A Blog Called Hope

In interview with Matt Lauer, McCain proclaims bringing American troops home from Iraq is “not too important”

After several months of attacking Barack Obama for his ‘naiveté’ on Iraq, it seems McCain himself is the one of touch.

During an interview with Matt Lauer last week, John McCain was questioned about his stance on Iraq; particularly his position on a timetable for withdrawal. McCain took the opportunity to downplay the significance of the potential of our brave men and women returning home, and instead spewed more nonsensical foreign policy and took another jab at Senator Obama.

Here is a portion of Matt Lauer’s interview with the Republican Presidential candidate:

MR. LAUER: When the president, though, came up with this surge at a time where everyone, it seemed, was thinking the contrary, you endorsed it with great conviction and great courage. And a lot of people now say the surge is working.

SEN. MCCAIN: Anybody who knows the facts on the ground say that, yes.

MR. LAUER: If it’s working, Senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?

SEN. MCCAIN: No, but that’s not too important. What’s important is the casualties in Iraq. Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That’s all fine.
American casualties and the ability to withdraw — we will be able to withdraw. General Petraeus is going to tell us in July when he thinks we are.
But the key to it is we don’t want any more Americans in harm’s way. And that way they will be safe and serve our country and come home with honor and victory, not in defeat, which is what Senator Obama’s proposal would have done.

So what’s not important to John McCain is soldiers’ being safe and spending time with their families and loved ones. What IS important to McCain is “victory”, what IS important to McCain is pride. Is pride and “victory” worth the 120,000+ American lives that are on the line in?…

“I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-rate power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history…Let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.” -President Richard Nixon, 1969.

Couple these insensitive and ill-informed assertions with those he recently made about Iran, it is becoming clear John McCain does not have a handle on his own cash cow, foreign policy.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy is announcing funding for U.S. Army vehicles.

Kennedy’s office says he secured a $2.5 million appropriation for the project. He’ll announce the funding at a news conference Tuesday morning in Warren.

The funds will be used in a partnership between TPI Composites, a maker of composite structures, and the Volvo Group.

TPI will create composite cabs that can be used inside Army vehicles and also as commercial sleeping cabs for truckers.

Kennedy says the funding will improve Rhode Island’s defense industry and equip the Army with a product that could save lives. (News 10).

Reception this evening

Tonight, there is a reception with Barack Obama’s chief health-care adviser, David Cutler, and Attorney General Patrick Lynch at the Hi-Hat, 3 Davol Square, Providence.

The event will begin at 5:30pm, and you still have time to RSVP to Jeffrey Padwa. Contributions for the reception are $150 per person and $250 per couple.

Unite for Change house meetings

On Saturday, June 28th, more than a thousand supporters like you are hosting Unite for Change house meetings all across the country.

Ordinary people will be opening their homes and inviting friends and neighbors to come together and talk about our common cause of change.

See what Barack has to say about these Unite for Change events and sign up to host one in your community:

http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

In an insightful piece in today’s New York Times, David M. Herszenhorn details Senator Jack Reed’s (D-RI) steadfast efforts to assist homeowners ravaged by the current mortgage crisis.

Here are a few snippets from the Times article:

“In the West End, with its 19th-century Victorians and clapboard triple-deckers, dozens of homes are up for auction and dozens more have been seized by banks. And Rhode Island, which has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the country behind Michigan, California and Alaska, is among the top 10 states for subprime foreclosures.

Rhode Island’s housing woes receive little notice compared with the more serious plight of states like Florida and Nevada. Similarly overlooked is Mr. Reed’s central role in clinching an agreement on a foreclosure rescue bill last month — the latest sign of his rising stature as a quiet dealmaker respected by colleagues in both parties. Mr. Reed’s name even appears on some lists as a potential running mate for Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

It was Mr. Reed who accompanied Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and chairman of the banking committee, to meet with Senator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, the committee’s top Republican, when they brokered the final terms of the foreclosure rescue plan, which will widen access to federally insured mortgages without tapping taxpayer money.” (New York Times, June 17, 2008)

“He is to be commended for his tenacity, for his never-give-up,” said Mr. Shelby, who, like Mr. Reed, prefers to flex his legislative muscle behind the scenes.

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and a fellow member of the banking committee, said Mr. Reed pressed for years to create the affordable-housing fund, and finally found the perfect moment.

“Once again,” Mr. Schumer said, “Jack does it in his quiet, steadfast way, and it is extremely effective.”

“There is sometimes a tendency to assume that everyone in this great country has adequate housing. But when you go to certain places, certain neighborhoods, both urban and rural, you find out that’s not the case, and I think we have to do much more… Average Americans, you know, they don’t have any traction economically. That was always in the back of their mind and sort of part of their financial plan, which is, If I really got into a problem, at least I have the equity in my home, I can use that. Now, they don’t know if they do, and in many cases they don’t.” -Senator Jack Reed, (New York Times, June 17, 2008).

After some public delays by John McCain, it seems that McCain will go ahead and fund raise with a Texas oilman who cracked jokes about rape

Williams Made Misogynist Remarks. “Clayton Williams, who ran unsuccessfully against the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards (D), sparked controversy nearly two decades ago when he joked women should give in while being raped. ‘As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it,’ the oilman remarked at the time.” [Washington Post, 6/13/08]

Main Point: John McCain’s claim that he is running a different kind of campaign rings hollow. His refusal to denounce or return the money raised by Clayton Williams, a supporter who has made misogynist and offensive comments in the past, shows McCain has no intention of running a different kind of campaign. Instead the McCain campaign has scheduled an additional fundraiser with Williams.

• Not only has the McCain campaign refused to return the money raised by Williams or denounce his outrageous remarks, but now the campaign is rescheduling the fundraiser for later next month.

• Instead of benefiting from two fundraisers involving Clayton Williams, Senator McCain should make it clear he will not tolerate this kind of sexism and inappropriate language in public life.

• McCain’s effort to mislead the voters into thinking Monday’s fundraiser had been canceled is truly outrageous and shows Senator McCain is not offering the ’straight talk’ he promised the American people. Instead of running a transparent campaign McCain has no problem deceiving the American people to benefit his own political career.

KEY FACTS:

McCain Campaign To Hold Fundraiser Later This Summer. “Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) has decided to hold a fundraiser initially sponsored by a controversial Texas oilman later in the summer at a different venue, according to an aide who asked not to be identified.This morning, a McCain aide confirmed in an e-mail that the contributors who had already made a combined donation of at least $300,000 to the event would have another chance to meet McCain.” [Washington Post, 6/15/08]

McCain Campaign Postpones Fundraiser. “Late Saturday afternoon, a McCain aide confirmed to the Chronicle that the Midland event had been postponed but had not been taken off the calendar. The compromise allowed McCain to say he had not held a fundraiser at Williams’ house; it gave Williams an opportunity to say that the event he organized had not been canceled.” [Houston Chronicle, 6/14/08]

Senator Obama appears in Michigan to discuss the economy

Just hours ago, Senator Barack Obama delivered a speech at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan in which he laid out his plans to make the United States more competitive in the global economy.

“I know as well that more than anything else, success will depend not on our government, but on the dynamism, determination and innovation of the American people,” -Senator Barack Obama in Flint, MI on June 16, 2008.

Obama’s speech can be viewed at MLive.com.

In addition to the video, a transcript of Senator Obama’s speech is also available.

Attorney General Lynch named President as attorneys general from across the United States meet in RI

At this week’s meeting of attorneys general from across the country, Rhode Island’s own Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch will be named President of the National Association of Attorneys General. At a Thursday dinner for the Association, Lynch will officially begin his one-year term as President, becoming the first R.I. Attorney General to do so.

“I’m honored to further the mission of NAAG as its president, but even more honored to work with my colleagues on issues so important to propelling justice and advancing the quality of life in our country,” -Attorney General Lynch (Providence Journal)

The conference will take place over four days and will include events in Providence and Newport.

For more on this story visit the Providence Journal or Boston Globe.

Here is a portion of Congressman Kennedy’s press release from today:

Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy will vote in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Authorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 6063) today on the House floor. The bill authorizes appropriations to NASA for the fiscal year of 2009.

“Ever since President Kennedy issued his historic challenge 47 years ago, the space program has captured the attention of the American people, created entire generations of scientists, researchers and astronauts, and paved the way for scientific breakthroughs here on Earth. It is appropriate that this legislation will carry us through the 40^th anniversary of the moon landing. We need to adequately support NASA’s programs that encourage research and nationwide participation in experiments which collect valuable medical and scientific data. We should also continue to fund educational programs, such as the enormously successful Space Grant program, which bring the excitement of space into schools across the nation, encouraging a new generation of researchers and astronauts,” adds Kennedy.

The NASA Authorization Act of 2008 approves funds to be used for science, aeronautics, exploration, education, space operations, cross-agency support programs, and the inspector general.

Preliminary electoral projections show a potential neck and neck race between Senators Obama and McCain, but Gallup poll tells another story

Today, CNN released their Electoral Projections for the upcoming November election. These projections are based off of “a number of factors: polling, state voting trends and more”.

In what CNN deems “safe” states (nearly certain to vote for that candidate), Barack Obama leads with 153 electors compared to 125 for McCain. Safe states for Senator Obama include the likes of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and California. Texas, Arizona, and Mississippi are three states considered “safe” for McCain.

On the other hand, McCain has more states that CNN believes are “leaning” (showing present tendencies to vote for) McCain. The 69 electors “leaning” for McCain include states like Louisiana and Indiana. At this time, Senator Obama has Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington “leaning” his way; accounting for 37 electors.

As expected, this election will once again hinge on the “swing states” (Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, etc.) that CNN currently deems a “toss up”. These 12 states account for 154 electoral votes; representing 29% of the total electoral count.

Meanwhile, the most recent Gallup poll shows that Barack Obama currently holds a 6% (48% to 42%) lead over his Republican counterpart. This figure is actually up one percentage point from when Senator Obama effectively claimed the Democratic Party nomination. The 6 percentage point gap is also an encouraging number because this represents Senator Obama’s largest advantage since he and McCain have been polled against one another.

These figures, specifically CNN’s electoral projections, exhibit the close race that faces this country. It will be immensely important for Rhode Islanders to sure up support for Senator Obama within the state as well as elsewhere. Rhode Islanders who support Barack Obama have the ability to reach out to other states, such as New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, to help Senator Obama capture the 270 electoral votes necessary to claim the Presidency and to spur the change our country needs.

For more Election coverage and a map displaying the Electoral Projections visit CNN.com.