2008 Presidential election

June 17, 2008 -- While John McCain likes to talk tough about energy independence and renewable energy, John McCain today will cave in to his friends in the oil and gas industry. Despite supporting a moratorium on off-shore drilling during his last presidential campaign and opposing offshore drilling in places like Florida, North Carolina and Oregon, Senator McCain will call for the elimination of the moratorium during his remarks in Houston today.

Oil spill cleanup crew: Photo by ex.libris (CC)    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Below is a statement from Barack Obama on disturbing reports that 'mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are being recruited for government tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects.' Full story follows.

"It is outrageous and unacceptable that our government would irresponsibly endanger veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our country. Our veterans - particularly those suffering from mental health injuries - should have the very best health care and support in the world, they should never be needlessly exposed to drugs without proper notification of the dangers involved or effective monitoring of the side effects.    » read more »

Bill would establish a national stillbirth registry and promote prevention

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today introduced the Preventing Stillbirth and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Act of 2008, which will enhance public health activities related to understanding and preventing stillbirth and sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID).

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Jackie (CC)    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on Luol Deng being selected as the 2008 recipient of the UN Refugee Agency's Humanitarian of the Year Award:

"I want to congratulate Luol Deng on being honored with this award. In a world rife with conflict, one of our most important obligations is to look after the innocent victims of war, including those who are forced to flee their homes as refugees - and few understand this better than Luol.

"His dedication to bringing hope to millions of children living as refugees in Sudan and around the world is an inspiration, as is Luol's own life itself. Both on and off the court, Luol sets a standard of excellence and service that all Americans can look to for inspiration."    » read more »

June 14, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.- Late last night, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) sent a letter to the President in support of Governor Rod Blagojevich's request for direct federal assistance to help Illinois communities to respond to and recover from flooding.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- John McCain claims that a part of his economic plan for America is "bolstering job security," but his record tells a different story. When Senator McCain has had the chance, instead of fighting to keep America's jobs here at home he helped steer a tanker contract to a European company for which his campaign advisors then lobbied, shipping tens of thousands of American jobs overseas. This follows McCain's pattern of mocking and subverting "Buy America" rules in the Senate. [johnmccain.com, accessed 6/15/08]    » read more »

Obama will present his plans to turn the page so that America can compete in the global economy

Chicago, IL - On Monday, June 16, 2008, United States Senator Barack Obama will kick off the second week of his "Change that Works for You" tour by presenting his comprehensive national competitiveness strategy that will turn the page on the failed policies of the past so that America can create millions of new jobs and succeed in the 21st century's global economy.    » read more »

16 June 2008 -- Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said Monday he will visit Iraq and Afghanistan sometime before the November election. Obama made the comment after a phone conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who is visiting the United States.

Barack Obama with Al Gore in Michigan: Photo by joscrei (CC)

Campaigning in Michigan, Senator Obama told reporters he would visit Iraq and Afghanistan sometime before the election, but did not give any specifics.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- SEIU today sent a fourth “Dear John” letter to Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president. SEIU members are offering their assistance in the absence of any economic blueprint from McCain that puts working families first. The letters will continue until McCain personally meets with members.

In the letter, Iris English, a Medical Billing Specialist at the University of Illinois Medical Center from Chicago and member of Local 73, asks McCain how he would use the money currently being spent in Iraq here in America.

“Dear John,    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) were joined today by members of the Illinois Delegation in asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide immediate assistance to help the State of Illinois prepare for the anticipated flooding of the Mississippi River and other waterways.

Mississippi River floodwaters in Missouri: Photo by eagle102 (CC)    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- "I remain deeply concerned about the crisis in Zimbabwe, where the government of Robert Mugabe last week banned the operations of humanitarian agencies working across the country. The regime's latest attempt to hold on to power at any cost has already accelerated the suffering of millions of Zimbabwe's citizens. Food and other assistance from international agencies including UNICEF, CARE, and Oxfam are critical to the survival of millions of Zimbabweans who cannot afford basic foodstuffs due to skyrocketing inflation and the government's disastrous economic mismanagement.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- John McCain says he wants to bring a new transparency standard to campaigns. Yet just yesterday, after billing a campaign event as a town hall for Republicans, Independents and Democrats, Fox News revealed that the audience had been filled with campaign supporters and invited guests, not the general public.

Looks like instead of offering change, all Senator McCain offers is a third Bush term of a president who only wants to hear from people who agree with him. Add to this the fact that John McCain has refused to release many of his tax records and has lobbyists running his campaign, and it's clear that Senator McCain's campaign is anything but transparent.

See the clip here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G9979CZ9vII    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Today Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Governors Association Chairman Joe Manchin came together with other Democratic leaders to discuss Democratic strength heading into the November election, and how Barack Obama and Democrats down the ticket will win because they offer a clear change in policies from the Bush Administration and John McCain.

Barack Obama in Minnesota: Photo by noodles2k50 (CC)    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- John McCain may be trying to sell himself as a "maverick" and a "straight talker" who will tell the truth no matter the consequences, but independent, non-partisan watchdog groups aren't buying it. Since Senator McCain wrapped up his Party's nomination, hardly a week has passed without at least one non-partisan fact checker criticizing McCain for distorting his record on something. McCain has consistently mischaracterized his record on the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, tax cuts, the budget, earmarks and health care reform.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- John McCain says an important part of his economic plan is "cutting taxes for the middle class." But a new study by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center shows that a quarter of Senator McCain's tax cuts would go to households making $2.8 million or more and that Senator Obama's tax cuts would provide three times the middle class tax relief that Senator McCain's would. [johnmccain.com, accessed 6/12/08]    » read more »