How the campaigns managed their positions in regards to FL
and MI is irrelevant to how RBC should decide on the seating of FL and MI delegates. I believe what is critically more important is our respect of democratic right of each individual to have his/her vote counted. That is far more an important consideration than some party leaders violating some party rules.

The FL case is particularly vexing if their full rights are not
restored because it was the GOP-led legislature and Governor who advanced the date. Nevertheless, voters in both states are being denied their rights through no fault of their own. They did their civic duty and followed state law by coming out to vote.

In the case of MI, it’s unfortunate that Obama withdrew his
name. What difference did it make when his name in FL was on the ballot? The import of his withdrawal pales in comparison to the voting right of each voter in considering restoring the voters full rights.

In Michigan, candidates were not under any obligation or pledge to withdraw their names on the ballot. Obama chose to and that was a bad choice. He signaled to the MI voters that he didn't value their votes. All he cared for was not to go down in defeat since the polls showed Hillary far ahead. But what about his voters wish to be heard? Obama made a political choice and he lost (so did his voters who voted uncommitted instead since Obama's campaign campaigned for them to vote uncommitted).

I’m very amused what I see as voters glossing over what matters in this campaign and making hay out of inanity and triviality.

Obama supporters and the media hasve made hay and played over and over of what is embellishment or lie, if you want to call it that, on Hillary’s recent account of her Bosnia trip. Will someone tell me how that would affect Hillary’s governing of the White House?

On the other hand, these same people have glossed over what are obvious lies by Obama that could have grave consequences in running the White House. When the Wright’s comments were brought up in the debate, Obama committed lies, one of which he has been telling all along. Obama claimed he has disowned Wright. When pressed on it, he admitted he only meant Wright’s comments (yet, he didn’t say what parts of Wright’s comment he disagree with, and thereby, what parts he agree with). He would have stuck to his lie if he wasn’t confronted with proof of his speech he gave in Philly.

And he’s making us look stupid if we continue to believe his claim, again in the debate, that he never heard Wright say those words until it was recently posted on Fox News and YouTube. In this case, he’ll stick to his lie since we don’t have a positive proof to confront him with. We know that GW Bush lied on Iraq. We’re not preview to the intelligence and we don’t have proof to confront him with of his lie. If the White House has destroyed tapes and emails (by accident?), it would have destroyed evidence of Bush lies.

Obama also lied about the meeting with Canada on Nafta. He reversed himself when confronted with the existence of the memo. Then, he blamed his staff. Do we really want someone in the White House who refused to take accountability for his action – ala Bush?

Do we want someone in the White who is more of the same as GW Bush?

4/15/2008 100 Keystone State Mayors Endorse

Harrisburg, PA - Showing strength and momentum in the Keystone State, the Clinton campaign today announced 100 mayors who are endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. Following Senator Obama’s remarks dismissing small town America, mayors joined supporters today in Harrisburg to declare their support for Hillary because of her readiness to lead on day one, her plans to jumpstart the economy, and her Pennsylvania roots and commitment to Pennsylvania values.

"I am proud to have such strong support from 100 of Pennsylvania’s finest mayors," Senator Clinton said. "From small towns to big cities, these mayors work hard every day to improve the lives of the people they serve and they know they need a strong partner in Washington to help them bring affordable health care and revitalize their local economies."

The 100 mayors endorsing Hillary today will work in the final week of the campaign to get out Hillary’s message of change for Pennsylvania and the country. Hillary understands the economic pressures of families who have lost jobs, face foreclosures, and can’t afford health insurance or college tuition. She understands what it’s like to roll up your sleeve and work hard. As president, Hillary will fight for the issues that matter to all Americans starting on day one in the White House.

• Mayor John Antoline, Monaca, Beaver County
• Mayor Michele Avvisato, Old Forge, Lackawanna County
• Mayor Norman Ball, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County
• Mayor Anthony Battalini, Aliquippa, Beaver County
• Mayor Sam Benyi ,Clarksville, Greene County
• Mayor Ronald Besong, Bell Acres, Allegheny County
• Mayor Louis Biacchi, Berwick, Columbia County
• Mayor James V. Bitonti, Belle Vernon, Fayette County
• Mayor Richard Bowen, Taylor, Lackawanna County
• Mayor Thomas Brown, Bentleyville, Washington County
• Mayor John B.Callahan, Bethlehem, Northampton County
• Mayor Willard Canfield, Hallsted, Susquehana County
• Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, Northern Cambria, Cambria County
• Mayor Robert P. Carpenter, Laporte, Sullivan County
• Mayor Peter M.Casini, South Connellsville, Fayette County
• Mayor Joseph J.Cisco, Ellport, Lawrence County
• Mayor Anthony Colaizzo, Canonsburg, Washington County
• Mayor Esther Cotner, Washingtonville, Montour County
• Mayor Carl Cott, Forksville, Sullivan County
• Mayor Joan B. Derco, Youngwood, Westmoreland County
• Mayor Christopher Doherty, Scranton, Lackawanna County
• Mayor Bernard Dubaskas, Edwardsville, Luzerne County
• Mayor Gary L. Durkin, Flemington, Clinton County
• Mayor Greg Erosenko, Monroeville , Allegheny County
• Mayor Emerson M. Fazekas, Versailles, Allegheny County
• Mayor Philip Ferrizzi, Bally, Berks County
• Mayor Ned C. Fink, Fountain Hill, Lehigh County
• Mayor Richard T. Fluck, Hellertown, Northampton County
• Mayor Jim France, East Lansdowne, Delaware County
• Mayor Ralph Garzia, Brookhaven, Delaware County
• Mayor Richard Gassman, Matamoras, Pike County
• Mayor Gerald W. Gross, West Easton, Northampton County
• Mayor Connie M. Guy, Mountville, Lancaster County
• Mayor John Haberland, Coraopolis, Allegheny County
• Mayor Loyce L. Harpster, Burnham, Mifflin County
• Mayor David Haslett, Avalon, Allegheny County
• Mayor Joseph Herbert, West Wyoming, Luzerne County
• Mayor William Jenkins, Larksville, Luzerne County
• Mayor Joseph Kazan, New Stanton, Westmoreland County
• Mayor Joseph Keating, Pittston, Luzerne County
• Mayor James F. Kinder, Mount Wolf Boro, York County
• Mayor Donald L. Kinosz, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County
• Mayor Philip Krivacek, Duquesne, Allegheny County
• Mayor Joseph Daniel Kudlac, Ellsworth, Washington County
• Mayor Maxine J. Kuntz, East Prospect, York County
• Mayor Michael M. Kutsek, Finleyville, Washington County
• Mayor Leonard J. Larkin, Falls Creek, Jefferson County
• Mayor Tom Leighton, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County
• Mayor Patrick Loughney, Dunmore, Lackawanna County
• Mayor Thomas E. Loukota, Masontown, Fayette County
• Mayor Robert J. Lucas, Sharon, Mercer County
• Mayor Bernard M. Luketich, Cokeburg, Washington County
• Mayor Edward Lyons, North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County
• Mayor Timothy Martin, Freeland, Luzerne County
• Mayor Armand Martinelli, East Stroundsburg, Monroe County
• Mayor George McCloskey, Norwood, Delaware County
• Mayor Raymond McDonough, North Braddock, Allegheny County
• Mayor Beverly Merkel, Jessup, Lackawanna County
• Mayor John Milander, Jr., Coplay, Lehigh County
• Mayor Christian P. Morrison, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County
• Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
• Mayor Susan O'Connell, Crafton, Allegheny County
• Mayor Raymond J. Osmolinski, Sr, Gallitzin, Cambria County
• Mayor Salvatore J. Panto, Jr., Easton, Northampton County
• Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown, Lehigh County
• Mayor Louis Payne, East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
• Mayor Joyce Peccon, Carmichaels, Greene County
• Mayor Connie Peck, Trappe, Montgomery County
• Mayor David Perusso, Wilson, Northampton County
• Mayor Delmar Phillips, Frackville, Schuylkill County
• Mayor Dennis Pietrandrea, Koppel, Beaver County
• Mayor Albert Pipik, Allenport, Washington County
• Mayor Dominick Pomposelli, Wilmerding, Allegheny County
• Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
• Mayor Judy Reed, Connellsville, Fayette County
• Mayor Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
• Mayor John D. W. Reiley, Pottsville, Schuylkill County
• Mayor Herb Riede, McSherrystown, Adams County
• Mayor Joseph Saxton, Bristol, Bucks County
• Mayor John Segilia, Moosic, Lackawanna County
• Mayor Timothy Shoemaker, Everson, Fayette County
• Mayor Matt Sinberg, Yardley, Bucks County
• Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott, Erie, Erie County
• Mayor Thomas Smith, Blawnox, Allegheny County
• Mayor Rick Smith, New Brighton, Beaver County
• Mayor Larry Sprowls, Calysville, Washington County
• Mayor Jeff Steffler, Wampum, Lawrence County
• Mayor Margaret Stock, Butler, Butler County
• Mayor F. John Szatkiewicz, Ohioville, Beaver County
• Mayor Nicki Todaro, Newell, Fayette County
• Mayor Tom Trigona, Johnstown, Cambria County
• Mayor TonyWalck, Nesquehoning, Carbon County
• Mayor William L. Welch, State College, Centre County
• Mayor Leslie Whitehill, Salladasburg, Lycoming County
• Mayor Barbara Wilhelm, Dawson, Fayette County
• Mayor James E. Wolfe, Tarentum, Allegheny County
• Mayor John Yacura, Elizabeth, Allegheny County
• Mayor Dorothy Yazurlo, Laflin, Luzerne County
• Mayor Jayne Young, Lansdowne, Delaware County
• Mayor Stanley Zamerowski, Pringle, Luzerne County

This could also be calculated by Obama to elicit the division his comment made. He's been losing in small towns. He'll be glad to capture a few to add to his overwhelming advantage in heavily African-American areas. Remember, he tried to lasso some gun right advocates by telling them his belief in the 2nd Amendment but without revealing his voting records to them.

Obama was successful in using race to not only solidify his support among blacks but also to interject a subtext, which African-Amaerican WashingtonPost columnist Robinson advocated as well. The subtext is that you're racist if you don't vote for Obama.

And whatever happened to our democracy and freedom to choose our candidate regardless of race, religion, gender, etc.?

In this macaca moment, Obama's subtext is you're bitter, religious fanatic and gun-toting loser if you don't vote for him. Who wants to be thought of that way?

This time Obama miscalculated and slipped into a macaca moment.

It was bound to happen, given the time, Obama was going to show his true color. Thus far, the media has given him a pass every time he had a gaffe. Little is known about him and being new on the block, the media or the GOP hasn't quite branded him and the media is at a lost of a story line his gaffes will fit in.

If only the media would take a closer look, there's enough data out there on Obama that make a pattern, and thus, a story line obviously presents itself. For example, he has many times lied about his bio, lied about having heard Wright anti-american rants, claimed legislative credit that belonged to others, initially covered up his meeting with the Canadians on NAFTA by lying it took place, blamed his staff for his own misguided actions, etc. It's a definite pattern of lies and obfuscation. So media, what are you waiting for?

Another pattern is his beliefs and values he shares with his wife about how mean and bad this country is. Up to now, the media hasn't pressed Obama that part of Wright's speech he disagree with, thereby, which ones he agree with.

Obama can only be a party liability in the general election and Democrats need to think this through. There's more we don't know about Obama that could hurt the party in November.

The issue was never the vote on Iraq. Even if you argue that the resolution was a vote to go to war, it was never a vote to occupy Iraq. Nonetheless, Hillary was clear on the speech she gave in voting yes that the resolution was an authorization to go to war as a last resort. She was specific that the inspectors be allowed to complete its work. That clearly implies that her vote was to give Bush the tool to threaten and move Saddam to let the inspectors complete their job. Otherwise without the tool, Bush becomes an emperor without clothes in the eyes of Saddam.

One can Monday QB the hype from the Bush before the invasion as a sure sign of his intent to invade, but that tool has been used by the US and others in the past to give teeth to its threat. At the least, Congress owes it to public who voted Bush into office to accord him some respect and trust that he'll use the tool like the others did before him.

The last time I check, Bush was the Commander-in-Chief. Hillary didn’t take this nation to war. Hillary isn’t a warmonger anymore than Barrack is. Barrack is barking at the wrong tree. To even imply that Hillary or any of the legislators who voted with her would have invaded Iraq before completion of inspection and solid proof of wmd is preposterous. It's political opportunism by Barack.

And from what we now know of Bush, it’s most probable that he would have gone ahead with the invasion even without the vote. Cheney and Rove knew all too well they own the patriotism card.

The issue is not the vote. The issue is Bush misuse and abuse of the tool given to him and his power grab. It's easy to lose sight of the ball simply because you're grasping for something that may bring Hillary down. Barrack's claim is not straight talk and is political opportunism. He can't be trusted.