Hamilton County
Democratic Party

8/24/08
by Rick Scalf, Online OrganizerSunday

After only having been together for a day, the Obama-Biden ticket has already received an array of compliments from across the political spectrum, demonstrating the sort of bi-partisan coalition Barack Obama will be able to forge as president.

Here's an example of what leaders in both parties are saying:

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
"Joe Biden is an outstanding public servant with deep experience and a fighting spirit. These qualities will make him a great asset in the White House and on the campaign trail this fall.
"Indiana and America face challenging times. We are a nation at war with an economy on the rocks. In his most important decision to date, Barack Obama demonstrated the judgment to choose a governing partner who is wise and strong and will help him deliver change to a country yearning for it. I enthusiastically support the selection of Senator Biden.
"It was an honor to be considered, and I hope it reflects well on the state of Indiana that a Hoosier was in the running. I am proud to serve in the United States Senate and will continue to work each day to make a difference in the lives of the people of my state."

Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN)
"I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy."

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
"In naming my colleague and friend Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Barack Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Senator Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country."

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
"Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden's selection is good news for Obama and America."

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
"No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden. He's been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He's been a leader on crime control."

Read more

8/10/08

Campaign appearance reflects sagging voter support for McCain in county

FISHERS – As if any further proof was needed that John McCain is campaigning for George W. Bush’s third term, look no further than who his campaign is sending to Fishers this Tuesday. Rob Portman, who has spent his entire career with the Bush family, will be here to stump for McCain. Portman began his political career by joining George H.W. Bush’s general counsel staff. While serving in the House, Portman began as the liaison between George W. Bush and the House Republicans. In his most prominent roles in the current Bush Administration, Portman was Bush’s appointee as U.S. Trade Representative and eventually the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“If you loved Bush, then you’ll love McCain,” says Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair, Keith Clock.
“If you love the free trade agreements that have destroyed manufacturing in Indiana and if you love the record budget deficits dumped onto our children to deal with, then you’ll love the approach and people McCain is surrounding himself with.”

Portman’s visit will be the McCain campaigns first visit to the county and only the third visit to the state by the campaign as a whole. Obama however has appeared in Indiana 46 times, including one campaign stop in Hamilton County and several others by national level surrogates.

In past elections, Republican presidential candidates have relied on the large population of Hamilton County to carry the state. However, several national polls show that Sen. Obama has a small lead in Indiana, making Hamilton County an important player in the Presidential race. According to internal polling done by the Hamilton County Republican Party, Sen. Obama has a 10 point lead in support over John McCain.

Dozens of events in support of Sen. Obama have taken place in Hamilton County in the past few months. A search for local campaign events on John McCain’s website shows not one event within 100 miles of Hamilton County. However, there are over 50 Obama events within 15 miles of Noblesville and nearly 100 within 15 miles of Fishers according to his website.

“The fact that so many people, including Republicans, are opening up their homes to host events in support of Sen. Obama in Hamilton County, shows that his message of change in Washington is resonating,” said Clock. “This McCain event demonstrates that he is not doing well in Hamilton County, which does not bode well for a statewide success. The notion that they have to bring in someone for support shows that voters here are tired of the failed Bush policies and that the McCain campaign’s message is not carrying in
Hamilton County.”

For more information: Keith Clock, 317-522-1669

We found this Op-Ed piece in the New York Times.  Isn’t it great to know that our own Republican Governor, Mitch Daniels is making the big time papers?

By MICHAEL GRANOF
Published: August 8, 2008

STATE governments across the country are reeling from the effects of the current economic downturn. New York, facing a $26.2 billion deficit over the next three years, is particularly hard hit. Like most other states, it is looking to balance its budget mainly by cutting spending.

But if history is a guide, governors and legislators across the country will seek to avoid the difficult choices that are required. Instead, they will likely pass the costs of the services that we enjoy today on to our children and grandchildren, through creatively deceptive budgeting.

This is a time-honored practice. In 1991, the State of New York sold Attica prison to none other than itself. The buyer was a state agency that financed the $200 million purchase price by issuing bonds. The agency then leased the prison back to the state, with the lease payments being equal to the debt service on the bonds.

In substance, of course, the transaction was nothing more than a borrowing arrangement — the equivalent of borrowing $200 million from the buyers of the bonds. Nevertheless, the state booked the entire sale price as revenue for the year. The previous year, the state sold the Cross Westchester Expressway to the New York Thruway Authority — in other words, to itself.
New York is not the only state fond of this sort of budgetary dissembling. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California wants to reduce his state’s deficit by borrowing money from the future. His plan is to issue $15 billion in bonds that are backed by future lottery revenues. More than a third of that money would be used to ease California’s current-year deficit.

Borrowing from the future to pay for the present is, unfortunately, becoming routine. In 2006, Indiana leased a toll road to a foreign consortium from Australia and Spain. The state received $3.8 billion upfront by surrendering the next 75 years of toll revenues. Other states have sold tobacco bonds that provide one-time infusions of cash — in return for forgoing 25 years of payments from cigarette companies that were supposed to pay for health care related to tobacco-caused illnesses.

Read More: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/opinion/09granof.html

Mitch Daniels - Don't Believe the Hype!

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s schedule of stumping for Senator Barack Obama appears to be taking shape. Mr. Obama’s campaign confirmed that she will be in Las Vegas on Friday.

Mr. Obama’s campaign said Mrs. Clinton will also host “Campaign for Change” rallies and voter registration events in South Florida on Aug. 21.

Since their initial post-primary joint appearance in Unity, N.H., Mrs. Clinton’s public events on Mr. Obama’s behalf have been somewhat limited, though she did appear with the presumptive Democratic nominee for two fund-raisers in New York last month and has consistently signaled her willingness to help his campaign.

Read More:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/clinton-to-campaign-for-obama/index.html?nl=pol&emc=pola2

Associated Press
ELKHART — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Elkhart on Wednesday.
Obama’s campaign says the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential hopeful will hold an event at Concord High School on Wednesday morning.

Doors to the school’s gym will open at 7:15 a.m., but a time for Obama’s appearance has not yet been announced.
The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available at the Obama campaign office in Elkhart from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday.
The campaign says further details about the event will be announced later.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/NEWS05/80803002/1008&GID=JJ10/sU9H4LexGlrHl/59IN9048rv1G+61ZVs+p73jE%3D

Long Thompson's proposal includes $500 tax credits for businesses Gubernatorial candidate Jill Long Thompson unveiled a green jobs initiative Wednesday that would create additional tax credits for businesses and dedicate millions of dollars to new research and technology.
At the core of the plan is what Long Thompson called a "Green Boost," a program in which a company would receive a $500 tax credit for each green job it creates.
The Green Boost plan would act as an extension of Long Thompson's economic tiers proposal, a program that would offer higher incentives for businesses to create jobs in areas struggling with high unemployment rates and lower incomes.

Read more:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/NEWS0502/807310449/1008/LOCAL19

By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Alaska is young. Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have growing populations and many black voters. Montana has seen recent Democratic inroads, and North Dakota has sent only Democrats to Congress since 1986. Indiana borders Barack Obama's home state.

The Democratic presidential candidate is putting money and manpower in all seven of these states - at levels unmatched by Republican rival John McCain……….

In Indiana, Obama could benefit from his ties to the populous, heavily black northwest corner that's within Chicago's media market. He's also counting on backers in liberal-leaning university towns like South Bend and Bloomington. Choosing Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a popular two-term governor, as his running mate would give Obama a boost.

"It can't be understated that he is from our neighboring state," said Dan Parker, the state Democratic Party chairman.

Since 1936, Democrats have won Indiana once in presidential elections, 1964. Still, they have had some success on the state level and ousted three GOP incumbent congressmen in 2006. Working-class Indiana whites pose hurdles for Obama as they did in his narrow primary loss to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Click here to watch the video.

Read More:
http://ap.indystar.com/dynamic/stories/C/CAMPAIGN_NEW_BATTLEGROUNDS?SITE=ININS&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-08-04-00-51-55

Ex-President Says His Foundation Will Become More Involved

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 4 -- Fresh off a whirlwind tour of AIDS programs across Africa, former president Bill Clinton said Monday that new U.S. figures highlight the need for fresh attention to the disease at home, particularly among African Americans.

Citing data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that the U.S. epidemic has been underestimated by 40 percent, Clinton pledged the resources of his charitable foundation to refocus on domestic AIDS.

Read More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/04/AR2008080401198.html?hpid=artslot

LANSING, Mich., Aug. 4 -- Sen. Barack Obama called Monday for using oil from the nation's strategic reserves to lower gasoline prices, the second time in less than a week that he has modified a position on energy issues, as he and Sen. John McCain seek to find solutions to a topic that is... In a speech here, Obama outlined a plan to reduce an addiction to foreign oil that he said is "one of the most dangerous and urgent threats this nation has ever faced." He repeated his call for a $1,000 "energy rebate" for low- and middle-income families that would be paid for by a windfall-profits tax on oil companies.

The Obama campaign did not predict how much releasing reserves would lower gas prices. But it said prices at the pump went down more than 19 percent within two weeks when President Bill Clinton made such a move in 2000.

Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/04/ST2008080402008.html?sid=ST2008080402008&pos=

House Authorizes GLOBAL LEADERSIP AGAINST HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS, AND MALERIA REAUTHORIZATION ACT 2008. Your 5th District Representative, Dan Burton votes NO.
Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, was passed in the house with a 303 – 115 margin (17 not voting) authorizing $48 billion over five years for combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases abroad. 99% of Democrats supporting, 61% of Republicans opposing. The bill now goes to President Bush who has said he will sign it.   
GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h110-5501

HOW DID YOUR REPRESENTATIVES VOTE?  SEE BELOW:

Indiana
Aye	IN-1	Visclosky, Peter [D]
Aye	IN-2	Donnelly, Joe [D]
Nay	IN-3	Souder, Mark [R]
Nay	IN-4	Buyer, Stephen [R]
Nay	IN-5	Burton, Dan [R]
Aye	IN-6	Pence, Mike [R]
Aye	IN-7	Carson, André [D]
Aye	IN-8	Ellsworth, Brad [D]
Aye	IN-9	Hill, Baron [D]

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