Poll watching
Republican strategist David
Winston said Mr. Dean had "made some inroads into
Clark voters, but his recent statements have
caused those voters to return back to Clark." Mr.
Winston pointed to Mr. Dean's comments that Saddam
Hussein's capture did not make America safer, that
the presidential hopeful would not prejudge Osama
bin Laden until the terrorist mastermind is put on
trial, and that the Democratic Leadership Council
is the Republican section of the Democratic Party.
Among Democrats, Mr. Dean's
negative rating has doubled from 10 percent in
November to 22 percent, although his favorable
ratings also increased, from 36 percent in
November to 45 percent.
MoveOn.org’s party
MoveOn.org -- who has had
difficulties with ads that morph President Bush
into Hitler on their website -- is having a party
to announce the winners of their amateur bash Bush
ad contest. They announced they had over 2.9
million votes cast, and they’re proud to announce
the finalists in the Bush in 30 Seconds ad
contest. The ads were selected by the rating
public from among over 1,000 ads that were
submitted. MoveOn touts the ads as being potent,
poignant, and funny and claims they reflect the
organization’s grassroots approach to politics
they are pioneering:
“So,
if you're in the New York area next Monday (1/12),
you can join the bash Bush in 30 Seconds Live --
an awards show to celebrate those ads and announce
the winner. The show will be hosted by Janeane
Garofalo and include performances and
presentations by Margaret Cho, Moby, Chuck D, John
Sayles, and other special guests. With comedy,
music, and some of the best political ads the
world has ever seen, it'll be a great night of
Bush bashing. And thanks to a few generous donors
who are covering the costs, every cent you pay for
tickets will go toward our $10 million campaign to
expose Bush's policies in swing states.”
You can get tickets now online
for $35, $75, and $150. They also have $1,000
package deal.
Dean’s religion
Howard Dean said that his
religious views helped him to decide to sign the
gay civil union bill when he was Governor of
Vermont. "The overwhelming evidence is that there
is very significant, substantial genetic component
to it (homosexuality)," Dean said in an interview
Wednesday. "From a religious point of view, if God
had thought homosexuality is a sin, he would not
have created gay people."
The Dean campaign has recognized
the great divide that exists in politics today
between the Republicans and Democrats with those
supporting the Republican Party identifying with
religious practices more than with the Democrat
Party. The LA Times reports that Dean has continued to
discuss his religious beliefs over the past few
days:
Dean
has been expanding on his religious views in a
series of conversations with reporters, but his
remarks Tuesday and Wednesday were the first time
he has talked about how faith has influenced his
policy making.
Dean’s newest staff
Democratic presidential
front-runner Howard Dean named a Clinton-era
arms-control expert, Leon Fuerth, as his national
security adviser yesterday.
"I am pleased to announce that
Leon Fuerth will join my campaign as chair of my
core group of national-security and foreign-policy
advisers," Mr. Dean said in a statement.
Mr. Fuerth, an authority on arms
control and nonproliferation, was national
security adviser for eight years to former Vice
President Al Gore. The move came one day after Mr.
Dean announced that Roy Neel, who served as a top
aide to both Mr. Gore and President Clinton, had
joined the campaign as a full-time senior adviser.
Gephardt: don’t attack Dean
Gephardt Campaign Manager Steve
Murphy on Wednesday charged that attack ads being
run by a Republican conservative group are
designed specifically to help Howard Dean
win in Iowa over Gephardt.
The Club for Growth released a
television ad attacking former Vermont Gov. Howard
Dean (D-VT) and describing him as an ultra-liberal
who is not connected with mainstream America. The
ad is currently running in Iowa where Dean and
Rep. Gephardt (D-MO) are running a tight race for
that state's caucus selection.
"For the last year, Howard Dean
has moved further and further to the left. He has
admitted he would repeal the Bush tax cuts, which
jump-started the economy. For that reason alone,
Howard Dean poses a grave threat to the economic
well being of all Americans," Club for Growth
President Stephen Moore said.
Bush & Dems caused job losses
Georgetown, SC - Rep. Dick
Gephardt led a rally today with Rep. Jim Clyburn
(D-SC) and United Steel Workers of America (USWA)
officials at the union hall for Local 7898 of the
USWA to highlight the closures of two prominent
South Carolina steel companies - Georgetown Steel
and Cooper Wiring Devices - as a result of
President Bush's bad economic and unfair trade
policies. At the rally, Gephardt made the
following remarks:
"Georgetown Steel shut its doors on October 20,
2003 leaving nearly 500 workers without a paycheck
and without health insurance. Cooper Wiring
Devices shut down in June 2003, sending its jobs
to Mexico and China. President Bush and some in
our own party say that these unfair trade deals
are good for the people of Georgetown County, but
South Carolinians know better.
"As a
result of the failed trade policies supported by
President Bush and other Democrats in this race,
South Carolina has lost a greater percentage of
jobs than any other state over the last year. More
than 139,000 South Carolinians are currently
looking for work and more than 497,000 are without
health insurance. Month after month, South
Carolinians are losing their jobs due to bad trade
agreements like NAFTA and the China trade deal.
Since 1994, when NAFTA was enacted, South Carolina
alone has lost more than 54,000 jobs to unfair
foreign trade deals. And, by the end of the
decade, it is predicted South Carolina will lose
19,000 jobs to China.
"Trade
is one issue where I always stood up for workers
here in South Carolina and across the country. At
times, I was pretty lonely. Howard Dean described
himself as a 'very strong supporter' of NAFTA.
John Kerry voted for NAFTA. Howard Dean lobbied
President Clinton in support of the China trade
deal while John Edwards and John Kerry voted for
it.
"Even
General Clark touted his support for NAFTA in a
speech to a Republican Party dinner in Arkansas in
2001. He told the Pulaski County Republicans that
he was 'pleased’ that NAFTA passed and that we had
seen positive results and would see additional
positive results tenfold in the next few years.
"I am
the only major candidate in this campaign with a
clear record of standing up for American workers
and fighting against bad trade agreements like
NAFTA and the China trade deal. These positions
may have been unpopular at the time, but it was
the right thing to do and we're seeing the results
of these unfair trade deals right here in
Georgetown.
"Our
nation needs a new economic policy that creates
jobs, not eliminates them. Our nation needs a new
trade policy that raises standards for all
American workers and workers overseas. As
president, I will create economic and trade
policies with one goal in mind: grow the economy,
create jobs and get Americans working again.”
USWA Vice President Leon Lynch
and USWA Director for District 9, Connie Entrekin
joined Gephardt and Clyburn at the rally. Dick
Gephardt has been officially endorsed by both Rep.
Clyburn and the United Steelworkers of America.
Clark
says that the answer to problems "south of border"
is to work off the success of NAFTA. Clark said he
was "pleased" by NAFTA and that we have "already
seen" the positive results.
"We've
got real difficulties dealing with the problems
south of the border. These are some wonderful,
wonderful people. They've never had a chance to
live under the kind of equal-opportunity
government that we pride ourselves here in
America. Somehow we've got to help them in those
countries build their own governments. We've got
to help the country of Colombia. There's 40
million people who live in Colombia. They're all
coming here if we don't help them stop that war
down there. I don't think there's a military
solution to it. I went down there and looked at
it. I did the [inaudible] patrols; I flew in the
helicopters; I met the military commanders. It's
going to take a combination of economic and
political measures and just a little help from the
military to make that work.
But
it's going to take American leadership. And I'm
delighted to see Gen. Colin Powell is working that
problem actively. We've had the Colombian
president up here, and I was so pleased that
President Bush called for a North American Free
Trade Agreement, because I think the ultimate
answer in South America is to bring prosperity,
bring American know-how down there, and let's
build one great team in the Americas. I think if
we do that, if we tend these security challenges
there, it's all going to rebound to our benefit.
We're going to find countries in the world
responding to us, supporting and reinforcing our
own values and interests. We're going to find
tremendous prosperity and crossover. We're going
to find it in the state of Arkansas and even the
city of Little Rock. Maybe even northwest Arkansas
will benefit from all this. We've seen it already
in NAFTA. We're going to see it tenfold in the
years ahead.
Gephardt on immigration
"After
a long delay, President Bush has announced
immigration reform principles that place a greater
emphasis on political positioning than serious
policy solutions. President Bush's proposal to
grant temporary worker status to undocumented
immigrants is, at best, a half measure that has
the potential to do more harm than good.
"Over
the past three years, President Bush has been
silent on the need for comprehensive immigration
reform that is fair to undocumented immigrants who
play by the rules and pay their taxes while
enhancing homeland security. I was the first to
introduce legislation that accomplishes both
goals. My Earned Legalization and Family
Unification Act of 2001, drafted with members of
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, would bring
undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and
into the light of greater accountability by
granting legal status to those who can prove that
they have been in the United States for five
years, have a work history of at least two years
and can pass a criminal background check. My
legislation would also speed the reunification of
immigrant families to solidify family ties and
build stronger communities.
"Our
nation needs immigration reform because it is the
right thing to do. We must recognize and reward
the hard work of undocumented immigrants who have
come to our country to embrace the American dream
and contribute to our economic prosperity. At the
same time, we need immigration reform to enhance
our security. Reducing the number of undocumented
immigrants in the United States will enable us to
better focus on individuals who pose a real
terrorist threat to our nation. In addition,
streamlining the enforcement of our immigration
laws will allow us to shift important enforcement
resources to tracking down those who have come to
the United States to do us real harm.
"I
welcome President Bush back to the debate on
immigration reform, but I challenge him to go
beyond mere rhetoric and support a more
comprehensive reform proposal such as my earned
legalization proposal. I also challenge the
president to press the Republican leadership in
Congress to pass important bipartisan immigration
proposals that are pending in Congress like the
DREAM Act, which will provide assistance and
access to a college education for qualified
undocumented immigrant students who are among our
best brightest."
Clark for abortion anytime
The Manchester Union Leader
reports that Wesley Clark believes that a woman
has the right to terminate a pregnancy right up to
the end:
The
presidential candidate also told The Union Leader
that until the moment of birth, the government has
no right to influence a mother’s decision on
whether to have an abortion.
“Life,” he said, “begins with the mother’s
decision.”
The
retired four-star general said he will discern a
prospective judge’s position on abortion not with
a litmus test, but by reading his previous
decisions to ensure that the judge has never upset
existing judicial precedent.
Clark in Iowa?
There is talk of Clark making a
showing in Iowa whether he wants to or not. His
Iowa supporters are moving ahead in trying to win
support for Clark in the Iowa Caucuses despite
Clark’s decision to not campaign there. The Des
Moines Register reports that his supporters are
even organizing to buy newspaper ads:
Clark's small band of supporters in Iowa is
scrambling to stir up support. Dale Todd of Cedar
Rapids said he is in touch with about 150
supporters across the state who ship out e-mails,
write letters to the editor, and plan to buy
newspaper ads touting Clark without aid from the
national Clark campaign.
"We
are going to the caucuses and we are going to
caucus for this guy," Todd said. "We're trying to
advance it beyond the Internet."
Clark cries foul
The Boston Globe covers a story where Dean
supporters are handing out a flier that says nasty
things about Wesley Clark:
Clark
campaign officials set up a hasty conference call
with reporters yesterday to denounce a sheet of
paper that a Dean supporter handed out at a Clark
event in Peterborough.
Labeled "paid for by Dean for America" -- and
spotted at a Clark event in Bedford on Tuesday --
it questioned whether Clark was a "real Democrat,"
suggested he was "pro-war," and quoted Clark
praising Bush administration officials, discussing
his past support for Republican presidents, and
voicing reserved support for the resolution
authorizing war in Iraq.
Clark on immigration
"During the last election,
President Bush promised to work with President
Vicente Fox and our allies to meaningfully reform
our immigration system. That's one of many
promises he hasn't kept. Once again, the White
House is talking about immigration reform, but
they're not doing enough about it. The Bush
proposal is too little, too late. It shouldn't
take an election to get President Bush to focus on
immigration reform.
"Today, the Bush White House
proposed an immigration reform program that fails
to help the immigrants who contribute to their
communities every day, that fails to fix backlogs
in the current system, and that fails to focus law
enforcement resources on improving border
security. It is wrong to leave foreign workers
trapped in a temporary worker program.
"Real reform must be based on
the core principles of economic security, access
to legalization, family reunification, and
homeland security. We should allow hard-working,
law-abiding, undocumented workers to eventually
earn their citizenship.
"We need leadership in the White
House that recognizes the important contributions
that immigrants make to this country."
Clark blogs
On Wednesday, January 7th, from
5:00 - 5:30 pm EST, at
www.clark04.com/chat, Wes Clark will
participate in his first ever online chat with
bloggers. Blogs, short for weblogs, are frequently
updated Internet journals that are fostering a
growing Internet subculture. This relatively new
phenomenon has become an invaluable tool in the
2004 presidential election, transforming the way
presidential campaigns communicate, according to a
report released by Johns Hopkins University's
CampaignsOnline.org
Approximately ten bloggers from
some of the most influential political blogs on
the Internet, including Ted Barlow of "Crooked
Timber," Bill Scher of "Liberal Oasis," and Ruy
Teixeira of "Donkey Rising," will interview Clark
in an online chat forum where others can watch in
real time. The bloggers will then be able to post
the interview on their individual websites for
their online communities to read and comment on.
"Blogging gives us the ability
to communicate directly and create an interactive
dialog with members of the online community," said
Cameron Barrett, one of the pioneers of the blog
format, and the Clark campaign official Blog
editor. "With the blog chat interview, we will be
able to reach several different communities at the
same time."
Kerry on tax increases
Sen. John Kerry pushed the
difference between his position on taxes and that
of Howard Dean and Rep. Dick Gephardt. In doing so
he utilized Angela Runkel, a 36-year-old nurse and
reservist, who has five children under age 17.
Like most middle class families she said she and
her husband struggle to pay bills and put money in
savings. She made her point in a conference call
with reporters on Wednesday. The Des Moines Register reports Kerry made the
point that Dean and Gephardt would deny Runkel her
child tax credit under their plan to repeal all of
Bush’s tax cuts:
Kerry
said Runkel saved $2,200 last year because of the
child tax credit, a credit he said Vermont Gov.
Howard Dean and Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt wanted
to take away. Kerry said his support of
middle-class tax cuts was a fundamental difference
he has with the other front-running Democrats.
Kerry also issued the following
release:
There
is an important issue that has long been a
fundamental difference in the campaign: raising
taxes on the middle class. Cutting middle class
taxes is a core value for me, and it’s been a
bedrock position of mine in the campaign. I
strongly disagree with anyone who would raise
taxes on the middle class.
Howard
Dean and Dick Gephardt want to increase their
taxes. Their plan would raise taxes $2000 for a
typical family with two kids. That's real money -
more than a half a year of groceries and more than
half a year of utility bills - including heat and
water – and almost a year of health care premiums.
I
think this is wrong. Middle class families have
taken enough of a hit in this economy -- with
rising health care costs, higher energy costs, and
lower pensions. The last thing they need is
another hit. We should not balance the budget on
the backs of middle class families. We should
stand up for them. That's what I will do.
Yesterday, in the NPR debate, Dean said this is
"hogwash" and he wouldn't change his position. But
today, even his own advisors say they are urging
him to soften the blow to the middle class, and
are worried about the politics of raising taxes on
the middle class by $2300.
For
me, helping the middle class is not about
politics, it's about my fundamental values. We
need leaders who help out the middle class all the
time - not just when the heat is on.
Kerry on immigration
"President Bush promised that
America's relationship with Latin America would be
a centerpiece of his foreign policy. Until now, he
has ignored that promise, breaking faith with
Hispanic Americans and Latin America. Bush has
also failed to follow through on his promise to
work with Vicente Fox, leaving that relationship
in tatters.
"Bush's policy rewards business
over immigrants by providing them with a permanent
pool of disenfranchised temporary workers who
could easily be exploited by employers. Bush's
proposal fails to address the plight of immigrants
coming to work in the United States by not
providing a meaningful path to becoming legal
permanent residents. And if Bush is really
concerned about the plight of immigrants coming to
work in the United States he should tell his party
to stop the heartless and divisive politics the
Republican Party is employing in California to get
a new Prop 187 on the ballot for next year's
election, and a similar effort in Arizona to
victimize immigrants for the failures of
government and an unstable economy.
"As president, I will support
sensible reform of our immigration system that
protects workers and also provides employers with
the employees that they need. I will immediately
resume our dialogue with President Fox and put in
place an earned legalization program that will
allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their
status if they have been in the United States for
a certain amount of time, have been working, and
can pass a background check. This makes sense for
the economy, provides fairness to people in our
communities who have worked hard and paid taxes,
and will also allow us to strengthen our homeland
security by bringing undocumented workers out of
the shadows and into the light of greater
accountability."
Kerry’s workers bill of rights
Here is John Kerry’s speech on
his ‘workers bill of rights”:
I am
here today to talk about how we can create an
economy built on a foundation of people and
products, not privileges and perks. As President,
I'll cheer on and help America's entrepreneurs -
whether they have a stand on the boardwalk or a
seat in the boardroom. But we're going to hold all
Americans to an equal standard of fairness and
justice. And we're going to end the days when our
government encourages big business to turn its
back on America's workers. As President, I'll
fight for a Workers Bill of Rights so that
everyday Americans know their government is
working for them.
You
don't have to look far to find an example of what
I'm talking about. Three weeks before Christmas,
the 550 workers at the Jac Pac plant here in
Manchester got an unwelcome gift in their mailbox:
a pink slip. The plant was built in 1933 - at the
depths of the Great Depression - and it was a
symbol of opportunity for its workers as they
struggled to build a better life for their
families.
Some
of the workers were immigrants - from Central
Europe or Central Africa - and they worked
alongside those whose families had been a part of
the community for generations. They had a common
goal: a paycheck their family could live on, a
future they could depend on. But that hope died
last month.
Tyson
Foods bought the Jac Pac plant just a couple of
years ago but now claims the plant is outdated -
even while it has plans to strip the plant of its
equipment and ship it off to other locations.
It
sounds like the equipment will be given better
care than the 550 employees being left behind.
Tyson has no plans to give them any severance
benefits or health care. They're getting left out
in the cold. Tyson's slogan is: "It's what your
family deserves." I'd like to ask them now: "Is
this what your workers deserve? Is this what their
families deserve?" Because I think that the
working families of New Hampshire deserved better
than to be left out in the cold three weeks before
Christmas.
The
company said it was just - quote - "one of those
things." Maybe they should tell their former
employees that not having health insurance anymore
is just one of those things, or that telling your
family you don't know how you'll support them next
week is just one of those things. This isn't how
we're supposed to do business in America. American
corporations used to feel some sense of loyalty to
their workers, their community, and their country.
But too often that's gone today.
Then
there's the example of Tyco. It used to be based
in Exeter. Almost overnight, it was suddenly based
in Bermuda. In a flash 400 million dollars a year
in tax dollars disappeared into the Bermuda
triangle. And Tyco also dropped 11,000 jobs. The
Bush Administration responded by rewarding Tyco
with $331 million in federal contracts.
Tyson.
Tyco. It's wrong when companies turn their back on
the country, their community, and their workers.
If I'm elected President, we're going to scour the
tax code and remove every single loophole that
rewards Benedict Arnold corporations for moving
profits and jobs overseas and turning their backs
on their workers here at home.
I'm an
entrepreneurial Democrat and I believe that
creating jobs and growing business is good for
America. Democrats can't love jobs and hate the
people who create jobs. And the strength of our
economy depends on accepted rules of the road and
high standards that are shared by all. All over
America, business leaders and the corporations
live by these high standards. Later today, I'll be
visiting one of those companies, Timberland right
here in New Hampshire. This is a company that
doesn't just see its surroundings as a place to do
the work that builds profits, but a place to do
the work that builds community. At Timberland,
they call it "doing well and doing good": Paid
time-off to do community service. Child care
centers right here at work. Fair wages and decent
benefits. Labor and environmental standards that
are a model for the country. This is a company
with deep loyalty to its workers and its
communities. From constructing playgrounds to
visiting the elderly, Timberland proves that big
business can be good business for America.
That's
why responsible corporate citizens like Timberland
should not have their reputation dirtied by those
business executives who double-deal and skim from
the top. Business leaders who do what's right are
hurt by the scandals of the last years. They have
a stake in corporate fairness and honesty. Because
they know - and we know - that its only if
Americans can trust each other - enough to invest,
enough to negotiate, enough to work hard - that
our economy will be strong.
Its
time we had an economy that's run not just by the
values of our stocks but the values of our
families; an economy where common courtesy and
common sense counts for more than dollars and
cents; an economy where we don't profit off
trading bonds while trading away the bonds that
hold our communities together.
I'm
running for President because I believe its time
we had an economy where every worker - from a
small cubicle to the corner office - has the same
rights. If I'm in the White House, no one - not
matter how powerful and well-connected you are -
will get government help to put private profit
before the public good.
But
that's exactly what's happening under George W.
Bush. Today, big corporations and K Street
lobbyists trip over themselves to fund the
Bush-Cheney campaign. And it's no surprise. In the
Bush Administration, you get what you pay for. And
if you have the right connections and a fat bank
account, you can afford the access to the inner
circle and the Oval Office.
We
need to end an Administration that lets companies
like Halliburton ship their old boss to the White
House and get special treatment while they ship
American jobs overseas. We need to end an
Administration that lets WorldCom bilks Iowa
taxpayers out of their jobs and savings and then
rewards them by letting them go without paying any
taxes of their own. And we need to end an
Administration where polluters who contribute to
the Republican Party get invited to secret
meetings in the White House where they're allowed
to rewrite clean air and clean water laws.
It
used to be that lobbyists and CEOs slipped in and
out of the revolving door between government and
corporate America. But in this Administration,
they've kicked in the revolving door, torn down
the wall between public service and private
profit, and stampeded into positions of power.
Today's cabinet members are yesterday's corporate
board members, and former foreign lobbyists are
put in charge of the very laws that export
American companies and jobs.
Instead of equal rights for all, George Bush has
given those with connections and campaign cash
privileges and protections that are not available
to anyone else - especially the hard-working
middle class people in this country whose voices
are being ignored.
If
you're a corporation using loopholes to avoid
paying taxes, if you're a big business sending
jobs overseas, if you're a CEO giving yourself a
bonus while your employees get the boot - with
George Bush, you have a friend in the White House.
But if I'm President, I'll have a simple message
for the influence peddlers and polluters who call
the Bush White House home: "Don't let the door hit
you on your way out. We're coming in, and we're
cleaning house."
I'm
running for President to replace George Bush's
Special Interest Bill of Privileges with a
Workers' Bill of Rights that provides fairness and
the opportunity to earn your way ahead to everyone
willing to do their part.
When
those who break the law or cut corners get special
benefits while those who work hard and do what's
right get the short end of the stick, it's not
just our budget that is out of balance. It means
our values are out of whack. And we need to send a
clear message that we favor those who are doing
the right thing over those who are doing wrong to
their employees, their companies, or their
country. So the Workers' Bill of Rights starts
with a government that puts a fair break for
workers and the community over a fast buck for
corporations.
That
means we need to protect everyday investors and
the financial security of all Americans. From
Enron to WorldCom to the mutual fund scandals that
have shaken the trust and savings of Americans, a
widespread creed of greed on Wall Street has been
met by a look-the-other-way attitude in the Bush
White House. President Bush's first SEC chairman
was a Wall Street lobbyist who was forced to
resign in a storm of public outrage over his
lenient treatment of his former industry. And the
Bush Administration has refused to fill more than
half the securities enforcement positions charged
with protecting investors. In effect, the message
from the White House to the regulatory agencies,
when it comes to protecting the small investor and
consumers, is don't ask and don't tell.
Its
time our government sent a different message. A
clear warning to anyone who even attempts to line
their own pockets by exploiting everyday
investors. Today, mutual fund fraud lines the
pockets of the few at the expense of the
hard-earned savings of everyday American families.
In a Kerry Administration, those days are over. We
can't create jobs unless we restore investor
confidence in the markets. And if I'm elected,
everyday Americans and everyday investors will
have a government that's on their side.
As
President, I will create a new senior post in the
White House - a Director of Family Economic
Security - a Pocketbook Watchdog in the White
House - as the focal point of tough action to
guard working Americans' pensions and retirement,
to protect their personal information from
identify theft, to ensure fair lending and
housing, and to help people to build wealth and
savings over a lifetime. To fill this new
position, I will appoint a powerful advocate whose
job - morning, noon, and night - will be to look
out for the everyday investors who are too often
exploited to benefit a powerful few.
Workers should also have the right to share in the
prosperity they've helped create. They may be
celebrating their so-called recovery in the White
House and on Wall Street, but it's not so rosy in
places all over New Hampshire and across America.
Yes, corporate profits are up 46 percent - a
modern record. But at the same time, wage growth
is up by three cents for every hour of work. Three
cents. That's the slowest wage growth in 40 years.
Yes, CEO pay at the top 100 companies pay was up
by 14 percent in 2002 - but corporate American has
eliminated 846,000 jobs since the recession
supposedly ended. It seems unbelievable but our
government gives corporations an unlimited tax
allowance for CEO bonuses even if the executives
have done nothing to deserve the money. When I'm
President, we'll close that loophole too. We won't
let privileged corporate execs make a bundle while
they leave ordinary people holding the bag.
America has a problem when the workers who help
build this economy are pocketing pennies while the
few bragging about a recovery are bagging
billions. America can do better than a Bush-league
recovery; we can have a real recovery that reaches
every American. And if I'm President, I pledge to
you: I'll fight everyday, side by side with all of
you.
Workers also have the right to an Administration
that enforces our trade agreements. Too often our
competitors don't play fair. I believe that with a
level playing field, Americans can out compete
foreign companies every day of the week and twice
on Sunday. But as long as former foreign lobbyists
are put in charge of the very laws that send
American jobs overseas, America's jobs will be at
risk. As President, I'll order an immediate review
of our trade agreements to make sure our trading
partners are living up to their obligations. I'll
vigorously enforce our trade laws and fight for
retraining programs to help displaced workers.
I'll make sure all future agreements include
strong and fully enforceable protections for labor
and the environment. And I'll have a five year ban
on lobbying so that government officials cannot
cash in by peddling influence to foreign countries
or companies.
Americans have the right to a tax system that
favors working people instead of protecting
wealthy contributors. As President, I will roll
back George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest
Americans so we can invest in education and health
care. I will end corporate welfare as we know it
and tax giveaways to special interests. But here's
what I won't do. I won't raise taxes on the middle
class or cut basic benefits for children and older
Americans. Hard working Americans have already had
to deal with George Bush - and they don't need
more pain. The last time I looked the problem
wasn't that the middle class had too much money.
So, I will fight for a tax cut that puts real
money into the pockets of the hard working middle
class. I'll do that because it's true to our
principles as Democrats - and right for the
American economy.
And
our Workers' Bill of Rights includes things you
won't find in an economic report. It's about a
country that values neighborhoods and not just the
NASDAQ. It's about a country where parents can
make a living and still spend time with their
children. It's about a country where we don't
poison the air our children breathe in the quest
for a fast buck.
Everywhere I go, I hear mothers and fathers talk
about how hard it is these days to be good parents
and good workers at the same time. So we have to
honor the Family and Medical Leave Act - and
expand it. And at long last, we have to make
affordable health care a right, and not a
privilege, in the United States of America. The
first major bill I send to Congress in my first
100 days as President will be health care reform
to cut costs and stop skyrocketing premiums, and
cover all our people. Under my plan, Americans
will see real savings of up to $1,000 on their
health care bill. No one in this race will fight
harder than I will to cover the uninsured and get
to universal coverage, but I also think it's time
someone in government stood up for the Americans
who have health insurance but are getting killed
when they try to pay for it. And I'm going to
fight for them. I can tell you that Senators and
Congressmen get great health care - and you pay
for it. As President, I'm going to fight for a
basic principle: your family's health is just as
important as any politician's in Washington.
And
it's time to demand and win a fair deal in the
workplace. I have never seen a workplace as
fundamentally unfair as it is today. I will stand
up for safe workplaces and the right to organize;
I support card check and I'm going to appoint a
Secretary of Labor from the House of Labor. We
still don't have fair pay for women - and I am
running for President to make sure that an equal
days pay for an equal days work is a reality and
not just a slogan.
And
just yesterday we found out that George Bush's
Labor Department has drawn up a "how to" guide for
big business to avoid paying their low-income
workers the overtime pay they've earned. I'm going
to continue to stand up against those that want to
eliminate the 40-hour work week and the overtime
pay that have protected workers from exploitation
- and rewarded hard work - since the New Deal.
American workers don't need lower pay, longer
hours, and less of a say on the job. They deserve
a President who will respect and reward their hard
work and honest labor.
With
George Bush in the White House, we have a "get
mine and get out" ethic that glorifies the creed
of greed. Polluters are given a free pass.
Powerful corporations enjoy sweetheart deals at
the expense of everyday Americans. Lobbyists write
laws favoring the companies that pay their lavish
bills. Failed CEOs get golden parachutes while
their employees get pink slips. For the first time
in this nation's history, the most privileged
among us get enormous tax breaks during a time of
war. And corporate executives bilk the retirement
savings of ordinary investors.
All of this is wrong - but we can change it.
I'm
running in 2004 to fight for Americans who need a
President on their side. Unlike George Bush, I
believe America's strength doesn't just come from
captains of industry or corporate leaders on the
cover of Fortune. I believe it flows from the
dedication and productivity of millions whose
lifestyles aren't rich or famous but who work hard
and do what's right. They get up each morning, go
to work, raise their children and pay their taxes.
They don't ask for special favors or special
recognition. They simply want fairness.
A
salary that pays the bills. A health care system
where a check-up doesn't empty the family
checkbook. A workplace that's fair. A chance for
their children to have a better life than their
parents. A Workers' Bill of Rights instead of a
Special Interest Bill of Privileges. That's not
too much to ask for. And the American people have
waited too long for someone to deliver. The time
for waiting is over. I'm ready to get it done. And
I ask you to join me in this fight.
Edwards on immigration
Sen. John Edwards released the
following statement in response to President
Bush's new immigration proposal:
"President Bush's election-year plan violates our
country's most fundamental principles: We are a
nation of immigrants who are equals, not
second-class guest workers, and we believe in
equal rights and equal treatment for all.
President Bush's plan would move millions of
people into a second-class status with no real
promise of citizenship. This is wrong for Latino
immigrants, and it is wrong for all Americans who
believe in America's promise of equal justice for
all.
"The
right kind of immigration reform will ensure that
immigrants who work hard, pay their taxes, and
play by the rules have the opportunity to become
permanent members of the American community."
Edwards on taxes
Senator John Edwards issued the
following statement today on middle class taxes:
"It's
amazing what happens when politicians get close to
election day. Those who say we can't afford it,
suddenly say we can. I have consistently proposed
changes in the tax code to help working Americans
buy a house, save for college or put something
away for retirement. The working poor and middle
class are struggling, and they need all the help
they can get. When working Americans have the
chance to save a little every week to buy a house
or help their son pay for college, it can make all
the difference. I know that personally and want
every American to have the same opportunities that
I had. The American people won't have to guess
what I'll do as president. They know, and I
haven't changed my mind."
Tomorrow, in Manchester, NH, Senator Edwards will
unveil "Real Change for America's Families," his
package of proposals to end America's two tax
systems, strengthen the middle class, and help
working families. The booklet will feature several
families from New Hampshire and across the
country, who will join Edwards at the event.
Edwards on country of origin labeling
Sen. John Edwards called for the
passage of country of origin (COOL) labeling while
campaigning in Iowa. "Today, President Bush and
his big agribusiness donors are blocking the
country-of-origin labeling that family farmers
need and deserve. Unfortunately, this is all too
typical of the Bush administration, where
corporate donors get what they want and family
farmers lose every single time. Tom Harkin is
right: It's time to stop the diversions and
legislative tactics and implement country of
origin labeling immediately," Edwards said.
Edwards’ new ads
The Edwards for President
campaign announced today that it is running two
new 30-second television ads in Iowa. The ads,
"Better Life" and "Two Americas," highlight
Senator Edwards' background and his proposals to
bring real change to America.
"When you remember where you
came from, you'll always know where you're going
and what you need to fight for - real change that
will give today's families a chance to give their
kids a better life," Edwards says in "Better
Life." "As president, that's what I'll fight for
every day."
The ads echo the call that
Edwards has been making on the campaign trail for
one America that works for all of us. Edwards says
under George Bush, America has become divided-with
one America that is doing well and another that is
living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to get
by. Edwards will create one America by taking on
the insiders and big corporations and
strengthening the middle class and helping working
families.
"Together, you and I can change
America and make it work for all of us," Edwards
says in "Two Americas."
"Better Life" and "Two Americas"
began airing today and will run in markets
throughout Iowa.
Response to Dean’s insult
Sen. Joe Lieberman’s campaign
issued a response to Howard Dean’s insult that
Lieberman was appeasing the Republican right wing.
Dean made the following statement that caused the
Lieberman camp to become upset:
"I
said, `Joe, you're a good guy. You cannot
accommodate the right wing of the Republican
Party,' " Dean told an audience of about 100
gathered at a winery in Indianola. "I am tired of
the Democrats who are so afraid of the 70 percent
favorability rating that George W. Bush has
they've forgotten what it's like to be Democrats
again. If we want to be Democrats again, we have
to stand up for what we believe."
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) issued
the following statement responding to a report in
today's Boston Globe in which Howard Dean insulted
Joe Lieberman by saying he "accommodate[s] the
right wing of the Republican Party." Rosa
DeLauro's statement:
"Howard Dean has mixed Joe Lieberman up with
someone else. Joe has been a proud Democrat for 40
years, fighting to protect the environment,
protect a woman's right to choose, and end
discrimination. He has not been afraid to stand up
to special interests. Joe Lieberman stood with
Bill Clinton to protect Medicare in its darkest
hour. Joes has always been a Democrat, and has
always stood up for what he believed. Howard Dean
should know better."
Lieberman on immigration
Sen. Joe Lieberman, who released
his own comprehensive immigration reform proposal
last September, responded to the expected release
of President Bush's immigration reform plan today:
"George Bush's plan leaves foreign workers as
fodder for our fields and factories, without
giving them a path to legalization and a fair shot
at the American Dream. He's had an election year
conversion to immigration reform, but it's too
little and three years too late."
Lieberman cited four major differences between
Bush's plan and his plan:
EARNED LEGALIZATION: Lieberman's
plan provides a path for immigrants to earn legal
status; Bush's does not. Lieberman would allow
undocumented immigrants to apply for permanent
residency if they have lived in the U.S. for at
least five years, worked hard, obeyed the law, and
pay taxes. In contrast, Bush's plan would
essentially force immigrants back to their home
countries after their work visa expires.
BACKLOGS: Bush's plan does little
to address the huge backlogs that are keeping
legal immigrants from their spouses and children.
Lieberman would increase the number of visas, hire
more consular officials to process applications,
and give the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services a greater share of the old INS budget.
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS: Bush's plan
does little to protect immigrant workers from
exploitation by unscrupulous employers. Lieberman
would guarantee fair wages and safe workplace
conditions. He would also ensure that undocumented
immigrants in detention receive a bond hearing,
and access to counsel.
AMERICAN DREAM FUND: Unlike
Bush's plan, which does nothing to help immigrants
who want to learn English, Lieberman would
establish an American Dream Fund -- a
public-private partnership to expand access to
existing English as a Second Language classes and
create new programs where the need is greatest.
Kucinich: no boundaries
