2008 Presidential election

June 12, 2008 -- John McCain claims he has a plan for Iraq and that "[w]hen Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country, American troops can return home." But the reality is, Senator McCain doesn't have a plan to bring our troops home from Iraq--he doesn't even think it's important to have one. Yesterday when asked on the Today Show if he had an idea of when troops in Iraq could come home, John McCain said "No, but that's not too important." [johnmccain.com, accessed 6/11/08; NBC's Today Show, 6/11/08]    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- According to reports, one of John McCain's top economic surrogates-- Republican National Committee Victory Fund Chair Carly Fiorina--was head of Hewlett-Packard at a time when the company was actively working to circumvent export controls established as part of a trade boycott of Iran. This report makes Fiorina the second senior McCain advisor in as many weeks to be linked to companies doing business in Iran.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "Barack Obama offered to meet John McCain at five joint appearances between now and Election Day—the three traditional debates plus a joint town hall on the economy in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August.

John McCain: Photo by Kenneth Lu (CC)

That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern era—offering a broad range of formats—and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "Today's Supreme Court decision ensures that we can protect our nation and bring terrorists to justice, while also protecting our core values. The Court's decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration's attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo - yet another failed policy supported by John McCain.

Barack Obama mural, Brooklyn: Photo by Shira Golding (CC)    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Chicago, IL – Today, Senator Barack Obama will meet with Ryan and Jenny Micke of Appleton, WI, to discuss the economic challenges facing the middle class and how his tax plan will bring ease the strain that so many American families face.    » read more »

Chicago, IL -- June 11, 2008 -- "Before we begin, I just wanted to say a word about the flooding devastating so many communities. We were scheduled to be holding this event in Iowa, but we decided to cancel it because we didn't want to divert state resources from going to help with flood relief.

Barack Obama poster, San Francisco: Photo by january20th2009 (CC)    » read more »

June 11, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement in response to major flooding in the Midwest.

"My heart goes out to the families in Illinois and across the Midwest, who have been forced to flee their own homes, and leave their businesses and communities behind.

Rising flood waters, Appleton: Photo by lynnewu (CC)

Right now, many of them are wondering when they'll be able to return, and what they'll find when they get there.    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama released the following statement today in response to the news of the trade deficit increase.

"Today we learned that the trade deficit jumped to its highest level in 13 months. This is not an accident. This is yet another sign of the failed economic policies of the Bush administration that John McCain seeks to extend – policies that reflect unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility and borrowing from abroad.

Rather than get America's fiscal house in order, Senator McCain is proposing $300 billion more in tax breaks and loopholes for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and he hasn't explained how he'd pay for them.    » read more »

June 08, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Senator Barack Obama today appointed Matthew Nugen, the campaign's political director, to serve as his designee to the Democratic National Convention Committee. Nugen will arrive in Denver on Monday to begin working with DNCC staff and the Host Committee.

As the campaign's political director, Nugen served as chief liaison to elected officials, labor groups, and political leaders over the course of the16-month primary. In his new role, he will be responsible for coordinating convention operations for Senator Obama, our Party's presumptive nominee.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be held at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. For more information, please visit www.demconvention.com.

Source: Barack Obama campaign

June 9, 2008 -- John McCain says he wants to cut taxes for middle class families. But the reality is Senator McCain would do even less for the middle class than President Bush, which is definitely not the change Americans are looking for.

McCain is masking a tax cut for the wealthy as a middle class tax break, saying that 100 million people have "something to do with capital gains." The truth is fewer than seven percent of families earning less than $100,000 received capital gains income in 2005. [CNN Live Feed, Town Hall (Charlotte, NC), 5/5/08; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 1/30/2006]    » read more »

June 8, 2008 -- Today on ABC's "This Week" Senator Lindsey Graham, saying that Senator Obama and Senator McCain have "two different views of how to grow the economy in a global world," made clear that John McCain would continue the same failed Bush Administration policies that have hurt our economy.

John McCain: Photo by T toes (CC)

In stark contrast, Senator Barack Obama has outlined plans to change the policies of the Bush Administration to get our economy back on track --specific plans that he'll talk about next week as he launches his two week economic swing - the "Change that Works for You Tour" Monday.    » read more »

June 6, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today after news reports indicated that Senator McCain supports President Bush’s wire-tapping program:

John McCain: Photo by Christy Frink (CC)    » read more »

June 07, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run.

Barack Obama with Hillary Clinton: Photo by Salvador García Bardón (CC)

She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans.    » read more »

Two-week swing will highlight key economic issues

June 06, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - The Barack Obama campaign announced today that Senator Obama will launch a two-week economic swing—the "Change that Works for You" tour—on Monday, June 9. Obama will travel across the country, talking to Americans about how the economy affects their everyday lives. He'll hold events with voters where they work and where they live, discussing the challenges we face and his plans to turn the economy around.

The tour will kick off on Monday with an economic speech in Raleigh, North Carolina.    » read more »

June 5, 2008 -- John McCain says he is running the most transparent campaign in history. Yet just yesterday McCain and his campaign were caught misrepresenting his record on Hurricane Katrina, trying to cover it up, and then backtracking and shifting their answers on the issue.

This follows a pattern of deception we've seen with McCain: he insists on raising campaign money behind closed doors to hide the fact that lobbyists and the special interests are funding his campaign, he is not transparent about his tax returns and finances, and he is not transparent about the lobbyists running his campaign.    » read more »