Democratic allies of Barack Obama blasted a Republican National Committee (RNC) ad that hits the Illinois senator on energy policy, coming to Obama's defense on a conference call today.
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (Pa.), Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio)--Democrats serving states where the ad is airing--all defended Obama and criticized John McCain.
The ad is incorrect, disingenuous, and right on "neither the short term or long term solutions on this energy crisis we're in," Schwartz said. Granholm called the ad "ridiculous" and praised Obama's plans to create jobs through renewable energy production, while Brown questioned McCain's leadership on energy issues in the Senate.
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John McCain is rolling out his economic plan and hitting Barack Obama's on Monday.
McCain's plan, which he released Monday and has dubbed "Jobs for America," calls for lower taxes, more free trade agreements and a balanced federal budget by 2013. McCain has also been rehashing his proposals for more domestic oil drilling and a gas tax holiday, measures he said would help stem the country's dependence on foreign energy sources and soften the blow of high gas prices for Americans.
McCain, in a speech in Denver, attacked Obama as someone who would increase Americans' tax burden and who is unwilling to take necessary steps to address U.S. energy problems.
"The choice in this election is stark and simple," McCain said according to prepared remarks. "Sen. Obama will raise your taxes. I won't. I will cut them where I can. Jobs are the most important thing our economy creates. When you raise taxes in a bad economy you eliminate jobs. I'm not going to let that happen."
Barack Obama's campaign is giving campaign contributors a chance to meet the candidate backstage at at the Democratic convention this August.
Those who give $5 or more to the campaign this month will be entered into a drawing for a trip to Denver, the site of the convention, on the final two days of the convention and a meeting with Obama.
The convention will be held from August 25 to August 28. While most of the convention will be held indoors at the Pepsi Center, Obama will give his nomination acceptance speech on the final day at INVESCO Field, which is home to the NFL's Denver Broncos.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is still sailing while undergoing chemotherapy for brain cancer, the Associated Press reported.
The AP obtained an e-mail from Kennedy's wife, Vicki, who wrote that the only major side effect he feels is fatigue. She said that her husband exercises each morning, often going sailing, and has set a goal of again pushing for universal health care coverage when he returns to the Senate.
She added that he has described his cancer "as a bear," but called him a lion.
Kennedy is three weeks through a scheduled six weeks of chemotherapy.
Barack Obama's plane made an unscheduled landing in St. Louis Monday because of maintenance problem, The Page reported.
The plane was on its way to Charlotte, N.C., from Chicago. Pilots said that the plane had "controllability issues" but that it was a "minor little problem" and that the landing was "precautionary."
Republican Tim Bee, who challenging freshman Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) this fall, has lost the support of former congressman Jim Kolbe, reports the Sierra Vista Herald.
Kolbe, who served for six terms and chose not to run for re-election in 2006, hasn't said why he ended his backing for Bee, but the newspaper noted that Kolbe is openly gay and that Bee cast the deciding state senate vote in favor of putting a same-sex marriage ban on the November ballot.
Swing State Project's James L. wrote that Kolbe likely isn't pleased that the ban will again go to voters, who had defeated the same measure in 2006 51 percent to 49 percent.
Barack Obama is getting more visitors to his website and more mentions on blogs than John McCain, according to Nielsen's Internet ratings.
Obama's site received 2.3 million unique visitors while McCain's got 563,000 during May, according to Nielsen. Obama also received about double the amount of mentions on blogs and discussion boards than McCain.
"Barack Obama got a head start during primary season in using the Web effectively to garner support, both in terms of votes and donations,
A group of Iraq war veterans are calling on the nation's political leaders to "finish the job" in Iraq in a new television ad from Vets for Freedom.
The anti-withdrawal veterans group announced the launch of a multi-million dollar ad campaign in battleground states last week. It will air television ads that do not discuss candidates but call attention to post-surge security gains in Iraq.
The group released its first ad over the weekend. In it, veterans say the United States must finish the job in Iraq "no matter who is president." See the ad below:
John McCain's campaign just released a memo criticizing Barack Obama as someone who wants to raise American's taxes. The Democratic National Committee responded by highlighting similarities between President Bush and McCain's economic positions.
The crossfire comes as the two presidential campaigns Monday are pushing forth their plans to boost the economy, with McCain's campaign stressing tax cuts and Obama's campaign calling for tax relief for the middle class and programs to help Americans save.
Read snippets of the memos below.
Memo from McCain adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin:
This year, Barack Obama returned to the United States Senate twice to vote in favor of a budget resolution which raises income tax rates by three percentage points for the 25, 28 and 33 percent tax brackets. This would mean a tax increase for those earning as little as $32,000.
While Barack Obama campaigns on a promise of no tax hikes for anyone but the rich, we once again find that his words are empty when it comes time to act. In both March and June, Barack Obama could have put the force of his vote behind his words. Instead, he decided that "rich" now means those making just $32,000 per year.
[snip]
Based on his actions and votes, Barack Obama is going to raise taxes on nearly every American. If you make over $32,000 per year, Barack Obama has voted to raise your taxes. If you own stocks, Barack Obama has a plan to raise your taxes. During the primary, he proposed lifting the cap on income subject to Social Security taxation. He has proposed to repeat the failed Windfall Profits Tax and new taxes on natural gas and coal. He is going to raise taxes on small businesses. There is no group rich, poor or other who will not be adversely impacted by his tax increases.
Even more troubling, Barack Obama has proposed increasing Washington spending and expanding government programs while failing to outline how he will pay for his proposals. Where will Barack Obama make up the difference? Unfortunately, we already know the answer. If we ignore his words and look at his record, he will not hesitate to tax any Americans at any income level.
This is a question of credibility. And on ensuring that we can grow our economy by keeping taxes low and more money in the pockets of taxpayers, Barack Obama's record of action shows that his words are empty.
DNC's memo:
MCCAIN WATCH: Jobs First?
If You Like George Bush's Economy, Hire John McCain
Washington, DC-- When John McCain rolls out his "Jobs First" economic tour in Denver today, he'll have a lot of explaining to do to the American people. Senator McCain, according to the Wall Street Journal, "isn't expected to say anything new" and will only "repackage proposals he has already outlined," the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig. With his support of George Bush's disastrous economic policies that have hurt America, voters will see Senator McCain offers nothing more than four more years of lost jobs, pain at the pump and a squeeze for the Middle Class. [Wall Street Journal, 7/5/08] John McCain's plan only offers more tax breaks to the affluent and corporations in the hope that some of them will trickle down to middle-class families. He has no stimulus plan and offers barely any direct tax cuts for middle-class families, 101 million left out and those with two children getting only $125 in the first year of his plan. As the DNC shows in its new video, John McCain's claim that he'll put American "Jobs First" rings hollow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43HkmMGvL7w.
McCain will even try to warm over his already rejected claim that he can balance the budget in his first term despite his promise to make the Bush tax cuts he once opposed permanent--a claim one non-partisan fact checker called a "fantasy" earlier this year.
Jobs first? What Senator McCain has put first are unfair trade deals written by lobbyists that have led to the loss of thousands of American jobs. But instead of helping these workers get back on their feet, McCain, like Bush, has put tax breaks for corporations first and voted against programs to help the Middle Class and American workers displaced by trade agreements.
Jobs first? With Americans hurting more and more everyday and Colorado's unemployment rate having doubled under President Bush, John McCain's promise of a third Bush term on jobs and the economy is the last--not the first--thing our country needs.
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