April 2008

Results from the Dow Jones Insight-2008 Presidential Election Media Pulse show that with the contentious Pennsylvania primary at a close, the Democratic presidential candidates are focused on "electability" as their ticket to the White House shrugging off any GOP jabs of being "elitist." As the remaining states will be fierce battlegrounds for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama up until the Democratic National Convention, the two look to prove that they can connect to the working class and their constituencies. Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement in the wake of the new numbers showing anemic economic growth (0.6 percent) and the Federal Reserve Board's decision to cut a key interest rate by a quarter percentage point: "Today's economic news and action by the Federal Reserve are further evidence that the economy is weak and that we must do much more to help families struggling with the rising prices of gas, groceries, college tuition, and health care.
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FACTS: The Full Quote From Sen. McCain Shows That He Was Talking About A Non-Combat Presence. Sen. McCain: "[I] don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for 100 years or 1,000 years or 10,000 years. What they care about is a sacrifice of our most precious treasure, and that's American blood. So what I'm saying is look, if Americans are there in a support role, but they're not taking casualties, that's fine." (CBS's "Face The Nation," 1/6/08) Full release

A new poll released today shows that two-thirds of all U.S. adults (66%) believe it is important that the next president of the United States have a policy which addresses climate change. Almost half, or 44%, believe it is extremely or very important, and only 14% believe it is not at all important. A significant majority of Americans -- sixty-three percent (63%) of U.S. adults -- say it is important that the new president, soon after taking office, initiates strong action to address global warming/climate change. Full release

Jordan's Foreign Minister Dr. Salaheddin Al Bashir met today with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other administration officials during his three-day visit to Washington. Talks focused on Jordan and U.S. efforts to enhance the Annapolis peace process ahead of Secretary Rice's upcoming diplomatic tour and President George W. Bush's visit to the region later next month. Full release

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan today restated his call for cable networks to pull the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) false and misleading advertisement, "100." As outlined in a letter from the RNC's Legal Counsel to the cable networks, the DNC's ad was debunked yesterday by the nonpartisan FactCheck.org as an attempt to "misrepresent" Senator McCain's words. Full release

John McCain says he's a straight talker who will tell people the truth, not what is politically expedient. But as we've seen from the way he has backed away from his Iraq comments, McCain will try to cover up things he has said when they do him political harm. This week, McCain and the RNC are claiming McCain's comments about keeping our troops in Iraq for one hundred years have been distorted, even though McCain has repeatedly said he has no problem with there being a long-term American troop presence in Iraq. And the RNC is using its lawyer to manufacture baseless legal arguments to stop people from hearing what McCain has said about Iraq because Republicans know he does not have a plan to bring our troops home. Full release

Sen. John McCain Has Proposed Immediate Gas Tax Relief, Which Would Save Americans Over $6 Billion: Sen. John McCain's Gas Tax Relief Would Last From Memorial Day To Labor Day. "Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain calls on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day." (John McCain For President Website, http://www.johnmccain.com, Accessed 4/22/08) Full release

The following is an editorial from The Wall Street Journal that is being distributed by the Republican National Committee: [J]ohn McCain delivered another speech yesterday on health care that offered a sophisticated set of policies that could lead to some of the most constructive changes to the system in decades. It is good news for his candidacy if Mr. McCain is making space now for political creativity and policy risks. Full release

Five states are currently considering adoption of academic freedom legislation designed to protect teachers who teach both the scientific strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theory. Introduction of similar legislation is being considered by legislators in several other states, indicating the national scope of this movement. Full release.

Even as John McCain and the Republican Party resort to baseless legal complaints and blatant distortions to avoid defending McCain's willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years, new video emerged today that shows John McCain once "rejecting the very policy he urges today." McCain's campaign is arguing that he has not changed is view, and that he has always advocated a long-term troop presence in Iraq similar to that in Germany and South Korea. [Chicago Tribune, Swamp blog, 4/29/08] Full release

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after President Bush held a news conference to call on Democrats to work with Republicans to address our nation's economy and energy prices. Full release

In a new ad and a speech at the University of South Florida today, John McCain showed once again why his approach to health care is the wrong choice for America's future. McCain's speech was short on details, but where he did outline a plan for the future he primarily relied on recycled Bush proposals and flawed ideas that would do nothing to reduce the ranks of the uninsured or help America's working families find quality, affordable health care. Full release

Yesterday, Obama Pledged He's "Not Going To Go Around Doing Negative Ads": Obama: "Now, one of the things I'm proud of at the beginning of this campaign I said, this is a different time. This is an extraordinary time. We've got to run a different kind of campaign. So we're not going to go around doing negative ads. We're going to keep it positive. We're going to talk about the issues." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event In Wilson, NC, 4/28/08) Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in advance of a news conference the President will hold this morning on the economy: "The American economy is in perilous condition. American families and businesses are stretched. We didn't get here overnight -- and we won't recover overnight. Our Recovery Rebates, going out to Americans this week and beyond, are a strong start. But they are not enough. Full release

In ruling on the constitutionality of Indiana's voter ID law -- the toughest in the nation -- the Supreme Court had to deal with the claim that such laws demanded the strictest of scrutiny by courts, because they could disenfranchise voters. All nine Justices rejected that argument... Full release

John McCain has said his comments on Iraq have been distorted and his cronies at the RNC have complained about the use of his statements in a new DNC television ad. In fact, that has not been the case -- McCain's own words prove the point. At a town hall meeting earlier this year, when asked if he agreed with Bush Administration comments that our troops could be in Iraq for 50 years, McCain responded "Maybe 100" and "that would be fine with me." [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House 1/3/2008] Full release

Truckers Protested High Fuel Prices Yesterday In Washington, D.C. "As angry truckers encircled the Capitol in a horn-blaring caravan and consumers across the country agonized over $60 fill-ups, the issue of high fuel prices flared on the campaign trail on Monday, sharply dividing the two Democratic candidates." (John M. Broder, "As Clinton Seeks Gas Tax Break For Summer, Obama Says No," The New York Times, 4/29/08) Full release

Health care costs rank among Americans' top personal economic problems, and their struggles to deal with those costs have affected both their financial well-being and their family's health care, a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds. Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement in observance of "Cover the Uninsured Week." "'Cover the Uninsured Week' is a time to reaffirm our commitment to access to quality, affordable health care for every American, including the 47 million who live in fear of even a minor illness because they lack health insurance." Full release

On Monday, April 28, the Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to Indiana's law (Crawford v. Marion County Elections Board) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo identification before they may cast a ballot. Crawford plaintiffs argued that Indiana's strict photo ID requirements disproportionately disenfranchise minority voters. Full release

This morning, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling upholding Indiana's undemocratic and restrictive voter identification law. The Supreme Court acknowledged that "The record contains no evidence of any such [impersonation] fraud actually occurring in Indiana at any time in its history," and acknowledged the law's burden on the elderly, low-income voters and other classes of voters covering hundreds of thousands of Indiana citizens. Yet this Court, ignoring the realities of life for the less affluent and powerful of the state's citizens, shrugged off these burdens and found that the law should stand. [New Republic Blog, 4/28/08] Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision today on Indiana's voter identification case: "The Supreme Court's decision is disappointing. The Court's decision today places obstacles to the fundamental rights of American citizens -- especially the poor, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities -- to participate in the electoral process. Requiring American citizens pay for underlying documents needed for an identification card and travel to distant motor vehicle locations for processing hinders -- and diminishes -- their right to vote." Full release

On the same day the Democratic National Committee released a new ad highlighting John McCain's commitment to continuing President Bush's failed strategy in Iraq, McCain traveled to Miami Children's Hospital to explain why he is promising four more years of the Bush health care agenda. While the number of Americans lacking health care insurance has climbed to 47 million on President Bush's watch, John McCain's health care plan would do nothing to reduce the ranks of the uninsured and nothing to ensure that cancer survivors and people with other pre-existing medical conditions can get health insurance. McCain even supported President Bush's decision to veto health care for 10 million American children, including the 330,000 poor children in Florida who have no health insurance. Full release

Congressional Quarterly Inc., the nation's premier provider of news and analysis on Congress, politics and public policy, today announced a new report on how the Democrats' protracted fight for the presidential nomination has the potential to bolster the GOP's efforts to regain congressional seats. Full release

"This is a disgraceful decision by a court that has no credibility on election issues. The court has shown once again that it does not respect voters," said Mary G. Wilson, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Full release

The international focus of Equality Forum 2008 is Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World. Equality Forum presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. Equality Forum 2008 (April 28-May 4) in Philadelphia has 34 panels, 14 parties and 15 special events.
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A reception at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada marks the midway point in a six city tour organized by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) to highlight efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The tour, which takes SLDN executive director Aubrey Sarvis from San Diego to Palm Springs before making stops in Las Vegas, Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, is an initiative aimed at educating Americans on the effort to lift the ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual service personnel. Full release.

Today Senator John Kerry held a hearing to examine the impact of employers who fail to abide by lawful hiring practices and hear what steps Massachusetts has taken to address the underground economy. When employees are paid off the books or misclassified as a "contract employee," companies are able to avoid paying certain employment taxes and benefits. As small businesses and labor leaders testified, this puts firms that play by the rules at a competitive disadvantage and results in tens of millions of dollars in unpaid income taxes and worker benefits in Massachusetts. Full release

The following was released today by the Republican National Committee: Obama: "I mean this has been, I guess, four years ago. ... I just don't have a recollection of the event. As I said, I was in the middle of running a U.S. Senate race. So, you know, I was speaking all the time, probably six, seven, eight times a day." (John McCormick, "Obama Doesn't Deny But Can't Recall Attending Rezko Party Cited In Trial," Los Angeles Times' "Top Of The Ticket" Blog, latimesblogs.latimes.com, 4/27/08) Full release

Amid surging food prices, child malnutrition, violent unrest and the prospect of prolonged food shortages, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations has announced a potential 1.5 million drop in the number of people receiving its food assistance. Full release.

There is evidence to suggest that during this election year, the Republicans are backing Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee in order to seal the Presidential spot for John McCain.
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The following release was issued today by the Republican National Committee: Fiorina: "But for Senator Obama to make a statement saying that, for example that, he didn't think 25 dollars mattered to the American people, I think, demonstrates that he doesn't understand what hardworking Americans are going through right now. 18 cents a gallon all summer long makes a huge difference to American workers and families. 24 cents a gallon all summer long makes a huge difference to the truck drivers of this nation and the small businesses of this nation." (Press Conference Call, 4/25/08) Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader John Boehner, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer held a news conference in the Capitol this afternoon on Recovery Rebates. Full release

Republican National Committee (RNC) Victory Chairman Carly Fiorina will host a conference call today to respond to Senator Obama's press conference and address his support for higher gas taxes. Full release

Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria continues to devastate communities in tropical regions throughout Latin America, Asia and Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the malaria epidemic causes debilitating disease in more than 500 million people worldwide and kills more than one million people each year - mostly infants, young children and pregnant women. Full release

A report in today's Washington Post highlights how far John McCain is willing to go to get elected. According to the Post, "Now that he is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, however, McCain is marching straight down the party line. The economic package he has laid out embraces many of the tax policies he once decried: extending Bush's tax cuts he voted against, offering investment tax breaks he once believed would have little economic benefit and granting the long-held wishes of tax lobbyists he has often mocked." Full release

Central to John McCain's presidential campaign has been his promise to "veto every bill with earmarks" and his inaccurate claim that he has "never voted for a single earmark or pork barrel project." He has also made eliminating earmarks the core of his economic plan -- even though the math on his plan doesn't add up. [McCain speech at Carnegie Mellon University, 4/15/08; NBC's First Read, 4/24/08] Full release

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders sent the following letter today to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman William E. Kovacic urging him to investigate record gas prices. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 gives the FTC the authority to probe possible market manipulation of gas prices, but to date, the Commission has failed to exercise its power to protect consumers from skyrocketing energy costs. Full release

Today, Obama Will Hold A Press Conference To Discuss Gas Prices: "[Obama] Will Hold A Press Conference On Gas Prices In Indianapolis Friday Morning." ("Obama To Take Questions," Time's "The Page" Blog, 4/25/08) Full release

Today, on World Malaria Day, the American Red Cross is joining with its partners to raise awareness and encourage a robust global response to this deadly disease. Full release.

The following was written by Jerry R. Griffin, Executive Director, Association County Commissioners of Georgia: Developing consensus on a complex issue like tax reform is not easy. Such an initiative requires the approval of a two-thirds majority of 56 senators and 180 representatives, not to mention trying to get buy-in from 159 counties, 180 school districts and over 500 cities. This year's legislative efforts to bring taxpayers much needed tax reform proved impossible due to lack of consensus-building among legislative leaders and the stakeholders involved in the process. Full release

States in the South and West with weak gun laws and high rates of gun ownership lead the nation in overall firearm death rates according to a new analysis issued today by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Full release

Congressional Republicans and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will hold a media availability Today at 3:00 p.m. in the Ohio Clock Corridor to discuss the House Democrat leadership's decision to change the rules and block a vote on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Full release

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan released the following statement today: "Both Senator McCain and the RNC have been very clear about running a respectful campaign based on the issues. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Howard Dean. The DNC Chairman has consistently attacked Senator McCain's integrity and character, even his military service." Full release

Some 200 Amnesty International activists -- from across the United States and from Nepal, Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe -- will hold discussions with members of Congress and their staff on Monday, April 28, urging support for the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). The bipartisan bill is a historic opportunity for the United States to raise the worldwide issue of violence against women in its diplomatic work and have an impact on the suffering of millions of women and girls. Full release

According to reports, the chair of the state Republican Party in North Carolina is planning to move forward with its plans to air its racially divisive campaign ad despite John McCain's emailed complaints. While the McCain campaign made a show of protesting the ad, McCain made no mention of the fact that key officials in the North Carolina GOP are members of McCain's state steering committee and McCain donors. Nor did he mention the fact that the state chair who is bucking his leadership is a member of the arrangements committee of the Republican National Convention. Given his ties to state Republican leaders, if McCain is serious about making sure this ad never airs, he should have no trouble making it happen. If not, McCain should return their contributions, remove them from his campaign committees, and strip the state chair from her role on the GOP's convention committee. Full release

Just this week John McCain said that "[t]here must be no forgotten places in America" and is traveling to New Orleans today to make the case. But don't believe the rhetoric. The fact is, McCain has a history of denying the Gulf Coast aid when it needs it most and a record of outrageous votes to show for it. Instead of helping the area rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast get back on their feet, McCain actually voted to deny emergency funding to the area, and he voted against giving victims of Katrina access to Medicaid and unemployment benefits. Full release

The Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF) yesterday published a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal calling on President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to "Send a Clear Message to Mongolia: Eliminate Corruption and Protect Private Property -- Or Risk Losing U.S. Foreign Aid." The ad was published as the U.S. Commerce Department hosted a delegation of Mongolian officials at the 3rd U.S.-Mongolia Business Forum in Washington, DC. Full release

RNC Spokesman Alex Conant released the following statement today: "American families are facing very real challenges and Barack Obama's opposition to immediate relief on the price of gas demonstrates his rhetoric is nothing more than just words. While in the state Senate in Illinois, Obama seemed to understand extraordinary circumstances called for action when he voted for a suspension of the gas tax. Today, Obama's support for higher taxes on families, small businesses, investors and retirees are the actions of someone who doesn't understand our economy and its effect on families." Full release.

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