John McCain is trying to ensure victory in the large swing State by focusing on the blue-collar vote. CNN has called his Florida trip “Joe the plumber tour.” McCain is thanking Joe’s all over the United States. John McCain is concentrating on Obama’s tax plan. McCain argues that Obama is only concerned with “spreading the wealth” and not growing the economy. Currently, Obama has a three percent lead in Florida. McCain cannot afford to lose any of the swing states, especially Florida. I think using Joe the plumber is a good way to humanize the issues.
While McCain is in Florida, Obama is once again visiting the Hoosier state. Obama is determined to switch Indiana to blue, even though Indiana has only voted once for a democratic candidate in last 70 years. Although McCain is ahead in Indiana, I think McCain needs to make at least one more stop in Indiana. In the past thirty days the Obama campaign has spent 4.6 million on Indiana ads, while the RNC has only spent 1.1 million. The Republican National Committee has been helping combat the Obama ads in Indiana. However, a personal appearance by McCain might end the contention in Indiana.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Biden's Blunder Brings Little Bustle
Over the weekend, VP candidate Joe Biden made the comment,"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. " Does this man even think before opening his mouth? Every politician has a reputation for having some characteristic, and Biden definitely is known for making stupid remarks that come back and bite him and that often require later clarification. In the past, he has said to an Indian supporter: "In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking!" and about Obama: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." He also introduced Obama at their first appearance together as running mates as "Barack America." Also, the majority of people are aware of the comment he made about the Great Depression: “When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the princes of greed, he said, ‘Look, here’s what happened." First, FDR was not president in 1929, Herbert Hoover was, and television would not be introduced to the public for another decade or so. Of course, his latest comment has not caused much of a stir except with the McCain campaign. If Sarah Palin had made a similar comment, however, the media would have pounced on her. In fact, it already has many times for much smaller blunders. Will the public notice this bias? Probably not. Biden is dangerous for Obama's campaign everytime he opens his mouth. By saying the world will challenge Obama and an international crisis will arise if he is elected as president, Biden is stressing the importance of having someone in the White House who is experienced and can handle this challenge. This has been the reaction from the McCain campaign towards Biden's latest remark.
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/22/obama-clarifies-bidens-prediction-face-generated-crisis/
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/22/obama-clarifies-bidens-prediction-face-generated-crisis/
Why do citizens in other countries prefer Obama over McCain
A pro Obama billboard has been posted in Belgrade, Serbia which says, "Change that we can believe in." The billboard is reported to portray a picture of Obama on one side and President Kennedy on the other. The billboard was posted by a European group which calls themselves "Europe has no alternative."
John McCain has been attempting to prove during each presidential debate that Obama has no experience or skills in foreign policy. John McCain has attempted to portray himself as the best and most qualified candidate to serve the presidency in foreign relations.
A Gallup poll was issued in several foreign countries to determine if Obama or McCain was most popularity. The Gallop poll asked several citizens in 70 different countries all around the world which American presidential candidate they liked best. The poll concluded that citizens all around the world prefer Obama 4 to 1. The only two countries polled which prefer McCain over Obama was the Phillippines and Georgia.
There was no exact conclusion determined on why Obama is preferred over McCain. CNN proceeded to ask readers to post their opinions and interpretations of this data. I thought it would be interesting to see what we all thought was the reason.
John McCain has been attempting to prove during each presidential debate that Obama has no experience or skills in foreign policy. John McCain has attempted to portray himself as the best and most qualified candidate to serve the presidency in foreign relations.
A Gallup poll was issued in several foreign countries to determine if Obama or McCain was most popularity. The Gallop poll asked several citizens in 70 different countries all around the world which American presidential candidate they liked best. The poll concluded that citizens all around the world prefer Obama 4 to 1. The only two countries polled which prefer McCain over Obama was the Phillippines and Georgia.
There was no exact conclusion determined on why Obama is preferred over McCain. CNN proceeded to ask readers to post their opinions and interpretations of this data. I thought it would be interesting to see what we all thought was the reason.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Numbers Game
We have been trying for more than three decades to reform campaign finance, but the private money of large donors continues to slip through our fingers and into the candidates' coffers. Breaking stories on National Public Radio ("Obama's $150 Million Changing Rules of the Game") and the New York Times ("In Fine Print, a Proliferation of Large Donors") in the last two days have revealed the staggering amount of personal donations the candidates or their joint fund-raising committees have received.
A history of campaign finance reform: In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act limiting the use of a candidate's personal or family money during a campaign, hoping to open the race to anyone, no matter the candidate's family fortune. FECA also created Political Action Committees (PACs) to raise money on behalf of candidates, and it provided for public disclosure of funds raised. The Act was shortly amended in 1974 to create contribution ceilings, spending limits, federal subsidies and funding (public financing), and a Federal Election Commission. A remaining loophole that said that party committees could raise and spend unlimited amounts of money created the problem of "soft money," which was controversial during Clinton's reelection campaign in 1996. In 2001, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act closed this loophole, raised individual donor limits to compensate, and rescinded limits on "non-political groups." It is noteworthy that Senator McCain, along with Senator Feingold, was a key drafter and supporter of this bill.
Fast-forward to our 2008 general election campaign. Senator McCain accepts public financing, limiting his coffers to $84 million. Senator Obama becomes the first major party presidential candidate to refuse public financing since 1974 when it was instated. In September alone, the Obama campaign raises $150 million. Initially, this was reported as the influx from 632,000 new donors (bringing the total donor roll to 3 million), the average donation size being just $86 (NPR, 20 Oct). This seems to convey a public mandate: If 10% of the population is donating to, let alone supporting, the Obama campaign, and if the average donor could very well be any "poor" college student or blue-collar worker, Senator Obama's candidacy certainly seems to be mandated by a sweeping majority. Could this be the most publicly-supported campaign in our generation? Has the Average Joe (not "Six Pack" or "the Plumber") really beaten out interest groups as the most powerful and populous donor?
Today's New York Times undermines these hopes. An analysis of campaign finance reports filed last week reveals the large impact of individual contributors writing checks that would fund our college education. Donors from industries with an interest in Washington policies have written checks over $25,000 to the joint fund-raising committees of both campaigns. The largest sector donating to the candidates? Securities and investments, including executives of recently bailed-out groups like AIG and Lehman Brothers. The Obama campaign's record contributions in September were helped by over 600 donations over $25,000. The McCain campaign has accepted contributions as large as $70,000.
The New York Times article goes on to specify the interests involved, explain the distribution of these single checks, and voice the worries of campaign finance watchdogs who rightly say these contributions "undermine the whole spirit of the system." Technically, these contributions are legal under today's laws; should they remain that way?
Open questions to the two candidates: How do these large contributions comply with the spirit of campaign finance reform? How will these donors sway your policy initiatives? Explain to the American public why you consider this to be ethical?
Open questions to the donors: What political clout does your donation give you? Why donate these large amounts to a political campaign? What level of CEO salary at a failing financial institution allows you to donate this amount? You are obviously in the upper income bracket; is the amount you donated equivalent to a 3% tax increase?
A moral imperative for the public: We must demand not only transparency in campaign finance but also responsibility and ethical behavior: an executive accepting tens of thousands of dollars from one economic sector cannot remain objective in his/her policy initiatives. Our elected officials must be accountable to the public, not to industries and special interests.
Please read these articles in their entirety for a full view:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95882376
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/us/politics/21donate.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin
A history of campaign finance reform: In 1971, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act limiting the use of a candidate's personal or family money during a campaign, hoping to open the race to anyone, no matter the candidate's family fortune. FECA also created Political Action Committees (PACs) to raise money on behalf of candidates, and it provided for public disclosure of funds raised. The Act was shortly amended in 1974 to create contribution ceilings, spending limits, federal subsidies and funding (public financing), and a Federal Election Commission. A remaining loophole that said that party committees could raise and spend unlimited amounts of money created the problem of "soft money," which was controversial during Clinton's reelection campaign in 1996. In 2001, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act closed this loophole, raised individual donor limits to compensate, and rescinded limits on "non-political groups." It is noteworthy that Senator McCain, along with Senator Feingold, was a key drafter and supporter of this bill.
Fast-forward to our 2008 general election campaign. Senator McCain accepts public financing, limiting his coffers to $84 million. Senator Obama becomes the first major party presidential candidate to refuse public financing since 1974 when it was instated. In September alone, the Obama campaign raises $150 million. Initially, this was reported as the influx from 632,000 new donors (bringing the total donor roll to 3 million), the average donation size being just $86 (NPR, 20 Oct). This seems to convey a public mandate: If 10% of the population is donating to, let alone supporting, the Obama campaign, and if the average donor could very well be any "poor" college student or blue-collar worker, Senator Obama's candidacy certainly seems to be mandated by a sweeping majority. Could this be the most publicly-supported campaign in our generation? Has the Average Joe (not "Six Pack" or "the Plumber") really beaten out interest groups as the most powerful and populous donor?
Today's New York Times undermines these hopes. An analysis of campaign finance reports filed last week reveals the large impact of individual contributors writing checks that would fund our college education. Donors from industries with an interest in Washington policies have written checks over $25,000 to the joint fund-raising committees of both campaigns. The largest sector donating to the candidates? Securities and investments, including executives of recently bailed-out groups like AIG and Lehman Brothers. The Obama campaign's record contributions in September were helped by over 600 donations over $25,000. The McCain campaign has accepted contributions as large as $70,000.
The New York Times article goes on to specify the interests involved, explain the distribution of these single checks, and voice the worries of campaign finance watchdogs who rightly say these contributions "undermine the whole spirit of the system." Technically, these contributions are legal under today's laws; should they remain that way?
Open questions to the two candidates: How do these large contributions comply with the spirit of campaign finance reform? How will these donors sway your policy initiatives? Explain to the American public why you consider this to be ethical?
Open questions to the donors: What political clout does your donation give you? Why donate these large amounts to a political campaign? What level of CEO salary at a failing financial institution allows you to donate this amount? You are obviously in the upper income bracket; is the amount you donated equivalent to a 3% tax increase?
A moral imperative for the public: We must demand not only transparency in campaign finance but also responsibility and ethical behavior: an executive accepting tens of thousands of dollars from one economic sector cannot remain objective in his/her policy initiatives. Our elected officials must be accountable to the public, not to industries and special interests.
Please read these articles in their entirety for a full view:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95882376
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/us/politics/21donate.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin
Sunday, October 19, 2008
McCain the real health care reformer
McCain is the real health care reformer:
With only a month to go the presidential election race things are starting to intensify. One issue in particular is health care. Both candidates have different policies and views when it comes to health care reform. Senator Obama is pressing this issue hard in swing states. Senator Obama uses advertising to show that he thinks McCain’s plan is not what we need.
McCain recognizes that a large part of the problem is that the tax code favors employer funded health insurance. McCain’s new system is built on tax breaks that allow employees to buy health insurance with pretax dollars. McCain wants to give self employed and individuals a tax break for buying their own insurances. There are benefits and problems with both parties plans, but this issue could play a key role in who becomes the next President.
With only a month to go the presidential election race things are starting to intensify. One issue in particular is health care. Both candidates have different policies and views when it comes to health care reform. Senator Obama is pressing this issue hard in swing states. Senator Obama uses advertising to show that he thinks McCain’s plan is not what we need.
McCain recognizes that a large part of the problem is that the tax code favors employer funded health insurance. McCain’s new system is built on tax breaks that allow employees to buy health insurance with pretax dollars. McCain wants to give self employed and individuals a tax break for buying their own insurances. There are benefits and problems with both parties plans, but this issue could play a key role in who becomes the next President.
Does McCain Stand a Chance?
According to CNN polls Obama has an overall 49% of voters nationwide, while McCain has 43%.
In an interview with Fox New, McCain said that he loves being the underdog and that he is happy with the way this campaign is going. He still seems to have confidece in his interviews even though he falls behind in the polls. McCain also admits that every time he has gotten ahead he has always messed it up.
He was questioned if he thought Palin has been a drawback or if she has held him down in the election process, but he said she is the best thing that could have happened to his campaign as well as to America.
McCain said that if he fails to win the election, not to feel sorry for him nd he will not feel sorry for himself. He feels as if he is fortunate either way the election turns out.
People can view this in two ways. One way being, the canidate really doesn't care so much about winning. A second way being, he is proud, no matter who wins the election.
How do you view this?
In an interview with Fox New, McCain said that he loves being the underdog and that he is happy with the way this campaign is going. He still seems to have confidece in his interviews even though he falls behind in the polls. McCain also admits that every time he has gotten ahead he has always messed it up.
He was questioned if he thought Palin has been a drawback or if she has held him down in the election process, but he said she is the best thing that could have happened to his campaign as well as to America.
McCain said that if he fails to win the election, not to feel sorry for him nd he will not feel sorry for himself. He feels as if he is fortunate either way the election turns out.
People can view this in two ways. One way being, the canidate really doesn't care so much about winning. A second way being, he is proud, no matter who wins the election.
How do you view this?
Obama's Tax Cut Calculator
For the past few weeks and for the next two, there has been a back and forth debate over whose tax plan will benefit the most people, including you. McCain has promised his tax cuts to corporations will benefit Americans more indirectly through job creation. Obama promises to cut taxes for 95% of working families, and provide at least three times as much tax relief for middle class families as McCain.
To help preview your savings from his plan, Obama has placed a tax calculator on his website homepage where you can see the potential savings you may receive. So, I went ahead and placed my information into the preset categories. With an annual income of $20,000, single filing status, retirement savings and college expenses, I am expected $500 in tax savings plus I may be eligible for $4000 tax credit to pay for college expenses and 50% tax credit for up to $1000 for retirement savings. This all sounds great, however, I am skeptical on this eligible clause.
If you are unsure of how you'll benefit from the Obama tax cut, I encourage you to go to www.barackobama.com and click on the link.
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