This one of the main issues the election is about. It is not about someone’s career. Hillary Clinton and John McCain voted and many, many people died, were wounded, lost loved ones and had their homes destroyed. How many military familes who may have voted republican in the past are willing to now vote for Obama in order to end the waste of blood and treasure in Iraq.
It is a good thing that the Obama campaign has been registering new voters and helping other democratic candidates with organization and money. As for Clinton supporters voting for McCain—many want to turn the democratic party into republican lite. Many are swing voters. They swung for Clinton and they swung back to Bush instead of Kerry. This is the reason Bill Clinton had no coattails. This type of voter will vote either for a republican or a newer version of the Dixiecrat. But with the carnage in Iraq and the economy is a downward spiral, many other voters will vote for Obama, including republicans and otherwise conservative anti-war voters. When Obama came to Houston, I could see he had a spiritual connection to many evangelical Christians. After all, his is one of them. That is something McCain lacks. I see Obama votes in this demographic, if we make the case in way they can relate to.
The financial costs of the Iraq war are staggering and our federal budget is bleeding enormous amounts of red ink because of it. For those of us without presidential or congressional healthcare and retirement benefits, the economic costs of the Iraq war are a threat to our retirements and our children’s future.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
In 2008, its sixth year, the war will cost approximately $12 billion a month, triple the "burn" rate of its earliest years, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and co-author Linda J. Bilmes report in a new book.
Beyond 2008, working with "best-case" and "realistic-moderate" scenarios, they project the Iraq and Afghan wars, including long-term U.S. military occupations of those countries, will cost the U.S. budget between $1.7 trillion and $2.7 trillion — or more — by 2017.
This is a case Obama supporters can make against the war to those worried about not only the human cost but the financial cost.
Will McCain be on vacation as much as Bush has been?
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/04/mccain_most_absentee_08_senato.html
Besides Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) - who's missed the entire year as he recovers from a brain hemorrhage - McCain has now missed more votes, 60, than every other senator, making it to less than 60 percent of roll-call votes.
The next three most absentee senators are also 2008 candidates, Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.). But they've only missed 41, 37 and 26 votes, respectively. And two top-tier presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), have been present so often on the chamber floor you wouldn't even know they're running for the White House.
What more of what Bush has given the country the last 8 years. Then look at McCain's relationship with Bush. Take a good look at McCain.
http://mccainsource.com/mccain_fact_check?id=0012
"[H]e has more than earned our support. He has earned our admiration and our love." - John McCain on George W. Bush [Chicago Tribune, 8/11/04]
A vote for John McCain is a vote for a third Bush term. McCain has admitted that his relationship with Bush is based on shared views in Iraq, immigration and a common agenda. McCain has offered no plan to end the war in Iraq. In fact, McCain says he is comfortable with being in Iraq for a hundred years. McCain offered a radical health care plan that is similar to a failed Bush proposal. McCain endorsed Bush's plan to privatize Social Security-so much so he joined Bush on the campaign to sell the proposal. Although, McCain previously opposed Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy he has made a "breathtaking turnaround" and supports these budget-busting, tax cuts for the wealthy.
Top Hits:
In 2008, John McCain has voted with George W. Bush 100% of the time.
Bush said McCain was set to "carry forth his agenda."
McCain said his friendship with Bush was based on shared views on the issues.
McCain will continue Bush's failed policies in Iraq.
McCain's health care plan is the same as Bush's.
McCain supported Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security.
McCain flip-flopped to align himself with the Bush tax cuts.
McCain supported Bush's disastrous No Child Left Behind.
Bush Endorsed McCain For 2008
Bush Said McCain Was Best to "Carry Forth His Agenda." Behind closed doors, Bush "has told people for months that he thought McCain would be the nominee. Even during some of those dark periods he still thought he could win. And also that McCain would be the best to carry forth his agenda." [Fox News, "Fox and Friends, 2/8/2008]
President Bush: McCain Is "Not Going To Change When It Comes To Taking On The Enemy." After endorsing John McCain's candidacy for president, President Bush said, "The good news about our candidate is he'll be a new president, a man of character and courage, but he's not going to change when it comes to taking on the enemy. He understands this is a dangerous world. And I understand we better have steadfast leadership who's got the courage and determination to pursue this enemy, so as to protect America." [White House Press Conference, 3/5/08]
McCain Said He Calls Bush Every Day To Remind Bush of His "Extreme Loyalty." During an appearance on MSNBC's "Harball," Chris Matthews asked McCain, "Does the president notice the pattern of your extreme loyalty to him?" McCain said, "I call him every day and try to remind him." [MSNBC, Hardball, 3/13/06]
Bush Said He Will Do Whatever It Takes For McCain To Win. While endorsing McCain at the White House, President Bush said, "If my showing up and endorsing him helps him - or if I'm against him and it helps him - either way, I want him to win. Bush added, "I got a lot to do, but I'm going to find ample time to help. I can help raise him money, and if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rallies, I'd be glad to show up." [Associated Press, 3/5/08]
Bush Said He "Looks Forward To Vigorously Campaigning" For McCain. "The president has said he looks forward to vigorously campaigning for the GOP and tonight it has become clear that the GOP nominee will be Senator John McCain," said White House press secretary Dana Perino. "Of course the president is going to endorse the GOP nominee which is going to be Senator John McCain." [Associated Press, 3/5/08]
McCain Is a "Foot Soldier Following Bush." After Bush implied his support for McCain, the Washington Post reported, "whether [McCain] likes it or not, he is now also a foot soldier following Bush, and the two will have to figure out how to fight the next battle together." [Washington Post, 2/8/08]
Cheney Set To Headline Closed-Door Fundraiser For McCain's Victory Fund. Vice-President Dick Cheney headlined a closed-door fundraiser for the McCain-RNC victory Fund. Politico wrote, "It's the eighth event Cheney has done for Victory, but may be the most noteworthy." [Politico, 4/25/08]
McCain's Campaign Hired Bush-Cheney 2004 Communications Director. McCain's presidential campaign hired Nicole Wallace to assist the campaign with strategy and communications. Politico reported that, "Wallace served as communications director for Bush-Cheney ‘04 and held the same post in the White House at the start of the president's second term." [Politico, 4/24/08]
McCain’s biography includes the "Keating Five" scandal, but for some reason he doesn’t talk about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savings_and_Loan_crisis
The Lincoln Savings led to the Keating Five political scandal, in which five U.S. senators were implicated in an influence-peddling scheme. It was named for Charles Keating, who headed Lincoln saving and made $300,000 as political contributions to them in the 1980s. Three of those senators - Alan Cranston, Don Riegle, and Dennis DeConcini - found their political careers cut short as a result. Two others - John Glenn and John McCain - were rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee for exercising "poor judgment" for intervening with the federal regulators on behalf of Keating. John McCain is a Republican candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
As for McCain support among the republican base—he has a lot of trouble with his own party members. The rightwing blogs are full of articles and comments about his flip-flopping and lies. Many dislike him and wished for a better candidate. Ron Paul is still drawing large crowds and got 15% of the vote in Oregon. Bob Barr is on the Libertarian ticket and many republicans I know said they are joining the Constitution party.
This is a sample of some of the comments coming from those on the right about McCain.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/05/22/shamnesty-john-mccain-is-back-in-full-force-no-he-never-got-the -message/
"There’s no dispute, I’m writing in Newt."
The ARNOLD was the L A S T
LESSER OF TWO EVILS
for whom I will vote.
Does anyone understand why?
The GOP needs to walk away from this guy right now.
Yep, no vote for Juan McAMNESTY, no money for RNC. I give to only the candidates of my choosing.
A person who looks you in the eye and lies, says a lot about their real character. doesn’t it?
Arnie is bankrupting CA so he will have a legacy. Wasn’t he sent to stop the bleeding not cause more? Pay more in taxes and Arnie will pretend to control the weather.
PS: I hope Juan chooses Crist as VP, then Florida can be rid of him.
It‘s not as if the right doesn‘t know about Hillary supporters threats:
Ol’ Juan must be depending on the disenfranchised ‘hillary’ voters to replace us conservatives he keeps poking in the eye. I do not like to use the word never, but I cannot imagine under any circumstance voting for this clown.
If you know Hillary Clinton’s supporters that won’t vote for Obama, then Obama supporters should work very hard to find votes elsewhere. Make the right case and you will be surprised who will respond.
But, but, what about a woman president?
Now for my feminist point of view—A woman with a Yale law degree, who stays with her husband after he humiliates her over and over again with his mistresses....is not a feminist icon. My grandmother always encouraged me to get an education so that I wouldn’t have to take any kind of mistreatment from a man...simply because I was dependent on him. Brand names should be for jeans, not elected officials. This is a democracy, not a monarchy. If Hillary were not the wife of a former president, she would not be Senator from New York. After her presidential campaign, she may not be even a senator anymore. How many elected officials in New York got out of the way for "Clinton Machine" instead of vying for the senate seat? This is the type of affirmative-action nobody wants to talk about. It is called nepotism. I want a woman president that came to prominence on her own, not because of who she was married to. Do we really want to become a Banana Republic. Who is Nancy Pelosi’s husband? Who is Kathleen Sebelius married to? I live in Texas and I have never heard anyone discuss Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s husband. These women are stable minded and competent. They should have risen to the top.
Hillary started with a 20+ point lead in the polls, name recognition, an air of inevitability bestowed upon her by the fawning press, a loyal, very large base of supporters and big money donors. So, how did Hillary Clinton come to a second place finish against a relative unknown? Imagine what would have happened if someone well known like the former Governor of Virginia, Warner had been in the race. Hillary’s campaign is now in debt, has stiffed vendors--even school districts and is so disorganized that this can be found on the official campaign website:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/...
Secondly, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and TED KENNEDY are laboring under the GROSS MISCONCEPTION that WE ARE AS DISLOYAL AND INSCRUPULOUS AS THEY ARE. Moreover, the DNC Leadership MUST BE CONVINCED THAT WE WILL NOT PASSIVELY ACCEPT Barack Obama as our Democratic Nominee, and that WE ARE STEADFAST Hillary Clinton Supporters.
For the case against the Obama campaign savaging Clinton--does anyone remember "Bittergate"? Well, CBS news does:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/12/politics/main4011339.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4011339
A political tempest over Barack Obama’s comments about bitter voters in small towns has given rival Hillary Rodham Clinton a new opening to court working class Democrats 10 days before Pennsylvanians hold a primary that she must win to keep her presidential campaign alive.
Obama tried to quell the furor Saturday, explaining his remarks while also conceding he had chosen his words poorly.
But the Clinton campaign fueled the controversy in every place and every way it could, hoping charges that Obama is elitist and arrogant will resonate with the swing voters the candidates are vying for not only in Pennsylvania, but in upcoming primaries in Indiana and North Carolina as well.
***
The Clinton campaign handed out "I’m not bitter" stickers in North Carolina, and held a conference call of Pennsylvania mayors to denounce the Illinois senator. In Indiana, Clinton did the work herself, telling plant workers in Indianapolis that Obama’s comments were "elitist and out of touch."
Campaigning in Muncie, Ind., Obama addressed the issue at length. "I didn’t say it as well as I should have," he said at Ball State University.
***
Clinton attacked Obama’s remarks much more harshly Saturday than she had the night before, calling them "demeaning." Her aides feel Obama has given them a big opening, pulling the spotlight away from troublesome stories such as former President Clinton’s recent revisiting of his wife’s misstatements about an airport landing in Bosnia 10 years ago.
Obama is trying to focus attention narrowly on his remarks, arguing there’s no question that some working class families are anxious and bitter. The Clinton campaign is parsing every word, focusing on what Obama said about religion, guns, immigration and trade.
Clinton hit all those themes in lengthy comments to manufacturing workers in Indianapolis.
"I was raised with Midwestern values and an unshakable faith in America and its policies," she said. "Now, Americans who believe in the Second Amendment believe it’s a matter of constitutional right. Americans who believe in God believe it’s a matter of personal faith."
"I grew up in a churchgoing family...," she continued. "The people of faith I know don’t ‘cling’ to religion because they’re bitter. People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich ...
“I also disagree with Senator Obama’s assertion that people in this country ‘cling to guns’ and have certain attitudes about immigration or trade simply out of frustration," she said.
"
The Obama campaign has been very respectful toward the Clinton campaign during times of controversy. This goes to the issue of leadership. It also shows who wants to unite the country and who wants to divide it.
