The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from October 9th, 2008
Obama: Financial Rescue Plan Must Be Implemented ASAP
The Senator releases a statement after Thursday's devastating Wall Street decline: "...It is critical that the Treasury Department move as quickly possible to implement the rescue plan that passed Congress so that we can ease this credit crisis." Adds: "Now is not the time for fear or panic...." Read the full statement here. , 7:01 PM
McCain: “Americans Will Care” About Ayers
Speaking to ABC’s Charlie Gibson in Wisconsin, the Arizonan says the country still doesn’t know enough about Obama or his ties to the former radical. “I have every right to insist that he be candid and truthful with the American people. And he needs to be asked about it, and he needs to be forthcoming.” Repeatedly references Sen. Clinton’s questions about Ayers, and says she’s also supported his mortgage proposal. Click above to watch. Read the full transcript here. Plus: Obama tells the Philadelphia-based Michael Smerconish he "had assumed" from Bill Ayers' stature in Chicago he had been "rehabilitated" since his 1960s crimes. Permalink
"Chicago Way"
Hard-hitting RNC independent ad blasts Obama's associations with Rezko, Ayers and adviser William Daley, calling them his "teachers." "The Chicago Way. Shady politics. That’s Barack Obama’s training." When mentioning Ayers also says "there's more you need to know." Click above to watch, and read script here. RNC says it will air in "Indiana and Wisconsin." Amount and length of buy TBD. Permalink
Alaska Court Upholds Troopergate Probe
Supreme Court's decision clears path for lawmakers to release their report on the abuse-of-power investigation Friday. AP: "The report could prove to be an embarrassment for Palin and a distraction for John McCain's presidential campaign in the final weeks of the race." Plus: Affidavits show Todd Palin repeatedly asked his wife's top aides to have his former brother-in-law removed from his job. , 5:00 PM
Biden Hits Back on Age Jab
Speaking in Missouri Thursday, the VP candidate responds to Gov. Palin's dig that he's been in the Senate since she was in second grade: "That's true, but she was in sixth grade the last time John had a new idea." Permalink
MCCAIN CAMP CO-CHAIR BRINGS UP OBAMA DRUG USE
Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating says Obama is covering up his "very extreme record" and needs to be honest with Americans in an interview on Dennis Miller's radio show. "He ought to admit. 'You know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center.'" Permalink
Hollywood Obama
The Land of Lincolner is reportedly buying 30 minutes of primetime TV on CBS, and is in talks to buy time on NBC and Fox as well. The broadcast is scheduled for October 29. Ross Perot also bought 30 minutes of network news time in 1992. Permalink
STOCKS COLLAPSE; DOW CLOSES BELOW 9,000
The index falls below the 9,000 mark for the first time in 5 years in another massive selloff on Wall Street. The index drops 679 points, 37% below its highest-ever close exactly a year ago. General Motors shares skid 30%, to a 58-year low. Permalink
Obama Ad: Health Care to ‘Unravel' Under McCain
Unannounced spot airing in Florida and Pennsylvania claims millions could lose their insurance under McCain’s health care plan. Click above to watch. RNC rebukes it as a “deliberate decision to lie.” Read full response here. Permalink
McCain on Ayers: "We Need to Know the Full Extent of the Relationship"
Asked about Obama's "associations," McCain refers to Ayers without naming him during a town hall with Palin in Waukesha, Wisconsin. "We need to know the full extent of the relationship, because of whether Sen. Obama is telling the truth to the American people or not. That's the question." Says he doesn't care about "an old washed-up terrorist," but cares that Obama has referred to him as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood." Obama camp response here. Permalink
Obama Suggests McCain Mortgage Proposal Ill-Advised
The Democratic nominee targets the plan while kicking off his jobs tour in a Dayton, Ohio rally Thursday afternoon. Says McCain's plan would cost taxpayers billions and reward bad behavior by lenders. Read prepared remarks here. Plus: Obama camp memo reinforces the same points. Read it here. McCain camp responds here. Permalink
Biden on McCain Attacks: Say it to His Face
The Delaware Senator chides McCain for recent attacks on Obama's associations during a Thursday event in St. Joseph, Missouri. Says he can make personal attacks on TV and at rallies but "McCain could not bring himself to look Barack Obama in the eye and say the same things to him" at the debate. "In my neighborhood, when you’ve got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him." Permalink
What It Takes: Thursday Edition
HALPERIN'S TAKE: The five most important people in American politics right now -- who aren't running for president. Permalink
Change to Win to Drop Anti-McCain Health Care Fliers
Politico: The pro-Obama labor federation plans to distribute about a million pieces of mail in swing states attacking McCain's health care stance. Mailer says: "George Bush and John McCain: Leaving working Americans SICK and BROKE." Permalink
Palin Pleads Voters to “Wake Up and Ask Questions” About Obama
The Alaska Governor chats with Laura Ingraham on her radio show Thursday, continues to challenge Obama’s record, associations. Says his relationship with Ayers is “an issue of judgment … and candor.” Listen to the full interview here. Permalink
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