STATEMENT OF SENATOR BARACK OBAMA WELCOMING SUPPORT FOR HIS CALL FOR $ 1 BILLION IN ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA
CHICAGO IL

Chicago, IL – “I welcome the Bush Administration’s announcement of $1 billion in humanitarian and economic assistance to Georgia, a step that Joe Biden and I have been advocating for weeks. The United States and our allies must stand firm in supporting Georgia’s economic and political stability, and opposing Russia’s effort to undermine Georgia’s democratically-elected government. Today’s decision to answer our call for $1 billion in assistance is an important step forward in supporting the people of Georgia and standing up to Russia.

Read full statement on www.barackobama.com

STATEMENT OF SENATOR OBAMA ON RUSSIA’S DECISION TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES

August 26, 2008

I condemn Russia’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and call upon all countries of the world not to accord any legitimacy to this action.
“The United States should call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia’s decision in coordination with our European allies. The U.S. should lead within the UN and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its action.  The OSCE must also send a serious monitoring group to Georgia.  Georgia’s economy recovery is an urgent strategic priority that demands the focused attention of the United States and our allies.  That is why Senator Biden and I have called for $1 billion in reconstruction assistance to the people of Georgia in this time of great trial.

View entire speech www.2008CENTRAL.net    

OBAMA TURNS FOCUS ON PLIGHT OF MIDDLE CLASS
THE EAU CLAIRE LEADER TELEGRAM
BY EMILY BANKS

AUGUST 25, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama touched on nearly all the key issues un the upcoming presidential election- the economy, energy, education, health care, national security and Iraq – during his stop in Eau Claire Sunday, but he focused most of his 30- minute speech on the troubles faced by the working class.  Times are tough, he said, to about 300 people who were invited to the ‘BBQ with Barack Obama” at Eau Claire’s Rod and Gun Park.  “ I need to tell you that, ‘ cause you’re living it’ the Illinois Senator said, adding that the average family income has decreased $1,000 under President Bush and families have been pushed to their limits financially.

Read the full article www.leadertelegram.com 

BIDEN TO VIGOURSLY CHALLENGE PALIN ON ISSUES
‘I WILL TAKE ISSUES WITH HER AS STRONGLY AS I CAN ‘BUT NO PERSONAL ATTACKS’

AP associated press
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

Virginia Beach, Vir. -  Democratic vice president nominee Joe Biden said Thursday that he will vigorously challenge Republican Sarah Palin on the issues, but will refrain from personal attacks. Biden made the remarks Thursday in response to a question from a woman who attended his forum on national security and Veterans issues in military-heavy Virginia Beach.  The questioner said she realized it is tricky for a male candidate to debate a woman but implored Biden to “please promise me you’ll go after her the same way… The rest of question was drowned out by applause and cheers …. “The way I was raised is: I never, ever, ever attack the other person,” Biden said. Adding that probably was not what many of his fellow Democrats want to hear. “I will take issue with her strongly as I can.” Biden said that has been his approach through 13 presidential debates. I’m not good at the one-line zingers.  That’s not my deal , ”Biden said.

Read the full article www.msnbc.com 

OBAMA RAISES RECORD $10 MILLION SINCE PALIN SPEECH

WASHINGTON POST
THE GREEN ZONE
BY MATTHEW MOSK
September 4, 2008

For a week, Senator John McCain’s campaign has been crowing about the gobs of money that have rolled in since he selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Now Senator Barack Obama’s team is getting into the act.The Obama campaign said tonight it broke its single - day fundraising record, raising more than $10 million in the 24 hours since Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gave her speech. “I hope she gives a speech every single day, “ said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. “Sarah Palin’s attacks have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected,” he said. “And we fully expect John McCain’s attacks tonight to help us make our grassroots organization even stronger.”

Read full article  www.washingtonpost.com

OBAMA TURNS FOCUS BACK TO McCAIN

CALLS CRITICISM OF PALIN POLITICAL, NOT PERSONAL

BOSTON GLOBE
BY MICHAEL KRANISH
SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

ST PAUL – Barack Obama’s campaign used a carefully calibrated two – track approach yesterday to respond to the sharp attack from Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Obama brushed aside questions about Palin, saying he preferred to focus on Republican nominee John McCain, while some of his surrogates portrayed the Alaska governor as a “frightening” fringe politician. Obama deflected a question about whether Palin had transformed the race with her prime-time speech Wednesday night and self described role as campaign “pit–bull.” “I’ve been called worse on the basketball court,” the Illinois senator told reporters in York, Pa. “ I think ultimately this race is going to be about myself and John McCain, and who is in a better position to lead the country.” Obama also dismissed Republicans’ complaints that Palin, who was formally nominated last night to be second woman on a major party ticket, was being treated unfairly because of her gender. “ I assume she wants to be treated the same way guys are treated, which means their records are under scrutiny.  I’ve been through this for 19 months.  She’s been through this for, what four days so far?”

Read full article  www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/05/obama

FIVE REASONS THE WORLD WANTS OBAMA

ALTERNET
BY MELINDA BROUWER
SEPTEMBER 1, 2008

While Americans spend the next three months pondering which candidate is worth of becoming the next U.S. president, the rest of the world made up its mind a long time ago : they want Barack Obama for president.  This is evident in global polling conducted throughout the summer, showing that publics abroad prefer Seanator Obama, over Senator McCain by considerable margins. Most of this polling was conducted even before the senator made his trip abroad. After about six months of blogging about the global phenomenon that is OBAMAMANIA, I have derived a few theories on why Senator Brack Obama is so strongly favored by people living outside the U.S.

But first, a note on why people outside the U.S. care about the U.S. election at all.  After all, they can’t vote, why bother paying attention?  The simple answer is:  what the U.S. does, both domestically and internationally, affects people around the world.  This is not to be taken as arrogance – as if to say that when the U.S. commands everyone falls into line. Rather, the economic, political and military influence that the U.S. has in the world, historically and presently, combined with the process of globalization that make states more interdependent overall, means that the decisions made by the man sitting in the oval office effect not only Americans, but a great many non-Americans too..

Read full article  www.alternet.org/story/96838  

OBAMA AND FOX NEWS: ‘TENATIVE TRUCE?’

NEWSBUSTERS.org
BY JACOB S LYBERT
SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

As FOX NEWS prepare to interview Barack Obama tomorrow night, during prime time, TV journalist Michael Wolff details a meeting between Barack Obama, Fox News president Roger Ailes, and News Corporation president Rupert Murdoch in which Fox exec promised to lay off the Democratic presidential candidate.

According to Wolff’s telling this was more than a mere tete-a’ tete, this was a full-ondiplomatic meeting (initiated at Murdoch’s request), conducted only after preparation and with precautions from the Obama Campaign. The apparent purpose ?  To smooth things over in the event that Obama defeats John McCain: Early in the summer that Obama relented and a secret courtesy meeting was arranged.  The meeting began with Murdoch sitting down, knee to knee with Obama, at the Waldorf Astoria.  The younger man was deferential – and interested in his story ….

Then, after he said his piece. Murdoch switched places and let his special guest, Roger Ailes, sit knee to knee with Obama.

Read full article  www.newsbusters.org/node/23899