Pelosi Trumpets Democrats' House Wins

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

While Republicans celebrated their parties numerous victories from Tuesday’s elections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday that she was not disappointed by the results.

"From our standpoint, we picked up votes last night, one in California and one in New York," Pelosi said during a press appearance, referencing the special elections held in New York's 23rd Congressional district and California's 10th.

"From our perspective, we won last night," Pelosi added. "From our standpoint...a candidate was victorious who supports health care reform.”

The Speaker did not acknowledge the fact that Democratic gubernatorial losses in New Jersey and Virginia may have a negative political impact on her efforts to win votes to pass the America’s Healthy Choices Act, the bill to reform the health care system, through the House.

Pelosi instead focused on the Democratic wins in the two special elections for House seats.

President Obama's remarks on Afghanistan elections

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I want to say a few words about this week's election in Afghanistan.  This was an important step forward in the Afghan people's effort to take control of their future, even as violent extremists are trying to stand in their way.
 
This election was run by the Afghan people.  In fact, it was the first democratic election run by Afghans in over three decades.  More than 30 presidential candidates and more than 3,000 provincial council candidates ran for office, including a record number of women.  Some 6,000 polling stations were open around the country, and Afghan National Security Forces took the lead in providing security.
 
Over the last few days -- and particularly yesterday -- we've seen acts of violence and intimidation by the Taliban, and there may be more in the days to come.  We knew that the Taliban would try to derail this election.  Yet even in the face of this brutality, millions of Afghans exercised the right to choose their leaders and determine their own destiny.  And as I watched the election, I was struck by their courage in the face of intimidation, and their dignity in the face of disorder.
 
There is a clear contrast between those who seek to control their future at the ballot box, and those who kill to prevent that from happening.  Once again, extremists in Afghanistan have shown themselves willing to murder innocent Muslims -- men, women and children -- to advance their aims.  But I believe that the future belongs to those who want to build -- not those who want to destroy.  And that is the future that was sought by the Afghans who went to the polls, and the Afghan National Security Forces who protected them.
 
The United States did not support any candidate in this election.  Our only interest was the result fairly, accurately reflecting the will of the Afghan people, and that is what we will continue to support as the votes are counted, and we wait for the official results from the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission.
 
Meanwhile, we will continue to work with our Afghan partners to strengthen Afghan security, governance, and opportunity.  Our goal is clear:  to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and their extremist allies.  That goal will be achieved -- and our troops will be able to come home -- as Afghans continue to strengthen their own capacity, and take responsibility for their own future.
 
Our men and women in uniform are doing an extraordinary job in Afghanistan.  So are the civilians who serve by their side.  All of them are in our thoughts and prayers, as are their families back home.  This is not a challenge that we asked for -- it came to our shores when al Qaeda launched the 9/11 attacks from Afghanistan.  But America, our allies and partners, and above all the Afghan people share a common interest in pursuing security, opportunity, and justice.
 
We look forward to renewing our partnership with the Afghan people as they move ahead under a new government.  I want to again congratulate the Afghanistan people on carrying out this historic election, and wish them a blessed month as they come together to welcome the beginning of Ramadan.  
 
Thanks very much, everybody.
 
Q    What about the hero's welcome in Libya, sir?
 
Q    Do you consider Libya a terrorist state, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I think it was highly objectionable.

Latin American Experts: Zelaya Must Be Allowed Back Into Honduras

By Celia Canon-Talk Radio News Service

On Tuesday, experts from the Inter-American Dialogue warned that Honduras would continue to be unstable as long as ousted President Manuel Zelaya was not allowed back into the country.

“Zelaya is the elected President... If things degenerate further you won’t have good elections,” said Peter Hakim, President of Inter-American dialogue.

Hakim advised the international community to pursue “open negotiations involving [the] interim government.” Once an agreement is reached among the global community, Hakim advised Honduras to hold an election but warned that the quality of these elections depends on the stability of the country.

On June 29th, the Honduran military led a coup to overthrow President Manuel Zelaya. Armed forces intervened hours before a national referendum was due to take place to determine whether the constitution could be modified to allow the President to assume a second term, rather than the single term outlined in the country’s constitution. Zelaya was replaced by interim-President Roberto Micheletti.

Though the future of Honduras is nothing short of uncertain, many actors, including the international body Organization of American States, have gotten involved in the reestablishment of peace and stability in the Central American country.

“The OAS could take a strong position but then [it could be better to] not put the de facto Honduran government against the wall,” Hakim said

Genaro Arriagada, a Senior Fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue, added that besides the obvious necessary changes that should be brought to the Honduran government and constitution, further changes should involve the OAS 2001 democratic charter which was adopted by member states in order to ensure the presence of democratic institutions in all countries of the Americas.

The Charter needs to be reconsidered, explained Arriagada, “because it gives protection to the government but not to the opposition to the government.”

Immigrants and their children will play vital role in current and future elections

Naturalized citizens and New Americans, the children of immigrants, will be playing an increasingly important role in the electorate, agreed all of the participants in a call conference held by the Immigration Policy Center.

New Americans registered in significant numbers in several battleground states for this election. In some swing states, such as in Colorado and Florida, New Americans make up a percentage of the electorate which is larger than the margin of victory during the 2004 election. This means that New Americans could tip battleground states and will be critical in this and future elections.

New Americans are sensitive to immigration issues, and a significant amount of New Americans are Latino and Asian. Republicans need to make sure that they are not perceived as anti-immigrant or anti-Latino, said Frank Sharry of America’s Voice. Sharry predicted that the record number of New Americans registering to vote would create large momentum towards immigration reform. “The fact is is that it’s very hard to be competitive in a presidential year if you’re perceived as anti-immigrant by the fastest growing group of new voters in the country,” said Sharry.

The Hunt for Blue November

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee held a press conference to discuss elections being held in November. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told the press that Saturday, July 29 begins the 100 day countdown to the November election, saying that the DSCC has overwhelming evidence that Americans are looking for change and finding it in Democrats.

Schumer said polls indicate that Americans are more concerned over topics like health care and education rather than national security and abortion, a concern he said shows a preference for Democratic policies. He noted Mississippi, which he described as the most conservative state, is leaning Democratic in November and becoming a swing state. Schumer, who said that only 3 of the 35 seats contested in the fall are in blue states, said Sen. Barack Obama’s popularity in the Republican Deep South is a valuable asset for Democratic senatorial contests. Schumer said Democratic senatorial candidates are well ahead in Virginia, New Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico, and Alaska while candidates in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska are behind but gaining momentum.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) stated that elections are also looking promising for Democrats on the House side of the Hill. He said that the DCCC is focusing on early contact and persuasion, launching “Get Out and Vote” campaigns in 50 districts throughout the United States. With a Democratic-controlled White House and Congress, Van Hollen said policies concerning stem cell research, children’s health care, Iraq, and gas prices would be successfully addressed.