The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from July 14th, 2008
Michelle Obama Accepts Sorority's Invite
The potential first lady becomes an honorary member of the historically black Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority this week. Past members include Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, and Coretta Scott King. Permalink
Obama Strategy: Equal Pay, Not Abortion
Politico looks at whether Obama is talking up the issue of fair pay while saying little about abortion to appeal to female voters. Permalink
Ventura to Stay Out of Senate Fight
The former Minnesota Governor and pro-wrestler tells CNN's "Larry King Live" he has decided against entering the race between GOP incumbent Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken, citing concern for his family's privacy. Adds it was an "agonizing decision" for him— “My children were attacked by the Minnesota media when I was governor. I fear very much that they will be attacked again.” Watch CNN coverage. Permalink
Obama Rakes in Cincinnati Cash
The presumptive Democratic nominee talks to about 200 donors in a hotel ballroom Monday while guests nibbled on turkey and roast beef sandwiches. Read the pool report here. Permalink
Obama Focuses on Personal Responsibility in NAACP Speech
The first African American presumptive Democratic nominee says in Cincinnati speech that Americans need to demand more responsibility from themselves as well as from Washington, Wall Street. "Now, I know some say I’ve been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I’m not going to stop talking about it." Also addresses health care, economic justice, violence, poverty and education, where he takes a jab at McCain. Read prepared remarks here. McCain camp response: "Once again, we see that Barack Obama is quick to assume, quick to attack and fast with rhetoric that sugarcoats his underwhelming record.” Read it here. McCain will speak to the group Wednesday. Permalink
Poll: McCain Wins More Confidence as Commander in Chief
From ABC News/Washington Post: Would McCain be a good Commander in Chief? Yes: 72% Would Obama? Yes: 48% Respondents essentially split between McCain's and Obama's Iraq plans. Poll conducted July 10-13. Error margin: 3 points. Read more. Permalink
McCain: Obama Bailed on Immigration Reform
The Arizonan criticizes his rival in speech to the National Council of La Raza conference for not sticking by comprehensive immigration reform when it got controversial. Watch video above. "Senator Obama declined to cast some of those tough votes. He voted for and even sponsored amendments that were intended to kill the legislation..." Also hits Obama on town hall meetings, economy and taxes. Read full transcript here. Obama addressed the group Sunday. Read details here. Permalink
Uh-Oh: McCain Campaign Targets Biden
The Arizona Senator's team attempts to paint the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman as wrong on Iraq after his bashing of McCain on an Obama call. "If we had followed Senator Biden’s ill-informed advice to split Iraq into three pieces, we would have seen wide-scale civil war." Full statement here. Comes after the campaigns hold dueling media calls on their rivals' Iraq stances. ON OBAMA CALL: Biden says McCain has "no notion of what's going on" in Iraq. Listen to audio here. ON MCCAIN CALL: Sen. Graham calls Obama's NY Times op-ed on Iraq "a brazen attempt to rewrite history." Listen to audio here and read Obama camp response here. Permalink
McCain Meets the Press in Phoenix
The presumptive GOP nominee holds a wide-ranging Q&A with the media Monday. Discusses Bush lifting the executive offshore drilling ban, Obama's NYT Iraq op-ed, the New Yorker cover and the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bailout. Also references Russia sending energy supplies to "Czechoslovakia." Read pool report here and full transcript here. Permalink
Evening News Roundup
ABC: Led with the wobbly economy, followed by Bush lifting the offshore drilling ban. Ten minutes in, report on the "political firestorm" over the New Yorker cover. Included McCain response, Rep. Emanuel saying "I'm not buying the New Yorker. I'm done." Magazine editor said the cover will help Obama. Next, news of the new ABC/Washington Post poll. Then, reports on Sunday's deadly battle in Afghanistan and reports U.S. may accelerate troop withdrawal from Iraq. NBC: Led with bank troubles, mortgage bailout. Turned to New Yorker cover 8 minutes in, including McCain’s repudiation and Obama’s apparent frustration. Said cover summed up “all the Internet rumors” the Obama camp has been trying to fight. New Yorker editor Remnick said in interview the Obama rumors are “nonsense” and that’s what the cover portrays. CBS: Led with federal take over of Indymac bank. At 14 minutes in, ran piece on "uproar" over New Yorker cover. Dean Reynolds said the flap "overshadowed" Obama’s New York Times op-ed and subsequent back-and-forth from the campaigns over Iraq policy. Permalink
Bush Pressures Congress to Suspend Offshore Drilling Ban
The President announces he is ending the executive ban on drilling in the outer continental shelf during afternoon statement, pushes for similar action from Congress. "It's been almost a month since I urged Congress to act -– and they've done nothing...." The legislative ban must be lifted by Congress as well before offshore drilling can occur. Obama response here. Permalink
VEEPSTAKES POTPOURRI
--Louisiana Gov. Jindal uses his line-item veto to cut 258 items, totaling $16.1 million, from the state's $30 billion operating budget. --Rhode Island Sen. Reed says he hasn't been asked by Obama's camp to provide vetting info for the No. 2 spot. Permalink
WSJ: McCains to Get “Huge Payout” for Anheuser-Busch Deal
The paper reports that Cindy McCain, who owns at least $1 million in the company, will profit handsomely from the sale to InBev. She is heiress to Anheuser-Busch’s third largest distributor. Permalink
Time Running Out for McCain-Obama Town Hall
With Obama's international trip on the way, along with VP announcements and conventions, hope is fading for the candidates to face each other before the fall. NY Times' Nagourney says that may be exactly how Obama has planned it. Permalink
Obama Communication Team Revamp
The Illinois Senator's camp sends out a release formalizing some internal shifts within its press shop. Read details here. Permalink
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