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BIDEN: Biden Addresses Need For Comprehensive Policy To Preserve Family Farms

2007-12-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
CONTACT:
Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

BIDEN ADDRESSES NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE POLICY TO PRESERVE FAMILY FARMS
“Farm Policy, Foreign Policy, And Economic Policy Are All Connected And Affect The Future Of American Farms”

Webster City, IA (December 20, 2007): Today at the All Cultures Equal, Inc. Center in Webster City, Iowa, Sen. Joe Biden discussed the importance of electing a candidate who can connect the dots between farm policy, economic policy and foreign policy to preserve the future of family and independent farms. He also outlined his own policy proposal for preserving the future of family farms in the 21st century global economy.

“In today’s global market, instability – whether it is in Pakistan or on Wall Street – is going to hit farmers’ bottom line,” said Sen. Biden. “I have represented an agricultural state for 35 years. We need a president who understands how all these things are related, because farm policy, foreign policy, and economic policy are all connected and affect the future of American farms. Farmers need a President who will restore stability.”

Sen. Biden praised the Farm Bill which the Senate recently passed as a step in the right direction, but he argued that more must be done to protect the future of family farms. For example, Sen. Biden supported a payment limitations measure that would have capped payments at $250,000, but the legislation was defeated during consideration of the Farm Bill.

"First, we must level the field on farm subsidies," said Sen. Biden. "Subsidies should do what they were designed to do, provide assistance in times of trouble, not just help the big get bigger at the expense of the little guy."

Sen. Biden urged that more aggressive steps be taken to make sure family farmers and independent producers are not squeezed out of markets by giant agri-business and market consolidation.

"Too often the deck is stacked against family farmers," said Sen. Biden. "We have to make sure competition is fair."

Sen. Biden supports the Packer Ownership Ban and would update protections to stop packers from engaging in price manipulation and make it easier for farmers to seek redress for unfair or deceptive practices. In 2006, it is estimated that captive supplies of livestock cost family farmers and ranchers more than $5.7 billion.

Sen. Biden praised expansion of conservation measures in the Farm Bill and called for more support for new farmers.

"The average farmer in Iowa is over 60. We are losing the next generation of farmers," said Sen. Biden. "We must stop this trend and do more to help young people get into farming."

Sen. Biden would also protect access to credit and capital for new farmers – including funding for alternative farming such as organic production or free range hog production. He supports helping farmers make the transition to organic production, which often allows them to collect a premium on their products, if they want to pursue that alternative. It takes three years of not using fertilizer and pesticides to make that transition and Sen. Biden would provide support to farmers during that period.

"Finally, we must have a smart and tough trade policy that levels the playing field for farmers in the global economy," said Sen. Biden. "That means we have to fight for fair agreements, to keep markets open – and review and enforce the trade agreements we have. In my administration trade officials will ensure enforcement is a priority."

A fact sheet on Sen. Biden’s agriculture policy is attached.

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OBAMA: Obama Hosts Discussion with Independents on Restoring Trust in Government

2007-12-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

Obama Hosts Discussion with Independents on Restoring Trust in Government
At roundtable with New Hampshire Independents, pledges most open and transparent administration in history

Chicago, IL — Today in Exeter, NH, Senator Barack Obama hosted a roundtable discussion with New Hampshire Independents to discuss his commitment to cleaning up government and forging bipartisan solutions on the nation’s most pressing challenges. Restoring Americans’ trust in government, Obama told the group of local residents, begins with turning the page on the most secretive administration in recent history.

“I will run the most open and transparent Administration in history,” Senator Obama said. “Because when you shut the door on the people, chances are you’re not doing the peoples’ business, you’re doing someone else’s…Instead of doing business behind closed doors, we’ll bring democracy back to the people. When I put together my health care legislation, I won’t do it in a back-room – I’ll do it out in the open. And we’ll make sure the voices of patients, doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators are heard over the drug and insurance industries. That’s how we’ll finally lower costs and make sure that every American has affordable, high-quality health care.” As evidence of his ability to enact meaningful reforms, Obama asked the participants to look at his track record of standing up to the special interests and winning – one that is unmatched by any other candidate. In the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, Obama stood up to the special interests as well as leaders in both parties to pass sweeping ethics reform. As President, he said, he would show the same courage and conviction to make government work for everyday Americans again.
“These reforms aren’t just about changing Washington – they’re about making change that you can see in your own lives – change that can end a war, that can finally deliver on health care, and energy independence, and a world-class education for all of our kids. Because government in this country works best when it is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

“To make this change, we’re going to have to bring this country together. Instead of just putting someone in office to play the game, we need to finally put an end to the game-playing. Instead of partisan warfare, we need to recapture our sense of a common purpose – and common destiny – in this country.”

In Manchester in June, Obama unveiled his plan to launch the most sweeping ethics reform in history on his first day as President. The Obama plan will restore trust in government by:

Closing the revolving door between government and the private sector;
Banning gifts to executive branch employees;
Shining light on federal contracts, tax breaks, and earmarks;
Ending abuse of no-bid contracts;
Bringing democracy and policy directly to the people by discussing issues and conducting business in public; and
Supporting campaign finance reform.

The plan can be viewed in full HERE.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007
Contact: Obama Press Office
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RNC Research Dept.: RNC Response To Senator Clinton On Foreign Policy

2007-12-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

Once again, Senator Clinton is trying to convince the American people that she has the ‘experience’ to lead, while refusing to allow the public to review voluminous documents related to her time in the White House. In a time of war, can we really afford to trust a candidate who doesn’t trust us enough to evaluate the facts and make our own determination?”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson

Danny Diaz
Republican National Committee (RNC)

THOMPSON: Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life

2007-12-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 20, 2007

Fred Thompson Receives the Endorsement of Virginia Society for Human Life

Nation's Oldest Right to Life Organization Supporting Thompson

McLean, VA - Today Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the Virginia Society for Human Life, the oldest right to life organization in the country and the state's affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. This represents the ninth state right to life organization that has followed the lead of the National Right to Life Committee in endorsing Senator Thompson for President.

"Fred Thompson is a stellar candidate for President of the United States," said VSHL President Brenda Fastabend. "Fred Thompson's one hundred percent pro-life voting record compiled during his eight years of service in the U.S. Senate, speaks volumes for his integrity and statesmanship. In the eyes of Virginians who care about the dignity and sanctity of human life and the most basic freedom upon which our nation was founded , the right to life, Fred Thompson is a leader of great promise for the office of president."

Virginia Society for Human Life, Inc., is a voluntary and non-denominational organization united in the belief that the human being in his innate dignity and worth should be safeguarded by law at every stage of biological development. Through education and legislative activity, the Society's purpose is to promote measures which will insure protection for all innocent human life.

"I'm blessed and honored to have the endorsement of the Virginia Society for Human Life for President of the United States," said Senator Thompson. "Virginia Society for Human Life is the oldest right to life organization in the country, and they know I stood with them yesterday, I stand with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow. VSHL and right to life organizations coast to coast who have endorsed by candidacy know I have the ability to win this election. They know I believe in the sanctity of life and as President I will do all that I can to do to protect life."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned. He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.

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Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

EDWARDS: Edwards Launches “Fighting For America’s Voice” Tour

2007-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

EDWARDS LAUNCHES “FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S VOICE” TOUR

On day one of the tour across Iowa, Edwards discusses his plans to make sure the voices of rural Americans are heard in Washington

Council Bluffs, Iowa – Today, Senator John Edwards is kicking off a three-day “Fighting for America’s Voice” tour by discussing his commitment to making sure the voices of rural Americans are heard in Washington. During the three-day tour across Iowa, Edwards will discuss his plans to stand up for America’s workers, children and families – the very people who don’t have a voice in Washington. Edwards has spent his life speaking out on behalf of hard-working Americans, and as president he will fight to make sure that the American people are heard in Washington, not the special interests.
“Rural America has been ignored for too long,” said Edwards. “I grew up in a small, rural town and I know firsthand the challenges facing America’s rural communities. It’s time we had a president who will speak out for rural Americans. As president, I will help small towns and rural communities create and keep new businesses, and make sure rural Americans have access to quality, affordable health care, good schools and the support systems they need.”
During the tour, Edwards will be joined by numerous people whose voices he has fought to make sure are heard. Today, Edwards will focus on rural policy and his fight to give a voice to rural America. As part of the day’s events, Edwards will be joined by James Lowe, a former coal miner from Wise County, Virginia, who could barely speak for 50 years because he didn’t have health care and couldn’t afford the operation he needed to fix his cleft palate. Edwards met Lowe at the site of a Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic during his “Road to One America” tour in July. It was at this free rural clinic, a year ago, that Lowe finally met with medical professionals willing to donate their time to perform the surgery he needed so he could finally speak.

Tomorrow in West Des Moines, Edwards will deliver a speech about how we can help our children and make sure they have the opportunity to realize the American Dream. He will be joined in West Des Moines by Sandy and David Lakey, and their daughter Valerie, whom Edwards represented as a lawyer after Valerie was injured as a result of a faulty swimming pool drain cover that the company knew was dangerous.

On the third day of the tour, Edwards will deliver remarks on how he will fight for American jobs, smart and safe trade, and a stronger economy. Edwards will be joined by Doug Bishop who, in September 2004, was among the first wave of employees who were laid off at the Maytag plant in Newton, Iowa. Later that month, he and his family met Edwards as Edwards was campaigning for the vice-presidency on the Democratic ticket. Edwards looked Doug’s seven year-old son square in the face and said, “I’m going to keep fighting for your Daddy’s job, I promise you that.” After eight months out of work, Doug found another job and is back on his feet, a leader in his community. But many other people in Newton haven't been so lucky – the Maytag plant is now closed for good. To preview Doug’s story, today the campaign is sending an email to supporters that features a video of Doug explaining why he thinks Edwards is the best candidate to make sure the voices for hard-working Americans are heard in Washington.
Edwards grew up in a small, rural town and is committed to making sure rural Americans have a voice in Washington. In April, Edwards became the first candidate to announce a plan to help Iowa’s rural communities with his comprehensive “Rural Recovery Act,” to restore economic fairness to rural America, create new jobs and businesses in rural communities, help struggling counties and towns and protect rural people and their way of life.

At the event today in Council Bluffs, the campaign is also announcing a new effort to reach out to rural Iowans – a new rural DVD. The campaign will be showing thousands of rural Iowans the new DVD, “John Edwards: For the Country,” that discusses Edwards’ plan to revitalize rural America and his experiences growing up in his small, rural hometown of Robbins, North Carolina. The DVD, which is narrated by former Congressman and Dukes of Hazzard star Ben “Cooter” Jones, includes interviews with Edwards’ parents, Bobbie and Wallace Edwards, rural strategist Dave “Mudcat” Saunders and music from Ralph Stanley II. Additionally, the campaign is launching a new rural website, www.johnedwards.com/iowa/rural, that Iowans can visit to learn more about Edwards’ plan to restore hope to rural America.

To learn more about Edwards’ plan for rural America, please see the attached fact sheet.

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Restoring Hope to Rural America

Edwards Outlines Proposed Rural Recovery Act

Too often, the problems of rural America are forgotten by politicians living and working in far-off capital cities and undermined by corporate greed. Many rural areas are struggling: rural families earn 27 percent less than other families and 244 of the poorest 250 counties are rural. Rural manufacturing has been hit particularly hard by international trade, the offshoring of jobs and automation. Struggling family farms are another challenge for small towns. As young people move away to find opportunity, rural communities are turning into ghost towns. Over the 1990s, Iowa lost one-third of its college graduates and ranked number two in out-migration of single, college-educated youth nationwide. [Carsey Institute, 2006; Davis, 2003; Census Bureau, 2003]

As a native of a small rural town, John Edwards knows that America cannot turn its back on rural areas. Small towns and rural areas are the keepers of American values like family, work, community, and freedom. America depends on rural communities for a strong manufacturing base, reliable and affordable food, and increasingly for clean energy as well. To make sure they share in our prosperity, we must fight corporate greed and turn the tables on runaway economic disparity. Today, Edwards outlined initiatives to restore economic fairness and create new jobs and businesses in rural America, help struggling counties and towns, and protect the rural people and their way of life.

RESTORING ECONOMIC FAIRNESS TO RURAL AMERICA:

· Support Main Street Businesses and Invest Seed Money in the Rural Economy: Helping innovative small businesses is a promising approach to economic development, but only 1 percent of state economic development funds now support entrepreneurs. Edwards will create the Rural Economic Advancement Challenge (REACH) Fund to bring capital and management expertise to small town America. The REACH Fund will connect investors with rural entrepreneurs, organize businesses into networks to help them succeed together, and ensure that rural areas have access to the investment capital they need. [RUPRI, 2007]

· Creating the New Energy Economy in Rural America: Renewable sources of energy -- including ethanol, biodiesel, wind, and solar -- can make the U.S. independent of foreign oil, cut global warming pollution, and create new industries and hundreds of thousands of jobs in rural America. Edwards will create a New Economy Energy Fund – financed by pollution permits and an end to oil industry giveaways – will help develop new methods of producing and using corn and cellulosic ethanol, support loan guarantees to new refineries, and support making the renewable production tax credit permanent. It will also support locally-owned biorefineries with start-up capital, skills training to make sure the jobs go to local residents and investments in public-private research partnerships to develop ways to maximize America’s biofuel ouput while minimizing pollution, soil erosion, and water, land and energy use. He will also require oil companies to install biofuel pumps at 25 percent of their gas stations and require all new cars sold after 2010 to be “flex fuel” cars running on either gasoline or biofuel.

· Creating Fairness for Family Farmers: Edwards recognizes that the rules are stacked against family farmers. He supports the strict enforcement of laws against anticompetitive mergers, unfair pricing, and country-of-origin laws. He will enact a strong national ban on packer ownership to stop the spread of large corporate meat packers and create a national moratorium on the construction and expansion of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). To help family farmers he will also limit farm subsidies to $250,000 per person, close loopholes in payment limits, and expand conservation programs.

· Investing in Rural Broadband: Once a world leader in broadband access, the U.S. is now 21st in the world, trailing Estonia. Rural households are only about half as likely to have a broadband connection even though digital inclusion is one of the quickest and surest ways to attract businesses. Just as FDR’s rural electrification initiative brought power to every corner of the country, Edwards will set a national broadband policy with a goal of giving all U.S. homes, schools, and businesses access to real high-speed internet by 2010. Edwards will establish a national broadband map to identify gaps in availability, price, and speed and require telephone and cable companies not to discriminate against rural communities in building their broadband networks. [ITU, 2006; CWA, 2006; Pew, 2006]

· Prohibiting Banks from Discriminating against Rural America: Rural communities have fewer bank branches, fewer per-capita small business loans and more high-cost mortgages. Deregulation has led to bank consolidation while small towns rely on community banks to support local businesses. Edwards will strengthen the Community Reinvestment Act to prevent banks from discriminating against rural areas and increase investment in rural small businesses. He will also establish a strong national law against predatory mortgages common in many rural areas. [NCRC, 2007; Carsey Institute, 2006; Federal Reserve Board of St. Louis, 2004; SBA, 2004; Independent Community Bankers Association, 2006.]

· Fighting for Economic Fairness: Child poverty rates in rural areas are higher than urban rates for every racial and ethnic group. The highest child poverty rates are in the most isolated rural areas. To eliminate adult and childhood poverty nationwide within 30 years, Edwards will raise the minimum wage, cut taxes for low-wage workers, help workers save and invest, and expand affordable housing near good jobs and schools. [Carsey Institute, 2006]

HELPING RURAL TOWNS AND COUNTIES:

· Guaranteeing Rural America the Funding It Needs and Is Entitled to: More than half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $70 billion in rural development funds has actually gone to metropolitan regions, suburbs of midsize cities, and resort towns like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Edwards will rewrite these funding rules and get resources to the intended isolated and disadvantaged areas. Because many small towns lack the grant-writing capabilities of larger towns, Edwards will direct federal agencies to offer a simplified, one-page grant application for small grants to rural towns and counties, based on the successful COPS program. [Washington Post, 4/6/2007]

· Strengthening Rural Schools: Iowa’s rural schools don’t get their fair share of funding, and small rural schools often struggle to provide a complete curriculum and attract and retain excellent teachers. As president, Edwards will:

· Reward Rural Teachers: Iowa’s schools are facing teacher shortages in critical areas such as science and math. Rural schools have particular difficulty recruiting and retaining teachers. Edwards will raise pay for teachers in many successful rural schools by up to $15,000 a year and offer college scholarships for students who commit to teach in rural schools. He will also create a National Teacher University to train excellent teachers to serve in rural schools and other places they are needed most. [Iowa Department of Education, 2007]

· Break Down Educational Barriers: About one in seven rural students in Iowa receives special education services. The federal government’s failure to fulfill its obligation to special education and unique funding challenges facing rural schools mean that even a few students with significant special needs can force a rural school to make unbearable tradeoffs. This must change. Edwards will reverse the proposed Bush cuts to IDEA grants and get Washington on a path to fully funding its share of special education costs. [RSCT, 2005]

· Raise Graduation Rates: Rural teenagers are more likely than suburban teens to drop out of school and to be both out of school and out of work. Edwards will create multiple paths to graduation such as Second Chance schools for former dropouts and smaller alternative schools for at-risk students. He will keep at-risk students in school with the Striving Readers literacy program and one-on-one tutoring. [U.S. Department of Education, 2007]

· Support Education Technology: Distance learning through the Internet can bring the content of the world’s best universities, libraries, and museums to rural and remote areas. Software programs incorporating virtual reality, digital modeling, and intelligent one-on-one tutoring systems are proven to dramatically accelerate learning. Edwards will invest in cutting-edge research to integrate these new teaching tools and test them in rural America. [Digital Promise, 2003]

· Improving Rural Health Care: Over the past 25 years, 470 rural hospitals have closed. Iowa ranks 44th in the nation for physician-to-population. The Edwards plan for universal health care will cover the 7 million rural Americans that lack insurance and establish a nationwide network of safety net clinics and public hospitals. He will rewrite the unfair Medicare and Medicaid funding formulas that punish rural states and communities. He will also support investments in telemedicine to instantaneously connect distant specialists and advanced equipment with local doctors and patients, allowing better monitoring, chronic disease management, and emergency response. Health care is also an important source of economic development, creating jobs directly and attracting businesses and retirees. One study estimated that each doctor was worth more than eight jobs. [Winbush and Crichlow, 2005; Iowa Public Health, 2007; USDA, 1999; Wakefield, 2000; KFF, 2003]

PROTECTING THE RURAL WAY OF LIFE:

· Ridding Rural America of Methamphetamines: Many areas of rural America are facing the devastating effects of meth abuse. It can be easily, quickly, and cheaply produced and is highly addictive. Edwards will invest in enforcing drug laws in rural areas, help states make meth ingredients more difficult to get, and expand programs that successfully treat addicts such as the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program for prisoners.

· Protecting the Tradition of Responsible Gun Ownership. Edwards hunted when he was young and grew up in rural areas where owning a gun was part of a way of life. He respects that way of life and the individual right to own firearms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. He believes that law-abiding citizens should be able to own firearms to protect themselves and their families, enjoy sport shooting and take part in the time-honored tradition of hunting. At the same time, we've all seen the terrible consequences when guns fall into the hands of criminals and those who could do harm to themselves and others. We can do two things at once: protect gun rights and promote gun safety.

· Expanding Access to Clean Water: Every household deserve clean, drinkable water and sanitation services, but more than 1.7 million Americans lack basic plumbing facilities. Rural households are four times more likely to lack proper plumbing than urban homes. Inadequate water and sanitation damage public health and impede economic development. Edwards will help local areas improve their infrastructure and tackle local pollution problems. He will also establish tough clean air and water requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations. [RCAP, undated]

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

EDWARDS: Edwards Campaign Responds To Underhanded Trick By Clinton Allies

2007-12-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO UNDERHANDED TRICK BY CLINTON ALLIES

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa caucus goers have been sent a direct mail advertisement that appears to be an attack on Senator Obama by John Edwards, but is actually produced and funded by an organization supporting Senator Clinton. Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, Iowa State Director for the Edwards Campaign, made the following statement:

“There have been a lot of misleading tactics and tricks in the last few weeks, but we've just never seen anything like this before. Either they are trying to trick people, or they've realized that on health care, John Edwards is the candidate who speaks honestly about what it really costs and what will be required to have truly universal coverage. He has led the debate on health care with the strongest, boldest plan that covers everyone and is paid for by repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

It's fine to have an honest debate about policy, but Iowans deserve better than planted questions and campaign fliers designed to fool them.”

More information about the disguised attack by the Clinton team is available at: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/19/526774.aspx

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Paid for by John Edwards for President.

BIDEN: Biden Campaign Asks Iowans To Choose A President

2007-12-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

CONTACT:

Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

BIDEN CAMPAIGN ASKS IOWANS TO CHOOSE A PRESIDENT

Des Moines, IA (December 20, 2007) – The Biden for President Campaign announced the launch of its new television ad, “January Night,” which will begin airing across Iowa today. The 30-second spot highlights the uniqueness of the Iowa caucuses and their long tradition of advancing candidates based on integrity, experience, and proven leadership. Emphasizing that the Iowa caucuses represent an opportunity to alter our nation’s trajectory in the face of significant challenges both at home and abroad and that Joe Biden is the only candidate ready to lead from Day One, the ad asks caucus-goers to do more than choose a candidate—“choose a president.”

“In many ways Iowa is the only level playing field left in presidential politics,” said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro. “Iowans have a proud history of bucking punditry and conjecture, and choosing a candidate based on the authenticity of their experience and strength of their character. Our campaign grows more confident with each passing day that this tradition will lead Iowans to choose Joe Biden on January 3rd.”

You can see the new television ad at http://www.joebiden.com/januarynight.

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RNC Research Dept.: Clinton Campaign Apologies

2007-12-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

As of late, the Clinton campaign appears to be on track to catch the Edwards campaign in the apology category. Developing…

D-

CLINTON CAMPAIGN APOLOGIES

Sen. Clinton Supporter, Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE), Apologized For Comments Made About Sen. Obama:

“Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey Has Apologized To Barack Obama For Any Unintentional Insult He Committed By Raising The Democratic Presidential Candidate's Muslim Heritage While Endorsing Rival Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.” (Nedra Pickler, “Kerrey Apologizes To Obama For Any Insult In Muslim Reference,” The Associated Press, 12/20/07)

“Kerrey Sent A Letter To Obama On Wednesday, Lauding The Illinois Senator's Qualifications To Be President And Saying That He Never Meant To Harm His Candidacy.” (Nedra Pickler, “Kerrey Apologizes To Obama For Any Insult In Muslim Reference,” The Associated Press, 12/20/07)

Sen. Clinton Apologized To Sen. Obama Over Comments Made By Her Campaign About His Past Drug Use:

“[C]linton Offered A Formal Apology To Sen. Barack Obama And Accepted The Resignation Of A Prominent Campaign Organizer Who Had Raised Questions About Her Rival's Use Of Drugs.” (Anne E. Kornblut and Dan Balz, “Clinton Apologizes To Obama Over Aide's Drug Remark,” The Washington Post, 12/14/07)

Sen. Clinton Apologized To Sen. Obama In Person At Reagan Airport. “Mrs. Clinton, a Democrat from New York, apologized to Mr. Obama on Thursday morning when they ran into each other at Reagan National Airport in Washington as they were both headed to Iowa for the last Democratic debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.” (Katharine Q. Seelye, “Apologies From The Heart (Of Darkness?),” The New York Times, 12/14/07)

NOTE: Sen. Clinton Co-Chairman Of The New Hampshire Campaign, Bill Shaheen, Was The Individual Who Made The Comments. “William Shaheen, a co-chairman of Mrs. Clinton's national and New Hampshire campaigns, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that the Republicans would probably go after Mr. Obama for having used marijuana and cocaine, indiscretions that he wrote about himself. Mr. Shaheen went on to suggest that Republicans would probably also question whether Mr. Obama ever shared drugs with others or was a dealer.” (Katharine Q. Seelye, “Apologies From The Heart (Of Darkness?),” The New York Times, 12/14/07)

Sen. Clinton’s Campaign Apologized About Inappropriate Emails Being Forwarded By Campaign Staff:

“A Volunteer Iowa County Coordinator For Hillary Rodham Clinton's Presidential Campaign Has Resigned After Forwarding A Chain E-Mail That Suggests Barack Obama Is A Muslim Who Wants To Destroy The United States By Being Elected To Its Highest Office.” (Nedra Pickler, “Clinton Volunteer Quits Over Obama Email,” The Associated Press, 12/6/07)

Clinton Campaign Manager Patti Solis Doyle: “There is no place in our campaign, or any campaign, for this kind of politics … A volunteer county coordinator made the mistake of forwarding an outrageous and offensive chain e-mail. This was wholly unauthorized and we were totally unaware of it.” (Nedra Pickler, “Clinton Volunteer Quits Over Obama Email,” The Associated Press, 12/6/07)

Danny Diaz
Republican National Committee (RNC)

RICHARDSON: Richardson and Veterans Discuss Effects of Iraq War on Military Families

2007-12-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

Richardson and Veterans Discuss Effects of Iraq War on Military Families
For Immediate Release
December 20, 2007
Contact: Tom Reynolds

WATERLOO, IA-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today will hold a roundtable discussion on the toll that the Iraq war is taking on veterans and military families. Governor Richardson will be joined at the event by New Mexico Secretary of Veterans Affairs John Garcia, Vietnam veteran Rick Bolanos, Iraq veteran Sergeant Julie Gorman of Iowa, and Sue Dinsdale of Huxley, Iowa, the mother of an Iraq veteran.

As other candidates have shifted away from discussing the Iraq war, Governor Richardson continues to promote his plan to withdraw all American troops and properly treat returning veterans and their wounds, both physical and mental.

"Some of my fellow candidates have decided to stop talking about Iraq," Richardson said. "Some have said that we can change America at home while keeping troops in Iraq for perhaps five years or longer. That is not an equation that adds up. The fact is that we cannot move forward on any domestic issues while our troops remain in Iraq."

Sergeant Gorman, who served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, suffers from a service connected disability. Dinsdale is the mother of an Iraq veteran with a service connected disability.

"When I am President, our veterans will have a Heroes Health Card so that they can get the care they deserve wherever they need it," Richardson said. "I will guarantee full mandatory funding for the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). It is essential that we fix Walter Reed and the rest of our military hospitals. Also, we are going to treat mental trauma, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) the same way that we treat physical wounds-- like the battlefield injuries that they are.

"As President, I will reduce the federal income tax on veterans by five percent for the rest of their lives. Senator Jim Webb is exactly right on this issue. I also will eliminate the federal income tax on all troops in their first year out of the military. We are going to do right by military families."

Secretary Garcia and Vietnam veteran Bolanos both have worked extensively with Governor Richardson on veterans issues.

"Vets are coming back from Iraq with serious physical and mental wounds," Garcia said. "The next President is going to have to do more than just say the right things. Bill Richardson has a long record of getting it done for veterans."

Please find biographies of the roundtable participants below:

John Garcia

Secretary John Garcia brings with him a background in strategic planning, business development, and community relations. He is well-known to the veterans community and was a Commissioner on the predecessor state veterans body, the New Mexico Veterans Service Commission.

Secretary Garcia served in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam in 1969-1970 as a member of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division. He is a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico and served as the National Deputy Director of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program in Washington, D.C.

During the period immediately preceding his appointment as Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Veterans Services, Garcia was the president of Garcia and Associates, a consulting company providing governmental affairs, business development, marketing, and public relations services.

Secretary Garcia formerly served in the administration of New Mexico Governor Bruce King as Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Prior to his service in state government, Garcia was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

Secretary Garcia is the current president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA), an association consisting of the top veterans affairs official in each of the 50 states. The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Secretary Garcia as the 2006 New Mexico "Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year."

Secretary Garcia has been a member of numerous boards, committees, and task forces, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque Explora Museum, Governor’s Business Advisory Council, Shared Vision of Albuquerque, International Trade Council of New Mexico, Albuquerque Little Theater, and the Inter American Bank of New Mexico. He is a founding member of the New Mexico Hispanic Genealogy Research Center and the recipient of the De Colores New Mexico Hispanic Business Leadership Award, Mexican American Foundation's National Hispanic Leadership Award, American Center's International Leadership Award, and Washington DC's Action Agency ACTION Award. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized him as Advocate of the Year for Minority Business, and he received the Profile of Courage Award from the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico.

Rick Bolanos

In 1966, Rick Bolanos joined his brothers Louis, Ben, and Bill in volunteering for military service in Vietnam. The Bolanos family was the only one in the United States to have four brothers who served in that conflict at the same time. Born in Texas to immigrant parents, the brothers were taught from the beginning the importance of service to their country. Each brother joined a different branch of the Armed Forces: Louis, the Navy; Ben, the Marine Corps; Bill, the Army Green Berets; and Rick, the Army Airborne. Three of the four brothers served in combat together, and two were wounded. The Bolanos brothers were cited for their patriotism by President Lyndon Johnson, and in 2004, the Texas Legislature passed a resolution honoring their military service.

Rick Bolanos received a BA in Management and an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University, and he has spent time as a teacher. In 2004, he toured the nation with his brothers to encourage civil participation in the election, particularly by veterans.

Julie Gorman

A veteran of the Iraq war with a service connected disability, Iowa resident Julie Gorman served 22 years in the Army Reserves, earning the rank of Sergeant First Class E-7. Gorman served in Iraq from May 2003 through May 2004 with the 389th Combat Engineers.

Sue Dinsdale

A resident of Huxley, Iowa, Sue Dinsdale is the mother of an Iraq veteran with a service connected disability who served two tours in Iraq. Dinsdale also is the wife of a Vietnam veteran.

Paid for by Richardson for President, Inc.

RNC Research Dept.: NY TIMES: Obama's Vote in Illinois Was Often Just 'Present'

2007-12-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing says experienced leadership like a present vote in the state senate.

D-

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?ref=politics&pagewanted=print

December 20, 2007

Obama’s Vote in Illinois Was Often Just ‘Present’
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ and CHRISTOPHER DREW

In 1999, Barack Obama was faced with a difficult vote in the Illinois legislature — to support a bill that would let some juveniles be tried as adults, a position that risked drawing fire from African-Americans, or to oppose it, possibly undermining his image as a tough-on-crime moderate.

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted “present,” effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator.

RNC Research Dept.: NY TIMES: In Charity and Politics, Clinton Donors Overlap

2007-12-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Can you quote me smiling?

D-

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20clinton.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

December 20, 2007

In Charity and Politics, Clinton Donors Overlap

By DON VAN NATTA Jr., JO BECKER and MIKE McINTIRE
This article is by Don Van Natta Jr., Jo Becker and Mike McIntire.

Over the last decade, former President Bill Clinton has raised more than $500 million for his foundation, allowing him to build a glass-and-steel presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and burnish his image as an impresario of global philanthropy. The foundation has closely guarded the identities of its donors — including one who gave $31.3 million last year.

KUCINICH: Statement on behalf of Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich

2007-12-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Statement on behalf of Ohio Congressman
Dennis J. Kucinich

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Perry J. Kucinich, younger brother of Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, died early this morning in his apartment in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 51. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner's office.

Perry Kucinich was a talented artist who produced a prodigious volume of work. Some of his works have been on display recently at a local art gallery. He and his brother Dennis were planning another showing of his works in the spring.

"He was an admirer of the works of Klee and Picasso, and the style and structure of his artwork derived from their influences," said Dennis Kucinich. "He was a genius. He had extraordinary insights. Although he struggled with mental illness, with the help of his family and friends, he was able to lead a productive life."

"The Kucinich family is very close knit," said family spokesman Andy Juniewicz. "This is a devastating loss to each and every member of the Kucinich family. Dennis was very close to his brother Perry. He watched after him, and he loved him dearly. The two spoke nearly every day. He was more like Dennis's son than his brother."

Perry Kucinich was born Dec. 11, 1956, the fifth child of Frank and Virginia Kucinich. The family's travails were chronicled in a recently released book, "The Courage to Survive," written by Congressman Kucinich.

Funeral services are pending. In addition to his brother Dennis, Perry is survived by brothers Frank, Gary, and Larry, and by sisters Theresa and Beth Ann. They all live in Northeast Ohio.

# # #

Andy Juniewicz

RNC Research Dept.: RNC Response To Senator Clinton's Comments On Iraq

2007-12-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

“Not too long ago, Senator Clinton was speaking to the importance of winning in Iraq and providing our troops the resources they deserved. Now that polls show her losing ground, Candidate Clinton has decided to stand with MoveOn.org instead of our men and women in uniform. Simply stated, the American people have no reason to trust Senator or Candidate Clinton on the issue of Iraq.”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson

____________

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2007/12/bring-em-home.html

Bring 'Em Home

December 19, 2007
New York Daily News, Mouth Of The Potomac Blog
By Michael McAuliff on December 19, 2007 5:35 PM

Hillary Clinton just took what sounded like a bit of a step in explaining how quickly she’d bring troops home from Iraq.

“I think we can bring nearly everybody home certainly within a year if we keep at it and do it very steadily,” she told a questioner the Elkader, Iowa, opera house near the Wisconsin border.

It doesn’t sound like any huge change in her underlying position that the U.S. must leave some troops in Iraq for the long haul to provide force protection, training for Iraqis, help for the Kurds and to hunt Al Qaeda.

But “nearly everybody” doesn’t sound like it would leave all that many troops to do those things, and we’ve heard estimates that those missions could require tens of thousands of forces.

Adviser Howard Wolfson says the words are just a “very slight” strengthening of the rhetoric, and Clinton/s position remains unchanged.

- Michael McAuliff

Danny Diaz
Republican National Committee (RNC)

RNC Research Dept.: RNC Response To Obama NH Tour

2007-12-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

“The only things Senator Obama and liberal Democrats are interested in reclaiming are tax dollars that never belonged to them to begin with and more power for bureaucrats in Washington that don’t deserve it. While Obama’s tour through New Hampshire has a catchy slogan, much like his record, it lacks credibility and seriousness.”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson

RNC Research Dept.: RNC Response To Clinton Holiday Ad

2007-12-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

“Americans don’t want to find socialized medicine, failure to fund our men and women in uniform, and massive tax increases under their tree this Christmas. The best holiday gift we can give hardworking families is a complete rejection of Senator Clinton’s failed, liberal policies.”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson

CLINTON: New Ad: Hillary Has a Present for You

2007-12-19T07:59:00.000-08:00

Complete with festive holiday wrapping, the Hillary for President campaign today launched a new ad entitled “Presents” in New Hampshire and Iowa today.

Watch the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzBvQ9EeF3k

Following is the script for the ad.

“Presents”
TV: 30

“Carol of the Bells” is playing while hands are cutting wrapping paper and placing cards on gifts. The cards are labeled “Universal Health Care,” “Energy Independence,” and “Bringing Our Troops Home”

Hillary Clinton:
Where did I put universal pre-K?

Hillary Clinton:
Ah, There it is.

I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

RICHARDSON: Richardson Statement on Death of Congressman Kucinich's Brother

2007-12-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Richardson Statement on Death of Congressman Kucinich's Brother
For Immediate Release
December 19, 2007
Contact: Tom Reynolds

SANTA FE, NM-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today issued the following statement on the death of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s brother Perry:

"I offer my deepest condolences to Congressman Kucinich and his family and friends. Barbara and I will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers."

Paid for by Richardson for President, Inc.

OBAMA: Obama Hosts Roundtable on Reclaiming the American Dream

2007-12-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Obama Hosts Roundtable on Reclaiming the American Dream

CHICAGO, IL — In Concord, NH today, Senator Barack Obama hosted a roundtable discussion with Granite Staters about the economic hardships too many American families face. As costs rise and working families fight to keep up, more and more are falling behind. Obama shared his plan to reclaim the American Dream for the middle class with 6 participants who would benefit from the plan.

“Americans everywhere are working harder for less and paying more for health care and college,” Senator Obama said. “For most folks, one income isn’t enough to raise a family and send your kids to college. Sometimes, two incomes aren’t enough. It’s harder to save. It’s harder to retire. You’re doing your part, you’re meeting your responsibilities, but it always seems like you’re treading water or falling behind. And whether we’re rich or poor, young or old, Democrat, or Republican, or Independent, the one thing we should all be able to agree on is that these stories and these hardships are a fundamental violation of the American Dream. This is not who we are. And this is not what America has to be."

Obama discussed his proposals to make college affordable, to reform our bankruptcy laws, to protect the balance between work and family, and to put a secure and dignified retirement within the reach of all Americans.

Obama continued, “This is what we must do to reclaim the American dream. We know it won’t be easy. We’ll hear from the can’t-do, won’t-do, won’t-even-try crowd in Washington; the special interests and their lobbyists; the conventional thinking that says this country is just too divided to make progress.

“Well I’m not running for President to conform to this conventional thinking – I’m running to challenge it. It’s the kind of change that I’ve been working for since I fought joblessness and poverty on the streets of Chicago two decades ago; the kind of change I fought for when I put $100million worth of tax relief in the pockets of the working poor and expanded health care to 150,000 children and parents in Illinois."

Barack Obama’s comprehensive plan to help working families reclaim the American Dream will:
Provide a middle class tax cut of $500 for 150 million working Americans – $1,000 per working family – and eliminate the income tax for 7 million seniors making less than $50,000 per year.
Address the challenge of balancing work and family by guaranteeing workers paid sick days, expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), supporting paid FMLA, and doubling funding for after-school programs.
Help Americans buy and keep their homes – including a tax credit to help more than 10 million American homeowners pay their mortgages, with an average of $500 in savings.
Protect American families by reforming bankruptcy laws, predatory credit card policies, and abusive payday lending practices.
Reduce health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family.
Strengthen retirement security by automatically enrolling workers in portable retirement accounts and providing additional incentives for Americans to save.
Put the cost of college in reach by providing a $4,000 refundable tax credit available at the time of enrollment, and create a Community College Partnership Program to strengthen this vital resource for American students.
Ease the financial hardship of rising home heating costs by releasing a portion of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to stabilize prices and funding and expanding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Obama’s plan to help working families reclaim the American dream can be viewed in full HERE.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2007
OBAMA PRESS OFFICE

EDWARDS: Edwards Campaign Announces Holiday Ad Campaign

2007-12-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY AD CAMPAIGN

New ad reminds America to remember the less fortunate this holiday season

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – As the holiday season enters full swing, today the John Edwards for President campaign announced a special holiday television ad, “Season.”

In the 30-second ad, which will begin airing on Sunday in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Edwards asks us to remember that one out of every four homeless people on our streets is a veteran and 37 million people in our country live in poverty. He challenges Americans to promise that never again will we forget those without a voice, because “in America, the chance to build a better life is a promise made to each of us, and the obligation to keep it rests with us all.”

The full ad can be viewed here: http://johnedwards.com/ads/season/

Full Transcript of “Season:”

One out of every four homeless people on our streets is a veteran.

Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty.

Who speaks for them? We do.

This is the season of miracles, of faith and love.

So let us promise together: you will never be forgotten again.

We see you, we hear you, and we will speak for you.

In America, the chance to build a better life is a promise made to each of us, and the obligation to keep it rests with us all.

I’m John Edwards and I approved this message.

-30-
Paid for by John Edwards for President.

THOMPSON: Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of North Carolina Right to Life PAC

2007-12-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 19, 2007

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of North Carolina Right to Life PAC

State Affiliate Joins National Right to Life, South Carolina Sister Organization in supporting Thompson

McLean, VA - Today Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the North Carolina Right to Life PAC.

"By endorsing Fred Thompson for President, North Carolina Right to Life PAC wants all North Carolinians to know Senator Thompson's long-standing pro-life record, his unwavering commitment to protecting unborn children from abortion, and our belief in his ability to win," stated Barbara Holt, PAC President. "As President, Fred Thompson will be a strong advocate for life at all stages."

North Carolina Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee and the sister affiliate of the South Carolina Citizens for Life, both of which are endorsing Senator Thompson for President.

"I'm blessed and honored to have the endorsement of the North Carolina Right to Life PAC for President of the United States," said Senator Thompson. "Influential right to life organizations from coast to coast continue to vote to endorse my candidacy because they know I have stood with them yesterday, I stand with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow. They know I have the ability to win this election. They know I believe in the sanctity of life and as President I will do all that I can to do to protect life."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned. He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.

###

Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

BIDEN: Biden Discusses Plan To Improve Student Performance

2007-12-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
CONTACT:
Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair:
press@joebiden.com

BIDEN DISCUSSES PLAN TO IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE
“In The 21st Century, Education Has Become A Critical National Security Issue”

Fort Dodge, IA (December 19, 2007): Today at the Fort Dodge Public Library in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Sen. Joe Biden responded to new international test results showing that U.S. students lag behind their peers in other countries.

America's 15 year-olds recently ranked 25th in mathematics and 21st in science among the 30 member countries that make up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Just 70 percent of American high school students reach graduation day. The United States now ranks 17th in the world in high-school graduation rates and 14th in college graduation rates.

"I want to make something very clear," said Sen. Biden. "It is not our students who failed these tests - it is our policies that are failing our students."

Sen. Biden called for an overhaul of No Child Left Behind and comprehensive education reform including: universal preschool, more time spent on learning, putting a well-paid effective teacher in every classroom, expanding service opportunities for middle and high school students and providing a minimum of two years of higher education for every student.

"Education is more than just math, science, and reading. Our focus on multiple choice tests has narrowed the curriculum and the ability of teachers to innovate," said Sen. Biden. "And that shows - not just in the math and science test scores - but in the basic education our students are missing: American history and training in how our government works."

Sen. Biden noted that in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress test on civics education, only half of 8th graders were able to link religious freedom to the Bill of Rights and only half of 12th graders were able to identify the President's role in foreign policy. Only 47 percent of high school seniors have mastered a minimum level of U.S. history. Only half of U.S. high school students knew that the sentence "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" is in the Declaration of Independence.

"Too many students are simply not getting a basic education in how democracy works," said Sen. Biden. "That's a crisis at a time when our civil liberties are under assault by an administration that has ignored basic protections such as habeas corpus, disregarded the balance of power and secretly authorized torture."

Sen. Biden announced that he would invest in grants to develop civics curriculums for use in schools. He called for providing service opportunities through programs such as Americorps for middle and high school students and rewarding national service with help for college.

"My mother has an expression: 'children tend to become that which you expect of them. I want a country where we expect much from America's children," said Sen. Biden. "As President, I assure you: education will always be my top domestic priority because I believe in the next generation. I believe that they will solve climate change, make us energy independent, and bring peace to the Middle East. But we need to give them the foundation to do it."

Several members of the Delaware State Educators Association, which recently endorsed Sen. Biden for president, were in attendance at today’s event.

Mike Hoffman, DSEA Treasurer said, “I support Sen. Biden because he’s always come to the teachers to get their input. I appreciate that he recognizes that No Child Left Behind needs to be scrapped and that unfunded mandates are wrong. Teachers want to be held accountable but we need to have a fair measure of our students. When Joe Biden talks about making real education reform, I know he means what he says.”

Mary Jo Faust, NEA Director for the Delaware State Education Association and a 2nd grade teacher in the Capital School District, added, “I support Joe Biden because he understands my needs as a teacher. He knows that No Child Left Behind is too prescriptive, that kids need to be in school earlier and longer, and that I teach best when I have small class sizes. And he also understands that we need a professional level starting salary to retain and attract teachers in the classroom.”

Sen. Biden's education plan and College ACCESS proposals are attached.

###

THOMPSON: Yet Another Romney Flip-flop: Campaign Finance Reform

2007-12-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Press Office
December 19, 2007

Yet Another Romney Flip-flop: Campaign Finance Reform

According to an article in today's Weekly Standard, advisers to Mitt Romney have been attacking Fred Thompson on campaign finance reform. This is ironic given Mitt Romney's past support for publically financed elections, campaign spending limits, and abolishing political action committees.

2002: Romney Went Further Than McCain-Feingold And Supported Public Financing Of Campaigns By Taxing Political Contributions. "...he suggested an alternative funding method. Instead of providing campaign funds from state coffers, his plan would tap 10 percent of the fundraising of candidates who choose to raise money privately." (Richard Nangle, "Clean Election advocates keep pushing; Common Cause to ask Romney's assistance," Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts), 11/14/02)

1994: Romney Wanted To Implement A $6 Million Campaign Spending Limit And Abolish PACs. "Romney also said he advocates spending limits on congressional elections, even suggesting that the current race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy should have a $6 million spending cap...As for campaign finance reform, Romney called for abolishing political action committees and tightening regulations of the process by which limits on campaign contributions to individuals can be legally bypassed." (Frank Phillips, "Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan," Boston Globe, 7/7/94)

***Video from 1994: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM0x8WnI4to
***Hypocritically, Romney has already contributed $17.5 million to his presidential campaign.

Romney's History Of Support For Campaign Finance Reform

The campaign finance provisions Romney supported in 1994 and 2002 were similar to what was initially included in the federal legislation.
Ø "A Boston Globe article from July 1994 reported that Romney publicly advocated placing spending limits on congressional campaigns and abolishing political action committees (PACs). McCain and his allies on campaign finance included similar proposals in the first campaign-finance reform package they introduced in Congress in 1995, said Meredith McGehee, policy director of the Campaign Legal Center, who was at the center of the fight to pass the changes. McCain and his allies later dropped the spending limit s and PAC ban because they proved to be too controversial, she said." (Alexander Bolton, "Romney's About-Face On Campaign Funding," The Hill, 2/8/07)

In fact, Romney's proposals were even more stringent than what was included in McCain's legislation.
Ø "Back then [since his days as a Senate and gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts], Romney advocated more stringent measures than McCain-Feingold ultimately included, such as a spending limit for federal elections and a tax on political contributions." (Eric Moskowitz, "Romney, McCain Spar On Campaign Finance," Concord Monitor, 4/27/07)

When running for the Senate in 1994 and for Governor in 2002, Romney supported campaign finance restrictions including a 10-percent tax on campaign contributions and the abolition of PACs.
Ø "Massachusetts Romney called for spending limits on candidates and a 10 percent tax on campaign contributions for state elections to finance publicly funded campaigns. Massachusetts Romney wanted to abolish political action committees because they wield too much power, and he bemoaned the influence of money in politics." (Editorial, "Campaign Finance Flip," Washington Post, 5/26/07).

During his 1994 campaign, he bemoaned "the influence of money," spoke out against increasingly larger contribution limits, and called for campaign spending limits.
Ø "These kinds of associations between money and politics in my view are wrong. And for that reason, I would like to have campaign spending limits...I also would abolish PACS...I don't like the influence of money, whether it's business, labor or any other group, I do not like that kind of influence. Lobbyists I want to register, I want to know who they are, I want to ensure that gifts are limited...I think that contributions are fine, I just don't want them to be larger and larger...The kinds of demand s that are being placed on the economics of running a campaign suggest an increasing power on the part of money, and I think it's wrong and we've got to change it." (Mitt Romney for Senate Press Conference Video 1994, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktH1FpNqlOc, accessed 7/19/07)

Specifically, he wanted a $6 million spending cap in his race against Kennedy.
Ø "Romney also said he advocates spending limits on congressional elections, even suggesting that the current race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy should have a $6 million spending cap...As for campaign finance reform, Romney called for abolishing political action committees and tightening regulations of the process by which limits on campaign contributions to individuals can be legally bypassed." (Frank Phillips, "Romney, Vowing To Live It, Touts Congress Reform Plan," The Boston Globe, 7/7/94)

Ø Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM0x8WnI4to

In 2002, he was a leading proponent of "clean election" law, which many consider to be a huge violation of free speech as it allows for public funding of candidates for state office who meet strict fundraising requirements.
Ø "Hoping to broker a deal that would stave off a legislative attempt to repeal the Clean Elections law, advocates of public campaign financing are pushing for a meeting with Governor-elect Mitt Romney. Mr. Romney campaigned in favor of Clean Elections, which provides public money to candidates for state office who meet strict fund-raising requirements." (Richard Nangle, "Clean Election advocates keep pushing; Common Cause to ask Romney's assistance," Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts), 11/14/02)

Also in 2002, he called for a 10 percent tax on campaign contributions for state elections to finance publicly funded campaigns.
Ø "...he suggested an alternative funding method. Instead of providing campaign funds from state coffers, his plan would tap 10 percent of the fundraising of candidates who choose to raise money privately." (Richard Nangle, "Clean Election advocates keep pushing; Common Cause to ask Romney's assistance," Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts), 11/14/02)

When McCain Campaigned For Romney In 2002, Romney Praised McCain For Standing For "Reform And Change" Saying "Those Are My Values."
Ø "Romney also praised McCain for his general reform campaign when the Arizona senator came to Massachusetts to stump with Romney just before Romney's 2002 election victory in the governor's race. 'He has always stood for reform and change. And he's always fought the good battle, no matter what the odds,' Romney said at the time. 'Those are my values.'" (Eric Moskowitz, "Romney, McCain Spar On Campaign Finance," Concord Monitor, 4/27/07)

Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

THOMPSON: Fred Thompson Announces Statewide Leadership Team In Iowa

2007-12-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 19, 2007

Fred Thompson Announces Statewide Leadership Team In Iowa

Congressman Steve King to Chair Strong Iowa Organization

McLean, VA - Today the Fred Thompson campaign announced its Iowa State Chair and members of its Statewide Legislative Leadership Team. The team is made up of leading conservative legislators from around the state. U.S. Congressman Steve King, representing Iowa's 5th District, will serve as State Chairman of Thompson's Iowa campaign. State Representative Kraig Paulsen and State Representative Sandy Greiner will serve as State Co-Chairs.

"I compared each of the Republican candidates, and after careful consideration, I support Fred Thompson as America's next President," said Congressman King. "Fred Thompson has the sound judgment to appoint our nation's next Supreme Court justices, who will make important rulings that affect the destiny of America. I trust Fred to rebuild our national sovereignty by securing the border and restoring the central pillar of American exceptionalism - the rule of law."

Congressman King served in the Iowa State Senate for six years where he assumed roles as Chairman of the State Government Committee and Vice Chairman of the Oversight Budget Subcommittee. Elected to Congress in 2002 to represent Iowa's fifth district, Congressman King currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee, House Small Business Committee and House Judiciary Committee, where he sits on the Constitution Subcommittee and is the top Republican on the Immigration Subcommittee.

State Representative Kraig Paulsen is currently in his third term in the Iowa House of Representatives and is the House Republican Whip. Since being elected in 2002, Representative Paulsen has championed Association Health Care Plans for small businesses in Iowa and has fought for tax relief. He is a current member of the Commerce, Judiciary and Legislative Council Committees. Representative Paulsen is a former Air Force Officer and also an attorney.

"I've met all of the Republican contenders and I'm most excited about Fred Thompson," said Representative Paulsen. "I believe he can win the nomination. He's no-nonsense and would do an outstanding job leading this nation."

First elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1992, Representative Sandy Greiner has served on a variety of committees the past fifteen years, most recently on the State Government Committee, the Environmental Protection committee, and the Agriculture Committee. Last year she was named Legislator of the Year by the Iowa Agribusiness Association.

"I've studied Fred's positions carefully, and I believe he is well qualified to lead our country," said Representative Greiner. "I'm supporting Fred Thompson because he did not establish his conservative credentials recently. He's always been conservative and has a record to prove it."

"We are honored to have the support of these leading conservatives in Iowa," said Robert Haus, Executive Director of Fred Thompson's Iowa campaign. "These are leaders in our party, leaders in the conservative movement, and leaders who have proven track records, just like Senator Thompson."

Fred Thompson's Iowa Statewide Legislative Leadership team includes:

U.S. Congressman Steve King, State Chair
State Representative Kraig Paulsen, Co-Chair
State Representative Sandy Greiner, Co-Chair
State Representative Clel Baudler
Former State Senator Bob Brunkhorst
State Representative Royd Chambers
State Representative Jeff Kaufmann
State Representative Jamie Van Fossen

###

Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

EDWARDS: On Day Two Of Graniteroots Tour, Edwards Outlines Middle Class Rising Agenda

2007-12-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

ON DAY TWO OF GRANITEROOTS TOUR, EDWARDS OUTLINES MIDDLE CLASS RISING AGENDA

Joined by Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, Edwards discusses his bold vision to help all hard-working families achieve the American Dream

Manchester, New Hampshire – On the second day of his Graniteroots trip with special guests Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, Senator John Edwards outlined his bold vision to lift up middle-class families and make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream. Today, Raitt and Browne performed at town hall meetings in Portsmouth and Manchester before Edwards took the stage to discuss his Middle Class Rising agenda. Edwards’ plan will help build One America where the middle class prospers and all hard-working Americans can find good jobs, save for the future, and have guaranteed health care and retirement security.

“I take it very personally when I see powerful, well-financed interests taking over this democracy, and taking it away from regular Americans,” Edwards said. “We’ve got to stand right and reclaim our democracy to make absolutely certain that America rises again.

“Every time that we stand up for 135,000 people in New Hampshire who have no health care coverage, America rises. Every time we speak up for the 85,000 Granite Staters living in poverty, America rises. When we make sure that a high school graduate in rural New Hampshire knows that college is in the cards for them, and that they'll be able to find a good job in their community, America rises.

“And I’ll tell you this,” Edwards continued. “You can feel the New Hampshire voters rising up right now and giving voice to all those in this country who deserve a voice – for the poor, for the disenfranchised, for the working middle class in America. That’s what this election is about.”

To help the middle class rise again, Edwards' Middle Class Rising agenda will:

Create good jobs: Edwards will invest in renewable sources of energy to create new industries and at least 1 million new, good-paying jobs. He will pursue a trade policy that ends tax loopholes for companies that send American jobs overseas, and end the NAFTA trade model. Edwards will also raise the minimum wage, reform our tax code, build career ladders, and strengthen organized labor.

Give middle-class families the tools to build a secure financial future: Edwards will create Universal Retirement Accounts that people can take with them from job to job, and to respond to the mortgage crisis, he will pass a tough new national law to prevent predatory lending abuses. Edwards will also reign in credit card and other abusive lending practices by creating a new consumer watchdog agency.

Remove the burdens that are weighing families down: Edwards will help families afford rising home heating costs, make sure that college is affordable for everyone, so that every child can have a fair shot at the American Dream, help people balance their work and home lives by making sure that workplace policies are keeping up with changes in the economy, through expanding early education programs, providing paid leave, including sick leave, to all workers, and expanding job protection under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Create universal health care in America: Edwards' top domestic priority will be making sure that every man, woman and child in America is covered with high-quality care.

For more information please see Edwards’ Middle Class Rising agenda included below.

-30-

Middle Class Rising: A Plan to Strengthen America’s Middle Class

The social compact with the middle class is under siege because big corporations and special interests have taken over Washington. That compact says that if you work hard and do what’s right, you’ll get some security and the chance to build a better life for yourself and your family. But today, middle class families are not rising, and the gap between the haves and everyone else has grown wider than at any time since the great Depression.

The American middle class is struggling. Wages are stagnant even though the economy is growing, while the cost of middle-class essentials like health care and child care continues to grow. The basic American bargain is breaking down.

· Our economy is growing only at the top: Forty percent of economic growth over the past 20 years went to the top 1 percent of households. Income inequality is at its highest since the Great Depression. [EPI, 2006; CBPP, 2007]

· Families are working longer hours, but finding it harder to get by: Families work 10 more hours a week than they did 20 years ago. But middle-class incomes have stagnated for the past seven years. [DOL, 2007]

· Higher costs for the basics: Costs for middle-class essentials – including housing, health care, college, child care and transportation – have all outpaced wage growth. A child born in 2003 will cost middle-class families 15 percent more to raise than a child born in 1960, after adjusting for inflation. [Draut, 2005; USDA, 2003]

· Powerful corporate interests have taken control of our government: The number of Washington lobbyists has tripled to 36,000 since 1996, more than 60 for every member of Congress. Their impact can be seen across our society: a broken health care system, reliance on old sources of energy, the neglect of poverty, unfair terms of credit, and subsidies for corporate agribusiness. [Senate Office of Public Records, 2006]

· Losing hope for the American dream: More Americans are worried that the next generation will face fewer economic opportunities and less security and mobility. Only 30 percent of Americans think life will be better for the next generation. [Pew, 2006]

Today, John Edwards outlined his Middle Class Rising plan to restore the American dream and meet the moral test passed by 20 generations before us: to leave a better future to our children than we inherited. We must strengthen America’s middle class to make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream.

Create Good Jobs that Pay Enough to Support a Family

· Invest in the Industries of the Future: Renewable sources of energy – including ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar – can create new industries and at least 1 million new jobs. Edwards will establish the New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart renewable energies with start-up capital and train over 150,000 workers for Green Collar jobs. He will also invest in other sources of innovation such as life sciences, technology and private-sector research.

· Enact Smarter Trade Policies: Iowa has seen the results of unfair trade – losing more than 17,000 jobs in the last six years due to growing trading deficits with China. Trade deals need to make sense for American workers, not just corporations. Edwards will reject NAFTA-style trade deals and make sure any new trade agreements include strong labor and environmental standards and will vigorously enforce American workers' rights in existing agreements. He will also expand trade adjustment assistance to do much more for the workers and communities that are hurt by global competition. [EPI, 2007]

· Eliminate Tax Incentives to Move Offshore: The U.S. tax code encourages multinational corporations to invest overseas by allowing them to indefinitely defer taxation on their foreign profits. In practice, this means that multinational companies pay little or no tax on their foreign profits. Edwards will eliminate the benefit of deferral in low-tax countries, ensuring that American companies’ profits are taxed when earned at either the U.S. rate or a comparable foreign rate, to eliminate any incentive to move overseas.

· Make Work Pay by Raising the Minimum Wage: Under Gov. Culver, Iowa has been a leader in raising the minimum wage. But even at its 2008 level of $7.25, the earnings of a single parent with two children will still be $2,000 below the federal poverty line. Edwards will set a national goal of a minimum wage that equals half the average wage. He will raise the minimum wage by 75 cents a year until it reaches $9.50 in 2012 and then set it to rise automatically with average wages, ensuring that all workers share in America’s growth. [HHS, 2007]

· Reform the Tax Code to Reward Work, Not Wealth: As a result of President Bush’s regressive tax policies, the share of the federal tax burden borne by taxpayers in the middle and fourth quintiles is increasing while the share of taxes paid by the top 1 percent fell. Edwards will overhaul the tax code with new tax breaks to strengthen the middle-class pillars of saving, work, and family. He will also ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes by raising the tax rate on capital gains to 28 percent for the most fortunate taxpayers and repealing the Bush income tax cuts for individuals making more than $200,000 a year. [Tax Policy Center, 2006]

· Build Career Ladders: Two of the fields with the largest predicted job growth – health care and education –have both low-end and high-end positions and offer the potential for mobility. Edwards will invest in career ladders in these and other fields, helping low-wage workers to train on the job, gain new skills, and move into better jobs. For example, health care aides could become certified nurse assistants and registered nurses.

· Strengthen Workers’ Right to Organize: Union families earn up to 30 percent more than non-union families, but union membership has fallen from 30 percent of private-sector workers in 1973 to just 8 percent today. The right to choose a union is poorly enforced, full of loopholes, and routinely violated by employers. Edwards will enact the Employee Free Choice Act, vigorously enforce labor laws, and ban the use of permanent replacements for striking workers. [BLS, 2007; Census Bureau, 2007]

Give Americans the Tools to Build a Secure Retirement

· Create Universal Retirement Accounts that Move from Job to Job: Only 27 percent of households within 20 years of retirement have adequate retirement savings. Americans who retire with a pension have nearly twice the annual income of those who depend only on Social Security and personal savings, but too few middle-class families are able to start saving. Edwards will create a new universal retirement account available to all workers without another pension. Workers will be able to build up these savings accounts over the course of their careers, regardless of how many times they change jobs. Edwards will match worker contributions up to dollar-for-dollar on the first $500 with a new Get Ahead tax credit, far more valuable than the 10 percent or 15 percent tax deduction that many workers get today on retirement savings. [EPI, 2006; PRC, 2007; Gale, Gruber and Orszag, 2006]

· End the Housing Crisis: Edwards has proposed a comprehensive plan to lead us out of the foreclosure crisis and help families keep their homes, without bailing out irresponsible investors and speculators. He will go further than the Bush-Paulson plan to give every family an opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their mortgage, with counseling and small amounts of aid from a new Home Rescue Fund. He will also let families adjust the terms of their mortgages in bankruptcy, like investors can on their second homes and investment properties. Edwards will prevent future crises by passing a strong national law against predatory lending and creating a new federal regulator for financial services products.

· Rein in Credit Card and Other Abusive Lending: Half of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck – meaning millions of families rely on short-term credit just to pay the bills. Middle-class families are facing a radically transformed credit environment because interest rates were deregulated in 1978, which has led to looser lending standards and higher rates and fees. Edwards will require minimum protections on credit cards, such as restoring a 10-day grace before late fees and applying interest rate increases to future balances only. He will also create a new consumer watchdog agency – the Family Savings and Credit Commission – whose sole purpose will be to crack down on these kinds of predatory practices. [[MetLife, 2003; Draut, 2006]

Remove the Burdens that Are Weighing Families Down

· Make College More Affordable: The three-quarters of Iowa’s graduating college students who have debt owe $23,700, on average -- 25 percent more debt than the national average. Roughly one in five young adults reports that student debt caused them to delay starting a family and forced them to change careers. Edwards will create a national College for Everyone initiative to pay public-college tuition, fees and books for students who work part-time, take a college-prep curriculum in high school, and stay out of trouble. [TICAS, 2007; Nellie Mae, 2003]

· Offer Universal Preschool and Expand Affordable Child Care: More than two-thirds of mothers are working, most of them full time, but our workplace practices and public policies have not kept up with this new reality. Child care costs more than a rent for a family with two children. Edwards will create a Great Promise early childhood education program for every four-year-old. For younger children, he will more than double the child care tax credit and create a national Smart Start initiative to work with local nonprofits to make child care higher quality, more available, and more affordable. [BLS, 2005; NACCRRA, 2006]

· Create Paid Family and Medical Leave: Edwards will create a $2 billion National Family Trust to offer paid family and medical leave benefits to all workers by 2014, and he will make the federal government a model employer with a generous paid leave benefit. He will also expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover 13 million more workers by reducing the threshold for exemption for the law from 50 workers to 25 workers and help long-term part-time workers. In addition, Edwards will require businesses to offer their workers seven paid sick days a year, with pro-rated leave for part-timers.

· Help Families with Rising Home Heating Costs: John Edwards has championed the need to take on big oil and gas companies to halt global warming and build a new energy economy based on efficiency and renewable energy. Edwards has called on Congress to release some of the nation’s home heating and oil reserves to bring down prices and finally fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which could help more than 3 million more families. He has also proposed more than doubling assistance for weatherization programs and called on neighbors to help weatherize the homes of vulnerable seniors this winter. Finally, he has proposed helping states and non-profits offer low- or no-interest emergency loans so that squeezed families do not fall prey to high-cost lenders.

Guarantee True Universal Health Care

· Guarantee True Universal Health Care: Forty-seven million Americans live without health insurance. Edwards will take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee true universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. Employers will have to help cover their employees, the government will make insurance affordable with new reforms and subsidies, and all Americans will have insurance. His plan offers every American the option of a public plan that could evolve to a single payer system. [Census Bureau, 2007]

· Deliver Better Care at Lower Cost: Health care costs have consistently grown faster than wages for almost 50 years. Over the past five years alone, families have seen premiums grow by 90 percent while benefits have been cut. Edwards will take on the insurance and drug companies to cut needless waste in the health care system. He will also take much needed common-sense steps such as emphasizing preventive and primary care, requiring electronic medical records, and identifying and publicizing the most cost-effective treatments. Together these steps will save the average family $2,000 to 2,500 a year. [Kaiser Family Foundation, 2006]

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

HUCKABEE: Huck's views on foreign policy are No Laughing Matter

2007-12-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

Good morning, folks-

Below you will find more information about Mike Huckabee’s inexperience on foreign policy with regard to his recent attack on President Bush’s policies:

“Mike Huckabee’s inexperience and lack of strength in foreign policy is no laughing matter. America faces big challenges at home and abroad, yet Mike Huckabee’s message to Republican voters sounds exactly like talking points from Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. His lack of depth on such important issues is very troubling.”

-Kevin Madden, Romney for President campaign spokesman

"ON FOREIGN POLICY, HIS VIEWS ARE WRONG, AND HE'S PRETTY INEXPERIENCED AND IT'S SHOWING."

No Laughing Matter: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners.

· Gov. Mike Huckabee: "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." (WABC Radio's "Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)

· National Review: "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate." "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee's foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them." (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

Former White House Adviser Pete Wehner
MSNBC's "Morning Joe"
December 19, 2007

To watch, please see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0PRgnAF4Y

Former White House Adviser Pete Wehner Discusses Huckabee's Attacks On Bush Foreign Policy:

MSNBC's JOE SCARBOROUGH: "Welcome back. We got Jim Cramer to stay because he's mad. He's mad for life brother and he's number one with a bullet. Let's bring in right now Pete Wehner. He's former deputy assistant to the President, senior fellow right now at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Pete, thanks so much for being with us."

PETE WEHNER: "Nice to be with you. Thanks for inviting me, Joe."

SCARBOROUGH: "You have written and we're a little shocked and stunned and deeply saddened because the guy that loves Jesus, generally loves Jesus, Mike Huckabee was on our show earlier. We're friends with Mike. He likes Hendrix. I mean, he's got all the bases covered. But you have gone after him in a National Review article and you say that his Foreign Affairs article where he attacked President Bush for being arrogant and having a bunker mentality was misguided, and you said it was stunningly silly and deeply revealing. In what way?"

WEHNER: "Well, it was revealing because the criticisms that he made were with the kind that Jimmy Carter and Al Gore would make, not that usually conservative Republicans would make. He said that the President was at war with the world, which is not true. He spoke about the 'arrogant bunker mentality.' He said that the President really should deal with Iran like you deal with miscommunications between parents and friends. And that's actually not how you deal with Iran. It's not that he criticized the President. I've criticized our policy on Iraq. But the grounds of the criticism, I thought were wrong and, as I said, silly and I think for a Republican running in a Republican primary you don't want to sound like Jimmy Carter or Al Gore or the Daily Kos."

SCARBOROUGH: "Do you think, though, that a lot of Republicans are concerned with let's say what Paul Bremer did with the de-Baath-ification plan or what Donald Rumsfeld did by not giving the generals all the troops they wanted. I mean, Republicans, I know you've heard from other Republicans. There are similar concerns about missteps after we got into Baghdad."

WEHNER: "I acknowledge those and I accept them, actually. I've got some of the same complaints. Clearly the post-war situation wasn't handled well. We didn't have enough troops. We didn't have the right counter insurgency strategy. We have it now with David Petraeus. That wasn't the grounds of my criticism for the Foreign Affairs article. As I said, it was the nature of his criticisms as they related to this 'arrogant bunker mentality' that we really weren't, that we were having a problem in communications with dictators in the world. Well, sometimes it's actually the nature of the regimes that cause the problems. Its not that you're not being nice enough to them. He was making the argument that if you dominate the world you're going to illicit opposition. We're not dominating the world. We're actually trying to liberate some countries. And sometimes that elicits opposition."

CNBC's JIM CRAMER: "Peter, this is Jim Cramer, it seems like that Huckabee is also implying that we are a stingy nation that doesn't do a lot around the world. Isn't it true that we're the most, by far, the most generous nation in the world towards both friend and foe?"

WEHNER: "Yeah. That was another criticism that bothered me. Implicit in his argument is that it wasn't a generous nation. If we were generous we'd be well-loved. The reality is that we are generous. We give a huge amount in foreign aid. The President's global AIDS initiative which increased the amount of money to combat global AIDS by five times over the Clinton Administration is one of the great, generous, humane foreign policy achievements ever. And the reality is that we liberated more than 50 million people from two of the most despotic and cruel regimes in modern history and that was an act of generosity. It's come at a lot of cost to us in terms of human lives and in terms of money. It's cost more in lives and money than it should have. But the reality is that the impulse was generous and I think when all is said and done we'll look back on in history as having done the right thing and the generous thing."

MSNBC's MIKA BRZEZINSKI: "Peter, pertaining to the Foreign Affairs article written by Governor Huckabee and the words that he used, isn't it also true that we're dealing with an administration that led us into war on faulty intelligence and an administration that brought up the possibility of World War III which appears to be on intelligence that is still sort of hard to decipher at this point. I mean, isn't there something to be said for the 'arrogant bunker mentality' and why can't Republican candidates say that? Is there some rule against it?"

WEHNER: "No, there's no rule against it. He said it. But there's no rule against criticizing him for saying it. In terms of the faulty intelligence, I don't dispute that. Of course we went in with faulty intelligence and it was a huge, huge failure. The rest of the world had faulty intelligence. Countries that even opposed our actions in Iraq had faulty intelligence. They believed Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. I would say, that it would be nice if, once in a while, people pointed out that there was a burden of proof on Saddam Hussein to meet the obligations that he had agreed to. He didn't. He intentionally kept the inspectors out, and based on his history we drew conclusions. They were the wrong ones. Again, I don't dispute the idea that the Bush Administration can be criticized or even if it should be criticized. In eight years, you're going to make mistakes. This administration has made some; we've made some big ones. My objection was the nature of the criticisms. I just think Governor Huckabee who is a very smooth and talented fellow – you saw that in your interview with him. He's the best debater in the field. He's a terrific speaker. But, I think on foreign policy, his views are wrong, and he's pretty inexperienced and it's showing."

SCARBOROUGH: "Alright, Pete, thank you so much for renewing this. Pete Wehner. He's with The Ethics and Public Policy Center. You can read Pete's critique on the National Review Online and you can also see Governor Huckabee's article in Foreign Affairs."

Kevin A. Madden
National Press Secretary
Romney for President

DNC RESEARCH DEPT.: Convicted Felons For Giuliani!

2007-12-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Daily Flipper
Read what the Republicans Wish You Wouldn’t …
December 19, 2007

TOP HEADLINE: Convicted Felons For Giuliani! Another Shady Character Emerges From Mayor’s Past. . . And He’s Bringing Ammo

Ray was one of Kerik's closest friends and the best man at his 1998 wedding. As Kerik was rising to become New York's police commissioner, Ray was in touch with him regularly -- lending him money, discussing possible business opportunities, and using Ray's contacts in Russia to arrange a meeting for Giuliani with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Much has changed since then. Giuliani is now a leading Republican presidential candidate. Kerik has pleaded guilty to state ethics charges and is under federal indictment. And Ray, a convicted felon now in prison on a parole violation, has turned on his former friend. He has provided to state and federal authorities half a dozen boxes of e-mails, memos, faxes, financial statements, photographs and other materials about Kerik's alleged wrongdoing.

That evidence, reviewed by The Washington Post, shows that Kerik brought Ray into contact with Giuliani on a handful of occasions documented in photos and that he invoked Giuliani's name in connection with a New Jersey construction company with alleged mob ties that is now at the heart of the criminal cases.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR2007121802333_pf.html

Giuliani’s Sordid Past Keeping Him From Closing the Deal in NH

Giuliani's policy positions shouldn't be as troublesome for him in New Hampshire, which is more secular and socially moderate than Iowa and South Carolina. But it's personal issues, not policies, that are dragginghim down. When pollsters asked New Hampshire Republicans in the December survey which candidate was the most believable or the "most likely to keep the same positions on important issues," Giuliani trailed both Romney and McCain. On the question of which candidaterespondents saw as "least likely to act like a typical politician," Giuliani came in last, at just 9 percent (Romney and McCain were tied at 18 percent). Voters mayagree with what Giuliani has to say, but they just don't know if they can trust what he's saying.

That makes it difficult not only for Giuliani to sell himself, but also to criticize other candidates. Consequently, it was McCain, not Giuliani, who was the first to send direct mail to New Hampshire voters attacking Romney as a flip-flopper.
http://nationaljournal.com/members/buzz/2007/onthetrail/121907.htm

Conveniently Suppressed? Romney ‘Doesn’t Recall’ Attending Planned Parenthood Fundraiser

Mitt Romney, who has taken hits from his Republican presidential rivals for his change of heart on abortion, waved off a photo, sent yesterday to several news organizations, that shows him at a fund-raiser for Planned Parenthood.

Nicki Nichols Gamble, a former president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said the photo shows Mitt and Ann Romney at a private home in Cohasset in June 1994. At the time, Romney was hoping to unseat US Senator Edward M. Kennedy and was eager to show his support for abortion rights, said Gamble, who is pictured in the photo with her back to the camera.

Romney dismissed any significance of the photo.

"I attend a lot of events when I run for office. I don't recall the specific event," Romney said while campaigning in South Carolina, according to the Associated Press. "I think I've made it very clear. I was prochoice, or effectively prochoice, when I ran in 1994. As governor I'm prolife and I have a record of being prolife and I'm firmly prolife today."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/19/romney_dismisses_photo_taken_at_fund_raiser_says_he_is_firmly_antiabortion/

Tax Evaders For Mitt!! Romney Helped Clients Avoid Paying Taxes in US

While in private business, Mitt Romney used shell companies in two offshore tax havens to help eligible investors avoid paying US taxes, federal and state records show.

Romney gained no personal tax benefit from the legal operations in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. But aides of the Republican presidential hopeful and former colleagues acknowledged that the tax-friendly jurisdictions helped attract billions of additional investment dollars to Romney's former company, Bain Capital, and thus boosted profits for Romney and his partners.

In the Cayman Islands, Romney was listed as a general partner and personally invested in BCIP Associates III Cayman, a private equity fund that is registered at a post office box on Grand Cayman Island and that indirectly buys equity in US companies. The arrangement shields foreign investors from US taxes they would pay for investing directly in US companies.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/19/romney_utilized_offshore_tax_havens_to_help_investors/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+2008+campaign+news

Huckabee Hits Romney On Non-Pardon Of Iraq Vet

Mitt Romney's new TV commercial questions the judgment of Mike Huckabee, his fellow Republican presidential contender, noting the rival issued 1,033 pardons and commutations as governor of Arkansas while Romney issued none while leading Massachusetts.

Left out of the spot is perhaps Romney's most noteworthy pardon denial: his rejection of the request of an Iraq war veteran who was trying to become a police officer after his National Guard service.

Anthony Circosta's offense? Shooting a friend in the arm with a BB gun as a 13-year-old. The impact didn't break the skin.. . .
Huckabee, appearing yesterday in Houston, was questioned about the ad. He said he exercised discretion and acted responsibly in reviewing the requests.

The former governor added: "People need to understand the real record here. Did Mitt Romney act in the best interest of Anthony Circosta or in the best interest of Mitt Romney? If you're gonna be elected to the job you need to be elected to do the job that's best for the citizens, not for your own political future."
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Romney+no-pardons+boast+forgets+war+vet&articleId=1970b114-92c7-41a8-af4d-a4fbe35e37a7

Romney Aggressively Courted Iowans While Governor of Massachusetts; Used PAC Contributions to Aid Campaign

Romney was not always the dominant force in Iowa that he became. In mid 2005, polls indicated that Romney's support was in the single digits, within the margin of error of zero. He was virtually unknown.

So he started building relationships on the ground here early, and it paid off. In a series of interviews with 37 of Iowa's 99 Republican county chairs conducted by Huffington Post's OffTheBus project as part of a collaboration with Iowa Independent, it was revealed that Romney made quite an impression on key GOP activists across the state before some other candidates were even paying attention.

"The Romney campaign did an event in Fall 2005," said Mitch Hambleton, chair of the Republican Party in Dallas County, which contains many of Des Moines's heavily Republican suburbs. Romney was only halfway through his second term as Governor of Massachusetts when he gave the keynote speech at the Dallas County GOP's annual steak fry fundraiser. "He was just getting ... established in the state. I had the opportunity to meet him and share views," said Hambleton.

Romney did not announce his candidacy until February 2007 -- nearly a year and a half after the steak fry -- but that did not stop him from building the beginnings of his Iowa organization. "We saw Romney a whole lot. He was in Iowa quite a bit from 2005 to present day," said Hambleton.

Steve Schmitt, chair of the Blackhawk County GOP, said Romney's campaign first began courting him in the spring of 2006, about a year before he declared his candidacy. "If I remember correctly, the first conversation that I had [with a presidential campaign] was with the Romney campaign," he said. "[Romney] actually came and spoke to our county convention, which would have been in February, March of 06."

But Romney's strategy did not rely entirely on personal visits. He also made strategic donations to local Republicans across the state in the same timeframe, and he developed a bit of a reputation for it. One county chair, Kelly O'Brien from O'Brien County, said the Massachusetts Governor sent checks to everyone he could reach.

Ann Trimble-Ray, who chairs the GOP in Sac County, said "Gov. Mitt Romney's Commonwealth PAC was the first [presidential candidate's] organization to contact our county -- with a $250 donation in 2006. The contact was via mail and they had no requirements for the donation they sent to build the party."
http://iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1674

Where in the World Is Rudy Giuliani?

The national frontrunner, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, is not here in Iowa this week. Giuliani's not competing to win in first-in-the-nation caucus state Iowa and first-in-the-nation primary state New Hampshire, instead focusing on big delegate-rich states that hold their primaries and caucuses later in the nomination process.

As Giuliani's pursued this strategy he's dropped to third or fourth place in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Perhaps of greater concern for Giuliani is his steady drop in the polls nationally, from 53% in February to 26% today.

His greatest decline has been among men, conservatives and those following the race very closely - voters who might be award of some of his baggage. A danger for the former Mayor his absence from a continued presence in these early states means that the media and his opponents are the ones deciding what voters are hearing about him.

Republican strategists and ABC News contributor Matthew Dowd thinks Giuliani's strategy carries some risk. "His destiny will begin to be out of his control when the voting starts in Iowa as people go to the polls and a candidate wins," Dowd said. "He won't be able to dominate the news coverage."
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics/national_elections&id=5843788

Stepping It Up. . . Giuliani To Face More Criticism From NY Firefighters

A group of New York firefighters who lost sons in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attacks is organizing a political committee to take on former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani in Republican primary states.

A leader of the 9/11 Firefighters and Families group met Tuesday with union leaders and political consultants, readying plans to set up a tax-exempt committee that would fund appearances and a media drive against Giuliani.

Jim Riches, a New York deputy fire chief whose firefighter son was killed during the attack, said the group aimed to raise doubts about the central premise of Giuliani's presidential campaign -- his leadership role on Sept. 11. "If we have to follow him around all 2008 we'll do it," Riches said.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-antirudy19dec19,0,2935502.story?coll=la-politics-campaign

Huckabee, Making Bill O’Reilly Proud

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Tuesday defended his Christmas ad amid suggestions that the ordained Baptist minister had gone too far mixing religion and politics.

Huckabee is courting evangelical voters and other religious conservatives in his bid to win the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3. In Texas for a fundraiser, he said the ad was a harmless holiday greeting even though it excludes other religions.

"If we are so politically correct in this country that a person can't say enough of the nonsense with the political attack ads could we pause for a few days and say Merry Christmas to each other then we're really, really in trouble as a country," Huckabee said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071219/ap_on_el_pr/huckabee_christmas_ad;_ylt=AnraLAjEzavNbuMPiKCc4x1p24cA

Apparently We Missed His Stint As Secretary of State; Thompson Swears He’s Got The Top Foreign Policy Credentials

Most of the top Republican candidates for president don't have the foreign policy experience to handle the dangers the United States faces, Fred Thompson told Gannett News Service Tuesday.

"The fact of the matter is that among the so-called top candidates, John McCain is the only one with any experience in these areas," Thompson said in an interview.

"I'm not sure where some of these other guys are. When I read that Mr. Huckabee believes that if we played nice with other people they'd like us, (that) causes me to consider whether he understands the world that we live in."
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS09/712190365/-1/caucus

Ron Paul: Pro-Obesity?

Unlike other presidential candidates who want to control obesity and smoking to cut health care costs, Republican candidate Ron Paul said he would not promote preventive medicine.

"I wouldn't promote it," Paul, a Texas congressman, said after a meeting Tuesday with the Linn County Medical Society. "I want the patient to make the decision."

Paul, a 72-year-old former Air Force flight surgeon and obstetrician who has delivered thousands of babies, had a lot in common with several of the 10 medical society members he spoke with in Cedar Rapids.
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS09/712190378/-1/caucus
If You’re Saddling Fred, Better Bring The Spurs

Republican Fred Thompson says if he can be a presidential horse for conservatives to ride in the campaign, "All I've got to say is saddle me up."
http://www.examiner.com/a-1111739~Thompson_Says__Saddle_Me_Up__in_Campaign.html

What Is It About Fred Thompson? Maybe That You Can Always Get Him On The Phone?

What was it about Fred Thompson that made Condoleezza Rice, after he left the Senate ask him to help her go through, decipher issues of nuclear proliferation. What was it about Fred Thompson that made President Bush call him to help be the shepherd for now, thank goodness, God bless, Chief Justice John Roberts. What is it about Fred Thompson?
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/289532.aspx

All We Found Is A Case of Snickers Wrappers And A Dog Collar, But We’re Saving That For 2008

For Huckabee, becoming the front-runner also means being more closely scrutinized.

"We've got a lot of people doing Dumpster diving in Little Rock right now," Huckabee joked to reporters, referring to a recent spate of critical news stories examining his record.

Romney backer Collins welcomed that examination. Most voters assume Huckabee is a conservative on taxes, spending, crime and ethics, he said, "but that's incorrect. The guy could essentially be a pro-life Democrat."
http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_7739744?nclick_check=1

Being Dogged By Scandals Can Be Ruff: Michael Vick and David Huckabee . . .

http://shotpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/huckvick.jpg

What do these two men have in common?

It certainly is not a sub 4.3 forty-yard dash and the ability to elude top NFL defenders.

Actually, it appears both these men have abused and killed a dog. While you probably recognize Michael Vick, the other person pictured above is David Huckabee, son of presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. According to Newsweek:

As Mike Huckabee gains in the polls, the former Arkansas governor is finding that his record in office is getting more scrutiny. One issue likely to get attention is his handling of a sensitive family matter: allegations that one of his sons was involved in the hanging of a stray dog at a Boy Scout camp in 1998.
http://shotpolitics.com/the-huckabee-dog-killing-cover-up.htm

Don’t Touch The Phone …NH AG Says Anonymous Push Polling Legal Despite State Statute

As a telephone poll floods the state with positive comments about one Republican candidate and "factual information" about his rivals, the state's deputy attorney general said yesterday the state law banning "push polling" does not apply to the presidential primary.

Orville "Bud" Fitch noted in an interview that he has testified before lawmakers in favor of expanding the law, but the provision he supported failed to pass the Legislature.
. . .
Fitch's comments came as the director of a Virginia-based conservative non-profit called Common Sense Issues promised to continue making nearly 100,000 calls a night in the Granite State this week to support Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee and to provide "factual information" about other GOP candidates.

Patrick Davis said that before the end of the week, he expects the telephone marketing firm his group has hired to have called 430,000 households in the state, which he said is about 100 percent coverage. He said the calls will then stop during the week of Christmas and may begin again after Jan. 1.
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Political+'push+poll'+probed&articleId=8d2932da-b53d-4fcc-ac4e-3eabe5e1ad7c

The Daily Flipper is distributed by the DNC Research Department. Items are not intended for attribution to the DNC, its chair or spokespeople.

GIULIANI: Rudy Giuliani Campaign Launches New Television Ad in New Hampshire

2007-12-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Maria Comella
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Rudy Giuliani Campaign Launches New Television Ad in New Hampshire

New York City - The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced the launch of a new television ad, entitled “Holiday Wishes.” The ad begins airing tomorrow in New Hampshire.

Visit http://www.joinrudy2008.com to view the ad. The script is below.

Script for “Holiday Wishes”:

MAYOR GIULIANI: “There are many things I wish for this holiday season. I wish for peace with strength. Secure borders. A government that spends less than it takes in. Lower taxes for our businesses and families. And I really hope, that all of the presidential candidates can just get along.

SANTA CLAUS: “Ho, ho, ho, ho. I was with you right up until that last one. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.”

MAYOR GIULIANI: “Can’t have everything! I’m Rudy Giuliani and I approved this message. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!”

###

Paid for by the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc. © 2006-2007
www.JoinRudy2008.com

GIULIANI AD FACTS
“Holiday Wishes”

AD FACT:

Mayor Giuliani: “There are many things I wish for this holiday season. I wish for peace with strength.”

BACKGROUND:

Mayor Giuliani Believes American Needs To Achieve Peace Through Strength By Remaining On Offense In Terrorists War Against Us And Expanding The Military. Giuliani: “We need to stay on offense in this Terrorist War against Us, achieving peace through strength, that’s the only way you achieve peace, through great strength, by being on offense, by being strong, by being confident, by having a military that we expand, not contract.” (Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Remarks, Tampa, FL, 12/15/07)

Mayor Giuliani: “A Realistic Peace Can Only Be Achieved Through Strength.” (Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Op-Ed, “Toward A Realistic Peace,” Foreign Affairs, 9/07)

As Part Of His 12 Commitments To The American People, Giuliani “Will Keep America On The Offense In The Terrorists’ War On Us.” (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/, Accessed 12/18/07)

As President Rudy Giuliani’s Goal Will Be To Kill Or Capture The Al-Qaeda Leadership, Destroy The Capabilities Of The Group, And Discredit Its Radical Ideology. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

A Giuliani Administration Will Support Important Tools Like The PATRIOT ACT And FISA, And Will Work Together With Congress To Improve Our Ability To Stop Terrorists At Home – Without Compromising The Rights Of U.S. Citizens. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

As President, Rudy Giuliani Will Ensure That Our Military Has All The Forces, Tools, Skills, And Technologies It Needs To Defeat The Terrorists And Address Other Future Threats. He will add at least 10 new combat brigades to the Army and will expand our Navy to more than 300 ships. He will ensure that the Air Force has the new refueling tankers it needs, and will build a new long range bomber to replace the B-52. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

A Giuliani Administration Will Revitalize And Refocus The Intelligence Community To Produce Solid Human Intelligence On Terrorist Groups And Activities. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/4, Accessed 12/18/07)

AD FACT:

Mayor Giuliani: “Secure borders.”

BACKGROUND:

As One Of Mayor Giuliani’s 12 Commitments To The American People, He “Will End Illegal Immigration, Secure Our Borders, And Identify Every Non-Citizen In Our Nation.” (Rudy Giuliani For President, Press Release, 8/14/07)

Mayor Giuliani Believes Ending Illegal Immigration Will Help Regain The Faith Of The American People. “Real immigration reform must put security first because border security and homeland security are inseparable in the Terrorists’ War on Us. The first responsibility of the federal government is to protect our citizens by controlling America’s borders, while ending illegal immigration and identifying every non-citizen in our nation. We must restore integrity, accountability and the rule of law to our immigration system to regain the faith of the American people.” (Rudy Giuliani For President, Press Release, 8/14/07)

Mayor Giuliani Is Calling For Physical And Technological Fences To Be Built Along Border. Giuliani: “So everything else has to kind of serve that purpose. A fence — a physical fence — very effective. A technological fence, in certain places [will be] very, very effective; meaning, photographic technology, heat sensing technology, different kinds of technology, all toward the goal of identifying everyone coming in to the United States.” (Rudy Giuliani, Interview With John Fleischman, 3/26/07)

Mayor Giuliani: “We Have To Beef Up Border Security … We Have To Have A Much Larger Border Patrol And They Have To Be Trained In Being Able To Stop People.” (Rudy Giuliani, Interview With WOC Radio, Davenport, IA, 6/4/07)

Giuliani Will Propose BorderStat To Bring Accountability To Measuring The Progress In Securing Our Borders. BorderStat is modeled after the Mayor's successful New York City program CompStat which helped reduce the city's crime by imposing accountability. It will use key indicators to identify both effective enforcement strategies that demonstrate tangible results and areas of the border where we are failing so the failures can be immediately corrected. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/3, Accessed 12/11/07)

Giuliani Will Issue A Single, Tamper-Proof Biometric ID Card For All Non-Citizens. Rudy will propose the Secure Authorized Foreign Entry Card (SAFE Card) to be uniform for all non-citizen workers and students, utilizing tamper-proof and biometric features for secure identification. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, http://www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/3, Accessed 12/11/07)

AD FACT:

Mayor Giuliani: “A government that spends less than it takes in.”

BACKGROUND:

Mayor Giuliani: “All Spending Is Discretionary. Read The Constitution. Congress Has To Appropriate It; The President Has To Sign It. All Spending Is Discretionary And It Has To Be Looked At From The Point Of View Of, Can We Afford It Now? Is It Appropriate To Pass It On To The Next Generation? This Is What I Did In New York City. I Restored Fiscal Discipline …” (Mayor Giuliani, Remarks On His 12 Commitments To The American People, Bedford, NH, 6/12/07)

As President, Giuliani Will Reduce The Federal Civilian Workforce By 20% Through Attrition And Retirement: Within The Next Decade, 42% Of The Federal Civilian Workforce - Some 300,000 Bureaucrats - Will Retire. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/2, Accessed 11/19/07)

A President Giuliani Will Require Agencies To Identify At Least 5% To 20% In Spending Reductions. Requiring agency heads to identify savings and increased efficiencies in each annual budget - as Rudy Giuliani did as Mayor - is a management tool that will lead to constant streamlining and more cost-effective government spending without compromising national security in the search for savings. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/2, Accessed 11/19/07)

Use GAPStat to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Federal Agencies & Eliminate Wasteful Spending. Rudy's plan establishes a Government-wide Accountability Program ["GAPStat"] based on New York's successful CompStat program to better evaluate each agency, analyze the effectiveness of Federal programs, and identify those that are wasteful, failing or duplicative. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/2, Accessed 11/19/07)

AD FACT:

Mayor Giuliani: “Lower taxes for our businesses and families.”

BACKGROUND:

Giuliani Will Cut Taxes As President. Giuliani: “I've seen how pro-growth policies lead to broader prosperity. We'll not only keep the current tax cuts in place or their equivalent, we’ll enact additional tax relief and give the Death Tax the death penalty. High tax rates hurt business and destroy jobs. I know that tax cuts are good for the economy. It's not just theory for me because I cut taxes and got results as Mayor of New York City. As President, I will cut taxes further.” (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/5, Accessed 11/19/07)

A President Giuliani Will Permanently Lower Marginal Rates To Current Level And Possibly Further. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/5, Accessed 11/19/07)

Giuliani Will Commit To Ending The Death Tax So Wealth Passed On To Future Generations Is Not Subject To This Punitive Tax While Preventing Double Taxation. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/5, Accessed 11/19/07)

Rudy Will Commit To Preventing The American Public From Facing A $3 Trillion Or More Tax IncreaseOver The Next 10 Years By Making The Current Tax Provisions – Like The Marriage Penalty Relief And Child Tax Credit – Permanent And Reining In The Growth Of The Alternative Minimum Tax. (Rudy Giuliani For President Website, www.joinrudy2008.com/commitment/indepth/5, Accessed 11/19/07)

AD FACT:

Mayor Giuliani: “And I really hope, that all of the presidential candidates can just get along.”

Santa Claus: “Ho, ho, ho, ho. I was with you right up until that last one. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.”

Mayor Giuliani: “Can’t have everything! I’m Rudy Giuliani and I approved this message. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!”

BACKGROUND:

Mayor Giuliani: President Reagan “Used To Have An 11th Commandment, That Was Thou Shall Not Attack Another Republican. I'm Going To Try To Follow That Commandment As Much As I Can.” (Philip Elliott, “Giuliani Invoking Reagan On The Campaign Trail,” The Associated Press, 10/14/07)

Giuliani: “If You Watched My Campaign All Throughout, I Have Never Attacked Another Republican. I Have Said I Follow The 11th Amendment. The Only Time It Might Appear That Way Is If Somebody Attacks Me. Then I Have To Answer.” (Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes,” 12/17/07)

###

Paid for by the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc © 2006-2007
www.joinrudy2008.com

ROMNEY: New Ad, "Searched"

2007-12-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

Good morning, folks-

Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Searched."

“Searched”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwWVWkPr-4

In the ad, Robert Gay, a former business partner of Governor Romney, recounts the story of his daughter who disappeared in New York City in the summer of 1996. When no one could find her, Governor Romney and his colleagues stepped forward and closed down their company in Boston, Bain Capital. Together, they headed to New York City to aid the search. Spreading out across the city, they set up command centers, combed through neighborhoods, passed out fliers and drew media attention to the case. Through their efforts, Robert Gay was reunited with his daughter. This ad is their story.

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in New Hampshire. Script and the story behind “Searched” are provided below.

Script For "Searched" (TV:30):

ROBERT GAY: "My fourteen year-old daughter had disappeared in New York City for three days. No one could find her.

"My business partner stepped forward to take charge. He closed the company and brought almost all our employees to New York.

"He said, 'I don’t care how long it takes – we’re going to find her.'

"He set up a command center and searched through the night. The man who helped save my daughter was Mitt Romney.

"Mitt's done a lot of things that people say are nearly impossible. But for me, the most important thing he’s ever done is to help save my daughter."

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

This Is The Story Of "Searched"…

On Saturday, July 6, 1996, Robert Gay Saw His Daughter, Melissa, For The Last Time Before She Disappeared In New York City. "The frantic parents of a 14-year-old Connecticut girl, missing since Sunday after she attended an all-night dance party on Randalls Island, came to New York City yesterday seeking help in finding their child. Melissa Gay, of Ridgefield, Conn., known also as Missy, left her home Saturday night without telling her parents she was going to New York City, said her father, Robert Gay, a managing partner of Bain Capital, a leveraged buy-out firm." (Shirley Leung, "Investment Firm Shuts To Help Find Girl," The Boston Globe, 7/12/96)

"I JUST HOPE THAT SOMEBODY COULD FIND IT IN THEIR HEART TO CALL AND LET US KNOW HOW SHE IS." - Lynette Gay, Mother

Melissa Was Last Seen In New York City On Sunday, July 7, 1996. "A distraught Connecticut family desperately searched yesterday for their teenage daughter, last seen early Sunday after partying at an all-night rave concert on Randalls Island. 'I just hope that somebody could find it in their heart to call and let us know how she is,' said the mother of 14-year-old Melissa Gay. 'I know she's afraid of the dark,' added Lynette Gay, 44. 'She's a courageous, spunky girl, but she also likes her hugs and kisses.' The girl was last seen Sunday at 11 a.m. in a park under the Whitestone Bridge. She wore a blue or red-striped shirt and tan pants. She is blond, 5-feet-3 and weighs 105 pounds." (K.C. Baker, "Fearful Kin Seek Missing Teen," New York Daily News, 7/12/96)

By Wednesday, With The Investigation Going Nowhere And His Business Partner Walking The Streets Of New York City Trying To Find His Daughter, Mitt Romney Closed Down His Company In Boston And Headed To New York City With His Colleagues. "On Wednesday he walked the streets of Manhattan looking for his blonde daughter, who was last seen wearing a blue or red-striped shirt and baggy tan pants. Gay, who has worked for Bain for eight years, kept his ordeal to himself, confiding only in Romney. But Wednesday, Romney decided to tell the other 11 managing directors, and they decided that finding a missing daughter was more important than operating a $1 billion investment firm." (Shirley Leung, "Investment Firm Shuts To Help Find Girl," The Boston Globe, 7/12/96)

"OUR CHILDREN ARE WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT. … EVERYTHING ELSE TAKES A BACK SEAT." – Mitt Romney

By Thursday Morning, Mitt Romney, 56 Bain Capital Employees And 250 Colleagues From Wall Street Were Working The Streets Of New York City In Search Of Melissa. "The executives decided not only to give their time but their money, paying all expenses for the search for the fifth of Gay's seven children. That night, 16 employees flew to New York, turned a function room of the Laguardia Marriott Hotel into a 'war room,' and got printing giant R. R. Donnelly to print 200,000 fliers with a color picture of Melissa. They also hired a private investigator and set up an 800-number hot line. Another 40 employees caught an early morning shuttle yesterday, and later were joined by about 250 colleagues from other Wall Street firms, including Goldman Sachs, Price Waterhouse and Bankers Trust." (Shirley Leung, "Investment Firm Shuts To Help Find Girl," The Boston Globe, 7/12/96)

Romney And Bain Capital Used All Of Their Connections To Further The Search. "Bain Capital's partners closed down the firm and drew on friendships and connections to find volunteers for the search. R. R. Donnelly, the firm's printer, printed more than 300,000 fliers bearing Ms. Gay's picture and last known whereabouts. Duane Reade, a drugstore chain in which Bain Capital is an investor, had clerks at 52 stores insert fliers in shopping bags. Price Waterhouse, which does the firm's accounting, sent nearly 100 volunteers to distribute the posters, and Goldman Sachs, Bankers Trust and Morgan Stanley dispatched more than 60 people." (Charisse Jones, "Volunteers Search For Missing Girl," The New York Times, 7/12/96)

Romney And Bain Capital Coordinated A "Five-Pronged Attack" To Find The Gays' Daughter. "The searchers prepared a 'five-pronged attack,' said Stephen Pagliuca, another Bain Capital managing director. The plan included: hiring private investigators; coordinating with New York authorities; lining up help from business associates; blanketing the city with 250,000 flyers; and organizing a media blitz that landed news reports on three local TV stations. Nearly all of Bain Capital's 50-plus employees got involved, Pagliuca said. A 'skeletal crew' answered phones and handled essential business in Boston while the rest flew to New York. By 4 p.m. Thursday, the search involved 300 people, Pagliuca said." (Eric Convey, "Bain Staff Swung Into Action For Child Search," The Boston Herald, 7/13/96)

With The Help Of Bain, The Gays Were Reunited With Their Daughter. "The saga ended late Thursday night when Melissa Gay of Ridgefield, Conn., was found safe and sound at a suburban New Jersey home. The discovery of 'Missy' followed 24 hours of intensive work by Bain Capital employees and their contacts that began soon after Robert Gay, one of the firm's 12 managing directors, told co-workers his daughter was missing. … The hunt went on until a family in Montville, N.J., heard of it and called police later to say Missy was with them and fine." (Eric Convey, "Bain Staff Swung Into Action For Child Search," The Boston Herald, 7/13/96)

At An End-Of-The-Year Meeting, Bain Capital Listed The Search For Melissa Gay As Their Greatest Accomplishment. "Last week, the partners of Boston's Bain Capital Inc. drew up their annual list of accomplishments: Number one was the week they spent last July combing Manhattan in search of Melissa Gay, the missing 14-year-old daughter of one of the partners. 'It really overshadowed everything we did from a money standpoint,' said Mitt Romney, the Bain Capital founder who won the 1994 Massachusetts Republican Senate nomination partly on his reputation as a venture capital wiz." (Peter S. Canellos, "Bain Capital Recalls NY Search," The Boston Globe, 12/8/96)

Romney Never Forgot What He Saw As He Sought To Help A Friend In Need. "Now back in school and fully recovered, Melissa and her parents are doing well, Romney said. The partners, however, are still taking stock of their visit to the dark corners of New York, putting up posters and talking to runaways outside seedy nightclubs and peep shows. Romney said he can't escape some of the images he carries with him from his week in the New York underworld. 'It was a shocker,' he said. 'The number of lost souls was astounding.' Romney said one partner still talks about a runaway he spoke with in search of information about Melissa.
'The girl asked, "Why are you looking for her?" and he said,
"Because her parents miss her,"' Romney said. 'She replied,
"I wish my parents missed me like that."'"
(Peter S. Canellos, "Bain Capital Recalls NY Search," The Boston Globe, 12/8/96)

Kevin A. Madden
National Press Secretary
Romney for President

RICHARDSON: New Richardson Ad Draws Clear Distinctions on Iraq Policy

2007-12-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

New Richardson Ad Draws Clear Distinctions on Iraq Policy
For Immediate Release
December 19, 2007
Contact: Tom Reynolds

MANCHESTER, NH-- Continuing in its effort to reestablish Iraq as the critical issue in this election, the Richardson for President campaign today released a new ad in Iowa and New Hampshire entitled "All Out." The ad points out the distinct policy differences between New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who supports withdrawing all U.S. forces and leaving no residual forces behind, and the other major Democratic Presidential candidates, who could not pledge to have all U.S. forces out of Iraq by 2013.

To watch the ad and read the accompanying background documents, click here.

"Iraq is the most important issue facing our country, but the national media and too many of my fellow candidates seem to have put it on the backburner," Governor Richardson said. "We can accomplish nothing on domestic issues, which the other candidates have shifted to, until we get all of our troops out of Iraq and actually end this war.

"There are serious policy differences in this race. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards could not pledge to have all of our troops out by 2013, five years from now. I will get all of them out within a year and leave no residual forces behind.

"I pledged early in this race to stay positive and debate the issues. This ad does not change that because in my mind, no other issue is more important than Iraq, and there are clear differences on where we stand.

"I am the only major candidate who will bring all of our troops home and end this war. Voters and caucus-goers deserve to know that there are clear policy distinctions between the candidates before deciding who should be the next President of the United States."

"All Out" was produced by Steve Murphy and Mark Putnam of Murphy Putnam Media.

The Richardson for President campaign also launched a new Web page today entitled "The Difference on Iraq." This page will provide voters and caucus-goers with additional information on the differences between the major Democratic Presidential candidates on the Iraq war. Click here to view the page.

Paid for by Richardson for President, Inc.

EDWARDS: Edwards Launches Three-Day “Fighting For America’s Voice” Tour

2007-12-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

EDWARDS LAUNCHES THREE-DAY “FIGHTING FOR AMERICA’S VOICE” TOUR

Will discuss his plans to make sure all Americans have a voice in Washington, not just the special interests

Des Moines, Iowa – On, Thursday, December 20th, 2007, Senator John Edwards will kick off a three-day “Fighting for America’s Voice” tour across Iowa to discuss his plans to stand up for those who don’t have a voice in Washington. Edwards has spent his life speaking out on behalf of those who don’t have a voice, and as President he will fight to make sure that the American people are heard in Washington, not the special interests.

During the tour, Edwards will be joined by numerous people whose voices he has fought to make sure are heard – James Lowe, who went 50 years without a voice because he didn’t have health care; Sandy and David Lakey, and their daughter Valerie, whom Edwards represented as a lawyer after Valerie was injured by a swimming pool drain that the company knew was dangerous; and Doug Bishop, who worked at the Maytag plant in Newton until Maytag decided to cut costs by cutting Bishop’s job.

On his three-day trip, Edwards will discuss how we can make sure every voice is heard in Washington. On Thursday, he will outline his plans to revitalize rural communities. On Friday, Edwards will deliver a speech in West Des Moines at the Des Moines Area Community College West Campus about how we can help our children and make sure they have the opportunity to realize the American Dream. On Saturday, Edwards will discuss how we can make sure Americans can work at a good-paying jobs and that our economy works for hard-working families, not just the special interests.

RNC Research Dept.: Obama & Foreign Policy (#5 Is Key)

2007-12-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

Considering Senator Obama stated that he is “informed” on foreign policy by his three years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I thought I would point out the below, particularly number five.

D-

Foreign Policy Credential #5: Member Of Foreign Relations Committee…Reluctantly.

“Listening To A Bloviating Colleague At His First Meeting Of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama Slipped A Three-Word Note To A Member Of His Staff: ‘Shoot. Me. Now.’” (Ben Wallace-Wells, “Destiny’s Child,” Rolling Stone, 2/7/07)

_____________

Foreign Policy Credential #1: “Life Of Living Overseas” For 4 Years…In Elementary School:

Obama Lived Overseas From Ages 6 To 10. (Linda Matchan, “A Law Review Breakthrough,” The Boston Globe, 2/15/90)

Foreign Policy Credential #2: Took Some College Courses In International Relations:

In January, Obama Noted His Degree In “International Relations” When Discussing His Foreign Policy Credentials. Obama: “[M]y experience in foreign policy is probably more diverse than most others in the field. … You know, I majored in international relations.” (ABC’s “Good Morning America,” 1/24/07)

Foreign Policy Credential #3: Has Passed Only One Bill As A Senator…It Dealt With A Foreign Country:

In The 110th Congress, Obama Is The Lead Sponsor On 55 Bills. (S. 114, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 115, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 116, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 117, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 133, Introduced 1/4/07; S. 433, Introduced 1/30/07; S. 453, Introduced 1/31/07; S. 674, Introduced 2/16/07; S. 692, Introduced 2/27/07; S. 713, Introduced 2/28/07; S. 737, Introduced 3/1/07; S. 767, Introduced 3/6/07; S. 768, Introduced 3/6/07; S. 795, Introduced 3/7/07; S. 823, Introduced 3/8/07; S. 906, Introduced 3/15/07; S. 976, Introduced 3/23/07; S. 1067, Introduced 3/29/07; S. 1068, Introduced 3/29/07; S. 1084, Introduced 4/10/07; S. 1151, Introduced 4/18/07; S. 1181, Introduced 4/20/07; S. 1222, Introduced 4/25/07; S. 1271, Introduced 5/2/07; S. 1306, Introduced 5/3/07; S. 1324, Introduced 5/7/07; S. 1389, Introduced 5/14/07; S. 1430, Introduced 5/17/07; S. 1513, Introduced 5/24/07; S. 1574, Introduced 6/7/07; S. 1713, Introduced 6/27/07; S. 1790, Introduced 7/16/07; S. 1811, Introduced 7/18/07; S. 1817, Introduced 7/19/07; S. 1818, Introduced 7/19/07; S. 1824, Introduced 7/19/07; S. 1873, Introduced 7/25/07; S. 1885, Introduced 7/26/07; S. 1977, Introduced 8/2/07; S. 1989, Introduced 8/3/07; S. 2030, Introduce 9/6/07; S. 2044, Introduced 9/12/07; S. 2066, Introduced 9/18/07; S. 2111, Introduced 9/27/07; S. 2132, Introduced 10/3/07; S. 2147, Introduced 10/4/07; S. 2202, Introduced 10/18/07; S. 2224, Introduced 10/24/07; S. 2227, Introduced 10/24/07; S. 2330, Introduced 11/8/07; S. 2347, Introduced 11/13/07; S. 2392, Introduced 11/16/07; S. 2428, Introduce 12/6/07; S. 2433, Introduced 12/7/07)

None Of The Bills Sen. Obama Has Introduced In The 110th Congress Have Been Signed Into Law.

In The 109th Congress, Obama Was Lead Sponsor On 61 Bills. (S. 697, Introduced 4/5/05; S. 918, Introduced 4/27/05; S. 969, Introduced 4/28/05;S. 1180, Introduced 6/7/05; S. 1194, Introduced 6/8/05; S. 1426, Introduced 7/19/05; S. 1630, Introduced 9/7/05; S. 1638, Introduced 9/8/05; S. 1685, Introduced 9/12/05; S. 1770, Introduced 9/26/05; S. 1920, Introduced 10/25/05; S. 1975, Introduced 11/8/05; S. 2045, Introduced 11/17/05; S. 2047, Introduced 11/17/05; S. 2048, Introduced 11/17/05; S. 2125, Introduced 12-16/05; S. 2149, Introduced 12/20/05; S. 2154, Introduced 12/20/05; S. 2179, Introduced 1/18/06; S. 2201, Introduced 1/26/06; S. 2247, Introduced 2/6/06; S. 2257, Introduced 2/8/06; S. 2259, Introduced 2/8/06; S. 2261, Introduced 2/8/06; S. 2280, Introduced 2/14/06; S. 2286, Introduced 2/14/06; S. 2319, Introduced 2/16/06; S. 2348, Introduced 3/1/06; S. 2358, Introduced 3/2/06; S. 2359, Introduced 3/2/06; S. 2441, Introduced 3/16/06; S. 2446, Introduced 3/16/06; S. 2484, Introduced 3/30/05; S. 2506, Introduced 4/4/06; S. 2984, Introduced 5/23/06; S. 3155, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3156, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3157, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3158, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3159, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3160, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3161, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3162, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3163, Introduced 5/25/06; S. 3243, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3244, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3245, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3249, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3250, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3251, Introduced 5/26/06; S. 3475, Introduced 6/7/06; S. 3554, Introduced 6/21/06; S. 3627, Introduced 6/29/06; S. 3631, Introduced 7/11/06; S. 3694, Introduced 7/19/06; S. 3757, Introduced 7/27/06; S. 3822, Introduced 8/3/06; S. 3969, Introduced 9/28/06; S. 3988, Introduced 9/28/06; S. 4069, Introduced 12/7/06; S. 4102, Introduced 5/25/06)

Only One Of These (1.6%) Has Passed The Senate (The Bill Went On To Become Law). S. 2125, a bill to “promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo” became law in December 2006. (S. 2125, Became Law 12/22/06)

Foreign Policy Credential Number #4: Already Developed A Relationship With Australia’s Prime Minister; Now Ready To Meet With State Sponsors Of Terror:

“Australia’s Conservative Prime Minister Slammed Barack Obama … Over His Opposition To The Iraq War …” (Meraiah Foley, “Australian Leader Slams US Presidential Candidate For Iraq Policy,” The Associated Press, 2/11/07)

“Obama … Told Reporters … He’s Flattered That One Of Bush’s Allies ‘Started Attacking Me The Day After I Announced (His Presidential Run) – I Take That As A Compliment.’” (“Obama Hits Back After Australian PM Slams His Iraq Stance,” CNN.com, 2/11/07)

“The Democratic Presidential Hopeful Said If The Australian Prime Minister Was ‘Ginned Up To Fight The Good Fight In Iraq,’ He Needs To Send Another 20,000 Australians To The War.” (“Obama Hits Back After Australian PM Slams His Iraq Stance,” CNN.com, 2/11/07)

In Recent Debate, Obama Didn’t Hesitate To Announce He Would Personally Meet With Leaders Of Iran, North Korea, Syria And Others. Question: “[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?” Obama: “I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration – is ridiculous.” (Sen. Obama, CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

“The Only Unequivocal Support Obama Received Was From Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Who Used The After-Debate Spin Sessions To Promote His Idea Of ‘Strength Through Peace.’” (Byron York, Op-Ed, “Obama’s Bad Night,” National Review, 7/24/07)

“‘Of Course The President Should Talk To Ahmadinejad And Other Such Leaders,’ Kucinich Said. ‘You Can Get On A Cell Phone And Call Somebody On The Other Side Of The World Right Now.’” (Byron York, Op-Ed, “Obama’s Bad Night,” National Review, 7/24/07)

Foreign Policy Credential #5: Member Of Foreign Relations Committee…Reluctantly.

“Listening To A Bloviating Colleague At His First Meeting Of The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama Slipped A Three-Word Note To A Member Of His Staff: ‘Shoot. Me. Now.’” (Ben Wallace-Wells, “Destiny’s Child,” Rolling Stone, 2/7/07)

ROMNEY: Statement: Governor Mitt Romney on Cuba

2007-12-18T14:01:00.001-08:00

Good afternoon, folks-
Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's comments that he may not return to power in Cuba:

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ON CUBA

"Even if Fidel Castro does not return to power, Cuba's government remains the brutal regime that he founded nearly 49 years ago. Regardless of his newfound desire to not 'obstruct the path of younger people,' the fact remains that Cuba's youth are currently subject to constant surveillance, harassment and violence for demanding their freedom and are among the many political prisoners in Cuba today.

"CAMBIO is desperately needed in Cuba, not a succession of power to Raul Castro or the next generation of Castro cronies. Cuba's future should be shaped by its freedom-loving youth. We must maintain our current policy until the Castro regime is dismantled, all political prisoners are freed and a transition to free and fair elections takes place."

RNC Research Dept.: RNC Response To Clinton Ad On Military Funding

2007-12-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

“It is almost beyond belief that Senator Clinton, who earlier this year joined only 13 other senators to vote against much-needed emergency funding for our troops, is now trying to win votes by talking about supporting our men and women in uniform. If Senator Clinton will talk about supporting the troops in Iowa and vote against them in Washington, imagine what she would do in the White House.”

-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson

Hillary Voted Against Providing $99.5 Billion In Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Clinton Voted Nay)

The Bill That Hillary Voted Against Included $4.8 Billion For Military Health Care. (House And Senate Committees On Appropriations, “Summary Of The Fiscal 2007 Supplemental Funding Legislation,” Press Release, 5/24/07)

_____

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN1UgA36YZE

CLINTON: New Ad, Video

2007-12-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

Seems like a busy day – wanted to make sure two things of note don’t fall thru the cracks:

1) There’s a new HRC campaign video out today that shows growing momentum for the campaign as Iowans switch allegiances to Hillary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm3TYYhJwIE

2) We’ve got a new 30 second ad going up in NH today entitled “Guard,” featuring Senator Clinton’s bi-partisan efforts to expand access to TriCare to every National Guard Member and Reservist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN1UgA36YZE

BIDEN: Delaware United Auto Workers Endorse Joe Biden

2007-12-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Contact:
Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

DELAWARE UNITED AUTO WORKERS ENDORSE JOE BIDEN
“We Are Supporting Joe Biden Because He’s The Best Man For The Job.”

Wilmington, DE (December 18, 2007) – Today, Sen. Biden received the endorsement of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Delaware State CAP Council. There are over 5,000 active and 7,000 retired members of the UAW in Delaware, which is home to several automobile manufacturing plants.

“We are supporting Joe Biden because he’s the best man for the job,” said UAW Delaware State CAP Council President Richard McDonaugh, Jr. “Not only does he have the experience and the knowledge, but he cares about working class people—not just Delawareans or union members, but all working Americans. When faced with auto manufacturing plant closings in Delaware, Joe has worked tirelessly trying to keep them open and save thousands of jobs. We know he’d do the same as President.”
Sen. Biden thanked the UAW Delaware State CAP Council and President McDonaugh for their continued support:
“The history of the last century has taught us a simple lesson: When the union movement is strong, our middle class is strong. When our middle class is strong, our country is strong. That’s why, since I was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, I have fought alongside the UAW to keep good manufacturing jobs in Delaware.

“As president, I will immediately sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law. I will guarantee that the National Labor Relations Board returns to being a fair forum to contest unfair labor practices. I will appoint people to the Department of Labor who understand the value of unions to our economy and will make sure that pro-union officials play senior roles at the Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. And I will also create good, union jobs by investing in our national infrastructure. We have $1.6 trillion of work to do to rebuild our roads, tunnels, ports and bridges. That means more construction, manufacturing, and transportation jobs for Americans.

“I am tremendously proud that the UAW and President McDonaugh have pledged their support to my campaign and guarantee that as president, I will continue to fight for as hard for all American workers as I have for them over the past thirty-five years.”

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THOMPSON: Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life

2007-12-18T13:55:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 18, 2007

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life

State's National Right to Life Affiliate Supporting Thompson for President

McLean, VA - Today Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Minnesota affiliate of the National Right to Life Council.

"MCCL has joined NRLC and many state affiliates in endorsing Fred Thompson," said Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "His record and his positions on issues affecting life have earned Thompson our support for president."

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and more than 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide. MCCL is Minnesota's oldest and largest pro-life organization with more than 70,000 member families and 240 chapters across the state.

"I'm blessed and honored to have the endorsement of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life for President of the United States," said Senator Thompson. "Right to life organizations across the country continue to vote to endorse my candidacy because they know I have stood with them yesterday, I stand with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow. They know I have the ability to win this election. They know I believe in the sanctity of life and as President I will do all that I can to do to protect life."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned. He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.

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Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

OBAMA: Obama Discusses New Judgment We Need to Change Our Foreign Policy at Forum in Des Moines

2007-12-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Obama Discusses New Judgment We Need to Change Our Foreign Policy at Forum in Des Moines

Remarks Provided Below

DES MOINES, IA—Senator Barack Obama today hosted a foreign policy forum in Des Moines, along with top advisors, to discuss the kind of judgment necessary to bring about a change in our foreign policy that we can believe in. Obama and the panelists took questions from Iowa voters and discussed Obama’s specific plans to end the war in Iraq, renew American diplomacy, pursue aggressive diplomacy with Iran, fight terrorism and extremism, reduce the threat of nuclear weapons, and invest in a 21st century military. The forum is part of Obama’s commitment to being open with the American people, and making them a part of the dialogue about their foreign policy.

The following local and national foreign policy experts joined Senator Obama at the forum:

Tony Lake – National Security Advisor to President Clinton

Susan Rice – Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

General Scott Gration – Former Major General, United States Air Force

Sen. Steve Warnstadt – Iowa State Senator; Vice-Chair, Veterans Affairs Committee

Denis McDonough – Former Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, Majority Leader Tom Daschle

Barack Obama is the only major candidate to oppose the Iraq war from the beginning and previously outlined a comprehensive plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq in a September 12th speech in Clinton, IA. As a U.S. Senator, Obama has spent the last three years serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he has worked across the aisle to keep the world’s most dangerous weapons away from terrorists, and on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where he has fought to give America’s veterans the care, benefits and respect they have earned.

You can learn more about Obama’s judgment and vision for a new American foreign policy HERE.

As Prepared for Delivery:

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Foreign Policy Forum
December 18, 2007
Des Moines, IA

This is a pivotal moment in our history. Our security is threatened. Our nation is at war. Our planet is in peril. The strength, standing and leadership in the world that so many generations of Americans have fought and worked for is at stake.

Iowans understand this. Everywhere I go – from Sioux City to Des Moines to Davenport – I’m asked about the changes we need to make in our foreign policy. You understand that in a world of stateless terrorists and spreading technology, our own security and prosperity is tied to what happens around the world. You want to be proud of what America stands for, and you know that America is stronger – and safer – when our policies reflect our core values.

This came up in our recent debate here in Des Moines. I was asked how I plan to change our foreign policy, even as I’m advised by members of previous Administrations. I’m thankful to be joined on this stage today by two of those advisors – Tony Lake and Susan Rice, as well as General Scott Gration and Senator Steve Warnstadt. And I look forward to drawing on all of the talent that I can get when I am President of the United States – because unlike George Bush, I’m not going to demand an ideological or loyalty test for my advisors.

But the answer to the question is simple. There are moments in history when it is not enough to fall back on conventional ways of doing things, because the threats we face are unconventional. There are moments when we’re called to stand up for what is right even if it’s not popular, because that’s what makes us stronger and safer. There are moments when new challenges demand new American leadership.

This is one of those moments; I am running for President to offer that leadership; and I welcome the support of all who will help me chart this course.

I am running to do more than end a war in Iraq – I am running to change the mindset that got us into war. It’s easy for us to lay all of the problems of the world at George Bush’s doorstep. His judgments will be subject to the harsh light of history, and the verdict will not be kind. But the question is what comes next. Because we also have to change a conventional way of thinking aboutforeign policy that values time spent in Washington over timely judgments; posturing over pragmatism; and fear of looking weak over the conviction to get things right. Here, I ask you to look no further than my record.

George Bush did not take us to war alone. Congress gave him that authority when it voted for a Resolution with the simple title: “A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq.” I opposed the war, and spoke out against it in 2002 when it was not politically popular. I said we needed to finish the job in Afghanistan, and that invading and occupying a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 was the wrong way to respond to the unconventional challenge posed by al Qaeda and Islamic extremism.

Today, we see the disastrous results of the decision to go to war. Still, we have not shown that we are learning the right lessons.

On Iraq, we hear that the surge is succeeding. Let me be clear: the surge is not the solution to Iraq’s problems because it is not achieving the political benchmarks that were the stated purpose of our troop increase. You cannot end a civil war unless the warring parties resolve their differences, and only a removal of our combat brigades will put meaningful pressure on the Iraqis to do so.

And the surge continues to focus our resources on the wrong war. Just yesterday, we learned on the front page of the Washington Post that the U.S. military is pressing for a quicker drawdown from Iraq so we can salvage stability in Afghanistan. Six years after we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan – the origin of the 9/11 attacks – we still don’t have our priorities straight. That’s why it’s time to stop funding a failed policy, to remove our combat brigades from Iraq, and to increase our military, political, and economic commitment to Afghanistan. That’s what I spoke out for in 2002, that’s what I’ve called for in this campaign, and that’s what I’ll do as President.

In Iran, there is a conventional thinking that has prized bluster over common sense. Earlier this year, while I was getting attacked for calling for direct diplomacy with Iran’s leaders, others were talking tough and voting for an amendment that calls for George Bush to use our troops in Iraq to counter Iran. Then we learned in a National Intelligence Estimate that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003 in response to international pressure.

Now make no mistake – Iran continues to pose a threat through its support for terrorism, nuclear know-how, and threats toward Israel. But the answer is not George Bush’s saber-rattling – it’s the diplomatic approach that I put forward when it was politically risky. As President, I will personally present Iran with a choice – stop your dangerous behavior and there will be political and economic incentives; continue doing what you’re doing and you will face further isolation.

We need a President who is willing to talk to all nations – friend and foe. Not talking doesn’t make us look tough, it makes us look arrogant. It also makes it harder to get international support when we do need to pressure countries like Iran, and opens the door to China and Russia to fill the vacuum left by the absence of American leadership. We have to stop giving countries the excuse that America will not come to the table. We have to lead, and that’s what I intend to do.

When you elect our next President, you will choose someone to make those tough judgments on Iraq, on Iran, on how to restore America’s standing. We know what we’re going to get from the Republican nominee. More Bush-Cheney foreign policy. More support for open-ended war in Iraq. More saber-rattling toward Iran. More refusing to talk to countries we don’t like. More exceptions and excuses made for torture. They even had a debate earlier this year where they argued about how much to expand Guantanamo.

When I’m the Democratic nominee, I will offer a clear choice. My opponent won’t be able to say that I ever supported the war in Iraq, or that I don’t support a clear timetable to bring our troops home. He won’t be able to say that I voted to use our troops in Iraq to counter Iran, or that I support the Bush-Cheney diplomacy of not talking to leaders we don’t like. And he won’t be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture –because it is never ok.

This isn’t about drawing contrasts – it’s about a change in our foreign policy that you can believe in. So when you consider who to caucus for, I ask you to consider my judgment and vision for new American leadership. Leadership that brings our combat brigades out of Iraq in 16 months, renews American diplomacy, finishes the fight in Afghanistan, closes Guantanamo, and leads the world against the common threats of the 21st century - nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. Leadership that sends a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now."

It’s a vision informed by three years serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where I have worked across the aisle with Dick Lugar to keep the world’s most dangerous weapons away from terrorists; and introduced legislation to stop the war in Iraq and the genocide in Darfur.

It’s a vision informed by three years serving on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where I have seen firsthand the sacrifices of those who bear the burden of war, and fought to give them the care, benefits, and respect that they have earned.

It’s a vision informed by official travel overseas to Africa; throughout the Middle East; and across the former Soviet Union – where I have seen firsthand the unconventional threats of a terrorized city and the terrible danger of a loose anthrax vial; but where I also saw the yearning in the eyes of those faces who need an America that speaks to their hopes, not just their fears.

It’s a vision informed by my opposition to this war in Iraq, and by the counsel I have received from leading experts like the people on this stage today.

And it’s a vision informed by knowing what it’s like to live in the wider world, beyond the halls of power; of playing barefoot with children in Indonesia who couldn’t dream the same dreams that I could because they weren’t American; of having a grandmother living in Kenya without electricity or plumbing; of being born to a father who set out from a distant land in search of the light of hope offered by a dream called America.

That is the experience that I will bring to the office. Not the mindset of fear that we have been fed since 9/11 – fear of looking weak; fear of new challenges; fear of the unknown. But rather hope that this moment of challenge can become a dawn of new opportunity, and the conviction to seize this opportunity – to recapture our strength; to overcome new threats; to reach for what’s possible.

To do this, we have to invite the American people into the discussion, and once more make our foreign policy a cause to unite us – not a wedge issue to divide us. That’s why I have been clear and detailed in my proposals during this campaign. And that’s why I’m pleased to join some of my advisors in an open discussion with Iowans today.

###

For Immediate Release
Date: December 18, 2007
Contact: Obama Press Office

DNC RESEARCH DEPT.: Not Ready For Primetime? Huckabee Facing Mounting Scrutiny As He Campaigns

2007-12-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Daily Flipper
Read what the Republicans Wish You Wouldn’t …
December 18, 2007

TOP HEADLINE: Not Ready For Primetime? Huckabee Facing Mounting Scrutiny As He Campaigns

Now that the soft-spoken Huckabee has emerged as the darling of the GOP field and is surging in polls, he has earned the weighty burdens of a true contender: heightened public scrutiny and the not-so-welcome assaults from his GOP rivals.

During a campaign swing through Los Angeles on Monday, the former Arkansas governor had to respond to an attack ad on his record of granting clemency to criminals, criticism about his slight about President Bush's foreign policy, and questions about a 10-year-old comment he made about women subjugating themselves to their husbands.

Huckabee also had to answer questions Monday about the criminal history of a wealthy Beverly Hills businessman, one of his top financial supporters in California, who was hosting an afternoon fundraiser for him.

Fundraiser C. Frederick Wehba, 60, co-founder of the real estate investment giant BentleyForbes LLC, was convicted in a Texas federal court in 1995 of fraudulently concealing his interest in his Beverly Hills home. At the time, he owed money to a failed Texas financial institution, Vernon Savings & Loan.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-huckabee18dec18,1,2937793.story?coll=la-politics-campaign&ctrack=1&cset=true

Mean Mike … Huckabee Blamed Society’s Problems on Gays, Environmentalists (Before He Blamed Them On Saturated Fats)

Huckabee was obviously trying to come across as a friendly and reasonable fundamentalist who eschewed the politics of division. But not too long ago, Huckabee was quite willing to be divisive. In a 1998 book decrying American culture, Huckabee was no seeker of common ground. He drew stark lines, equating environmentalists with pornographers and homosexuality with pedophilia and necrophilia. He also declared that people who do not believe in God tend to be immoral and to engage in "destructive behavior." He drew a rather harsh picture of an American society starkly split between people of faith and those of a secular bent, with the latter being a direct and immediate threat to the nation. . . .

In Kids Who Kill, Huckabee argued that school shootings were the product of a society in decline, a decline marked (and caused) by abortion, pornography, media violence, out-of-wedlock sex, divorce, drug use, and, of course, homosexuality. Huckabee and his coauthor bemoaned the "demoralization of America," observing, "Despite all our prosperity, pomp, and power, the vaunted American experiment in liberty seems to be disintegrating before our very eyes." Huckabee, who was governor at the time and a well-known social conservative, blasted away at those whom he held responsible for America's ills, and he took a rather tough stand against government social programs and their advocates. In lamenting the "cultural conflicts" besetting the country, he wrote, Abortion, environmentalism, AIDS, pornography, drug abuse, and homosexual activism have fragmented and polarized our communities.

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2007/12/huckabee-homosexuality-environmentalism-book.html

Huckabee Wants Two Weeks To Get Ready For “Meet.” What Exactly Has He Been Doing The Past 11 Months?

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is refusing to let his staff put his name forward as a guest with Tim Russert on "Meet the Press." "There is no way he'll do it without at least two weeks of prep time and we can't do that now," says a new arrival to Team Huckabee in Iowa. "He's focused on winning Iowa, note playing 'gotcha' and being embarrassed on 'Meet'."

Russert is believed to have wanted Huckabee for the 23rd or 30th, but has been put off.
http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=9938

Following the Money Trail. . . Huckabee Once Lived in the Pocket of Big Tobacco

Just when it appears [Mike] Huckabee might be the man of conviction that grassroots Republicans are yearning for, we get the news that he was once a wholly owned subsidiary of the tobacco industry.

It turns out that, while Huckabee was serving as lieutenant governor of Arkansas back in 1994, R.J. Reynolds helped finance a nonprofit organization that paid Huckabee to crisscross the country and attack Hillary Clinton's health-care plan. The tobacco giant's role was kept secret for years - Huckabee neglected to report this income on his '94 state financial disclosure form - but now it's all coming out. A former Huckabee political adviser - who doubled as a consultant to R.J. Reynolds - is talking openly about how the tobacco giant put money in Huckabee's pocket. . . . The company has now confirmed it.

But here's the good part: Huckabee claimed last Friday that he didn't know he was taking big-tobacco money while he was on the public payroll. His former adviser, J.J. Vigneault . . . recalls that Huckabee met with R.J. Reynolds officials in his Little Rock apartment.

Vigneault is quoted as saying: "There's no way he could not have known about the money from R.J. Reynolds. If he's saying he didn't know about the Reynolds money, he's been less than truthful."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20071218_The_American_Debate___Huckabee_tobacco_tie_puffs_out.html

NH AG To Make Announcement on Romney Push Polling Before Primary

Others are asking where is the report on the now weeks long investigation of the anti-Mormon calls. When I talked to the AG's office a few weeks back they expressed the view that it was not a priority to reach a conclusion before the primary. While no stone should be left unturned in the search for truth and the political calendar should not drive the result the reputation of the NH AG's office would certainly be enhanced by a prompt resolution that can answer basic questions like : was the law broken and by whom? Rushing an investigation to make news before a primary would be entirely inappropriate but so would needlessly delaying its conclusion. Voters and the candidates need to feel that the legal system did its job in a timely and fair manner.

Posted By: Jennifer Rubin

Re: NH AG Report - Monday, December 17, 2007 @ 5:31:42 PM

Actually Jennifer, I spoke to the New Hampshire AG's office today, and was told that they hope to make an announcement before the primary.

Posted By: Philip Klein
http://www.spectator.org/blogger.asp?BlogID=9935

Russert:1, Romney: 0. . . Mitt Still Facing Fire Over Sunday Performance … If You Will

One day after his first appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Romney faced an onslaught of questions from reporters about his answers on the show, as well as from a voter who chastised him for not answering all the questions he was asked.

Asked about why he was mistaken on the show about his non-endorsement from the NRA during his gubernatorial race, Romney explained, “We checked with them again and said, ‘OK, what are the signals here?’ And they said, ‘Well, we didn’t give you the official endorsement,’ but they phone-banked members here around Massachusetts, or in Massachusetts... So it was, a if you will, a support phone bank, not an official endorsement.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/17/522418.aspx

Somebody Must Have Deflated Giuliani’s Balloon. . . Rudy Starting To Resemble Lollygagger Freddie On the Trail

But like a boxer in the late rounds of a match, Mr. Giuliani's team appeared to be slowed from a series of blows in recent weeks. The mayor spoke for a little more than 35 minutes to an audience made up largely of workers at Goss International, which manufactures much of America's printing press equipment. His demeanor seemed sober and somewhat subdued. Gone was the swagger he demonstrated at a series of weekend events in New Hampshire just after Thanksgiving.
http://www.nysun.com/article/68248?page_no=1

Anybody Got a Plan C? Giuliani’s Effort in NH Is Too Little Too Late

The increased attention Rudy Giuliani has been giving to New Hampshire doesn't seem to be paying off. The Republican still trails in the first-in-the-nation primary and also faces likely defeats in other early voting states.

Pinning his hopes on big states that come later in the primary season, the former New York mayor is struggling to regain momentum after a series of setbacks. The next month could provide a severe test for his unorthodox approach to winning the GOP nomination.

In November, after weeks of flooding mailboxes here with literature, Giuliani started running upwards of $2 million in TV ads to court New Hampshire voters, and he visited repeatedly over a several-week span. Despite that effort, polls show him lagging Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, even as Arizona Sen. John McCain surges.

Given that lack of progress and to save money for later contests, Giuliani is scaling back his TV ads somewhat this week in the state. Aides say clutter on the airwaves during the holiday season was a factor and he may boost his television presence again. He plans to return to New Hampshire Friday.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/NEWS81/517681601/-1/FOSNEWS0406

Not Practicing What They Preach. . . Christian Group Does Not Approve of GOP Candidates’ Investments

The Biblically Responsible Investing Institute, a North Carolina organization that tracks corporate involvement in activities that Christians might find objectionable, has given a thumbs down to how these major Republican presidential candidates are investing their own money.

"We obviously come at the whole issue from an evangelical Christian perspective," said Rusty Leonard, who heads the institute as well as a money-management firm that advises investors on investing based on Christian principles. "You can't help but acknowledge that they have not...made sure that their investments don't stand in opposition to what they claim to stand for."

For its report, the institute combed through financial disclosure statements for the five major Republican candidates -- Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, McCain and Rudy Giuliani All five own stock, either directly or through mutual funds, in companies that "aggressively promote a homosexual lifestyle," the report says, because they either offer same-sex partner benefits or make significant contributions to gay-rights groups.

The candidates also get slammed for investing in casino businesses and for investments in companies that contribute to Planned Parenthood or make what the group considers abortion drugs.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/17/bad_reviews_for_gop_field_from.html

How Weird Is The Republican Race? The Guy Who Wants To Legalize Hemp Just Raised $6 Million

Despite the new respectability, Paul's not letting his less conventional side go. Responding to a question about ethanol subsidies, he demonstrated the free-hearted sentiment that has garnered support among libertarians and new young voters. "I think there's a chance that you might get more ethanol if you raised hemp," he responded. "But hemp is illegal in this country. So in my idea of a free society, a farmer would be allowed to raise hemp."

"Not only would that be a good product possibly to make ethanol," he concluded excitedly. "There might be a whole lot of other products you could make with hemp. Like the Canadians do!"
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/17/521852.aspx

Thompson Takes the Tancredo Road. . . Tries To Scare Voters Into Supporting Him

About three months after his initial campaign kick-off, Republican candidate Fred Thompson returned to Iowa with a re-invigorated pitch in his final appeal to the early voting state.

Thompson -- who will spend 15 days in Iowa leading up to the Jan. 3 caucuses -- warned the country is "one successful terrorist plan away from nuclear attack."

Barely pausing to clear his throat, the former Tennessee Senator boomed, "it's not time for on-the-job training," a familiar jab on this year's campaign trail. Thompson believes he has the leadership skills to lead the country in national security issues.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/thompson-more-s.html

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s. . . Bill Frist On a Segway?

As he segues into private life, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was seen out in front of the White House Monday on a Segway. Frist, we hear, is filming a new commercial for Coca-Cola. He joins Bob Dole as a former Republican pol turned pitchman after his party’s fortunes went south.
http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/12/18/Frist-Segways-past-White-House

The Daily Flipper is distributed by the DNC Research Department.

BIDEN: Sen. Biden Statement On Bork’s Endorsement Of Gov. Romney

2007-12-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

SEN. BIDEN STATEMENT ON BORK’S ENDORSEMENT OF GOV. ROMNEY

Wilmington, DE (December 18, 2007) – Today Sen. Joe Biden issued a statement following Robert Bork’s endorsement of Former Gov. Mitt Romney over the weekend:

“The hallmark of Robert Bork’s judicial philosophy has been his consistent refusal to acknowledge a constitutional right to privacy. That’s why I led the fight in 1987 to keep Judge Bork off the Supreme Court. In my view, his endorsement of Gov. Romney is not something to tout; it’s a damning portent of the judicial philosophy Romney would promote as President. The last thing we need after 8 years of the Bush Administration’s policies of eavesdropping on Americans, extra-legal renditions, and refusal to define waterboarding as torture, is another 8 years of recklessness with our constitutional rights. If Gov. Romney is serious about leading the United States, I urge him to repudiate Judge Bork’s narrow view of the Constitution and acknowledge our privacy rights as individuals.

“The truth is, our next president will have the responsibility of picking at least one, but probably two, Supreme Court justices. We cannot afford to cede an inch to the radical right when it comes to appointing justices who could put the Supreme Court on a more conservative trajectory for the next decade or more. Back in ‘87 when I led the fight to keep Robert Bork off the Supreme Court, I did so because he made it clear that he did not support the constitutional right to privacy recognized in Roe v. Wade and Griswold v. Connecticut, which have long served as the legal underpinnings of a woman’s right to reproductive choice.

“And let’s not forget that Robert Bork paved the way for Richard Nixon to fire Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox after he requested tapes of Oval Office conversations. We find ourselves in a similar situation today, having learned that an administration official in the CIA had destroyed videotapes of the CIA's use of severe interrogation techniques on detainees held in secret, extra-legal prisons. Now, the Department of Justice is actually standing in the way of a congressional investigation into this corruption. The continuing saga of cover-up and delay by this administration must be stopped.

“We don’t need another President who will further erode the balance of power so vital to our nation’s well-being. Judge Bork’s endorsement of Gov. Romney makes me wonder if he shares Bork’s view of excessive Presidential authority.”

###

RNC Research Dept.: Clinton’s High-Tax Platform Missing “Magic”

2007-12-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Plan To Raise Taxes On Private Equity And Hedge Funds At Odds With Campaign Supporter “Magic” Johnson

Former NBA Star “Magic” Johnson Campaigns For Sen. Clinton In Iowa, Despite His Opposing Views On Carried Interest Taxation:

Former NBA Star “Magic” Johnson Joins Former President Bill Clinton To Campaign For Sen. Clinton In Iowa. “Former President Bill Clinton and retired basketball star Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson will be in Davenport on Tuesday to campaign for Hillary Clinton. The ex-president has been a regular on the campaign trail, but this will be the first time that Johnson, who played for years for the Los Angeles Lakers, will have hit the hustings in Iowa for U.S. Sen. Clinton. The two men will be at Davenport Central High School for a 10:30 a.m. event, according to the Clinton campaign. Clinton and Johnson are making stops in Davenport and Waterloo.” (Ed Tibbetts, “Bill Clinton Coming To Davenport On Tuesday,” Quad-City Times, 12/17/07)
“Magic” Johnson Is A Leading Member Of The Access To Capital Coalition, Which Opposes The Carried Interest Tax Hike:

“Magic” Johnson Is One Of The Leading Members Of The ACC. “Former basketball player Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson has emerged as one of the most unlikely players in the increasingly heated debate on whether to raise taxes for the US private equity industry. Mr Johnson … is a leading member of the Access to Capital Coalition, a new grouping made up of minority and women business leaders.” (James Quinn, “’Magic’ Throws Tax Opinions Into Ring,” Telegraph [UK], 7/9/07)

“The Former NBA Star [Magic Johnson], Now A Successful Entrepreneur…Argues That New Tax Legislation Would Lead To Less Investment In Areas That Struggle To Get Funding.” (James Quinn, “’Magic’ Throws Tax Opinions Into Ring,” Telegraph [UK], 7/9/07)

The Access To Capital Coalition Is A National Coalition Of Small, Minority And Women-Owned And Managed Businesses, Formed Solely “To Oppose Efforts To Eliminate The Capital Gains Treatment Of Carried Interest.” “The Access to Capital Coalition (ACC) is a national coalition of small, minority and women businesses in the private investment industries and entrepreneurial sectors. The coalition was formed to oppose efforts to eliminate the capital gains treatment of carried interest.” (Access To Capital Coalition Website, www.accesstocapitalcoalition.com , Accessed 11/29/07)

Some Of The ACC’s “Specific Concerns Regarding Carried Interest Taxation And The Proposed Legislation” Include:

“Due to reduced profitability and an increase in transaction costs, the proposed legislation would have a particularly adverse financial impact on small and midsize firms—the sizes of most minority and women businesses.” (Access To Capital Coalition Website, www.accesstocapitalcoalition.com , Accessed 11/29/07)

“In eliminating the capital gains treatment of carried interest, the proposed legislation would be removing one of the key incentives for minorities and women to enter the private investment business as owners, partners and managers. This is due in large part to the fact that the current treatment of carried interest allows individuals to gain equity interest without possessing vast financial resources, as they are able to use their skills and expertise to make companies profitable.” (Access To Capital Coalition Website, www.accesstocapitalcoalition.com , Accessed 11/29/07)

“An alteration of the current tax policy has the potential to significantly add to the number one burden of minority and women private investment companies–the ability to gain and maintain quality access to capital.” (Access To Capital Coalition Website, www.accesstocapitalcoalition.com , Accessed 11/29/07)

Despite Johnson’s And The ACC’s Opposition, Sen. Clinton Would Raise Carried Interest Tax Rates:

Sen. Clinton Has Called For Higher Taxes On Carried Interest, Which Is Paid To Private Equity And Hedge Fund Managers. “Congressional Democrats have zeroed in on private equity taxation in their search for new revenue sources … Carried interest is currently subject to the capital gains rate of 15%, but the proposed change would treat it as income subject to the marginal rate of as much as 35%. … Following her top Democratic rivals in the presidential campaign, Senator Clinton has come out in favor of the tax hike.” (Russell Berman, “Rangel's Priority Is Repealing The AMT,” The New York Sun, 9/7/07)
Sen. Clinton: “As President I will reform our tax code to ensure that the carried interest earned by some multi-millionaire Wall Street managers is recognized for what it is: ordinary income that should be taxed at ordinary income tax rates.” (Hillary Clinton For President, “Hillary Clinton Proposes Ending Unfair Tax Breaks For Wall Street Investment Managers,” Press Release, 7/13/07)

Danny Diaz
Republican National Committee (RNC)

RNC Research Dept.: Senator Clinton Does 180 On NCLB

2007-12-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

Senator Clinton calls for abolishing legislation she supported… The shifting continues… Logged and saved for future use.

D-

SENATOR CLINTON VOTED FOR THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT

Senator Clinton Voted For The Senate Passage Of No Child Left Behind. (H.R. 1, CQ Vote #192: Passed 91-8: R 43-6; D 47-2; I 1-0, 6/14/01, Clinton Voted Yea)

Senator Clinton Voted For The Final Passage Of No Child Left Behind. (H.R. 1, CQ Vote #371: Adopted 87-10: R 44-3; D 43-6; I 0-1, 12/18/01, Clinton Voted Yea)

______________

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071218/NEWS01/712180325/1079

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Touting her brand of 'change'
Clinton packs car museum, then talks to overflow crowd at Marriott

By Hieu Pham
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., continued her bid for Iowa votes Monday by touting not only experience, but a brand of change she said makes her the best candidate to run for president.

"Everybody talks about change in this election," Clinton said. "People have different ideas about how to bring about change. Some people believe you can get change by demanding it. Some people believe you can get change by hoping for it. I believe the way you get change is by working hard for it."

A crowd of about 400 people packed the Johnson County Antique Car Museum to see Clinton, who recently won the endorsement of The Des Moines Register.

With every seat taken, some people were forced to sit in the museum's antique cars. Capacity limits turned down another 200 at the door. That crowd was ushered to the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center across the street. After speaking at the museum, Clinton went to talk to the overflow crowd at the hotel.

Clinton and her supporters are on a "99-county blitz" through Iowa to gather support before the state's Jan.3 caucuses. As the lead-off caucus, Clinton said Iowans have the "awesome responsibility" to usher the right candidate toward the White House.

Clinton said she would be the best president -- and the one who could beat the Republican candidate in the November 2008 presidential election.

"The best way to judge what kind of change someone will make in the future is to look at the changes they've already made," Clinton said, referring to her work in children's rights and ensuring health coverage for soldiers.

Clinton also discussed her plan for universal health care, renewable energy and education. She promised to make the health insurance industry competitive, invest in renewable energy to benefit the environment, create new jobs and abolish No Child Left Behind.

"I will be thinking about how to restore our leadership and our moral authority around the world," she said. "And together we will not only make history, but we will once again feel pride and progress in the country we love"

Clinton has the lead in most national opinion polls but is running in a tight race with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former Sen. John Edwards in Iowa polls.

"The more I listen to her, the more I believe she's the right one to vote for," said Sinaya Nader, 40, of Iowa City. "I like what she has to say about universal health care."

Nader said she brought her three children to the event so they could "see the next president."

Danny Diaz
Republican National Committee (RNC)

EDWARDS: Coming January 3, 2008: Edwards Campaign Unveils Movie Trailer

2007-12-18T13:46:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

COMING JANUARY 3, 2008: EDWARDS CAMPAIGN UNVEILS MOVIE TRAILER

New video promotes "Caucus Command Center" website to organize supporters and precinct captains

Des Moines, Iowa – Building on its growing momentum in Iowa following the endorsement of Iowa First Lady Mari Culver, today the Edwards campaign unveiled a theatrical trailer that encourages caucus goers to take action and make John Edwards our next President. The trailer, narrated by well-known voiceover artist and Edwards supporter George DelHoyo, is a new organizational tool to drive undecided caucus goers and supporters to the campaign’s Caucus Command Center, where they can learn more about Edwards and get all the information they need to caucus for him on January 3rd.

In addition to encouraging Iowans to visit the Caucus Command Center, the trailer also shows caucus goers the great possibilities for our country with Edwards as President and discusses the special power that Iowans have to make the big changes America needs. It encourages Iowans to join the Edwards team and help bring big change to our country. The trailer stars John Edwards, as well as his wife Elizabeth, and children, Cate, Jack and Emma Claire.

“This fun and inspiring trailer is another creative tool from our campaign to energize supporters and make sure they are ready to caucus and put John Edwards in the White House,” said Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, Iowa State Director. “We are always looking for innovative and exciting new ways to spread John Edwards’ vision of One America. As the caucuses get closer, our campaign is doing everything it can to reach out to undecided caucus goers and make sure our supporters are prepared to caucus for John Edwards.”

The trailer is posted on the Caucus Command Center (www.caucuscommandcenter.com) and is being emailed to supporters throughout Iowa and across the country by acclaimed actor Kevin Bacon. In the email, Bacon encourages Iowans to share the video, and their support for Edwards, with their friends, family and neighbors.

Last week, as part of Edwards’ successful eight-day “Main Street Express” bus tour, the campaign launched two other successful organizing tools to reach out to undecided caucus goers: “Six Degrees of John Edwards,” and the “John Edwards Book Club.” The Six Degrees of John Edwards program encouraged supporters to take action and engage undecided caucus goers in Edwards’ campaign. The John Edwards Book Club encourages supporters to invite their undecided friends and family to get together and discuss Edwards’ 80-page policy book, “The Plan to Build One America.”

To watch the video, please visit www.caucuscommandcenter.com. A higher quality version of the video can be downloaded at: http://johnedwards.com/watch/trailer/press/.

-30-

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

RNC Research Dept.: Senator Clinton's Tax Shelter Hypocrisy

2007-12-18T13:45:00.001-08:00

This significantly hurts Senator Clinton’s credibility on the issue of tax shelters and is further proof that voters can’t trust her. The fact that the Clinton family is profiting from an investment Senator Clinton has denounced could be a problem down the road…

D-

CLINTON TAX SHELTER HYPOCRISY

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Has Called For An End To Offshore Tax Shelters:

“In 2004, Hillary Clinton … Said She Wanted To ‘Close The Loopholes’ For ‘People Who Create A Mailbox, Or A Drop, Or Send One Person To Sit On The Beach In Some Island Paradise And Claim That It Is Their Offshore Headquarters.’” (Timothy J. Burger and Ryan J. Donmoyer, “Clinton’s Ties To Burkle Include Funds In Offshore Tax Haven,” Bloomberg, 12/17/07)

Sen. Clinton Has Called To “Close The Loopholes, End The Unjustifiable Tax Breaks, And Stop Subsidizing The Movement Of Jobs To Foreign Tax Havens.” (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Policy Speech On “Rebuilding The Middle Class: Hillary Clinton’s Economic Blueprint For The 21st Century,” Cedar Rapids, IA, 10/8/07)

But Former President Clinton Has Investments Based In The Cayman Islands That Could Earn Him “Tens Of Millions Of Dollars”:

Bill Has Holdings In Three Investments Controlled By Billionaire Ron Burkle; All Three Funds Are Based In The Cayman Islands. “The disclosures that Hillary Clinton, 60, is required to make as a lawmaker and candidate show that her husband has holdings in three [Ron] Burkle-controlled funds -- YGOF GP Ltd., Yucaipa Global Holdings and Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund LP - - all listed at Yucaipa’s Los Angeles address. An October filing with the SEC by Burkle, Yucaipa’s lead partner, names YGOF as a Cayman Islands corporation and the latter two as Cayman Islands partnerships.” (Timothy J. Burger and Ryan J. Donmoyer, “Clinton’s Ties To Burkle Include Funds In Offshore Tax Haven,” Bloomberg, 12/17/07)

“[A] Person Familiar With The Matter Confirmed A Report Last Year In The New York Times That Bill Clinton Stands To Make Tens Of Millions Of Dollars With Little Risk If The Yucaipa Funds He Is Involved In Profit Beyond A Certain Level.” (Timothy J. Burger and Ryan J. Donmoyer, “Clinton’s Ties To Burkle Include Funds In Offshore Tax Haven,” Bloomberg, 12/17/07)

A Clinton Spokesman Would Not Confirm When The Clintons Discovered The Funds Were Based Offshore. “Bloomberg’s questions to the campaign involved the nature and amounts of his compensation from Yucaipa, why the holdings were listed as Los Angeles-based rather than Cayman Islands entities, and when Hillary Clinton became aware that the funds were offshore. [Clinton spokesman] Carson didn’t address those questions.” (Timothy J. Burger and Ryan J. Donmoyer, “Clinton’s Ties To Burkle Include Funds In Offshore Tax Haven,” Bloomberg, 12/17/07)

RNC Research Dept.: Bob Kerrey, Hillary Clinton And "Compliments"

2007-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

Wonder if Senator Clinton would consider the below comments by her super-surrogate Bob Kerrey as “compliments?”

Student Concerns Remind Kerrey Of Off Color Nun Joke. “[A]t Kerrey’s urging, [the drama students] began to talk about themselves. “Most [students] listed their frustrations. They had no place to store props. It was too hard to take classes in other divisions. There was nowhere to rehearse. Kerrey listened quietly, and, finally, said he was reminded of a story. It turned out to be a joke about some nuns, the punch line of which was delivered by the mother superior: ‘Well! Bitch, bitch, bitch!’” (Elizabeth Kolbert, “Back To School; Senator Bob Kerrey Brings His Enigmatic Ways To New York,” The New Yorker, 3/5/01)

Kerrey Suggests Castro For Baseball Commissioner. “Nebraska Sen. Kerrey suggests Fidel Castro for baseball commissioner, explaining: ‘Cuba wants to get rid of a dictator, and baseball needs a dictator.’” (Ronald G. Shafer, “Weekly Report From WSJ Capital Bureau,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/20/97)

Kerrey Says Carnegie Hall Ceremony “Makes Me Feel Like We Should Be Sacrificing A Virgin.” “One day when I was with Kerrey, he invited me to sit in on a meeting that he was having with the university’s provost, Elizabeth Dickey, and other senior staff members. The first topic to be discussed was the program for Kerrey’s installation ceremony at Carnegie Hall. Kerrey looked over the program and announced, ‘The whole ceremony makes me feel like we should be sacrificing a virgin.’ The others laughed, somewhat nervously.” (Elizabeth Kolbert, “Back To School; Senator Bob Kerrey Brings His Enigmatic Ways To New York,” The New Yorker, 3/5/01)

MCCAIN: John Mccain 2008 Launches New Hampshire Independents For Mccain Coalition

2007-12-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENTS FOR MCCAIN COALITION

For Immediate Release

Contact: NH Press Office

Monday, December 17, 2007

MANCHESTER, NH -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today launched the New Hampshire Independents for McCain coalition. The group will work to mobilize independent voters for John McCain and grow the campaign's strong grassroots organization in the Granite State.

"New Hampshire independents admire John McCain's character, judgment and long record of putting principle over politics," said David Lee, Co-Chair of New Hampshire Independents for McCain. "John McCain's lifetime of service and sacrifice gives him unmatched credibility on national security issues and the unique ability to restore trust in our nation's leadership. Only John McCain can unify our country to confront head-on the tough challenges we face both at home and abroad. These characteristics -- needed now more than ever before -- are what drew independents to John McCain in 2000 and will again push him to victory in 2008."

John McCain thanked the coalition members for their support, stating, "I am grateful to have the support of so many independent-minded voters, and I look forward to continuing to reach out to all voters as we near Election Day in New Hampshire."

NEW HAMPSHIRE INDEPENDENTS FOR MCCAIN COALITION
Co-Chairs
Scott Cote, Nashua, Former Nashua Alderman
Wayne Gagne, Nashua, Chair of New Hampshire Commuter Rail Advisory Committee
David Lee, Derry, CPA, State of New Hampshire
Marcia H Moran, Concord, Attorney, Flood Sheehan & Tobin
Gregory Smith, Concord, Former Attorney General, State of New Hampshire

RNC Research Dept.: "Leading In All The Polls" That She Doesn't "Pay Much Attention To"

2007-12-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

In light of Senator Clinton’s comments stating she doesn’t pay attention to and is not worried about polls, I thought I would remind everyone of the below story that ran a number of weeks ago. Also, we obviously can’t forget about Barbra Streisand. Thanks.

Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 7:40 AM
Subject: Hillary Clinton: "Leading In All The Polls" That She Doesn't "Pay Much Attention To"

Only Hillary Clinton could claim to be “leading in all the polls” and “beating them in state after state after state” and in the same breath say “[t]here have been a lot of polls, and frankly, I don’t pay much attention to any of them.”
Maybe she only pays attention to general election polls…

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1131ap_clinton_republicans.html
Clinton: I Have Best Chance Vs. GOP
Associated Press Writer
By Amy Lorentzen

PERRY, Iowa (AP) _ Hillary Rodham Clinton maintained Sunday that she's the best candidate to win against Republicans, saying she has more experience battling the GOP than any other candidate in the Democratic field.

''I believe that I have a very good argument that I know more about beating Republicans than anybody else running. They've been after me for 15 years, and much to their dismay, I'm still standing,'' she said in answer to a woman's question about her electability. ''I'm leading in all the polls, I'm beating them in state after state after state.''

Clinton has been widely criticized by her Democratic rivals who claim she's too polarizing, and can't bring the party together to win the White House.

But she says she has support from around the country, including ''more Democratic support from the so-called red states than anybody else running.'' She told the crowd of hundreds gathered at Perry High School that she has more U.S. senators supporting her than her rivals, as well as other lawmakers from states that ''Democrats have a hard time winning.''

''I think they have looked at the field and figured out who can best beat the Republicans,'' Clinton said.

She added that when she ran for the Senate in 2000, a lot of people argued that she couldn't win.

''And I just got up every day, and I reached out to Republicans and Democrats and independents,'' she said, adding that her opponents outspent her 2-to-1 and said ''all kinds of unpleasant things.'' She said voters didn't believe them, and she ended up with 55 percent of the vote. At the end of her first term, she said, her support at the polls climbed to 67 percent, and ''a lot of people who voted for George Bush in 2004 voted for me.''

The woman who asked the question told Clinton that Republicans ''never quit talking about you,'' and that it's almost as though the New York senator is another candidate on the stage at Republican debates because of how much they target her.

Clinton elicited laughter from the audience when she admitted that ''the Republicans have a core group that, I think is fair to say, are not my fans.''

She was asked by reporters about her recent criticism of other Democrats, when earlier this year she called for her party to focus their attacks on Republicans.

''I respect and admire all of my opponents, and I think that there are differences among us on issues and on qualifications and on experience,'' she said. ''When we finally choose a nominee, which I expect to be me, we are going to close ranks, and we are going to run against the Republicans and win.''

Barack Obama's campaign weighed in, claiming he is the strongest candidate in the field.

''Throughout his career, Senator Obama has succeeded in bringing Democrats, Republicans and independents together to solve important problems like providing health care to families,'' Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll showed Obama had 30 percent support among likely Iowa Democratic caucus-goers and Clinton had 26 percent. She leads in many other national polls.

When asked about Obama's lead in Iowa, Clinton answered that she doesn't pay much attention to polls, and acknowledged that it's a competitive race.

''There have been a lot of polls, and frankly, I don't pay much attention to any of them,'' she said. Later, she acknowledged, ''It is a much more competitive race (in Iowa) than it is in other parts of the country.''

Clinton, who wants a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, was asked whether she thought the surge there is working. She told reporters she doesn't believe there is a military solution for Iraq.

''I don't believe if we stay another day, stay five days, stay five years or 10 years that we are going to make a difference militarily,'' she said. ''Yes, we can have some tactical successes, but ultimately this is up to the Iraqis. I believe we should start bringing our troops home now.''

Danny Diaz

CLINTON: New Ad

2007-12-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

We’ve got a new ad going up today highlighting Hillary’s endorsement by the Des Moines Register. Watch the ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7HnA7DjwGQ

A 60-second companion radio ad also begins airing today.

Following is the ad script:

“Great Things”

TV:30

ANNCR: The Des Moines Register just endorsed Hillary Clinton

ANNCR: Her readiness to lead sets her apart

ANNCR: From working for children’s rights as a young lawyer, to meeting with leaders around the world as first lady, to emerging as an effective legislator, every stage of her life has prepared her for the presidency.

ANNCR: She understands the changes needed

ANNCR: But also possess the discipline and skill to get things done

ANNCR: We believe Hillary Rodham Clinton can do great things for our country

CLINTON : I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.

RICHARDSON: Richardson for President Campaign Unveils Americans with Disabilities Policy

2007-12-17T16:13:00.000-08:00

Richardson for President Campaign Unveils Americans with Disabilities Policy

National Disabilities Spokeswoman Cody Unser lays out policy in live online video chat
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2007
Contact: Tom Reynolds

MOUNT VERNON, IA-- The Richardson for President campaign yesterday evening unveiled its Americans with Disabilities policy in an online video chat with Cody Unser of the Unser racing family, the campaign's National Disabilities Spokeswoman. In the online chat, Unser discussed Governor Richardson's vision for disabled Americans.

"I think we all know that we absolutely have to elect a President in 2008 who understands that the concerns of disabled Americans are the concerns of all Americans," Unser said. "I am here to tell you that Bill Richardson will be that President. He is committed to making real progress on the issues that matter to disabled Americans. I have seen him do it in New Mexico."

Cody Unser, daughter of two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser, Jr., was diagnosed at the age of twelve with Transverse Myelitis (TM), a neurological condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord. She has been paralyzed from the waist down since 1999. The Cody Unser First Step Foundation was established to build awareness about TM, promote research, and improve Quality of Life programs for others with paralysis.

In the Richardson campaign's inaugural online video chat, Unser elaborated on the work that Governor Richardson has done in New Mexico, described the policies that he will enact as President, and answered the questions of those participating in the chat.

"Governor Richardson has a long history of supporting people with disabilities," Unser said. "He has worked with my foundation to create the New Mexico Disabilities Portal, a one-stop center for information and services that helps New Mexicans with disabilities find the best possible resources to meet individual needs. I have been deeply impressed by Governor Richardson's work in New Mexico, and I am excited by his vision for America."

Richardson spoke about his Americans with Disabilities policy and his plans as President to help people with disabilities.

"I am proud to have Cody acting as National Disabilities Spokeswoman for my campaign," Governor Richardson said. "Cody understands, as I do, that to support Americans with disabilities, we must guarantee every American his or her civil rights. We must ensure opportunities for people with disabilities to be independent, successful members of their respective communities.

"As President, I will sign the bipartisan ADA Restoration Act. The Supreme Court's recent reactionary decisions must be corrected by federal legislation. We must end the Catch-22 of allowing businesses to say that a person is "too disabled" to do a job but "not disabled enough" to be protected by the ADA."

To read Governor Richardson's Americans with Disabilities policy, click here.

Paid for by Richardson for President, Inc.

THOMPSON: Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of California ProLife Council

2007-12-17T16:12:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 17, 2007

Fred Thompson Receives Endorsement of California ProLife Council

State's National Right to Life affiliate supporting Thompson

McLean, VA - Today Senator Fred Thompson received the endorsement of the California ProLife Council.

"There are so many pro-life candidates in the race," said Lawrence Lehr, PAC Chairman. "But Fred Thompson is clearly the one, consistently pro-life candidate with the ability to win in November. It is important that pro-life voters rally around a candidate that can make a difference."

The California ProLife Council is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. CPLC is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian grassroots organization dedicated to the cessation of the perceived need for abortion, euthanasia and infanticide. California ProLife Council believes this goal will be accomplished on two fronts: (1) working within the law to change the law and (2) changing public opinion through education.

"I'm blessed and honored to have the endorsement of California ProLife Council for President of the United States," said Senator Thompson. "From the heartland of America, and now coast to coast, right to life organizations have voted to endorse my candidacy because they know I have stood with them yesterday, I stand with them today, and will stand with them tomorrow. They know I have the ability to win this election. They know I believe in the sanctity of life and as President I will do all that I can to do to protect life."

Fred Thompson is pro-life. He believes in the sanctity of human life and that every life is worthy of respect. He had a 100% pro-life voting record in the Senate and believes Roe v. Wade was a bad decision that ought to be overturned. He consistently opposed federal funding to promote or pay for abortion and supported the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, and President Reagan's Mexico City policy. While Fred Thompson supports adult stem cell research, he opposes embryonic stem cell research. He also opposes human cloning.

Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

KUCINICH: Kucinich 'Peace Train' set to whistle through California next week

2007-12-17T16:09:00.000-08:00

Kucinich 'Peace Train' set to whistle through California next week

For Immediate Release - December 17, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - U. S. Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will be riding a "Peace Train" through Western California with his wife Elizabeth and dozens of special guests and supporters, making numerous stops along the way for political rallies and campaign events.

The unprecedented whistle-stop tour will begin Thursday evening, December 20, with a special Town Hall gathering and fundraiser hosted by Elizabeth Kucinich at Mendocino Community College in Ukiah. Kucinich, the leading progressive candidate in the Presidential race, will join the event via a live video feed.

On Friday evening, December 21, there will be a big "Peace Train" Kick-Off Rally in San Francisco with Elizabeth Kucinich and well-known supporters of the campaign, including John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation; political author and scholar Michael Parenti; Medea Benjamin from Code Pink; news anchor and talk show host Bree Walker; and peace activist Cindy Sheehan. The Congressman will be arriving in San Francisco that night.

Kucinich, his wife and their supporters will board the "Peace Train" (regularly known as Amtrak's "Coast Starlight") at Jack London Square Station in Oakland on Saturday morning, December 22, and arrive mid-afternoon in San Luis Obispo, where they will disembark and attend a rally and fundraising dinner, both open to the public. The following morning, December 23, it's all aboard once again in San Luis Obispo, as the "Peace Train" travels to Union Station in Los Angeles and a Peace Rally nearby at Placita de Dolores.

"I'm very excited about the great opportunities Elizabeth and I will have to be with thousands of supporters while traveling on the 'Peace Train' through California this weekend," said Rep. Kucinich. "With the February 5 Democratic primary here just a few weeks away, I'm looking forward to talking about my universal, not-for-profit health insurance plan, and my positions on Iraq, Iran, impeachment, the Patriot Act, NAFTA and other crucial issues facing the United States."

Kucinich recently swept 47 of 50 states in the online Democracy for America poll, topped all other Democrats in the Progressive Democrats of America poll, and was the runaway winner in a poll by one of the nation's leading political publications, The Nation. In some national and key- state polls, his numbers are higher than senators Biden and Dodd, virtually tied with Governor Richardson in some polls, and trailing a few points behind former Senator Edwards.

"Dennis Kucinich is the people's candidate and the 'Peace Train' brings his campaign directly to the people. It's a great way for his supporters to come out and express their enthusiasm for both the candidate and his clear and consistent stand on peace," remarked Jeeni Criscenzo, California State coordinator for Kucinich.

Public schedule for the Kucinich for President 2008 "Peace Train" is as follows:

Thursday, December 20
7 PM—Town Hall Meeting and Fundraiser with Elizabeth Kucinich @ Mendocino Community College, 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah CA

Friday, December 21
Noon—Fundraiser with Elizabeth Kucinich and guest Norman Solomon @ Sebastopol Community Center, 390 Morris St., Sebastopol CA
7 PM—"Peace Train" Kick-Off Rally with Elizabeth Kucinich and numerous special guests, including John Nichols, Michael Parenti and Cindy Sheehan @ First Unitarian Universalist Church and Center, 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco CA

Saturday, December 22
7:30 AM—Breakfast Send-Off with Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich @ Jack London Square Station, Oakland CA
8:50 AM—"Peace Train" departs Jack London Square Station, Oakland CA. This train will make short scheduled stops in San Jose (9:55 AM), Salinas (11:48 AM) and Paso Robles (1:38 PM). Supporters will greet the Kuciniches and company at each of the stations. Arrival times may vary from schedule.
3:20 PM—"Peace Train" arrives at San Luis Obispo Station.
4 PM—Peace Rally in Mitchell Park, San Luis Obispo CA
5 PM—Spaghetti Dinner and Fundraiser at Odd Fellows Hall, San Luis Obispo CA

Sunday, December 23
6:45 AM—"Peace Train" departs from San Luis Obispo Station. This train will make short scheduled stops in Grover Beach (7:05 AM), Guadalupe-Santa Maria (7:21 AM), Lompoc-Surf (7:55 AM), Goleta (9:03 AM), Santa Barbara (9:21 AM), Carpinteria (9:37 AM), Ventura (9:58 AM), Oxnard (10:12 AM), Camarillo (10:23 AM), Simi Valley (10:51 AM), Chatsworth (11:03 AM), Van Nuys (11:18 AM), Burbank Airport (11:27 AM) and Glendale (11:39 AM).
12:10 PM—"Peace Train" arrives in Los Angeles at Union Station
12:30 PM—Peace Rally at Placita de Dolores, across from Union Station
3 PM—"Peace Train" continues on with supporters all aboard (the Kuciniches will heading back East) on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner 580, departing from Union Station, Los Angeles CA. This train will make short scheduled stops in Fullerton (3:32 PM), Anaheim (3:41 PM), Santa Ana (3:50 PM), Irvine (4:04 PM) and San Juan Capistrano (4:18 PM).
4:53 PM—"Peace Train" arrives at the Oceanside Transit Center
6 PM—Holiday Peace on Earth Celebration @ Oceanside Library Community Room, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanide CA.

ROMNEY: No Laughing Matter: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners.

2007-12-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

“Mike Huckabee is great at snappy one-liners, but his troubling lack of depth on important foreign policy issues is really not funny. America faces big challenges on the domestic front as well as around the globe, and Mike Huckabee’s direct criticism of President Bush merely copies the Democrats’ talking points and puts him squarely at odds with many Republican voters who want a strong foreign policy posture.”

-Kevin Madden, Romney for President campaign spokesman

http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/No_Laughing_Matter_12.17

"SOMEONE WHO HASN'T THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY"

No Laughing Matter: A serious look at Gov. Mike Huckabee's record and policy beyond the one-liners.

· Gov. Mike Huckabee: "And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night." (WABC Radio's "Imus In The Morning," 12/4/07)

· National Review: "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate." "In sum, conservatives should have worries about the depth and soundness of Mike Huckabee's foreign-policy views. And staying at a Holiday Inn Express is not going to be enough to allay them." (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

"Huckabee did give a long speech on foreign policy at [CSIS]… It combined a superficial rendering of conventional foreign-policy wisdom — which of course included many unfair criticisms of President Bush — with Huckabee's inimitable folksy delivery. … Huckabee's views are the uneven grab bag to be expected from someone who hasn't thought much about foreign policy." – National Review (Editorial, "The Holiday Inn Express Candidate, National Review, 12/10/07)

To Watch Selections From Gov. Huckabee's Speech, Click Here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQitn77AXvo

Gov. Huckabee's Foreign Affairs Essay Closely Mirrors A Speech He Gave In September 2007:

Gov. Huckabee: "This Administration's Bunker Mentality Has Been Counterproductive, Both At Home And Abroad." GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: "Well, let me begin by saying that to say that American foreign policy needs a change in tone or attitude, or an opening up and reaching out, is [as] obvious as saying that O.J. Simpson might've had a bad month. This Administration's bunker mentality has been counterproductive, both at home and abroad. They've done a poor job of communicating and consulting with other countries, just as they have, frankly, with the American people." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

· Foreign Affairs As Playground Politics. GOV. HUCKABEE: "There's a sense in which our situation with prestige in the world is a great deal like many of us experienced as a child growing up in a neighborhood where there was one kid, one kid who was just exceptional at everything he did. He made A's, and never anything else; he could run faster; he could jump higher; he could throw the ball further; he never struck out. You know the kid; I hope you weren't that kid." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: "Full Diplomatic Relations" With Iran. GOV. HUCKABEE: "Normally we speak to Iran only indirectly, through the Swiss embassy in Tehran. Our recent direct negotiations about Iraq have been very narrowly focused, not very productive because we really weren't exploring the full range of issues. We have valuable incentives to offer Iran in exchange for helping us to stabilize Iraq, not supporting the Taliban, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and abandoning their nuclear ambitions, trade and economic assistance, full diplomatic relations, and security guarantees." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: Iran Is Simply Playing "Normal Power Politics" And We Can "Negotiate With Them." GOV. HUCKABEE: "And while there can be no rational dealings with al Qaeda, Iran is a nation-state looking for regional power. It plays the normal power politics that we do understand, and can skillfully and rightfully pursue. And we have substantial issues to negotiate with them." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

· Diplomacy With Iran Is Like A Fight With Your Sister. GOV. HUCKABEE: "We haven't had diplomatic relationships with Iran in almost 30 years, most of my entire adult life, and a lot of good it's done. Putting this in human terms, all of us know that when we stop talking to a parent, or a sibling, or even a friend, it's impossible to resolve the differences to move that relationship forward. Well, the same is true for countries." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: An Embassy In Baghdad Would Have Led To Better Intelligence. GOV. HUCKABEE: "If we had had diplomatic relations with Iraq, and an ambassador in Baghdad, we obviously would've had better information. Before we put boots on the ground in the future, we better have a few wingtips there first." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Mike Huckabee: "And When President Bush Included Iran In The Axis Of Evil, Everything Went Downhill Pretty Fast." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Mike Huckabee: "I Know That We Cannot Live With Al Qaeda, But There Is A Chance We Can Live With A Domesticated Iran." GOV. HUCKABEE: "As the only presidential candidate with a theology degree, along with several years of political experience, I know that theology is black and white. Politics is not. My enemy today on one issue may be my friend tomorrow on another. Bottom line is this: Iran is a regional threat to the balance of power in the Middle and Near East. Al Qaeda is an existential threat to the United States. I know that we cannot live with al Qaeda, but there is a chance we can live with a domesticated Iran." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: Bin Laden Is "Protected Indirectly By The Pakistani Government." GOV. HUCKABEE: "Now, while our failure to engage Iran seems to be leading to our potentially attacking them, our failure to engage al Qaeda and Pakistan seems to be leading to their attacking us again. When we let bin Laden escape at Tora Bora in December of 2001, he fled Afghanistan into Pakistan, and we played Brer Fox to his Brer Rabbit. We threw him into the perfect briar patch, protected directly by Islamic extremists, tribal leaders who revere him, and don't consider their land to be part of Pakistan, protected indirectly by the Pakistani government, who believes that it is." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: The War In Iraq Is A Distraction From Going After Al Qaeda In Pakistan. GOV. HUCKABEE: "I am convinced that our focus on Iraq at the expense of Pakistan or Iran is like dealing with the neighbor's house, which is on fire, while ignoring the house on the other side of the street that's filled with carbon monoxide. Iraq may be the hot war, but Pakistan is where the cold, calculating planning is actually going on. Al Qaeda in Iraq is a branch office. Corporate headquarters is in Pakistan." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

Gov. Huckabee: By Supporting Pakistan's Government, "Our Government" Is To Blame If Al Qaeda Attacks Us. GOV. HUCKABEE: "If al Qaeda attacks us tomorrow, that attacked will be postmarked Pakistan, not Iraq. Pakistan has become the new Afghanistan. Another attack will spark justified outrage that we let bin Laden and his people get away. Concerns about Pakistan's delicate sensibilities will be drowned out by the wailing about American casualties. The American people will not understand why our supposed ally refused to help us or why our government put up with their intransigence." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

· Gov. Huckabee: "I Would Prefer To Skip The Next Attack And The Exasperated Fury That It Will Rightly Generate And Cut To The Chase By Going After Al Qaeda's Safe Haven In Pakistan." (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Remarks To The Center For Strategic And International Studies, Washington, D.C., 9/28/07)

ROMNEY: Romney for President is launching its newest television ad, "Choice: Judgment."

2007-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

Romney for President is launching its newest television ad, "Choice: Judgment."

Choice: Judgment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQV0tTvkus

The ad highlights the very important choice voters will have to make when it comes to fighting crime in the United States. While Governors Romney and Huckabee both believe in protecting life and traditional marriage, they have very different crime records.

In Massachusetts, Governor Romney fought for tougher penalties to combat methamphetamines and respected juries' decisions by not pardoning a single criminal.

In Arkansas, Governor Huckabee granted 1,033 pardons and commutations, including 12 convicted murderers. This was more clemencies than the previous three governors combined. Governor Huckabee also reduced penalties for manufacturing methamphetamines.

The ad will begin airing tomorrow as part of the campaign's rotation in Iowa.

Script For "Choice: Judgment" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER: "Two pro-life Governors. Both support a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage.

"The difference?

"Romney got tough on drugs like meth.

"He never pardoned a single criminal.

"And Mike Huckabee?

"He granted 1,033 pardons and commutations, including 12 convicted murderers.

"Huckabee granted more clemencies than the previous three governors combined.

"Even reduced penalties for manufacturing methamphetamine.

"On crime. The difference is judgment."

BIDEN: Delaware Communications Workers Union Endorses Joe Biden

2007-12-17T16:03:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Contact:
Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

Delaware Communications Workers Union Endorses Joe Biden
“He’s not just pro-union, he’s pro-working families.”

Wilmington, DE (December 17, 2007) – Today, Sen. Biden received the endorsement of the Delaware Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 13101.

CWA Local 13101 Executive President Bud Speakman said, “We were the first union to endorse Sen. Biden 36 years ago and have never regretted that decision. What distinguishes Sen. Biden is that he’s not just pro-union, he’s pro-working families. He’s never wavered in his commitment to the working men and women in Delaware and we would expect the same of him as president.”

Sen. Biden thanked CWA Local 13101 and President Speakman for their continued support.

“Because of the support of CWA and other unions, I was elected as the first pro-union United States Senator in Delaware history. Since then we have fought together for Common Situs Picketing in the mid-1970s, the prevailing wage, Card Check, OSHA standards, pension protections and, most recently, the Employee Free Choice Act.

“History teaches us that when the union movement is strong, our middle class is strong. And when our middle class is strong, our country is strong. As president, I will immediately sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law. I will guarantee that the National Labor Relations Board returns to being a fair forum to contest unfair labor practices. I will appoint people to the Department of Labor who understand the value of unions to our economy and will make sure that pro-union officials play senior roles at the Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. And I will also create good, union jobs by investing in our national infrastructure. We have $1.6 trillion of work to do to rebuild our roads, tunnels, ports and bridges. That means more construction, manufacturing, and transportation jobs for Americans.

“I am honored that the Communications Workers of America in Delaware have pledged their support to my campaign. As President, I will continue to work as hard for them in the future as I have over the past thirty-five years.”

###

DNC RESEARCH DEPT.: McCain Picks Up Joementum!

2007-12-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

The Daily Flipper
Read what the Republicans Wish You Wouldn’t …
December 17, 2007

TOP HEADLINE: McCain Picks Up Joementum!

Noting Liberman’s appeal among unaffiliated voters in the 2004 Democratic primary, a top McCain aide said the Connecticut senator's backing "gives credence to, and more horsepower behind, our 'Independents for McCain' effort in New Hampshire and nationally."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7418.html

FLASHBACK: Exit polls following the 2004 New Hampshire primary showed Joe Lieberman taking fifth among Independent voters, behind John Kerry, Howard Dean, John Edwards and Wes Clark. He did beat out Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton. He also failed to win the vote of Republicans who voted in the Democratic primary.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/NH/index.html

Oh THAT NRA … Mitt Was Endorsed by National ROMNEY Association

Under Russert's grilling about guns on this morning's "Meet the Press," former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney claimed an endorsement he'd never won.

In answer to questions about whether he would sign an assault weapons ban, Romney said: "Just as the president said, he would have, he would have signed that bill if it came to his desk, and so would have I. And, and, and yet I also was pleased to have the support of the NRA when I ran for governor. I sought it, I seek it now. I'd love to have their support."

Later in the interview, he added the following:

"I just talked about, about guns. I told you what my position was, and what I, what I did as governor; the fact that I received the endorsement of the NRA."

The problem?

He was never endorsed by the NRA, and didn't have their official support during his 2002 gubernatorial campaign.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/12/16/romney_claims_nra_endorsement.html

SHOCKER! Rudy Exaggerated Record on US Attorney Service

ON “Meet the Press” a week ago, Rudolph W. Giuliani attempted to deflect criticism of his close relationship with his former police commissioner, Bernard Kerik, by saying that his misjudgment of Mr. Kerik had to be weighed against his other accomplishments. “How can I not have pretty good judgment about the people who work for me and not been able to turn around the United States attorney’s office?” he asked. But Mr. Giuliani’s claim to have turned around the Manhattan United States attorney’s office is not only untrue, it is an insult to the outstanding men and women who have served in that office over the last 50 years.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/opinion/17martin.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Huckabee Was Just Helping To Spread The Giving Spirit Throughout The Year – Hit For Gifts From Appointees

A $1,000 pair of cufflinks from a supporter, tens of thousands of dollars of clothing from a wealthy Little Rock businessman and thousands in gift certificates and cash from staff and appointees were among the lavish gifts given to Republican presidential candidate and unexpected frontrunner Mike Huckabee while he was governor of Arkansas.

The gifts fell within Arkansas's ethics rules but have raised questions among the governor's political opponents and ethics analysts at a time when scrutiny of the candidate is intensifying, and are at odds with the humble persona Huckabee has adopted on the campaign trail.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections08/story/0,,2227481,00.html

Wonder What Fred Got For Mike Huckabee? – Others Campaign, Thompson Shops

Rudy Giuliani spent today on the trail in Florida, Mike Huckabee was in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney Iowa and John McCain South Carolina.

Fred Thompson took to the Neiman Marcus at the Tysons Galleria in suburban Washington.
. . .
But 19 days out to the caucuses, and on a prime weekend campaign day, it does not help the cause of a candidate already fending off a "lazy" rap to be seen perusing the racks at Neiman Marcus. This is the danger of running a campaign inside-the-beltway -- there are are always people watching and ready to share such sightings.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1207/Fred_shops__but_not_for_votes.html

McCain Endorsed By Own Employee – If Only He Hadn’t Laid Off Half His Staff In The Summer!

In what will shock the South Carolina political landscape, Former SC House Majority Leader turned professional blogger Rick Quinn has endorsed John McCain for President on his blog Palmetto Scoop. Quinn is a paid adviser to Senator McCain.
http://shotpolitics.com/former-sc-house-majority-leader-endorses-john-mccain.htm

Rudy Repackages Same Ol' Stuff

TAMPA, Fla. (Associated Press) -- Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's "bold" vision for the nation sounded a lot like the same ideas he's been talking about for months, but delivered in a new package Saturday.
http://omaha.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8TI3NP00&_action=validatearticle

No Repackaging This… Tab Poll Shows People Don’t Like Judi or Rudi

A straying husband is bad. But a home wrecker is worse - at least when it comes to who should end up in the White House.

That seems to be the judgment of women polled by the Daily News. More were likely to punish Judith Giuliani for trysting with the then-married mayor when she was Judith Nathan than Bill Clinton for cheating on his wife in the Oval Office.

The News' national poll of female voters found women - by a 40% to 35% margin - said Judith Giuliani's affair with Rudy made her less suitable to be First Lady.
. . .
When asked whom they'd prefer to watch their kids, 36% of the women polled would rather have Bill and Hillary Clinton baby-sit, while 21% would pick Rudy and Judith Giuliani.

"I might let Mrs. Giuliani watch my kids, but not Rudy. If his own children won't speak to him, I don't want my kids speaking to him," said Deborah Taylor, 58, of Derby, Kan.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2007/12/17/2007-12-17_women_more_willing_to_forgive_monica_sca.html

Giuliani Partners "Official F” Back In The News – Victims Object To Rudy’s Defense of Placa

Monsignor Alan Placa, a priest and lifelong friend of Giuliani, was accused in a 2003 grand jury report of molesting boys and helping to suppress abuse complaints about other priests. Placa was stripped of his priestly duties in 2002 while a special grand jury investigated allegations of sexual abuse at the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island. That year, Giuliani hired Placa, who is also a lawyer, for his consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, LLC.

Placa works as a consultant for the company, which helps clients with legal, security and business improvement issues. Sunny Mindel, a spokeswoman for the firm, would not elaborate on Placa's duties or his salary. Placa is not involved with Giuliani's campaign.

No charges were filed against Placa or the 22 other priests accused of crimes in the grand jury report because the statute of limitations had expired. But the Suffolk County district attorney believed it was valuable to investigate the diocese and produce a report detailing the diocese's handling of sexual abuse complaints.

. . .

Since the priests were not formally charged, they are not named in the report and are instead identified only by a letter. But the report offered sufficient details about the priests that Newsday, a Long Island newspaper, determined some of the priests' identities, including Placa, who was "Priest F." The grand jury report had described "Priest F" as "a parish priest who became a teacher at a boy's high school and later a civil attorney who went on to write the diocese's policy on sexual abuse."

Placa denies the allegations, which include groping at least three boys and purposely neglecting to tell sexual abuse victims that he was a lawyer for the diocese as well as a priest. "Priest F" is painted as the central figure of a conspiracy that kept secret decades of sexual abuse.

. . .

Giuliani was asked about Placa in an Oct. 23 interview with WBZ, a Boston television station.

"He's a friend of mine for over 35 years," he said, according to a transcript provided by Mindel. "And the fact is, he hasn't even been formally accused of anything. So, to hold this against him is really kind of, not the right way to do it. I know, I understand that people feel very hurt about this issue in general, they have every right to. But then you just can't, just can't assume that people are responsible for things that they're accused of. You've got to give the whole process a chance, right?"

But victims' advocates say Giuliani's point is moot since New York's statute of limitations on criminal charges prevented prosecutors from filing charges.
http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/FRONTPAGE/712160331

Dana Perino Has Competition! Romney Rushes To Bush’s Defense

Raising the stakes with his main rival in the crucial Iowa caucuses, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney accused Mike Huckabee yesterday of insulting President Bush and called on him to apologize for criticizing Bush's foreign policy as "arrogant."
…
"That's an insult to the president, and Mike Huckabee should apologize to the president," Romney said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/17/romney_huckabee_rivalry_heats_up/

Will Huckabee Call on Mitt to Apologize for Reagan Comments?

In the debate, Kennedy tried to portray Romney as a turn-back-the-clock conservative, and Romney took exception, essentially disavowing Reagan. On October 27, 1994, the Boston Herald reported the exchange this way:
Kennedy attempted to link Romney several times during the debate to conservatives such as Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and accused him of trying to return the country to the policies of the Reagan-Bush administrations.
Romney objected to the characterizations, saying: "I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan-Bush."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/19/opinion/main2281102.shtml

Romney BORKED! He Might Not Like It, But Looks Like Reagan-Bush Is Flocking To Him

Judge Robert Bork has endorsed Mitt Romney for president. He explains:

No other candidate will do more to advance the conservative judicial movement than Governor Mitt Romney. He knows firsthand how the judicial branch can profoundly affect the future course of a state and a nation. I greatly admired his leadership in Massachusetts in the way that he responded to the activist court's ruling legalizing same-sex 'marriage.'

Our next President may be called upon to make more than one Supreme Court nomination, and Governor Romney is committed to nominating judges who take their oath of office seriously and respect the rule of law in our nation. I also support Governor Romney because of his character, his integrity and his stands on the major issues facing the United States.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2007/12/019291.php

The Daily Flipper is distributed by the DNC Research Department.

THOMPSON: Statement from Fred Thompson on Endorsement from Iowa Representative Steve King

2007-12-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Jeff Sadosky
December 17, 2007

Statement from Fred Thompson on Endorsement from Iowa Representative Steve King

McLean, VA - Fred Thompson released the following statement after being endorsed today by Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King:

"Congressman King's leadership in support of the sanctity of life and his efforts in the fight against illegal immigration have made him one of Iowa's great Republican leaders. He's a tireless fighter for the 5th district of Iowa and I'm honored by his support. I look forward to working with Congressman King over the next three weeks and into 2008 in support of the traditional conservative values he and I share."

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Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

EDWARDS: Iowa First Lady Mari Culver Endorses John Edwards For President

2007-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

Endorsement shows growing momentum, Edwards also featured on cover of Newsweek

Des Moines, Iowa – On the last day of his “Main Street Express” bus tour and following a widely praised debate performance, today Senator John Edwards will receive the endorsement of Iowa First Lady Mari Culver. Culver believes Edwards’ lifetime of fighting for those without a voice makes him the best candidate to stand up for America’s families and bring change to America. Culver will join Edwards today at his “Main Street Express” bus tour finale events in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. During the eight-day tour, Edwards has been highlighting his plans to fight for regular families like the ones he grew up with in his small, rural hometown.

“With all the challenges facing our country, we need a leader who will fight for our families,” said Culver. “I am proud to endorse John Edwards for President. John has spent his career standing up for children and families in their hour of need. I admire his commitment to speaking out for those who have no voice and look forward to working with him to make sure children here in Iowa and across the country are safe and secure and have the opportunity to realize their dreams.”

“I am honored to have Mari’s support,” said Edwards. “She has been a passionate advocate on behalf of families and children in crises. Her commitment to helping the less fortunate is exactly the kind of the leadership America so desperately needs. With Mari’s help and the help of the people of Iowa, we can build the One America we believe in.”
Culver’s endorsement adds to Edwards’ growing momentum in the final weeks before the Iowa caucuses. This week, Edwards was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine. He was also recently endorsed by Congressman Bruce Braley and continues to gain support from community leaders and undecided caucus goers. He has strong grassroots organizations in all 99 Iowa counties, and enjoys the support of Caucus for Priorities, which represents 10,000 Iowa caucus goers. Edwards has the support of numerous labor groups who are actively working to put him in the White House. He has been endorsed by the Iowa State Council of the SEIU and 11 other SEIU state councils representing more than a million SEIU members. Additionally, he has been endorsed by the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the United Steelworkers, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the Transport Workers Union of America, the United Mine Workers of America and the UNITE HERE Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board.
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Paid for by John Edwards for President.

MCCAIN: John McCain Launches First Radio Ad In South Carolina

2007-12-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: SC Press Office

Monday, December 17, 2007

COLUMBIA, SC -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today launched its first radio ad in South Carolina. The ad, titled "Best Prepared," features U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and highlights John McCain's early support for the troop surge in Iraq and readiness to lead as commander in chief on day one.

LISTEN TO THE NEW AD HERE: http://www.johnmccain.com/tvads/

Script for "Best Prepared" (:60-Radio):

ANNCR: "Seven months ago, Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid said the war in Iraq was lost. Well, he was wrong. Listen to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham."

LINDSEY GRAHAM: "I've been to Iraq nine times. The troop surge is working. Terrorists are on the run, and we need a president prepared to win."

ANNCR: "Only one candidate had the courage to call for the troop surge in spite of the polls, and that's John McCain."

LINDSEY GRAHAM: "John McCain is the only candidate for president prepared to be Commander-in-Chief on day one. No candidate can match his record of service. And as all the polls indicate, he's the only Republican who can beat Hillary Clinton in the general election. So our party and our nation need John McCain."

ANNCR: "When we vote, South Carolina can send a big message: Let our troops win."

LINDSEY GRAHAM: "John McCain is the right choice. He's ready to lead, and he's prepared to win."

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

ANNCR: "Paid for by John McCain 2008."

###

MCCAIN: Statement By John McCain On Lieberman Endorsement

2007-12-17T07:08:00.001-08:00

STATEMENT BY JOHN MCCAIN ON LIEBERMAN ENDORSEMENT

For Immediate Release

Contact: Press Office

Monday, December 17, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on receiving the endorsement of Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT):

"I am deeply honored by Joe Lieberman's endorsement. In an era when politicians so often put political expediency ahead of conviction, Joe Lieberman has stood up for what he believes is in America's interest. He has stood tall against the prevailing winds on national security and understands why we must succeed in Iraq and in the broader war against radical Islamic extremism. He is a principled leader, a good friend, and I am proud to have his support."

MCCAIN: Senator Joe Lieberman Endorses John McCain For President

2007-12-17T07:08:00.000-08:00

SENATOR JOE LIEBERMAN ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

For Immediate Release

Contact: Press Office

Monday, December 17, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA -- This morning in New Hampshire, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. Senator Lieberman issued the following statement on his endorsement:

"I have come to New Hampshire this morning to ask Republican and Independent voters to support John McCain in the first-in-the-nation primary on January 8.

"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for President. And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate.

"In this critical election, no one should let party lines be a barrier to choosing the person we believe is best qualified to lead our nation forward. The problems that confront us are too great, the threats we face too real, and the opportunities we have too exciting for us to play partisan politics with the Presidency.

"We desperately need our next President to break through the reflexive partisanship that is poisoning our politics and stopping us from getting things done. We need a President who can reunite our country, restore faith in our government, and rebuild confidence in America's future.

"My friend John McCain is that candidate, and that is why I am so proud to be standing by his side today.

"I have worked closely with John for many years on many issues -- from stopping genocide in the Balkans to combating global warming to creating the 9/11 Commission and enacting its recommendations into law. I have seen John, time and again, rise above the negativism and smallness of our politics to get things done for this country we love so much. I have watched him, time and again, work across party lines to make our country safer and stronger.

"John McCain has proven that we can trust him to do what is right for our country, not only when it is easy, but when it is hard; to do what is necessary, not only when it is popular, but when it is not; and to tell us the truth, not only when it is easy to hear, but when it is not.

"As President, John McCain will bring America together again. He will inspire a new American unity and a new American patriotism. He will push all of us to work together to solve our biggest problems, and defeat our most dangerous enemies.

"Throughout our history, succeeding generations of brave Americans have risked their lives for the cause of freedom -- which is America's cause. Throughout his career, from the ranks of the military to halls of the Congress, John McCain has made freedom's cause his own. He learned the ideals of patriotism and service from his father, he taught them to his sons, and he will hold those ideals high as an inspiration for all Americans.

"When it comes to keeping America safe in this time of war, John has proven that he has the experience, the strength, and the character, to be our commander-in-chief from day one. I have traveled the world with John, so I can tell you how much he is liked and admired by leaders across the globe. He will be a President our friends will respect and our enemies will fear, and a President who will lead our nation on the world stage with purpose and principle.

"When others were silent, and it was thought politically unpopular, John had the courage and common sense to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq and to call for more troops and a new strategy there. And when others waivered, when others wanted to retreat from the field of battle, John had the courage and the common sense to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge in Iraq, where we are at last winning.

"You may not agree with John McCain on every issue, but you can always count on him to be honest with you about where he stands, you can always count on him to stand for what he believes is right for our country -- regardless of pressure from politicians or vested interests. And you can count on him to be restless in pursuit of progress. In that sense, John McCain is the real change candidate in this race for the Presidency.

"There are many fine people running for President. Many of them are good friends of mine. But I have concluded -- and I hope you will, as well -- that John McCain is the candidate who can best reunite our country and lead us to victory in the war against Islamist terrorism.

"The nomination for President remains wide open, so on January 8th, New Hampshire's voters can -- and I hope will -- make history and send John McCain from the Granite State to victory.

"Thank you."

BIDEN: Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel Endorses Joe Biden

2007-12-16T15:08:00.002-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Contact:
Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair
press@joebiden.com

KEOKUK MAYOR DAVID GUDGEL ENDORSES JOE BIDEN

“I Believe Joe Is The Best Candidate To Address Our Problems At Home And Throughout The World.”

Des Moines, IA (December 16, 2007) – Sen. Joe Biden today received the endorsement of Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel. First elected in 2001, Mayor Gudgel is currently serving his fourth consecutive term as Mayor of Keokuk. Prior to his public service, Mayor Gudgel was Senior Account Manager for W.R. Grace, an industrial chemical company, for 20 years.

“One of the main reasons I decided to support Sen. Biden was his grasp of foreign policy and the problems we face internationally,” said Mayor Gudgel. “And as someone who shares my commitment to restoring the middle class, I believe Joe is the best candidate to address our problems at home and throughout the world.”

Sen. Biden said, “Over his four consecutive terms serving the people of Keokuk, Mayor Gudgel has worked tirelessly to protect hard-working Iowans and restore the middle class. He shares my concern about our diminished standing in the world and my vision for restoring America to greatness. I am tremendously proud that he has pledged his support to my campaign.”

Mayor Gudgel announced his support following a campaign event at the home of Keokuk City Councilwoman Susan Dunek this weekend. The Biden for President Campaign recently announced that Councilwoman Dunek would serve on its statewide steering committee with over 50 other local leaders from across the Hawkeye State.

Mayor Gudgel and Councilwoman Dunek have joined an impressive group of local elected officials and state legislators who have endorsed Senator Biden in Iowa. To date, 14 state legislators—and a majority of the House Democratic leadership—have endorsed Senator Biden, including State Sen. Joe Seng (Davenport), House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Des Moines), Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Polly Butka (Clinton), Rep. John Whitaker (Hillsboro), Rep. Doris Kelley (Waterloo), Rep. Lisa Heddens (Ames), Rep. Jim Lykam (Davenport), Rep. Mike Reasoner (Creston), Rep. Dick Taylor (Cedar Rapids), Rep. Roger Thomas (Elkader), Rep. McKinley Bailey (Webster City), State Senator Herman C. Quirmbach (Ames), Rep. Mary Gaskill (Ottumwa), and Rep. Bruce Hunter (Des Moines).

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THOMPSON: Romney Fact Check on Preserving the Sanctity of Life

2007-12-16T15:08:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Press Office
December 16, 2007

Romney Fact Check on Preserving the Sanctity of Life

Romney's Claim: "...every piece of legislation which came to my desk in the coming years as a Governor, I came down on the side of preserving the sanctity of life."
- Mitt Romney, Meet the Press 12/16/07

Fact Check

· Romney's health care legislation provides taxpayer-funded abortions for a co-pay of just $50.
o Romney vetoed EIGHT provisions in his health care bill that he deemed objectionable, but he did not veto Planned Parenthoods' guaranteed position on the Advisory Board or ensure that abortions were covered only in medically necessary situations (as required by MA court ruling). All abortions are covered in the Commonwealth Care program with no medically necessary limitation.

· Romney included in his health care legislation a guarantee that Planned Parenthood would have a representative on his MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board. No such provision was included for a pro-life representative.

· Romney forced private Catholic hospitals to provide the morning-after-pill, a position applauded by Democrats and pro-abortions groups.

Romney's health care legislation provides taxpayer-funded abortions for a co-pay of just $50. Romney vetoed EIGHT provisions in his health care bill that he deemed objectionable, including the expansion of dental benefits to Medicaid recipients. He did not veto Planned Parenthoods' guaranteed position on the Advisory Board or ensure that abortions were covered only in medically necessary situations (as required by MA court ruling). All abortions are covered in the Commonwealth Care program with no medically necessary limitation. Under the program, abortions are available for a copay of $50. (Menu of Health Care Services: http://www.mass. gov/Qhic/docs/cc_benefits1220_pt234.pdf; "Romney's Health Care Vetoes," Associated Press, 4/12/06)

Romney included in his health care legislation a guarantee that Planned Parenthood would have a representative on his MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board. No such provision was included for a pro-life representative. "You cannot be personally opposed to abortion and then contribute money to an organization whose purpose is to provide abortions," said Jerry Zandstra. "Given the Romney family's support of Planned Parenthood, it now makes sense why he mandated that a member of the RomneyCare Policy board be appointed by the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts." (RepealRomneyCare.com, "Pro-Life Leaders Denounce Romney's Planned Parenthood Connections," Press Release, 5/10/07)

Romney forced private Catholic hospitals to provide the morning-after-pill, a position applauded by Democrats and pro-abortions groups. "Governor Mitt Romney reversed course on the state's new emergency contraception law yesterday, saying that all hospitals in the state will be obligated to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims. The decision overturns a ruling made public this week by the state Department of Public Health that privately run hospitals could opt out of the requirement if they objected on moral or religious grounds. Romney had initially supported that interpretation, but he said yesterday that he had changed direction after his legal counsel, Mark D. Nielsen, concluded Wednesday that the new law supersedes a preexisting statute that says private hospitals cannot be forced to provide abortions or contraception. 'And on that basis, I have instructed the Department of Public Health to follow the conclusion of my own legal counsel and to adopt that sounder view,' Romney said..." (Scott Helman, "Romney Says No Hospitals Are Exempt From Pill Law," Boston Globe, 12/9/05)

· Catholic leaders urged hospitals to reject Romney's mandate or risk "compromising their religious integrity and Catholic identity." "C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, a conservative Catholic organization, said Catholic hospitals should refuse to abide by the law. 'T he appropriate response for Catholic hospitals is noncompliance. Otherwise, they would be compromising their religious integrity and Catholic identity,' he said." (Steve LeBlanc, "Confusion Over New Emergency Contraception Law Deepens," Associated Press, 12/9/05)

Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

EDWARDS: Edwards Delivers Major Speech On Lifting Up America's Middle Class

2007-12-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

Edwards Proposes Middle Class Rising Agenda; Outlines Bold Vision to Help All Hard-working Families Achieve the American Dream

Ames, Iowa - On day seven of the Main Street Express bus tour, Senator John Edwards delivered a major speech on his bold vision to lift up middle-class families and make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream. At this critical time in our nation's history, with the economic divide wider now than at any other time in the last thirty years, Edwards unveiled his Middle Class Rising agenda that will help build One America where the middle class prospers and all hardworking Americans can find good jobs, save for the future, and have guaranteed health care and retirement security.

“America was built on an idea – that all of us are equal,” Edwards said in a town hall in Ames. “The idea that how hard you work, and what kind of choices you make will determine the kind of life you build, and what you pass onto your children – but not the circumstances you’re born into, never that. The greatness of America is that promise – that every generation will leave its children a better life. That is our social compact with the middle class – the promise that if you work hard and do what’s right, you’ll be able to build a better life for yourself and your family. But today, that compact is being threatened.

“Here’s what’s happened,” Edwards continued. “Corporate greed and political calculation have taken over our government and sold out the middle class. Our government is selling out their future at the command of lobbyists and their corporate clients and we have to rise up together and stop it.

“We need a president who will take these powers on and fight to get you your voice back, and your government back. We need a president who is going to fight every day to make sure that all Americans can find good jobs, save for the future, and be guaranteed health care and retirement security. We need a president who is going to lift up the middle class.”

Because of corporate greed and a broken system in Washington, almost half of all economic growth over the past 20 years has gone to the top one percent of American families. Middle-class incomes have stagnated for the past seven years, the number of Americans living in poverty is growing every year, and families are working longer hours, but finding it harder to get by.

To address this growing inequality and help the middle class rise again, Edwards' Middle Class Rising agenda will:

Create good jobs: Edwards will invest in renewable sources of energy to create new industries and at least 1 million new, good-paying jobs. He will pursue a trade policy that ends tax loopholes for companies that send American jobs overseas, and end the NAFTA trade model. Edwards will also raise the minimum wage, reform our tax code, build career ladders, and strengthen organized labor.

Give middle-class families the tools to build a secure financial future: Edwards will create Universal Retirement Accounts that people can take with them from job to job, and to respond to the mortgage crisis, he will pass a tough new national law to prevent predatory lending abuses. Edwards will also reign in credit card and other abusive lending practices by creating a new consumer watchdog agency.

Remove the burdens that are weighing families down: Edwards will help families afford rising home heating costs, make sure that college is affordable for everyone, so that every child can have a fair shot at the American Dream, help people balance their work and home lives by making sure that workplace policies are keeping up with changes in the economy, through expanding early education programs, providing paid leave, including sick leave, to all workers, and expanding job protection under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Create universal health care in America: Edwards' top domestic priority will be making sure that every man, woman and child in America is covered with high-quality care.

Edwards was joined in Ames by acclaimed actor Kevin Bacon, who also traveled with the campaign yesterday as part of Edwards' Main Street Express bus tour across the state. During the eight-day tour, Edwards is highlighting his plans to fight for regular families like the ones he grew up with in his small, rural hometown. Later today, Edwards will hold events in Colfax and Ottumwa, and on Monday, he will wrap up the tour with events in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and a finale event in Davenport.

More information on the Main Street Express can be found at http://www.johnedwards.com/Iowa. Attached are excerpts from Edwards' prepared remarks. Also attached is Edwards Middle Class Rising agenda.

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Excerpts of prepared remarks by Senator John Edwards
Lifting Up the Middle Class
Ames, Iowa
December 16, 2007

“America was built on an idea – that all of us are equal. The idea that how hard you work, and what kind of choices you make will determine the kind of life you build, and what you pass onto your children – but not the circumstances you’re born into, never that. The greatness of America is that promise – that every generation will leave its children a better life. That is our social compact with the middle class – the promise that if you work hard and do what’s right, you’ll be able to build a better life for yourself and your family. But today, that compact is being threatened.

“Here’s what’s happened – corporate greed and political calculation have taken over our government and sold out the middle class. Washington isn’t looking out for the middle class because Washington doesn’t work for the middle class anymore…That is wrong. It doesn’t say life, liberty and the pursuit of endless corporate profit in the Declaration of Independence. America is about opportunity for you… and your families, your children. But our government is selling out their future at the command of lobbyists and their corporate clients and we have to rise up together and stop it. We have to rise up and say, no more. Not on our watch.
…
“We need a president who will take these powers on and fight to get you your voice back, and your government back. We need a president who is going to fight every day to make sure that all Americans can find good jobs, save for the future, and be guaranteed health care and retirement security. We need a president who is going to lift up the middle class. That is why today, I am proposing my Middle Class Rising agenda, a comprehensive plan to help hardworking families get ahead, and make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream.
…
“None of this is going to be easy. I hear all these candidates talking about how we’re going to bring about the big, bold change that America needs. And I hear some people saying that they think we can sit at a table with drug companies, oil companies and insurance companies, and they will give their power away. That is a fantasy. We have a fight in front of us. We have a fight for the future of this country. And the change we need will not happen easily. We need someone who is going to step into that arena on your behalf, someone who is ready for that fight.
…
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have been in this fight my whole life. From the time I was young, until when I was a lawyer. For twenty years, I walked into courtrooms representing families like yours against big corporations and their armies of lawyers. Every time, they looked at me and said, we can win. But they didn’t. Because I beat them. I beat them. And I beat them again. And I learned that it may not be easy to beat these powerful interests, but if you’re right, and you’re willing to stand up, you can win.
…
“That’s what the American people have always done. Every time in our history that the American people have been faced with great challenges, they rose up and met them. They made certain that they left America better than they found it; they left their children a better life than they had. That’s what your parents did. It’s what your grandparents did. And it’s what my parents did for me.
…
“I take it very personally when I see powerful, well-financed interests taking over this democracy, and taking it away from regular Americans, people like my parents. We have got to reclaim this democracy for them. For you. For your children. For your grandchildren. Because if we don’t, we’re going to have to look our children in the eye and say, “we’re leaving this mess to you.” Our parents didn’t do that. Our grandparents didn’t do it. Twenty generations of Americans who came before us didn’t do it. And I’ll tell you something: we’re not going to do it. We’re going to make absolutely certain that America rises again.”

Middle Class Rising: A Plan to Strengthen America’s Middle Class

The social compact with the middle class is under siege because big corporations and special interests have taken over Washington. That compact says that if you work hard and do what’s right, you’ll get some security and the chance to build a better life for yourself and your family. But today, middle class families are not rising, and the gap between the haves and everyone else has grown wider than at any time since the great Depression.

The American middle class is struggling. Wages are stagnant even though the economy is growing, while the cost of middle-class essentials like health care and child care continues to grow. The basic American bargain is breaking down.

· Our economy is growing only at the top: Forty percent of economic growth over the past 20 years went to the top 1 percent of households. Income inequality is at its highest since the Great Depression. [EPI, 2006; CBPP, 2007]

· Families are working longer hours, but finding it harder to get by: Families work 10 more hours a week than they did 20 years ago. But middle-class incomes have stagnated for the past seven years. [DOL, 2007]

· Higher costs for the basics: Costs for middle-class essentials – including housing, health care, college, child care and transportation – have all outpaced wage growth. A child born in 2003 will cost middle-class families 15 percent more to raise than a child born in 1960, after adjusting for inflation. [Draut, 2005; USDA, 2003]

· Powerful corporate interests have taken control of our government: The number of Washington lobbyists has tripled to 36,000 since 1996, more than 60 for every member of Congress. Their impact can be seen across our society: a broken health care system, reliance on old sources of energy, the neglect of poverty, unfair terms of credit, and subsidies for corporate agribusiness. [Senate Office of Public Records, 2006]

· Losing hope for the American dream: More Americans are worried that the next generation will face fewer economic opportunities and less security and mobility. Only 30 percent of Americans think life will be better for the next generation. [Pew, 2006]

Today, John Edwards outlined his Middle Class Rising plan to restore the American dream and meet the moral test passed by 20 generations before us: to leave a better future to our children than we inherited. We must strengthen America’s middle class to make sure that all Americans have a fair shot at the American Dream.

Create Good Jobs that Pay Enough to Support a Family

· Invest in the Industries of the Future: Renewable sources of energy – including ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar – can create new industries and at least 1 million new jobs. Edwards will establish the New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart renewable energies with start-up capital and train over 150,000 workers for Green Collar jobs. He will also invest in other sources of innovation such as life sciences, technology and private-sector research.

· Enact Smarter Trade Policies: Iowa has seen the results of unfair trade – losing more than 17,000 jobs in the last six years due to growing trading deficits with China. Trade deals need to make sense for American workers, not just corporations. Edwards will reject NAFTA-style trade deals and make sure any new trade agreements include strong labor and environmental standards and will vigorously enforce American workers' rights in existing agreements. He will also expand trade adjustment assistance to do much more for the workers and communities that are hurt by global competition. [EPI, 2007]

· Eliminate Tax Incentives to Move Offshore: The U.S. tax code encourages multinational corporations to invest overseas by allowing them to indefinitely defer taxation on their foreign profits. In practice, this means that multinational companies pay little or no tax on their foreign profits. Edwards will eliminate the benefit of deferral in low-tax countries, ensuring that American companies’ profits are taxed when earned at either the U.S. rate or a comparable foreign rate, to eliminate any incentive to move overseas.

· Make Work Pay by Raising the Minimum Wage: Under Gov. Culver, Iowa has been a leader in raising the minimum wage. But even at its 2008 level of $7.25, the earnings of a single parent with two children will still be $2,000 below the federal poverty line. Edwards will set a national goal of a minimum wage that equals half the average wage. He will raise the minimum wage by 75 cents a year until it reaches $9.50 in 2012 and then set it to rise automatically with average wages, ensuring that all workers share in America’s growth. [HHS, 2007]

· Reform the Tax Code to Reward Work, Not Wealth: As a result of President Bush’s regressive tax policies, the share of the federal tax burden borne by taxpayers in the middle and fourth quintiles is increasing while the share of taxes paid by the top 1 percent fell. Edwards will overhaul the tax code with new tax breaks to strengthen the middle-class pillars of saving, work, and family. He will also ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes by raising the tax rate on capital gains to 28 percent for the most fortunate taxpayers and repealing the Bush income tax cuts for individuals making more than $200,000 a year. [Tax Policy Center, 2006]

· Build Career Ladders: Two of the fields with the largest predicted job growth – health care and education –have both low-end and high-end positions and offer the potential for mobility. Edwards will invest in career ladders in these and other fields, helping low-wage workers to train on the job, gain new skills, and move into better jobs. For example, health care aides could become certified nurse assistants and registered nurses.

· Strengthen Workers’ Right to Organize: Union families earn up to 30 percent more than non-union families, but union membership has fallen from 30 percent of private-sector workers in 1973 to just 8 percent today. The right to choose a union is poorly enforced, full of loopholes, and routinely violated by employers. Edwards will enact the Employee Free Choice Act, vigorously enforce labor laws, and ban the use of permanent replacements for striking workers. [BLS, 2007; Census Bureau, 2007]

Give Americans the Tools to Build a Secure Retirement

· Create Universal Retirement Accounts that Move from Job to Job: Only 27 percent of households within 20 years of retirement have adequate retirement savings. Americans who retire with a pension have nearly twice the annual income of those who depend only on Social Security and personal savings, but too few middle-class families are able to start saving. Edwards will create a new universal retirement account available to all workers without another pension. Workers will be able to build up these savings accounts over the course of their careers, regardless of how many times they change jobs. Edwards will match worker contributions up to dollar-for-dollar on the first $500 with a new Get Ahead tax credit, far more valuable than the 10 percent or 15 percent tax deduction that many workers get today on retirement savings. [EPI, 2006; PRC, 2007; Gale, Gruber and Orszag, 2006]

· End the Housing Crisis: Edwards has proposed a comprehensive plan to lead us out of the foreclosure crisis and help families keep their homes, without bailing out irresponsible investors and speculators. He will go further than the Bush-Paulson plan to give every family an opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their mortgage, with counseling and small amounts of aid from a new Home Rescue Fund. He will also let families adjust the terms of their mortgages in bankruptcy, like investors can on their second homes and investment properties. Edwards will prevent future crises by passing a strong national law against predatory lending and creating a new federal regulator for financial services products.

· Rein in Credit Card and Other Abusive Lending: Half of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck – meaning millions of families rely on short-term credit just to pay the bills. Middle-class families are facing a radically transformed credit environment because interest rates were deregulated in 1978, which has led to looser lending standards and higher rates and fees. Edwards will require minimum protections on credit cards, such as restoring a 10-day grace before late fees and applying interest rate increases to future balances only. He will also create a new consumer watchdog agency – the Family Savings and Credit Commission – whose sole purpose will be to crack down on these kinds of predatory practices. [[MetLife, 2003; Draut, 2006]

Remove the Burdens that Are Weighing Families Down

· Make College More Affordable: The three-quarters of Iowa’s graduating college students who have debt owe $23,700, on average -- 25 percent more debt than the national average. Roughly one in five young adults reports that student debt caused them to delay starting a family and forced them to change careers. Edwards will create a national College for Everyone initiative to pay public-college tuition, fees and books for students who work part-time, take a college-prep curriculum in high school, and stay out of trouble. [TICAS, 2007; Nellie Mae, 2003]

· Offer Universal Preschool and Expand Affordable Child Care: More than two-thirds of mothers are working, most of them full time, but our workplace practices and public policies have not kept up with this new reality. Child care costs more than a rent for a family with two children. Edwards will create a Great Promise early childhood education program for every four-year-old. For younger children, he will more than double the child care tax credit and create a national Smart Start initiative to work with local nonprofits to make child care higher quality, more available, and more affordable. [BLS, 2005; NACCRRA, 2006]

· Create Paid Family and Medical Leave: Edwards will create a $2 billion National Family Trust to offer paid family and medical leave benefits to all workers by 2014, and he will make the federal government a model employer with a generous paid leave benefit. He will also expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover 13 million more workers by reducing the threshold for exemption for the law from 50 workers to 25 workers and help long-term part-time workers. In addition, Edwards will require businesses to offer their workers seven paid sick days a year, with pro-rated leave for part-timers.

· Help Families with Rising Home Heating Costs: John Edwards has championed the need to take on big oil and gas companies to halt global warming and build a new energy economy based on efficiency and renewable energy. Edwards has called on Congress to release some of the nation’s home heating and oil reserves to bring down prices and finally fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which could help more than 3 million more families. He has also proposed more than doubling assistance for weatherization programs and called on neighbors to help weatherize the homes of vulnerable seniors this winter. Finally, he has proposed helping states and non-profits offer low- or no-interest emergency loans so that squeezed families do not fall prey to high-cost lenders.

Guarantee True Universal Health Care

· Guarantee True Universal Health Care: Forty-seven million Americans live without health insurance. Edwards will take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee true universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. Employers will have to help cover their employees, the government will make insurance affordable with new reforms and subsidies, and all Americans will have insurance. His plan offers every American the option of a public plan that could evolve to a single payer system. [Census Bureau, 2007]

· Deliver Better Care at Lower Cost: Health care costs have consistently grown faster than wages for almost 50 years. Over the past five years alone, families have seen premiums grow by 90 percent while benefits have been cut. Edwards will take on the insurance and drug companies to cut needless waste in the health care system. He will also take much needed common-sense steps such as emphasizing preventive and primary care, requiring electronic medical records, and identifying and publicizing the most cost-effective treatments. Together these steps will save the average family $2,000 to 2,500 a year. [Kaiser Family Foundation, 2006]

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

KUCINICH: Clinton, Obama and Edwards health plans modeled after Nixon's, leading medical authorities say in The New York Times

2007-12-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release - Sunday, December 16, 2007

MANCHESTER, NH - Two prominent professors of medicine at Harvard have likened the health care plans of Democratic Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards to a flawed and failed model proposed by President Richard Nixon in 1971.

"How sad that the leading Democrats are still kicking around Nixon's discredited ideas for health reform," wrote David U. Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler in an op ed piece published in Saturday's New York Times. "Their plans resemble measures that were passed and then failed in several states over the past two decades," they wrote, and in those states, the number of uninsured has actually increased rather than decreased.

The "mandate model" for reform being advocated by Clinton, Obama and Edwards, they wrote, "rests on impeccable political logic: avoid challenging insurance firms' stranglehold on health care. But it is economic nonsense. The reliance on private insurers makes universal coverage unaffordable."

The two experts, co-founders of Physicians for a National Health Program, also noted, "With the exception of Dennis Kucinich, the Democratic presidential hopefuls sidestep an inconvenient truth: only a single-payer system of national health care can save what we estimate is the $350 billion wasted annually on medical bureaucracy and redirect those funds to expanded coverage."

The Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate is co-author and co-sponsor of H.R. 676, a measure that would create a national, single-payer, not-for-profit health insurance system that would cover all Americans. He has challenged the proposals of the other candidates, pointing out that their plans preserve the role of for-profit insurance companies, and, in some cases, will further enrich those companies through federal subsidies.

"If you don't have the strength and the courage to challenge the private, for-profit insurance and drug companies, you shouldn't be using the word 'reform' because you're actually helping those companies stay in control and prosper at the expense of the un-insured, the under-insured, and the U.S. taxpayers," said Kucinich, who is campaigning in New Hampshire this weekend.

# # #

Website: www.dennis4president.com

Paid for and authorized by Kucinich for President 2008, Inc. P.O. Box 110180, Cleveland, OH 44111 | (877) 41-DENNIS.

THOMPSON: Mitt Romney Has Decided To Be The Arbiter Of What's "Republican" or Not, How Ironic...

2007-12-15T14:20:00.000-08:00

Today, Governor Romney lashed out at Governor Huckabee for being un-Republican, saying:

"I can't believe he'd say that. I'm afraid he's running from the wrong party...I had to look again...did this come from Barack Obama or from Hillary Clinton? Did it come from John Edwards? No, it was Governor Huckabee.'" (Jim Kuhnhenn, "Romney Slams Huckabee's Critique of Bush Foreign Policy," Associated Press, 12/15/07)

However, Mitt Romney has a long record of running from the Republican Party when politically expedient.

Consider Romney's Previous Comments:

"I'm not running as the Republican view or a continuation of Republican values. That's not what brings me to the race." (Romney Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX4RkGlYnk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeyeon08%2Ecom%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2Fromney%2Dreform%2Dma%2Don%2Drepublicans%2F, accessed 9/19/07)

"I wasn't a Ronald Reagan conservative." (Mitt Romney In Interview with Marc Ambinder, "Romney Explains Himself," National Journal, 2/9/07)

"Look, I was an Independent during the time of Reagan/Bush. I am not trying to return to Reagan/Bush." (Mitt Romney, 1994 Senate Debate, Boston, MA, 10/25/94)
Watch For Yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pVqZzHm3Z4

Romney on the Contract With America - "Not A Good Idea" and "A Mistake"
Watch For Yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jzno_apP1Q

"Hillary Clinton Is Very Much Right, It Does Take A Village, And We Are A Village And We Need To Work Together In A Non-Skeptical, Non-Finger-Pointing Way..." ("For City Problems, Future Solutions," The Boston Globe, 3/1/98)

"I'm not convinced that a state would be better off with all Republicans. As a matter of fact, I've been in a state like that for the last three years. It's not a good thing." (Romney Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX4RkGlYnk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeyeon08%2Ecom%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2Fromney%2Dreform%2Dma%2Don%2Drepublicans%2F, accessed 9/19/07)

"I've lived in a place that has had one party state that was primarily Republican. I thought well won't that be nice? The answer is no." (Romney Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX4RkGlYnk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeyeon08%2Ecom%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2Fromney%2Dreform%2Dma%2Don%2Drepublicans%2F, accessed 9/19/07)

"I'm very clear I think, to the people across the Commonwealth - my "R" didn't stand so much for Republican as it does for reform." (Romney Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX4RkGlYnk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeyeon08%2Ecom%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2Fromney%2Dreform%2Dma%2Don%2Drepublicans%2F, accessed 9/19/07)

"It's always a burden for someone to run with "R" for Republican after their name." (Romney Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX4RkGlYnk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeyeon08%2Ecom%2F2007%2F09%2F19%2Fromney%2Dreform%2Dma%2Don%2Drepublicans%2F, accessed 9/19/07)

Romney called himself a "sensible" Republican, in contrast to pro-life social conservatives. "After completing the [NARAL] questionnaire, Romney met with three NARAL executives. In this meeting, NARAL executives recount, Romney evidenced no hesitation about his pro-choice views... those present recall that Romney argued that his election would make him credible in the Republican party nationally and thus help "sensible" Republicans like him overshadow more conservative elements in the GOP." (Jennifer Rubin, "Mitt Romney's Conversion," Weekly Standard, 2/5/07)

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Paid for by Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.

GIULIANI: Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Remarks in Tampa, FL

2007-12-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Remarks in Tampa, FL

12/15/07
As Delivered

MAYOR GIULIANI: Thank you. Tested. Ready. Now. America needs a leader. I am running for President of the United States because I believe that I can lead America into a new era with bold leadership, optimism, determination, and distinctly American solutions. If you’re looking for perfection, you’re not going to find it. Not in me, not in any candidate. But if you’re looking for a leader who has been tested in times of crisis; a leader who’s ready to lead right now; a leader who’s achieved results – results that some people thought were impossible --a leader who believes that there is no problem too difficult for American solutions and a free, American spirit. I believe I am that leader.

I’ve met adversity before. I’ve led in situations that seemed hopeless and dire, in need of a miracle. I don't just pray for miracles. I don't just hope for miracles. I expect miracles.

Some people look at the challenges we face as a nation and they fear the future. I welcome it. I welcome the opportunity to keep America safe and secure. We will win the Terrorists’ War on Us.

I welcome the opportunity to restore fiscal discipline to Washington D.C.

While we empower millions of people to move out of poverty and achieve the American dream. And I welcome the opportunity to win this election.

Leading a revitalized, 50-state Republican Party into the White House.

But as I travel across our land, I’ve begun to hear a murmur that America somehow has lost the ability to achieve great goals. Some good people have come to believe that our country is on the wrong track. Middle Class families feel that the American Dream may be slipping away. They’re worried about the future. They’re worried that the future may not be as bright as the past. They're worried that this may be the time where the next generation of Americans doesn’t do as well as the last generation. It doesn't have to be that way. We -- we, you and I -- can decide America’s direction. We can determine America’s future. After all, that's what an election is all about. So let's decide for optimism, not pessimism; for hope, not despair; for strength, not weakness; for victory, not defeat.

We can't afford a crisis of confidence at the time we need our confidence the most because our country does face real crisis right now. We're at war. The American people want to see victory in Iraq and Afghanistan, not humiliation and defeat.

They want their children to live free from the fear of terrorism. They're telling us, get it done. And we will.

Washington’s culture of wasteful spending is out of control. Everyone knows that. The American people want to see real fiscal discipline. They’re telling us, get it done. And we will.

Americans have heard presidents talk about energy independence for three decades. Now they're paying more at the pump and they're seeing their money go into the pockets of some of our enemies. They’re telling us, get it done. Get energy independence done. We will.

The American people are angry that the federal government has failed to protect and secure our borders. And they're telling us, get it done. And we will.

What America needs in 2008 is a proven leader who will get things done. I’ve been tested. I’m ready. And the time is right now.

CROWD: Rudy Rudy! Rudy!

MAYOR GIULIANI: This is a time for leadership. A leader is someone who combines vision for the future with the ability to get things done. It’s a person who can dream about a better future and then help bring it into reality, actually make [is] it possible. So today, I’m going to share with you my vision for our future, for America’s future. This summer, we presented a bold agenda for the future. It was my 12 Commitments to the American people.

But today I want to explain it in a slightly different way. I want to explain it by describing my vision of the America that I want to hand over to my successor if you give me the honor of being your president. Because we all believe that everyone of us, no matter what our role or who we are in this country, all of us has an obligation, a responsibility to hand our nation to the next generation better than it was handed to us.

We’re about improving our country for the next generation. We’ve always been about that. This generation has to be about that.

So we’ll hand over an America where our schools are the best in the world – not 21st in Science, not 25th in Math like we are today. I’ve got a goal for America. How about being # 1?

We can reform education—primary and secondary education in this country and we can do it by creating and expanding school choice. We’ll empower parents – not government bureaucrats – let the parents choose where their child goes to school. Who knows better?

All children – rich and poor, middle class or otherwise – all children deserve a quality education: whether it’s public, private, parochial, charter or home-school. To me, this is the great civil rights issue of our time. Our children, all of our children, not just yours, not just mine, all of our children need a good education and if the parents are making the choice, if that’s the rule in this country and not the exception, I’m confident that the decisions will be made in their interest. They’re going to do it better than some bureaucrat who has never met their child, doesn’t know their child. So let’s give the power here, the main power to the parents.

We’ll hand over an America that embraces [is] the global economy. That needs fairness. Of course we need a level playing field, but we should be less concerned about how much we buy from overseas, except from the point of view of safety and security, that’s important. But on the economics of it, what we should really be focusing on is how much do we sell to overseas?

America is an entrepreneurial society. We should view the rise of China and India, the people moving out of poverty in China and India, we should view that as a great opportunity to find what America is always looking for: new customers. Right?

When they think of us as a country that’s militaristic, they’re wrong. The essential nature of Americans is not war. Americans only go to war when they have to and then of course we do it to win and to prevail and to be safe. So do it in a determined way. But here’s the essential nature of America and Americans. Here’s what we really want to do with you all around the world. We want to sell you something. Right?

Isn’t that what America’s all about. America is an entrepreneurial society. But we also need to keep our house in order here in the United States. We’ll hand over a country that’s more fiscally disciplined, with a government no larger than it has to be. It’ll be a country where taxes, regulations, abusive lawsuits don’t drive jobs and businesses out of the United States. And we’ll create—

And we’ll create hundreds of thousands of jobs, millions of jobs, in the process. We’ll lower the income tax and the corporate tax rates.

We’ll give the death tax the death penalty.

We’ll find many ways to bring tax relief to middle class families where that tax relief is needed the most. And you know what else we’re going to do? We’re going to develop a single page, one-page optional tax form. How about being able to do it all on one page? Wouldn’t that be great?

Ok. The print may be a little small.

But we’ll work real hard to get it on one page. The Democrats running for president seem to want a nanny state. They want to run your life from the cradle to the grave. We don’t want that kind of state. America’s like a country that puts reliance on individuals, on people, what they can do, what they can accomplish. America’s a country that works on initiative. And then we give people opportunity and help to have that initiative, but we don’t try to direct their lives from the day [their] they’re born until the day they die. We’ll hand off a country that doesn’t penalize success. We’ll reward success. We want a country where the “sky’s the limit”. People can reach for the stars and they can have a hope that they can get there. We don’t want to put a lid on their desires, on their ambitions. We want to encourage social mobility. What country has done it better than America in the history of the world? Move people out of poverty, create social mobility, have people in one generation go from the virtual bottom to the virtual top and all the places in between. We do that by being a country of initiative, a country that rewards success, not a country that penalizes success. So we want to encourage social mobility. That’s how we move people out of poverty. That’s how we strengthen the middle class and that’s how we bring the American dream within the reach of every willing person in this country.

CROWD: Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

MAYOR GIULIANI: Now if you keep doing that, I’m going to stop giving this speech. I’m going to go out and play football.

We’ll hand over a country where decisions about your healthcare are made between you and your doctor, not between you and a Hillary-care custodian.

We can make health care more affordable, portable. We can do that through tax cuts, not tax hikes and government mandates. We can open the market, we can increase choice, we can empower individuals and all of that, all of that will drive down the cost so that people can afford health insurance and good health insurance, quality health insurance. That has to be our goal. We do it through an America, we do it through private decision-making and private markets not through socialized medicine.

We’ll hand over a country with 200 new federal judges – or 400, if you give me a second term. Well let’s work on the first one first. Ok.

These judges will be responsible men and women, people who understand that their role is to interpret the Constitution, not social activists who legislate from the bench.

To do anything less is to deny us the defense of liberty that comes from the separation of powers. We’ll hand over a country where we’ve ended illegal immigration where it has to be done – at the border.

And also a country who’s arms are wide open to people who come here, people who come here legally and openly. We want them, we need them, we will accept them, and what we want them to do, if they want to become citizens, is meet all the requirements and then be able to read English, write English, and speak English.

Ending illegal immigration won’t be easy. It requires changing human behavior – but it needs to be done for everyone’s good. I have the will. I have the way to do it, the plan to do it, and I have the track record to bring safety and order and fairness to a situation that is now [our] out of control. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.

We’ll hand over an America that is stronger, safer and more secure. We’ll make every community better prepared, more prepared for terrorist attacks and natural disasters something you know about here in Florida. The hurricanes of a few years ago where you had to deal with four all in one short season. The way you did it was a really good emergency response. The rest of the country needs to be at at least that level of preparation and we all need to be at a higher level of preparation. And as we do that, we’ll build a more resilient society – ready to withstand anything that comes our way and ready to help those in need, whenever and wherever they need it. We’re one country. We’re in this together. Natural disaster, terrorist attack, you learned here in Florida. I learned that in New York. We embrace each other.

We’ll hand over an America that is achieving energy independence. We can do it by increasing the diversity of our energy sources. And we can do it by having both a healthy environment and a healthy economy. The two things are not inconsistent with each other. The two things compliment each other if you do energy independence the right way and you move toward the right sources and you support it. And most the most important thing is we’ll approach this goal with the same single-mindedness that America used to put a man on the moon. Remember? Well, some of you don’t remember. You’re too young.

You remember. I remember. You don’t remember. But you’re going to read about this in history, because it’s one of our great historical moments. The Apollo Mission, the mission to put a man on the moon, it was started by President Eisenhower, a Republican. It was advanced greatly by President Kennedy, a Democrat. It was brought almost to its final stages by President Johnson, another Democrat, and it was completed under President Nixon, another Republican. This wasn’t a Republican success. This wasn’t a Democratic success. This was an American achievement.

That’s when we’re at our best. That’s when we’re at our best, when we’re thinking like Americans. We were at our best to put a man on the moon, we were at our best to deal with the horror and the shock and the pain and the suffering of September 11th, weren’t we? No Republicans, no Democrats just Americans. That’s what we need to achieve energy independence and then maybe we can take that sprit and we can apply it to some of these other big problems that we face. What we really need is to reaffirm and we need a new era, not of Republican success or Democratic success, how about we look for things where we can have American success.

Finally, and this is the big challenge of our generation, we’ll hand over a country that is safer, that is more secure from the Terrorists who are at war with us and around the world. We’ll do it the same way that Ronald Reagan accelerated the end of Cold War. President Reagan used to be asked in the early days of his presidency, when the Cold War was in some ways you know very intense, they’d say to him “You know this Cold War’s been going on for a long time is it ever going to end, how is it going to end? People couldn’t see an ending to it, it’d been going on for so long. Will it ever end, can it end? Ronald Reagan listened to them, paused the way he used to, put a little smile on his face and when they were asking him how would it end, he just had that little smile on his face and he said: “They Lose. We Win.”

That’s the same approach that we need to defeat these enemies that we have. We need to stay on offense in this Terrorist War against Us, achieving peace through strength, that’s the only way you achieve peace, through great strength, by being on offense, by being strong, by being confident, by having a military that we expand, not contract. We have to rebuild our military.

I have a goal in Iraq it’s not the Democrats goal, they tried to legislate loss in Iraq, they’re still trying to legislate loss in Iraq. I have a different goal. It will be a very clear decision for the American people. Here’s my goal for Iraq, victory, success for America and for our troops. Let’s achieve the goal that we went there to achieve, a stable Iraq that will act as an ally for us in the ongoing Islamic Terrorist war against us. That is a victory for us and a defeat for them.

CROWD: Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…

MAYOR GIULIANI: Our men and women there believe they can achieve that. They’ve shown us unexpected progress; many people even opponents of that war have been surprised at how exceptional the progress has been. So let’s help them and support them. And let’s do the same thing in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Let’s make sure we finish the job and we eliminate Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

We will hand over an America that has stopped Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

And when we stop them we won’t just be moderately confidant but we’ll be totally sure.

But we also need to win the war of ideas and the war of ideals. Strengthening our ties with the Middle East, embracing those people in the Middle East, in the Arab world, in the Islamic world. The overwhelming majority of people who want peace, who below the cultural differences share the same values that we have. We’ve got reach out to them; we’ve got to get to know them better. We’ve got to get them to know us better. We’ve got to do more business with them. That part of the world is filled with people with the same entrepreneurial spirit that we have. The same love for their children that we have, the same desire for a safe and secure life for themselves that we have. There are a few people and more than a few but by no means anything close to a substantial proportion of people, that have perverted the thinking and turned it into a political ideology now of hatred and anger and viciousness and aggression. But that shouldn’t stop us from reaching out to all of the rest of those people who have the same desires that we have. We should actually be having more contact with, doing more business with, having more cultural relationships with the Middle East now than we have ever had before. It is another way to win the Terrorist War against all of Us. And I will do that and I will make sure that we open up in the same way that we will be strong and on offense, we will also have a very big open arm for all those people who want to work with us. We’ll embrace them, they’ll embrace us, it’s not the first time America has done that, it won’t be the last and it will work. I guarantee you it will work.

So all of this is saying that America needs bold leadership to meet these very very big challenges that we have. But I know we have the strength to hand our nation to the next generation stronger than it’s been handed to us. We have the capacity to improve things the way our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers, mothers, fathers, people all over have done for us. I have faith in the Genius of America: the power of free people to solve whatever problems they face. That’s why my solutions all begin with a simple thought, a simple philosophy: Give people more power.

America’s not unique because of its central government. America is great because of self-government. We unleash the genius of America when we increase freedom. The freedom to pursue success, prosperity, happiness, fulfillment, in the way that you choose, not the way that the government dictates to you. The genius of America is you. The individual American. When you decide how to spend your money, you’ll spend it more productively than any government ever will.

When you’re the one deciding what school your child should can go to, you’ll make a much better decision than some government bureaucrat can make for a child they never met or never known. And when you decide what kind of healthcare you should have, you will make a much better decision than some government custodian can make for you.

It’s really simple. I believe in the strength and wisdom of the American people. Look at our history and you’ll see why. Because no matter when or how your ancestors came to this country, we are all the proud descendants of pioneers and patriots. They created this for us, their optimistic American spirit, the defiant determination to do what some other people thought was impossible, that is our greatest inheritance. Each generation of Americans has been called to overcome great challenges. Previous generations fought for our independence, signed the constitution, ended slavery, healed the wounds of a Civil War, settled the West, overcame the Great Depression and secured civil rights. So when we see all of that, are our challenges any greater than theirs? They won the Second World War against Nazism and fascism and the Cold War against communism. That’s the same strength that’s in each of us. We inherited it, we have it. We’ve got to believe that we do. And now it is our generation’s turn to make history in this new century. I know that this generation can overcome any challenge. I’ve seen your strength, I’ve been sustained by it.

I saw it on the morning of September 11th, 2001. There were points that day, that morning in particular where I wondered, I wondered whether we had the strength to deal with this[,] worst attack in our history, unprecedented, horrific, memories and images that will live with me until the day that I die. But immediately as a I saw the courage and the strength of our citizens and our first responders, when I saw the picture of the firefighters who put the flag up at Ground Zero, just like the Marines at Iwo Jima, many years before, looked just the same didn’t it? You know what I said to myself and this gave me great strength to get through everything. I said to myself this generation, this current generation, our generation, we’ve got the same strength, the same determination, the same patriotism because it comes from our fathers and grandfathers who won the Second World War and did all of these things. Maybe sometimes, maybe sometimes it happens when we’re put under stress and we’re put in a moment of terror and horror and it just comes out. But you know throughout history, people who live in freedom have much more strength than people who live in oppression. That’s been the story of the Old Testament, its been the story of the ancient world and the modern world. It was the story of the 20th century, people who live in freedom overcome oppression. We are on the right side of this. We have the strength, we have the ability. The 20th century taught us, if nothing else, that you have to stand up to tyrants, to bullies, to terrorists. It’s in strength that you’ll be able to achieve peace and vindicate freedom.

With bold leadership, America will meet and exceed any challenge we face. With bold leadership, America will face the future with confidence and reclaim our right to live in freedom from fear. With bold leadership, America will rise to new heights in this still very new century. This is a time for leadership. This is a time for strength. This is a time to roll up our sleeves, not wring our hands. I’ve been Tested in crisis. I’m Ready to lead. And the time is right Now.

Thank you.
###

MCCAIN: Statement By McCain NH Vice Chair On New Push-Polling In New Hampshire

2007-12-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

STATEMENT BY MCCAIN NH VICE CHAIR ON NEW PUSH-POLLING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

For Immediate Release

Contact: NH Press Office

Saturday, December 15, 2007

MANCHESTER, NH -- U.S. Senator John McCain's New Hampshire Vice Chair, former Congressman Chuck Douglas (R-NH), along with the campaign's New Hampshire Leadership Committee, today issued the following statement on new reports of push-polling activities in New Hampshire:

"Last night, the McCain campaign received disturbing reports of new push-polling calls in New Hampshire paid for by a group supporting Governor Mike Huckabee for president. Similar to previously reported calls in Iowa, the calls were to designed to disparage John McCain in an effort to advance Governor Huckabee's campaign. Governor Huckabee should immediately condemn these tactics and urge his supporters to stop this activity attempting to smear John McCain or any other candidate, and allow this campaign to be waged on the issues and each candidate's merits.

"The New Hampshire Attorney General's office is currently conducting a full investigation to determine who was behind push-polling activities last month. The McCain campaign initiated the investigation and called on all Republican campaigns to join us as parties to the complaint, and we look forward to the results of the Attorney General's investigation.

"Granite State voters are rightly proud of our state's first-in-the-nation primary and see no place for negative attacks in New Hampshire politics. John McCain is running a positive campaign based on his experience, judgment and positive vision for America's future. All Republican campaigns should join with him and pledge to the voters of New Hampshire that they will conduct their campaigns with the dignity voters deserve."

###

Biden Responds To Bush Stonewalling In Cia Tapes Case

2007-12-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mark Paustenbach /
press@joebiden.com

BIDEN RESPONDS TO BUSH STONEWALLING IN CIA TAPES CASE

Wapello, IA (December 15, 2007) - Yesterday Attorney General Michael Mukasey "rejected lawmakers' demands for information", thus blocking bipartisan inquiries into the CIA interrogation tapes scandal. [CNN, Washington Post, 12/15/07] The Bush administration also rebuffed calls for the appointment of a Special Counsel to conduct an independent investigation free of political interference.

Sen. Joe Biden issued the following statement:

"Yesterday's action by the Department of Justice calling on the House Intelligence Committee to delay its investigation highlights the need for a Special Counsel to immediately take over the investigation into the destruction of taped interrogations by the CIA. The American people deserve a thorough, unbiased investigation, free
of any political influence. The investigation should be conducted by
someone who had no involvement in the conduct under investigation."

"The continuing saga of cover-up and delay by this administration must be stopped before more documents are lost to future investigators.”

###

Edwards Campaign Unveils New “Fight” Television Ad In Iowa

2007-12-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2007
CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN UNVEILS NEW “FIGHT” TELEVISION AD IN IOWA
In the ad, Edwards says that saving the middle class from corporate greed is the fight he was born for

Des Moines, Iowa – Inspired by the enthusiasm generated by Senator John Edwards’ discussion of economic issues during the Des Moines Register debate on Thursday, today the campaign unveiled a second new television ad in Iowa called “Fight.”
“The moral test of our generation is whether we’re going to allow this broken system to go on without a fight or take on corporate greed and stand up for the middle class and American jobs before it’s too late,” Edwards says in the ad. “They aren’t going to just give their power away. Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that’s a fight I was born for.”

The full ad can be viewed on the John Edwards for President Web site at: http://johnedwards.com/ads/fight.

Full Script of “Fight:”

This isn’t about petty politics or good intentions.
Corporate greed and influence in Washington are stealing our children’s future.
The moral test of our generation is whether we’re going to allow this broken system to go on without a fight or take on corporate greed and stand up for the middle class and American jobs before it’s too late.
They aren’t going to just give their power away.
Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that’s a fight I was born for.
I’m John Edwards, and I approved this message

Mondale-Mentum?

2007-12-15T11:13:00.000-08:00

As Iowa Caucus Approaches, Sen. Clinton Campaigns With Landslide Loser In Effort To Show Electability?

______________________________________________________________________

Today, Former Landslide Loser, Walter Mondale, Campaigns With Sen. Clinton In Iowa, While Clinton Campaign Stresses Importance Of Electability:

"The Former Veep [Walter Mondale] Is Leading A Rally For Her [Sen. Clinton] With A Number Of Union Chiefs In Cedar Rapids Saturday." (Ben Smith, "Mondale-Mentum," The Politco's "Ben Smith's Blog," www.politico.com, 12/13/07)

In 1984, Mondale Lost To President Ronald Reagan In An Electoral Landslide, Picking Up Only 13 Electoral Votes To Reagan's 525. (Office of the Federal Register Website, www.archives.gov, Accessed 11/4/07)

A Recent Clinton Campaign Release Stressed The Importance Of Electability In The General Election. "Electability: With polls showing that Americans view Hillary as the most electable Democrat, Senator Obama is facing new questions about his own electability in the wake of new reports that he abandoned a number of positions as he advanced through the political ranks." (Hillary Clinton For President, "Morning Hubdate: Electability," Press Release, 12/12/07)

Will Campaigning With Landslide Loser Answer Questions Other Democrats Have About Sen. Clinton's Electability?

"In More Than 40 Interviews, Democratic Candidates, Consultants And Party Chairs From Every Region Pointed To Internal Polls That Give Clinton Strikingly High Unfavorable Ratings In Places With Key Congressional And State Races." (Ron Fournier, "Democrats Worry Hillary Clinton May Be 'Drag' On Other Party Candidates," The Associated Press, 8/13/07)

"[M]ost Democratic Leaders Agreed To Talk Frankly About Clinton's Political Coattails Only If They Remained Anonymous, Fearing Reprisals From Clinton's Campaign." (Ron Fournier, "Democrats Worry Hillary Clinton May Be 'Drag' On Other Party Candidates," The Associated Press, 8/13/07)

"The Electability Question Continued To Trouble Even Some Committed Clinton Supporters. Among Them Here On Sunday Was Colleen Clopton, The Clinton Chairwoman For Greene County, Who Said She Worries About What Republicans Will Do To Clinton If She Is The Nominee." (Anne E. Kornblut and Shailagh Murray, "In Iowa, Clinton Intensifies Attacks," The Washington Post, 11/26/07)

"As A Result, Clopton Said She Is Still Debating Whether To Vote For Biden..." (Anne E. Kornblut and Shailagh Murray, "In Iowa, Clinton Intensifies Attacks," The Washington Post, 11/26/07)

"The Democratic Party Chairman In Wyoming Is Predicting That Democratic Candidates Throughout The Rocky Mountain Region Will Be Damaged If His Party Selects Hillary Clinton For President." (David Olinger, "Wyo. Dem Chief: Clinton Would Hurt Party," The Denver Post, 12/14/07)

Wyoming Democrat Party Chair, John Millin: "Every Democratic candidate in Wyoming will be painted with that same liberal, big-government brush." (David Olinger, "Wyo. Dem Chief: Clinton Would Hurt Party," The Denver Post, 12/14/07)

Greenville, South Carolina Democrat Party Chairman Andy Arnold: "The argument with Hillary right now in some of these red states is she's so damn unpopular ... I think Hillary is someone who could drive folks on the other side out to vote who otherwise wouldn't." (Ron Fournier, "Democrats Worry Hillary Clinton May Be 'Drag' On Other Party Candidates," The Associated Press, 8/13/07)

"The Chairman Of A Midwest State [Democrat] Party Called Clinton A Nightmare For Congressional And State Legislative Candidates." (Ron Fournier, "Democrats Worry Hillary Clinton May Be 'Drag' On Other Party Candidates," The Associated Press, 8/13/07)

A Product Of The RNC Research Department

Huck's "Playground Diplomacy" is no laughing matter

2007-12-15T11:12:00.001-08:00

Mike Huckabee’s recent critique of the Bush Administration is right out of the Democrats’ talking points. Some examples are provided below.

“Mike Huckabee is known for his witty one-liners, but his criticism of the Bush Administration with sound bites right from the Democrats’ talking points is no laughing matter. At a time when Republican voters want strength of purpose and resolve in foreign policy, Mike Huckabee has resorted to the Democrat playbook of just bashing the president.”

-Kevin Madden, Romney for President spokesman

http://www.mittromney.com/News/Press-Releases/No_Laughing_Matter_12.15

Obama Vows to Protect Children from Lead-Based Toys

2007-12-15T11:11:00.001-08:00

Unveils Plan to Strengthen Consumer Product Safety Commission

DES MOINES, IA – U.S. Senator Barack Obama today held a press conference in Waterloo to discuss his commitment to protecting America’s children from lead-based products. Since the U.S. government ratified permanent normalized trade relations (PNTR) with China, Chinese consumer products have flooded the U.S. market. Unfortunately, U.S. officials who negotiated and passed PNTR failed to include strong safety and health standards for products entering the U.S. were enforced by the U.S., despite considerable warning that China had a weak safety and health screening process

“Today, going Christmas shopping isn’t just a matter of what toys would bring our children the most joy, but what toys are safe to give them,” Obama said. “The problem is that what safety standards are applied to toys made in China aren’t enforced. And Americans, including many children, are paying the price. In the last six years, over 140 of the 152 consumer product recalls for unsafe lead materials issues have been for products made in China. This has to stop.

In 2005, Obama introduced the Lead-Free Toys Act, which would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban children’s products containing more than a trace amount of lead. Following news reports that millions of Chinese-made toys were being recalled because of lead paint, he has also directly pressured toy manufacturers and Bush administration officials to do a better job protecting American children from the threat of imported toys, especially those manufactured in China.

“I’ve challenged the Bush administration and the toy companies to do a better job of protecting our children from unsafe toys, especially those made in China,” Senator Obama said. “And I introduced a bill that would make it illegal to sell a toy that has more than trace amounts of lead – and that’s a bill I’ll sign into law when I’m President.”

Barack Obama has been a consistent champion of strengthening laws to reduce the threat that lead-based products have for our children’s health and safety. As president, Obama will build on his long-standing commitment to removing lead from children’s products and homes to ensure that all American children are given the best opportunity to succeed in the future and he will push China and other exporters to enforce product health and safety standards.

“This is an issue that matters to me not just as a U.S. Senator, or a candidate for president, but as a parent. No father or mother should have to suffer through what so many families have already suffered through because their government failed them,” Senator Obama said. “That’s not who we are as Americans.”

Senator Obama said that as President, he will double the funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and make sure it has the inspectors it needs to ensure that the goods we’re buying are safe. Obama is committed to expanding the agency’s regulatory powers, and helping them respond quickly and efficiently when they’re alerted to a problem to prevent more children from injury or death.

“The Consumer Product Safety Commission is about half the size it was a couple decades ago. It has just one full-time employee to check toys. And just 15 inspectors assigned to monitor the thousands of products coming into this country each year,” Obama said. “It’s time we had an agency that actually had the tools – and the leadership – to fight for consumer safety.”

Last Thursday, exactly three weeks before caucus night, precinct captains for the Obama campaign hosted Caucus for Change precinct parties in 986 locations, covering 1710 of the 1784 precincts across Iowa. These parties provided an opportunity for precinct captains, local Obama supporters and undecided caucusgoers to meet, work together, and receive the training they will use to stand up for Barack Obama on caucus night.

Click here for more on Senator Obama’s plan: HERE.

###

For Immediate Release
Saturday, December 15, 2007

Updated: Bonnie Raitt And Jackson Browne To Join John Edwards For Two Days Of Graniteroots Campaigning

2007-12-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

Cate Edwards to also join her father in New Hampshire during two-day swing

Manchester, New Hampshire - On Tuesday, December 18th and Wednesday, December 19th, Senator John Edwards will return to New Hampshire for a two-day trip with special guests Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne. Edwards will take questions from voters about his bold, detailed plans to ensure a better future for the next generation of Americans. Raitt and Browne will perform at Edwards’ town halls in Lebanon, Keene, Nashua, Portsmouth and Manchester.

“John Edwards is a leading voice for change in our country,” said Raitt. “He's been one of the only strong, effective advocates for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home. And when he talks about creating opportunity, he isn't talking about creating opportunities for corporate CEOs to get ahead, he's talking about making sure regular, hard-working Americans have a fair chance to succeed. He is willing to fight for fairness and equality for all Americans, and for tapping the immense economic and employment opportunities of safe, renewable energy."

“I am proud to support John Edwards,” said Browne. “We need someone with vision and courage to fix the big problems facing our country. We need to end the war in Iraq and make sure every American has health care. John Edwards knows what it is to have to work hard, and he’ll stand up and fight to make sure everyone in this country has the same chances he’s had.”

Raitt is a widely-respected Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter. She has been in the music business for more than 35 years and has released 18 albums. Raitt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1995, she initiated the Bonnie Raitt Guitar Project with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, currently running in 200 clubs around the world, to encourage underprivileged youth to play music as budgets for music instruction in the schools run dry.

Browne has been making music for more than three decades. He is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Recent humanitarian honors include the John Steinbeck Award and the World Hunger Year Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award.

Raitt and Browne are also co-founders (along with Graham Nash and John Hall) of Musicians United For Safe Energy, whose 1979 “No-Nukes” concerts remain watershed models for grassroots activism. Currently, they are mobilizing behind Nukefree.org, opposing federal bail-out of the nuclear industry.

-30-

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

Edwards Highlights Declaration Of Independence For Older Americans On Day Six Of The Main Street Express

2007-12-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2007

CONTACT:
Audrey Waters

Edwards will help seniors get the health care and financial protection they need, while allowing them to live as independently as they desire

Ames, Iowa – On the sixth day of his Main Street Express bus tour across Iowa, Senator John Edwards discussed his 11-point Declaration of Independence for Older Americans, which is based on the core values of security, dignity and choice. Joined by award-winning actor Kevin Bacon, today Edwards will hold events in Dubuque, Cedar Falls and Mason City, where he will highlight his agenda to help older Americans get the health care they need and the financial protection they deserve while allowing them to live as independently as they desire.

“The basic bargain of America – that if you work hard your whole life, you should be able to retire with dignity, security and basic lifestyle choices – is at risk,” Edwards said. “Our policies for work and savings have not adapted to the economic and lifestyle changes of the 21st century. Our commitment to a secure retirement has been undermined by corporate greed, our housing policies too often force seniors to choose between isolation or institutionalization, and our health care system is set up to treat the worst problems instead of promoting health and quality of life.

“These are huge challenges, but the great thing about our country is that the American people – just as they have over and over again in our nation's history – have the power to rise up and bring about the change America needs. I know if we rise to the challenge, we can restore the basic American bargain and reaffirm our commitment to helping older Americans live independently, with the freedom to exercise choice over their health care, financial security and lifestyle.”

To meet the economic and lifestyle changes of the 21st century, Edwards has proposed an 11-point Declaration of Independence for Older Americans, which is organized around three core principles: financial independence, health security and living with dignity:

Protect financial independence and strengthen retirement: Edwards will fight to keep the promise of social security by ending the Social Security tax exemption for workers making more than $200,000 a year. He believes employees who have worked hard all their lives should not be denied the pension benefits they have earned, and corporations must honor the pension promises they've made to workers. Edwards will protect workers pensions and also take steps to help families save, including new universal retirement accounts, new "Get Ahead" tax credits, and free savings accounts for the nearly 28 million Americans without them. He will also fight predatory lending practices that target seniors and other vulnerable Americans and will preserve seniors' freedom to work by strengthening and vigorously enforcing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Promote health security: Edwards will protect the future of Medicare through health care reforms, and will make prescription drugs more affordable by permitting the safe reimportation, restricting direct-to-consumer advertising, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug costs, and by giving Medicare beneficiaries the choice of a public plan for their prescription drugs. Edwards will also revolutionize chronic care through proactive disease management and will strengthen geriatric health care by rewarding good primary care, encouraging experienced geriatric doctors to train the next generation of primary care doctors and training nurses to identify simple conditions that could cause downward health spirals.

Support living with dignity: Edwards will offer choices in long-term care to older Americans by reforming Medicare and Medicaid to let people elect home-based care in their communities. Edwards will also improve nursing homes and crack down on elder abuse, while at the same time promoting livable communities and accessible transportation to support independent living for older Americans.

Edwards has spent his career fighting for regular families like the ones he grew up with in his small, rural hometown. During the eight-day Main Street Express tour, Edwards is highlighting his plans to stand up to the special interests on Wall Street and help hard-working families on Main Street. Tomorrow, Edwards will hold events in Ames, Colfax and Ottumwa, and on Monday, he will wrap up the tour with events in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and a finale event in Davenport.
More information on the Main Street Express can be found at http://www.johnedwards.com/Iowa. Included below is Edwards' Declaration of Independence for Older Americans.

-30-

Security, Dignity and Choice:
A Declaration of Independence For Older Americans

“It’s time for a new kind of declaration of independence – a commitment to helping older Americans live independently, with choice over their health care, financial security and lifestyle. It’s not enough to congratulate ourselves on living longer, if we are not living stronger.” – John Edwards

Americans are living longer. The number of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double by 2030, and the number over the age of 80 will more than quadruple to almost 20 million. A key part of the American Dream is that we have reasonable access to quality health care and security at retirement. Yet both of these are now gravely at risk for most Americans. Our policies for work and savings have not adapted to the economic and lifestyle changes of the 21st century. And as a result the basic bargain of America – that if you work hard your whole life, you should be able to retire with dignity, security and basic lifestyle choices – is at risk. [Census Bureau, 2006]

Today, John Edwards highlighted his 11-point Declaration of Independence agenda for older Americans – including proposals to strengthen retirement security and the basic bargain of our country.

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE: Strengthening Retirement

1. KEEP THE PROMISE OF SOCIAL SECURITY: Edwards is committed to protecting Social Security, because there is no more important retirement program in the country. He has strongly opposed President Bush’s efforts to privatize it, which would cut guaranteed benefits and risk individuals’ retirements in the stock market. He does not believe we need to reduce benefits, change the retirement age or increase the burden on average workers. Edwards has proposed changing the Social Security tax exemption for individuals making more than $200,000 a year, who now pay Social Security on less than half of their income violating the fundamental principles of fairness under our progressive tax system. He also supports a nonpartisan, non-ideological commission to examine ways of ensuring that every American can retire with dignity and that the life of the Trust Fund is extended.

2. PROTECT PENSIONS AND HELP FAMILIES SAVE: Employees who have worked hard all their lives should not be denied the pension benefits they have earned, and corporations must honor the pension promises they’ve made to workers. Edwards opposes allowing companies to either switch out of defined-benefit plans in order to deny long-term workers their pensions, or go into bankruptcy just to avoid keeping their promises to employees. Edwards will give workers claims for lost pensions just like for lost wages, prevent corporate executives from walking away with millions while companies are going bankrupt and reform the bankruptcy laws to prevent companies from shedding their obligations to workers. At the same time, because nearly half of working Americans do not own any type of personal retirement account, Edwards has proposed a series of initiatives to help millions of families better realize financial security and retire with dignity, including
- new universal retirement accounts requiring every business to automatically enroll its workers in at least one plan: either a traditional pension, a 401(k), or an IRA – workers will be allowed to build up these accounts over the course of their careers and take them from job to job;
- new “Get Ahead” tax credits to match the annual savings of low and middle-income families, dollar for dollar, up to $500; and
- free savings accounts for the nearly 28 million Americans without them, so that they also have ways to save and avoid exorbitant check-cashing fees. [Aspen, 2007; Federal Reserve, 2007]

3. FIGHT PREDATORY LENDERS: Older Americans’ 80-percent homeownership rate makes them prime targets for predatory mortgages. Some seniors are also especially vulnerable to payday lenders, who charge over 300 percent interest on cash advances on Social Security checks. Edwards will protect families through a new federal regulator, the Family Savings and Credit Commission, whose sole job is consumer protection. He will also ban all payday loans at interest rates over 36 percent, prohibit predatory mortgage lending, and rein in abusive practices in the credit card industry. [AARP, 2007; CRL, 2006]

4. PRESERVE FREEDOM TO WORK: The freedom to work is critical to the dignity of older Americans. Edwards supports vigorous enforcement and strengthening of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in order to fulfill Congress' original intent. He will also protect older workers from early retirement “incentives” that push them out of their jobs. His health care plan will guarantee quality, affordable coverage for older Americans who transition to temporary, part-time or independent work but who are not yet Medicare-eligible. He will also modernize unemployment coverage to give more security to workers.

HEALTH SECURITY

5. PROTECT THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE: Skyrocketing health care costs have put enormous pressure on Medicare and threatened its long-term solvency. The Medicare Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted in 2019. But instead of strengthening Medicare for our seniors, George Bush has surrendered it to the drug companies and the HMOs. The first step toward extending the life of Medicare is universal health care reform that makes health care more cost-effective, including investments in preventive and chronic care, electronic medical records, and promoting proven cost-effective care. Within Medicare, Edwards will also clamp down on skyrocketing drug costs and stop the overpayments to insurance companies, using the savings in part to ensure that low-income Medicare beneficiaries have access to the care they need. [OASDI Trustees, 2007]

6. MAKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AFFORDABLE: Drug costs have risen three times faster than inflation since 1994. Top pharmaceutical companies now spend twice as much on marketing and administration as they do on R&D. Edwards will take on the pharmaceutical and insurance industries to help seniors. He will allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs with drug makers and will give Medicare beneficiaries the choice of a public plan for their prescription drugs. He will also permit safe reimportation from Canada, restrict direct-to-consumer advertising for new drugs, ensure evaluation research is truly independent, eliminate loopholes and trade obstacles that block generic drugs, and let the FDA approve biogeneric drugs in order to bring down costs. [KFF, 2007; Families USA, 2007]

7. REVOLUTIONIZE CHRONIC CARE: The 23 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with five or more chronic conditions account for 68 percent of its costs, yet Medicare makes almost no effort to coordinate care. Doctors may unknowingly provide duplicative treatments and undercut each other's efforts, resulting in unnecessary problems and hospitalizations. Edwards will revolutionize chronic care by promoting proactive disease management, ensuring that doctors regularly check up on their patients, encouraging doctors to communicate with each other, and making sure that every American with chronic conditions has a patient-centered “medical home” allowing a doctor to coordinate their care and promote life-improving care as well as treat life-threatening emergencies. [Anderson, 2005]

8. STRENGTHEN GERIATRIC PRIMARY CARE: Patients treated by doctors trained in geriatric care are a third less likely to become disabled, half as likely to develop depression and 40 percent less likely to require home health services, according to one study. But reimbursement rates for this care are so low that the division was shut down soon after the study was completed. The number of certified geriatricians fell by one-third between 1998 and 2004 and only 330 doctors nationally will complete geriatrics training this year. Edwards will emphasize primary care in the Health Care Markets by writing reimbursement rules that encourage proven geriatric care. He will also call on experienced geriatric doctors to train the next generation of primary care doctors and nurses in geriatric care, including how to identify treatable conditions in older Americans – like depression, malnutrition, isolation and podiatric problems – that, if ignored, often lead to a downward health spiral. [Boult at al., 2001; Gawande, 2007]

LIVING WITH DIGNITY

9. OFFER CHOICE IN LONG-TERM CARE: Our long-term care system is poorly equipped to give independence to older Americans, and it forces many families to either juggle elder care, child care, and their jobs or spend themselves into poverty to pay for nursing homes. Edwards will reform Medicaid and Medicare to let people choose home-based care in their communities and to test innovations such as asset and income protection programs. He will also support states and communities offering much-needed and often less expensive alternatives – like adult day care and senior villages – that allow seniors to live at home with their loved ones.

10. IMPROVE NURSING HOMES AND CRACK DOWN ON ELDER ABUSE: Independence is the goal, but we also need to strengthen quality and safety protection in nursing homes. Edwards will establish national standards for nursing home care, increase national enforcement against abusive nursing home chains, expand inspections, and increase penalties for homes that fail to provide decent care. He will also help improve the quality of care with measures like reducing patient-staff ratios and improving care provider training.

11. PROMOTE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION: Too many seniors are forced to move from their private homes because they lack supportive services or reliable transportation. Edwards will promote livable communities to make sure every American has the right to age in the setting of their choice. He will create new supportive housing options that give older Americans the choice of community-based living, vigorously enforce civil rights laws to ensure that federally-funded housing is accessible, and protect supportive services like meals-on-wheels and senior centers that sustain independent living. He will also meet the special needs of senior drivers by helping health professionals educate them about the interaction between health and driving and by encouraging automakers to make affordable, wheelchair-accessible vehicles. In the Edwards administration, the Department of Transportation will prioritize transportation access requirements, fund accessible mass transit like “kneeling buses” that are easier to board, and support para-transit services in rural areas.

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

Biden Campaign Welcomes Edwards’s Support For Special Counsel

2007-12-14T14:09:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

CONTACT:
Mark Paustenbach
press@joebiden.com

BIDEN CAMPAIGN WELCOMES EDWARDS’S SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL

Des Moines, IA (December 14, 2007) – On December 9th, speaking on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Sen. Joe Biden began the call for an special counsel to investigate the destruction of CIA tapes. [ABC, This Week, 12/9/07] Yesterday, Sen. John Edwards became the second Democratic presidential candidate to join the call for an independent prosecutor. During a campaign stop yesterday in Iowa, Edwards said, “I’m completely supportive of an independent prosecutor. I think that having somebody who is not from the [Bush] Administration is the best way to get to the bottom of this.” [Radio Iowa, 12/13/07]

Following Edwards’s comments, Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro issued the following statement:

“Sen. Biden applauds Sen. Edwards for joining his call for a special counsel to investigate the Bush White House’s involvement in the CIA tapes scandal. Presidential candidates who are calling only for a congressional investigation are not doing enough. Other presidential candidates should also put pressure on the administration and recognize the need for an independent review of the facts in this case. It would be nice if this administration had enough integrity to police itself but unfortunately it does not.”

Today, the Sioux City Journal published an op-ed by Sen. Biden. “The evidence destroyed depicted the president's policy of snatching terrorist suspects from the streets of foreign countries, hiding them away in secret prisons, and torturing them. The president has created a culture of criminal misconduct and cover up, has injected politics into the administration of justice, and has made public policy a slave to his ideology,” wrote Sen. Biden. “Moreover, the investigation necessitates that criminal investigators pose direct questions to, and demand answers of, high-ranking administration officials.”

December 11th: Richardson Called on Congress to Investigate CIA Torture-Tapes Scandal. “It is imperative that Congress get to the bottom of the CIA torture-tapes scandal,” Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said. “The American people deserve to know whether laws were violated and whether the president was directly involved in illegal activities. Torture is a black-and-white moral issue.” [Richardson Press Release, 12/11/07; Chicago Tribune, 12/12/07]

December 7th: Obama Said CIA Incident Deserves Further Congressional Inquiry. In a press release, Sen. Obama said, “Mr. President, this incident deserves further congressional oversight and inquiry - neither the CIA nor this interrogation program is immune to our laws. This is yet another chapter in a dark period in our constitutional history.” [Obama Press Release, 12/7/07]

December 7th: Clinton: We’re Going to Be Looking Into This Vigorously. Sen. Clinton said, “It raises some very serious concerns. So we’re going to be looking into this vigorously to determine exactly what happened, what were the reasons for the destruction of the tapes -- what was the C.I.A. trying to protect.” [MSNBC, First Read, 12/7/07]

December 7th: Dodd Said CIA Tapes should be “Thoroughly Investigated.” During an appearance on CNN’s “Situation Room,” Sen. Dodd said, “If we're opposed and agree that torture is wrong and unconstitutional, you can't have agencies of this government engaging in those kinds of activities. And I think, frankly, many people suspect that those tapes would have revealed exactly that. And that's why there's so much concern, why it ought to be investigated thoroughly. … There's something going on here. We're not getting the full story, hence the reason why there should be an investigation of this, because it again goes to the heart of our national security, our protection, our safety, our isolation in the world. That's why this is so important. [CNN, Situation Room, 12/7/07, emphasis added]

###

BIDEN-BROWNBACK Measure Calling for U.S. to Support a Federal Iraq Heads to President for his Signature

2007-12-14T14:08:00.001-08:00

FYI – This was just sent out by Senator Biden’s Senate office.

###

FOR RELEASE: December 14, 2007

CONTACT: Elizabeth Alexander

BIDEN-BROWNBACK Measure Calling for U.S. to Support a Federal Iraq Heads to President for his Signature

BIDEN Plan for Iraq Emerges as Consensus, Bipartisan Path toward Ending War

Biden Efforts to Bar Permanent Bases in Iraq and Protect Troops with Mine Resistant Vehicles Also Included in Report

Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) and Senator Sam Brownback's (R-KS) legislation calling for the U.S. to support a decentralized Iraq passed today as part of the final Department of Defense Authorization report. The measure – which has garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress – calls on the President to make a major strategic shift in the Administration's pursuit of a political settlement in Iraq.

"It's time for this President to listen," said Senator Joe Biden. "We now have both sides of the aisle, both sides of the U.S. Capitol, saying to the President: abandon this flawed strategy of yours and change course. Everyone agrees that there is no pure military solution in Iraq. There has to be a political solution and that begs the question: what is it? Today, the Congress answered that question with one voice."

In May of 2006, Sen. Biden, along with President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie H. Gelb, announced a detailed plan for promoting a political settlement in Iraq that would allow our troops to leave, without leaving chaos behind. The plan called for a decentralized, federal system in Iraq, which would give its people local control over the fabric of their daily lives, including police, jobs, education and government services. A limited central government would be responsible for protecting Iraq's borders and distributing its oil revenues.

The Biden-Brownback amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill was based on Sen. Biden's federalism plan for Iraq and is a product of his year-long effort working across the aisle to build support. During the Senate vote in September, Sen. Biden's plan secured the support of key leaders in the U.S. Senate from both parties, including Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), former Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN). The final vote in favor of the Biden-Brownback amendment was 75-23, including 26 Republicans.

"Simply put, absent an occupation we cannot sustain or a dictator we cannot support, Iraq cannot be governed from the center at this point in its history. In my opinion, supporting a decentralized Iraq with strong regional governments and a limited central government is the only way we can end this war without leaving chaos behind," added Sen. Biden.

The Biden-Brownback amendment also had 15 Co-sponsors: Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Arlen Specter (R-PA), John Kerry (D-MA), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Harry Reid (D-NV), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Tom Carper (D-DE).

The Biden amendment states that the U.S. should actively support a political settlement among Iraqis based on the provisions of Iraq's constitution that call for creating a federal system of government, with strong regions and a limited central government. It also urged the administrationto bring in the international community – including the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Iraq's neighbors – to support a settlement based on federalism and to convene a conference with Iraqis to help them reach that settlement.

A few key facts about the Biden amendment:

The legislation does not tell Iraqis what to do. It speaks only to what U.S. policy should be.
Federalism is not a U.S. or foreign imposition on Iraq. Iraq's own constitution calls a "decentralized, federal system" and sets out the powers of the regions (extensive) and those of the central government (limited). The Constitution also says that in case of conflict between regional and national law, regional law prevails.
Federalism is not partition. In fact, it's probably the only way to prevent partition or, even worse, the total fragmentation of Iraq.
Federalism will not accelerate sectarian cleansing; it's the only way to reverse it. Iraqis have already voted with their feet, with 4.5 million fleeing within Iraq or abroad. Unless Iraqis come to some kind of agreement on sharing power peacefully, the results of extensive cleansing will solidify and set the stage for future instability.

Senator Biden has also been a long-time advocate of barring the construction of any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. Last year, he successfully passed two amendments as part of the Defense Authorization bill and Defense Appropriations bill, which prohibited using any funds to build permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq or to exercise American control over Iraqi oil. Both bills were signed into law, marking the first clear sign from Congress that the American military presence in Iraq would not be open-ended. This year (2007), the Senate Armed Services Committee included Sen. Biden's effort into the original legislation. "When I introduced the measure last year to bar permanent bases in Iraq, I was concerned that Iraqi suspicions about American aims in Iraq were endangering American lives. These misperceptions will not be easily changed, but this legislation again should help allay those suspicions and shows that the American people have no imperial designs upon Iraq," said Sen. Biden.

Senator Biden's effort to protect our troops by ensuring that the Pentagon builds and deploys more mine resistant vehicles – which are proven to decrease deaths and injuries from roadside bombs by 67 to 80 percent – also was successful. The bill fully authorizes the $11.98 billion Sen. Biden secured in the Defense Appropriations bill, which passed earlier this year.

"This allows the military to continue to produce and field MRAPS through the fall of 2008. Keeping the production lines open gives commanders on the ground the flexibility needed to adapt to the constantly changing security environment. As long as one soldier or marine is in harm's way, I will fight to get that soldier or marine the very best protection this nation has," added Sen. Biden.

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Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Statement on the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement

2007-12-14T14:07:00.001-08:00

For Immediate Release
Contact: Maria Comella
Friday, December 14, 2007

Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Statement on the United States-Peru Free Trade Agreement

New York City – Mayor Rudy Giuliani released the following statement on the President signing the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act:

“The Peru Free Trade Agreement is an important step forward in our nation’s effort to open up new markets for American exports. But this agreement is just one of the four Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that have been submitted to Congress. The remaining three FTAs would also open new markets to U.S. companies and should be approved. Congress should also immediately renew the President’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), so the U.S. can effectively negotiate and conclude other agreements that improve the standard of living for all Americans. Unfortunately, Democratic leaders in Congress have debated and repeatedly delayed votes on these agreements and have refused to grant the President TPA, placing partisan politics before the interests of American businesses and working families.”

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Paid for by the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc.
www.JoinRudy2008.com

Edwards Campaign Unveils New “Voice” Television Ad In Iowa

2007-12-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2007

CONTACT:
Colleen Murray

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN UNVEILS NEW “VOICE” TELEVISION AD IN IOWA

In the ad, Edwards says he will stop letting corporations and their lobbyists run the country so that people like James Lowe can get the health care they need

Des Moines, Iowa –Today, the John Edwards for President campaign unveiled a new television ad in Iowa called “Voice.”

In the ad, Senator Edwards shares the story of James Lowe, a former coal miner from Wise County, Virginia, who could barely speak for 50 years because he didn’t have health care and couldn’t afford the operation he needed to fix his cleft palate. Edwards met Mr. Lowe at the site of a Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic during his “Road to One America” tour in July. It was at this free rural clinic, a year ago, that Mr. Lowe finally met with medical professionals willing to donate their time to perform the surgery he needed so he could finally speak.

“Fifty years without a voice – in America,” Edwards says in the ad. “This is wrong. It is immoral. When are we going stop letting drug companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists run this country? America belongs to us. James Lowe finally got his voice, now it’s time for yours.”

“I am proud to support John Edwards and to lend my story to his fight to stand up for the millions of hardworking Americans who don’t have a voice in Washington,” said Mr. Lowe. “The American people need health care, and we need it badly. When John Edwards is president, I know that’s exactly what we will get.”

Edwards was the first candidate to propose a plan for true universal health care. As president, he will take on the drug and insurance companies and guarantee health care for every American, while cutting costs and improving care.

The full ad can be viewed on the John Edwards for President Web site at: http://johnedwards.com/ads/voice/. A higher resolution version can be downloaded at: http://johnedwards.com/watch/voice/press/

Full Script of “Voice:”

I met a man named James Lowe who was born with a cleft palate.

He had no voice for 50 years, because with no health care, he couldn’t get a simple operation.

Fifty years without a voice – in America.

This is wrong. It is immoral.

When are we going to stop letting drug companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists run this country?

America belongs to us.

James Lowe finally got his voice, now it’s time for yours.

I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

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Paid for by John Edwards for President.

Barack Obama Hosts Discussion on Reclaiming the American Dream

2007-12-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama Hosts Discussion on Reclaiming the American Dream

CHICAGO, IL – Today in Cedar Rapids, U.S. Senator Barack Obama hosted a roundtable discussion with Iowans about the economic hardships too many American families face. As costs rise and working families fight to keep up, more and more are falling behind. Last month in Bettendorf, Obama detailed his plan to help working families reclaim the American Dream. Obama’s comprehensive plan will provide relief for the middle class and support for working people.

“It feels like the American Dream is slowly slipping away,” Senator Obama said. “Americans are working harder for less and paying more for health care and college. It’s harder to save and harder to retire. And as I see this every day on the campaign trail, I’m reminded of how unlikely it is that the dreams of my family could be realized today."

Obama discussed his proposals to make college affordable, to reform our bankruptcy laws, to protect the balance between work and family, and to put a secure and dignified retirement within the reach of all Americans.

“I’m running for President because I do not accept this future for America. And I don’t think we can afford another four years of the same divisive politics in Washington that’s more about scoring political points than solving these problems,” Obama continued. “Not when the income gap keeps growing. Not when our housing ills could infect the entire economy. Not when the average middle-class family has more than $8,000 in personal debt. We can’t afford to wait anymore. We can’t afford to do the same exact thing with the same exact people and expect a different result. It’s time for new leadership in Washington.”

Barack Obama’s comprehensive plan to help working families reclaim the American Dream will:
Provide a middle class tax cut of up to $1,000 for working families, and eliminate the income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 per year.
Address the challenge of balancing work and family by guaranteeing workers paid sick days, expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), supporting paid FMLA, and doubling funding for after-school programs.
Help Americans buy and keep their homes.
Protect American families by reforming bankruptcy laws, predatory credit card policies, and abusive payday lending practices.
Reduce health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family.
Strengthen retirement security by automatically enrolling workers in portable retirement accounts and providing additional incentives for Americans to save.
Put the cost of college in reach by providing a $4,000 refundable tax credit available at the time of enrollment, and create a Community College Partnership Program to strengthen this vital resource for American students.

Obama’s plan to help working families reclaim the American dream can be viewed in full here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2007

New ad going up today in IA and NH

2007-12-14T14:01:00.000-08:00

Good morning. Some of you may have seen a new ad going up today in IA and NH debut this morning that features HRC’s mother and daughter. It is the first spot that Chelsea Clinton appears in on behalf of her mom’s 2008 campaign. Also, look out for a major endorsement coming in Iowa today.

A youtube and script are below – the ad is also featured on HillaryHub.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkxJHdQKSUM

“Proud”
TV: 30
12.13.07

[Hillary Clinton:] “I’m thrilled that I have my mother and my daughter with me tonight. My mother, Dorothy Rodham, my daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

You know, as I travel around I see so many families who share the same values I was brought up with.

My mom taught me to stand up for myself and to stand up for those who can’t do it on their own.

I’m proud to live by those values. But what I’m most proud of is knowing who I’ve passed them on to.

I’m Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.”

Edwards Unveils Young Families Rising Agenda To Help The Next Generation Of Americans Build A Better Future

2007-12-14T13:45:00.001-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2007

CONTACT:
Colleen Murray

EDWARDS UNVEILS YOUNG FAMILIES RISING AGENDA TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS BUILD A BETTER FUTURE

On day five of his Main Street Express bus tour, Edwards outlines proposals to help young adults gain a foothold in today’s economy through proposals to build savings

Manchester, Iowa – On the fifth day of his Main Street Express bus tour across Iowa, Senator John Edwards will unveil new proposals to address the challenges of today’s economy that are hitting young Americans just as they try to start their lives and begin families. Edwards believes our government should help hard-working families get ahead, instead of looking out for special interests. At events in Manchester and Elkader today, Edwards will discuss his Young Families Rising agenda that will protect young adults from debt and help them save, assist young families in balancing their jobs and home life, guarantee true universal health care and create more good jobs.

“My grandparents and parents worked in the mills because they wanted their children to have a better life,” said Edwards. “That’s the great promise of America – that if you work hard, and you’re responsible, you can make certain that your children have a better life. But young adults are struggling to gain a foothold in today’s economy. This generation is the first to start their adult lives in a nation where wages are stagnant, benefits are disappearing, college and credit-card debts are larger than ever, and the cost of middle-class necessities like affordable housing, health coverage and child care keep going up.

“Young mothers face additional challenges,” Edwards continued. “Two-thirds of mothers now work – most of them full time – but our workplace practices and public policies don’t reflect this change. It’s time we offered universal preschool and expanded affordable child care. We must also extend the Family and Medical Leave Act so that working parents don’t have to choose between taking care of a sick child and losing their jobs. And we need to make sure every American has access to quality health care and a good-paying job. As president, I will fight to make sure young families can succeed and build a better life for their children.”

To address the challenges of today’s economy that impact the lives of young families, Edwards will introduce a four-part Young Families Rising agenda. Edwards’ agenda calls for:

Protecting young adults from debt and helping them save: Edwards will make college more affordable, reign in credit card and other abusive debt, offer a new “Get Ahead” tax credit for savings, create universal retirement accounts that move from job to job, and support young homebuyers with a tough new national law to prevent lending abuses.

Helping young families balance their jobs and home life: Edwards will support young families by offering universal preschool and expanding affordable child care. He will expand job protection under the Family Medical Leave Act, and offer paid leave, including paid sick days, to all workers.

Guaranteeing true universal health care: Under Edwards’ plan, employers will have to help cover their employees and the government will make insurance affordable with new reforms and subsidies, including the option of a public plan that could evolve to a single-payer system. Edwards will also deliver better care at a lower cost by cutting needless waste in the health care system.

Creating more good jobs with a future: Edwards will invest in the industries of the future and create economic fairness for independent workers. He will also strengthen workers’ right to organize and build career ladders, helping low-wage workers to train on the job, gain new skills, and move into better jobs.

Edwards has spent his career fighting for regular families like the ones he grew up with in his small, rural hometown. During the eight-day Main Street Express tour, Edwards is highlighting his plans to stand up to the special interests on Wall Street and help hard-working families on Main Street. Joined by award-winning actor Kevin Bacon, Edwards will visit Dubuque, Cedar Falls and Mason City on Saturday, and on Sunday, Bacon will join Edwards at a community meeting in Ames. Edwards will also hold events in Colfax and Ottumwa on Sunday.

More information on the Main Street Express can be found at www.JohnEdwards.com/Iowa http://www.johnedwards.com/Iowa. For further details on Edwards’ plan to address the challenges facing young Americans, please see his Young Families Rising agenda included below.

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Young Families Rising Agenda

“The greatness of America is the promise that every generation will give children the chance to rise higher, dream bigger, live greater. But today’s young adults are the first to come of age during the middle class squeeze, facing high levels of debt, stagnant wages, and rising costs of things like health care and energy. I am fighting to make sure every family has the same chance to get started in life and build a better future” – John Edwards

Today’s young adults are struggling to gain a foothold in an increasingly slippery economy. Over the course of the 20th century, America built the strongest middle class in history due to a basic bargain that delivered to millions of workers job security, upward mobility, and critical benefits like health coverage and a secure retirement. But globalization, technology and demographic changes have transformed our economy in challenging ways, while Washington puts narrow interests ahead of the middle class. This generation is the first to start their adult lives in a nation where wages are stagnant, benefits are disappearing, college and credit-card debts are larger than ever, and the cost of middle-class necessities like affordable housing, health coverage and child care keep going up.

America’s challenge today is to help young families pass on a better life to the next generation. Today, John Edwards announced his four-part Young Families Rising agenda: (1) helping young adults out of debt and start saving, (2) helping young families balancing their jobs and home life, (3) guaranteeing true universal health care, and (4) creating more good jobs.

The Edwards agenda will address the challenges of today’s economy that are hitting young Americans just as they try to start their lives and begin families:

Young Men and Women Earning Less: Young men in their late 20s and early 30s earn less today than their fathers did at the same age, regardless of education. While young women have greater economic opportunities than before, they are still paid less than men. Families are working longer hours but their incomes remain stagnant. [Economic Mobility Project, 2007; IWPR, 2007; EPI, 2006]

Higher Costs for the Basics: Costs for middle-class essentials – including housing, health care, college, child care and transportation – have all outpaced wage growth. A child born in 2003 will cost middle-class families 15 percent more to raise than a child born in 1960, after adjusting for inflation. [Draut, 2005; USDA, 2003]

Losing Hope for the American Dream: More Americans are worried that the next generation will face fewer economic opportunities and less security and mobility. Only 30 percent of Americans think life will be better for the next generation. [Pew, 2006]

Protecting Young Adults from Debt and Helping Them Save

Make College More Affordable: The three-quarters of Iowa’s graduating college students who have debt owe $23,700, on average -- 25 percent more debt than the national average. Roughly one in five young adults report that student debt caused them to delay starting a family and forced them to change careers. Edwards will create a national College for Everyone initiative to pay public-college tuition, fees and books for students who work part-time, take a college-prep curriculum in high school, and stay out of trouble. [TICAS, 2007; Nellie Mae, 2003]

Rein in Credit Card and Other Abusive Lending: Today’s young adults are facing a radically transformed credit environment because interest rates were deregulated in 1978, which has led to looser lending standards and higher rates and fees. Today’s young adults spend more than double what their parents spent servicing debt. Edwards will require minimum protections on credit cards, such as restoring a 10-day grace before late fees and applying interest rate increases to future balances only. He will also create a new consumer watchdog agency – the Family Savings and Credit Commission – whose sole purpose will be to crack down on these kinds of predatory practices. [Draut, 2006]

Create Universal Retirement Accounts that Move from Job to Job: Americans who retire with a pension have nearly twice the annual income of those who depend only on Social Security and personal savings, but too few young families are able to start saving. Edwards will create a new universal retirement account available to all workers without another pension. Workers will be able to build up these savings accounts over the course of their careers, regardless of how many times they change jobs. Edwards will match worker contributions up to dollar-for-dollar on the first $500 with a new Get Ahead tax credit, far more valuable than the 10 percent or 15 percent tax deduction that many workers get today on retirement savings. [PRC, 2007; Gale, Gruber and Orszag, 2006]

Support Young Homebuyers: Home ownership is the foundation of the American Dream. But in recent years, unfair and irresponsible mortgages with “exploding” interest rates and hidden fees – combined with the housing slump – have meant quick profits for lenders and brokers but put millions of families at risk of losing their homes. Edwards will pass a tough new national law to prevent predatory lending abuses. The new Get Ahead tax credit will help families save for a home downpayment.

Helping Young Families Balance Their Jobs and Home Life

Offer Universal Preschool and Expand Affordable Child Care: More than two-thirds of mothers are working, most of them full time, but our workplace practices and public policies have not kept up with this new reality. Edwards will create a Great Promise early childhood education program for every four-year-old. For younger children, he will more than double the child care tax credit and create a national Smart Start initiative to work with local nonprofits to make child care higher quality, more available, and more affordable.

Provide Paid Leave to All Workers by 2014: Edwards will create a $2 billion National Family Trust to offer paid family and medical leave benefits to all workers by 2014, and he will make the federal government a model employer with a generous paid leave benefit.

Expand Job Protection under the Family and Medical Leave Act: Edwards will expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover 13 million more workers by reducing the threshold for exemption for the law from 50 workers to 25 workers. Because workers today often work one or more part-time jobs, he will also help long-term part-time workers.

Offer Paid Sick Days: Nearly half of all private-sector workers – and nearly 80 percent of low-wage workers – cannot miss a day’s work without losing pay or, in many cases, risking their jobs. Edwards will require businesses to offer their workers seven paid sick days a year, with pro-rated leave for part-timers. [IWPR, 2007]

Guaranteeing True Universal Health Care

Guarantee True Universal Health Care: In part because of the cost of health care, adults younger than age 35 are almost twice as likely as adults older than 45 to lack health insurance. There are now 18 million young adults without insurance, the largest single group. Edwards will take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee true universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. Employers will have to help cover their employees, the government will make insurance affordable with new reforms and subsidies, and all Americans will have insurance. His plan offers every American the option of a public plan that could evolve to a single payer system. [CDC, 2007; Demos, 2006]

Deliver Better Care at Lower Cost: Health care costs have consistently grown faster than wages for almost 50 years. Over the past five years alone, families have seen premiums grow by 90 percent while benefits have been cut. Edwards will take on the insurance and drug companies to cut needless waste in the health care system. He will also take much needed common-sense steps such as emphasizing preventive and primary care, requiring electronic medical records, and identifying and publicizing the most cost-effective treatments. Together these steps will save the average family $2,000 to 2,500 a year. [Kaiser Family Foundation, 2006]

Creating More Good Jobs with a Future

Invest in the Industries of the Future: Renewable sources of energy – including ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar – can create new industries and at least 1 million new jobs. Edwards will establish the New Energy Economy Fund to jump start renewable energies with start-up capital and train over 150,000 workers for Green Collar jobs. He will also invest in other sources of innovation such as life sciences, technology and private-sector research.

Strengthen Workers’ Right to Organize: Union families earn up to 30 percent more than non-union families, but union membership has fallen from 30 percent of private-sector workers in 1973 to just 8 percent today. The right to choose a union is poorly enforced, full of loopholes, and routinely violated by employers. Edwards will enact the Employee Free Choice Act, vigorously enforce labor laws, and ban the use of permanent replacements for striking workers. [BLS, 2007; Census Bureau, 2007]

Create Economic Fairness for Independent Workers: Nontraditional workers – those who hold part-time, seasonal, temporary and freelance jobs or who work as independent contractors – now make up 30 percent of the labor force, and young adults hold nearly one-third of these jobs. Edwards will crack down on employers who misclassify their employees as independent contractors in order to avoid paying taxes and benefits. Independent workers will save thousands of dollars on individual premiums thanks to group purchasing pools in the health care market. [BusinessWeek, 5/23/2007; Freelancers Union, 2006; BLS, 2005]

Build Career Ladders: Two of the fields with the largest predicted job growth – health care and education –have both low-end and high-end positions and offer the potential for mobility. Edwards will invest in career ladders in these and other fields, helping low-wage workers to train on the job, gain new skills, and move into better jobs. For example, health care aides could become certified nurse assistants and registered nurses.

Paid for by John Edwards for President.

Nevada Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Endorses Joe Biden

2007-12-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

NEVADA PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS UNION ENDORSES JOE BIDEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Contact:

Biden For President

Mark Paustenbach/Olivia Alair

press@joebiden.com

Plumbing, Pipefitting, and Refrigeration Workers UA Local 525

Greg Esposito

NEVADA PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS UNION ENDORSES JOE BIDEN

“Joe Biden Has Always Been There For Organized Labor And That Record Is Important To Us.”

Las Vegas, NV (December 14, 2007) – Today, Sen. Biden received the endorsement of the Plumbing, Pipefitting, and Refrigeration Workers UA Local 525. From fighting for Common Situs Picketing in the mid-1970s to prevailing wage, Card Check, OSHA standards, pension protections and, most recently, the Employee Free Choice Act, Sen. Biden has been a leading ally of the union movement for over thirty-five years.

"The Biden team in Nevada is excited to have The Plumbers and Pipefitters on board. They bring another level of grass roots support to our campaign," said Biden for President Nevada State Director Ronni Council.

UA Local 525 Business Manager Brett McCoy said, “Joe Biden has always been there for organized labor and that record is important to us. He’s also the only candidate who has a plan to get us out of the war and who is aware of the domestic problems we face, like the economy, and knows how to fix them.”

“The history of the last century has taught a simple lesson,” said Sen. Biden. “When the union movement is strong, our middle class is strong. When our middle class is strong, our country is strong.

“As president, I will immediately sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law. I will guarantee that the National Labor Relations Board returns to being a fair forum to contest unfair labor practices. I will appoint people to the Department of Labor who understand the value of unions to our economy and will make sure that pro-union officials play senior roles at the Departments of Commerce, State, Agriculture, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. And I will also create good, union jobs by investing in our national infrastructure. We have $1.6 trillion of work to do to rebuild our roads, tunnels, ports and bridges. That means more construction, manufacturing, and transportation jobs for Americans.

“I am honored that the Plumbers and Pipefitters have pledged their support to my campaign and will continue to work as hard for them in the future as I have in the past.”

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