Democratic Party

June 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement following the Senate's votes on the Consumer First Energy Act (S. 3044) and the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act (H.R. 6049). Both measures were blocked today.

Wind turbine: Photo by Vik Walker (CC)    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Boumediene v. Bush, which held that Guantanamo Bay prisoners have the right to contest their detention in federal courts:

Guantanamo Bay protest outside US Supreme Court: Photo by takomabibelot (CC)

“Today, our nation’s highest court again rejected the Bush Administration’s expansive view of executive power.    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in response to Senate Republicans blocking consideration of the Consumer-First Energy Act and the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008:

“Senate Republicans have once again shown themselves to be unwilling to break free of the costly, failed Bush energy policies of the past. They have again adopted President Bush’s ‘drill and veto’ policy that is driving up the price of oil, diesel, and gasoline and leaving us dangerously reliant on Middle East oil.    » read more »

Chicago, IL -- June 11, 2008 -- "Before we begin, I just wanted to say a word about the flooding devastating so many communities. We were scheduled to be holding this event in Iowa, but we decided to cancel it because we didn't want to divert state resources from going to help with flood relief.

Barack Obama poster, San Francisco: Photo by january20th2009 (CC)    » read more »

June 11, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement in response to major flooding in the Midwest.

"My heart goes out to the families in Illinois and across the Midwest, who have been forced to flee their own homes, and leave their businesses and communities behind.

Rising flood waters, Appleton: Photo by lynnewu (CC)

Right now, many of them are wondering when they'll be able to return, and what they'll find when they get there.    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama released the following statement today in response to the news of the trade deficit increase.

"Today we learned that the trade deficit jumped to its highest level in 13 months. This is not an accident. This is yet another sign of the failed economic policies of the Bush administration that John McCain seeks to extend – policies that reflect unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility and borrowing from abroad.

Rather than get America's fiscal house in order, Senator McCain is proposing $300 billion more in tax breaks and loopholes for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and he hasn't explained how he'd pay for them.    » read more »

June 08, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today appointed Matthew Nugen, the campaign's political director, to serve as his designee to the Democratic National Convention Committee. Nugen will arrive in Denver on Monday to begin working with DNCC staff and the Host Committee.

As the campaign's political director, Nugen served as chief liaison to elected officials, labor groups, and political leaders over the course of the16-month primary. In his new role, he will be responsible for coordinating convention operations for Senator Obama, our Party's presumptive nominee.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be held at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. For more information, please visit www.demconvention.com.

Source: Barack Obama campaign

June 8, 2008 -- Today on ABC's "This Week" Senator Lindsey Graham, saying that Senator Obama and Senator McCain have "two different views of how to grow the economy in a global world," made clear that John McCain would continue the same failed Bush Administration policies that have hurt our economy.

John McCain: Photo by T toes (CC)

In stark contrast, Senator Barack Obama has outlined plans to change the policies of the Bush Administration to get our economy back on track --specific plans that he'll talk about next week as he launches his two week economic swing - the "Change that Works for You Tour" Monday.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 6 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) commented on today’s report that the jobless rate in May jumped to 5.5 percent. He also reacted to a Senate filibuster that blocked legislation on global warming.

The Labor Department reported that employers last month shed 49,000 jobs resulting in the biggest jump in the jobless rate in more than two decades.

Sanders said, “The news about increased unemployment is obviously not good. In my view, what we need to do as soon as possible is to put increased funds into rebuilding our crumbing infrastructure – that’s our roads, our bridges, our culverts, our wastewater plants – and then we deal not only a serious national problem, but we put many people to work.”    » read more »

June 07, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run.

Barack Obama with Hillary Clinton: Photo by Salvador García Bardón (CC)

She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans.    » read more »

Two-week swing will highlight key economic issues

June 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - The Barack Obama campaign announced today that Senator Obama will launch a two-week economic swing—the "Change that Works for You" tour—on Monday, June 9. Obama will travel across the country, talking to Americans about how the economy affects their everyday lives. He'll hold events with voters where they work and where they live, discussing the challenges we face and his plans to turn the economy around.

The tour will kick off on Monday with an economic speech in Raleigh, North Carolina.    » read more »

June 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Statement from U.S. Senator Barack Obama on this month's jobs report:

"Today's jobs report is deeply troubling. Last month, our economy lost 49,000 jobs and the unemployment rate saw the greatest rise in more than twenty years.

This is a reminder that working families continue to bear the brunt of the failed Bush economic policies that John McCain wants to continue for another four years. In the first five months of 2008, our economy has lost 324,000 jobs, and workers' wages once again failed to keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of health care, and college tuition, and gas.    » read more »

June 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Senator Barack Obama released the following statement on the Climate Change Bill:

"As this week's debate on climate change has unfolded, the American people and those watching us around the world had every reason to hope that we would act. Every credible scientist and expert believes action is necessary. This is critical and long overdue legislation that represents a good first step in addressing one of the most serious problems facing our generation.

Like many of my Senate colleagues, I believe the legislation could have been made even better. Had there been a substantive Senate debate about some of the concerns with this bill, I believe the outcome could have generated broad support. It certainly would have received my support.    » read more »

Hillary Clinton Delivers Remarks in Washington, D.C.

6/9/2008 -- Hillary Clinton delivered the following remarks at a campaign event in Washington D.C. on Saturday:

Thank you so much. Thank you all.

Hillary Clinton ending her presidential campaign in Washington, D.C.: Photo by Adam Fagen (CC)

Well, this isn’t exactly the party I’d planned, but I sure like the company.    » read more »

June 4, 2008 - Barack Obama has claimed the Democratic nomination for President following a split decision in the final primary elections in Montana and South Dakota and a virtual landslide of support from uncommitted superdelegates who had been waiting until the end of the primary season to declare their support.

Presumptive Democratic nominee for President Barack Obama: Photo courtesy Barack Obama campaign    » read more »