Despite vacation, Obama campaign goes on
With the candidate himself on a Hawaii holiday, Barack Obama's campaign and the national Democratic Party are trying to fill the void today.
His campaign is launching its "Republican for Obama" group to promote his bipartisan appeal. Former US Senator Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island, former Congressman Jim Leach of Iowa, and former White House intelligence advisor Rita E. Hauser will help lead the effort.
UPDATE: Democrats tried to contrast Obama reaching across the aisle to Republican John McCain voting with President Bush 95 percent of the time last year.
“[Obama’s call for change] is rooted in very old American values that are as much a part of the Republican as the Democratic tradition -- there is an emphasis in individual rights, fairness and balance at home and progressive internationalism," Leach told reporters on a conference call. "And above anything else frankly I am convinced that the nation interest requires a new approach to our interactions with the world… I also have no doubt that a lot of Republicans, independents are going to be attracted to this call for a new era of non-ideological, bipartisan decision-making."
Leach also promoted Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who toured Iraq and Afghanistan with Obama last month, as a possible out-of-the-box vice presidential pick.
The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, launched the first web video of its "Exxon-McCain '08" campaign designed to link Republican John McCain to Big Oil. A parody of GOP Senator John Cornyn's "Big John" Western-themed ad earlier this year, the video highlights the campaign contributions that McCain has received from oil executives and the benefits that would flow to oil companies from the corporate tax cut he proposes.
"Exxon John's out of touch agenda may be a boon for Big Oil, but it's a bust for America's working families," DNC spokesman Damien LaVera said in a statement accompanying the video.
this is actually a pretty good ad. not too low of a blow, and it actually sticks to the issues
"Exxon-McCain '08" Well lets look at the Junior Senator Obama's unconstitutional windfall oil tax proposal for 09.......Obama the Junior Senator, is not for free trade nor is he for capitalism. His proposed $1,000-per family energy rebate to be paid for by a tax on excessive American oil company profits confirms his anti capitalism ideas.
The Junior Senator Barack Hussein Obama, is taking positions very similar to those of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez! Is his next step to nationalize the oil companies and then the Banks, the pharmaceutical companies, the coal companies etc. etc.?
Let the voters not forget that the Junior Senator Obama has 4 years experience in politica and that is it........
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At least we are seeing "Change" and "Different than typical Washington Politics" from Zerobama - right?? I thought John Kerry took the cake for Phoniest Poilitician ever. Step aside John Kerry...there's a new sheriff in town that has now taken the title.
Barack Hussein Obama - The Phoniest Politician ever. Hillary please swipe the nomination in Denver from this phony bastard who's only "Change" campaign is going to be the "Change" that is left in our pockets after he raises everyones taxes.
But Citibank-Obama is in touch with the people.
Lets look at the Banking Community when we talk about industries that take advantage of the poor the most.
Please - it's illeagal for ANY coorporation to donate to ANY campaign - this borders on a flat out lie by Obama and his camp.... He's getting desperate becasue his lead has evaporated in the polls and he knows by November McCain will win in a land slide....
Sure, Barack has never received any oil money...and lets not forget long-time Democratic hack Jim Johnson who was last seen running Fannie Mae into the group and taking down half of Wall Street with him while helping Barack pick a running mate...as for Linc Chafee..its only fair, we had to put up with him for years, now see how you like him
Typical neocon responses. Republicans offer propoganda, distraction and , above all, ideological theories that don't pan out. Time for a change - any change.
Tony --- it is illegal for corporations, as an entity, to donate however they all get around this by using PACs and Soft Money contributions.
Peter -- Where did the tax rebate Bush just gave us all come from -- right now no place since we are in debt trillions, the Chinese funded that loan probably.
Also thanks for the right-wing rhetoric by using the term "Junior" and adding in Obama's middle name, it really adds to the debate.
Let's not forget people. Obama graduated from several colleges most of you bloggers wish you went to. So the fact that he only has a few years experience, doesn't matter. He's smart enough to know that this country is in trouble, and we need someone to dig us out of this mess.
I'm amused at everyone who's afraid of Obama, says he has no experience, says he's anti-capitalist and says he's phony. I would have thought that everybody would be desensitized to fear at this point. Has W done a good job with anything? Even with an "experienced" Republican in office the economy is faltering, the world is angry at us and given the frequency of serious scandals (Iraqgate, Plamegate, Goodlingate, Katrinagate, Gonzalezgate) under his administration, I'd say he's pretty phony. One has to have had a lobotomy to think W is a patriot let alone a competent politician.
Undoubtedly Obama will not live up to everybody's fantasies, but he's the antithisis of who we have in office.....an intelligent, atriculate, man who without doubt, given his academic and social achievements, has the capability to improve the standing of our country.
I see! You are not intelligent enough to make an educated argument against Obama, so why not resort to name-calling.
I think most of the comments on this article are very discouraging and sound flat out ignorant (clever nicknames guys...really). Headline readers much? I'm guessing the majority of you think doub-ya is doing a stellar job. Wake up people...as "scary" as you think Obama is almost anyone (with the exception of McCain - who may as well be dubbed Bush II) would do a better job running this country than who we have in office now. Lets not be blinded by partisan garbage - I think the last two elections and the state of this country right now are a prime example of what happens when people cast their votes with only their party association in mind. Also, I think its funny one of you throws out "unconstitutional", when really could anyone have a more blatent disregard for the constitution then the real winner we have in office right now? The ads and catchpharases are annoying - I give you that, and they are targeted at less educated, more easily swayed voters, but really Obama, considering what we have in office right now, does not deserved to be villified. Put your name calling and blind hatred towards a much more deserving political target.
Man! Isn't anyone concerned with the fact this guy “Obama” takes allot of vacations? It seems like he is trying to break Bush's record in leisure time. Not too long ago he was vacationing in St. Thomas what in March? And now he is on vacation in Hawaii? Here we are struggling to fill our tanks with heating oil, gas for the cars and groceries forget about vacations and this guy is setting aside his campaign once again within several months to get some R&R. It seem like he is just not very motivated to become President. I don't know but I am kind of concerned with his decision to vacation. The problem I see with Obama is it seems he thinks he has the presidency synched so it seems he feels he doesn’t have to do much to improve his chances. We all know McCain is just a poor Politician. It really shouldn’t be this close in the polls. But here we have Hillary the viper of the candidates that could easily win the Presidency battle and the DNC and the media has done all it can again to through away the Presidency and get behind the losing candidate. So far we don’t have a lot going for us in this campaign season.
HOW ABOUT THE $400,000 OBAMA RECEIVED FROM BIG OIL, AND THAT HE, NOT MCCAIN VOTED FOR THE LAST BUSH OIL BILL.
McCain in a landslide? That's just laughable. Keep trying, goons.
Landslide, yeah right. That is why Obama draws thousands when he goes everywhere, Mccain gets what a couple hundred the his team hand picks. You will see the landslide.
I think the real issue here is that McCain has received $1.2M in oil related contributions and Obama has only received $0.4M. So Obama must be 1/3 into the tank for Big oil. How about the public employee unions and teachers unions?
Is that why McCain is for accountablility of public dollars and spruns earmarks while Obama is clearly in the tank for the teachers union and is against pay for performance and any plan to holds people accountable?
hey garyt - I think McCain spends weekends at one of his 9 houses. Or make that Beer-mogul Cindy's mansions.
Garyt--
Obama has put in 14-18 hours a day, 7 days a week campaigning for the last 18 months... save for a long weekend in the caribbean and this trip to hawaii to visit family. Educate yourself before you type.
"At least we are seeing "Change" and "Different than typical Washington Politics" from Zerobama - right?? I thought John Kerry took the cake for Phoniest Poilitician ever. Step aside John Kerry...there's a new sheriff in town that has now taken the title.
Barack Hussein Obama - The Phoniest Politician ever. Hillary please swipe the nomination in Denver from this phony bastard who's only "Change" campaign is going to be the "Change" that is left in our pockets after he raises everyones taxes."
Another blogging idiot. Of course this person uses Barrack Obama's middle name as some kind of attack, then goes into mentioning that Obama will raise taxes. CONGRADULATIONS on being childish and wrong.
Obama's tax plan will reduce taxes by more money, and for more people, then John McCain's tax plan. Without all the lies, all you comment says is that Barrack has a middle name. Thanks for wasting your time.
garyt,
I don't really have much confidence in any politician these days. It seems like they all have their own agendas anyways and don't really care about this country. I am an Obama supporter and if had to put up with the same trash from the media and McCain, it would need a breather as well. I don't think he believes he has the presidency in the bag. I do hope that when he comes back, he needs to come out guns blazing and push harder than McCain and win.
Vacation...Seriously?!? What about the economy or Iran, Isn't that important to you? I know it takes a little more effort to educate yourself on the actual ISSUES, but c'mon, VACATION?!?
I'll call it what it is.... I make 250k a year and I'm scared to death what Obama's tax increases will do to me. I'm voting for McCain based on that fact alone.... Oh, and I'm black!
"At least we are seeing "Change" and "Different than typical Washington Politics" from Zerobama - right?? I thought John Kerry took the cake for Phoniest Poilitician ever. Step aside John Kerry...there's a new sheriff in town that has now taken the title.
Barack Hussein Obama - The Phoniest Politician ever. Hillary please swipe the nomination in Denver from this phony bastard who's only "Change" campaign is going to be the "Change" that is left in our pockets after he raises everyones taxes."
Another blogging idiot. Of course this person uses Barrack Obama's middle name as some kind of attack, then goes into mentioning that Obama will raise taxes. CONGRADULATIONS on being childish and wrong.
Obama's tax plan will reduce taxes by more money, and for more people, then John McCain's tax plan. Without all the lies, all you comment says is that Barrack has a middle name. Thanks for wasting your time.
***Hey Tim - How Ironic that you call me "Idiot". Try using your Spell Check - the word is CongraTulations not CongraDulations. Who is the idiot?
Secondly - Why so sensitive to the middle name? Just saying what it is. So sensitive and afraid...why is that? How is using the middle name Childish?
You also need some work on your grammar. For example "Obama's tax plan will reduce taxes by more money, and for more people, then John McCain's tax plan". You might want to try "Obama's tax plan will reduce taxes more and for more people thAn (not "then") John McCain's." (BTW - what Kool Aid have you been drinking?)
Secondly you write this "Without all the lies, all you comment says is that Barrack has a middle name. Thanks for wasting your time." You might want to refer to the comments as "Your" comment (not "You" comment") and your Messiah's name is Barack..not "Barrack".
You might want to read up a bit on economics. With all of The Messiah's proposed communist programs, it will need one heck of a lot of tax dollars...who's going to pay? Yup - the people who work everyday and not just the wealthy. By doubling the Capital Gains tax, it will force investors to invest out of the country and if you think we are in an economic slowdown now, wait till you see what that will do. Like it or not, we live in a Capitalistic Society and should have economic policies conducive to it not failed Socialist/Communist ones.
You are very welcome for your lessons today Tim. Careful who you call "idiot" when it appears you haven't completed the 3rd grade yet !
I'll refer to the Democratic candidate this yr as "Joe Jones Smith" as to not offend any sensitive pepole out there....why so afraid of the middle name and the Herculian effort to supress it?
Black Republicans supporting Obama? … this doesn’t surprise me … black Americans are racists, that’s why 90% of them are voting for Obama, simply because he is black … and, if that’s not bad enough, they are also hypocrites, for while they’re putting their skin color above their principles, party and country, they’re using the race card against anyone who opposes them. White Americans should follow their lead, and elect John McCain because he is white!
agree 110% with ad...Exon John has got to be gone!
Be careful guys(Obamas camp) there are more Bushies than Obamas and if I were you, you might want to slow down your rhetoric against President Bush.You are digging your grave too deep it will be too difficult for you to climb up.
Mc Cain was always a minus D student in class. Obama was always an A star. Ask any teacher who they would like to leave in charge! It took Mc Cain all his years in the senate to understand how it works and what is written in the American constitution. Obama knew all that when he started. Imagine what he will be like with one or two more years of experience. American will have a brilliant president. The best in the world. Just give him a change. He alone can make America respectable again. The world likes him. They do not like Mc Cain.
Obama will be a president for the people not for the oil companies.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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