“OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS Friday April 25 2008

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

WELCOME TO “OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS

Friday April 25 2008



1.5 Million people by May 6, 2008

Esteemed DUer's, please consider taking a moment (or more) to graciously participate
by posting news and announcements about the Obama campaign on this thread. You can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web. :think:

2. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU,
providing a link to the original thread :applause:

3. Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page :thumbsup:

4. Clinton supporters or “anti Obama posters please start your own “Clinton Daily News Thread”.

Get your DU-o-matic codificator (to format your posts) here
Read the Daily News Archives here

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. The Chronology of Setting the Schedule for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries

I'm posting this for the second day in a row because the media keeps pushing the latest
Clinton theory on primaries, and surrogates keep pitching the blame on Howard Dean instead
of being honest - Florida and Michigan voters only have their own leaders to blame.

The Chronology of Setting the Schedule for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries

It has been "tradition" for Iowa, NH, Nevada and SC to be the first states to run primaries. New Hampshire and Iowa's state laws require them to be first. The DNC created a commission to address the timing and schedule of states to participate in the primary.

From the DNC website

Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling

The 2004 Democratic National Convention passed a resolution calling for the creation of the Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling.

The Commission is charged with studying the timing of presidential primaries and caucuses and developing recommendations for the 2008 nominating process. In fulfilling its mission, the Commission will examine all proposals -- incremental and substantive -- and evaluate how those proposals would be implemented. The Commission will carry out its work bearing in mind the Party's commitment to a nominating process that is open and fair to all Democratic voters and presidential candidates and that produces the strongest possible nominee, and will look at all facets of this issue.

The Commission was announced in December 2004. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman and North Carolina Congressman David Price serve as Co-Chairs of the Commission.

The Commission began its work in March 2005 and held a total of five public meetings, undertaking a thorough review of the current schedule. The Commission received broad input and a variety of useful suggestions and ideas from Democratic elected officials, Party leaders, experienced campaign staff, academic experts, grassroots activists and interested voters.

Accordingly, the Commission recommends:

Preserving the first-in-the-nation status of Iowa and New Hampshire but adding other states in the pre-window period.
Adding 1 or 2 new first-tier caucuses between Iowa and New Hampshire, and 1 or 2 new primaries between New Hampshire and the opening of the window for all other states on February 5, 2008.

Having the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee determine which states should be added, using the following criteria: racial and ethnic diversity; geographic diversity; and economic diversity including union density.

The front-loading of states at the beginning of the calendar has also limited broader participation in the process. The trend toward bunching up on the first day of the window, or in the first month, does not enhance the role of any state or group of states. To be effective and to receive attention from candidates and the press, states must spread out the dates of their contests and restore a more deliberate pacing to the process.

Accordingly, the Commission recommends that the DNC work with State Parties and political leaders to schedule no more than five contests in any one week. Additionally, the Commission has proposed, for consideration by the Rules and Bylaws Committee, a bonus delegate incentive system that would encourage states parties to schedule their events later in the process.

...

The Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling approved its Final Report at its December 10, 2005 meeting, which you can download here.

Details on the first meeting held March 12, 2005 are available here.
Details of the May 14, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the July 16, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the October 1, 2005 meeting are available here.
Details on the December 10, 2005 meeting are available here.

Some Clinton surrogates who are members of the Commission that voted for the primary rules and sanctions are: PA Gov Ed Rendell (also a former DNC chair) and Clinton advisor Howard Ickes

More Information
Commission Membership
Timing of Presidential Preference Primaries and Caucuses - 1976 to 2004
Evolution of the Democratic Party's Rule on the Timing of Presidential Primaries and Caucuses
2008 Nomination Fact Sheet
State-by-State Process Comparison
National Party Rules Memo

Here's some info from Wikipedia (always verify their sources)

January 2008

Following tradition, the 2008 primary calendar began with the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. The Nevada caucus and the South Carolina primary were the third and fourth contests sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. Under the national committee's rules, no state was allowed to hold primaries or caucuses before February 5 with the exceptions of these four states.<23> Michigan and Florida also held early primaries, but under the existing rules, their delegates will not be seated and will not vote at the convention.

Rules and Bylaws Committee

In August 2006, the Democratic National Committee adopted a proposal by its Rules and Bylaws Committee stating that only the four states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina would be permitted to hold primaries or caucuses before February 5, 2008.<41>

Every four years, both parties establish rules under which the upcoming presidential race will be fought. For this election cycle, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), headed by Howard Dean, established a Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC), chaired by former Clinton secretary of labor Alexis Herman and James Roosevelt Jr., grandson of Franklin Roosevelt, to formulate the rules under which states were to select their delegates. The committee presented rules that, in August 2006, were adopted by the DNC; various sections dealt with matters such as compliance with affirmative-action requirements. But the most important had to do with the calendar.

The RBC was the obscure forum in which the much-publicized battle over which states would join Iowa and New Hampshire in early voting—the "pre-window period," in the argot—was fought. The RBC added South Carolina and Nevada and ruled that no other state could hold its primary or caucus before February 5. (This is how February 5 came to be "Super-Duper" Tuesday, as more than a dozen states pushed forward their primaries to the first legally permissible day.)

Other states were unhappy with this decision, notably Florida and Michigan, which have long sought to increase their influence over the nomination. On May 3, 2007, Florida voted to defy the RBC and hold its primary on January 29. In mid-August, Michigan followed suit, moving its primary to January 15.

Leaders in both states were warned repeatedly that continued defiance of the DNC could result in at least 50 percent or even 100 percent of any delegates awarded from a primary held in violation of the calendar being "stripped," i.e., excluded from voting at the convention. Not quite believing that the DNC would follow through, neither budged. Then, on August 25, 2007, the RBC found Florida in noncompliance of its rules. The state was given thirty days to amend its decision, but again did nothing. Since other states were at the time angling to get in on the early voting—you may recall that Iowa and New Hampshire threatened to move theirs to December 2007 in order to remain first—the RBC decided to make an example of Florida. It ruled that all its elected delegates would be voided. The vote of the thirty-member committee had only one dissent.3 Florida could go ahead with a primary if it wished, but its voting would constitute a mere "beauty contest"; as far as the DNC was concerned, it would be as if the Florida primary didn't exist. Florida sued in a federal court and lost. The same process ensued later with respect to Michigan.

All of the Democratic campaigns were notified that Florida and Michigan would not count. As far as is known, none protested at the time. On August 31, all campaigns received a letter from various officials in the four early-voting states asking them to sign a pledge not to campaign in Florida and Michigan.

Within a day, all campaigns agreed. Patti Solis Doyle, the recently fired Clinton campaign manager, said at the time:

We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process.... We believe the DNC's rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role. Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar.

People in Florida and Michigan were unhappy, but everyone else was in agreement.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So things remained, until January 25, 2008. That day, seemingly out of nowhere, the Clinton campaign released a statement announcing that she now supported the seating of the Florida and Michigan delegates. What changed? The answer is obvious. In September 2007, Clinton was the front-runner and the all-but-inevitable nominee. By late January 2008, she was in trouble. She'd lost Iowa, won narrowly in New Hampshire and Nevada, and was about to lose South Carolina the next day by a two-to-one margin. She knew now she had a fight on her hands; she had to scramble for all the delegates she could.

NY Books

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. Repost: 29 North Carolina Legislators Endorse Barack Obama

I'm going to post a slew of endorsements to remind people that North Carolina
LOVES Obama. Our best and brightest and most progressive are endorsing him.


29 North Carolina Legislators Endorse Barack Obama

By Zachary Scott Edwards - Apr 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm EDT

Today 29 members of the North Carolina state legislature endorsed Senator Obama, citing his ability to inspire and bring people together to move our country forward, and put an end to the divisive politics of Washington that have stalled progress on the great challenges facing our nation. The legislators’ endorsements are the latest addition to Obama’s grassroots movement for change, which has come to encompass a broad spectrum of North Carolinians – from the grassroots level to representatives in United States Congress – who will vote for change on May 6.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5622465

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. Top Edwards adviser backs Obama

Top Edwards adviser backs Obama

Apr 23, 2008 01:05 PM

The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. - A top adviser to former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is endorsing Barack Obama.
Ed Turlington was the National Chairman of Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign and a close adviser to his 2008 campaign. The Raleigh-based attorney said Wednesday that Obama and Edwards share a commitment to taking on special interests.

Turlington was among 49 former Edwards supporters who endorsed Obama on Wednesday. Others include state Sen. Eleanor Kinnaird, state Rep. Pricey Harrison and former Charlotte mayor and Edwards adviser Harvey Gantt.

Edwards dropped his presidential bid in January after winning 26 delegates in the first four contests. The former North Carolina senator has yet to endorse Obama or rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.

[catgirl]

35. Do you have a link to the original post?

This should be kicked to the top. Great news!!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

38. Raleigh News and Observer link

http://www.newsobserver.com/2102/story/1047243.html

[catgirl]

39. Thanks

I hope this was posted separately in GDP.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. Edwards backers call North Carolina primary clear choice between real change and more of the same

Edwards backers call North Carolina primary clear choice between real change and more of the same

Raleigh, NC -- The Obama campaign today announced the endorsement of 49 prominent supporters of John Edwards - including Ed Turlington, Edwards’ former National General Chairman. These North Carolina leaders - ranging from Members of Congress to a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court to former law partners and longtime friends of John Edwards - cite Barack Obama’s commitment to fighting for change on behalf of working Americans and taking on the special interests in Washington.

"Barack Obama and John Edwards share a commitment to taking on special interests and standing up for regular Americans. Along with Edwards supporters from across the state, I am honored to join Senator Obama's movement for change,” said Turlington. “As president, he will bring together Democrats, Republicans and Independents behind an agenda of change. From ending the war in Iraq to confronting the scourge of poverty to making health care affordable for every single American, Barack Obama will bring our country the change we need.”

The diverse group said they are voting for Obama because he is the only candidate with a proven ability to unite America around a common vision and win the votes of Republicans and Independents whose support is critical to carrying the state in the fall.

Like Edwards, Obama refused donations from PACs and Washington lobbyists and vowed to stand up to the special interests that have blocked so much progress for working Americans in Washington, DC.

“John Edwards has dedicated his life and career to fighting poverty in America. Barack Obama demonstrated that same commitment when he turned down a high-paying job on Wall Street to work in Chicago communities decimated by steel mill closings,” said Louise Coggins, a social worker from Wilmington who has known John and Elizabeth Edwards for 30 years. “Senator Obama is now the only candidate in the race who doesn’t take money from PACs and federal lobbyists. We can count on him to stand up to special interests in Washington, DC on behalf of working men and women in America.”

We need everyone in North Carolina getting involved right away, by volunteering at their local office. If you are not in North Carolina, we need you to start calling here using the MyBO call tool, or take a trip here to make the biggest impact on the ground. Join Us!

Click here to see the full list of local leaders who had previously backed John Edwards' campaign for president, but today are throwing their support behind Obama.

David Price, U.S. Congressman (4th Dist) Mel Watt, U.S. Congressman (12th Dist) G.K. Butterfield, U.S. Congressman (1st Dist)
Peggy Abrams, Attorney, Doug Abrams, Attorney, Phil Baddour, Attorney & Former NC House Majority Leader Steven Bernholz, Attorney Clifford Britt, Attorney Wade Byrd, Attorney Stephen D. Coggins, Attorney Louise Coggins, Social Worker/Therapist W. Thompson Comerford, Jr., Attorney Michael Cucchiara, Business leader Lisbeth Evans, Secretary of NC Department of Cultural Resources Anthony Foxx, Charlotte City Councilman Henry Frye, Former Chief Justice of North Carolina Supreme Court Shirley Frye, Former Educator, Community Leader Harvey B. Gantt, Former Edwards National Co-Chair, Former Charlotte mayor Richard Gusler, Attorney Pricey Harrison, North Carolina State Representative Marty Hayes, Activist James Heavner, Business leader C. Mark Holt, Attorney Leonard Jernigan, Attorney Adelaide Key, Philanthropist Eleanor Kinniard, North Carolina State Senator Henry McKoy, Business leader Brownie Newman, Asheville City Council member Spencer Parris, Attorney Roger Perry, UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees--Chairman Jim Phillips Jr., Attorney and Chair, UNC Board of Governors Wade Smith, Attorney & Former State Democratic Party Chair Sallie Shuping Russell, Business leader and UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees Roger Smith, Attorney Bob Spearman, Attorney & Former Wake County Democratic Party Chair Pat Spearman, Activist Adam Stein, Attorney Nina Szlosberg, Conservationist & Department of Transportation Board Member Amy Tiemann, Writer Michael Tiemann, Red Hat Executive Kevin Trapani, President & CEO, The Redwoods Group Tim Toben, Business leader Ed Turlington, Attorney & Former Edwards National Chairman Marla Turlington, Activist Howard Twiggs, Attorney & Former State legislator Steve Warren, Attorney Willis P. Wichard, Author, Dean, and Former State Supreme Court Justice Carter Worthy, Realtor Todd Zapolski, Business leader

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. NY Times: Edwards Backers Team Up With Obama

Edwards Backers Team Up With Obama

By Julie Bosman New York Times The Caucus April 23, 2008, 2:32 pm

No, John Edwards has not yet endorsed a candidate.
But nearly 50 of his most prominent backers lined up behind Senator Barack Obama today, in a gesture designed to give Mr. Obama a heavy boost of support less than two weeks before the North Carolina primary on May 6.The group includes Ed Turlington, Mr. Edwards’s former national general campaign chairman; three North Carolina members of Congress; and 46 local activists, philanthropists and business leaders, among others. (Not surprisingly, given Mr. Edwards’s background, the list holds the names of 20 lawyers.)

Mr. Turlington, speaking from his law office in Raleigh, said that he had not expected to endorse a candidate after Mr. Edwards dropped out of the race on Jan. 30.

“I thought I was going to be on the sidelines,” Mr. Turlington said, adding that he made the decision about 10 days ago, after speaking to Mr. Obama. “I think his candidacy is doing a lot of important things that are similar to themes that John Edwards ran on.”
Among those things, he said, were Mr. Obama’s pledges to change the culture of Washington and fight for issues that are

...But despite heavy courting from both candidates, Mr. Edwards has still not made an endorsement. And the former Edwards supporters cautioned today that their announcement should not be viewed as a sign that Mr. Edwards’s endorsement was right behind. Two former campaign aides of Mr. Edwards said today that he has signaled recently that he may not endorse a candidate at all.

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. 43 North Carolina Mayors for Obama

Will Lead Simultaneous Early Voting Events Statewide Today at 1 PM

In a sign of Senator Obama’s broad, statewide organization, the Obama campaign today announced the endorsement of 43 North Carolina mayors, mayors pro tem, and former mayors, representing cities large and small, from Raleigh to Roper. To encourage North Carolinians to vote early, more than a dozen of these mayors will be voting early today at 1 p.m. at their local One Stop Early Voting locations.

"As a mayor, I’m on the front lines of local economic development," said Mayor Bill Bell of Durham. "We need a president who will work with us to solve the problems we face, help working Americans succeed, and usher in a new era of prosperity."

“I’m honored to have the support of so many mayors from across North Carolina who are committed to working hard to change America,” said Senator Obama. “These mayors understand what leadership is, and how important it is to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to make change happen for our working families and our communities. Their support is incredibly important to this campaign – and I look forward to working with them to build a stronger economy where Main Street thrives, not just Wall Street.”
FULL LIST OF MAYORS ENDORSING SENATOR OBAMA
Terry Bellamy, Mayor, Asheville
Leni Sinick, Former Mayor, Asheville
Linda Blackburn, Mayor, Ahoskie
Frank Wilson, Mayor, Bolton
Loretta Clawson, Mayor, Boone
Kevin Foy, Mayor, Chapel Hill
Mark Chilton, Mayor, Carrboro
Harold Weinbrecht, Mayor, Cary
Harvey Gantt, Former Mayor, Charlotte
Linda Ingram, Mayor, Conetoe
Darryl Moss, Mayor, Creedmoor
Malcolm Johnson, Mayor, Dover
N. Carnell Robinson, Mayor Pro Tem, Dunn
William Bell, Mayor, Durham
Cora McFadden, Mayor Pro Tem, Durham
Perry Blanks, Mayor, East Arcadia
Warnie Bishop, Mayor, Enfield
Roy Bell, Mayor, Garysburg
Yvonne Johnson, Mayor, Greensboro
Keith Holiday, Former Mayor, Greensboro
Mildred Council, Mayor Pro Tem, Greenville
Horace Reid, Mayor Pro Tem, Hertford
Matthew Block, Mayor, Laurinburg
Phil Bazemore, Mayor Pro Tem, Monroe
Eulis Willis, Mayor, Navassa
Lewis Brown, Former Mayor, Navassa
Jerry Merrick, Mayor Pro Tem, Navassa
James Knox, Mayor, Northwest
Randolph Voller, Mayor, Pittsboro
Charles Meeker, Mayor, Raleigh
James West, former Mayor Pro Tem, Raleigh
Estelle Sanders, Mayor, Roper
Perry Dixon, Mayor, Sandyfield
James Mill Sr., Mayor, Scotland Neck
Melvin Broadnax, Mayor, Seabord
Howard Morgan, Mayor, Sedalia
Wilbert Harrison, Mayor, Speed
Ethel Clark, Mayor, Spring Lake
Donald Davis, Mayor, Snow Hill
Betty Gholston, Mayor, Wagram
George Draper Jr., Mayor, Weldon
Robert Spivey, Mayor, Windsor
Vivian Burke, Mayor Pro Tem, Winston-Salem
Carl Lee Sr., Mayor, Lewiston Woodville

Come to NC and Help Us Make a Difference
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/zachedwards/gGCBRX

[grantcart]

7. Rec this thread -U think: candidate with the most pledged delegates is the presumptive nominee

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5664666

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. NC: Obama outraises Clinton 3 to 1

N.C.'s money goes to Obama

Apr 24, 2008 02:41 AM

North Carolinians voted with their wallets last month, giving Sen. Barack Obama nearly three times as much money as they gave his rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
An analysis by the Charlotte Observer found that Obama raised more than $600,000 from North Carolinians in March, compared to just over $200,000 for Clinton.

...He also tapped supporters of former N.C. Sen. John Edwards, who dropped his own presidential campaign in January.

Now they like Barack

Those former Edwards supporters came out for Obama on Wednesday. The Illinois senator's campaign released a list of 50 of Edward's former supporters in North Carolina who are backing Obama in the May 6 primary.

Included on the list are: former state House Majority leader Phil Baddour of Goldsboro, former state Democratic party chairs Libba Evans and Wade Smith, former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Henry Frye.

"We are going to be in the trenches helping him to do well," said Ed Turlington, a Raleigh attorney who was general chairman of Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.

...more at the link

Ed Turlington is very influential in North Carolina.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. NC Veterans for Obama meet Friday Apr 25

Major Paul "Bud" Bucha (RET)
Army Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Will be speaking on behalf of Senator Obama On Friday April 25, 2008 at 9:00 am.
Methodist University's Science Building Auditorium


He will address the Senator's Defense and Foreign Policy positions.
The event is free and open to the public..

You will also have the opportunity to catch a shuttle ride to a One-Stop Voting location, remember you can vote early if you are registered or you can REGISTER and VOTE at the same time.
This is an awesome opportunity!


To RSVP or for more information, Please contact:

Delio Calzolari [phone] or at [e-mail]

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. Obama, Clinton both in NC on Monday

Obama, Clinton both in NC on Monday

Apr 24, 2008 09:32 PM

The Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will visit North Carolina on Monday, just hours after primary opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton also holds a campaign event in the state.
Obama's campaign said Thursday night that the Illinois senator will hold a one-stop early vote rally Monday night at the Dean E. Smith Center. Participants will be encouraged to vote early.

Also Monday, Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, will attend a campaign event that afternoon in Charlotte.

Clinton, a New York senator, also visited the state Thursday, with another stop planned for Friday in Jacksonville.

North Carolina holds its primary May 6 with 115 delegates at stake.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. IFPTE Endorses Senator Barack Obama for President

IFPTE Endorses Senator Barack Obama for President
By Sam Graham-Felsen - Apr 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am EDT

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
WASHINGTON, DC – The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers’ (IFPTE), an AFL-CIO affiliated labor union whose public, private and federal sector membership includes engineers, scientists and technicians at the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA and Boeing, has given their backing to Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. The IFPTE Executive Council voted without opposition late yesterday to endorse the Illinois Senator.

In response to yesterday’s action, IFPTE President Gregory Junemann issued the following statement.
"While IFPTE applauds both Democratic candidates, our union’s internal polling results, coupled with Senator Obama’s unblemished record of support for the critical issues facing IFPTE, prompted our action to endorse Senator Obama.

"IFPTE’s Executive Council agreed that Senator Obama is the candidate best suited to address the major concerns of America’s working men and women, particularly those issues that directly impact IFPTE’s diverse membership. The Senator believes we need to reform the H-1B program; he will immediately reverse the last eight years of the union busting promulgated on our nation’s Civil Servants; will stand against free trade agreements like NAFTA that fail to protect American workers; will address our nation’s dangerous health care crisis; will work to oppose irresponsible privatization schemes in the public and federal sectors; will work to protect the pensions and retirement security of working Americans; and will not only support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), but will actively use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to work with Congress in ensuring that this all important labor law reform legislation becomes the
"IFPTE is pleased to join the millions of Senator Obama supporters and look forward to working with him over the next seven months as we move toward victory in November."

Senator Obama released the following statement after learning of IFPTE’s endorsement:

"I want to thank President Junemann and the membership of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers for their endorsement of our campaign. They’re working to make sure that Washington is working for working Americans, and they’ll have a partner in the White House when I’m President. I’ll fight for organized labor by protecting the right to organize. I’ll support vigorous reinvestment in our federal research and development agencies, including NASA, to maintain America’s leadership in Science and Technology and to foster economic competitiveness. And I’ll stand up to the special interests and unite this country so we can bring about real change in the lives of American families -- from passing universal health care, to putting money back in the pockets of middle-class families and making sure every one of our children has the world-class education they deserve."

IFPTE is an AFL-CIO affiliated labor union representing upwards of 85,000 workers in professional, technical, administrative and associated occupations in the federal, public and private sectors.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGCBRj

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. North Carolina TV Station Rejects Obama/Wright Ad

North Carolina TV Station Rejects Obama/Wright Ad

By Eric Kleefeld - April 24, 2008, 5:40PM

The North Carolina Republican Party is hitting a wall in their efforts to run that attack ad against Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright: Finding a TV station that will run it.

WRAL-TV, the CBS affiliate in the "Triangle" region of Raleigh, Durham and Fayetteville, has officially rejected the ad.
WTVD, the ABC outlet in that same media market, is also saying they haven't been asked to run the ad but would have reservations about doing so.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. TV station rejects state GOP ad

TV station rejects state GOP ad

Apr 24, 2008 01:06 PMFrom Staff Reports

At least one North Carolina TV station is refusing to air the N.C. Republican Party's ad about Sen. Barack Obama's former minister.
A spokesman for WRAL-TV in Raleigh said the station will not show the ad. A spokesman for another Triangle station, WTVD, said it had not been asked to air the ad but would have reservations about doing so.

The ad points out that Democratic gubernatorial candidates Beverly Perdue and Richard Moore have endorsed Obama. It calls Obama too "extreme" because of his ties to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and implies that Obama heard Wright's controversial sermons.

...The state Republicans hoped the ad would help them raise money. But it also has become the focus of a fund-raising effort by state Democrats.

Jerry Meek, chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party, has sent out a letter to North Carolina Democrats saying the ad shows "just how out of touch North Carolina Republicans truly are."

"This much is clear: North Carolina Republicans will say anything and do anything to win," Meek writes.

Meek tells Democrats that they need to raise money to "prepare us for the challenges ahead." He asks them to send a contribution of $50, $25 or $15.

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. North Carolina GOP leadership divided over ad

I know Linda O. Shaw, the republican mentioned as objecting to the ad. She is a smart,honest person with a great deal of integrity. We in NC are lucky that Ms. Shaw is not the chairman of the NC GOP state party, because then the republicans might actually do better than "F Troop".

North Carolina GOP leadership divided over ad

Apr 24, 2008 08:07 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina Republican leaders said they are standing by a television ad criticizing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama despite objections in their own ranks and the refusal of two television stations to air it.
Republican National Committee member Linda Shaw said Thursday she was shocked her colleagues decided to produce and air the ad, which shows a picture of Obama with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and a clip of the firebrand's comments about America.

"I do not support it," Shaw said. "I had nothing to do with it. I wish she had not done it. And I'm very disappointed."

Shaw, a longtime party leader, said she repeatedly urged state party Chairwoman Linda Daves to withdraw the spot. Likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain also asked party officials to not run the ad - a stance he reiterated Thursday.

...WRAL-TV in Raleigh and WSOC-TV in Charlotte have declined to run the ad, Woodcox and station officials said.

"In reviewing this spot we determined it was inflammatory," said Jim Hefner, WRAL vice president and general manager. "We had come to that decision without knowing what John McCain and what the national Republican Party had to say about the spot. But that sort of solidified our decision."

Hefner said stations are required to carry ads from candidates as long as they meet set standards, such as the candidate saying he or she supports the ad. But stations have discretion - "the responsibility" - to review ads submitted by outside organizations for accuracy, he said.

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

15. It's Time For John Edwards To Get Off The Fence And Help End This Fiasco

(I'm taking some short cuts with some postings tonight)

It's Time For John Edwards To Get Off The Fence And Help End This Fiasco

By Andrew Bard Schmookler

The best way for John Edwards to advance his issues and to serve America's underserved common people is to take action now to persuade the voters of Indiana to end this damaging nominating process-- a process whose most likely effect is to increase the chances of another four years of plutocratic Republican rule.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_andrew_b_080423_it_s_time_for_john_e.htm

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

16. Top House Democrat denounces Clinton campaign tactics

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5672941

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

17. A MYDD commenter labels Obama "uppity" in "A Sobering Question: Is Obama Electable?"

This is an excerpt from the current #1 recommended diary at MyHRC titled “A Sobering Question: Is Obama Electable?” by pro-Hillary comment spammer TexasDarlin:

And Obama’s arrogance, most vividly displayed recently when he “flipped off”
Hillary Clinton doesn’t help his image with average Americans either. Along the
same lines, today David Axelrod audaciously insulted white working class voters
by declaring them irrelevant to a Democratic victory. This uppity attitude
likely explains why 32% of Democratic voters in Pennsylvania told a pollster
that they would never vote for Barack Obama.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. Kos Makes the Electability Argument for Obama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5671784

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

19. How Republicans Plan On Ganging Up On Obama For Being "Weak" On Street Gangs

How Republicans Plan On Ganging Up On Obama For Being "Weak" On Street Gangs

Scum of the earth swiftboater Floyd Brown has plans to take the low road (rectal road?) to swift boat Obama about gang violence.Brown apparently thinks he can "willie hortonize" Obama. It may even work on irredeemable racists, but there's no doubt, Obama will be able to deal with this one. (This description of news is decidedly one editor's opinion.)

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/link.php?id=57774

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. Yeah, and if my granny had wheels, she'd be a go-cart....

Yeah, and if my granny had wheels, she'd be a go-cart...

Posted by Betty Cracker at 4/24/2008 08:50:00 AM

From Newsweek, a tortuous tale of twisted arithmetic in which Hillary Clinton's aides (and the candidate herself) lay claim to the popular vote -- IF -- you count states where voters were told before hand that their votes wouldn't count , one of which included only Clinton on the ballot, and IF you discount caucus states or factor out those that don't report vote totals, etc.:

Talk about playing the numbers. The morning after her Pennsylvania primary win, Hillary Clinton's aides staked out the aisle of the press plane and proclaimed that with Pennsylvania's big victory, Clinton had surged ahead of Barack Obama in the popular-vote total. But they added two big careful caveats: this scenario would hold true only if Michigan's and Florida's votes are counted (the states were stripped of their delegates for holding primaries early in violation of party rules) and if caucus states aren't counted. One baffled reporter challenged the aides, accusing them of "making up a metric." The aides pushed back. And then they realized their own spin was wrong.

Hours later, they announced their new formula. It turns out Clinton's aides had undervalued their candidate's position—and in doing so, revealed the absurd lengths they will go to in trying to persuade the media to discount the delegate math, which gives Obama a virtually insurmountable lead. As it happens, Clinton is now ahead in the popular vote total even when caucus states are included—if Michigan and Florida are also included. But that's a big "if": Obama's name wasn't on the ballot in Michigan, and neither candidate campaigned in the two states.

The media has every interest in seeing this thing drag out to the bitter end. It's been great for ratings. But I hope they'll do their jobs and keep calling bullshit on "IF" scenarios like the one outlined above.

...more at the link

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21. voter confronts Clinton in Oregon pt 3

By Nezua
Hillary Clinton In Eugene, Oregon pt. 3

Part 3 in Nezua's series that showcases Hillary Clinton's rally in Eugene, Oregon. In today's installment, we see a young audience member confront the Senator and kindly inform her that her campaign's attacks and negative slant are harming the Democratic party and appear to be "self-serving." In the conclusion (Part 4), we will hear Clinton's response.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_nezua_080423_hillary_clinton_in_e.htm

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22. Rove, Clinton, Michigan

Rove, Clinton, Michigan

Andrew Sullivan 24 Apr 2008 11:31 am

In this passage, he sounds like Lanny Davis:

In fact, on Tuesday night she actually grabbed the popular vote lead: If you include the Michigan and Florida primary results, Mrs. Clinton now leads the popular vote by a slim 113,000 votes out of 29,914,356 cast.
Mr. Obama will argue he wasn't on the ballot in Michigan and didn't campaign in Florida. But don't Democrats want to count all the votes in all the contests? After all, Mr. Obama took his name off the Michigan ballot; it isn't something he was forced to do. And while he didn't campaign in Florida, neither did she.

My italics. The Michigan angle is now the core element of the Clinton struggle - which is why Rove endorsed it this morning.
The great clarifier of this primary season has been the in-gathering of most of the most toxic, cynical forces in American politics - Democrat and Republican - to extinguish the Obama campaign. In the end, Rove and Clinton are in the same party (Washington, Inc.) and play by the same rules (whatever they can say they are at any given moment). But they're losing. And this head-game is pretty much their last gambit.

[catgirl]

36. Obama does better against McCain in Michigan

I'd love to see a re-vote there. Obama would win and then Hillary
couldn't use it as an excuse.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

23. Clinton Courted Racists In The Pennsylvania Primary

By Dave Lindorff
Clinton Courted Racists In The Pennsylvania Primary

It's one thing to vote for someone of your race or sex or religion, because you identify with them. It's another to say you'd never vote for someone of a certain race (or sex or religion).
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dave_lin_080424_clinton_courted_raci.htm

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24. Re-Post: Fox News Gets Owned by Pro-Wright Priest

I sent this to a radio show that has been discussing and condemning the
NCGOP for their plans to run attack ad.

Fox News Gets Owned by Pro-Wright Priest

Former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is not a racist, he's not anti-American or a bigot according to those that know him.

Catholic priest, Michael Pfleger, is the lastest person to speak out in defense of the reverand following the firestorm of controversy generated by mainstream media. Pfleger speaks of the double standard in media coverage based on race, and racial injustices that still exist today in America.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=119997&mesg_id=119997

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25. The Clintons Haven't Necessarily Lost Their Minds.

By Obiterdictum
The Clintons Haven't Necessarily Lost Their Minds.

They are corporatists. Always have been. They have just perfected the art of pretending they aren't. Bill and Hillary are not emotionally damaged, they are just out of the closet. The Clintons' chief skill, honed throughout their adult lives, is best described as talking the progressive talk while they work hard for their corporate friends.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_obiterdi_080424_the_clintons_haven_t.htm

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26. Obama seeks union's help while Clinton promotes vets issues

Well, Obama isn't completely on vacation today....

Obama seeks union's help while Clinton promotes vets issues

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer Apr 24, 2008 09:47 PM

CHICAGO - How does Sen. Barack Obama spend a day off in his hometown? By urging hundreds of union activists to back his presidential bid in the final Democratic primaries.
That meant criticizing Republican presidential candidate John McCain, whom Obama accused of failing to offer "any meaningful change from the policies of George W. Bush."

"This is the most anti-labor administration in our memory," Obama told activists from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, which has endorsed him. "You and I share a vision for our country. We'll have a National Labor Relations Board that actually believes in unions."

The Chicago resident, who had been scheduled to take a day off from campaigning, avoided mentioning his Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, by name. While contending that "we can be a party that exploits the divisions that exist in our country for pure political gain," he said he wouldn't follow that path

...more at the link

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27. WAKE UP CALL FOR OBAMA / RACE CARD BEING PLAYED BY CLINTON'S

By Allen L Roland
WAKE UP CALL FOR OBAMA / RACE CARD BEING PLAYED BY CLINTON'S
Make no mistake about it ~ the Clinton's are purposely playing the race card in the Democratic Presidential Primary ~ which explains why Obama is finding it hard to attract the low income, white, blue-collar voter without a college degree: Allen L Roland

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_allen_l__080423_wake_up_call_for_oba.htm

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

28. Andrew Sullivan: "Minnesota"

Minnesota

24 Apr 2008 06:14 pm

The candidate the Clintons and Rove say is weak has a 52 - 38 percent lead over McCain.
Clinton's lead is 5 percent.
There's a reason the GOP establishment wants Clinton.
And the "he's a commie leftist God-Hating racist" line of attack hasn't worked too well:

Sixty percent (60%) of Minnesota voters have a favorable opinion of Obama, up from 57% a month ago. McCain’s favorables are at 56%, Clinton’s at 51%. The only way past this is through it. Yes he can!

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29. Clyburn-Clinton's tactics“Scurrilous”, “disingenuous"

Clyburn-Clinton's tactics“Scurrilous”,“disingenuous", know they can't win so want Obama to lose GE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5675323

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

30. RECORD BREAKING THREAD: Rec this thread... time for Hillary to drop out

Congrats to the Du'er who started the thread

"Rec this thread- If you think it's time for Hillary to drop out"

This thread breaks the DU record, got 1,189 recommends in 24 hours.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5642736&mesg_id=5642736

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

31. ANOTHER Double Digit Lie from Clinton Campaign: this time its the fundraising lie

Another Double Digit Lie

If you will recall, the Clinton campaign claimed to have raised $10 million right after her PA victory. That too was a lie.Clinton, Obama camps spin madly on the day after primaryApr 24, 2008 06:22 PM

...Peter Daou, Clinton's Internet director, said the campaign received $8.3 million in Web donations in the roughly 20 hours after Clinton's Pennsylvania win. He said about 85,000 people, 70,000 of them new donors, made donations. The campaign invited the donations with a splash page declaring "Keep the Momentum Going. Contribute $5 below."

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

32. Inauguration - cartoon

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33. 63% think invading Iraq was the wrong thing to do - Hillary

63% That is the percentage of Americans who, according to Gallup, believe that invading Iraq and toppling Hussein was the wrong thing to do. It's a record by the way - even though it was conducted after the latest Petraeus Promenade.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/24/record-high-63-percent-say-us-made-a-mistake-in-sending-troops-to-iraq/

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

34. Don't stop believin', Hillary (or hallucinating hillary)

Don't stop believin', Hillary
By ROGER SIMON | 4/24/08 5:05

Run, Hillary, run.

Run in Guam, run in North Carolina, run in Indiana. Run in each and every one of the nine contests that are left.

Then make some states do their contests over.

Should Barack Obama’s victory in Vermont really count? I don’t think Vermont is actually a state. I think it is technically a socialist republic. Have somebody check this out.

And Obama’s victory in Alaska? Are you kidding me? They let caribou vote in Alaska.

And do some other stuff that levels the playing field: Raise the voting age to 65 in all the remaining contests, for instance.

You do great with this group, Sen. Clinton. Younger people don’t really care about who becomes president anyway. All they want to do is go on this World Wide Interweb thing that they keep talking about.
And while you are at it, Senator, cap all salaries at $50,000 a year, take away all college degrees and give everybody a gun. The demographics are clear: That is your base vote.

...more at the link
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9839.html

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37. With What Moral Authority Do THEY Speak?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5679884&mesg_id=5679884

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

40. The top ten list of undisputed facts about Lanny Davis, "good friend" of George Bush

Thursday, April 24, 2008
The top ten list of undisputed facts about Lanny Davis, top Clinton/Lieberman defender, "good friend" of George Bush
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 4/24/2008 09:08:00

The reviews are in. Lanny Davis is the undisputed winner of the worst spinner of the year. Tough competition, but he pulled it out with his latest screed at Huffington.Davis put together his top ten list about Obama. We put one together about him. Considering the outspoken role Davis has had in the Lieberman campaign and the Clinton campaign, it wasn't hard. The hard part was limiting the list to the top ten:

Davis' post had "laughable assertion" by Jake Tapper

Either a "Hack" or "an utter moron" says Christopher Orr at The Plank.

Davis is Joe Lieberman's BFF and treasurer of a pro-Lieberman PAC.

Liberal blog basher, in his own words to the Wall Street Journal.

Ned Lamont basher, again, in his own words to the Hartford Courant.

"Good friend" of George Bush, he wrote in the Los Angeles Times.

Like so many other Clinton's inner circle, he's a lobbyist for foreign governments -- Pakistan.

He plays "gotcha" politics against Obama, but wrote a book decrying "gotcha" politics.

Launched another unwarranted, ridiculous attack on Howard Dean. (Clinton surrogates spend a lot of time attacking Howard Dean.)

Clearly in the running for most loathsome character -- and the biggest caricature of a Clinton supporter in the 2008 campaign.

http://www.americablog.com/2008/04/draft-top-ten-list-of-undisputed-facts.html

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

41. Breaking News: MAJOR CLINTON FUNDRAISER DEFECTS TO OBAMA

Powergirl
former Amb. to Chile Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon is leaving the campaign to join up Barack Obama's campaign. Officially dubbed a "Hillraiser," Guerra-Mondragon raised nearly $500,000 for Clinton's campaign, according to some estimates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3284274&mesg_id=3284274

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

42. Oklahoma governor endorses Obama

(Somehow I missed this yesterday)

Oklahoma governor endorses Obama


The Associated Press - Apr 23, 2008
He said Henry had "achieved real results" as a consensus builder himself in Oklahoma. "We're fortunate to have Governor Henry's backing, and I look forward ...
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9ccQcGdTkNXqPvmivScbprXckFgD907N3000