Politics

Denver -- 25 August 2008 -- Perhaps the most important goal Democrats have at their presidential nominating convention in the western state of Denver, Colorado is to project an all-American image for their candidate, Barack Obama. The four-night convention will give Democrats an opportunity to introduce Obama to a television audience of at least 20 million people, and they are launching an all-out effort to make Americans comfortable with a candidate who comes from a very unusual background.

Barack Obama in Wisconsin: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- 25 August 2008 -- The world, particularly Africa is following this year's U.S. presidential campaign with interest not only because the United States is a super powers economically and militarily, but because of the Africa roots of presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. So what is Africa saying about the selection of Senator Joe Biden as Obama's vice presidential running mate?

Kabiru Mato chairs the political science department at the University of Abuja. He told VOA Africa hopes the selection of Senator Biden would increase the Democrats' chances of winning in November.    » read more »

Chicago, IL -- August 21, 2008 -- The Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns released the following statement on the Presidential Debates:

The Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate in September and October sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Barack Obama and John McCain: Photos by Wigwam Jones (McCain CC) and Peter Howe (Obama CC)

The campaigns have come to the earliest agreement on presidential debates reached in any general election in recent history.    » read more »

August 21, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - The Obama campaign announced today the launch of Women for Obama Torchbearers. The Torchbearer program is the Obama campaign's newest initiative to mobilize and engage young women leaders, age 35 and younger, in their community to get out the vote for Senator Obama in November.

Michelle Obama lauded the new program, "Just as they are to their families and their communities, women have been invaluable to Barack's efforts to bring change to this country. Tens of thousands of women have organized for us, traveled to battleground states, and carried our message to all corners of this country. I'm looking forward to working with our Torchbearers to continue this effort and mobilize for the election."    » read more »

August 20, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- In response to the statement issued by the Cleveland Clinic this evening confirming the passing of Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Senator Barack Obama made the following statement:    » read more »

August 20, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Barack Obama Campaign Policy Director Heather Higginbottom responded to a new report which found that 41 percent of working-age adults, or 72 million people, reported a problem paying their medical bills or had accrued medical debt, up from 34 percent, or 58 million, in 2005.

The report, "Losing Ground: How the Loss of Adequate Health Insurance Is Burdening Working Families," by the Commonwealth Fund, also showed that 41 percent of people with incomes from $20,000 to $40,000 went without health insurance in 2007, up from 28 percent in 2001.    » read more »

August 18, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "President Musharraf has made the right decision to step down as President of Pakistan. It is in the interests of his country and the Pakistani people to end the political crisis that has immobilized the coalition government for too long. I have long said that the central terrorist threat to the United States lies in northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan, and not Iraq.

US policy must focus on assuring that all elements of Pakistan's government are resolute in shutting down the safe havens for al Qaeda and the Taliban. There can be no safehaven for terrorists who threaten the American people.    » read more »

August 21, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the National Steering Committee of the Sportsmen for McCain coalition. These leaders in the angling, hunting and shooting communities are working across the country to emphasize John McCain's dedication to protecting American's right to gun ownership and his commitment to preserving and promoting our hunting, angling and shooting traditions.

Playing with guns: Photo by Terence T.S. Tam (CC)    » read more »

August 14, 2008 -- Since June, Senators Obama and Clinton have been working together to ensure a Democratic victory this November. They are both committed to winning back the White House and to to ensuring that the voices of all 35 million people who participated in this historic primary election are respected and heard in Denver. To honor and celebrate these voices and votes, both Senator Obama's and Senator Clinton's names will be placed in nomination.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton rally: Photo by ellentk (CC)    » read more »

August 18, 2008 -- As John McCain addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Orlando, FL, this morning, he was practicing more of the same old politics. McCain claims to be an advocate for America's veterans despite his record on veterans' issues. Like Bush, McCain will continue sending American soldiers - along with billions of dollars - to Iraq and Afghanistan, but he'll block programs for health care and education for veterans here at home.

John McCain (left) visits with a WWII veteran: Photo by sloomis08 (CC)    » read more »

August 18, 2008 -- On the same day John McCain bragged about how proud he is of the lobbyists running his campaign, McCain is accepting campaign cash raised by one of the central figures in the culture of corruption surrounding a convicted lobbyist.

According to published reports, the chair of McCain's Georgia fundraising committee asked Ralph Reed, a central figure in the scandals surrounding disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff,to help raise money for today's fundraiser in Atlanta. Reed then asked his friends to send money to McCain in an email in which Reed advertised himself as a member of John McCain's Victory 2008 team.    » read more »

August 14, 2008 -- Below is a statement from Senator Obama on the 73rd Anniversary of Social Security:

"On this anniversary of Social Security, let's reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Social Security remains a safety net that seniors can count on today, tomorrow, and always. It is impossible to fully measure Social Security's value for its recipients, as well as for those who look after and love them. Nearly 13 million seniors depend on it each month to keep from falling into poverty, and millions more depend on survivor and disability benefits to protect their retirement.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- "I welcome President Bush's decision to send aid to the people of Georgia, and Americans stand united in support of the men and women who will carry out this humanitarian mission. As soon as possible, we must follow this aid with broader reconstruction assistance, including emergency economic loans, to help the people of Georgia rebuild their lives and their economy.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- On the campaign trail, John McCain likes to brag about chairing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that investigated criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff's role in the Republican culture of corruption. But that is not stopping John McCain from raising campaign cash with one of Abramoff's closest business partners: scandal plagued conservative activist Ralph Reed. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Reed has "agreed to serve as a member of the McCain Victory 2008 Team" and will host a fundraiser for his campaign on Monday, August 18.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- As he visits Michigan today, John McCain finds himself at a particularly low point in his candidacy. In a year when the country is looking for change, McCain has embraced the failed policies of George W. Bush and same old politics as Karl Rove, leaving him struggling to win Americans' support -- even within his own party.    » read more »