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Jake Tapper is ABC News' Senior White House Correspondent based in the network's Washington bureau. He writes about politics and popular culture and covers a range of national stories.
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The Records They Have Yet to Release
October 05, 2008 1:56 PM
American voters: there is one month to go until Election Day and here are the records the candidates and their running mates have yet to release:
*Sen. Barack Obama's state senate records;*
*Obama's medical records (beyond just a letter from his doctor);
*Sen. John Mccain's medical records (beyond just letting a select group reporters see some of them for a short period of time, but not copy anything);
*Mccain's military records;
*Cindy McCain's complete tax returns (beyond just a summary page);
*Sen. Joe Biden's medical records;
*Biden's complete list of earmark requests since starting at the Senate;
*Gov. Sarah Palin's emails from her private email account(s) sent about public matters; and
*Palin's medical records.
Also we would be remiss if we didn't mention Palin has yet to hold a full press conference as a vice presidential candidate.
-- jpt
* UPDATE - The Obama campaign says that Sen. Obama has no state senate records to release, and the Illinois Capitol Fax Blog seems to agree. This first became an issue a year ago, when Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign asked where his state legislative records were and Obama told reporters "we did not keep those records." The Chicago Sun-Times has more on this HERE.
October 5, 2008 in 2008: Democrats, 2008: Republicans, John McCain, McCain, John, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (104)
Will ABC please keep pressing for Governor Palin's medical records. It's just a few days from the election. This information needs to be released to the public.
Posted by: Harvey Yazijian | Oct 31, 2008 7:33:19 PM
Todd Palin's 7 year membership records in the Alaska Independence Party and all they stand for.
Posted by: records | Oct 6, 2008 10:23:53 AM
And Palin's college credentials.
Posted by: jt1 | Oct 6, 2008 10:22:45 AM
AND THE CORRUPTION REPORT ON PALIN THAT MCCAIN'S RICH TEXAS LAWYERS ARE TRYING TO BLOCK.
Posted by: CORRUPTION | Oct 6, 2008 10:21:50 AM
I will release my record...I went to college for undergrad and grad school in Texas. I taught in Colorado (2 years), Texas (4 years) and now Oklahoma. I’m in fairly good health. However, I do worry about our students; but try to rest at night despite the fact that our kids are steadily falling behind. Oklahoma, one of the reddest states in the Union ranks 36 on the educational rating scale. Illinois ranks 35, not too much better. But can someone explain to me why Arizona ranks 50! Excuse my fragmented sentences and any other grammatical errors! Like I said, I went to school in Texas which ranks 25, home of Bush…need I say more!
Posted by: newteacherinoklahoma | Oct 6, 2008 9:24:46 AM
As the Chicago times article said, Obama has said that every "single piece of information, every document related to state government was kept by the state of Illinois and has been disclosed and is available and has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by news outlets in Illinois." Since Obama did not try to subvert constitutional process by using personal email accounts on Yahoo to conduct State of Illinois business like Sarah Barracuda Palin seems to have done in Alaska, well.. anyone who is interested in Obama's record in the Illnois state senate can check the Illinois Government archives.
Posted by: Jane Sixpack | Oct 6, 2008 1:11:13 AM
While not requested by the mainstream media, there are a lot of people who are hoping to see the documents requested in the Berg vs Obama and DNC federal lawsuit on file in Philadelphia. Obama and the DNC have filed a joint motion to dismiss the lawsuit, citing lack of standing for the plaintiff to file the suit as well as failure to state a cause of action or any damages, but the judge has not dismissed the case. ........... Some of the documents requested are -- certified "vault" copy of Obama's birth certificate -- any birth registrations for Obama including any in Canada, British Isles, Kenya and the US -- passport records or files regarding applications and travel logs to Obama's Indonesian passport, Kenya passport, Pakistan passport and US passport
-- records pertaining to adoption of Obama by Lolo Soetoro -- any name change records for Obama and
-- Obama's Selective Service registration.
Posted by: RLamb | Oct 5, 2008 10:36:06 PM
If Obama doesn't have state record, how can he prove he has right judgement? What did he do as state senator?
Only because 'not vote for Iraq war', it's not sufficient for him to claim he has good judgement.
Good judgement comes from high ratio of correct judgement, which is:
total number of correct judgements divided by total number of judgements.
His total of number judgements is so small, we know he voted so many 'present'.
That's why even if he has small number of correct judgement, he dares to claim he has good judgement.
However, he missed his state senete records.
Posted by: golfgirlusa | Oct 5, 2008 10:20:21 PM
THere are no records retention policies in Illinois? That is the most rediculas thing I have ever heard! If you believe that then you are just the kind of voter OBama is looking for "STUPID."
Posted by: ubu1991 | Oct 5, 2008 10:10:33 PM
There sure are a bunch of crazy comspiracy theorist loons on this site. And why would Obama release all of his college records when McCain and Palin have not? So nutty people can dissect then and say that the fact that he might have taken an African American history class means he is a black nationalist? I think people should step away from the computer for awhile and get a life.
Posted by: Ang | Oct 5, 2008 9:58:20 PM
How convenient that Obama has no records at all from the corrupt sewers of Illinois politics, except for the many times he refused to take a position and voted present, or the many times he couldn't figure out which button to press, so he had to change his vote.
Posted by: Doodad Pro | Oct 5, 2008 7:48:29 PM
zank: why are you holding obama to an entirely different standard than the other candidates? what next - do we need to know the exact date he finished potty training?
if you're going to be so picky about obama, what about the full extent of mccain's more than 1000 pages of medical records? the media was given an extraordinarily limited time to look at these. something to hide, perhaps? was he left with any psychological issues after his time in prison? what about cindy mccain's taxes? what about the true facts of mccain's involvement with vicki eisman?
honestly, let's look at the issues and quit trying to destroy another person's character. mccain is no saint.
Posted by: stephen | Oct 5, 2008 7:23:07 PM
- Obama's grades and classes he took at the three colleges he attended.
- An accounting of how Obama paid for his tuition and living expenses at Harvard.
Posted by: Zank | Oct 5, 2008 6:52:17 PM
Beatrice,
You said President McCain and President Palin. Are they going to be co-presidents? Don't think that's allowed under our constitution.
Personally, nothing scares me more than the thought of a President Palin. She's an appealing person but not qualified. Not by a long shot. She knows energy policy but knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy. The fact that she only got a passport a couple of years ago shows that she has no interest in the outside world.
Posted by: Mariana | Oct 5, 2008 6:51:33 PM
Beatrice,
You said President McCain and President Palin. Are they going to be co-presidents? Don't think that's allowed under our constitution.
Personally, nothing scares me more than the thought of a President Palin. She's an appealing person but not qualified. Not by a long shot. She knows energy policy but knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy. The fact that she only got a passport a couple of years ago shows that she has no interest in the outside world.
Posted by: Mariana | Oct 5, 2008 6:50:56 PM
Beatrice,
You said President McCain and President Palin. Are they going to be co-presidents? Don't think that's allowed under our constitution.
Personally, nothing scares me more than the thought of a President Palin. She's an appealing person but not qualified. Not by a long shot. She knows energy policy but knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy. The fact that she only got a passport a couple of years ago shows that she has no interest in the outside world.
Posted by: Mariana | Oct 5, 2008 6:49:24 PM
I am Libertarian for McCain/Palain/08
VIVA President McCain
VIVA President Palin
GOD BLESS THEM BOTH.
Posted by: Beatrice | Oct 5, 2008 6:42:08 PM
The National Association of Police Organizations announced their endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama on Monday, citing vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden's work during his tenure to help law enforcement agencies across the country.
Posted by: Ryan C | Oct 5, 2008 6:14:16 PM
stacey -
Why I should believe what this supposedly high-ranking police officer has to say on a "conservatives weblog." If he's writing on such a site then he's NOT unbiased and may have some sort of axe to grind. Why should I believe that his account is fair and unbiased?
The Obama/Ayers thing is a total non-issue. Please spend your time and energy researching McCain and Palin with the same vigor. None of these people has clean hands and shouldn't go throwing stones.
Posted by: Shauna | Oct 5, 2008 5:44:53 PM
"McCAIN FIRST
This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.
In its broad strokes, McCain's life story is oddly similar to that of the current occupant of the White House. John Sidney McCain III and George Walker Bush both represent the third generation of American dynasties. Both were born into positions of privilege against which they rebelled into mediocrity. Both developed an uncanny social intelligence that allowed them to skate by with a minimum of mental exertion. Both struggled with booze and loutish behavior. At each step, with the aid of their fathers' powerful friends, both failed upward. And both shed their skins as Episcopalian members of the Washington elite to build political careers as self-styled, ranch-inhabiting Westerners who pray to Jesus in their wives' evangelical churches.
In one vital respect, however, the comparison is deeply unfair to the current president: George W. Bush was a much better pilot."
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:21:56 PM
McCain, the "below par" pilot, eventually lost 5 military aircraft, the first during a training flight in 1958 when he plunged into Corpus Christi Bay while trying to land. The Navy ignored the crash and graduated McCain in 1960.
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:18:13 PM
Shauna,
Jim Kouri, is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police , the mere fact that a high ranking police associate would choose to write for a conservatives weblog has got to give more credence to the sorty not less... to whose side is telling the truth,,, hmmm lets see we have Ayers an unrepentant cop killer on Obama's side, or we have Jim Kouri, is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police hmm who do we believe???
Posted by: stacey | Oct 5, 2008 5:17:12 PM
It is incumbent upon McCain to prove to the American people that the 5 1/2 years he spent at the mercy of communist interrogators did not leave him with mental health issues that could hinder him in making snap decisions "if the White House phone rang at 3 a.m."
Is McCain taking any kind of pain or "nerve" medicines? If so, do the medicines cause emotional and physical reactions?
McCain was once treated for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is said to get worse over time for former POWs, what is the status of his treatment?
Does McCain still harbor stress triggered suicidal tendencies?
Where was McCain and what was happening to him during the months he was missing from the POW camp?
McCain implies that he made only one propaganda broadcast for the communists, but Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers say he made over 30. How many did he make and what did he get in return?
Why does McCain still deny that the Soviets were involved in the interrogation of U.S. POWs in Vietnam?
Does McCain's former interrogators, the communist Vietnamese, Russians, Chinese and Cubans have anything in their secret intelligence files about his behavior as a prisoner with which they could blackmail a President John McCain?
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:14:39 PM
McCain has never been publicly vetted about what and how much medications he is taking. Aside from his anger and arthritic pain issues, McCain has had reoccurring bouts of malignant melanoma, a deadly form of cancer that can spread quickly throughout the body.
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:13:18 PM
McCain was subjected to 5 ½ years of Soviet driven "brain perversion techniques."
Is he fit to be President and Commander in Chief of the military?
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:11:55 PM
liberati wrote:
>It's not just the crime, it is the cover >up. What is Obama trying to hide?
Sounds to me a lot like Troopergate. What is Sarah trying to hide?
Posted by: Shauna | Oct 5, 2008 5:10:36 PM
When McCain returned to the United States in 1973 after more than five years as a prisoner of war, he found his wife was a different person. Carol McCain, once a model, had been badly injured in a car wreck in 1969. The accident "left her 4 inches shorter and on crutches, and she gained a good deal of weight." Despite her injures, she had refused to allow her POW husband to be notified about her condition, fearing that such news would not be good for him while he was being held prisoner.
But, just a couple years later, McCain, while pondering a future in politics, met Cindy Hensley, an attractive 25-year-old woman from a very wealthy politically-connected Arizona family. While still married to Carol, McCain began an adulterous relationship with Cindy. He married Cindy in May 1980 -- just a month after dumping his crippled wife and securing a divorce.
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:07:16 PM
stacey and HP Boston -
Please spend the same amount time researching McCain and Palin. You'll find plenty of questionable acquaintances and and activities in their lives as well.
Let's face it - absolutely no one in this campaign has clean hands, so instead of trying to fear and smear, they need to focus on the issues.
Posted by: Shauna | Oct 5, 2008 5:07:12 PM
Who are these loons who continue to insist that Obama's birth certificate is fake? He was born in Hawaii in 1961. Hawaii is not a foreign country. My mother-in-law is a retired pediatric nurse, and from birth until age six, the young Barack Obama was a patient of the doctor she worked for on King St. in Honolulu.
Posted by: Donald from Hawaii | Oct 5, 2008 5:07:04 PM
Obama has been fighting desperately to block all access to his college records. Even his public "thesis" at Columbia mysteriously disappeared.
If Obama's college records fail to meet the requirements for legitimate academic degrees and honors then Obama will be declared an academic fraud. Like he is a political fraud, Hillery for example received more votes, but because how the Democrats created the electoral votes giving more weight to minority districts, Obama was SELECTED not ELECTED, Obama is a fraud, selected by diversity, and possibly his college career is a fraud the same way, why else would he not release college his records?
Perhaps he doesnt want to know who funded him?
New evidence has emerged that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was closely associated as early as age 25 to a key adviser to a Saudi billionaire who had mentored the founding members of the Black Panthers.
Although many Americans have never heard of Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour (his full name), he is well known within the black community as a lawyer, an orthodox Muslim, a black nationalist, an author, an international deal-maker, an educator, and an outspoken enemy of Israel.
A graduate of Howard University with a law degree from the University of California, al-Mansour sits on numerous corporate boards, including the Saudi African Bank and Chicago-based LaGray Chemical Co. LaGray, which was formed to do business in Africa, counts former Nigerian President General Abdusalam Abubakar on its advisory board.
His writings and books are packed with anti-American rhetoric reminiscent of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s disgraced former pastor.
Al-Mansour is "the principle adviser to one of the world's richest men." He also implied that al-Mansour had raised money for Obama.
Where are these records?
Posted by: stacey | Oct 5, 2008 5:05:58 PM
Readers will learn that despite repeated plane crashes the Navy assigned McCain to a flight instructor position to teach aspiring young men and women how to fly aircraft worth millions of U.S. dollars.
They will learn how McCain's volatile temper became legendary in Congress and how he uses expletive-laced words in an attempt to demean and destroy his critics.
They will learn about McCain's cooperation with his captors and realize why many veterans wonder why McCain was not punished for making treasonous statements to the communists.
Sampley, a long-time POW/MIA activist delves into McCain's puzzling relationship with his former captors and his apparent abandonment of other Americans left behind in Vietnam as missing or prisoners of war.
Leaders of the POW/MIA movement describe how they fought to have McCain and the U.S. government investigate reported sightings of missing and imprisoned military members, and describe their contemptuous treatment by McCain and his staff.
Vetting John McCain uncovers how the senator's impressive family background protected him as the Navy ignored incidents that should have caused the young aviator to be drummed out of the Navy. The book compares McCain's behavior with a similar incident that cost a female Navy aviator her career.
'Vetting John McCain' compares McCain's actions with those of other captives who, injured and ill, spat in the faces of their captors and attempted escapes through treacherous jungle territory. It explores his intimate connection to the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan scandal, his backing by a fraudulent newspaper editor-publisher, and his speedy abandonment of his friend when the fire of public scrutiny grew too hot.
Posted by: touche | Oct 5, 2008 5:02:27 PM
We've already seen her press conference, each weekend on SNL.
Posted by: JR | Oct 5, 2008 5:00:23 PM
Obama's birth certificate has been verified by FactCheck org
FACT CHECK IS AN OBUMA FUNDED SITE!!!
NO FACTS JUST BS!!!
FactCheck has debunked the Rezko false statements.
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 5, 2008 4:55:09 PM
klondike- should the remaining three candidates have to produce their "baptismal certificates" as well? Why should Obama be held to a different standard?
west coast messenger - Doesn't McCain or Palin have any associations that make you go hmmmmmm....? Of course they do. How can you say McCain is for America when he chose as his running mate someone totally unqualified to assume the presidency in a worst case scenario? Can you imagine a 9/11 scenario with a President Palin? I honestly might have been able to live with a McCain presidency but his choice of Palin really made me question him.
Posted by: Shauna | Oct 5, 2008 4:54:38 PM
"No use for America or her damned institutions." Joe Vogler. Founder of the Alaskan Independent Party. Todd Palin was a member until 2002. Sarah Palin sent them a tape, recently, encouraging them to keep up the good work.
What does the AIP want? Secession. I doubt Palin has read the 14th Amendment. She might want to do that.
The AIP is also connected to white secessionist groups in the south. Any non-whites in the AIP?
According to Palin, I might be going to hell, but, at least I'm not talking treason.
Posted by: Jan | Oct 5, 2008 4:53:57 PM
Jake, I hope you are ashamed of yourself asking again for those state senate records! We were already told last year that they didn't exist. That means, don't ever ask again. Just let it all slide on by, because BO says so.
Posted by: cappamore | Oct 5, 2008 4:50:47 PM
HP Boston said:
"After Columbia, he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000. a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York."
In "Dreams from My Father," Obama explained sending many resumes and never getting any response.
HP Boston said:
"During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a ’round the world’ trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India, three weeks in Karachi, Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate’s family, then off to Africa to visit his father’s family. "
Obama made his first trip to Kenya after five years organizing communities in the projects of South Chicago and right before starting at Harvard. It is detailed in "Dreams from My Father" p. 276.
The book does not mention a trip to the other places.
FactCheck has debunked the Rezko false statements.
Obama has talked about paying college loans for many years.
McCain got free college because his father had military power. McCain was at the bottom of his class and only got into the military program because of dad's strings, where he crashed 5 airplanes.
Posted by: Jim | Oct 5, 2008 4:48:41 PM
Nice try, West. No matter how you want something to be there, there isn't anything, so you have to resort to FUD.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 5, 2008 4:48:33 PM
who are we supposed to believe you Mike or Jim Kouri, currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police who has stated that Quite simply, Ayers’ group of killers left five children without fathers as a result of the brutal and vicious armored car robbery.
Quite simply, Ayers’ group of killers left five children without fathers as a result of the brutal and vicious armored car robbery.
Its not a matter of degrees of separation, it is a pattern of behavior, As in any jury trial a pattern of behavior is admissible evidence.
Lets put up Ayers, the black liberation Reverend MoveOn.org, Rezko. even Obama's own wife who have said state meant to the effect that demonstrate their hatred twords the folks of the USA,. and in Ayers case he said he wish he could do more damage after being acquitted of murder, saying this when Obama was 40 years old, not 8.
What do you have for McCain or Palin that they indicates they agreed with any of the radicals they may be connected too by a separation of acquaintances?
Obama sat in a church for 20 years with Write, and he worked with Ayers and unrepentant tourists, and murder for over 10 years...
The people rest their case...
Posted by: stacey | Oct 5, 2008 4:48:25 PM
XYZ,
The Obama relationship with William Ayers is established fact. The degree of closeness is what is at dispute. Obama would have you believe that it is extremely distant at best. The right would have you believe that Obama can't be trusted if he has recent associations with someone previously involved in domestic terrorism. When it comes to the role of the President of the United States I think we need to examine this closely, it is fair game. Obama says its a smear, but that sounds like coverup language to me. The louder he cries the closer the press will look. Some semblance of the truth will emerge, hopefully before election day. No matter what, I'm sticking with McCain because he clearly sticks with America. I'm not sure about Obama, he just doesn't seem trustworthy, too many ifs and buts. I'd rather be voting for Hillary, though.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Oct 5, 2008 4:37:22 PM
stacey,
Please read a litte. The Nyack robbery happened many years after Weatherman ceased to exist.
How many degrees of seperation are there between McCain and mob associate Hensley? Why did he associate with felons?
Posted by: mike | Oct 5, 2008 4:30:56 PM
Were are the records from Obama's Annenburg project where he chaired and Ayers Co Chaired some 160 million dollars that was to have been used for community organizing, why in their own words did they fail, what did the money go to.
While Barack Obama’s friends and supporters in the news media downplay his friendship and business relationship with former terrorist and Marxist university professor Willam Ayers, one aspect of the Ayers terrorism saga that’s totally ignored is his reputation as a cop-killer.
For instance, in Nyack, New York, Ayers’ terrorist group the Weather Underground launched an armored-car robbery that left two Nyack, NY police officers — Officer Waverly Brown and Sergeant Ed O’Grady — mortally wounded. In addition, the Brinks armored-car driver, Peter Paige was also shot to death by the Weathermen.
Quite simply, Ayers’ group of killers left five children without fathers as a result of the brutal and vicious armored car robbery.
Ayers said in 2001 one, that he wish he had done more damage, Obama was 40 years old at the time.
Killing cops, compared to any other affiliation's, McCain or Sara may have does not compare. Shame on people who support Obama, a man at 40 years old who had no stable career and was friends with a domestic terrorist, took his money and work as a business partner, with.... Where are these records, were are the records of actually doing something for your first 40 years of life OBAMA?
Posted by: stacey | Oct 5, 2008 4:27:31 PM
Of this group I only have an interest in Obama's secret records from his days in the State Senate. I believe that you will smell the stench of Chicago politics once you put the shovel in to the earth and turn up those records.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Oct 5, 2008 4:26:38 PM
Liberati,
Thanks for the info. I had no idea that factcheck was a Republican site.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 5, 2008 4:23:51 PM
john,
If it is tax exempt, why was it reported by the state to the IRS? This case hinges on exactly where here "tax home" was, the capitol or Wasilla. If it is one, she incorrectly reported, if it was the other, she wasn't entitled to the compensation. Either way, she is a crook.
Also, her family was not entitled to the compensation that she took for travel.
She's in a load of trouble.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 5, 2008 4:21:18 PM
Of course Obama has no senate records to release, no track records and nothing to fall back on but he wants us to trust him with the most poweful position on earth and our tax dollars! What a leap of faith!
Posted by: zeferimus | Oct 5, 2008 4:20:07 PM
jlp - You can see Obama's birth certificate on his web site and it's valid, so quit trying to spread that falsehood.
Thanks for pointing out the press conference thing, Jake.
Palin will never have one. She is perfectly suited to deliver a speech or do a debate answering only those questions she's memorized answers to while ignoring or rambling incoherently about anything else. She's a prop - plain and simple.
And her remarks about Obama palling around with radicals were despicable, considering that her husband belonged to a group that doesn't want AK to remain one of the United States. How's that for not seeing America like the rest of us?
Posted by: Caroline | Oct 5, 2008 4:17:39 PM
The Stock Market kept on falling because it seems like Barack Obama will win the presidency.
Barck Obama is riding on America's financial misery.
Wait till he bcomes president, and America will see a financial disaster that parallels the Great Depression. His name will sis side by side with Herbert Hoover.
Posted by: zoilodel | Oct 5, 2008 4:15:58 PM
Barack Obama release your real birth certificate.
Barack obama release your medical records.
Simple - the longer he goes the more this is not looking tooooo gooood!!!!
Posted by: jlp | Oct 5, 2008 4:03:00 PM
Some have commented about the fact that Sen. Obama has largely ignored his half-brother George, living in Kenya on perhaps a dollar a day.
His half-brother was interviewed and says he is quite happy living his life as it is and doesn't understand why people are so interested in his circumstances. To him and those around him, that is just the way things are.
It may sound callous to some, but everyone has to make their own way in this world given their circumstances. It might be a nice gesture on the part of Sen. Obama to send money to George, but it might also cause many problems by upsetting the balance in his life and the lives of those around him.
Money isn't everything...
Posted by: Majus | Oct 5, 2008 3:47:37 PM
McCain/Palin -American Team- has my vote.
Posted by: alex | Oct 5, 2008 3:44:15 PM
Obama and Rezko, the early years
The trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, one-time patron to Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has turned lurid.
Under cross-examination by Rezko attorney Joseph Duffy, star prosecution witness Stuart Levine, a Chicago-area lawyer, is admitting to conspiracy, extortion, bribery, fraud and other bad acts while he “served” at the Illinois public school teachers pension fund board.
At Duffy’s urging, Levine is detailing 30 years of drug Syrian-born Tony Rezko big-time Illinois political fundraiser and one-time confidante of both Senator Barack Obama and Gov Rod Blagojevich is now on federal trial in Chicago where the inner workings of Chicago’s political system are unfoldingusage including sordid day-long binges with other men at a Chicago inn called the Purple Hotel.
That aside, much of the trial’s focus is on money — much of it given in the form of campaign money in the careers of Obama and Blagojevich.
It’s an unfolding, seemingly local political story that’s fascinating in its revealing details about the subterranean world of business, financial and family connections in Illinois and Chicago politics that helped take a virtually unknown black Chicago attorney, nurtured him politically and financially and turned him into….
the polished candidate who today thrills crowds with his eloquence.
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 5, 2008 3:43:36 PM
Palin's per diem is tax exempt. Would not show up on her income taxes. Recors would hve to be dug out of State accounting (don't. hold your breath)
Posted by: john1858 | Oct 5, 2008 3:43:01 PM
Independent -. People who believe this garbage are just plain stupid.
Posted by: palingotnobrains | Oct 5, 2008 3:34:14 PM
Why didn't Palin's tax return include all the per diem Palin received for living in her own house and all the per diem for her family?
Todd Palin broke the law by not showing up to answer questions about the trooper investigation.
McCain has tried very hard to stop the trooper investigation. They did not win the first court hearing. Now they have filed an emergency case with the Supreme Court.
Sounds like McCain is very afraid of the results.
Posted by: Julie | Oct 5, 2008 3:33:34 PM
Are Obama's blue lips a sign of a heart problem? If I looked that blue-lipped my doc would have me in intensive care. Where are his real medical records?
Posted by: jeanned'arc | Oct 5, 2008 3:32:49 PM
Obama's BC has NOT been revealed by Factcheck.
Not only are the an Annenberg funded site, with long ties to Obama, the BC they "revealed" was merely a "reissue", it is laser printed, with a certification stamp of 2007!
Again, it's not just the crime, but the cover up. It would be such a simple task to just pull out your real original BC, the one he got the day he was born. Why is this such a problem? What is he trying to hide? Berg is suing Obama for this in PA, and, instead of just resolving the whole thing with that simple task, the campaign has moved to dismiss the suit!
This is clear proof that he has something to hide. The more he prolongs this BC issue, the more Americans can be suspect.
Too many skeletons yet to be revealed in the Obama closet, how can we trust our nations security with this trash?
Posted by: liberati | Oct 5, 2008 3:31:40 PM
OBAMA/BIDEN HAVE MY VOTE 2008
Posted by: mary | Oct 5, 2008 3:29:23 PM
A vote for Obama is a vote for Allah!
If Obama is elected, get fitted for your turbans and camels! Praise Allah!
Posted by: Independent | Oct 5, 2008 3:28:26 PM
Obama's birth certificate has been verified by FactCheck org
FACT CHECK IS AN OBUMA FUNDED SITE!!!
NO FACTS JUST BS!!!
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 5, 2008 3:28:20 PM
Has Biden held a press conference? I must have missed it.
Posted by: Maria | Oct 5, 2008 2:51:43 PM
-------------------------
We all missed it! He will cry if he has to answer all his pork bills he passed!bu
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 5, 2008 3:25:54 PM
Obama's birth certificate has been verified by FactCheck org
Palin Emails: Critic Sues To Preserve Them
October 4, 2008
Andree McLeod, a former state worker, filed the lawsuit against Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, in Anchorage on Thursday. Palin's gubernatorial spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow, said Saturday she could not comment on pending litigation.
Another item:
Sen. John McCain's relationship with G. Gordon Liddy a radio host and convicted Watergate burglar.
Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May.
Check radioamerica
Posted by: Jim | Oct 5, 2008 3:25:11 PM
and when you get "Obama" birth certificate please get "Sarah's" last child birth certificate the world have the right to know! Is she the grandmother? She is more corrupt than any candidate I have ever seen.... She make "GWB" look sooooooooo smart.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 5, 2008 3:24:21 PM
do pity the people who get dragged down by this garbage. OBUMA AND GANGS nonsense strikes again. I'm just happy to hear McCain isn't getting distracted and is still talking about the issues. I know it's hard to stay focused when they're coming at you below the knees, and you just want to level back at 'em in the groin. But he's never done that. And never will. It's all part of what makes him such an extraordinary candidate. By refusing to discuss these claims it just lowers their credibility, and doesn't make them a central issue. Again, hard, but an intelligent move at this point. I am so happy that John and Sarah are the best America will gain it all this BS!!
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 5, 2008 3:23:28 PM
McCain: running Bush's first campaign for Bush's third term
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Via CNN:
The Statement: Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin said Saturday, October 4, that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is "someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."
Verdict: False. There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are now "palling around," or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past three years. Also, there is nothing to suggest that Ayers is now involved in terrorist activity or that other Obama associates are.
Posted by: xyz | Oct 5, 2008 3:21:42 PM
Get ready for your 401k/pension statement, it ain't gonna be pretty
John Aravosis (DC)
George Will made an excellent point this morning on ABC's THIS WEEK. Americans are about to get a mailing that is going to do wonders for Obama's campaign. They're going to be getting their quarterly statements from their 401ks and their pension plans. And it ain't going to be pretty. John McCain wants to change the subject away from the economy. He wants to pull the plug on the number one discussion, the number one issue of importance to every American, because he doesn't know much about economics. And Sarah Palin? Yeah. Imagine Sarah Palin being in charge of your 401k.
Posted by: xyz | Oct 5, 2008 3:06:00 PM
I'd like to see Obama's Columbia U. transcript. He has been asked to release it and has not. What could be in there? Granted, he had an excellent record at Harvard Law. What is there he does not want us to see?
I'd also like to see Michelle Obama's employment records for the year Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate. What justified that huge raise?
Posted by: katmandu | Oct 5, 2008 3:04:23 PM
After a lot of stonewalling by the library, Stanley Kurtz finally got access to those records. This is a link to those findings.
Posted by: Jeanie | Oct 5, 2008 3:04:20 PM
Senatre records are in the Senate records and are part of public record as are earmark requests.
I would like to have more complete medical records.
Not just McCain's cancer bouts, but his mental state after five years in Hanoi.
He really does not see stable.
Could we have data on McCain's gambling winnings and losses?
Current Mafia connections?
Could we have the Palins comply with the Alaska subpeona so we can know how many times she has abused power and if she will be impeached as Governor.
The list is endless.
Posted by: susan | Oct 5, 2008 2:56:35 PM
JAKE--CAN YOU ADD THIS TO THE LIST? WHAT IS OBAMA'S BROTHER GEORGE'S INCOME? LAST I HEARD HE WAS LIVING ON A DOLLAR A MONTH OVER IN A SLUM IN KENYA, WHILE BARKY LIVES IT UP IN CHITOWN AND JETS AROUND IN THE O FORCE ONE PLANE, USING DONATIONS THAT EXCEED THE LEGAL AMOUNT, AND MANY FROM OVERSEAS DONORS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. IF THAT'S HOW HE TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN HALF BROTHER, I SHUDDER TO THINK HOW HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS COUNTRY. WAKE UP AMERICA!
Posted by: Foodforthought | Oct 5, 2008 2:55:33 PM
YEAH--WHERE'S THE REAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE? PUT THAT ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS OBIE NEEDS TO RELEASE, JAKE.
Posted by: SAMMY | Oct 5, 2008 2:52:24 PM
Has Biden held a press conference? I must have missed it.
Posted by: Maria | Oct 5, 2008 2:51:43 PM
TIME FOR OBAMA TO RELEASE HIS ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT THE HATE CHURCH OF REVEREND WRIGHT!
Posted by: indievoter | Oct 5, 2008 2:51:15 PM
Biden won't release his medical records.
Posted by: shooflies | Oct 5, 2008 2:50:16 PM
Jeff 2:32:01...Not to mention all those "overseas" contributions from Iraq, China, UK, Jordan etc...Then there's Ghaza...and of course the large donations from fictitious people like Good Will who gave his address as a Good Will store which I believe was split up into smaller contributions.
Posted by: RL in Illinois | Oct 5, 2008 2:49:29 PM
Jake--maybe you should add obama's attendance records at Jeremiah Wright's church to that list. If you intend to tell the full story....
Posted by: shooflies | Oct 5, 2008 2:48:11 PM
Why do we need to see Palin's e-mail from her personnal account and not government related e-mail (i.e. Senate info esp re: Fannie or Freddie) from O'Bama's (I see him on a blackberry in every photo-op), Biden's and McCain's. (I know McCain's may be on his wife's e-mail)
Posted by: OldmaninGeorgia | Oct 5, 2008 2:44:24 PM