Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Could this be an October surprise for the Obama camp? Considering the Democratic Presidential nominee’s ability to dodge scrutiny especially with the help of the MSM and probably foreign influence in his campaign there is little chance anything will come of Obama’s questionable history. He gets a pass from the MSM and his other supporters on William Ayers, Rev Wright, Tony Rezko and Franklin Raines. So why not also give him a pass on cmapaign contributions from foreign donors?

Regardless of your political persuasion, including none, you should be concerned about foreign influence in America even beyond politics. With the subprime mortgage fiasco having financial effects outside the US and the amount of US debt held by foreign countries, most notably China, allowing foreign donors to influence American politics could be the final nail in the coffin if we’re not careful. Don’t laugh. An historic level of interference in American business, finance and politics by foreign sources in concert with the benefit myths of a global economy can threaten our national security and ability to maintain an edge over those same foreign nations.

The response from the FEC over the RNC request for an audit of Obama’s campaign contributions will put the commission in an uncomfortable position. But hopefully that will have no effect on their decision. Stay tuned.

RNC to file complaint about Obama’s donations

Article Last Updated: 10/05/2008

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee plans to file a fundraising complaint against Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign today, alleging it has accepted donations that exceed federal limits as well as illegal contributions from foreigners.

RNC officials acknowledged Sunday that they do not have a list of foreign donors to Obama’s campaign. Instead, the complaint is based largely on media reports.

The complaint asks the Federal Elections Commission to audit Obama’s campaign fund, RNC chief counsel Sean Cairncross said in a conference call.

The reason the GOP may not have a list of foeign donors is the same reason the FEC may not have one. Disclosure requirements are different for contributors donating $200 or less. The fact that the Obama camp is all hush hush on their donor listsings would exacerbate the problem. But the Obama will be slinging the donor mud back at McCain for similar allegations. The mess gets more muddy with the Clintons having past donor problems in 1996 and having to return millions to Chinese donors and this year the failed Clinton campaign is urging their donors to contribute to Obama.

It is possible no campaign is exempt from foreign donors according to a report from the New York Sun but the Obama campaign may have extraordinary sums that come from such sources. That may fuel more criticism about Obama’s Indonesian connections as well as rumors of an attachment to the Muslim religion.

Secret Money Floods Campaigns

An interesting read and FEC donor sources from Maggie’s Notebook is available here, ‘Obama and McCain Donors: Some Differences‘

And Newsmax has more which may account for some of the GOP’s concern about Obama’s foreign donors. The link is, ‘Secret, Foreign Money Floods Into Obama Campaign.’ Just with these few resources and other accounts available on the internet and the lack of MSM treatment of the topic it is likely the Democrats have more to be worried about than others.

The one clear conclusion to draw from this story is the FEC needs to clean up the rules and have complete disclosure on all contributions.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Obama’s ‘allies’ or supporters or the Democratic party are all in a huff about Sarah Palin raising an issue the Messiah would rather forget.  The connection of Barack Obama to domestic terrorist William Ayers has been all but ignored by the entire MSM.  With Senator Obama and William Ayers history in Illinois being summed up by Lynn Sweet (in earlier post here) of the Chicago Sun Times as a matter not of concern to those in Chicago, the virus is apparently contagious as most across the country are willing to forget about it and the MSM will do nothing to change that.

The disingenuous nature of ‘ Obama’s allies warn GOP: Lay off attacks ‘ is clear when a story appears in the AP about a warning from the Obama camp when the threatened retaliation makes its way around the press and the talk shows.  To refer to the act of raising an issue as an attack is nonsense.  To say if it does not stop you will retaliate in kind but then disclose the substance of the retaliation makes the warning nonsense also.  The Obama camp is bringing up the S&L crisis of the 80’s and McCain’s connection to it.  Since all that McCain was guilty of according to a Senate Ethics Hearing was bad judgment in the matter and the whole affair is easily accessible via the net (source) what’s to talk about?

So the Obama camp defines raising the issue of his connections to William Ayers an attack.  Their retaliation of raising the issue of McCain’s connection to the Keating Five is also an attack by their definition.  But McCain’s connection to the Keating Five has already been subjected to scrutiny which cannot be said of Obama’s connection to William Ayers.  McCain went to bat for a constituent and expressed his concern about not doing anything improper and as the ethics committee determined there were no specific rules restricting McCain’s efforts to resolve the issue with regulators on behalf of Keating.  Obama on the other hand has simply denounced William Ayers terrorist history and continues to deny any personal history with Ayers.  If John McCain was guilty of bad judgment in the Keating Five episode is not Barack Obama guilty of the bad judgment with respect to William Ayers?  McCain’s Keating Five experience is publicly available and has been subject to formal scrutiny.  Why has Barack Obama’s experience with William Ayers not been subject to equivalent scrutiny?

For those of you who need a review, Barack Obama was helped by William Ayers to enter politics in the state of Illinois.  Ayers was co-founder of a foundation on which Obama served as Chairman.  The two were involved in the Chicago Annenberg Challenge where millions of dollars were contributed for educational reform in which grantees were selected for adhering to the personal agendas of Obama and Ayers.  For simple proof of the connection between the two there is evidence of at least one time where Obama was at the home of Ayers and the recent records from a university collection document other times and places of their relationship. The fact that Ayers was in hiding for years and upon emerging avoided prison time for his part in terrorist bombings in the sixties plus his unrepentant attitude are what sparked the concern over Obama’s connection to Ayers.  So again, why is this story not being given the same scrutiny that was given to McCain’s connection to the Keating Five in the eighties?

That Obama is being given a pass by his supporters in the general public as well as the MSM includes other questionable judgment and relationships with Rev Wright, Tony Rezko, Franklin Raines and others which brings into question his judgment to be President.  Proper scrutiny would aid in determining if Obama possesses adequate judgment for the role as President.  Avoiding that scrutiny is equivalent to an indictment of the voting process in this country.  Disclosure is a necessary step in the process and simply denying their is a problem is totally insufficient.  Without the scrutiny one should be barred from the opportunity of seeking to be elected to public office.

The liberal definition of attack as used in the story referenced in this post is entirely self-serving.  Raising an issue is not by itself an attack.  Just because you do not want to answer allegations or criticism does not make an issue an attack.  The liberals simply want to avoid any discussion that reflects poorly on their candidate.  And that collection of topics is vast.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Barack Obama credits Rev Wright’s phrase ‘the audacity of hope’ for ‘drawing him to Christianity.’ The fish wrap NYT probably wrote this story only because they supported Clinton or Edwards but it is a source for Obama quotes. The Obamas were married by Rev Wright and their two daughters were baptized by the person Rush Limbaugh calls ‘a race-baiter and hatemonger.’ And the story also reconfirms Obama’s 20 year history with the Rev who called the US ‘the US of KKKA’ and said ‘racism is how this country was founded and how it is still run.’ Yet Obama claims he never heard Rev Wright give a sermon like that or speak like that in private.

So Mr Obama, are Rev Wright’s quotes ‘just words’ or ‘just speeches’ in the same manner you refer to the works of others or your own. You deny criticism directed toward you as truth. You say people are ‘just makin’ stuff up’. But you are quite comfortable launching lies about others. If Rev Wright drew you to Christianity, what was your religion before that? If you never heard an inflammatory speech or conversation from Rev Wright, is it because you rarely were in his presence or did you ask him not to speak that way in YOUR presence?

Hard to think that Obama never heard Rev Wright’s inflammatory speeches since he ‘is a beloved figure in African-American Christian circles and a frequent guest in pulpits around the country.’ And ‘ his blunt, charismatic preaching, which melds detailed scriptural analysis, black power, Afrocentrism and an emphasis on social justice’ that comes from ‘his most powerful influence’ of ‘black liberation theology, which interprets the Bible as a guide to combating oppression of African-Americans’ according to the NYT story.

The father of black liberation theology, James Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary, has know Rev Wright since before he was called a Reverend. Cone says ‘if you’re black it is hard to say what you truly think and not upset white people.’ Maybe Mr Cone would like to know that it is not easy to talk to black people not just about things you truly believe but anything related to social issues without simply being dismissed as white. Between Cone’s comment and the previous one, how will that ever bridge the gaps that exist? And more importantly, how does all this play in to a potential Obama Adminstration? Will he represent ALL the people?

Rev Wright has since retired. To that one could ask, how convenient?

Then there is the question of William Ayers. Another issue Barack Obama does not want to deal with in his campaign. This week Alaska Governor Sarah Palin brought the topic up in a campaign stop and was immediately criticized by the Obama campaign. How is it that a known domestic terrorist and former founding member of the Weather Underground or Weatherman who avoided prosecution for acts of terror against his own country and his relationship to a Presidential candidate not an issue in this year’s campaign?

As the first piece of evidence that the MSM is completely comfortable ignoring the Obama Ayers connection and assisting Obama with turning it into a non-issue is a May 2008 report promoted as a fact-checker from WaPo. They make light of it and announce only the Clintons would benefit from it in the primaries and that they had their own terrorist connections by the former President’s pardon of two former Weather Underground members who happen to be women. Most of the piece focuses on the Obama Ayers connection as nothing more than a campaign tactic of the opposition party.

The only flaw in that reasoning is if it were not for opposition parties all the lies of politicians would go uncontested. Just because the opposition party uses it against their competitor does not mean it has no significance. A Michael Barone opinion piece at US News and World Report agrees with the notion that the MSM has ignored the Obama Ayers connection. According to Barone, Obama and Ayers are obviously connected and what is worse is the fact that Obama does not use his only example of executive experience within the campaign. That may be due to the Ayers connection but equally important is the dismal failure of that experience and the mission supposedly for education not to mention wasting millions of dollars in the process.

Lynn Sweet at the Chicago Sun Times says Ayers’ extremist past ‘has never bothered anyone in Chicago.‘ That mentality may be shared by many in America which may be more troubling than Obama and Ayers. Again recounting the Obama Ayers connection in the Senator’s beginning of his political career in Illinois, no one seems to be concerned. It is no surprise that Mayor Daley supports Ayers and refers to their education reforms as nationally known and successful. Where does he get this stuff? One could conclude this is just par for Chicago style politics. But why have so many largely dismissed this subject. Even Mayor Daley said these things are why people are digusted with Washington. Of course that assumes it is okay in Chicago as he stated in the earlier remarks.

So it is probably not even worth the time to mention the association of Tony Rezko and Barack Obama since the Illinois Senator, then US Senator and now Democratic party Presidential nominee has been successful thus far in avoiding fallout for his other questionable judgments and associations. But at least this much will be shared for now. Rezko and Obama had some shady real estate dealings. Rezko is involved in campaign finance for both Barack Obama and Joe Biden. If you cannot see the pattern here then you have chosen to ignore it. And on that sad note another post will end to be followed by more on this topic as well as the earlier one on Obama and Franklin Raines.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

For a guy who made an estimated $90 million dollars at Fannie Mae, which is central to any discussion on the subprime mortgage mess, and was forced out by the board and under investigation by federal regulators for accounting irregularities at the former mortgage giant, he like many other participants in the so-called financial crisis are doing pretty well for themselves. Something not lost on the average American unless that person is supporting Barack Obama for President. More on that later. Among Franklin Raines sweetheart deals is the one he received from regulators for his part in the Fannie Mae debacle. Here are some details from WaPo.

The agreement includes stock options worth $15.6 million at the time they were issued; those options are currently under water. They entitled Raines to buy shares at prices of $77.10 and higher. Fannie Mae’s shares are currently trading at about $29, so the options Raines is surrendering would not produce any benefit to him unless the share price rose dramatically, according to sources familiar with the settlement who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be seen as criticizing the regulator.

OFHEO said Raines’s settlement also includes the payment of $2 million to the federal government. That sum would be covered by a Fannie Mae insurance policy, the sources said.

The settlement also includes proceeds from the sale of stock worth $1.8 million, to be donated to programs aimed at assisting financially strapped homeowners. Those are shares Raines had been fighting in court to obtain from Fannie Mae.

He also agreed to part with $5.3 million in other unspecified benefits, OFHEO said.

Raines was one of three former Fannie Mae executives to settle.

While John McCain criticizes Obama for taking advice from Raines and Obama’s legions deny the claim you might want to ask yourself, what exactly does ‘taking calls’ mean in the report below.

In the four years since he stepped down as Fannie Mae’s chief executive under the shadow of a $6.3 billion accounting scandal, Franklin D. Raines has been quietly constructing a new life for himself. He has shaved eight points off his golf handicap, taken a corner office in Steve Case’s D.C. conglomeration of finance, entertainment and health-care companies and more recently, taken calls from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters.

Here is another interesting turn of events for a man who most would have considered being disgraced after the events at Fannie and his part in them.

Case said he asked Raines to come on board at the end of 2004, just a week after he stepped down from Fannie Mae, because he considers him “terrifically thoughtful and intelligent.”

CEOs, board members, politicians and the like are all so cozy. Raines finds more ways to make money right after a forced departure from Fannie. Those offering him an opportunity apparently have a different set of standards than employers who reject applicants for much less significant failures or lapses in judgment. So what does that say about the Obama campaign and is Raines really connected to it?

For the moment and until the next post on this topic, a concluding excerpt from The Boston Globe will serve as the Obama campaign’s stand on Franklin Raines connection as an advisor to them. The Obama campaign responded last night that “Frank Raines has never advised Senator Obama about anything - ever.” Not only is the question about Raines in an advisory capacity important but any other connections to the campaign as well as why Obama is trying so hard to distance himself from Raines. Is it the same reason he avoids answering questions on Ayers, Wright and Rezko? More posts on all this later.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Picture credit: Mr. Raines discussed Fannie Mae’s risk management practices and the importance of sound risk management procedures at a 2002 FDIC conference, how ironic?

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1. The Socialist Phenomenon « Beagle Scout Says:
   October 1st, 2008 at 5:14 am e[…] Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Mark My Words, , Rosemary’s Thoughts, third world county, The World According to Carl, DragonLady’s World, Shadowscope, The Pink Flamingo, Cao’s Blog, , Wolf Pangloss, Democrat=Socialist, CORSARI D’ITALIA, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
2. Rosemary’s Thoughts Says:
   October 1st, 2008 at 9:35 am eAre We Under Martial Law?…He thinks so…Update: Apparently there is such a thing, but it is an inside Washington DC procedural thing. Who knew?…
3. Adam’s Blog Says:
   October 1st, 2008 at 12:21 pm eThe Bail Out and the McCain Campaign…Podcast Show Notes
   Stories on the Financial Crisis:

   Congressman Robert Johnson (D-Ga.) felt no pressure to support the bill.

   What’s the true state of the crisis?

   House limits constituent e-mail to prevent computer crash.

   Alternative pr…

4. third world county » Condemn Racism: Vote McCain/Palin Says:
   October 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm e[…] Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Pink Flamingo, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Wolf Pangloss, Democrat=Socialist, The World According to Carl, and Shadowscope, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
5. Canadian Press Cries for Convicted Terrorist | Wingless Says:
   October 1st, 2008 at 9:28 pm e[…] Canada and the world scored a victory by convicting and throwing this man in prison – even if our largest daily won’t acknowledge the fact. Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Mark My Words, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Right Truth, DragonLady’s World, Shadowscope, Cao’s Blog, , Democrat=Socialist, , Faultline USA, third world county, Political Byline, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, Wolf Pangloss, CORSARI D’ITALIA, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
6. Gwen Ifill Oughtta be Fired! « Wolf Pangloss Says:
   October 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 am e[…] Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, , Rosemary’s Thoughts, third world county, The World According to Carl, Shadowscope, The Pink Flamingo, Cao’s Blog, , CORSARI D’ITALIA, Democrat=Socialist, Right Voices, and Wingless - Canadian Press Cries For Convicted Terrorist, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. […]
7. Mark My Words Says:
   October 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm eAnn Althouse vs. Katie Couric…Sarah Palin and Joe Biden even make an appearance. ……
8. Leaning Straight Up Says:
   October 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 am ePalin scores big in debate victory (link roundup, video and transcript included)…Going into this debate, the luster that had surrounded Sarah Palin had started to fade and her glittering aura a had begun to tarnish due largely to some unflattering interview performances.
   The interviews with Gibson and Couric both featured a Pa…
9. The World According To Carl Says:
   October 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 am eBarney Frank Is Such A Corrupt, Lying, Slimey Putz…A prime example of why I despise politics and have no respect for politicians especially liberals like Barney Frank. The man outright lied when confronted by his own words. O’Reilly was justifiable outraged.
   ……
10. Right Voices Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 pm eALERT:Barney Frank’s Fannie Buddy Was An Executive at Fannie Mae…As Ace said, “On the plus side, we’re not the only ones this executive has been [deleted because you saw this joke coming six miles beyond the actual horizon, and I refuse to do the cheap stuff.].”
    Unqualified home buyers were not …
11. Democrat=Socialist Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 3:40 am eWhy Is OJ In Court?…And Congress is literally daring us to “question” them?

    Yeah, he fucked up…
    LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury began deliberating Friday whether O.J. Simpson and his co-defendant robbed two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino h…

12. Bailout Bill to Nowhere: Why we’re still not out of the woods « nn&v Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 3:52 am e[…] Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Perri Nelson’s Website, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Shadowscope, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, , Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, , Faultline USA, third world county, McCain Blogs, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Wolf Pangloss, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Wingless - Canadian Press Cries For Convicted Terrorist, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)White House defends takeover of mortgage giantsCorrectionBush applauds bailout bill […]
13. walls of the city Says:
    October 4th, 2008 at 3:09 pm ejust a useless piece of paper…I did not watch the Vice-Presidential debate, I admit it. Our apartment simply does not have enough alcohol in it to have made me willing to sit through it. However, in reading up on it today, it seems things fell……

The fish wrap NYT has an account of the Bailout/Sellout bill approved on the second attempt in the House after a political stunt of approving it in the Senate earlier this week. Pelosi and Boehner were heard supporting the bill and in the report excerpt below several things are clear. President Bush strong armed a few dozen GOP members and Paulson calls it ‘a vote to protect America.’ So where were all these fine people while the storm was brewing or before? But the part that needs to be looked at is the ‘portfolio’ of tax provisions included in the agreed upon version that the President signed.

The Democrats get to cover their complicity in the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac meltdowns and everyone is still cozy with the crowd on Wall Street. Another serious flaw in our federal government will ignored if the bailout and all that goes with it is covered over by Washington and their accomplices during execution of this so-called bailout plan. And what does it do to avoid such malfeasance in the future? The answer is probably nothing.

More posts on this coming soon.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A significant number of Republicans changed their votes from last Monday, when only 65 voted in favor. President Bush spoke to “about three dozen” House members this week to try to persuade them to switch from “no” to “yes,” the White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Another kind of persuasion surrounded the Senate deliberations of the bill. A portfolio of popular tax provisions was added before the Senate voted in favor of the program on Wednesday night by 74 to 25.

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. said agency workers were already working on details to put the rescue plan into effect, so that no time will be lost now that the president had signed the legislation. Mr. Paulson called the House action “a vote to protect the American people — and their jobs.”

Mr. Paulson, who appeared with President Bush in the Rose Garden, was asked how he felt now that the rescue plan has cleared Congress.

“Better,” Mr. Paulson replied.

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 681

(Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)
H R 1424 YEA-AND-NAY 3-Oct-2008 1:22 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments
BILL TITLE: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

	Yeas	Nays	PRES	NV
Democratic	172	63
Republican	91	108
Independent
TOTALS	263	171

—- YEAS 263 —

Abercrombie Ackerman Alexander Allen Andrews Arcuri Baca Bachus Baird Baldwin Barrett (SC) Bean Berkley Berman Berry Biggert Bishop (GA) Bishop (NY) Blunt Boehner Bonner Bono Mack Boozman Boren Boswell Boucher Boustany Boyd (FL) Brady (PA) Brady (TX) Braley (IA) Brown (SC) Brown, Corrine Buchanan Calvert Camp (MI) Campbell (CA) Cannon Cantor Capps Capuano Cardoza Carnahan Carson Castle Clarke Cleaver Clyburn Coble Cohen Cole (OK) Conaway Cooper Costa Cramer Crenshaw Crowley Cubin Cuellar Cummings Davis (AL) Davis (CA) Davis (IL) Davis, Tom DeGette DeLauro Dent Dicks Dingell Donnelly Doyle Dreier Edwards (MD) Edwards (TX) Ehlers Ellison Ellsworth Emanuel Emerson Engel Eshoo Etheridge Everett Fallin Farr Fattah Ferguson Fossella

Foster Frank (MA) Frelinghuysen Gerlach Giffords Gilchrest Gonzalez Gordon Granger Green, Al Gutierrez Hall (NY) Hare Harman Hastings (FL) Herger Higgins Hinojosa Hirono Hobson Hoekstra Holt Honda Hooley Hoyer Inglis (SC) Israel Jackson (IL) Jackson-Lee (TX) Johnson, E. B. Kanjorski Kennedy Kildee Kilpatrick Kind King (NY) Kirk Klein (FL) Kline (MN) Knollenberg Kuhl (NY) LaHood Langevin Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Lee Levin Lewis (CA) Lewis (GA) Lewis (KY) Loebsack Lofgren, Zoe Lowey Lungren, Daniel E. Mahoney (FL) Maloney (NY) Markey Marshall Matsui McCarthy (NY) McCollum (MN) McCrery McGovern McHugh McKeon McNerney McNulty Meek (FL) Meeks (NY) Melancon Miller (NC) Miller, Gary Miller, George Mitchell Mollohan Moore (KS) Moore (WI) Moran (VA) Murphy (CT) Murphy, Patrick Murtha Myrick Nadler Neal (MA) Oberstar Obey Olver Ortiz

Pallone Pascrell Pastor Pelosi Perlmutter Peterson (PA) Pickering Pomeroy Porter Price (NC) Pryce (OH) Putnam Radanovich Rahall Ramstad Rangel Regula Reyes Reynolds Richardson Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Ros-Lehtinen Ross Ruppersberger Rush Ryan (OH) Ryan (WI) Sarbanes Saxton Schakowsky Schiff Schmidt Schwartz Scott (GA) Sessions Sestak Shadegg Shays Shuster Simpson Sires Skelton Slaughter Smith (TX) Smith (WA) Snyder Solis Souder Space Speier Spratt Sullivan Sutton Tancredo Tanner Tauscher Terry Thompson (CA) Thornberry Tiberi Tierney Towns Tsongas Upton Van Hollen Velázquez Walden (OR) Walsh (NY) Wamp Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Watt Waxman Weiner Welch (VT) Weldon (FL) Weller Wexler Wilson (NM) Wilson (OH) Wilson (SC) Wolf Woolsey Wu Yarmuth

—- NAYS 171 —

Aderholt Akin Altmire Bachmann Barrow Bartlett (MD) Barton (TX) Becerra Bilbray Bilirakis Bishop (UT) Blackburn Blumenauer Boyda (KS) Broun (GA) Brown-Waite, Ginny Burgess Burton (IN) Butterfield Buyer Capito Carney Carter Castor Cazayoux Chabot Chandler Childers Clay Conyers Costello Courtney Culberson Davis (KY) Davis, David Davis, Lincoln Deal (GA) DeFazio Delahunt Diaz-Balart, L. Diaz-Balart, M. Doggett Doolittle Drake Duncan English (PA) Feeney Filner Flake Forbes Fortenberry Foxx Franks (AZ) Gallegly Garrett (NJ) Gillibrand Gingrey

Gohmert Goode Goodlatte Graves Green, Gene Grijalva Hall (TX) Hastings (WA) Hayes Heller Hensarling Herseth Sandlin Hill Hinchey Hodes Holden Hulshof Hunter Inslee Issa Jefferson Johnson (GA) Johnson (IL) Johnson, Sam Jones (NC) Jordan Kagen Kaptur Keller King (IA) Kingston Kucinich Lamborn Lampson Latham LaTourette Latta Linder Lipinski LoBiondo Lucas Lynch Mack Manzullo Marchant Matheson McCarthy (CA) McCaul (TX) McCotter McDermott McHenry McIntyre McMorris Rodgers Mica Michaud Miller (FL) Miller (MI)

Moran (KS) Murphy, Tim Musgrave Napolitano Neugebauer Nunes Paul Payne Pearce Pence Peterson (MN) Petri Pitts Platts Poe Price (GA) Rehberg Reichert Renzi Rodriguez Rogers (MI) Rohrabacher Roskam Rothman Roybal-Allard Royce Salazar Sali Sánchez, Linda T. Sanchez, Loretta Scalise Scott (VA) Sensenbrenner Serrano Shea-Porter Sherman Shimkus Shuler Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Stark Stearns Stupak Taylor Thompson (MS) Tiahrt Turner Udall (CO) Udall (NM) Visclosky Walberg Walz (MN) Westmoreland Whitfield (KY) Wittman (VA) Young (AK) Young (FL)

---

During the one and only 2008 Vice-Presidential candidates debate there was much talk of taxes among other things. It is expected that many others will present various fact checking scenarios of varying degrees of accuracy. Just because some refers to an accounting of tax positions of candidates as ‘fact checking’ does not guarantee accuracy. This post does not claim to be the final word on the candidates’ positions on taxes. But it does present some information for your review.

A resource available to all who can access the internet is Project Vote Smart. Included in their database(s) on elected officials is ‘interest group ratings.’ In the case of Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama some very clear distinctions are obvious. After a quick glance through the list of interest groups and their ratings of these two candidates related to taxes it is clear that John McCain has the better record.

The one group that stood out was called Citizens for Tax Justice. They gave John McCain a rating of 50% while giving Obama a rating of 100%. A visit to the group’s website suggested they were partisan and liberal. A Google search returned a result from Wiki listing them as a liberal group and SourceWatch mentioned they were formed by labor unions and other groups. And of course the Heritage Foundation stated a report on corporate taxation by Citizens for Tax Justice ‘is riddled with errors.’ But the convincing final blow suggesting CTJ is a liberal leaning special interest was a simple spread sheet sorting of their ratings for all the politicians they cover. Big surprise, all Republicans were rated less than 20% and mostly zero with the unexplained exception of McCain at 50% while all the Dems were in the high percentages. A little too partisan to be a random numerical event.

On the other hand, Americans for Tax Reform have the opposite effect. While their highest rating for Dems is 35% most of them get a zero. The Republicans largely receive the high end of the percentage scale. The description at Project Vote Smart indicates this group is opposed to tax in general and believes taxes should be kept to a minimum. Both groups mentioned thus far seem to support the classic argument that liberals, aka Democrats, are tax and spend.

Freedom Works leans in the same direction as Americans for Tax Reform except they give some Democrats as high as 50% for their position on taxes. Both of these groups also hit some Republicans for their stand on taxes lower than some Democrats although Freedom Works appears to be more critical of some in the GOP on taxes.

The remainder of groups were only briefly studied but it appears a couple more liberal leaning groups gave John McCain decent ratings or at least higher than you would expect given that more conservative tax groups also gave him high ratings. But the oddballs were three agricultural groups. Each of the farmer groups were all over the map as if they all had different agendas.

With John McCain claiming the maverick role and adding that he has and is still willing and capable of reaching across the aisle to get things done in Washington, these interest group responses may give credence to that stand. To get high ratings from conservative tax groups and yet receive middle of the road ratings from liberal leaning groups they must all be finding something to be happy about in McCain’s positions on taxes. That is with the possible exception of farmers. With the state of affairs in agriculture it would not be surprising if farmers are mad at everyone.

The point is even though this may not be a scientific evaluation or one of acceptable mathematical precision the fact that all of McCain’s ratings at Project Vote Smart exceed Obama’s on taxes suggests there is reason to believe he may be a better choice at least when it comes to taxes. So this has been one rebuttal to some of the conflicting statements between candidates this evening in the VP debate.

One last reference that this blog finds truly amazing. The Club for Growth is not immune to criticism. They are viewed on this blog as a staunchly conservative group to the point of not accepting compromise which, let’s face it, is usually required at some time in politics. Here is the first reference from 2007.

Over the course of his twenty-four years in Congress, Senator McCain has cast several positive tax votes. These include a 2006 vote to extend the Bush tax cuts [1]; a 1997 vote to cut capital gains taxes[2]; and 1990 and 1993 votes against President Bush’s and President Clinton’s tax hikes[3]. To his credit, he has also introduced measures that would require a sixty-vote majority to pass a tax increase[4]. John McCain’s overall record on taxes, however, is profoundly disturbing and anti-growth.

In the excerpt above, the Club for Growth praises several of McCain’s actions regarding taxes. Yet in the 2nd excerpt below they criticize the Senator for voting against a tax cut for the wealthy when he understood the less wealthy needed tax relief as well. Having a conscience is not a bad thing. If you are going to give a tax break, give it to everyone.

Second, Senator McCain’s stated reason for opposing the Bush tax cuts rhetorically allied him with the most radical anti-growth elements of national politics. Senator McCain argued, “I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The view from this blog is that the House was unable to pass the massive bailout bill because those fearing election defeats voted for the bill. When it failed, Congress in their 12% approval rating mentality decided to hand it over to the Senate as re-election is viewed as not a problem for them. With that in mind this blog finds it reassuring that in the NO vote area below, Senators Sessions, Shelby and DeMint are listed. If memory serves, their voting records on illegal immigration and other issues were respectable as well.

But to be fair, since many members of Congress know who is going to do what before it happens, you could vote ‘no’ with the knowledge that so many others will vote ‘yes’ that your vote only serves to make you look good. But the leaning here is that Sessions, Shelby and DeMint are voting conscience and reason in this case. That is just a guess. Which unfortunately is the best one can do so often in observing politics.

Below is a copy of the roll call vote for HR1424 in the Senate. It is provided here simply as a reminder for those of you keeping score on your reps and what to do wth them. McCain and Obama of course voted for the bill. This blog views both Senators votes as purely political. This again requires a reminder that the choices for President at this point are not ideal but McCain, as viewed from this blog, is the better choice of the two. The reasons why will not be repeated in this post as it would just clutter things up and the reason for this post is obvious. Keep tabs on voting related to the BAILOUT and target members of Congress as necessary.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Measure Number:

H.R. 1424 (A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. )

Measure Title:

A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes.

Vote Summary Grouped by Vote Position

YEAs —74

Akaka (D-HI) Alexander (R-TN) Baucus (D-MT) Bayh (D-IN) Bennett (R-UT) Biden (D-DE) Bingaman (D-NM) Bond (R-MO) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Burr (R-NC) Byrd (D-WV) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Chambliss (R-GA) Clinton (D-NY) Coburn (R-OK) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Dodd (D-CT)

Domenici (R-NM) Durbin (D-IL) Ensign (R-NV) Feinstein (D-CA) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Harkin (D-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inouye (D-HI) Isakson (R-GA) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Kyl (R-AZ) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ)

McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Menendez (D-NJ) Mikulski (D-MD) Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-NE) Obama (D-IL) Pryor (D-AR) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Salazar (D-CO) Schumer (D-NY) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Thune (R-SD) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI)

NAYs —25

Allard (R-CO) Barrasso (R-WY) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Cantwell (D-WA) Cochran (R-MS) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Dole (R-NC)

Dorgan (D-ND) Enzi (R-WY) Feingold (D-WI) Inhofe (R-OK) Johnson (D-SD) Landrieu (D-LA) Nelson (D-FL) Roberts (R-KS) Sanders (I-VT)

Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS) Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 1

Kennedy (D-MA)

Remember how it all started for John McCain’s VP selection? Christians applauded her piety, gun-lovers her love of guns and pro-lifers the Down’s syndrome baby she calls “perfect”. And nearly everyone warmed to her moose-skinning authenticity. “I give her extreme credit for being a mother of five and a governor. I’m a mother of five. And I can barely keep milk in the house,” said Kelley McDonald of New Jersey. John McCain was both applauded for selecting a woman as his running mate in view of the Democratic party’s refusal to pair up their two largest vote getters, Obama and Clinton (Hillary) and criticized for not selecting either Lieberman, Pawlenty or Ridge.

So some of the sheen surrounding the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as John McCain’s Vice-Presidential nominee has worn off. Introduced as an ideal compliment to the maverick style of John McCain, accolades from many in the GOP touted her courage for challenging her own party, fighting the good fight against big oil and opposing the bridge to nowhere as well as placing the state jet on Ebay. Since then she has been accused of supporting the bridge to nowhere, conspiring with big oil, losing money on the sale of the jet and fund raising for Ted Stevens. About the only thing her detractors have not attacked is her rating as the most popular governor in the country. Although some have said they’re not so sure about that either.

In keeping with the tradition of late night talk show hosts poking fun at public figures, Tina Fey has made a living off of Sarah Palin lately but one has to wonder if that is simply using what is popular for comedic fodder or using one’s own popularity to promote a political agenda. Some of it is funny and credit is due for that but how much of it is more of the same from Hollywood lefties. Speaking of lefties, how about the kook fringe and their over the top practices?

The Economist went to press before Mr McCain’s speech on September 4th. Both he and Mr Obama say they want to unite their country, but their two parties’ conventions showed a gaping cultural gulf. In Denver abortion-rights advocates handed out condoms with the logo “Protect yourself from John McCain”, while Obamaphiles wore badges that substituted “Obama” for “God” in the motto “In God We Trust”. Evangelicals in St Paul sighed that secular Democrats probably did not realise how offensive this was.

And the GOP convention had more wonderful attempts from the kook fringe of the DNC. Outside the Republican convention, largely peaceful protests were marred by a few thugs who smashed windows. More violent disruptions were avoided, however, because police informants infiltrated a gang of anarchists who were allegedly planning them. Police seized weapons and buckets of urine, apparently intended for throwing at people. Lawyers for some of those arrested demanded the return of their possessions. “Who should we return the urine to?” asked the judge, according to the Star-Tribune, a local paper.

The less than inspiring tactics of the kook fringe were not lost on their Messiah either as one of his campaign ads criticized John McCain as being out of touch for not using technology like the PC and email. Did they really not know that Mr McCain is not able to do some of those things as a result of injuries sustained while a POW? McCain was also criticized for referencing his service to country by what those critics claimed was overuse of the topic. Perhaps the reason why they did this is that their own candidate has no similar history to report. And the Messiah is all too willing to sidestep questions about his affiliations with domestic terrorist William Ayers as well as Rev Wright and Tony Rezko. Which makes it hard to believe that his campaign reference to ‘lipstick on a pig’ was not a shot directed at Sarah Palin especially when he used it so soon after her campaign quip about hockey mom’s and pitbulls.

The MSM is equally guilty of conspiring against Sarah Palin in support of their left side agenda. Pouring out an abundance of trash such as whether or not her baby she calls ‘perfect’ is her’s or her daughter’s. Focusing on the pregnancy of one of Sarah Palin’s daughter and questioning the Governor’s parenting skills as well as criticism of her career choices and having it all when the same criteria is not applied to men. What the hell does any of that have to do with Sarah Palin running for Vice-President of the United States?

The one and only VP debate for this year may put an end to the attacks on Sarah Palin but that is doubtful even if she is viewed as a decisive winner after the competition. What appears to be the reason for all the Palin bashing is the rift within the DNC for not nominating Hillary Clinton or inviting her to join the ticket after nominating Barack Obama. That the Clintons are expected to fully support Barack Obama for President is a purely political demand from the Democratic party. It is also understandable given the dominance of party politics in this country in addition to there only really being two parties in existance in terms of real power. It would be fair to say that neither Presidential candidate is ideal as viewed by the majority of party voters in the US. Things being what they are, how often has any candidate been popular enough to ignite genuine overwhelming support from thier party followers and independents? The pont is this year as in most years past you make a selection from two choices and you may wish you had a viable third option.

By luck of the draw Obama is seeing some renewed interest as the polls may suggest simply because the current financial troubles favor the opponents of the party occupying the White House. Considering the fierce battle between Bush and McCain in the 2000 primaries it is hard to fathom how anyone really sees the two as similar. Obama’s reference to McCain voting with the White House ninety percent of the time is a lame argument. If you study the voting records of most politicians that will be the likely result. Most politicians vote with their party unless they need political cover. Sort of like the Senate voting for a bailout when the House did not. House members are mostly up for re-election while that is not the case in the Senate.

If you let the curent financial crisis determine your vote this November as you blame John McCain for it you should first consider that he supported an attempt to avoid this crisis in 2005. The Democratic party has a much more vested interest in the subprime mortgage mess, Fannie and Freddie and folks like Chris Dodd who are in the pocket of the aforementioned GSE’s or government sponsored enterprises.

As for the hope and change mantra from the DNC, et al, hope buys you nothing and change will come no matter who is elected since George Bush of course was term limited and Cheney was never interested in a run for President. The truth is the Democratic party is mostly to blame for the current financial problems. Those problems will only increase if Obama is elected and is allowed to continnue the party agenda that is responsible for the subprime mess inspired by the Community Reinvestment Act (Carter), the deregulation of banking (Clinton) and the support of Fannie and Freddie (Dodd and cronies).

Have a nice time watching the VP debate. Think it through before you vote. Let not the idea of change misguide your selection for President this fall.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

This is an updated post from an earlier version on this blog. The video link above is for a new version of the original video that was removed from YouTube explained as copyright violations   Here is another version of the video for your viewing pleasure

Thanks to at least two people for this video, which is extremely well done, WATCH IT

Maggie at Maggie’s Notebook and midpointman or mouthpeace found at the video source

Here’s the original post at Maggie’s from which this post was inspired…. Burning Down the House……

As stated elsewhere, including [ Poll ] Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis? , post this video, link to it, email it and be respectful as bad behavior is a turn off. If those in the battleground states view this video and further investigate the story they may well see as even Bill Clinton put it, ‘the Obama Fairy Tale’ and come to understand what is needed on November 4, 2008. Well, it’s needed now but the election is scheduled then. Point is folks, if you don’t view the video and do your homework another case of those responsible will go unresolved and more of the same will be perpetrated in the future. Things are not always what they seem and you must take the initiative by doing your part to fix it. So start with the video and the next steps will be clear to you after that.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Blog @ Morewhat.com is experiencing some, what do they call it, oh ya, technical difficulties at the time of this post and will publish more posts after the problem is solved.  And now for the obligatory ’stay tuned’ or ‘check back often’ statement.

Stay tuned or check back often. 

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Sound bites, shifting positions, the search for political cover and more delays from Washington which may prove to be the best medicine for for the so-called financial crisis. One quote from John McCain offered by the press relates to the need for the government to do something.

“This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with,” McCain said on ABC’s “This Week.” “The option of doing nothing is simply not an acceptable option.”

The same goes for a quote from Barack Obama on Face the Nation last Sunday. “My inclination is to support it,” said Obama…”While I look forward to reviewing the language of the legislation, it appears that the tentative deal embraces these principles.” What principles? Oh is doesn’t matter. There are more sound bites and reports to muddy the water. But Obama’s ‘inclination’ is what may best describe Obama, unsure on most things. The Reuters’ source for these quotes had this title, ‘McCain, Obama tentatively support bailout plan.’ .

McCain said he had urged Bush in a morning call to use the Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund to expand the financial services it guarantees beyond money market accounts. He also said he urged Bush to require the Treasury use its roughly trillion-dollar authority to shore up mortgage values. This is a little more to the point and shows McCain wants taxpayer bank deposits, etc., protected and to keep property values from free falling. But the USA Today’s report excerpt is not a quote. It is the paper interpreting what McCain said. The only quotes in the piece say nothing like what is stated above. The McCain quotes offered mostly speak in generalities while the only specifics express a desire to raise FDIC insurance which both McCain and Obama support. Perhaps that is what the title ‘McCain urges Bush action on crisis‘ really means rather than what it suggests and what USA Today interprets from thin air.

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is calling for Americans to get behind attempts to salvage a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector.

Not to provide any cover for Barack Obama but no where in the brief AP report referenced above is there a quote from Obama saying anything like what is in the excerpt shown here. The MSM is helping the Democratic party in their search for political cover for complicity in the subprime mortgage mess which people are now calling the financial crisis, meltdown or biggest disaster since the Great Depression.

And headlines or titles from both Google and CNN in the next piece also cloud the issues. ‘McCain, Obama: Raise deposit insurance to $250000′ while true, Google, is not the title of the piece at CNN to which your link points.

McCain, Obama: Raise deposit insurance to $250000
CNN - 4 hours ago
(CNN) — The $700 billion economic rescue plan failed in the House of Representatives because people don’t think it will do anything for them, Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain told CNN’s “American Morning…..

And CNN’s title to their report is misleading as well. McCain: I ‘may fail,’ but Congress has to ‘get the job done’ Later in the piece a more complete quote from McCain is presented. “But if I think I can do some good, I’ll do it. I may fail a first or second or third time, but we have to get this job done for America.”

No where have these reports shown what they are trying to claim. That Senator John McCain supports the 700 billion boondoggle.is not accurate. He supports action, he supports, as does Obama, of raising FDIC insurance coverage and what needs to be done to repair the damage done by the subprime mortgage failures.

Here’s a view for you. Who is responsible for allowing the bank deregulation? The 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act broke down barriers between banks, securities firms, mortgage lenders and insurance companies. That deregulation repealed Great Depression-era bank regulations with the approval of former president Bill Clinton.

The House version of the bill was passed by 205 Republicans and 138 Democrats. The Senate bill was passed on a party line vote with Republicans voting yes and Democrats voting no. President Bill Clinton signed the bill into law.

As posted here earlier Senator Chuck Hagel and Senator Elizabeth Dole, both on the Senate Banking Committee as well as co-sponsor Senator John McCain offered a bill to correct problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, etc., and the bill died in their own committee. That was 2005. Senator Dodd is on the committee and has been Chairman since the Democratic majority was won in the 2006 midterms. He gets lots of money from banking interests as well as other members of Congress. How is it that not until the subprime mortgage mess exploded in the markets his chairmanship and the complicity of many other Democrats with Fannie and Freddie has not been front and center in the discussion?

The Community Reinvestment Act while not in itself a root cause to the subprime mess had its effect on the problem. Having banks lend money in areas from which they receive deposits, including low income areas, is a good thing. The Dems signed on as it is right up their alley in terms of their claim to champion the little guy and help the less fortunate. So Fannie and Freddie begin increasing their involvement with low income lending. Over the years money flowed to Dems from Fannie and Freddie, more loans were packaged and as the real estate market bubbled and prices rose dramatically. When the classic good credit market was saturated, deregulated banks, Fannie and Freddie and others expanded whom they would lend to and reduced minimums to cover just about everyone. And the money kept pouring into the Dems wallets. While everyone looked the other way and got fat and happy the bubble burst.

So now who isn’t holding bad paper? Who is too big to fail? How is all this going to be paid for? Can Dems get political cover by convincing the GOP to vote with them?

Is there enough blame to go around? Certainly, there always is. But the Dems are backing the 700 billion boondoggle or as Michelle Malkin calls it, crap sandwich, and most Republicans are not in favor of it. 2/3 of the GOP voted against the bill this week. A surprising number of Dems voted against it. But a boat load of Dems and one third of the GOP in the House voted for it. Barney wants it. Chris wants it. Harry wants it. Nancy wants it. And go figure, GeeDubya wants it.

The Democratic party and their New Direction for America won the majority in Congress in November 2006. Their candidate for President, Barack Obama was firmly connected to ACORN. Beyond voter fraud, ‘community organizing’ and ACORN have a vested interest in the subprime mess. Dems in general have a vested interest in outfits like Fannie and Freddie. Chris Dodd and the Banking Committee had their chance since 2006 and before to head off this problem. And now they want you to do it for them.

So to whom does the majority of the subprime mess blame belong. You guessed it, the Democratic majority in Congress whose New Direction for America had plenty of opportunity to avoid the problem and did nothing.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

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