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USN Current Issue Home > Nation & World > Politics

Political Bulletin
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All the Day's Political News From Newspapers, TV, Radio, and Magazines
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* Washington News

* Political News

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

CAMPAIGN NEWS
-------------

Clinton Camp Accuses Obama Of Plagiarism

Media outlets are treating the controversy over Sen. Barack Obama's
use of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's words in a speech Saturday
night in Wisconsin as a major story -- one that could affect the tight
primary race in Wisconsin. The Boston Globe reports that in his
Wisconsin speech, Obama said, "'I have a dream' - just words? 'We hold
these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -
just words?" The Globe says those lines "are very similar to
statements Patrick uttered during his 2006 campaign." CNN's The
Situation Room reported, "In an hour-long conference call pushing the
issue with reporters, the Clinton campaign said for Obama to use
Patrick's words without attribution -- quote 'calls into the question
the premise of Obama's candidacy.'" The Washington Post notes Howard
Wolfson, a senior adviser to Clinton, told reporters, "The point we're
making overall is that Senator Obama's record as a senator and as a
public official is thin. ... If you're asking an electorate to judge
you on your promises and you break them, and on your rhetoric and you
lift it, there are fundamental problems with your campaign." The
Politico adds that Wolfson said, "When an author plagiarizes from
another author there is damage done to two different parties. One is
to the person he plagiarized from. The other is to the reader."

The Financial Times reports, "In an attack designed to remind people
of Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 1988 presidential campaign after
his uncredited use of passages from Neil Kinnock, leader of the Labour
party opposition in the UK, the Clinton campaign said it raised
'fundamental questions' about the integrity of Mr Obama's campaign."
The Los Angeles Times reports that Clinton, "in response to a question
from reporters on her campaign plane, added her voice to her staff's
criticism of Obama. 'If your whole candidacy is about words, they
should be your own words,' she said. 'That's what I think.'"

The Washington Times says Patrick, "an Obama supporter, dismissed the
copycat charges as bogus since he has helped the campaign with
speechwriting and the two are close friends." The Chicago Tribune
reports that "Obama's campaign quickly countered that Clinton had
borrowed some of his phrases in her public appearances, such as 'Yes,
we can,' and 'Fired up and ready to go'" but Obama "appeared defensive
when asked whether his words are his own."

The network news broadcasts last night were not particularly
sympathetic to Clinton's charge, with two of them playing down its
importance. The CBS Evening News characterized it as a broader attack
on Obama as Clinton struggles to remain competitive, and shows a
Clinton supporter in Wisconsin saying, "There are things that are more
important, I think. I don't think it is that big of an issue." ABC
World News noted the Clinton charges, then showed former presidential
adviser David Gergen saying, "Plagiarism is way over the top.
Borrowed, yes. A mistake, very definitely. Acknowledge it, dumb
mistake, move on." Leading with the story, NBC Nightly News went a
step further, and showed Clinton engaging in similar behavior. After
noting Clinton's charge, it included, as part of its report, footage
cheap renters insurance Sen. Clinton at Coretta Scott King's funeral, using rhetoric
previously delivered by her husband. Clinton was shown saying, "And we
asked ourselves, will we say when the call comes 'send me'?" NBC
added, "Turns out that same phrase came out of a different mouth just
two years earlier, her husband's." Bill Clinton: "Say to him what he
has always said to America? Send me." NBC noted "it's a biblical
reference and a popular one but it shows just how hard it is for
anyone these days to be entirely original or entirely even keeled,
especially with so much at stake."

Clinton, Obama Battle In Wisconsin

Voters go to the polls today in the Wisconsin presidential primaries,
and Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigned across the state
yesterday looking for last minute votes. McClatchy reports Obama and
Clinton "carried their rivalry Monday across this ice-crusted state,
where notoriously hard-to-predict Democratic voters are primed to give
one of them a significant boost on Tuesday. ... Polls suggest that better auto insurance race is close. Clinton made last-minute adjustments in her Monday
schedule custom faces playing cards insurance quote spend all day campaigning here, instead of leaving
early as originally planned."

The New York Times says Clinton and Obama both "intensified their
populist economic appeals on Monday." The Times adds "many" of
Clinton's "applause lines reprise the rhetoric employed by" former
presidential candidate John Edwards. The AP reports that as emo style campaigned yesterday, Clinton released her economic plan, which
"resembles a populist manifesto -- with Clinton championing the needs
of working-class voters over corporate and business interests."

The AP reports that voting trends in Wisconsin "sketch a picture of a
state whose voters are practically tailor-made to resuscitate
Clinton's campaign. For starters, nine in 10 of Wisconsin's Democratic
voters in 2004 were white, far more than the six in 10 so far in this
year's primaries." And Clinton "has so far forged an 11 percentage
streetwear style advantage among whites, helping offset his lopsided edge among
blacks. ... Working class people, especially those who are white, are
another group Clinton has been carrying, and Wisconsin Democrats
include large proportions of them compared to the rest of the nation's
Democrats."

However, despite polls last week showing the race competitive and the
demographics many insure quote the state, Clinton's campaign is downplaying the
importance of the results. USA Today reports Clinton spokesman Howard
Wolfson "said the Wisconsin results should not be interpreted as a
measure of the campaign's volvo insurance because Ohio and Texas remain
important prizes."

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morning at 8 chinese tutor chicago Heavy Turnout Expected For Hawaii Caucuses

Democrats also go to the polls today life insurance Hawaii. The AP reports that
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton "are expected to draw long
lines and record turnout" in Hawaii's caucuses "as voters take
advantage of a rare opportunity to influence the tight contest for the
Democratic presidential nomination." Obama "is the presumed favorite
in the caucus because he was born in Hawaii and graduated from one of
its high schools. Labor unions and prominent Sen. Daniel Inouye are
backing Sen. Clinton." The Chicago Tribune reports that turnout could
"triple or even quadruple what it was in 1988," the current high-water
mark for Democratic caucus participation.

New Poll Shows Tight Race In Texas

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign has made it clear they need a win in
Texas to blunt Sen. Obama's momentum, but a new poll shows her only
narrowly leading Sen. Barack Obama. A CNN -Opinion Research Corp. poll
of 529 likely Texas Democratic voters conducted Feb. 14-17 shows
Clinton leading Obama 50%-48%.

Former President customized playing cards Endorses McCain

auto insurance more President George H.W. Bush's endorsement of Sen. John McCain is
getting extensive media coverage. Much of it says the current
president's father offered strong backing for the GOP frontrunner,
going as far as to criticize McCain's critics on the right. As NBC
Nightly News surfboard shape playing cards Bush "went beyond a simple endorsement." Bush
42 was shown saying, "No one is better prepared to lead our nation at
these trying times than Sen. John McCain." The former chief executive
also labeled "Republicans sniping at McCain 'annoying and unfair.'"
Said Bush, "I think the criticism on this conservative or indie fashion conservative is absurd." Bush was also seen as sending a "gentle
message" to Mike Huckabee, saying, "It can take a while for any
candidate to read the handwriting on the wall." In a brief report, the
CBS Evening News also noted Bush "urged conservatives to rally to
McCain, calling criticism of him grossly unfair."

The Los Angeles Times reports McCain "said he welcomed the Bush
endorsement and hoped it would help him rally the party behind him to
begin waging a battle against Democrats. 'We as a party must unite and
move forward and attract not only members of our own party but
independents and so-called Reagan Democrats,' McCain said, adding that
Democrats had been wrong when they said the surge in Iraq would not
work and should be held accountable for their position."

Another theme in the media coverage, first raised by yesterday's New
York Times, is the printed playing cards of how a close association with the Bushes
may help or hurt McCain. NBC Nightly News said "McCain is about to
find out the value of the Bush brand in this race for the White House,
as two generations, each with their own political successes and
political liabilities, pledged to help McCain win." In its lead story,
ABC World News reported McCain "has a dilemma. He needs George W.
Bush's support to help sure up the conservative Republican base that
has, thus far, refused to embrace him. But there could be risks to
being linked to a president with an approval rating hovering around
30%." ABC said the President's "main role in the fall campaign could
be fundraising and addressing conservative and evangelical voters with
who he remains popular."

The New York Times reports that "while some advisers to Mr. McCain
have suggested that he would be careful about when and how he appeared
with the president, Mr. McCain himself was more enthusiastic promo playing cards the
prospect on Monday." Said McCain, "I'd be honored to have President
George Bush's support, his endorsement, I'd be honored to be anywhere
with him under any circumstances."

Hutchison Takes Self Out Of Veepstakes

The Dallas Morning News reports, "A John McCain-Kay Bailey Hutchison
Republican presidential ticket? Don't count custom poker cards it." Texas Sen. Kay
Bailey Hutchison (R), who has frequently been mentioned as a potential
McCain running mate, "all but dismissed the possibility Monday
afternoon during a stop in Dallas." Hutchison said, "It's not
something I want. independent clothing so much more like to keep helping Texas. mandarin lessons chicago hope
I'm not in a position where I'm considered." Hutchison said she hadn't
"talked to Mr. McCain...about running with him, nor have they
discussed any of his prospective running mates."

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WASHINGTON NEWS
---------------

Musharraf Suffers Big Loss In Pakistan Elections

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, a key US ally in the war against
al Qaeda, appears to have emerged as the big loser in yesterday's
legislative elections in Pakistan. According to preliminary reports,
opposition parties will have overwhelming majorities in the Pakistani
legislature. In an ominous sign for American interests, USA Today is
reporting "Pakistan's next government could face intense public
emo fashion to reduce its cooperation with the US war on terror. Leaders
may have to choose between defying voters or defying their country's
patrons in Washington." While "Musharraf was not on the ballot...a
solid victory by opposition parties might lead him to back off his
unpopular crackdown on Islamist militants, says retired lieutenant
general Hamid Gul, former head of the intelligence service." Likewise,
the AP says Musharraf "was not on the ballot, but the election was
widely seen as a referendum on his eight-year rule -- including his
alliance with the United States in the war against terrorist groups
that many Pakistanis oppose."

The Financial Times reports Musharraf "looked set to become a lame
duck president," while the New York Times headlines its front-page
report "Pakistanis Deal Severe Defeat To Musharraf In Election," and
says the election results "were interpreted here as a repudiation of
Mr. Musharraf as well as the Bush administration." The election
"opened the prospect of a Parliament that would move to undo many of
Mr. Musharraf's policies and that may even try to remove him." The
"early edge," adds the Times, "went to the opposition Pakistan Peoples
Party, which seemed to benefit from a strong wave of sympathy in
reaction to the assassination of its leader, Benazir Bhutto, on Dec.
27, and may be in a position to form the next government." The Wall
Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Washington Times run auto insurance reports.

CIA Strike In Pakistan Was Model For Future Attacks Even as
Musharraf's backers went down in Pakistan's election, the Washington
Post examines in a 1,600-word front page story the January 29th
mission in which a CIA Predator aircraft crossed into Pakistan and
killed Abu Laith al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda commander. The strike
against al-Libi, the "first successful strike against al-Qaeda's core
leadership in two years," was conducted with "an unusual degree of
autonomy by the CIA inside Pakistan." The strike is described as "a
streetwear fashion of how Washington often scores its rare victories these days in
the fight against al-Qaeda inside Pakistan's national borders,"
particularly as the US "acts with assistance from well-paid
sympathizers inside the country, but without getting the government's
formal permission beforehand." The Post speculates that the strategy
of not seeking Pakistani approval "could be used more frequently this
year, particularly if a power vacuum results from yesterday's election
and associated political tumult."

A Hero's Welcome For Bush

President Bush may not be very popular at home or in many parts of the
globe but in Africa, he is being greeted as a savior. Furthermore, the
President is getting glowing coverage from poker cards media outlets for his
Africa policies. USA Today, for example, says that yesterday, in
Tanzania, "Bush was swept up in an outpouring of affection Monday," as
"tens of thousands lined the road to see him, one woman burst into a
dance of joy just from a hug and fierce-looking Maasai warriors leapt
and chanted in his honor. ... As Bush's motorcade sped back and forth
across the region, people lined almost the entire route several deep
just to watch him pass. On one stretch, locals had even strewn flowers
in the road."

Yesterday, says AFP, Bush "unveiled a new plan...to hand out millions
of cheap house insurance to defend every Tanzanian child aged one to five from the
mosquitoes that spread deadly malaria." ABC World News says the reason
behind Africans' enthusiasm is Bush's car insurance "to fight malaria, a
disease that kills a million African children under the age of five
every year. ... As he toured a malaria hospital," the President "was
welcomed as a hero. A warm reception for good reason: The $1.5 billion
anti-malaria program Mr. Bush launched in 2005 has shown dramatic
results. The program has reduced deaths in fifteen African nations and
in some countries, deaths have been cut by more than half." The CBS
Evening News noted the Administration "has spent nearly indie clothes a billion
dollars to fight chinese chicago in Africa, and even more in emo clothing battle
against AIDS." And all that spending is saving lives." That is the
"reason...Bush has gotten a hero's welcome" in Africa. The Wall Street
Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times and
Washington Times all run similar reports, casting Bush's efforts
against AIDS and malaria in a positive light.

The Christian Science Monitor says this morning, "Looking through the
lens of 2001, it might have been difficult to predict that Africa
would become the place on the planet where...Bush would be voted most
popular." But "in a recent poll by the Pew Research Center for People
& the Press, eight of the Top 10 nations that gave America the highest
approval ratings were African, a reflection of increases in American
aid as well as trust in its institutions and leadership. (The other
two nations in the Top 10? Israel, and America.)"

Castro Retires

AFP reports this morning Fidel Castro "resigned Tuesday as president
and commander in chief of Cuba in a message published in the online
version of the official daily Granma." Wrote Castro, "I neither will
aspire to nor will I accept -- full color playing cards repeat -- I neither will aspire to
nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state
and commander in chief."

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POLITICAL HUMOR
---------------

The Latest From Late Night Comedians

Jay Leno: "As you know, Hillary has lost the last eight primaries in a
row. So any crying you see from now on is going to be real."

David Letterman: "I like John McCain. He looks like an old guy in a
coffee shop who is still complaining about the designated hitter."

Conan O'Brien: "There's a big campaign scandal brewing. I don't know
if you've heard about this, but Hillary Clinton's campaign is accusing
Barack Obama of plagiarizing a speech by the governor of
Massachusetts. Yeah. Yeah, and they cheap auto insurance have a point because Barack's
speech was entitled, 'I Love Chowda.'"

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02/19/2008 2:10 PM

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