McCain-Palin and the racist vote

John McCain and Sarah Palin have stopped talking about the issues, and have instead launched a strategy relying on fear-mongering, racial divisions, and hate. The result is McCain/Palin supporters saying "kill him!" "terrorist!" "traitor," and more, at rallies, with the McCain campaign playing dumb in response.It's outrageous and it must stop.

Together, we can show that Americans of all races won't stand for this.

I've signed onto ColorofChange's open-letter calling out McCain and Palin. ColorOfChange.org will publish it this week, and as they've shown in the past, when enough of us stand together, we can force the mainstream media to amplify our message. Will you join us?

http://www.colorofchange.org/united/?id=2066-232333

How John McCain's Role in the Keating 5 Scandal is Eerily Similar to the Wall Street Meltdown

Michigan Republicans Believe Michigan Voters are Racists

Peter Fletcher, a Republican Party leader from Ypsilanti, insisted on a radio show in Ann Arbor yesterday that "Race cannot be overcome," in terms of the presidential election. Fletcher was the second Michigan Republican Party leader in about a week to accuse Michigan voters of being racists or to admit that Republican voters would back John McCain for racist reasons.

The other was none other than Republican Party of Michigan boss Saul Anuzis, who told E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post that he also thinks Michigan voters are racists, and that Republican voters are likely to have racist reasons for voting for John McCain.

The question is are the Republicans right? Are Michigan voters racists? I don't think so. I think the Republicans are playing a back-handed version of the race card, raising racial issues by pretending they are against racism. But in fact they want to arouse racist sentiments and try to influence voters to think about race as much as possible.

Michigan voters, like all real Americans, are better than the Republicans give them credit for.

Republican columnists sharply criticizes John McCain

George Will, a Republican columnist, speaking in Grand Rapids yesterday, sharply criticized John McCain for his temperament, his economic views, and even his ability to president.

According to the Grand Rapids Press, Will said, "John McCain can so polarize every argument into a kind of moral melodrama. You can't have honest difference of opinion with John McCain. This is very difficult because to disagree with he who is honor personified is inherently dishonorable."

"This is why some thoughtful conservatives have grave doubts about his ability to be president," Will said.

Sen. Carl Levin talks about John McCain's "experience"

Joe Biden Rips into John (same as Bush) McCain

Change is no Joke

Today I went canvassing for Obama in the 3rd ward in Grand Rapids. It was amazing. I knocked on 50 doors and met 14 people. 13 of them said they are definitely voting for Barack Obama. I helped 4 people register to vote.

One person said he usually doesn't vote, even though he is registered. He said he wasn't sure about the issues and really tries to stay out politics

I told him that the reason I am volunteering on a Saturday to talk with people about this election is because I have two kids in the city's public schools, and I am tired of the cuts to public education, school closures, and program cuts. I told him I am tired of high gas prices and bad economy. I said that I think Barack Obama shares our values, and that he helped working-class families like mine when he served as a community organizer in Chicago, as an Illinois state legislator, and as a US Senator to fund public education and to turn the economy around.

The man nodded when I said I think Barack Obama will work hard for working people and our city when he becomes our president. He agreed to let the campaign send him more information about the issues.

I really feel like I helped play a part, maybe a small part, in making some change.

John McCain and Sarah Palin can mock that all they want. But I think it is real and serious and this is what democracy looks and feels like.

Obama talks about the relevance of working in communities

Obama is right. John McCain hasn't lifted a finger for working families in 26 years in Washington. Sarah Palin's affiliation with extremist parties who want to break away from America disqualifies her as a serious national politician.

Michelle Obama's Speech: Hope over Fear, Optimism over Doubt

My favorite part is where she talks about being in love with Barack Obama. He is the same man she fell in love with and married 19 years ago.

John McCain on the other hand cheated on his ex-wife, divorced her, and married his new extremely rich girlfriend. Think about what he'll do to us.

John McCain is confused about how many homes he owns

Think this ad hits the nail on the head. McCain has too many times not been able to answer direct questions about his position on the issues, but surely he must know how many houses he owns.

Video: McCain Lies on Taxes...Again

John McCain has given up on fighting to keep jobs here

Under the guise of "straight talk," John McCain has given up on fighting to keep jobs in the US. During the primary campaign, McCain told Midwestern workers that jobs will be lost and they would continue to be lost under his presidency.

So it is ironic that McCain chose to attack Barack Obama on the issue of jobs and energy policy at a biker rally earlier this month.

According to new post at AFL-CIO Now, McCain opposed provisions in 2005 that would have required the US government to purchase Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

McCain has called such provisions "disgraceful."

To quote the AFL-CIO post:

"As we’ve noted, McCain has supported the outsourcing of jobs. His campaign is staffed and funded by corporate lobbyists, including Rick Davis, the lobbyist whose DHL deal could result in thousands of lost jobs in Ohio, and Randy Altschuler, an outsourcing guru who advises companies on how to ship jobs overseas."

McCain favors "free trade" agreements that have cost Michigan tens of thousands of jobs, and opposes provisions that protect workers and the environment. He prefers to hand authority over the US economy to international financial institutions that make judgments about how our policies impact "free trade."

Michigan workers simply can't another four years of George W. Bush under John McCain.

McCain's Favorite – Big Oil – made $5 million in profit every hour of every day

From ProgressMichigan.org:

$5 million in profit every hour of every day

The latest news reports that America's biggest oil company announced it is now
making $5 million in profit every hour of every day, the most profits of any American company ever in a single quarter. (AP 7/31/08)

With this report, the world's top five oil companies are now on track to make more than $160 billion in profits this year, dramatically outpacing last year's $123 billion.

Out-of-state Big Oil executives from Houston to Saudi Arabia and elsewhere are personally making millions on the backs of all of us.

Sign the petition to end government subsidies and special tax breaks for Big Oil and instead, invest in clean renewable energy and good paying jobs of the future.

John McCain lies about energy policy

Have you seen the McCain TV ad where he levels a smear against Barack Obama and then shifts to promising "energy independence" with wind generators spinning in the background?

Well guess what. It's misleading, or what some of us in mid-America call a lie.

John McCain opposed tax breaks to the wind power industry and alternative fuel additives like ethanol, even has he proposes billions in new tax breaks for Big Oil.

According to a post at TPM Election Central, "McCain recently opposed the big $300 billion farm bill, which itself is extremely popular throughout the upper midwest, describing the bill as 'a $300 billion, bloated, pork-barrel-laden bill' because of subsidies for industries like ethanol."

Michigan has developed several new initiatives to attract farmers to biofuel production. McCain's true record suggests that he wouldn't support such an initiative.

Even further, the post adds, "the bill also contained a measure extending a tax break for developing wind power, which McCain specifically opposed."

Oh, and guess what else, Obama supported the wind energy measure.

Wind power is a growing industry that already employs 50,000 people and creates electricity that does not rely on greenhouse emitting fossil fuels that cause global warming. With serious investment, we could see new job growth and a reliable source of clean energy. This is Obama's plan.

McCain's record is opposition to wind energy and more tax breaks for Big Oil.

Another post at CarpetBaggerReport, shows that another bi-partisan bill currently making its way through the Senate would provide some resources for clean energy alternatives like wind power, r&d for new alternatives, tax breaks for production of hybrid vehicles, and even some new offshore drilling. (Some might call this the Paris Hilton compromise.)

McCain opposes it. According to the post, McCain doesn't like this compromise measure solely because it removes tax breaks for Big Oil. (Recall that big McCain donor, ExxonMobil, raked in close to $12 billion in the last quarter alone in profits.)

So let's boil this down. McCain is on the record opposing wind power, but runs commercials talking about energy independence with wind generators in the background.

He opposes a compromise measure that brings together new oil drilling and more investments in alternatives because it won't give big fat tax breaks to Big Oil.

John McCain. Big Oil First.

John McCain lies about taxes

According to analysis of the McCain tax plan in comparison with the Obama tax plan by the Tax Policy Center, recent McCain commercials that insist Obama wants to raise "your" taxes are lies.

Unless the ads are targeted for the very tiny group of the richest Americans. But that doesn't seem likely does it?

According to the analysis, posted here, Obama's plan would cut taxes for everyone making $227,000 or less.

That is me and most every person and family in Grand Rapids. McCain probably has Dick DeVos's vote.

In fact, Obama's tax cuts for people who make less than $112,000 would be higher than those proposed by McCain.

The overwhelming majority of people in Grand Rapids – and the country for that matter – would see tax cuts under an Obama administration of around $600, for the lowest income tax payers to $2800 for people earning under $227,000. I think the Obama campaign pegs the average at about $1,000 per person.

I sure could use $1,000.

What is the difference between the two plans? Obama would raise taxes on the very wealthiest people. People with incomes between $227,000 and $603,000 would pay $12 more. That's three cheeseburgers. And the biggest increases would be imposed on the very richest, most successful people.

McCain, on the other hand, would give tax breaks to the very richest people equal to or greater than than the median income of working Americans. Up to $269,000 in tax breaks per individual. The average worker has to work about 5 years for the same amount.

The difference is in priorities. McCain would simply continue Bush's tax relief for the people who need it the least while starving the federal budget and cutting back on public services. All while waging a $10 billion per month war in Iraq for more oil and more profits for McCain's other constituency: Big Oil.

See the video here:



If you're going to vote based on the honesty and integrity of the candidate, you have to vote Obama.

If you're going to vote based on your pocketbook, you have to vote Obama.

John McCain: Washington's Biggest Celebrity

After nearly 3o years in Washington accomplishing nothing for working families and cozying up to big oil and lobbyists, John McCain has a lot of nerve criticizing Barack Obama.

John McCain: Failing U.S. Troops Again

Pass this video on...

Obama for America Opens in GR

Just got back from the opening of the Obama for America a few minutes ago. I got there a little late, so it was already packed with people, and I had to park three blocks away. Michigan State Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer was there, firing up the crowd, as were a number of local candidates and elected officials.

It was wonderful. The building was packed to the rafters with an overflow crowd on sidewalk. Hundreds of people passed in and out. All the volunteers and staffers seemed surprised at the size of the crowd. There were people of all races, young and old, men and women, and they were all fired up to elect the man who represents real change from the Bush administration's policies and 30 years of right-wing domination.

Meanwhile, word has it a couple of cranky guys going about how great staying in Iraq forever would be gathered at the McCain headquarters and listened to muzak to celebrate McCain's latest flip-flop.

I purchased lawn signs and bumper stickers, and can't wait to volunteer.

McCain's Michigan Headquarters Provided by Predatory Lender

This just came in from ProgressMichigan.org:

It might actually be funny if it wasn't so serious. Look at what we discovered: McCain's New "Great Lakes Regional Headquarters" is provided by a predatory firm that profits from throwing people out of their homes!

McCain's new "Great Lakes Regional Headquarters" in Farmington Hills is owned by Trott and Trott P.C., one of the nation's largest law firms that represents financial institutions and lenders against people facing foreclosures. David Trott, the firm's Managing Attorney is a major contributor to McCain.

Thanks to predatory lending practices, Michigan is facing one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation - hurting not only the families involved but entire neighborhoods through depressed property values.

Today we are calling on McCain to do the right thing - move his massive regional headquarters and cut ties with predatory firms that profit from Michigan's housing crisis. Our public officials should be on our side, not those who profit from unfair lending practices.

Do you think McCain should move his Headquarters? Take the online poll at: http://progressmichigan.org/mccain

John McCain Wants to "Muddle" Afghanistan

Today, I sent the following letter to the Grand Rapids Press:

A shocking new video shows that in 2003, in front of the Council on Foreign Relations, Senator John McCain said he was more concerned with the war in Iraq, and that we could "muddle through in Afghanistan" without a large number of forces.
Senator McCain showed poor judgment and forethought, which is disturbing given that he says this area is his strong suit.
While Iraq had nothing to do with the September 11th attacks, Al Qaeda, which had organized and carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks, remained free to operate in Afghanistan. John McCain helped the US quickly squander the sympathy and support the world had for the US by supporting a war in Iraq that was unnecessary and disastrous.
We cannot "muddle through" in Afghanistan. We have done that for the past five years, and all that has happened is that the Taliban has recaptured a large chunk of that country, Al Qaeda is back at pre-9/11 strength, and Osama bin Laden is free and plotting against America.
McCain's strategy for launching a war in Iraq and staying there indefinitely, unlike Senator Obama’s, is a policy of retreat in the war on terror. It has made us less secure, and allowed extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan to regain their strength. John McCain in 2003 was horribly wrong – there was no "muddling through" in Afghanistan.

It was part of an e-mail campaign by VoteVets.org to get the word out about a video showing John McCain talking in 2003 about how he didn't think Afghanistan was as important as Iraq. After 5 years, no WMD found, and no terrorist links to Al Qaeda unearthed, McCain needs to explain why he thinks Iraq is so important and why we should be spending $10 billion per month to occupy that country – with no end in sight.

View the video here and get involved.