0 Comments]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:04:20 CDT Barack Obama posted a photo:

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama lights the eternal flame at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama tours Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli President, Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama and senior staff meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama and senior staff meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Democratic Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama signs the guest book after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, Israel on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (David Katz/Obama for America)

Indeed, Barack made the most of his day in Israel. He met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Likud Party Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the Holocaust History Museum at Yad Vashem, met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem and then Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah. He toured the town of Sderot with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, met the Mayor of Jerusalem, and had dinner with Prime Minister Olmert. Not a bad day's work.

We are off to Berlin in a few very short hours where Senator Obama be speaking at Berlin's Teirgarten park tomorrow. We will be streaming that event live Thursday at 1pm EDT.

Enjoy your pictures of today...

Livni gave Senator Obama a tour of a home in Sderot that had been torn apart by a rocket attack, and afterwards Senator Obama spoke about what he had just seen in a press availabiilty...

In an effort to combat the epidemic of obesity sweeping the nation, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) today introduced the Federal Obesity Prevention Act of 2008. This legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), would establish a federal interagency taskforce responsible for creating a national strategy for combating obesity across America.  

In an effort to combat the epidemic of obesity sweeping the nation, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) today introduced the Federal Obesity Prevention Act of 2008. This legislation, which is cosponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), would establish a federal interagency taskforce responsible for creating a national strategy for combating obesity across America.  

The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is currently holding a hearing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review." The hearing will include testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy. Former Naval intelligence officer Captain Joan E. Darrah, USN, (Ret.) gives testimony.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Ask Don't Tell Gays Military Captain Joan Darrah
Added: July 23, 2008

The Armed Services Committee is currently holding a hearing, "On the Comptroller General's progress report on Iraq." Witnesses are Gene Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the United States, and Joseph Christoff, Director of International Affairs and Trade for the Government Accountability Office. Dodaro explains why the GAO believes a new strategy is necessary now.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Skelton GAO Dodaro Iraq New Strategy
Added: July 23, 2008

0 Comments


]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:44:00 CDT
“The Benefits of Physical and Health Education for Our Nation’s Children”
Witnesses:
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Richard Simmons, Fitness Expert and Advocate
Tim Brown, former Oakland Raider wide receiver and nine time Pro-Bowler
Dr. Russell Pate, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and Professor, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
Lori Rose Benson, Director of Fitness and Physical Education, New York City Department of Education
Robert M. Keiser, Student Advisor to Governor Charlie Crist, Council on Physical Fitness, Florida

See the Committee's schedule page for more information and potential updates »
 

0 Comments]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:41:55 CDT Michelle Obama at DNC Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council in New York, NY.]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:40:51 CDT Barack Obama posted a photo:

Dear Zachary --

The general election is coming up sooner than you may think. This Sunday, July 27th, is just 100 days from election day.

Time flies when you're building the largest grassroots campaign in the history of presidential politics. And that's why we need to act now to organize communities all across the country and build this movement for change.

This Sunday, supporters like you from every corner of Iowa are going to be joining 100 Day Canvass events -- reaching out in their local communities, registering new voters, and helping spread Barack's message of change.

No political experience is required. We'll provide you with everything you need to succeed, every step of the way.

Find a 100 Day Canvass event in your area this weekend:

http://ia.barackobama.com/Iowa100days

We're up against some formidable opponents. John McCain, the Republican Party, and the shadowy outside groups that support them are not going to hold back in their efforts to stop us. We need to be prepared, and we can't afford to wait.

There's a real opportunity to succeed here in Iowa. But it's going to take all of us working together.

Face-to-face contact with friends, neighbors and undecided voters is the most effective way to grow our movement. And with 100 days to go before the general election, we can't afford to sit on the sidelines -- we have to start now.

Reach out in your own community by joining a 100 Day Canvass event this Sunday:

http://ia.barackobama.com/Iowa100days

The success of this movement is in your hands. Barack Obama will change Washington and improve the lives of all Americans -- but only if supporters like you reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors.

See you this Sunday,

Tripp

Tripp Wellde
Iowa Field Director
Campaign for Change

P.S. -- If you can't make it this Sunday, get involved in your community by joining or leading a Neighborhood Team near you. Neighborhood teams are a great way to reach out to your friends and neighbors and to work for change near you. Learn more and join or lead a Neighborhood Team in your community:

http://ia.barackobama.com/IowaNeighborhoodTeams

 

 

The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is currently holding a hearing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review." The hearing will include testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy. Wounded Iraq war veteran Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, USMC, (Ret.) gives testimony.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Ask Don't Tell Gays Military Staff Sergeant Eric Alva
Added: July 23, 2008

The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is currently holding a hearing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review." The hearing will include testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy. Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08), the only Iraq veteran in Congress, questions the witnesses.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Ask Don't Tell Gays Military Staff Sergeant Eric Alva
Added: July 23, 2008

Andy is an Organizing Fellow in Ohio. His stories appear each Wednesday.

This past weekend marked the 160th anniversary of the historic Seneca Falls convention -- the first women's rights convention in the United States. The Obama campaign commemorated the importance of th women's rights movement by conducting Woman to Woman events, contacting voters and encouraging them to participate in the upcoming elections.

Many of these events across Ohio were coordinated with local female candidates who are running for office. I had the fortune of going to one such event.

It was at the home of Marian Harris, who is running for state representative in the 19th district of Ohio. We all gathered around her kitchen table to listen as she unveiled her strategy for our afternoon canvass.

Marian explained her plans to improve education, the economy, health care and the environment for Ohioans by working with her community and the governor. This was valuable information for us because we could then communicate it to the voters we met. It was also exciting to hear how similar these four goals are to Senator Obama's.

Before we went out, I got to ask her what this canvass meant to her. She told me that "I am doing this to celebrate Seneca Falls and my grandchildren's future". She is encouraged by working with the Obama campaign because of the way it is collaborating with local communities and drawing on the knowledge base of everyday Americans. I wanted to ask her more questions, but I didn't have the time. There were voters to be registered!

Marian divided up the canvass packets with addresses and maps. We then paired up and headed out to knock on doors. I teamed up with Organizing Fellow Hajra and we traveled to our neighborhood.

On the way over I asked Hajra what brought her here. She had just graduated from college and told me she was doing this because this campaign was the "cause of all causes". Before coming to the Obama campaign, Hajra worked with non-profit groups to collaborate with developing nations to solve womens issues. She came here because Senator Obama embodies the goals she worked on prior to the campaign. Obama shares Hajra's commitment to ending violence against women, creating economic opportunity and ensuring that women are represented in our government.

This fellowship has Hajra working harder than she ever has before. Through this hard work she has learned "to be self-confident and not to worry about being Muslim or having an Arabic name. Most of all, as someone who hasn't held many leadership positions in the past, I've learned that I'm capable of empowering communities to act for change." All of her hard work is driven by her hope for "stability for better communities, better nations, and ultimately, a better world."

Hajra and I canvassed the neighborhood while the summer sun bore down on us. We knocked on hundreds of doors, spoke to tons of people, and registered a lot of new voters. There were times when we were tempted to go swimming in the community pool, but we knew we made the right decision to keep on knocking when we spoke with Byrnette back in the office.

She comes to this movement because she thinks womens issues are common sense issues. "They are not idealistic, they are practical and grounded in other issues" she said. Juggling all the roles that are required of her is a concern for Byrnette. Between being disabled, on a fixed income, and having one child in college with another on the way, she told me that it can be worrisome at times.

But in the face of these concerns she does not back down. Instead she fights even harder to advance our cause of creating equality and opportunity for all. She is a tabling captain this upcoming weekend at the Jazz and Rib fest in Columbus. She enjoys working at tabling events because "not only do I get to meet a lot of volunteers, but I get to meet a lot of voters. There are a lot of reasons that people don't show up to the polls, so I encourage them to check all of their information and make sure there on not any surprises on election day." Her favorite thing is when people register for the first time. "We need hope for something positive in the face of all the drama and violence. You see that when you register someone who has never registered in their life."

This week has been inspirational for me. It has reminded me that the advancement of civil rights can only be achieved when people of all backgrounds band together to create change. We cannot wait for one person or one group to make the difference; we must all act now.

Check back next week for more from Andy in Ohio, and check out our Flickr page for more of his photos.

The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is currently holding a hearing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review." The hearing will include testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy. Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan Davis gives opening remarks.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Ask Don't Tell Gays Military Captain Susan Davis
Added: July 23, 2008

Barack Obama speaks about Israel's security needs in the town of Sderot.

Author: BarackObamadotcom
Keywords: Barack Obama Foriegn Trip Sderot Israel
Added: July 23, 2008

The Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee is currently holding a hearing, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Review." The hearing will include testimony from military veterans on the effects of the policy. Former Naval intelligence officer Captain Joan E. Darrah, USN, (Ret.) gives testimony.

Author: NancyPelosi
Keywords: Democrats Congress Ask Don't Tell Gays Military Captain Joan Darrah
Added: July 23, 2008

On June 27, 2008, Michelle Obama spoke to the Democratic National Committee's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council, in New York, NY.

Author: BarackObamadotcom
Keywords: barack obama presidential campaign 2008 gay lesbian lgbt equality
Added: July 23, 2008

More from Redstate.com:

Boehner came out swinging at Democrats this afternoon. “We will use every option we have to force votes in the House,” Boehner said at a press lunch sponsored by The American Spectator and Americans for Tax Reform. “Democrats have done everything humanly possible to avoid making their members vote.”

…Technology has helped further reduce the impact on the land. Boehner noted that the footprint needed to produce oil in ANWR today is much smaller than 30 years ago—about 1/6th of the original land mass.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, will convene the second hearing in a two-part series today to examine the dangerous consequences of childhood obesity and possible solutions to address this growing medical emergency.  Dodd will hear from a young man who struggled to lose weight, but was able to successfully lose 137 pounds with the help of a school-based health clinic.  The witness panel will also include government officials and chief executives, who will share their ongoing efforts to combat childhood obesity.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, will convene the second hearing in a two-part series today to examine the dangerous consequences of childhood obesity and possible solutions to address this growing medical emergency.  Dodd will hear from a young man who struggled to lose weight, but was able to successfully lose 137 pounds with the help of a school-based health clinic.  The witness panel will also include government officials and chief executives, who will share their ongoing efforts to combat childhood obesity.

Their all-out legislative battle in recent years to protect the record profits of oil companies earning record profits has earned them the moniker “Grand Oil Party.”  They call their plan “All of the Above.”  Americans paying $4 a gallon thanks to an energy policy literally written by the oil industry may see it as “All Too Familiar.”

The GOP says their plan will “open our deep water ocean resources.”  
That means drill off more of America’s beaches.

• According to the Bush Administration’s own Energy Department, if we repealed the offshore drilling ban today, oil and gas production would not begin there until 2017, and impact on prices would be “insignificant.” [EIA, 2007]
• 80 percent of America’s oil and gas natural resources are in areas where oil companies can already drill. [Committee on Natural Resources, 6/18/08]
• There are 33 million acres of the federal OCS lands that are under lease but are not producing.
• Oil companies are spending more of their record profits on buying back stock than they are on new oil and gas exploration — both on and off shore. [AP, 7/21/08]

The Democratic-led Congress leadership has pushed for responsible drilling practices, telling the oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres—the size of Georgia and Illinois combined—that they already hold.  House Republicans have twice blocked this drilling proposal.

The GOP says their plan is to “open the Arctic coastal plain.”  
That means drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• According to the Bush Administration’s own Energy Department, if we opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling today, we wouldn’t get the first drop of oil for 10 years, and it would take nearly 20 years for the field to reach peak production, and at that time, gas prices would drop by less than 2 cents a gallon. [EIA, 5/08]

The Democratic-led Congress has proposed, as part of a larger plan, to expedite drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), which holds over 10.6 billion barrels of oil – more than the Arctic Refuge.  House Republicans blocked this measure.

The GOP says their plan is to “allow development of our nation’s shale oil resources.”
That means open up huge parts of the American West to costly, water-intensive, land-stripping “tar shale” practices even though it’s use is not commercially viable now.

The Republicans want to open up 2.3 million acres of public lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming for tar shale development despite the fact that 3 million acres of prime tar shale lands are already owned by oil companies.

• The technology needed for commercially-viable extraction of oil from tar shales does not yet exist.
• To convert tar shale into oil, enormous electricity and water are needed to power the operation. It takes about three barrels of water to produce one barrel of oil from tar sands. This water would be taken in parts of the country experiencing long-standing water supply issues and historic droughts.  [Wilderness Society, 3/08]
• Furthermore, even the most optimistic estimates say it will take 20 years for tar shales to produce 1 million barrels of oil per day and 30 years to produce 3 million barrels of oil per day. [RAND, 2005]

The Democratic-led Congress has expanded the use of American-grown biofuels transitioning to non-food sources, such as switchgrass and woodchips, rather than continuing America’s dependence on foreign oil. House Republicans have repeatedly voted against investing in renewable energy development.

The GOP says their plan is “to improve energy conservation and efficiency.”  
Republican actions tell a different story.

• Vice President Dick Cheney summed up his party’s view: “Conservation is a sign of personal virtue, not an energy policy.” [USA Today, 5/1/01]
• From 1995 to 2007, the Republican majority and President Bush repeatedly blocked efforts to increase efficiency standards for vehicles, buildings, lighting, air-conditioning, and appliances.  The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act finally broke the obstruction on appliance and lighting standards.
• One of the first things the Bush Administration did after it took office was to reverse a regulation to strengthen the efficiency of central air conditioners by 30%, and then it dragged its feet in implementing new appliance standards of the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
• The President’s 2009 budget cuts renewable energy and energy efficiency programs at the Department of Energy $467 million below the FY 08 enacted level. President Bush’s 2009 budget request eliminates funding for programs that help low-income families save millions of dollars by making their homes more energy efficient. [2008]
• If the Republican majority had not blocked the transition to a 35-mile per gallon (mpg) standard in the mid 1990’s, then we would now be saving 1.5 million barrels of oil per day and consumers would be saving $90 billion a year on gasoline they didn’t have to buy.

The Democratic-led Congress improved vehicle, lighting, and appliance standards in 2007, over Republican objections, and we passed energy tax credits to help families afford plug-in hybrid cars. Despite President Bush’s opposition, Democrats will continue to fight for funding for low-income Americans to weatherize their homes.  

The GOP says their plan will “promote new and expanding energy technologies.”
Republican actions tell a different story.

• President Bush and Congressional Republicans continue to block legislation that would repeal unnecessary tax breaks for Big Oil and move them to renewable energy. Republicans have voted at least four times against the tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency that are key to an energy independent future.
• Funding for energy technology research has been woefully inadequate under President Bush – around a third the level seen during the energy crisis in the late 1970s – underscoring the low priority this Administration has given to investing in new technologies to solve the energy and climate crisis.

The Democratic-led Congress passed legislation to extend and expand tax incentives for renewable energy, retain and create hundreds of thousands of green jobs and spur American innovation and business investment. Democrats will continue to push for a Renewable Electricity Standard that would require 15 percent of all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020. The majority of House Republicans oppose all of these measures.