The Blog World Showing Support for Barack Obama

This week Sen. John McCain’s campaign released a video montage of what they claimed was evidence of a love affair that the media has going on with Sen. Barack Obama. This of course is due to how much television and radio play has come from Obama’s trip to the Middle East and Europe. While a media throng has followed Obama halfway around the globe, one reporter greeted McCain’s airplane at a recent New Hampshire campaign stop.

I concede that the decision of the evening news anchors from CBS, NBC, and ABC to travel with Obama is questionable. But there is no way around the fact that his trip abroad is a newsworthy event.

McCain made a similar trip overseas while the Dems were still fighting it out for the nomination. If his strategists had it to do over again, I’m sure they would have waited until this summer’s lull to have their candidate hop across the Atlantic.

McCain and his party should blame themselves for their part in creating a story about Obama having NOT visited Iraq in quite sometime prior to this week. The GOP even had a running counter of exactly how many days it had been.

So if the Republicans thought it was a big deal that Obama hadn’t been to Iraq, how can they then tell Americans that is going there is not?

David Bauder of the associated press sums up the type of week it’s been for Obama.

Waging the image campaign overseas: Barack Obama has packed his overseas trip with presidential images: a helicopter ride over Iraq with the U.S. military commander; a visit to a Holocaust memorial; a meeting at Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s palace. He even found time to sink a three-point basketball shot before cheering U.S. soldiers.

McCain should learn from Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign that complaining about media bias is not a winning proposition. If he gives voters some fresh ideas, or at least stops getting so mixed up about what’s going on with the economy and abroad, maybe a little more attention will come his way. But for now, he and his folks should sit back and watch this momentum that they helped to create.

Photos from the New York Times.

CHICAGO, IL – (July 15), Senator Barack Obama will deliver a major speech on the war in Iraq and America’s national security priorities. Senator Obama will outline his strategy for addressing the most pressing threats facing America, which requires bringing the war to a responsible end, finishing the fight in Afghanistan, and pursuing our broader strategic objectives in the world.

Unlike Senator McCain, Senator Obama had the judgment to oppose the war before it began.  Senator Obama understood that the war would undermine our security by sapping the resources needed to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan and al-Qaeda across the globe.  As President, Senator Obama will consult with the generals on the ground on the tactics necessary to ensure the safe, responsible redeployment of American troops over 16 months.

 

“If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks.  But most experts, even within the Bush Administration, concede it would do neither.  It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years.

Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survival of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy.  He is ready to lead such a transformation,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

By Friday Afternoon, I had resigned myself to the fact that my two week attempt to secure a visit to the Barack Obama campaign headquarters would not happen.  I would take my family down to Michgan Avenue for some Garrett’s popcorn and call it a vacation;

The trip had been just like I envisioned, museums, a trip to Wrigley, Chicago style deep dish pizza, Navy Pier, what more could a guy ask for.  I had made a pretty good push with the Obama people, but it just didn’t come through.  Then I get a call as I’m exiting for downtown.  The visit had been set in motion, but it wasn’t a reality yet.

Check back Tuesday for a recap.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/6obxbo

Obama to Hold Meetings with Working Group Members and Retired Flag Officers in Washington, DC Today

 

CHICAGO, IL – Senator Obama today announced the formation of his Senior Working Group on National Security, a group of advisors that he will consult on a regular basis between now and the election. Obama will meet with the group for the first time today in Washington, DC for a wide-ranging discussion of the immense challenges faced by the United States in the wake of the disastrous foreign policies of George Bush.

 

“Each individual here today has provided extraordinary service to our nation in the executive branch and Congress. Several have been advising my campaign for some time. We’re also honored to be joined by some of Senator Clinton’s senior advisors. In the months to come, we’ll be reaching out to others, as well as leaders in Congress,” Senator Obama said.

“The stakes in this election could not be higher. John McCain wants to continue George Bush’s foreign policy which has made us less safe, less respected, and less able to lead the world. It’s time to change course. It’s time to end the war in Iraq responsibly, refocus on Afghanistan and al Qaeda, and renew our global leadership so that we can tackle the huge challenges of the 21st century.”

 

Later today, he will also meet with a group of nearly 40 retired Admirals and Generals to discuss the state of our armed forces, and the challenges facing our military in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. This meeting is part of an ongoing dialogue between Senator Obama and current and former military officers of various ranks and views.

 

Senator Obama’s Senior Working Group on National Security includes:

 

• Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
• Senator David Boren, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
• Secretary of State Warren Christopher
• Greg Craig, former director of the State Department Office of Policy Planning
• Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig
• Representative Lee Hamilton, former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
• Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder
• Dr. Tony Lake, former National Security Advisor
• Senator Sam Nunn, former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Secretary of Defense William Perry
• Dr. Susan Rice, former Assistant Secretary of State
• Representative Tim Roemer, 9/11 Commissioner
• Jim Steinberg, former Deputy National Security Advisor

Strength of results sends message to 2008 candidates

WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pre-K Now today released results of a national poll on voters’ views of state and federal support for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The findings reveal broad support for making voluntary pre-k for all children a larger fiscal priority, and suggest that candidates’ positions on the issue could influence many Americans’ votes this fall.
“The results show that Americans of diverse backgrounds, incomes and political beliefs recognize the importance of ensuring that all families have access to affordable, quality pre-k so that our nation’s children can start school ready to learn and thrive,” said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. “If I were a candidate in a competitive Congressional race, this is a poll I’d pay attention to.”
A bipartisan polling team from Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. and American Viewpoint surveyed 800 registered voters, along with an additional 200 “swing voters” who typically split their votes between Democrats and Republicans. Strong support for a new federal investment in pre-kindergarten is evident across all demographic groups, though support is particularly strong among swing voters between 18 and 39 years of age, swing voters in the South, and black and Latino voters.
“We found solid support for both a federal role in pre-k and federal funding, and compared with other issues we survey, we saw significantly less drop-off in support when we put a price tag on the idea – even among Republican voters typically leery of government spending,” said Jay Campbell of Hart Research Associates. “These are very positive numbers.”

  Additional findings:
  --  Seven in 10 voters 					Hidden List 					 -- 					Hidden List
      and 7 in 10 swing voters 					Hidden List 					 -- 					Hidden List
      		 support a new federal grant to help states increase the quality and
      availability of their pre-k programs.
  --  By nearly 3:1, voters are more likely to support a Congressional
      candidate who backs increased funding for pre-k.
  --  Asked what makes a persuasive case for federal pre-k grants to states,
      72% of voters found it very or fairly convincing that pre-k should be
      an opportunity for all children, including those from the middle-class
      families.
  --  Almost 7 in 10 voters want state and local governments to provide
      voluntary pre-k for all children.
  --  A large majority of every demographic 					Hidden List 					 --
      Hidden List 					 including 64% of Republican voters 					Hidden List
      				 -- 					Hidden List 					 said that a lack of high-quality pre-k
      programs in their community would be a problem.
  --  A solid majority (56%) of voters said that federal, state and local
      governments are doing too little to make sure that all children have
      access to affordable pre-k programs.

“We know from decades of research that quality pre-k is a smart use of public dollars; now we have evidence that voters of nearly every stripe recognize the value of pre-k and want lawmakers to make greater investments,” said Doggett. “Among other candidates for office, we hope Senators McCain and Obama take note as they work to appeal to voters hungry for strong leadership on pre-k education.”
To learn more about the poll and the results, visit: http://www.preknow.org/media/pressreleases/nationalvotersurvey.cfm .
Source: Pre-K Now

CONTACT: Holly Barnes Higgins of Pre-K Now, +1-202-862-9863,
hhiggins@preknow.org
Web Site: http://www.preknow.org/

Christopher Bean from Slate.com has a mock email that he suggests should be used by the Obama campaign to deal with the negative emails that have floated around the net for months.  Bean’s post on Slate is so funny I have to share it in its entirety.

From: [Redacted]
To: [Redacted]
Subject: WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?

There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American’s duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, “WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.” Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It’s upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There’s only one artist on Barack Obama’s iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama’s new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.

Barack Obama’s skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.