Obama Not Qualified to be Commander in Chief

Democrat Hillary Clinton has invited Barack Obama to be her running mate. However, she does not think her rival is adequately qualified to be the commander in chief of the US army! Clinton’s statements have attracted condemnation from Obama’s supporters and liberals.

Over the week, Hillary Clinton has suggested that she is open to a joint Clinton-Obama ticket. Speaking in Mississippi, her husband Bill Clinton said that such an alliance would be advantageous. Stating that a joint ticket would create an “instoppable force”, the former president said, “”I know that she has always been open to it, because she believes that you can unite the energy and the new people he’s brought in and the people in these vast swathes of small-town and rural America that she’s carried overwhelmingly.” Having both things together, he indicated, would be hard to beat.

However Hillary Clinton asserted that Obama was just not fit to become the commander in chief of the U.S. army in case of his emerging the presidential winner. As if to add insult to injury, Clinton claimed that both, she herself, as well as Republican nominee, John McCain, were qualified to hold the post.

Following a meeting, she held with retired military officers in Washington, Clinton said, “Look I have said Senator McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign, I will bring a lifetime of experience, and Senator Obama will bring a speech he made in 2002.” A New York Times columnist responded by suggesting that Clinton had said that Obama was not qualified to become president.

“I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,” Hillary Clinton said. “I believe that I’ve done that. Certainly, Senator McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Senator Obama with respect to his candidacy.”

Obama, meanwhile, laid to rest any doubts about whether he was open to the Clintons’ gracious offer. “You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate – you know, I’m running for president,” he clarified during an interview he gave CBS. “We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count,” he added.

New York Times Raises Concerns Regarding McCain’s Health

A New York Times article raised concerns that John McCain could suffer a recurrence of the skin cancer that he suffered eight years ago. The report follows close on the hells of the story alleging an affair between the senior senator and lobbyist Vicki Iseman.

The report, by reporter Lawrence K. Altman, who is also a medical doctor, refers to the melanoma, or skin cancer, that McCain had back in 2000. Altman writes that though McCain is occasionally asked about his age, he has almost never been asked about his health. He suggests that McCain’s melanoma could recur. He does, however, indicate that the chances of a recurrence are extremely slim.

“Doctors advise melanoma patients to have regular checkups to detect new skin cancers and the spread of old ones because melanomas can be quirky,” the report states. McCain’s staff, it points out, has not revealed the tests that his doctors are using to monitor the case, it adds. Altman states that recurrences of melanoma take place in the first few years after diagnosis. He adds that the survival figures for melanomas are often measured in ten-year periods instead of the five-year periods used to calculate survival in the case of some other cancers.”

Altman has described how McCain had undergone a surgery to determine whether the cancer had spread from his left temple to a key lymph node in his neck. The test showed that it had not, he adds. He writes, “But because such a test cannot be definitive, the surgeons, with Mr. McCain’s advance permission, removed the surrounding lymph nodes and part of the parotid gland, which produces saliva, in the same operation, which lasted five and a half hours.” McCain’s staff at the time, according to Altman, had said that the final pathology analysis reported no evidence of the spread of the melanoma, or that chemotherapy or radiation was needed.

However, Altman quotes Dr. Richard L. Shapiro, a melanoma surgeon at New York University, as saying that “With melanoma, a patient is never completely clear.” Altman accepts that a recurrence did not seem likely in the case of McCain. However, he indicates that the typical treatment, in case of a recurrence, involved surgery and a complicated form of chemotherapy, adding that the “chances of long-term survival diminish.”

Altman even goes on to point out that John McCain seemed to be very careful about shielding himself from the sun by using a “powerful sunscreen before outdoor events,” and relying on “spots of shade” or “baseball caps.” Altman said that McCain’s “prognosis for the recurrence of melanoma medical” could be estimated only by talking with experts having no firsthand knowledge of his medical condition. But those “experts say his prospects appear favorable,” he writes.

Hillary Clinton Says Obama is Just Big on Words

Barack Obama’s consistently upscale performance over the past few weeks, including the recent win in the Wisconsin primary, seems to have unsettled Hillary Clinton. The former first lady has responded by hinting that the Obama is big on words, but empty on action.

Clinton made the allegation against Obama while speaking to an audience rally at Youngstown, Ohio, the night after she was defeated by Obama in the Wisconsin primary. She told the gathering that the primary campaign is “about picking a president who relies not just on words but on work—on hard work to get America back to work.” She then went on to tell the audience that the “best words in the world are not enough” unless they are matched with action.

Clinton was in Ohio to campaign for the primary to be held in that state on March 4. Along with the race in Texas, Ohio is an important contest in the presidential race. The outcome in both these crucial races will, after all, play an important role in determining who will win the nomination from the Democratic Party.

Obama: Clinton is Calculating, Divisive

The mudslinging match between the two leading democratic presidential contenders, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton seems to be continuing unabated. Obama recently remarked that Clinton’s campaign was too polarizing for her to win the presidential race. He also said Hillary adopted positions on issues held by President Bush and Senator John McCain to suit her convenience. With the third democratic contender, John Edwards, pulling out of the race, the stakes are now higher for both Obama and Clinton.

Obama, speaking at the University of Denver, described Clinton as scheming and divisive, and said Clinton’s support for Republican stands on issues such as trade, political lobbying, and security tactics would only lead to greater split within the electorate. He also referred to McCain as likely to win the Republican nomination.

Obama also said that it was understandable that some people would feel comfortable at the idea of another Clinton at the helm after Bush. However, he warned voters about falling for the line that it would be good for the country. “It is about the past versus the future,” he said. “And when I am the nominee, the Republicans won’t be able to make this election about the past.

Obama said, “If you choose change, you will have a nominee who doesn’t just tell people what they want to hear.” He continued, “Poll-tested positions, calculated answers might be how Washington confronts challenges, but it’s not how you overcome those challenges; it’s not how you inspire our nation to come together behind a common purpose, and it’s not what America needs right now. You need a candidate who will tell you the truth.”

Obama also said, “Democrats will win in November and build a majority in Congress not by nominating a candidate who will unite the other party against us, but by choosing one who can unite this country around a movement for change”. He added, “It is time for new leadership that understands the way to win a debate with John McCain or any Republican who is nominated is not by nominating someone who agreed with him on voting for the war in Iraq or who agreed with him in voting to give George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran, who agrees with him in embracing the Bush-Cheney policy of not talking to leaders we don’t like, who actually differed with him by arguing for exceptions for torture before changing positions when the politics of the moment changed.” He said, “We need to offer the American people a clear contrast on national security, and when I am the nominee of the Democratic Party, that is exactly what I will do.”

His spirited criticism brought forth a retaliatory reaction from the Hillary Clinton campaign. Clinton’s supporters pointed out that Obama seemed to be forgetting his resolve to maintain a positive campaign as he was resorting to sullying her image. They pointed out that he had condemned this style of politics in his book, Audacity of Hope, even quoting an appropriate section from the book.

Clinton Makes a Thundering Comeback

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton landed a surprising knockout in the primary in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island, ending Senator Barack Obama’s winning streak of 11 straight nominating contest wins. This spree had led may prominent politicians to suggest that Clinton reconsider her candidature. However, these three major triumphs will help Clinton put behind her, a month of defeats. Now, in her own words, “We’re going on, we’re going strong and we’re going all the way.”

Clinton won the Rhode Island primary with more than 58 percent of the vote. The Ohio and Texas wins, though, remain the prize victories since they are rich in delegates. She won by 55 percent in Ohio in nearly complete returns, and her winning share in Texas is around 51 percent.

Of the four states, Obama led only the Vermont primary, by turning nearly 60 percent of the votes in his favor. Countering Clinton’s claims about the three-state win having had a race-altering effect, he assured his league, “We have nearly the same delegate lead as we did this morning and we are on our way to winning this nomination.”

In the four-state competition for delegates, Clinton cornered nearly 100 delegates as against Obama’s count of about 77. The total tally for Obama is 1,466 delegates, including superdelegates (specially chosen party and elected officials), while Clinton has 1,376 delegates. The magic figure to win the Democratic nomination is 2,025.

The two Democratic rivals have indulged in an expensive, cut-throat campaign, especially in the past two weeks. Clinton had questioned Obama’s sincerity in opposing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and his experience to be the commander-in-chief. In Ohio and Texas, according to the polling place interviews, these remarks seem to have worked. The economy seemed to be the chief concern for voters in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island. Vermont voters said the war in Iraq was their top concern.

With the Mississippi primary scheduled for next week, Obama has already begun advertising there. He is also set to pay a visit to Mississippi and Wyoming. Pennsylvania, the largest share of the pie remaining, has its primary scheduled for April 22.

Bush Endorses Former Rival McCain

US President George Bush has finally endorsed fellow Republican Senator John McCain’s presidential bid after he clinched the Republican nomination. It would be interesting to recollect that McCain’s candidature had earlier been crushed by Bush during the 2000 presidential election campaigns. Now the one-time rivals claim to be ‘friends’. “I’ve got to know him well, I’ve campaigned against him and with him,” the president revealed.

McCain received the endorsement in a brief visit at the Rose Garden at the White House. Bush believes that his former rival would be an able president with the “determination to defeat an enemy and a heart big enough to love those who hurt”. Bush added that McCain was “going to win.”

McCain returned the compliment by divulging his “great admiration, respect and affection” for the US president. Since Bush is quite unpopular with many voters, McCain was questioned regarding the worth of Bush’s endorsement. Regarding the prospect of the damage that this support could mete to his campaign, McCain simply said: “I hope he’ll campaign for me as much as is in keeping with his busy schedule.”

He also corroborated the promise to fight a “respectful” campaign that he made in his victory speech.

John McCain secures Republican Nomination

Senator John McCain has successfully won the Republican Party’s nomination for the Party’s national convention in September for the upcoming presidential election. He clinched the nomination with projected wins in Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Texas increasing the gap between his closest rival.

Senator McCain’s wins in all four states ensures that he has the support of 1,191 delegates, the requisite number to secure his party’s nomination. His closest rival, Mike Huckabee, has dropped out of the presidential race, pledging his support to McCain. He stated in a rally in Irving, “It’s now important that we turn our attention not to what could have been or what we wanted to have been but what now must be, and that is a united party.” On Wednesday, McCain will visit President George W Bush Jr. to receive his endorsement.

On his success, McCain commented that the most important phase of the campaign lay ahead where he had to put forth a convincing case to the American people to ensure that they voted a Republican to the White House.

McCain has stated that he will focus on a campaign that will avoid ‘false promises’. The senator wanted to ensure that the people “stand up and fight for America, for her strength, her ideals and her future”. McCain also highlighted the number of challenges that the nation faced, including the war in Iraq and the fight against the al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

For the Democratic camp, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races that are being held. Barack Obama is currently in the lead, having secured 1386 delegates to Hillary Clinton’s 1276. Either of the candidates needs to win a total of 2025 delegates in order to win the nomination as their party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Hollywood Star Jack Nicholson Backs Clinton

Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign has received support from Hollywood titan Jack Nicholson. Nicholson has endorsed a video compilation of some of his famous film roles in support of Democrat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. The video endorsement, popularly dubbed Jack and Hill, has garnered over 1.2 million hits since being posted on YouTube last Friday.

Director Rob Reiner helped Nicholson edit scenes from his movies, including Batman, The Shining, and A Few Good Men, to spell out his support for the former first lady. But it was made without Clinton’s approval. As “Jack and Hill” spokesperson Yusuf K Robb clarified, “They (Nicholson and Reiner) decided to do this as something on their own to assist her campaign.”

Movie clips juxtaposed with onscreen messages like “Don’t we need a president we can trust to be ready to go on day one?” generally give the feeling of “Things could be better, Lloyd. Things could be a whole lot better.” And nothing sums it up like the last clip from A Few Good Men that goes “There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning.” In the wrap up, Nicholson appears as himself to assert, “I’m Jack Nicholson, and I approve this message.”

The usually reticent actor has admitted that the Clinton campaign had appealed for help. “Yes, I got a call. They asked me to do something. I explained to [former] President Clinton that I admire a foot soldier but I’m too old to be one. I’m not looking for so-called followers. I’m not that crazy about being interviewed. I don’t like the sound of my own voice after 20 minutes.”

Elaborating his stand on MTV news, he admitted, “On the other hand, I am Irish. I like being involved in the community. As they say, if you don’t educate yourself about the political system you’re doomed to be led by inferior people. That’s one of my fears.”

Like in physics, in politics too every action has an opposite reaction. The parody that Hillary Clinton’s rival, Barack Obama’s supporters have responded with, in the form of another video, is equally popular online.

On the Eve of Super Tuesday

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigned fiercely on Monday, preparing themselves for the upcoming primary election in Texas and Ohio. Clinton made several stops in Ohio before heading to Texas where Obama was also campaigning hard for a final showdown before the voters started polling. In the Republican camp, John McCain is expected to win his campaign nomination. McCain hopes to win the 250 delegates that are at stake in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island to win the GOP’s nomination at the national convention in September.

The primaries of Ohio and Texas are crucial for Clinton, if she is to ride over the momentum that the Obama campaign is gaining. Obama has currently had 11 consecutive wins that have pulled him ahead of Clinton. Clinton may face some pressure to step aside from the race for her party nomination if she looses.

There are 370 delegates for the Democrats to win from Texas and Ohio. While Clinton enjoyed an early lead in these States, Obama’s campaign has managed to gain enough momentum to overtake her.

Clinton remains un-perplexed with regard to the outcome of these two primaries. She vowed to carry on her campaign even if she did not secure wins in these two states. Clinton stated that she did not believe that the primaries were a make or break event. She told reporters that she was looking forward to the contest in Ohio and that she was just warming up. Clinton has been focusing her attacks over the weekend on Obama’s foreign policy and his inexperience in handling issues of national security. She underlined this fact by referring to one of her campaign advertisements that asked who would respond better to a national emergency in the middle of the night.

Obama refuted Clinton’s attacks by questioning the kind of foreign policy experience Clinton claims to have. Obama indicated that he felt that Clinton should reconsider continuing her campaign if she lost in the primaries of Texas and Ohio. Where delegates are concerned, Obama has secured 1,385 delegates to Clinton’s 1,276.  The total number of delegates required to win the Democratic Party’s nomination at its national convention is 2025.

Hillary Will Continue Campaigning Against Obama

Senator Hillary Clinton’s camp has shot down all talk of moving out of the Presidential trail after the pivotal March 4 nominating contests in Ohio and Texas, where competitor Senator Barack Obama is expected to land a knockout. Clinton’s decision followed talks by prominent politicians that she reexamine her contest prospects at this primary.

Several key politicians have suggested that Clinton fold her campaign if she fails to win the landslides in the contests. A prolonged Clinton-Obama combat, they believe, could work in favor of the likely Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.

Clinton’s communications chief, Howard Wolfson, insisted that the race would continue after this primary into the next key showdown in Pennsylvania in April and the Puerto Rico primary in June. “We’re going to win this nomination. This nomination fight is going to go forward after Ohio and Texas. We’re going to go to Pennsylvania, where a lot more Americans are going to vote, and we’re going to be the nominee in Denver,” he said.

Meanwhile, Obama is spending lavishly in Texas and Ohio, reportedly outspending Clinton by a ratio of about two to one on television ads, in the run-up to the March 4 primaries, in order to deliver a knockout blow to Clinton. This, combined with the extensive travel schedule all over Texas and Ohio, highlights the anticipation of the deciding nature of this voting.

Obama hopes to extend his current winning streak of 11 straight nominating contests. He has closed important Clinton leads in the past three weeks, with most polls having him in the lead in both states. In fact, he is said to have started planning the makeup of his Cabinet, which includes two prominent Republicans.

A total of 2,025 delegates are needed for victory at the Democrats’ convention. The current count of nominating delegates shows Obama leading by 1,389 to Clinton’s 1,279. The Democratic rivals are currently in Ohio. Polls reveal that the race is virtually tied in Ohio and Texas, and a shift in this deadlock will help decide the much-awaited Democratic contest.