transportation infrastructure, including buses, bus depots, etc.
Tier 3: Block Connecting Bridges - Block the five western bridges connecting the cities.
See more here.

John McCain - About Tim Russert

2008-06-14T17:50:00.006-05:00

"I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death. Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation. He was truly a great American who loved his family, his friends, his Buffalo Bills, and everything about politics and America. He was just a terrific guy. I was proud to call him a friend, and in the coming days, we will pay tribute to a life whose contributions to us all will long endure."

***
CHECK OUT "Watching The Media For You"

Barack Obama - About Tim Russert

2008-06-14T17:49:00.005-05:00

"I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke at the convention in 2004. He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend. There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief-stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. And I hope that, even though Tim is irreplaceable, that the standard that he set in his professional life and his family life are standards that we all carry with us in our own lives."

***
CHECK OUT "Watching The Media For You"

John McCain - Talks About Obama Not Visiting Iraq Recently, PLUS Bringing Troops Home Comment

2008-06-12T17:34:00.003-05:00

"There is no disputing the facts on the ground," McCain said in Boston, Massachusetts. "We're now in the 800 and something or other day since Sen. Obama has visited Iraq, even before the surge even began. And incredibly, he has still not asked to sit down with Gen. [David] Petraeus, our commanding general, and asked to be briefed by him on the situation in Iraq.”
FROM CNN.COM
---
...and McCain on the 'Today Show' about when troops should be brought home from Iraq.

Barack Obama -Defends VP Search Member Who Resigned

2008-06-11T22:34:00.002-05:00

FROM NEWSDAY: "I am not vetting my vice presidential search committee for their mortgages. This is a game that can be played. Everybody who is tangentially related to our campaign is going to have a whole host of relationships," Barack Obama said, adding that (Jim) Johnson, a former head of Fannie Mae, is a voluntary adviser.
--
FROM WASHINGTON POST: "Jim Johnson has a very discrete task, as does Eric Holder [another member of the VP search team], and that is simply to gather up information about potential vice presidential candidates," Obama responded. "They're performing the job well. It's a volunteer, unpaid position and they're giving me information, and I will then exercise judgment in terms of who I'll want to select as a vice presidential candidate. So these are folks who are working for me, not people who I have assigned to a particular job in the future administration, and ultimately, my assumption is, is that this is a discrete task they'll be performing over the next two months."

John McCain - On Small Businesses

2008-06-10T20:49:00.001-05:00

FROM MSNBC. COM. "You work hard in small businesses to grow and create new jobs and opportunities for others," John McCain told a Washington gathering of the National Federation of Independent Business. "The federal government shouldn't make your work any harder."....
"I don't want to send any more of your earnings to the government," he said.

John McCain and Barack Obama On Their Economic Differences

2008-06-10T20:45:00.001-05:00

FROM CNN.COM
Speaking at the National Small Business Summit in Washington, McCain laid out the differences between his economic proposals and Obama's plan. "On tax policy, health-care reform, trade, government spending and a long list of other issues, we offer very different choices to the American people," he said. "No matter which of us wins in November, there will be change in Washington. The question is, what kind of change? ... Will we enact the largest single tax increase since the Second World War, as my opponent proposes, or will we keep taxes low for families and employers? ... This election offers Americans a very distinct choice about what kind of change we will have."
---
"Let me be clear. My tax reform plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of workers. ... I've said that John McCain is running to serve out a third Bush term. But the truth is, when it comes to taxes, that's not being fair to George Bush," Obama said.
Obama said Monday that lawmakers should inject an additional $50 billion into the economy.
"Such relief can't wait until the next president takes office. ... That's why I've called for another round of fiscal stimulus, an immediate $50 billion to help those who've been hit hardest by this economic downturn," Obama told a crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina. He said he supports the expansion and extension of unemployment benefits, as well as a second round of tax rebate checks.

John McCain - Attacks Obama For VP Search Member

2008-06-09T17:52:00.003-05:00

John McCain takes Barack Obama to task for associating his campaign with Jim Johnson (who is part of Obama's VP search committee). “I think it suggests a bit of a contradiction talking about how his campaign is gonna be not associated with people like that. Clearly he is very much associated with that." McCain is quoted on FOXNews.com. According to FOX, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Johnson received more than $7 million in loans from Countrywide Financial, at least two of which were at below-market rate, stemming from a relationship with the company’s CEO, Angelo Mozilo.

Barack Obama - Calls For Major Economic Relief Now

2008-06-09T17:49:00.001-05:00

Barack Obama is looking to inject $50 million into the economy now."Such relief can't wait until the next president takes office. ... That's why I've called for another round of fiscal stimulus, an immediate $50 billion to help those who've been hit hardest by this economic downturn," Obama is quoted on CNNMoney.com

Barack Obama - Targets McCain on Economy, Gas Prices

2008-06-09T17:45:00.004-05:00

(From MSNBC.com and the Associated Press) In linking McCain to President Bus, Obama said "our president sacrificed investments in health care, and education, and energy, and infrastructure on the altar of tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs."
"At a time when we're fighting two wars, when millions of Americans can't afford their medical bills or their tuition bills, when we're paying more than $4 a gallon for gas, the man who rails against government spending wants to spend $1.2 billion on a tax break for Exxon Mobil," Obama said. "That isn't just irresponsible. It's outrageous."
"Talk to somebody who owns a couple of trucks and makes a living with those trucks," McCain said. "Ask them whether they'd like to have some relief -- 18 1/2 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24 1/2 cents for diesel. They say it matters." Read more at MSNBC.com

John McCain -- Responds To Questions From Newsweek: Strategy, Obama Phone Call, etc

2008-06-08T19:12:00.004-05:00

John McCain talked with two Newsweek reporters... answering questions about Obama and other things. Here are several questions and answers. Read more at Newsweek.com

NEWSWEEK: Sir, Senator Obama is a hugely gifted politician. This is a brutal year on a clinical level for any Republican to be running.McCain: Umhmm.
So what's the strategy? How do you overcome those two things? Well, the strategy is the themes of reform, prosperity and peace, and I have the experience, background and a record and the kind of judgment to lead the country through extremely difficult times. There are threats to our economy that are incredibly serious—witness the unemployment numbers that just came out—and to our nation's security. I'm convinced that, using the kind of communications that won me the nomination of my party against significant odds, I will be able to gain the presidency as well. But I think it's got to do with substance, and it's got to do with a concrete plan of action for the future of the country.
The other night you were using the trope "That's not change we can believe in." Watching, it struck me that fighting on somebody else's rhetorical field and offering a negative as opposed to a positive is not the most vigorous way forward. Well, I think it's an important part of this campaign to point out that everybody wants change, but there is a right change and a wrong change. I believe that what Senator Obama is advocating is a return to the failed policies of the '60s and '70s—bigger government, higher taxes—and certainly not the same view on national-security challenges. So, I thought it was important to point out that there is a right change and a wrong change.
What did you and Senator Obama talk about [in a telephone call after Obama secured the nomination]? Well, first of all, it was a private conversation, but second of all it was cordial. I congratulated him, as you might expect, and said I looked forward to the town-hall meetings and hoped we could get started right away. I would like to do 10 of them, starting with one next week at Federal Hall in New York.

Barack Obama - Is McCain About Change?

2008-06-08T16:35:00.002-05:00

"John McCain has offered essentially four more years of the same," Barack Obama said and is quoted on KansasCity.com . "He says he's about change, too. Everybody's about change these days. But you know what, it's not about change when you vote with George W. Bush 95 percent of the time." However, he added gently: "John McCain and I are both Americans." Democrat or Republican, he said, "we all love our children and we all love this country."

Barack Obama -- Responds To Clinton Endorsement In Written Statement

2008-06-07T15:13:00.003-05:00

From Barack Obama.com

"Hillary Clinton announced her support for our campaign today.
Senator Clinton made history over the past 16 months -- not just because she has broken barriers, but because she has inspired millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to causes like universal health care that make a difference in the lives of hardworking Americans.
Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her.
Senator Clinton will be invaluable to our efforts to win in November, and I look forward to campaigning alongside her to bring this country the change it so desperately needs.
Hillary and her supporters are joining us at an urgent moment.
It's going to require a new level of commitment from every single one of us to build a national campaign in the general election.
And we're going win this election the right way -- by growing our grassroots network of ordinary people giving only what they can afford.
Will you help by making your first donation today?
If you give right now, a previous donor has agreed to match your gift, doubling its impact. Help us reach our goal of 20,000 new donors by making a matching donation today.
It's time for all of us to come together to take on John McCain in the general election. John McCain offers another four years of George Bush's policies, which our country simply cannot afford.
To win, we must continue building an unprecedented organization in all 50 states. And that will only happen if we all work together, side-by-side.
Thank you for joining this movement and supporting a new kind of politics.
Together we can do more than just win an election. Together we can change this country, and we can change the world.
And we are honored to have Hillary Clinton at our side as we do it.
Barack"

WATCH PART OF CLINTON'S SPEECH

John McCain -- Talks About Way In New Commercial

2008-06-07T15:08:00.003-05:00

"Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war ..." McCain is quoted in a new commercial released on Friday. He goes on to say. "I hate war. And I know how terrible its costs are." "I'm running for president to keep the country I love safe,"
The 30-second spot, released Friday, appears aimed at countering efforts by Senator Barack Obama's campaign to portray McCain as a warmonger for his support for persevering in Iraq.
Titled "Safe," it also pushes the McCain camp's message that America would be more secure under a McCain presidency than under the leadership of his much-less-experienced Democratic opponent.

Barack Obama -- Support Coming Saturday From Hillary Clinton

2008-06-07T09:28:00.001-05:00

"I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee and I intend to deliver on that promise," Clinton told supporters in an online message late this week. (from CBSNews.com) She said her speech would focus on "how together we can rally the party" behind Obama as he prepares for the general election against Arizona Sen. John McCain. "The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise."

John McCain -- Wants A Debate Every Week

2008-06-07T09:20:00.001-05:00

The Republican candidate yesterday congratulated (from the Guardian.co.UK) Obama on his victory and challenged him to a town hall debate every week between now and the Democratic convention at the end of August. McCain, speaking at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said John F Kennedy had made such an agreement with Barry Goldwater for the 1964 election.
"I don't think we need any big media-run production, no process question from reporters, no spin rooms," McCain said. "Just two Americans running for office in the greatest nation on Earth, responding to the questions of the people whose trust we must earn."

Barack Obama -- Talks To CNN About Two Major Domestic Issues

2008-06-06T14:28:00.002-05:00

Obama talked to CNN about two of the biggest domestic issues facing the country: universal health care and a long-term energy policy. Here is the clip.

John McCain -- Responds To Questions About Wiretaps & Clinton Supporters

2008-06-06T14:19:00.007-05:00

From the New York Times, Mr. McCain was asked whether he believed that the president had constitutional power to conduct surveillance on American soil for national security purposes without a warrant, regardless of federal statutes. He replied: “There are some areas where the statutes don’t apply, such as in the surveillance of overseas communications. Where they do apply, however, I think that presidents have the obligation to obey and enforce laws that are passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, no matter what the situation is.”
---
About attracting Hillary Clinton supporters: (From FOXNews.com) “I think there (are) a lot of Senator Clinton’s supporters who will support me because of their belief that Senator Obama does not have the experience or the knowledge or the judgment to address this nation’s national security challenges given we are in two wars,” McCain said Wednesday in Louisiana, casting Obama as an outside-the-mainstream partisan with “the most liberal voting record” in the Senate.

Barack Obama - At A Rally In Virginia

2008-06-06T14:13:00.002-05:00

“Listen, Virginia, I’m not going to be able to do it by myself; I am going to need every one of you,” Mr. Obama is quoted in teh New York Times telling an audience of several hundred supporters. “So in the next few months, I need you to be my ambassadors.”
--
As it relates to his vice presidential candidate search, Obama said, “Obviously, Senator Clinton’s been through this when President Clinton went through a very deliberative process before he selected Al Gore." He added, “There’s no decision that I’m going to make that’s going to be more important before the November election. I intend to do it right, and I’m not going to do it in the press.”

Hillary Clinton Victory Speech In Indiana

2008-05-06T22:11:00.002-05:00

"Not too long ago, my opponent made a prediction," Hillary Clinton is quoted on MSNBC. "I would win Pennsylvania, he would win North Carolina and Indiana would be the tie-breaker.
"Tonight we've come from behind, we've broken the tie and it's full speed on to the White House."

Barack Obama Victory Speech In North Carolina

2008-05-06T21:47:00.005-05:00

“There were those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election,” Barack Obama is quoted during his North Carolina victory speech in the New York. “But today, what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C.”
“We know what’s coming. We’ve seen it already.”“The attempts to play on our fears and exploit our differences to turn us against each other for pure political gain — to slice and dice this country into red states and blue states; blue-collar and white-collar; white and black, and brown.”
“This is what they will do, no matter which one of us is the nominee.”“The question, then, is not what kind of campaign they’ll run; it’s what kind of campaign we will run.”

From ABCNews.com. "This has been one of the longest, most closely fought contests in history." "And that's partly because we have such a formidable opponent in Senator Hillary Clinton."
In an apparent answer to Clinton's criticism that he is ill-prepared to withstand Republican attacks, Obama said: "The question, then, is not what kind of campaign they'll run, it's what kind of campaign we will run... I didn't get into race thinking that I could avoid this kind of politics, but I am running for President because this is the time to end it."

Hillary Clinton Talks About Gas Tax Holiday

2008-04-29T21:46:00.003-05:00

Hillary Clinton spoke out today about a gas tax holiday. (Reported on MSNBC.com)
“The oil companies have figured out a way to keep profiting no matter what else happens.” “Over the last three months, while you were being pummeled by high gas prices, Shell’s profits rose by 25 percent, and BP’s by 63 percent. So the oil companies are doing very well, and it’s high time that they helped to relieve the burden of high gas prices on our families and our businesses.”
“There are a lot of people in Indiana who would really benefit from a gas tax holiday.” “That may not mean much to my opponent, but it means a lot to people who are struggling here, people who commute long distances to work: farmers and truckers, who are in the business of driving a lot of vehicles over a lot of miles.” And she again hit Obama for voting in favor of what she calls “Dick Cheney’s energy bill.”
“My opponent talks a lot about standing up to big oil, but when the time came to take action, he voted for the bill that gave billions of dollars in tax breaks to the oil companies, and I voted against it. I didn’t think they needed any more of your money to make a profit.”
Watch a sound bite of Clinton talking about the gas tax holiday.

Barack Obama Responds To Reverend Wright - Watch The Obama Speech

2008-04-29T21:33:00.005-05:00

Here are quotes from Barack Obama in response to Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Watch the Obama speech below.
“His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church,”“They certainly don’t portray accurately my values and beliefs.”
Reported in the New York Times.
“I’m outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday.” “I find these comments appalling. It contradicts everything that I’m about and who I am.”
“The fact that Reverend Wright would think that somehow it was appropriate to command the stage for three or four consecutive days in the midst of this major debate is something that not only makes me angry, but also saddens me.”
Watch some video clips.

John McCain About Health Care Plans

2008-04-28T18:31:00.004-05:00

John McCain - "I've made it very clear that what I want is for families to make decisions about their health care, not government, and that's the fundamental difference between myself and Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton," McCain told reporters in Miami, Florida (reported on CNN com)
"They want the government to make the decisions, I want the families to make decisions."
"We must move away from a system that is fragmented and pays for expensive procedures, toward one where a family has a medical home, providers coordinate their efforts and take advantage of technology to do so cheaply, and where the focus is on affordable quality outcomes,"
"These costs are a threat to the ability of Americans to have health insurance, the gateway to better health care. These costs are a threat as well to the ability of American workers to build a better life."
SEE PART OF REV WRIGHT'S SPEECH TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB.

Barack Obama Responds to Rev. Wright Again

2008-04-28T18:27:00.003-05:00

Barack Obama: “Some of the comments that Reverend Wright has made offended me and I understand why they offend the American people,”“He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign.”
“I think certainly what the last three days indicate is that we’re not coordinating with him, right? He’s obviously free to speak his mind, but I just want to emphasize that this is my former pastor. Many of the statements that he has made both to trigger this initial controversy and that he’s made over the last several days are not statements that I’ve heard him make previously. They don’t represent my views and they don’t represent what this campaign is about.”
In the New York Times
“People will understand that I am not perfect and there are going to be folks in my past – like Reverend Wright – that may cause them concern,” “But, ultimately, my 20 years of service and the values that I’ve written about, spoken about and promoted are their values and what they are concerned about. That’s what this campaign has been about. And will continue to be about.”

Barack Obama - After Losing the Pennsylvania Electikon

2008-04-22T20:55:00.016-05:00

While in Indiana tonight, Barack Obama said, "It's good to be back in the Midwest. I am glad to see everybody here in Evansville."
"I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who stood with our campaign today."
"There were a lot folks who didn't think we can make this a race when we started. They thought we were going to be blown out..."
"After 14 long months, it's easy to forget what this campaign is about from time to time... to lose sight of the fierce urgency of this moment. It's easy to get caught up in the distractions and the tit for that of our politics."
"We already know John McCain offers more of the same."
"Because the truth is, the challenges we face are not just the fault of one man or one party. Think about it. How many years or how many decades have we been talking about resolving our health care crisis... In every election, politicians come to your cities and your towns and tell you what you want to hear... This is our chance to say 'Not this year'. This is our chance to say 'Not this time'. We have a choice in this election."

Hillary Clinton - Pennsylvania Victory Speech Excerpts

2008-04-22T20:55:00.015-05:00

In her victory speech in Pennsylvania, Clinton said, "It's a long road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and it runs right through the heart of Pennsylvania. You know, for six weeks Senator Obama and I have criss-crossed the state, meeting people up close, being judged side by side. You listened... and today you chose....
"I thank you Pennsylvania for deciding that I can be that president. For me, the victory we shared tonight is deeply personal. It was here in Pennsylvania where my grandfather started work... "
"I am in this race to fight for you, to fight for everyone who has ever been counted out..."
"The pundits questioned whether Pennsylvanians would trust me with this charge and tonight you show me that you do."
"I hope you'll go to HillaryClinton.com and show your support tonight because the future of this campaign is in your hands. You know, some people counted me out and said to drop out.. well the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit either."
"After seven long years of President Bush, we have our work cut out for us."
"All through this campaign, I have offered solutions --solutions for good jobs you can raise a family on. Jobs that can't be shipped overseas and on Earth day, clean green jobs..."
"We are going to end the war on science and have a renewed commitment to science and research."
"I might stumble and I might get knocked down, but if you'll stand with me... I'll always get right back up."
----
From earlier in the day on 'Good Morning America', Clinton talked about Iraq.

Barack Obama - In Philadelphia, On Clinton

2008-04-19T11:11:00.005-05:00

“She’s (Clinton) taken different positions at different times on issues as fundamental as trade, or even the war, to suit the politics of the moment,” Obama told the crowd Saturday in Wynnewood, Pa. “And when she gets caught at it, the notion is, well, you know what, that’s just politics. That’s how it works in Washington. You can say one thing here and say another thing there.”
“Senator Clinton’s essential argument in this campaign is you can’t change how the game is played in Washington. Her basic argument is that the slash-and-burn, say-anything, do-anything special interest-driven politics is how it works. … Senator Clinton has internalized a lot of the strategies, the tactics, that have made Washington such a miserable place.”
From FOX News

'This is a defining moment in our history. Our nation is at war. Our planet is in peril. Our economy is in recession…. [M]ost of all, we’ve lost faith that our leaders can or will do anything about this; we don’t believe that anyone in Washington is listening to us, or standing up for us, or fighting for us.
That’s why this election is our chance to declare our independence from the broken politics of Washington, the cynical politics that puts spin ahead of solutions and the special interests ahead of our interests; the politics that’s all about tearing each other down when what we need is to lift this country up. "

From the New York Times

Hillary Clinton - About Harry Truman

2008-04-19T11:05:00.003-05:00

Hillary Clinton: "I know some of my opponent's supporters and my opponent are complaining about the hard questions, but having been in the White House for eight years . . . that was nothing." "I'm with Harry Truman on this: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Just speaking for myself, I'm very comfortable in the kitchen."
From the WashingtonPost.com

Barack Obama - About John McCain and the Economy

2008-04-18T17:55:00.003-05:00

“Only somebody who spent two decades in Washington could make a statement as disconnected from the hard times that people are facing all across the america. Only somebody whose campaign is run by Washington lobbyists could think we’re making great progress while so many Americans are struggling,” Obama said.
On FoxNews.com
Obama Brushes Off Clinton After Debates

John McCain - About His Tax Returns

2008-04-18T17:52:00.002-05:00

"My life has not been one of privilege and luxury. I had the great honor of serving in this country," McCain has said.
The 71-year-old presumed GOP nominee received about $23,000 last year in Social Security, and paid nearly $18,000 in alimony to his ex-wife. He received more than $58,000 from his Navy pension.
From CNN.com.

Hillary Clinton - About New Superdelegate support

2008-04-18T17:49:00.005-05:00

Hillary Clinton: “I am grateful for the support of both former New Jersey governors Byrne and Florio, as well as Rep. Sutton.”“Together, with their support and millions of others, we will deliver health care to every American, jump-start the economy, and turn our great country around. Our campaign is experiencing great momentum.”
From New York Times
On The 'Colbert Report' "I can. I can Stephen. ((pause)) Let me handle this."

John McCain - Appealing To African Americans

2008-04-17T22:25:00.002-05:00

"I want to tell people living there (in less rural areas) that there must not be any forgotten parts of America, any forgotten Americans."
From Forvbes.com

Hillary Clinton - On 'Colbert Report'

2008-04-17T22:15:00.003-05:00

From the New York Times:
As the host Stephen Colbert began the show, he told the audience that a technical problem had shorted out the enormous screen behind him.
“Are you telling me there is no one in this theater who can fix the mess we’re in?” Mr. Colbert said.
Enter Mrs. Clinton, who strode out on stage, smiling.
“I can,” she said. “I can, Stephen!”
After pausing for applause, Mrs. Clinton said, “Let me handle this,” and squinted up into some imaginary rafters to talk a technician through the problem.Then she moved onto the issue of Mr. Colbert’s appearance.
“You know what, Stephen?” she said. “Your forehead is a little shiny. Makeup! Makeup! Can we get some translucent powder, please?”
Mr. Colbert said in mock amazement, “Wow, Senator Clinton! You’re so prepared for any situation!”
Mrs. Clinton replied, “That’s O.K., Stephen. I just love solving problems.”

Barack Obama - Abvout More Debates & Hillary Clinton

2008-04-17T22:12:00.002-05:00

About more debates...
"I'll be honest with you, we've now had 21," Obama said. "It's not as if we don't know how to do these things. I could deliver Sen. Clinton's lines; she could, I'm sure, deliver mine."
From CNN.com

About Hillary Clinton...
“I have to say Senator Clinton looked in her element … She was taking every opportunity to get a dig in there,”“That’s her right. That’s her right to kind of twist the knife a little bit … that’s why she’s only airing negative attacks on TV in Pennsylvania like most places. I understand that because that’s the textbook Washington game.”
From FOXNews.com