A Blog Called Hope

Senator Obama in Missouri to discuss our economic security and his stark differences from John McCain

Rhode Island family accompanies Senator Reed (D-RI) for the signing of a bill which calls for $150 million in funding for youth cancer research

“The Haights, who are from Warwick, were at The White House Tuesday as President Bush signed a bill, honoring their son. Vince and Nancy Haight asked Senator Jack Reed to help secure funding for childhood cancer research, after their son, Ben, died from the disease.” -WPRI

To read the article, visit WPRI online.

Michelle Obama spoke at a Women for Obama lunch reception in Chicago, IL, unveiling the Obama campaign’s Blueprint for America’s Working Women and Families

Senator Barack Obama has released a new ad responding to McCain’s assault on Obama’s record on energy

McCain sees cash windfall from his recent change in position on offshore drilling

McCain has hopped in bed with George W. Bush when it comes to Big Oil, and it’s paying big dividends. After years of opposition to offshore drilling, John McCain mysteriously reversed his position and is now seeing his pockets bulge full of Big Oil cash.

In June, John McCain raised $1.1 million from Big Oil donors; more than he had raised in the 18 months prior to his reversal on offshore drilling.

Along with his shift to support the drilling, McCain also supports $4 billion in tax breaks to be gained by the top five major oil companies.

Again, like his Republican predecessor, John McCain has chosen political and financial gain for himself and his priveleged cronies over protecting the average American’s financial welfare.

Ad assailing Barack Obama for “snubbing” troops proves to be off-base

The Republican smear campaign was working in overdrive to tear down Senator Obama’s successful foreign policy trip abroad. Their feeble attempt to taint Senator Obama’s highly touted trip resulted in a short video clip slamming Senator Obama for “snubbing” our brave troops.

The ad attacks Obama on choosing playing basketball over visiting wounded troops, and ultimately canceling the visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center due to the fact cameras would not be allowed in to view him visiting the troops. The obvious insinuations from the fictitious ad are that Barack Obama does not care about the troops and Barack Obama is a calculated political figure who only does things for the accolades that accompany them.

The truth of the matter is that Barack Obama had no say in the decision. Despite planning for the trip for several weeks, Senator Obama was advised by the Pentagon to not visit the troops due to the potential political conflict of interest. The truth is video cameras were not going to be permitted to tag along in the first place. Senator Obama had planned to visit our brave men and women for weeks, knowing full well cameras would not be part of the visit. So any insinuation by the McCain campaign that Senator Obama “snubbed” our troops because he would not get face time is utterly false.

Fact is Senator Obama has visited troops in U.S. and Iraq, outside the gaze of TV cameras. However, that doesn’t plan well for the Republicans, so they won’t want you to know that factual tidbit.

For more “fact checking”, which the McCain camp again has neglected to do, visit Newsweek.

Mike Marcello officially announced his candidacy for State Representative of Cranston and Scituate last Tuesday night at the North Scituate Community House. Citing the state’s high unemployment rate, high tax burdens, corruption, and inefficiency in drafting laws, Marcello pledged to tackle the most pressing issues for the residents of Cranston and North Scituate:

“I am here to tell you that we can and must change, and it begins with the help of all of you tonight. In these time of crises, I have hope for the future because I have confidence that our citizens can meet any challenge, overcome any obstacle, and make the tough choices if they are just given all of the facts and told the truth.”

In addition to challenging the legislature to spend more time drafting clear and concise laws and denouncing legislative grants used to reward political friends, Marcello vowed to support a law mandating the state legislators to pay the same health care co-pay as the highest paid by any state worker. He also stressed the importance of Rhode Island joining the other 49 sates in adopting a school aid funding formula geared towards supporting teachers and staff, music, art and sports programs, and all other “extras” that benefit students. Marcello believes in fully funding our schools as a means of nurturing a better educated and more enthusiastic and creative generation to fuel economic development and job growth further down the road. Finally, he voiced the need to adopt a comprehensive economic plan to stimulate the economy and attract the high paying jobs Rhode Island “desperately needs.”

Marcello, an attorney at Morrison Mahoney LLP, ran against 3 time incumbent Carol Mumford in 2006 coming within 6 percentage points of defeating her. He is poised in the 2008 election cycle for a big win to take back the seat for the Democratic Party.

Sen. Reed outlines the Democratic vision for safely redeploying American troops from Iraq and focusing on the global war against terror.

Here is the audio from Senator Reed’s address:

Soon after returning from his political journey abroad, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stopped by ‘Face the Nation’ to report on his foreign policy trip with Senator Obama.

Check out the video from the appearance below:

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) rips into Bush administration based on what he describes as ‘political favoritism’ in Judicial hiring

Former U.S. Attorney, and current Rhode Island Senator, Sheldon Whitehouse has targeted the Bush White House for what he deems unlawful hiring schemes at the Department of Justice. After an extensive investigation into the matter, Senator Whitehouse has uncovered a systematic effort to hire applicants based on political leanings. Such practices violate the hiring rules for civil service positions.

To view Senator Whitehouse’s entire press release visit his website.