ProgressOhio

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- It's official. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign will be among the TV sponsors of NBC Universal's Olympics coverage. In the first significant network-TV buy of any presidential candidate in at least 16 years, the Obama campaign has taken a $5 million package of Olympics spots that includes network TV as well as cable ads.

According to NBC's political file, the campaign had initially requested information about 500,000, $2 million and $4 million package of Olympics spots. The network also offered the candidate a $10 million package.

Here's part of the release "Bad Cop" ODP put out about the Republican nominee for the Ohio Attorney General Race:

Redfern: D. Michael Crites has all of the attributes you might expect to find in a third-tier Republican candidate

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Democratic Party responded today to the Ohio Republican Party's selection of attorney D. Michael Crites as their candidate for Ohio Attorney General.  After months of begging top-tier and second-tier candidates to enter the race, the Ohio Republican Party finally accepted rejection and settled on Mr. Crites.

In contrast to Ohio Treasurer and Democratic Attorney General candidate Richard Cordray, D. Michael Crites has never run for statewide office.  As a defense attorney, Crites stood up for a client who stole $10,000 from the Ohio Treasury by downplaying the crime as a 'one-time mistake.'  ("Theft gets supervisor one year in prison," Columbus Dispatch, January 2001)

"Michael Crites has all of the attributes that you might expect to find in a third-tier Republican candidate," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.  "Michael Crites chased headlines as prosecutor by going after baseball great Pete Rose, but he earned his paycheck as a defense attorney by standing up for an individual who stole $10,000 from the Ohio Treasury and downplaying the crime against Ohio taxpayers as a 'one-time mistake.'"

At least 12 potential candidates declined to seek the office under the Ohio Republican banner.  Excuses ranged from not wanting the job to not wanting to take a pay cut.  One would-be Republican candidate cited high gas prices as part of his excuse for not running.

And "Good Cop" Richard Cordray?

Here's what he had to say: 

"I have always considered my real opponent in this race to be the financial predators who are picking the pockets of hard-working Ohio families through unfair lending and business practices, companies who abandon jobs and workers in our home towns, and anyone who abuses power at a citizen's expense.

But I welcome my Republican opponent, too."

Now that's how you play as a team in politcal communications!

Both CBS News and John McCain have some 'splaning to do:

During a CBS interview on Tuesday, John McCain made a stone cold error on a subject about which he claims expert knowledge: the "surge" strategy in Iraq. In an interview with anchor Katie Couric, the Arizona Republican said, inaccurately, that the surge strategy was responsible for the much-touted "Anbar Awakening," in which Sunni sheiks turned against Al Qaeda, helping in turn to reduce violence in the country.

On the July 22 edition of the CBS Evening News, while airing portions of an interview she conducted that day with Sen. John McCain, anchor Katie Couric removed a part of his response in which he falsely asserted that the 2007 U.S. troop surge "began the Anbar awakening." In fact, the so-called Anbar awakening reportedly began in September 2006, months before the surge was even announced. Couric had asked McCain, "Senator [Barack] Obama says while the increased number of U.S. troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shia government going after militias, and says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?" But rather than airing McCain's direct reply, including the false claim that the surge "began the Anbar awakening" -- an agreement by some tribal leaders in western Iraq to accept U.S. aid and cooperate with anti-Al Qaeda operations -- Couric aired comments by McCain spliced together from three separate statements he gave during the interview, one of which responded to a different question. Couric gave no indication that these comments had been edited in any manner, nor did she otherwise note McCain's falsehood.

Keith Olbermann reported on the spliced McCain response on the July 22 edition of MSNBC's Countdown.

In a new sign of increasing inequality in the U.S., the richest 1% of Americans in 2006 garnered the highest share of the nation's adjusted gross income for two decades, and possibly the highest since 1929, according to Internal Revenue Service data.

Meanwhile, the average tax rate of the wealthiest 1% fell to its lowest level in at least 18 years.

The group's share of the tax burden has risen, though not as quickly as its share of income.

The figures are from the IRS's income-statistics division and were posted on the agency's Web site last week. The 2006 data are the most recent available.

AP:

Robinson is now 106 - that's 35 years older than McCain - and she began using the Internet at 98.

Blogs have been buzzing recently over McCain's admission that when it comes to the Internet, "I'm an illiterate who has to rely on his wife for any assistance he can get."...

"About 3/4ths  of white, college-educated men age over 65 use the Internet," says Susannah Fox, director of the project. "John McCain is an outlier when you compare him to his peers,"

With our national security and economic growth so closely tied to computing, it's hard to imagine governing without having even the most basic grasp on the internet. 

Obama Shifts the Foreign Policy Debate

He was effusive in his praise of U.S. troops and diplomats, describing the "terrific" conversation he had with Ryan C. Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, and Gen. David H. Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, who took him on a helicopter tour over the Iraqi capital. Obama said he understands that Petraeus would prefer leaving his options open rather than operating with a timeline, and said if he were in Petraeus's shoes, "I'd probably feel the same way."

But in an indirect dig at President Bush, who has repeatedly said he would base any withdrawal decisions on the advice of military commanders, Obama said his job would be to listen to the military but make decisions based on "a range of factors that I have to take into account as a commander in chief."

Those factors, he said, would include "the perceptions of the Iraqi people" and the statements of their leaders, as well as "the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan," which he called the "central front in the war against terrorism."

McCain's judgments are based on "what he thinks makes the most sense," Obama said. But his own judgments, "in speaking with Afghans and Iraqis, the U.S. military and civilians," he said, led him to conclude that there is a need to "seize this moment to make America more secure" by focusing on "broader challenges."

Chief among them, he said, are the "need to refocus attention on Afghanistan and to go after the Taliban, including putting more troops on the ground, and to put more pressure on Pakistan to deal with the safe havens of terrorists."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, in an interview last night with PBS's "NewsHour," said he shares Obama's assessment that the situation in Afghanistan is "precarious and urgent." The 10,000 additional troops needed there, he said, would not be available "in any significant manner" unless there are withdrawals from Iraq.

For now, he said, "my priorities . . . given to me by the commander in chief are: Focus on Iraq first. It's been that way for some time. Focus on Afghanistan second."

 Visit This Modern World By Tom Tomorrow

I add to Joe's assessment that when you are calling your opponent a "traitor" 3 1/2 months before the election,  it doesn't just "smack of desperation"  . . . it is desperation.

McCain Meltdown

John McCain said this today in Rochester, New Hampshire:

This is a clear choice that the American people have. I had the courage and the judgment to say I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign.

This is the ninth presidential campaign I've covered. I can't remember a more scurrilous statement by a major party candidate. It smacks of desperation. It renews questions about whether McCain has the right temperament for the presidency. How sad.

Klein goes on to say:

The reality is that neither Barack Obama nor Nouri al-Maliki nor most anybody else believes that the Iraq war can be "lost" at this point. The reality is that no matter who is elected President, we are looking at a residual U.S. force of 30-50,000 by 2011 (a year ahead of the previous schedule). The reality is that McCain should be proud that he helped salvage a disastrous situation by pushing the counterinsurgency plan. It's something to run on. But, at this point, McCain must sense that it's not a winning hand. Obama, the poker player, has drawn to an inside straight: the Iraqis favor his plan over McCain's long-term bases. That must be galling. But it's no excuse to pop off the way McCain did. It was, shockingly, unpresidential.

Ouch!

Watch It:

It's so funny to see the right all up in arms that their candidate is not getting enough press coverage while Senator Obama is overseas. 

I mean the great Right Wing Wurlitzer doesn't work very well without full support  100% of the time from the traditional media.

I would think this would have them just screaming . . .

NBC and MSNBC Host Chris Mathews on The Jay Leno Show last night:

 Barack in Baghdad transcript:

(Wild Cheers)

Nightline: Monday night in Baghdad, Barack Obama is in the house.  The house, the U.S. Embassy and it was an amazing scene.

Barack: I just want to introduce myself, I'm Barack Obama.

(Wild Cheers)

Nightline: The troops and state department workers mobbed him.  And he responded with brief remarks praising their service.

Barack: So I don't care whether you are a Sailor, a Soldier, an Airmen, or Marine.  A National Guard, a Reservist, active duty, we just want to say thank you.

Barack: Illinois in the house?

Crowd: I’m from Chicago!

Barack: Hey, Chicago!  South Side? West Side?

Nightline: As he makes his way through the war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, Barack Obama has come face to face with the men and women he seeks to lead -  American G.I.'S, who are sacrificing so much for our country.

Barack: Back home, as I travel all across the country, every single day I meet your friends, your family members, your co-workers, and the main thing they want me to communicate is how proud they are of you.

They may disagree on politics. They may disagree on the issues. But the country is absolutely united in the excellence, the devotion, the dedication with which you have performed your duties, here.

It is long -- nine minutes, thirty seconds -- but much of the material it contains will likely be new to you...and it's devastating to McCain.

Watch It:

 Video From The Jed Report

 Update From The Jed Report: Using YouTube's annotations feature, I've added the dates for the post-war video clips, but in order to view them, you will have to watch the clip at YouTube itself as annotations are not currently supported in embeds.

Senators Introduce Resolution Recognizing Importance of Diversity in the Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. –United States Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), and Carl Levin (D-MI) today introduced a Senate resolution to recognize the 60th anniversary of the integration of the United States Armed Forces. The resolution commends African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and service members of all races and nationalities for their commitments to the U.S. Armed Forces in all conflicts in U.S. history, despite discrimination, hostility, and other obstacles.

"Troop integration was a landmark event for our nation, and I am proud to offer this resolution recognizing the critical role African Americans and military members of all races and nationalities have played in maintaining our nation's armed forces," said Brown.

Melissa Wagoner, spokeswoman for Senator Kennedy, said, "Senator Kennedy is honored to join his colleagues in celebrating the 60th anniversary of President Truman's historic decision in 1948 to integrate the Armed Forces. Our all-volunteer military today is the finest in the world, because it draws from the vast melting pot of our society regardless of an individual's race, color, or national origin. Senator Kennedy commends all those who answer the call to serve our country. America is proud of each and every one of them."

"Sixty years ago, the integration of our Armed Forces served as a beacon of equality and opportunity for all Americans," said Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. "Our military would not be the dedicated and professional force that it is today without the diversity ensured by President Truman's historic executive order."

On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which mandated the racial integration of the Armed Forces. That order declared that there should be equal treatment and opportunity for all people serving in the Armed Forces, regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.

The U.S. Armed forces have led the way in social integration throughout the country's civil rights struggle. President Truman's racial integration order was put into place before the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954, which rejected separate white and black schools, and before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which banned discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations. President Truman's order was enacted before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which restored and protected voting rights, and the Civil Right Act of 1968 that banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing.

The integration of the Armed Forces enhanced the combat effectiveness of the military 60 years ago. Today, members from a wide diversity of races and nationalities serve in senior leadership positions throughout the Armed Forces as commissioned and warrant offices, senior noncommissioned officers, and as civilian leaders.

 Energy was high on 4th street today as over 200 health care activists rallied in downtown Columbus. As a rapid response to a healthcare industry-led event going on inside, marchers and speakers asked: "Which Side Are You On? Quality, affordable health care for all, or leaving us on our own with the health insurance industry?"

Two weeks after HCAN (Health Care for America Now) kicked off with events across the country, the industry has responded with its own PR counter campaign to defend itself.  AHIP (American Health Insurance Plans) held its "Campaign For An American Solution" event today at the YWCA, 65 S. 4th St.

Activists from SEIU, ACORN, Progress Ohio, UHCAN (Universal Health Care Action Network), SPAN (Single Payer Action Network), Justice for Janitors, and Gamaliel affiliates AMOS and NOAH marched and rallied outside the Industry event with drums, chants, and banners.

Speakers:
Bruce Colburn, SEIU
Brian Rothenberg, ProgressOhio.org
Stephanie Beck Borden, Gamaliel/AMOS
Cathy Levine, UHCAN Ohio
Christine Conroy, UHCAN

Several media outlets were present covering the event. Links to their online coverage coming soon.

Complete photo set here

Tell Us, Which Side Are You On?

In separate interviews, John McCain explains to Meredith Vieira (yesterday) and Tim Russert (in May '07) why he opposes Iraq's demand for a troop withdrawal timetable.

Watch it:

See Also: McCain Reacts To al-Maliki's Endorsment Of Obama's Withdrawal Timetable

Newspapers sound off on the McCain campaign's latest ad:

- New York Times: "misleading on nearly every substantive point"
- Columbus Dispatch (also carried by four other Ohio papers): "laughable"
- Washington Post: "a stretch"
- CQ/Politifact: "We find McCain's claim to be false."

Here's what Gov. Strickland had to say about the ad:

“John McCain’s latest ad is disingenuous and disappointing. The truth is that in his 26 years in Washington, Sen. McCain has consistently opposed investments in ethanol and a range of alternative energy technologies that have the potential to create thousands of jobs across Ohio.

“But despite his own longtime opposition to renewable energy projects that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil, Sen. McCain is trying to blame Senator Obama for high gas prices.

“Sen. Obama has a plan to invest $150 billion in clean and renewable energy that would create 5 million new jobs. It’s a serious plan that will secure our energy independence and move our economy forward. Meanwhile, Senator McCain seems only to be offering discredited attacks. Ohioans deserve better.”

 Watch It:

In response to the ad, the Obama campaign laid responsibility for the oil crisis directly at McCain's feet.

"John McCain said recently that 'our dangerous dependence on foreign oil has been thirty years in the making, and was caused by the failure of politicians in Washington.' As someone who's been in Washington for 26 years, Senator McCain is one of those politicians, and he's consistently opposed investments in renewable energy that would reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor. "Now he's proposing nearly $4 billion in tax breaks for the oil companies and Washington gimmicks that he admits will only provide 'psychological relief' to consumers. Barack Obama has fought for energy independence in the Senate and has a plan to invest $150 billion in renewable sources of energy that will create five million new jobs and provide struggling families with an immediate energy rebate and a $1,000 middle-class tax cut."

Is John McCain frustrated, or maybe a little of jealous, of Obama's headline grabbing trip?

Looks like all signs point to yes as Iraq's Prime Minister gives new confidence to Obama's withdrawal plan,

Bloomberg News says "Middle Eastern and European leaders are lining up to hear what Barack Obama has to say," and General Petraeus gave photographers fresh photo-ops with the Democratic leader.

Dave Weigel:

McCain's goading Obama to make this trip stands tall and proud as one of the dumbest blunders of the campaign. He couldn't have helped the Democrat more if he'd challenged him to a slam dunk contest.

Obama's Global Victory Lap Has McCain Desperate

What was John McCain thinking?

Did the Republican who would be president really think that by goading Democrat Barack Obama into visiting Afghanistan and Iraq -- countries the senator from Illinois was going to have to visit as part of an image-building international tour -- he would somehow trip-up his November rival?

Was McCain under some delusion that international leaders would subtly undermine the Obama tour and thus confirm that the Republican ally of discredited lame-duck President George Bush was the only real choice to lead the United States toward a more realistic role in the world?

If that was the case, then McCain really is too foolish to be president -- not merely of the U.S. but of his stamp club.

As Obama goes from strength to strength -- sinking baskets, drawing cheers from the troops, forging a plan to extract most U.S. forces from Iraq that everyone who matters seems to agree with -- McCain is scrambling.

If McCain throws in all his chips and announces his choice for VP while Obama is grabbing all the attention overseas it shows he is more than frustrated, his campaign is desperate.

NEW YORK — If Sen. John McCain is really serious about becoming a Web-savvy citizen, perhaps Kathryn Robinson can help.

Robinson is now 106 — that's 35 years older than McCain — and she began using the Internet at 98, at the Barclay Friends home in West Chester, Pa., where she lives. "I started to learn because I wanted to e-mail my family," she says — in an e-mail message, naturally.

Blogs have been buzzing recently over McCain's admission that when it comes to the Internet, "I'm an illiterate who has to rely on his wife for any assistance he can get."

And the 71-year-old presumptive Republican nominee, asked about his Web use last week by the New York Times, said that aides "go on for me. I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself."

How unusual is it for a 71-year-old American to be unplugged?

"After locking up his party's presidential nomination, Barack Obama's fundraising operation came roaring back to life in June, generating more than a million dollars on five days, including a whopping $25 million that came in on the last day of the month," according to Politico.

"His one-day haul represents nearly half of his monthly total and more than Republican rival John McCain generated for the entire month. During the month, McCain did not have a single day in which he raised a million dollars."

A record $1.4 trillion in outstanding short sales say the end isn't in sight.

Mental recession indeed.

Bush administration officials leaned on Maliki's office to issue "clarification".

The statement by an aide to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki calling his remarks in Der Spiegel "misinterpreted and mistranslated" followed a call to the prime minister's office from U.S. government officials in Iraq.

Maliki had expressed support for a withdrawal plan similar to that of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in an interview with Der Speigel. U.S. troops should leave Iraq "As soon as possible, as far as we're concerned," Maliki had said. "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

But after the Spiegel interview was published and began generating headlines Saturday, officials at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad contacted Maliki's office to express concern and seek clarification on the remarks, according to White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Later in the day, a Maliki aide released a statement saying the remarks had been misinterpreted, though without citing specific comments.

Remember too that as far as I know the Prime Minister's office has yet to release any statement itself. The statement was released by CentCom and Multi-National Force-Iraq.

See Also: McCain Reacts To al-Maliki's Endorsment Of Obama's Withdrawal Timetable

Reuters: Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan