Interview With Co-Chair of Obama Campaign

Interview with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL), co-chair of Obama's National campaign


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Ellen Ratner Interviews Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez

Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez (D-N. Mex) discusses the upcoming election and issues relating to American Hispanics. Chavez discusses the likelihood of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will win Illinois in the November Presidential Election and what areas Obama needs to focus on. Chavez also discusses the problem of illegal immigration and possible solutions.
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Will.I.Am Speaks on Election '08 Issues and his Support for Obama

* Hip Hop artist Will.I.Am speaks on the issues that interest him in the election of 2008.

* He wants to inspire people and wake them from 'slumber' to get involved in politics.

* He says it is people like Obama, who fight for change, that gave him the chance to attend a good school, and give inner city kids the right to a better education.

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New Obama plan gets hairy

The Obama campaign held a conference call to discuss their plan to reach out to unregistered voters in African American communities. They will promote the Senator's message and "story" in barbershops and beauty salons. (28:13)
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Obama staff talks money

Dr. Laura Tyson and former Senator Bill Bradley (D-N.J.) discuss an economic meeting between Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and economic advisers. Tyson and Bradley say that the financial markets and economic stimuli were discussed along with structural issues like health care, education, and energy independence. Both say that Obama has a clear long term financial strategy separating, they say, Obama from Republican opponent Sen. John McCain. Tyson describes tax cuts advocated by Obama, cuts she says would give 95 percent of middle-income families $1,000. She also discusses the consumer market and the need for a second stimulus package from Congress. (23:48)
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Obama’s plan for Iraq viewed as “the height of irresponsibility”

Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign held a press conference call to discuss Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) position on Iraq. Randy Scheunemann, the senior foreign policy adviser on the McCain campaign, explained that he is pleased to see Obama in Iraq and glad that Obama can see first hand the progress on security that has been made under the surge policy. Scheunemann said that Obama will meet with Gen. Petraeus and other commanders for the first time, witch the McCain team thinks is a great development.

Scheunemann explained that he hopes Obama will listen to the U.S. military commanders in Iraq when they explain the problems of a date driven withdrawal. Gen. Petraeus has made it clear that a withdrawal from Iraq must be based on the security conditions on the ground, on what the enemy is doing and is likely to do, otherwise all U.S. gains would be jeopardized. Scheunemann said that many commanders have previously explained that an unconditional, date driven withdrawal would be very dangerous. He also explained that McCain hopes Obama will not ignore military judgment on the importance of having a conditions based withdrawal and supplement it with his own military assessment, which is “really based more on a political calculation.”

Scheunemann explained that McCain has always said two things guide his view when it comes to withdrawal from Iraq: conditions on the ground and advice from U.S. military commanders. Because conditions are improving with the successful surge, and if conditions continue to improve, McCain does believe that the U.S. will be able to withdraw. Scheunemann explained, however, that this is not a date driven time table, but merely a hope based on gains made today and gains that will hopefully continue to be made in the future, opposed to Obama’s “irresponsible” plan. (13:43)
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Obama understands struggles faced by Ohio working women

Senator Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) campaign hosted a conference call to discuss how Ohio's working women stand to benefit from Obama's economic plan. According to Isaac Baker of the Obama campaign, the plan will assist around 195,000 mothers across Ohio.

U.S. Representative Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) said that Obama has laid out concrete plans on how to strengthen the economy and that he knows government policies must change to meet America's new challenges. Sutton pointed out that the economy has lost 438,000 jobs thus far after six straight months of job loss and that wages have remained stagnant for a generation. Sutton emphasized that Obama has assured economic security for middle class families, both over the long and short term. Citing Obama's offer of a short term $50 billion stimulus to jump start the economy, Sutton was optimistic that he would get the economy back on track. She said that this stimulus goes 'hand in hand' with other investments such as infrastructure and 'green jobs.'

Sutton noted that since 2000, Ohio has lost over 200,000 manufacturing jobs. She said that Obama's vision of promoting 'green jobs' would be beneficial in areas like Ohio. According to Sutton, about 95% of workers and their families would benefit from Obama's tax cuts.

State Representative Jennifer Garrison (D-Ohio) said that Obama's policies are sorely needed and will help families greatly. Garrison pointed out that Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) is not offering relief to the middle class and voted against critical funding in the rural part of Ohio. (14:50)
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Obama to "seize this moment's promise"

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discusses the many consequences of war in Iraq during foreign policy and national security speech. Obama mentions how he wants "America once again to lead." (1:36)
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Wasted potential: Obama on what we "could have" accomplished

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discusses the ways America could have acted following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 during his speech on foreign policy and national security. (2:01)
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McCain, Obama agree ignoring the environment is intolerable

Elgie Holstein, senior adviser to the Obama Campaign on energy, says that for the first time both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge that ignoring the environment is intolerable. (:58)
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McCain campaign blasts Obama's Iraq strategy

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and McCain senior foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann discuss why Obama's plan for withdrawal Iraq will ultimately fail. (42:36)
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Obama campaign blasts McCain’s changing Iraq position

In an Obama campaign conference call, former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig and Major General Geoffrey Lambert (USA, Ret.,) discuss McCain’s opposition to a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq and the Iraqi governments support for the establishment of a timetable. Lambert says Iraqi forces have a greater functioning capacity and increased confidence, two factors that increase Iraqis’ desire for sovereignty. Danzig states that McCain previously said he would support withdrawal if requested by the Iraqi government and questions why McCain’s position has changed. Danzig adds that Sen. Obama’s support for withdrawal matches Iraqi and American public sentiment. He also says McCain’s position fuels mistrust of the United States in the region. (11:36)
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McCain part of energy policy failure

Senator John McCain’s stance on energy was discussed in a conference call hosted by the Obama campaign. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland were available to discuss how McCain has been part of Washington’s failure on the energy policy.

Vilsack said that McCain has staunchly supported large oil companies for raking in profits but has not stood for families struggling with higher oil prices. In stark contrast, Vilsack pointed out Senator Barack Obama’s ‘visionary plan’ to increase energy efficiency standards and that he will allocate $150 million towards research and development of cleaner energy. Vilsack pointed out that developing cleaner energy will form an ‘energy secure America and rebuild the economy by creating more jobs and expanding the middle class.

Strickland emphasized that, over the span of four days, Ohio has suffered significant job losses directly related to the increasing oil prices. He said that, while McCain seems tied to the current administration’s policies, Obama offers a fresh approach with tax policies that will benefit most Americans. In addition, Strickland said that Obama is committed to working to achieve affordable health coverage for all Americans.

When asked as to why Obama does not visit places like Ohio more often, Vilsack gave assurance that Obama would certainly ‘come to the homelands’. Vilsack also said he was struck by McCain’s failure to support wind energy which is a vital source of alternate energy for Iowa and Ohio.

In response to the possible negative effect of Obama’s proposed tax on coal for coal-producing states such as Ohio, Strickland pointed out that Obama himself is a senator of the coal-producing state of Illinois. He said that America needs to pursue sequesteration to deal with the carbon issue and invest in research and development. Vilsack added that this will create a market driven system that will push America to create cleaner energy that will allow America to be less dependent on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (35:03)
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America has nothing to fear from immigrants

Obama speaking today at the League of United Latin American Citizens on immigrants. He said that Americans have nothing to fear from new comers, because they come in the hopes that in America you can make it if you try. (0:28)

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Obama says immigration reform must happen now

Obama calls for a comprehensive immigration policy reform at the League of United Latin American Citizens conference. Obama says that he will do it on his first term as president of the United States. (0:43)

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Immigrants: All for one and one for all

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spoke today at the League of United Latin American Citizens about the founding of LULAC. He said that American’s have a fundamental belief that American’s rise and fall together, so they need to work together in orders to succeed. (0:36)
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McCain and Obama on opposite sides of tax fence

Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign held a press conference call with economic policy adviser Steve Forbes and senior policy adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin to discuss Senator Obama’s economic plan. Both advisers said that McCain’s economic proposals are opposite that of Obama’s proposals.

Forbes said that Obama has a series of tax proposals that would devastate the U.S. economy. When looking at his voting actions, Obama has been a ‘massive tax increaser.’ Forbes noted that McCain, on the other hand, had tax cut proposals for middle-class Americans and small businesses which is a pro-growth and job creating plan. According to Forbes, small businesses have created around 200,000 jobs and they would be adversely affected by Obama’s economic plan.

When questioned by a caller as to how McCain intends to balance the budget by the end of his first term, the advisers said that McCain will talk about a broad based future in terms of making cheaper energy available to families, helping with international competitiveness and reducing tax burdens on entrepreneurs. The advisers emphasized McCain has ‘learnt lessons of history’ and will not raise taxes when the economy is in trouble. (9:36)
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Obama campaign lashes out against McCain energy policy

Obama presidential campaign supporters Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) and former Iowa Governor Vilsack discuss their opposition to the energy policies and "offshore drilling" ideas proposed by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain. (27:10)
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Obama’s policies could lead to chaos, genocide

Noting the reduction of Iranian influence and the growth of democracy, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain says that the United States is on its way to victory in Iraq and that the consequences of Obama’s positions would lead to chaos and genocide. (0:46)
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McCain defends small town Americans

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain says that he appeals to “Reagan democrats” and adds that he would never suggest that Americans in small towns turn to religion and guns due to bitterness. (0:57)
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