Hillary’s Voice

Barack Makes More News Than McCain, But It’s Not All Good (Project for Excellence in Journalism)
In the first official week of the general election, the differences between Barack Obama and John McCain on issues ranging from the economy to Iraq constituted the media’s main campaign narrative.

Two national polls show Obama ahead 47%-42% (On Politics, USA Today)
Both Gallup and Reuters/Zogby say their latest national surveys give Democrat Barack Obama a 47%-42% advantage over Republican John McCain. And both say Obama does not appear to have gotten a big “bounce” since securing the Democratic nomination two weeks ago.

McCain Adviser Repeats False Claim That China Is Drilling For Oil Off The Coast Of Florida (Think Progress)
In recent days, several conservatives, in an attempt to push for expanded oil drilling, have parroted the talking point that China is drilling near Cuba, just off the coast of Florida. In reality, “China is not drilling in Cuba’s Gulf of Mexico waters, period,” as Jorge Piñon, an energy expert at the University of Miami, explained. Nevertheless, as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) calls for lifting a ban on offshore oil drilling, the McCain campaign continues to parrot the false line. On CNBC [Tuesday] night, McCain adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer stated: “When you think about the fact that we’ve got China and Cuba drilling closer to the United States — the coastal United States — when American companies aren’t allowed to drill. It’s just insane.” [Wednesday] afternoon on MSNBC, she made similar comments… Not surprisingly, according to Senate lobbying disclosures, Pfotenhauer previously was a lobbyist for Koch Industries, a major energy company involved in oil exploration.

McCain’s push for offshore drilling could hurt him in Florida (McClatchy)
John McCain’s support for offshore drilling could hurt his prospects in the nation’s largest battleground state, where voters have long favored safeguarding the economically and environmentally precious coastline.

Obama leads in 3 big swing states (Hot off the Trail, McClatchy)
A new Quinnipiac University poll Wednesday morning shows Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Obama’s up by 4 in Florida, by 6 in Ohio and by 12 in Pennsylvania–largely because of strong backing from women, blacks and

Obama: NAFTA not so bad after all (Fortune)
WASHINGTON (Fortune) — The general campaign is on, independent voters are up for grabs, and Barack Obama is toning down his populist rhetoric - at least when it comes to free trade. In an interview with Fortune to be featured in the magazine’s upcoming issue, the presumptive Democratic nominee backed off his harshest attacks on the free trade agreement and indicated he didn’t want to unilaterally reopen negotiations on NAFTA. “Sometimes during campaigns the rhetoric gets overheated and amplified,” he conceded, after I reminded him that he had called NAFTA “devastating” and “a big mistake,” despite nonpartisan studies concluding that the trade zone has had a mild, positive effect on the U.S. economy.
After all the hatred he ginned up against Hillary Clinton over this issue during the primaries!

Change? Obama’s foreign policy team is old Clinton hands (McClatchy)
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama met Wednesday with a new national-security advisory group that includes many of former President Clinton’s top advisers, saying that if he’s elected president he’ll return the nation “to a pragmatic tradition of American foreign policy, which has been so ably advanced by the people in this room.”
After all his disrespectful treatment of Bill Clinton during the primaries!

Obama on Guantanamo and the War on Terror (by Jeralyn at TalkLeft)
Sen. Barack Obama today named his National Security team and delivered a prepared speech on the war on terror and Guantanamo. I’m disappointed with it. “…the single greatest priority of my presidency will be doing anything and everything that I can to keep the American people safe…” If you were hoping universal health care or creating more jobs or reducing our country’s reliance on incarceration would be his greatest priority, this is a letdown. On Afghanistan: “Afghanistan is sliding toward chaos, and risks turning into a narco-terrorist state… We need more resources in Afghanistan…” Sounds like we’re headed for more war, just in a different country.

On Guantanamo: “I have confidence that our system of justice is strong enough to deal with terrorists; Senator McCain does not. That is not the same as giving these detainees the same full privileges as Americans citizens. I never said that, the Supreme Court never said that, and I would never do that as President of the United States.”… In 2001, the Supreme Court, in Zadvydas v. Davis, et al held: “Once an alien enters the country, the legal circumstance changes, for the Due Process Clause applies to all persons within the United States, including aliens, whether their presence is lawful, unlawful, temporary, or permanent….the aliens’ liberty interest is not diminished by their lack of a legal right to live at large….”

It doesn’t get much clearer than that. They do have constitutional rights, including due process and the right to habeas corpus, to name a few.

Obama and Iraqi Foreign Minister Have Different Memories of their Conversation (by Jake Tapper at Political Punch, ABC News)
On Monday, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, talked on the phone with the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari. At a press availability in Michigan, I asked Obama if Zebari had expressed any concern to him that his plans to withdrawal U.S. troops as president would undo any security advances. “No, he did not express that,” Obama said. “He did emphasize his belief that we’ve made real progress and I think was eager to see political accommodations between the factions follow up in the wake of this progress… But today comes this report that Zebari told the Washington Post “that he had some frank talk for the candidate: ‘The foreign minister said ‘my message’ to Mr. Obama ‘was very clear…Really, we are making progress. I hope any actions you will take will not endanger this progress.’”

Obama and the Racial Politics of Symbols (by Corey D.B. Walker at the Black Agenda Report)
It is beyond question that Barack Obama’s pending nomination as the Democrats’ presidential standard bearer has great symbolic value. However, “to equate the symbolic dimension of Senator Obama’s campaign for the presidency with the substantive standing and status of American democracy is to commit a serious error,” says the author. “Senator Obama’s economic team is heavily tilted in favor of neoliberal economists” and his “foreign policy vision is still one wedded to the expansion and deepening of American Empire.” Symbols are one thing, but the facts of imperialism as a system carry more real-world weight.

Obama tours Wayne County (Detroit News)
Barack Obama touted his plans to help college students and met with a largely friendly group of community leaders on Tuesday, wrapping up a two-day Michigan campaign swing. The Democratic presidential nominee discussed party unity, parenthood, abortion and Middle East policy at a downtown hotel with several dozen political officials, religious leaders and others, said participants in the meeting, which was, for the most part, closed to the press. Though he got mostly complimentary reviews, one Arab-American leader was critical of his reactions to questions about the Israel-Palestinian conflict… Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News and head of an Arab-American political action fund, said he confronted Obama about a speech this month to an American Jewish group… Obama said he would discuss the issue later.

Obama Camp Apologizes to Muslim Women (The Caucus, New York Times)
Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has apologized for keeping Muslim women wearing headscarves out of a key shot at his Detroit event. According to Politico’s Ben Smith, campaign volunteers told at least two Muslim women that they could not join friends in special spots behind the candidate unless they removed their religious headwear.

Obama and the Church (by Mel Reeves at the Black Agenda Report)
Barack Obama is rethinking his religion. Or is he repositioning religion in his campaign profile? One thing seems certain: “He doesn’t want a church like Trinity United Church of Christ, which ‘comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.’” No, sir. “Trinity was too progressive and too issue-oriented and, some may say, a bit too pro-black for someone who seeks to lead the United States without a real progressive agenda for real change.”  It could have been worse for Obama. He might have stumbled into a church like the ones “that motivated the slaves that sought freedom by any means necessary: the Nat Turners, Denmark Vesseys, Gabriel Prossers, Harriet Tubmans, and David Walkers.”

An Obama Crowd in Detroit Comes Ready to Boo (by Anne E. Kornblut at The Trail, Washington Post)
DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm received a deafening chorus of boos Monday night at her mention of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the candidate Granholm once backed for the Democratic presidential nomination… A few moments later the same fired-up crowd booed former vice president Al Gore when he urged Democrats to be respectful of the likely Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain. “In that case I’m glad I brought it up,” Gore dryly responded… When Obama took the stage, he reprimanded the audience for booing Granholm over Clinton, then went on an extended detour to praise his former rival.
That’s good, but you need to make some serious apologies for the vicious lies your campaign told about the Clintons, Senator Obama.  And this new message somehow isn’t making it down to the netroots.  See below.

Thanks TPM, we appreciate your courageous work. (by herb the verb at Corrente)
Greg Sargent [has a] helpful compilation entitled “Was The Media Unfair To Hillary? Here’s Our Rundown”, arriving, “just in time to not make a difference” as the man says… So how exactly, one wonders, are they going to list the atrocities without a mea culpa? Will they moonwalk? Will they face their own crimes head-on? Well, the answer apparently is “nope”. They will show examples while completely ignoring that WKJM [Whoever Kidnapped Josh Marshall] Himself did exactly what they accuse others of doing… But then Sargent offers this stunning statement:

“Multiple pundits asserted as outright fact that the Clintons had hatched a grand plot [links to one of his Horses Mouth posts] to paint Obama as the black candidate in order to boost white turnout in the big industrial states. Let me be as clear as possible here: Yes, the Clintons did racialize the campaign in some ways. And it’s conceivable that the grand plot described above did exist.” Emphasis mine.

Evidence provided? Nada. Quotes provided? Nyet. Unfair to speculate? No way! It would be unfair NOT to speculate! So in other words, the most unfair charge against Hillary (“Billary” as he calls her unself-conciously in the Horses Mouth) is now “as clear as possible” without attribution, or proof. Stunning in its lack of self-awareness, yet pleasingly “truthy”. I don’t have the energy anymore, could someone else please be outraged for me?

Michigan, Florida to get full votes in Democratic Convention (AP via Freedom’s Phoenix)
Gov. Jennifer Granholm says she has gotten personal assurances from presidential candidate Barack Obama that he’ll restore the full voting rights of Michigan and Florida’s national convention delegates.
Now that they can’t do any harm to his forced nomination.  Remember, Obama said in mid-May that HE, not the Party, would seat the Florida and Michigan delegates.  He’s apparently known for a long time that the primary was a sham and that the party leaders would give him the nomination, no matter what.

Watchdog group: Corporations, interest groups extend lobbying reach to conventions (On Politics, USA Today)
USA TODAY’s Fredreka Schouten reports on a new study by the Campaign Finance Institute that shows corporate and group donors to this summer’s Democratic and Republican national conventions have spent more than $700 million to lobby Congress and the executive branch since 2005. Their employees and political action committees gave nearly $100 million to federal candidates and parties in the same period.

Denver stocks up on weapons to fight DNC protesters
Denver police are stocking up on guns that fire a pepper spray-like substance instead of bullets in advance of the Democratic National Convention. The department recently ordered 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost “in the low six figures,” the company that makes the weapons stated in a news release Monday. The request was for delivery in advance of the DNC, according to Louisville- based Security With Advanced Technology Inc. But the city has refused to disclose how it is spending the money, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union last month to file a civil lawsuit.

Clinton supporter planning “holy chaos” for Obama camp (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Ed Hale and his feisty flock are nearing action. The Texas rancher’s web site for Hillary Clinton supporters planning to back John McCain over Barack Obama has attracted thousands of supporters along with ridicule and investigations online. Now he’s launching a 527 political action committee intent on sending a message to the Democratic National Committee: put Clinton at the top of the ticket or her die-hard supporters will defect to the GOP.

Obama smear merchant has lengthy criminal record. (Think Progress)
Today, notorious Obama smear-peddler Larry Sinclair will speak at the National Press Club, presumably to continue to promote unfounded lies about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Politico’s Ben Smith reports that Sinclair’s history “may get in the way of that pitch,” as he has a 27-year criminal record, “with a specialty in crimes involving deceit.” The charges included forgegy and stealing someone’s tax returns; Sinclair is listed as “Wanted” by the Peublo County, CO Sheriff’s Office.

Texas GOP distances itself from vendor who sold racist Obama buttons. (Think Progress)
A booth at last weekend’s Texas GOP convention sold offensive buttons asking, “If Obama Is President…Will We Still Call It The White House?” After strong public criticism, the state Republican party said that it plans to “donate the $1,500 rent it collected from the vendor, Republicanmarket.com, to Midwestern flood victims.” Additionally, in the future, the party will begin vetting the merchandise being sold. “This vendor need not apply to another Texas GOP state convention,” GOP spokesman Hans Klingler. “We will neither tolerate nor profit from bigotry.”

Quote of the Day (Political Wire)
“I think families are off limits. I would never consider making Cindy McCain a campaign issue, and if I saw people doing that — I would speak out against it. And the fact that I haven’t seen that from John McCain I think is a deep disappointment.” — Sen. Barack Obama, quoted by the Brody File, on the attacks against his wife.

Michelle Obama on “The View” (Hot off the Trail, McClatchy)
Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, used an appearance today as co-host of ABC’s “The View” to introduce herself to daytime-viewing Americans as an approachable, sympathetic and fairly traditional woman. Her husband’s presidential campaign hopes to debunk unfavorable and sometimes racially toned images of her as angry or aggressive… Mrs. Obama praised Hillary Clinton for breaking barriers for women and girls, including the Obamas’ two daughters. But she portrayed herself as less of a partner than Clinton saw herself in presidential-type decision-making… Obama also volunteered how much she likes First Lady Laura Bush, saying she penned her a thank-you note for sticking up for her after the “really proud” comment. Obama said she is taking some “cues” from the first lady as the campaign progressing, noting that one reason people across partisan lines respond to her is that she “doesn’t sort of fuel the fire.”

61% Say Obama, McCain Wives Influence Vote (Rasmussen)
The current First Lady, Laura Bush, is regarded favorably by 75% of the nation’s voters, with only 21% rating her unfavorably. By contrast, Michelle Obama, whose husband cinched the Democratic presidential nomination last week, is rated favorably by 48% and unfavorably by 42% of voters. That latter figure includes a startling 25% who have Very Unfavorable opinion of the potential First Lady. A statistically comparable 24% view her Very Favorably. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. Cindy McCain, the wife of the Republican hopeful, earns favorable reviews from 49% while 29% offer an unfavorable assessment.

Media Matters for America headlines

• Hume falsely claimed Obama’s half brother told The Jerusalem Post that Obama had a “Muslim background” [*See below.]

• Chicago Tribune’s Zuckman repeated McCain’s suggestion that Obama had no bipartisan record — but McCain has previously thanked Obama for bipartisanship [That, however, doesn’t make it true that Obama has such a record. I haven’t seen it, myself.]

*The Jerusalem Post did, indeed, say that, but apparently the story has been scrubbed.  Here’s the Google entry:
Malik Obama says his brother will be good president for the Jews …
Barack Obama’s half brother Malik said Thursday that if elected his brother will be a good president for the Jewish people, despite his Muslim background. …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1212659716936 - 61k - Cached

Lots more really good stuff at MakeThemAccountable.com.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com