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Oct

22

[video] How much time should she do, John McCain?

Filed Under Abortion, Courts, Elections, John McCain, Law, Ohio, Politics, Sarah Palin, Social Issues, WH2008 | 11 Comments

Speaks for itself.  Yes, I’m pro-choice.  Here’s the McCain/Palin position on abortion.

Here’s the press release:

Winning Message Action Fund Exposes McCain’s Dangerous Position on Reproductive Choice
Organization turns attention to critical swing state of Ohio

Today, the Winning Message Action Fund (an issue advocacy organization that educates voters about consequences of the movement to ban abortion) unveiled a hard-hitting advertisement which demands that Senator McCain explain exactly what he envisions will happen if his efforts to ban abortion are successful.

“The McCain/Palin ticket has made clear its opposition to abortion access.  But we know that banning abortions won’t stop them, it will just make them extremely dangerous,” said Kelli Conlin, President of the Winning Message Action Fund.  “We have questions Senator McCain:  will you stand by as states put women behind bars? As good doctors are forced to stop providing abortion care?  If women are forced to return to back-alleys?  What, John McCain, will you do then?”

The reality is that 21 states would move to ban abortion immediately if Roe is overturned and Ohio would be plunged into a divisive battle over the future of legalized abortion within its borders.

Twice in the last three years legislation has been introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives that would outlaw abortion even if a woman’s life was in danger. Under these laws, physicians who provide abortions — even to save women’s lives — could go to prison for up to 15 to 25 years.

Points out Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, “These laws do not reflect our state’s values and are the handiwork of extremist politicians.  A recent poll shows that 82% of Ohio voters oppose outlawing abortion; we will not return to the days of back-alley abortions when women died from illegal, dangerous procedures.”

Concludes Conlin, “This campaign energizes and motivates those voters who have allowed choice to fall below their radar.  It is time that we call out candidates at all levels of government who say they want to ban abortion and ask them to answer some serious questions. Because John McCain said it himself: ‘elections have consequences.’  We need to know exactly what those consequences will be for women.”

The “How Much Time” campaign will air on cable and broadcast TV (including The Early Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show) in Ohio from October 25 through Election Day.

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The Winning Message Action Fund is the issue/advocacy arm of the National Institute for Reproductive Health.  The Winning Message Action Fund works to expose the consequences of the movement to ban abortion.  www.HowMuchTime.org

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:07 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Abortion, Courts, Elections, John McCain, Law, Ohio, Politics, Sarah Palin, Social Issues, WH2008 | 11 Comments 

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Oct

22

Attention Michele Bachmann: Step away from the media, stop scapegoating Obama

Filed Under Barack Obama, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics, WH2008 | Comments Off

This is really surreal.  MN Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said what she said last Friday – it’s over and done. She repeated what she said about being concerned about Barack Obama’s “views” being “anti-American” over and over and over.

There was no coordinated effort to “get her scalp on a platter.” She offered herself up as the entree and made mincemeat of herself.  For goodness sakes, or, in her case for sure, for God’s sake, why won’t she accept responsibility for believing that the U.S. population is divided into people who are for America or against America?

I don’t believe that it is divided that way, and it seems many voters – in her district and party as well – do not believe that either.  But if Bachmann believes that, then she must stop this ridiculousness and stop scapegoating Barack Obama and the media and anyone else she can name for her out of the mainstream beliefs.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:03 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Barack Obama, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics, WH2008 | Comments Off 

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Oct

22

Update on Ohio voter registration challenges

Filed Under Courts, Elections, Jennifer Brunner, Law, Nancy Rogers, Ohio, Politics, Republicans, Voting, WH2008 | 3 Comments

Last night, a cease-fire of sorts between the Ohio Republican Party and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner began after the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed without prejudice a voter registration lawsuit that had been filed by a GOP fundraiser (whom Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said was connected to five of the seven Sup Court justices, all of whom are Republican).

Today, PolitickerOH reports the following development:

Wednesday morning two attorneys from the Ohio Republican Party spoke Attorney General Nancy Rogers for more than an hour and discussed possible resolutions to the voter-registration controversy, attorney general press secretary Jim Gravelle said.

The attorney general’s office represents Brunner in the case. The attorney general’s office is now moving to brief Brunner on what the ORP attorneys said.

“We are pleased with the initial discussions held Wednesday between the Attorney General’s office and attorneys for the Ohio Republican Party,” Brunner said in a statement. “We hope this signals a shift from litigation to resolving issues before they occur.”

I’m holding my breath though I’m not sure for how long, in part I agree with these portions of an Akron Beacon Journal editorial from Sunday: Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:22 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Courts, Elections, Jennifer Brunner, Law, Nancy Rogers, Ohio, Politics, Republicans, Voting, WH2008 | 3 Comments 

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Oct

22

[updatedx2] HuffPo says NRCC pulling its ads for Michele Bachmann

Filed Under Congress, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics | Comments Off

Update: Reportedly, Chris Matthews on Hardball has confirmed the ad pull.

Updatex2: So says Politico now also.

Just the messenger:

Two sources aware of ad buys in Minnesota say that the National Republican Congressional Committee is pulling its media purchases from Bachmann’s race. If true, it is a remarkable fall for a congresswoman who, until recently, seemed relatively safe in her predominantly conservative district. The race had become closer in recent days — the NRCC had transferred funds from Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) to Bachmann a little over a week ago.

However, I found this report from 10/10, not quite two weeks ago, that indicates the NRCC deciding then to cut back Bachmann ads for this week:

The NRCC’s still has reservations for 3rd and 6th district ads at KSTP in the final week of the campaign. The organization canceled its ad time on behalf of U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann for the week of Oct. 20–26.

If I find more…

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:04 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Congress, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics | Comments Off 

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Oct

22

An American Story: Donna the Designer (of Michelle Obama’s OTR dress)

Filed Under Campaigning, Economy, Michelle Obama, Politics, Sarah Palin, Social Issues, WH2008 | 9 Comments

The fact that the Republican National Committee’s $150,000 expenditure on Alaska Governor and GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin has created so much buzz derives from the hypocrisy of her suggestion and the McCain/Palin campaign’s unfettered promotion of the fantasy that she is every mom.  She never has been and she still isn’t.  It also forces voters to recognize that the candidates in this race who best emulate the “every person” values that they also seek to support through their policies are Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

It is in that vein that I suggest that Donna the Designer, of the $148 dress worn by Michelle Obama is a far better standard-bearer for the American Dream than anyone else yet put forth.

More about Donna the Designer: Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:36 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Campaigning, Economy, Michelle Obama, Politics, Sarah Palin, Social Issues, WH2008 | 9 Comments 

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Oct

22

Property damage caused to homes of Michele Bachmann, Norm Coleman, other MN politicians

Filed Under Crime, michele bachmann, Politics | 3 Comments

You know, folks, just because Michele Bachmann or anyone else expresses beliefs that we can’t believe anyone would believe let alone promote, there is nothing that she could say that would justify vandalizing her property or causing her any other aggravation. It wasn’t right when it was allegedly done to Ohio Secretary of State Brunner, and it’s not right if perpetrated against anyone else, other politicians included.

As Twin City Daily Liberal says:

Stop it, you moron(s)! This sort of crap isn’t what elections are about. I hope you’re caught and punished.

The rest of us will resume winning on the issues, instead of spraypainting Republicans’ property like a beliggerent child.

And no, Mark McNally, I wouldn’t give the time of day to the theory you tried to promote the other day about the source of the SOS cyber attacks, harassment and threats of violence.

Intimidation and making people fearful is wrong, whether it’s by words or deeds.  There’s no separate threshold because “it’s just politics.”

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:08 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Crime, michele bachmann, Politics | 3 Comments 

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Oct

22

Reason #gazillion re: why Palin as VP freaks me out

Filed Under Campaigning, Politics, Religion, Sarah Palin, Vice President, WH2008 | 17 Comments

Read about this interview between Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Focus on the Family’s James Dobson, from yesterday in Toledo, Ohio or listen to it here:

Dobson interviews Palin

A rough transcript can be read here.

According to Belief.net’s God-o-meter, this interview is nearly off the charts. (Here’s more on how the God-o-meter rates comments and individuals.)

Palin’s responses to Dobson’s questions are so laden with a homogenuous fuel about God running her life, everyone else’s and the United States government that I cannot pick out just one comment or statement. Her exchange with Dobson testifies to her abject disinterest in respect for the very private matter that is religion to tens of millions of Americans.  Her blatant interest in inserting religion as she suggests she would  – as a result of its presence in the GOP platform and her beliefs – could not be more in conflict with the constitional foundations of this country being governed by the rule of laws, not men.  Maybe I can pick out just one comment: Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:27 pm October 22nd, 2008 in Campaigning, Politics, Religion, Sarah Palin, Vice President, WH2008 | 17 Comments 

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Oct

22

[video] Bachmann clarifies concerns re: Obama; crisis manager says it’s a “disaster”

Filed Under Barack Obama, Campaigning, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments

The only thing I have left to say about this, well, that I will write for now, is: why didn’t MN Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann say on Hardball what she is now saying?  Why didn’t she repudiate and reject Chris Matthew’s phrases? Someone who really does not believe in calling Americans who dissent “anti-America” would, you know, actually say, “Chris, don’t put words in my mouth. I disagree with Obama’s views, that’s why I’m a Republican and he’s a Democrat, but I would never call him or anyone else anti-America simply because we disagree on the priority of goals for our country or how we should get there. That is your phrase, not mine and there’s no question of patriotism involved in political disagreement.”

The reason Michele Bachmann didn’t say any of that is because either she believes that people who disagree with her POV or the government in fact are anti-America, or she was repeating the talking point of the McCain campaign (given that on the same day last week, Governor Palin and others were using the same pro-America/anti-America lingo).  I’m open to other suggestions for logical conclusions as to why Michele Bachmann said what she said, repeatedly, on Hardball last week.

You can view the video here at the Star Tribune. Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:47 am October 22nd, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Elections, Media, michele bachmann, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments 

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