Clinton Press Release: Morning HUBdate - A Tribute To Dr. King
April 4, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from April 4, 2008]
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Morning HUBdate: A Tribute To Dr. King
Poverty Czar: Today in her speech at the Mason Temple in Memphis, TN, paying tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in remembrance of the 40th anniversary of his assassination, Hillary announces a cabinet level position that will be solely and fully devoted to ending poverty as we know it in America.
A Tribute To Dr. King: Earlier this week, Hillary released a video inviting supporters to submit testimonials about the impact of Dr. King’s work on their lives. View here
On The Air: The Clinton campaign released the first 60-second television ad statewide in North Carolina inviting Tar Heel voters to submit questions. “I’m committed to hearing directly from voters across the Tar Heel State, so in this new ad, I’m asking North Carolinians to talk to me.” Hillary will answer those questions in follow-up ads in the coming weeks. Watch Here. Submit questions here.
Tonight Show: Hillary appeared on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” despite, Hillary joked, being “pinned down by sniper fire at the Burbank airport.” Watch here. Read more.
If You Read One Thing Today: The NYT writes “Senator Barack Obama’s support among Democrats nationally has softened over the last month…as voters have taken a slightly less positive view of him than they did after his burst of victories in February, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.” Read more
By The Numbers: A new poll out from Research 2000 shows Hillary leading in the Hoosier State (49-46). See the results here.
Endorsement Watch: Former Indiana Congressman John Brademas endorsed Hillary because she “has the intelligence, the integrity, and the experience to jump-start our struggling economy, create needed Hoosier jobs and put the country back on the right track.” Read more
More Hoosiers For Hillary: Hillary received the endorsements of 21 additional mayors and four local Democratic Party leaders in Indiana. “These mayors and local leaders see up close every day the impact of our rough economy on families in their communities. They know it’s going to take someone who can deliver real solutions to put our economy back on track.” Read more.
West Virginia Announcements: The campaign announced its West Virginia State Director and Communications Director. New State Director, Talley Sargent: “West Virginians have patiently waited their turn to head to the ballot box – and now they will have their opportunity to make their vote count.” Read more.
Save the Date: Hillary agreed to an April 27th debate in Raleigh, NC hosted by CBS. Read more.
On Tap In Oregon: Hillary will hold a town hall in Hillsboro and will host a rally in Eugene.
In Case You Missed It: “A key adviser to Sen. Obama’s campaign is recommending in a confidential paper that America keep between 60,000 and 80,000 troops in Iraq as of late 2010, a plan at odds with the public pledge of the Illinois senator to withdraw combat forces from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.” Read more.
Clinton Press Conference Call: To Discuss The State Of The Race
April 2, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release/Conference Call From April 2, 2008]
Howard Wolfson and Mark Penn will hold a conference call TODAY to discuss the state of the race and unveil a new campaign ad.
WHO: Howard Wolfson, Communications Director
Mark Penn, Chief StrategistWHAT: Conference call to discuss the state of the race and unveil a new ad
WHEN: TODAY, Wednesday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. EDT
[AUDIO]
Clinton Press Release: Statement from Hillary Clinton on Bush’s Pursuit of a “Long-Term Strategic Partnership” with the Iraqi Government
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Statement from Hillary Clinton on Bush’s Pursuit of a “Long-Term Strategic Partnership” with the Iraqi Government
“President Bush today again announced his intention to circumvent the United States Congress and unilaterally negotiate what he called a ‘long-term strategic partnership’ with the government of Iraq. The President has said he plans to conclude this agreement with the Maliki government ‘in the coming months.’
“We cannot allow President Bush to tie the hands of his successor to his failed Iraq policy. Legislation I introduced last December would block funding for any such agreement in the absence of express congressional approval. I have been joined by a number of my distinguished colleagues as co-sponosrs, including Senators Bayh, Boxer, Casey, Feinstein, Menendez, Obama, Webb and Whitehouse.
“We must stop the President as he attempts to sidestep Congress and the will of the American people. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the President’s attempt to cement his failed Iraq policy for years to come.”
Senator Clinton introduced the Congressional Oversight of Iraq Agreements Act (S2426) on December 6. It would bar the authorization or appropriation of any funds to carry out any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving “commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole,” including a status of forces agreement, that is not approved by the Congress.
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Clinton Press Release: Obama Copies Hillary’s ‘Second Stimulus’
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Obama Copies Hillary’s ‘Second Stimulus’
Last Thursday, Senator Clinton called for a “second stimulus package” with $30 billion to help states and localities fight foreclosures. One week later, Senator Obama announced a “second $30 billion stimulus package”.
Clinton policy director Neera Tanden: “If Senator Obama has to copy policy ideas when he’s a candidate on the campaign trail, how is he going to solve people’s problems if he’s president? When it comes to fixing the economy, we need leadership, not followership.”
1) Hillary called for a $30 billion fund to help states and localities to fight foreclosure in their communities. [Clinton Campaign Press Release, 3/20/08]
One week later, Barack Obama called for an economic stimulus package of $30 billion to provide ‘immediate relief to areas hardest hit by the housing crisis.’ [Reuters, 3/27/08]
2) Hillary’s plan introduces idea of ‘second stimulus.’ “That is why Senator Clinton is calling on Congress and the President to pass a second stimulus package. This time around, the primary focus should be on addressing the growing housing crisis. And by investing new, temporary resources in a housing-focused stimulus package, we can avoid the worst fall-out from the current downturn, keep families in their homes and stabilize communities.” [Clinton Campaign Press Release, 3/20/08]
Obama’s plan uses the exact same language: ‘Enact a Second $30 Billion Stimulus Package to Address the Mortgage Crisis, Protect Vulnerable Families and Strengthen the Economy.’ [Obama Plan to restore Confidence in the Markets, 3/27/08]
3) Hillary’s plan reiterated her support for increasing unemployment insurance: “While this second stimulus package should focus predominantly on the housing crisis, Congress should also consider temporary measures to help struggling workers like extending unemployment insurance.” [Clinton Campaign Press Release, 3/20/08]
Obama’s plan includes the same call for increasing unemployment insurance: “Barack Obama believes we must extend and strengthen the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program to address the needs of the long-term unemployed, who currently make up nearly one-fifth of the unemployed and are often older workers who have lost their jobs in manufacturing or other industries and have a difficult time finding new employment.” [Obama Plan to restore Confidence in the Markets, 3/27/08]###
Clinton Press Release: Video - Hillary Clinton on John McCain & Economy
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Video: Hillary Clinton on John McCain & Economy
Hillary Clinton delivered the following statement at a campaign event this morning in Raleigh, North Carolina:
To watch video of the statement, click here.
“It’s time for a president who is ready on Day One to be the Commander-in-Chief of our economy. Sometimes the phone rings at 3 a.m. in the White House and it’s an economic crisis. And we need a president who is ready and willing and able to answer that call. I read the speech that Senator McCain gave the other day which set forth his plan which does virtually nothing to ease the credit crisis or the housing crisis. It seems like if the phone were ringing, he would just let it ring and ring and ring.
“Senator McCain is a friend of mine and I admire his service to our country greatly. But he recently admitted, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” And it turns out he’d rather ignore the credit crisis and mortgage crisis – or blame middle class families instead of offering solutions on their behalf.
“I think we’ve had enough of a president who didn’t know enough about economics, and didn’t do enough for the American middle class. I don’t think we can afford four more years of that kind of inaction. I believe we need a president who will answer the call and act aggressively to deal with economic crises like the ones we are seeing in our economy today. That’s the kind of president we will desperately need after eight years of President Bush.”
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Clinton Press Release: Response from Policy Director, Neera Tanden, on Sen. Obama’s Remarks Today on the Economy
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Response from Policy Director, Neera Tanden, on Sen. Obama’s Remarks Today on the Economy
Clinton campaign policy director Neera Tanden issued the following statement in response to Senator Obama’s remarks today: “Presidents have to do more than announce principles. They have to solve problems. At a time of crisis in our financial markets, Senator Obama announced a series of broad, vague principles, while offering no new concrete solutions to provide Americans with greater confidence in the market or keep them in their homes. The contrast could not be clearer - on Monday, Senator Clinton announced a detailed, specific plan to address the housing and credit crisis. On Tuesday, Senator McCain announced that he had no plan. And today, Senator Obama offered just words.”
BACKGROUND ON SEN. OBAMA’S DAY IN NEW YORK:On Monday, the Obama campaign responded to Hillary unveiling a comprehensive plan to deal with the housing crisis by attacking her for taking contributions connected to subprime lenders. Campaign manager David Plouffe said: “If we’re really going to crack down on the practices that caused the credit and housing crises, we’re going to need a leader who doesn’t owe those industries any favors.”
As it turns out, those were just words… Today, Senator Obama gives an economy speech followed by a fundraiser at - you guessed it - one of the top 10 issuers of subprime loans in America, Credit Suisse. In fact, Senator Obama has taken more money from the top 10 issuers of subprime loans than BOTH Senator Clinton and Senator McCain [cq.com].
- Obama has taken $1,180,103 from the top issuers of subprime loans. [cq.com]
- Obama received $266,907 from Lehman. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $5395 from GMAC. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $150,850 from Credit Suisse First Boston. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $11,250 from Countrywide. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $9052 from Washington Mutual. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $161,850 from Citigroup. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $4600 from CBASS. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $170,050 from Morgan Stanley. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $1150 from Centex. [Cq.com]
- Obama received $351,900 from Goldman Sachs. [Cq.com]###
Clinton Press Release: Clinton Kicks Off Solutions For The American Economy Tour - Announces A New $2.5 Billion Per Year Workforce Training Program
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Clinton Kicks Off Solutions For The American Economy Tour In North Carolina
Announces A New $2.5 Billion Per Year Workforce Training Program
In North Carolina today, Hillary Clinton launched a six-day tour to discuss her solutions to ensure shared prosperity in these tough economic times. Clinton will travel to North Carolina, Indiana, and Pennsylvania as part of the “Solutions For The American Economy” tour and will highlight ways that state and local leaders have found solutions to economic challenges. The first event of the tour took place at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh where Clinton gave a speech outlining her plan to revive the economy and announced a new plan to invest $2.5 billion per year – or $12.5 billion over 5 years –to strengthen the nation’s workforce development efforts. Her plan would make job retraining universally available to all dislocated workers, provide new Pell Grants to workers, and support on-the-job training opportunities.
“We are competing in a new global economy, but our policies to equip American worker for the twenty-first century are stuck back in the twentieth. When it comes to retraining assistance, our government is more focused on how you lost your job than how you can find a new one,” said Clinton. “And while we have been rightly focused on trying to help people who are out of work, there’s been too little thought and effort to help people gain new skills while they still have their existing jobs – so they can move up or move on to higher-wage positions.”
During her remarks, she noted that North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has made workforce development and job retraining a major priority. In fact, he increased funding for community colleges by 15.8 percent above 2005-06 levels. He has also expanded the “Learn and Earn” initiative, which allows high schools students to obtain a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or two years of university credit in five years.
Unfortunately, the commitment to workforce development has not been matched at the federal level. President Bush has dramatically undermined the capacity of our federal workforce training system, which is now training 30% fewer people than it did in 2000. Under President Bush, the number of long-term unemployed workers has nearly doubled. And of the nearly 4 million long-term workers who were displaced from jobs in 2006, close to one-third experienced an earnings loss of 20 percent or more. [BLS, Displaced Workers Summary, 2006].
Clinton’s plan will rebuild the nation’s training system with new initiatives that support workers who have lost their jobs and help workers currently on-the-job get new training and skills to compete for higher-wages and better positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 24 of the 30 fastest-growing occupations will be filled by people with postsecondary education or training over the next five years. While improving schools is essential, Clinton’s plan ensures that the training needs of the workforce already out of school are met. About two-thirds of our 2020 workforce is already out of school. If we want a skilled workforce in the future, we must invest in the skills of those who are working right now.
At Wake Technical Community College, she was joined by several students and faculty members, including Bud Burton, an instructor in architecture and landscape architecture, who is working with his students on green building design, as well as Susanne Mistric, a married mom of two, who always wanted to go to college and is a double major in graphic design and web technology. Clinton also met with Shenise Gilyard, a senior at Southeast Raleigh High School and participant in Wake Tech’s dual enrollment program. When she graduates from high school this year, she will have her diploma and an EMT certificate.
Hillary Clinton’s Plan to Prepare Every Worker for High-Wage, High-Skill Jobs of the Future
Making Worker Adjustment Assistance Universally Available for All Dislocated Workers: In today’s economy, no industry or worker is immune from global competition or technological change. Yet current government efforts to support retraining too often focus on why a worker lost his or her job, rather than on how to best help that worker find a good new job going forward. Trade Adjustment Assistance provides generous assistance, training and income support but is limited to a narrow set of workers who lose a job because their plants relocate to a country with which we have not signed free trade or trade preferences agreements. The Dislocated Worker Program – which was tripled during the Clinton Administration – actually has been cut during the Bush Administration, even as we face our second potential recession in seven years. Senator Clinton has already joined Senator Max Baucus, Representative Charlie Rangel and other Democratic leaders in calling for expanding the existing TAA program to cover service workers affected by global competition.
Today, Senator Clinton called for taking the next step – by committing $10 billion over five years to move towards a universal system where every dislocated worker is eligible for a basic set of training, adjustment and job search benefits regardless of whether their job loss was due to trade, outsourcing, technological change, or economic downturn. Senator Clinton will work to ensure that this expansion is achieved without diluting current TAA benefits or the expansion to service workers.
Providing New Pell Grants for Workers: Hillary will provide a new Pell Grant benefit to displaced workers who enroll in training and education programs to upgrade their skills. Because eligibility for federal financial aid is based on one’s annual income, and not available to less than part-time students, many displaced workers do not qualify. Under this initiative, any worker who lost a job of three or more years because the plants where they were working closed or moved elsewhere will be eligible for the minimum Pell Grant benefit if they enroll in a training, certificate or degree-granting higher education program. Those who qualify for more generous financial aid awards will receive the full amount to which they are entitled. Hillary will also instruct the Department of Education to conduct a pilot program to relax certain requirements while maintaining the integrity of the federal financial aid system, so that it better meets the needs of workers. And her Administration will conduct aggressive outreach by partnering with state unemployment and labor offices to ensure that every eligible worker learns about the Pell Grants for Workers program, and is able to take full advantage of it.
Supporting New Preemptive and On-The-Job Training: Senator Clinton believes that we should not wait until workers lose their jobs to help them get new training and new skills. By strengthening opportunities for workers to get education and skills while still on the job, Senator Clinton’s plan will help increase workers wages and employment prospects, while aiming to decrease dislocation as well. Her plan includes:
- 401(k)s for Education and Training: Senator Clinton’s new American Retirement Accounts will give workers a new, easy and automatic way to save for education and training opportunities. These accounts will allow individuals to invest up to $5,000 per year on a tax-deferred basis, and offer up to $1000 in matching tax cuts to help workers save. To empower workers to equip themselves with the skills to find new jobs before they have suffered a dislocation, Senator Clinton has proposed that these funds can be withdrawn penalty-free for higher education and training while workers are on-the-job. In addition, workers will also be able to withdraw 10-15% of the savings from their accounts to help tide them through periods of extended unemployment.
- Preemptive Training Initiative for Vulnerable Communities: Senator Clinton would invest $200 million per year in a program to offer preemptive training assistance to workers and communities threatened by global competition. Under this program, communities, unions and companies could apply for assistance if they were concerned that their jobs were being threatened by global competition or technological change, and would receive competitive grants to support training and transition assistance for new jobs and new career opportunities, including those targeted to local circumstances.. The Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN) in Western Pennsylvania involves community, business, and union leaders to identify and assist at-risk manufacturers; SEWN estimates that these preemptive efforts have saved or created more than 10,000 jobs since the program began in 1993. The grants would also seek to support new partnerships between community colleges, workers and local businesses to tailor credit-bearing training programs to specific local employment demand. These programs could seek to provide new ways to help workers train on the job, by adapting college offerings to workers’ schedules and expanding worksite learning opportunities. One example is the Charlotte Regional Workforce Development Partnership, which brings together representatives from nine area community colleges to discuss the workforce trends, enrollment in training programs, and how the local training programs can be better tailored to address the needs of the local economy.
- More flexible employer tuition benefit programs: Senator Clinton believes Section 127 of the tax code should be amended to allow employers to use tuition benefit programs to pay for not just for college courses, but also for literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) or other pre-undergraduate education. This would help new immigrants and low-skilled workers to develop the basic education and language skills required for more advanced work and learning opportunities.
A Commitment to Fiscal Discipline: The cost of Senator Clinton’s new training initiative is approximately $2.5 billion per year. This cost will be financed without increasing the deficit by allocating a portion of the savings from Senator Clinton’s Corporate Subsidy Commission. This commission will identify unnecessary and outdated corporate subsidies for elimination and present its recommendations in full to Congress for an up-or-down vote – without amendments. [American Dream Initiative, 2005]. This approach will ensure that special interests cannot interfere to protect their own subsidies.
Building on a Bold Agenda for Job Creation: Hillary’s plan to prepare our workers for the high-wage, high-skill jobs of the future builds on her bold agenda to create good, high-wage jobs in America. Hillary will restore a strong manufacturing sector in the U.S. by investing in processes and products that could lower costs, improve efficiencies, and create more U.S. manufacturing jobs. She will end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and investing in innovation and job growth in the U.S. Her Rebuild America plan will invest in infrastructure to create good jobs, ensure our safety and enhance our economic competitiveness. And her $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund will invest in renewables and clean energy technologies that will help create at least 5 million green collar jobs.
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Clinton Press Release: Morning HUBdate - Creating Jobs
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 27, 2008]
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Morning HUBdate: Creating Jobs
Today In The Tar Heel State: Hillary will deliver a major economic policy address on rebuilding the middle class by creating new jobs and promoting job training in Raleigh.
If You Watch One Thing Today: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) tells voters in Fayette County that Hillary is the only candidate with the strength and experience to be president on Day One. Watch HereFamily Ties: Big and enthusiastic crowds have continued to greet Chelsea at her campaign stops, including in Washington, DC yesterday, where she introduced her mother at a “March To Victory” rally. Read more.
Michigan Counts: Following yesterday’s court ruling regarding Michigan’s January 15th primary, Campaign Manager Maggie Williams issued a statement “urg[ing] Senator Obama to join our call for a party-run primary and demonstrate his commitment to counting Michigan’s votes.” Read the statement here.
If You Read One Thing Today: “Clinton Finds Warm Welcome Among Pennsylvania Voters.” Read More
Hoosiers For Hillary: Hillary will be joined on her Indiana campaign swing this Friday, March 28, by two winners of the “Hoosiers For Hillary” contest. Congratulations to Lynn Schwartzberg from Bloomington and Kelly White from Newburgh.
The Hillary I Know: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) supports Hillary because “[she] has fought for over 35 years…and Hillary will fight for us every day in the White House.” Read More
Just Words: “Sen. Obama knows that if he focused on his experience, he’d get questions about the shortcomings in his record and the efforts he has made to embellish it.” Read more.
Clinton Press Conference Call: To Discuss The State Of The Race
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release/Conference Call from March 27, 2008]
Howard Wolfson and Phil Singer will hold a conference call TODAY to discuss the state of the race.
WHO: Howard Wolfson, Communications Director
Phil Singer, Deputy Communications DirectorWHAT: Conference call to discuss the state of the race
WHEN: TODAY, Thursday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
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[AUDIO]
Sphere: Related ContentClinton Press Release: MEMO - The Obama Record: Just Words
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 26, 2008]
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To: Interested Parties
From: The Clinton Campaign
Date: March 26, 2008
RE: The Obama Record: Just WordsYesterday, a Pennsylvania editorial board asked Sen. Clinton how she would have “responded if [her] pastor had said some of the things that Rev. Wright said?” In response, she said Rev. Wright would not have been her pastor, an honest view shared by many Americans.
The Obama campaign’s response? Attack Sen. Clinton and accuse her of trying to divert attention from the Bosnia trip story and her record of foreign policy experience.
Sen. Clinton’s response was sincere. The Obama attack was disingenuous.
We are happy to discuss Sen. Clinton’s foreign policy experience and her record overall. Unfortunately, the Obama campaign doesn’t want to discuss its candidate’s record and prefers personal attacks instead.
Sen. Obama knows that if he focused on his experience, he’d get questions about the shortcomings in his record and the efforts he has made to embellish it.
He’d have to deal with the fallout from this week’s Washington Post report on his gross exaggeration of his role on immigration reform and housing policy.
Sen. Obama would have to explain why the New York Times reported that he claims credit for passing nuclear leak legislation that never got out of committee.
He’d have to confront reports from FactCheck.org and other independent organizations that say his claims of providing a universal health care plan are based on selective, embellished and out-of-context quotes from newspapers.
He’d have to discuss the LA Times story that reported on how his fellow organizers say he took too much credit for his community organizing efforts.
He’d have to explain why he regularly claims he was a law professor when in fact he held no such title.
Sen. Obama seems to think disingenuous attacks on Sen. Clinton will address the concerns voters have about his record and readiness to be the Commander-in-Chief and the steward of our economy. They won’t.
In the end, Sen. Obama’s words cannot erase Hillary’s 35-year record of action because when all is said and done, words aren’t action. They are just words.
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Clinton Press Release: Morning HUBdate - “March to Victory”
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 26, 2008]
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Morning HUBdate: “March to Victory”
Previewing Today: Hillary and her daughter Chelsea co-host a “March to Victory” rally in Washington, DC. RSVP here
Strong on the Economy: Yesterday, Hillary unveiled her retirement security plan to help Pennsylvania families save for the future. Read more about Hillary’s plan and her long record of leadership on the economy.
By the Numbers: A new Rasmussen poll shows more Democrats supporting Hillary in the general election (71-64)…and viewing Hillary more favorably than Senator Obama (74-67) See results here.
If You Watch One Thing Today: Hillary goes on the air in Pennsylvania with “Level.” Watch here
The Hillary I Know: Philadelphia Mayor Nutter lays out his case for Hillary. “I believe that Senator Clinton shares my commitment to healing lives and broken families while, at the same time, healing a nation…It’s a new day in Philadelphia and Hillary Clinton is bringing new leadership…that I believe will make life better - for all of us.” Read more.
Endorsement Watch: Yesterday, the Liberty City Democratic Club, a leading LGBT political group in PA, overwhelmingly endorsed Hillary. “[Hillary’s] record of accomplishment is proof positive that she’ll be a fighter for the LGBT community …We need her experience working for us.” Read more
In the States: This week, the campaign has opened new offices in Raleigh, North Carolina and in Bristol, Easton, and Norristown, Pennsylvania, as well as in Indianapolis and New Albany, Indiana.
On Tap: Tomorrow, Hillary delivers an economic policy address in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In Case You Missed It: Senator Obama’s campaign continues engaging in negative, slanderous attacks on Senator Clinton. Read more.
Just words? Senator Obama “has been found misspeaking and embellishing facts about himself more than ten times in recent months.” Read more
Clinton Press Release: Hillary Clinton Reacts to Sen. McCain’s Support for Social Security Privatization & His Housing Speech
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 25, 2008]
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Hillary Clinton Reacts to Sen. McCain’s Support for Social Security Privatization & His Housing Speech
The following are excerpts from a press availability that Hillary Clinton held at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg earlier this afternoon:
“…Social Security is a big issue in this campaign. There are differences between myself and Senator Obama and there are very big differences between myself and John McCain. And I have to admit to being somewhat surprised when I saw that Senator McCain had said that he would try to continue to try to privatize Social Security along the lines of what President Bush tried and failed in doing in 2005. That is a very significant difference between the two of us.”
…
“…Pennsylvania as you know has a higher percentage of older people than most states so it is a particular concern to a lot of Pennsylvanians who are on Social Security, like a couple we heard from earlier today who keep seeing their expenses increase and realize that they are in a very difficult position trying to afford all of the necessities of life and being on a fixed income like they are. That’s why it’s so important that we are doing everything we can to meet the long term challenges of Social Security. The Social Security trustees just issued a report, actually while I was speaking, and there has been some improvement in the outlook for Social Security according to some, to the Social Security trustees. So I think that it reinforces what I have said for a long time, which is we have some long term challenges. It is not a crisis. We can fix what’s needing to be changed in Social Security. Our real challenge is Medicare which is much more in crisis and deserves closer attention.”
…
The following is Clinton’s response to Sen. McCain’s comments on the housing crisis.
“It sounds remarkably like Herbert Hoover and I don’t think that’s a good economic policy. We have a framework of regulation, it needs to be updated and modernized. The government has a number of tools at its disposal that are well-suited for just this situation. I think that inaction has contributed to the problems we face today and I believe further inaction would exacerbate those problems. I’ve laid out what I would do. I don’t think it’s an adequate response to say the government shouldn’t be helping either banks or people because I think that would be a downward spiral that would cause tremendous economic pain and loss in our country and I don’t see why we should wait by for that to happen.”
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Clinton Press Release: Statement from Hillary Clinton on Sen. McCain’s Support for Social Security Privatization
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Conference Call from March 25, 2008]
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Statement from Hillary Clinton on Sen. McCain’s Support for Social Security Privatization
Hillary Clinton made the following statement at a “Solutions for the American Economy” town hall earlier this afternoon in Greensburg, PA:
“Senator McCain said something stunning the other day. He pledged to continue President Bush’s attempts to privatize Social Security. He said, and I quote, ‘as part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it, along the lines that President Bush proposed.’
“Now, Senator McCain has already promised to continue George Bush’s failed Iraq policy, and to make permanent his tax breaks for the wealthy few. Now he’s taking up President Bush’s assault on Social Security. So in a nutshell, that’s John McCain’s plan for America - four more years of the same. Well, we cannot afford one more year of the same.
“Now for the life of me, I cannot understand how Senator McCain can find the money for 100 more years in Iraq and tax cuts for the wealthiest, but not for Social Security. And I would never understand why he turned Social Security’s guarantee into a stock market gamble for millions of Americans. You don’t need to look any further than Bear Stearns and Wall Street lately to know that our workers and seniors simply can’t afford the Bush-McCain privatization scheme.
“So my message to Senator McCain is this – Social Security privatization is a bad idea whose time has come and gone, and the American people rejected the Bush privatization plan in 2005 and the American people will reject the Bush-McCain privatization plan in 2008.”
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Clinton Press Release: Just Embellished Words - Senator Obama’s Record of Exaggerations & Misstatements
March 27, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 25, 2008]
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Just Embellished Words: Senator Obama’s Record of Exaggerations & Misstatements
Once again, the Obama campaign is getting caught saying one thing while doing another. They are personally attacking Hillary even though Sen. Obama has been found mispeaking and embellishing facts about himself more than ten times in recent months. Senator Obama’s campaign is based on words –not a record of deeds – and if those words aren’t backed up by facts, there’s not much else left.
“Senator Obama has called himself a constitutional professor, claimed credit for passing legislation that never left committee, and apparently inflated his role as a community organizer among other issues. When it comes to his record, just words won’t do. Senator Obama will have to use facts as well,” Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said.
Sen. Obama consistently and falsely claims that he was a law professor. The Sun-Times reported that, “Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama’s primary [Senate] campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter.” In academia, there’s a significant difference: professors have tenure while lecturers do not. [Hotline Blog, 4/9/07; Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04]
Obama claimed credit for nuclear leak legislation that never passed. “Obama scolded Exelon and federal regulators for inaction and introduced a bill to require all plant owners to notify state and local authorities immediately of even small leaks. He has boasted of it on the campaign trail, telling a crowd in Iowa in December that it was ‘the only nuclear legislation that I’ve passed.’ ‘I just did that last year,’ he said, to murmurs of approval. A close look at the path his legislation took tells a very different story. While he initially fought to advance his bill, even holding up a presidential nomination to try to force a hearing on it, Mr. Obama eventually rewrote it to reflect changes sought by Senate Republicans, Exelon and nuclear regulators. The new bill removed language mandating prompt reporting and simply offered guidance to regulators, whom it charged with addressing the issue of unreported leaks. Those revisions propelled the bill through a crucial committee. But, contrary to Mr. Obama’s comments in Iowa, it ultimately died amid parliamentary wrangling in the full Senate.” [New York Times, 2/2/08]
Obama misspoke about his being conceived because of Selma. “Mr. Obama relayed a story of how his Kenyan father and his Kansan mother fell in love because of the tumult of Selma, but he was born in 1961, four years before the confrontation at Selma took place. When asked later, Mr. Obama clarified himself, saying: ‘I meant the whole civil rights movement.’” [New York Times, 3/5/07]
LA Times: Fellow organizers say Sen. Obama took too much credit for his community organizing efforts. “As the 24-year-old mentor to public housing residents, Obama says he initiated and led efforts that thrust Altgeld’s asbestos problem into the headlines, pushing city officials to call hearings and a reluctant housing authority to start a cleanup. But others tell the story much differently. They say Obama did not play the singular role in the asbestos episode that he portrays in the best-selling memoir ‘Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.’ Credit for pushing officials to deal with the cancer-causing substance, according to interviews and news accounts from that period, also goes to a well-known preexisting group at Altgeld Gardens and to a local newspaper called the Chicago Reporter. Obama does not mention either one in his book.” [Los Angeles Times, 2/19/07]
Chicago Tribune: Obama’s assertion that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing ’strains credulity.’ “…Obama has been too self-exculpatory. His assertion in network TV interviews last week that nobody had indications Rezko was engaging in wrongdoing strains credulity: Tribune stories linked Rezko to questionable fundraising for Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2004 — more than a year before the adjacent home and property purchases by the Obamas and the Rezkos.” [Chicago Tribune editorial, 1/27/08]
Obama was forced to revise his assertion that lobbyists ‘won’t work in my White House.’ “White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was forced to revise a critical stump line of his on Saturday — a flat declaration that lobbyists ‘won’t work in my White House’ after it turned out his own written plan says they could, with some restrictions… After being challenged on the accuracy of what he has been saying — in contrast to his written pledge — at a news conference Saturday in Waterloo, Obama immediately softened what had been his hard line in his next stump speech.” [Chicago Sun-Times, 12/16/07]
FactCheck.org: ‘Selective, embellished and out-of-context quotes from newspapers pump up Obama’s health plan.’ “Obama’s ad touting his health care plan quotes phrases from newspaper articles and an editorial, but makes them sound more laudatory and authoritative than they actually are. It attributes to The Washington Post a line saying Obama’s plan would save families about $2,500. But the Post was citing the estimate of the Obama campaign and didn’t analyze the purported savings independently. It claims that “experts” say Obama’s plan is “the best.” “Experts” turn out to be editorial writers at the Iowa City Press-Citizen – who, for all their talents, aren’t actual experts in the field. It quotes yet another newspaper saying Obama’s plan “guarantees coverage for all Americans,” neglecting to mention that, as the article makes clear, it’s only Clinton’s and Edwards’ plans that would require coverage for everyone, while Obama’s would allow individuals to buy in if they wanted to.” [FactCheck.org, 1/3/08]
Sen. Obama said ‘I passed a law that put Illinois on a path to universal coverage,’ but Obama health care legislation merely set up a task force. “As a state senator, I brought Republicans and Democrats together to pass legislation insuring 20,000 more children. And 65,000 more adults received health care…And I passed a law that put Illinois on a path to universal coverage.” The State Journal-Register reported in 2004 that “The [Illinois State] Senate squeaked out a controversial bill along party lines Wednesday to create a task force to study health-care reform in Illinois. […] In its original form, the bill required the state to offer universal health care by 2007. That put a ‘cloud’ over the legislation, said Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon. Under the latest version, the 29-member task force would hold at least five public hearings next year.” [Obama Health Care speech, 5/29/07; State Journal-Register, 5/20/04]
ABC News: ‘Obama…seemed to exaggerate the legislative progress he made’ on ethics reform. “ABC News’ Teddy Davis Reports: During Monday’s Democratic presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., seemed to exaggerate the legislative progress he has made on disclosure of “bundlers,” those individuals who aggregate their influence with the candidate they support by collecting $2,300 checks from a wide network of wealthy friends and associates. When former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel alleged that Obama had 134 bundlers, Obama responded by telling Gravel that the reason he knows how many bundlers he has raising money for him is “because I helped push through a law this past session to disclose that.” Earlier this year, Obama sponsored an amendment [sic] in the Senate requiring lobbyists to disclose the candidates for whom they bundle. Obama’s amendment would not, however, require candidates to release the names of their bundlers. What’s more, although Obama’s amendment was agreed to in the Senate by unanimous consent, the measure never became law as Obama seemed to suggest. Gravel and the rest of the public know how many bundlers Obama has not because of a ‘law’ that the Illinois Democrat has ‘pushed through’ but because Obama voluntarily discloses that information.” [ABC News, 7/23/07]
Obama drastically overstated Kansas tornado deaths during campaign appearance. “When Sen. Barack Obama exaggerated the death toll of the tornado in Greensburg, Kan, during his visit to Richmond yesterday, The Associated Press headline rapidly evolved from ‘Obama visits former Confederate capital for fundraiser’ to ‘Obama rips Bush on Iraq war at Richmond fundraiser’ to ‘Weary Obama criticizes Bush on Iraq, drastically overstates Kansas tornado death toll’ to ‘Obama drastically overstates Kansas tornado deaths during campaign appearance.’ Drudge made it a banner, ensuring no reporter would miss it.” [politico.com, 5/9/07]
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Clinton Press Release: Hillary Clinton Responds to John McCain on Iraq
March 26, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 26, 2008]
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Hillary Clinton Responds to John McCain on Iraq
“While there is much to praise in Senator McCain’s speech, he and I continue to have a fundamental disagreement on Iraq. Like President Bush, Senator McCain continues to oppose a swift and responsible withdrawal from Iraq. Like President Bush, Senator McCain discounts the warnings of our senior military leadership of the consequences of the Iraq war on the readiness of our armed forces, and on the need to focus on the forgotten front line in Afghanistan. Like President Bush, Senator McCain wants to keep us tied to another country’s civil war, and said “it would be fine with me” if U.S. troops were in Iraq for 50 or even 100 years. That in a nutshell is the Bush/McCain Iraq policy.”
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Clinton Press Release: Statement From Campaign Manager Maggie Williams On New Vote In Michigan
March 26, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 26, 2008]
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STATEMENT FROM CAMPAIGN MANAGER MAGGIE WILLIAMS ON NEW VOTE IN MICHIGAN
In the wake of today’s court ruling regarding Michigan’s January 15th primary, we urge Senator Obama to join our call for a party-run primary and demonstrate his commitment to counting Michigan’s votes.
Senator Clinton has consistently urged that the more that 600,000 votes cast by the people of Michigan be counted and if that is not possible, that a new election be held.
Michigan voters must not be disenfranchised and the Obama campaign must not continue to block Michigan’s efforts to hold a new vote. Rather it should move quickly to announce its support for a party run primary.
Michigan will be a key battleground state in November. Disenfranchising Michigan voters today will, in the heat of a general election, provide Senator McCain with a powerful argument to use against the Democratic nominee. We cannot allow this to happen.
The people of Michigan must be counted and their voices finally heard. What the people of Michigan need now is just action, not just words.
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Clinton Press Release: NEW VIDEO - Rep. John Murtha On The Trail With Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania
March 26, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 26, 2008]
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NEW VIDEO: Rep. John Murtha On The Trail With Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania
Tells Supporters Pennsylvania is Hillary Country!
The Clinton campaign today released a new video of Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha on the trail with Hillary Clinton in the Keystone State. In the video, Murtha expresses his belief that Hillary is the only candidate who can responsibly end the war in Iraq and restore fiscal responsibility to our government.
Watch the new video here.
Following is the script for the video:
Let me tell you something. I’ve served with seven Presidents. I am convinced that we’re in probably one of the worst situations that I’ve seen in the 35 years I’ve been in Congress. We need a person with experience, a person that understands the policy.
When the Clinton administration left, there was a $250 billion surplus. Now, there’s almost a $3 trillion deficit.
The military has been so depleted by this war. We’re spending $343 million dollars a day to build roads in Iraq and we’re not spending money on the projects that are so important.
And who can solve that problem – Hillary!
Finally, a person that listens to the people, listens and works with people, and can get the country together and reunite us, restore our credibility, restore our military, and put us back in a fiscal policy worth the United States history.
The next President of the United States – Hillary Clinton!
This is Hillary country. She’s had a tremendous reception here in Fayette County – she’s going to get that kind of reception all over Pennsylvania. There is no individual that can do this more effectively than Hillary Clinton and I support her wholeheartedly.
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Clinton Press Release: Statement by Hillary Clinton on Taiwan Election
March 25, 2008
[Clinton Campaign Press Release from March 25, 2008]
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Statement by Hillary Clinton on Taiwan Election
I want to extend my congratulations to Ma Ying-jeou for his election as the new president of Taiwan. My congratulations extend to the people of Taiwan for their democratic achievements which have earned them the admiration of the entire international community.
The people of Taiwan began direct competitive election of the president in 1996. Since then, the presidency has changed parties twice and voter turnout in this election was impressive, a clear indication of how robust this new democracy is. The friendship between the people of Taiwan and the United States has remained deep as democracy on Taiwan has strengthened.
I hope that under President Ma’s capable leadership, Taiwan’s political institutions will thrive, and that ways can be found to appropriately expand Taiwan’s contributions to the international community.
Given the statements of Mr. Ma during the campaign and those of the leaders of the People’s Republic of China, I would hope that cross-Strait dialogue will be possible, and will contribute significantly to a reduction of tensions in the Taiwan Straits and East Asia. Meanwhile, I want to reaffirm my commitment to the longstanding relevant principles of American policy, including the Three Communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act.
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