Politics

August 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Below is a Statement from Senator Barack Obama on the ‘Gang of Ten Bipartisan Energy Plan' to Reduce Gas Prices and Break our Addiction to Foreign Oil:

"For too long, partisan gridlock and special interest influence has blocked progress on some of the most urgent challenges facing the American people, and that is especially true when it comes to our energy crisis. That is why I welcome today's bipartisan effort as an important step in the process of reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and why I look forward to September's bipartisan energy summit.    » read more »

August 1, 2008 -- Today, John McCain will visit Florida, where he will face Floridians - as well as one notable supporter, Governor Charlie Crist -- over his opposition to a national catastrophic insurance fund, which would provide economic relief for Americans struggling with rising insurance costs by creating a national pool for disaster insurance.

McCain has changed his position on the national catastrophic insurance fund multiple times, reversing himself twice - he was against it, then for it, then against it again - and now has established himself as a proud opponent, in line with President Bush - while ignoring the advice of governor crist.    » read more »

July 31, 2008 -- Although McCain promised "a respectful campaign," now that his campaign is in trouble McCain has embraced the divisive tactics he once denounced. The McCain campaign's steady stream of false negative attacks has been met by criticism from all sides - from major media outlets fact-checking his ads to Republican strategists condemning his aggressive negativity.

Yet all signs point to McCain continuing on his negative course, unhampered by facts - and guided by a "Who's Who" of former Bush-Rove advisers.    » read more »

July 31, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Below is a Statement from Senator Barack Obama on Record Exxon Mobil Profits While Americans Pay Skyrocketing Gas Prices at the Pump

"Perhaps the only thing more outrageous than Exxon Mobil making record profits while Americans are paying record prices at the pump is the fact that Senator McCain has proposed giving them an additional $1.2 billion tax break.

While Senator McCain's plan has succeeded in helping his campaign raise over $1 million from oil and gas company executives and employees just last month, it won't lower gas prices or end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.    » read more »

August 3, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement on the report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that there were more new HIV infections in the United States than previously estimated:

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday announced that in 2006 there were 56,300 new HIV infections in United States -- significantly higher than the previous estimate of 40,000 cases. More than a million Americans live with this devastating disease. As President, I will work closely with non-profit, government, and private sector stakeholders to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.    » read more »

Chicago, IL, July 21, 2008 – Kareem Dale, founder and chief executive officer of The Dale Law Group (DLG) in Chicago, has been appointed as the Obama campaign's Disability Vote Director, effective July 14, 2008. Dale, partially blind, will help broaden the campaign's reach and involve even more voices in this coalition for change.

In his role as Disability Vote Director, Dale will be responsible for all disability outreach efforts for the campaign, including attending national conferences, coordinating grassroots efforts, speaking at events as a surrogate for the campaign, and ensuring that campaign locations are accessible for all Americans with disabilities.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., 07/18/2008 – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on House Republicans’ planned trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska this weekend:

“This weekend, House Republican leaders will take their allegiance to the President’s failed policies to a new latitude. They will follow him all the way to the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska instead of touring the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore lands that oil companies have already leased, but have not developed.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., 07/18/2008 -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on reports that President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki will work to include a “general time horizon” in the security agreement between the United States and Iraq:

“Congressional Democrats have repeatedly urged President Bush to bring our troops home from Iraq honorably, responsibly, safely and soon. After rejecting 18 months of attempts by the Democratic majority in Congress to adopt redeployment timetables, the President now proposes a vague ‘general time horizon’ that falls far short of a commitment to ending our involvement in Iraq.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., 07/18/2008 -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in reaction to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealing that 12 states and the District of Columbia now have unemployment rates above 6 percent and 45 states have rates significantly higher that of one year ago:

“Rising unemployment across the United States makes it clear that Congress must act on additional economic recovery measures to create jobs and help Americans with rising food and energy costs.    » read more »

Indie Talk Launches General Election Coverage with 'The Fight for Independents' Special Broadcast Exclusively on SIRIUS

NEW YORK, June 25, 2008 -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced that Indie Talk, the first radio channel for independent voters, will broadcast "The Fight for Independents" -- a live, town hall style roundtable discussion program. As the candidates and the nation prepare for the general election, political maverick Ron Silver, comedian Pete Dominick, and former Court TV anchor Vinnie Politan, all hosts on Indie Talk, will hold a live open-forum call-in broadcast with independent voters to find out how they plan to cast their votes and why.    » read more »

June 25, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I am deeply disturbed by the recent events in Zimbabwe and condemn the actions of President Robert Mugabe in the strongest possible terms. The United States and the international community must be united, clear and unequivocal: the Government of Zimbabwe is illegitimate and lacks any credibility.

I welcome yesterday's United Nations Security Council statement condemning the violence sweeping Zimbabwe, and underscoring that the Zimbabwean government's campaign of repression and brutality has made it impossible for the June 27 elections to be free and fair. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is absolutely right when he says that run-off elections under these circumstances would lack any legitimacy.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today announced his cosponsorship of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008 (S. 3140), which would allow federal employees to use four weeks of paid leave, as well as any annual or sick leave, for the birth or adoption of a child under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This bill was introduced by Senator Jim Webb.    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) joined members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in sending a letter to the President in support of Governor Rod Blagojevich's request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for the 21 Illinois counties affected by severe flooding.

Illinois flooding, June 2008: Photo by Jim Simonson (CC)    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded that Chinese pipe producers have injured U.S. manufacturers for several years by dumping circular welded steel pipe exports into our market - a practice which has been enabled through Chinese pipe producers receiving illegal government subsidies.

"I appreciate and support the ITC determination. This is the first case in the history of U.S. trade agreement enforcement involving subsidies in China that has resulted in the imposition of countervailing duties by the U.S. Department of Commerce.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- When John McCain is in California this week he will no doubt try to tie himself to Gov. Schwarzenegger and distance himself from President Bush. But when it comes to offshore drilling, an important issue to coastal states, like California, Senator McCain is on Bush's--not Schwarzenegger's--side.

When McCain announced last week he wanted to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling, President Bush and big oil were quick to side with him, even though the idea has been met with much criticism and would do nothing to solve our short-term energy crisis. Just as bad, Senator McCain himself campaigned against off-shore drilling in states like Oregon, Maine, and even California in the run-up to the 2000 election.    » read more »