Posts tagged ‘staff’
5/29 News
McCain staff leave Vets for Freedom
Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) left the independent organization Vets for Freedom after yesterday’s story surfaced about the group’s anti-Obama ads. The group aims to promote victory in Iraq and Afghanistan but McCain’s “Relevant” policy prohibits his campaign staff from being involved in any independent organizations that comment on presidential candidates.
McCain started the policy after his Virginia leader Craig Shirley was discovered to be a paid advisor to a group that attacked Obama also.
News Corp Chairman predicts Obama victory
Rupert Murdoch said at the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital conference last night that he thought Obama will win the election.
The Chairman of News Corps and the inventor of conservative media like Fox News called Obama a “rock star.” “I love what he is saying about education.” “He will win in Ohio and the election.” “I am anxious to meet him.”
Murdoch admitted he was a friend of McCain but cast doubt about his economic policy and long career in Congress.
DNC gives Florida and Michigan half of delegates
The Democratic National Committee’s legal team ruled yesterday that Florida and Michigan’s delegates can count for no more than half. The full count would’ve given Senator Clinton a huge boost in the delegate race. Both Clinton and Senator Obama pledged not to campaign in the states since they broke party rules and moved their primary too early. Obama had his name removed from the Michigan ballot.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said “We don’t think it’s fair to seat them fully,” but “we’re willing to give some delegates here.”
DNC falling short of convention fundraising
The DNC is having trouble raising money for it’s August convention in Denver. It’s still $15 million short of the roughly $40 million needed for the convention. The party is planning to give corporations a way to underwrite the convention. Many insiders partially blame the prolonged primary race for stealing Democrat donors.
New York to recognize gay marriages and unions from other states
New York Governor David Paterson pushed state agencies yesterday to recognize gay unions and marriages made in other states. Currently California and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage, while some states like New Jersey allow gay unions. Paterson called the measure “a strong step toward marriage equality.” Former governor Elliot Spitzer failed to get a gay-marriage bill passed last year.
5/27 News
McCain staff advise Obama attack group
Recently John McCain created the “Relevant Policy” for campaign members, prohibiting his staff from participating in a 527 or any other independent group that endorses or criticizes presidential candidates. However, the Daily Kos has picked up some stinging information regarding Vets for Freedom, a Joe Lieberman-backed 527 group that recently launched an Obama attack add.
The clincher is that both Lieberman and Senator Lindsey Graham serve as McCain campaign co-chairs and honorary advisors to Vets for Freedom.
Graham recently appeared on CBS and reiterated the attack ads claim that Obama hasn’t visited Iraq in two years and his platform has suffered because of it.
UN says Iran is uncooperative
A UN watchdog agency said yesterday that Iran’s nuclear research regarding warheads is concerning and demands “substantive explanations.” The International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran has built roughly 500 more uranium-enriching centrifuges since February, when 3000 were discovered at the underground Natanz facility. The report also accuses Iran of a lack of cooperation.
Fidel Castro comments on Obama
Barack Obama received a mixed endorsement from Fidel Castro this weekend, who called Obama the “most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency” but criticized him for pledging to continue the Cuba embargo.
The topic arose when Obama talked to the Cuban American National Foundation and explained the embargo must continue to pressure Cuba to turn democratic. However; Obama said he would relax travel restrictions and exchanging money. Castro refrained from praising him wholly, saying “Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor. I have therefore no reservations about criticizing him.”
Obama grows superdelegate lead
Obama picked up six more superdelegates this weekend, raising his total to 1974.5. A former Alaskan governor and three Hawaiian party members advanced Obama’s superdelegate lead. He is now 51.5 delegates from the nomination.
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