Republican Party

August 5, 2008 -- This week, with energy in the headlines and at the forefront of the economic struggles for America's families, Americans are demanding real solutions to soaring gas prices and the long-term energy crisis. But instead of looking ahead for comprehensive solutions to our nation's energy problems and towards reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and developing alternative energy sources, John McCain is turning to the Bush-Cheney play book which puts the interests of oil companies ahead of the interests of Americans. In fact, John McCain has at least 33 former oil lobbyists who advise him or fund-raise for his campaign.    » read more »

Site Highlight Potential McCain VP Pick

August 5, 2008 -- Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee today launched a new website, www.TheNextCheney.com that illustrates the most important thing the voters need to know about each of John McCain's potential vice presidential picks: no matter who he chooses, any ticket with John McCain on it means more of the same.

As McCain himself said in 2001, "with a little more luck" he'd have asked Dick Cheney to be his vice president. The new site, www.thenextcheney.com, features an initial list of seven contenders poised to be the next Cheney.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the West Virginia Statewide Leadership Team. This team of West Virginia leaders and grassroots activists will help organize and coordinate the campaign's grassroots efforts across the state and will communicate John McCain's message of greater national security, a stronger economy and meaningful government reform.

Each of West Virginia's 55 counties will have designated chairmen at the local level to serve as the points of contact for volunteers and supporters in each region and organize turnout efforts for Election Day.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the Maryland Statewide Leadership Team. This team of Maryland leaders will help organize the campaign's grassroots efforts across the state and will communicate John McCain's message of greater national security, a stronger economy and meaningful government reform.

Each of Maryland's 24 counties and five regions will have designated chairmen at the local and regional level to serve as the points of contact for local volunteers and supporters in each county and region.    » read more »

05 August 2008 -- Iraqi lawmakers failed again Tuesday to resolve a dispute about power-sharing proposals for the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Khalid al-Attiya told reporters they postponed a vote on the draft local elections law, scheduled for today, to Wednesday.

He said lawmakers are considering a United Nations proposal that calls for holding local elections across the country, but leaves Kirkuk's elections for a later date.

Iraq's parliament has been debating a draft local elections law that would allocate seats in Kirkuk's provincial council equally among its ethnic groups - Kurds, Arabs and Turkomen. Iraqi Kurds and their allies want to keep their majority in the assembly.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- This week, as John McCain continues on the Low Road Express, launching false attacks and airing desperate ads, donations from oil and gas companies are fueling his campaign - and driving his policies.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- Today, after a week of watching Senator McCain go back and forth on whether or not he would consider raising the Social Security payroll tax, McCain's campaign surrogates engaged in their own debate: with McCain.

On Fox News Sunday, Lindsey Graham said raising the Social Security payroll tax was "a dumb idea," even though McCain himself said he was open to the idea last weekend.

John McCain: Photo by Dan Bennett (CC)    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- John McCain wrapped up his week by telling reporters in Florida that he thinks he is running "a very respectful campaign" and that he doesn't think his campaign "is negative in the slightest." In reality, independent organizations, Republican strategists and media observers alike have criticized him all week for taking the low road. In fact, if you're looking for the right word to sum up McCain's week, try one of these: "desperate," "dishonorable," "outright lies," "off the mark," "nasty," "the gutter," "baloney," or "baseless."    » 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 »

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 »

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 »

June 23, 2008 -- After years of saying he opposed drilling in our coastal waters, Senator McCain changed his position and has embraced President Bush's vision for offshore drilling. On CBS's Face the Nation, McCain advisor Carly Fiorina tried to defend John McCain's decision to cave in to Big Oil.

Offshore oil rig: Photo by arbyreed (CC)    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- This week John McCain reversed himself again, announcing that he now supports lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling despite previously opposing such a plan to reverse decades of U.S. policy. McCain and President Bush stood behind the plan even though it does nothing to address current gas prices, it would take years to see a drop of oil from these leases, and oil industry execs already have thousands of untapped leases at their disposal.    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Department of State seeking information about possible violations of the Hatch Act in connection to John McCain's events in Ottawa today. The FOIA request follows reports that McCain campaign officials requested assistance in arranging a $100-a-plate luncheon speech from U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins.    » read more »