An Open Email from Hillary Rodham Clinton

As much as I enjoy talking to you by email, there are times in this campaign when I wish you and I could sit down right next to one another and just talk. This is one of those moments.

Despite the spirited efforts of our online community, we are facing a serious financial disadvantage against the Obama campaign. In February alone, they were able to spend $10 million more than we were.

If we were talking together right now, here's what I would tell you. At this critical moment, our campaign needs a public show of strength that only you can provide. What you do right now could determine the outcome of Pennsylvania and beyond.

Will you act immediately to help us close the fundraising gap by making a contribution? Your action is vital to our chances for victory.

We need a massive show of support by midnight Saturday. Contribute now to help us win in Pennsylvania and beyond.

I am seeing incredible enthusiasm for our campaign and our ideas from people across Pennsylvania. I know that on a level playing field, you and I will be successful, just as we were in Texas, Ohio, and other states big and small across the nation.

But only an immediate infusion of financial support from you and others like you can give my campaign the resources needed to turn our hard-earned political momentum into victory in Pennsylvania and beyond.

We need to raise every dollar we can by midnight Saturday. Contribute now to make a difference.

All through this remarkable experience, the success of our campaign has been as much in your hands as it is in mine. And that has never been more true than it is right now.

I'm really counting on hearing from you.

Sincerely,


Hillary Rodham Clinton

Clinton gaining an edge on health care issue

By Jason Szep - Analysis

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama often says his rival Hillary Clinton would force people into buying health care "whether they could afford it or not."

But pollsters and health industry experts say a steep U.S. economic slowdown or recession could help Clinton's battle with Obama for the U.S. presidential nomination by playing to one of her perceived strengths: that she would be better than Obama at controlling surging health care costs.

Health care and other economic issues gave Clinton an edge in Ohio's primary on March 4 when the New York senator, who would be America's first female president, beat a surging Obama, the Illinois senator who would the first black president, exit polls showed.

Many of the same forces are at work in the Pennsylvania contest on April 22, the biggest remaining fight in the Democratic race. Her campaign hopes to repeat her success in Ohio, in part by focusing on her $110 billion universal health care plan as the U.S. economy stumbles.

"When voters say they are worried about the economy, health care is what an awful lot of them are really worried about," said Clay Richards, an assistant director at the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in Connecticut.

"They see Clinton as the candidate with far more experience in the field," he said.

'ALMOST PARADOXICAL'

But that experience, he noted, includes Clinton's dramatic failure in 1993 to reform U.S. health care, which many Americans felt overstepped the role of first lady.

"It's almost paradoxical that she had a plan that failed and that she is seen as more experienced and the better candidate on health care," he said.

A Quinnipiac survey of Pennsylvania released on Tuesday showed Clinton widening her lead from 6 to 12 percentage points over Obama. Democrats in the state preferred Clinton on health care by a 56 percent to 38 percent margin, it said.

"Pennsylvania has traditionally had an older female electorate which is the number one group of voters for Clinton, number one group of voters for health care, and the number one group of voters who tend to think Clinton is better on health care," said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster not affiliated with either candidate.

But Lake and other experts question whether health care or any single issue will dramatically alter the state-by-state race for delegates to the party's nominating convention in August, where the candidate for the November election will be chosen. Obama has led in the delegate count for weeks.

"Clinton would be in a worse position were it not for the rise of economic issues like health care," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster who is not affiliated with a campaign. "But I don't think issues are going to decide this race."

At campaign stops, Clinton calls universal health care a core Democratic value.

"In order to be competitive we've got to have a health care system that covers everybody, doesn't leave anybody out and which begins to lower costs for everyone," she told a rally in Pennsylvania on March 10.

SURGING COSTS

Americans who have health insurance have seen double-digit increases each year for much of the past decade. The number who go without it has reached to nearly 47 million, or about 16 percent of the population, Census Bureau figures show.

People without insurance spend roughly $125 billion on health care annually, with about a third of that amount -- $40 billion -- going unpaid, a debt largely covered by the government, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study.

Both Clinton and Obama would seek to make health insurance more affordable, and both aim for universal coverage. Both would require private insurers to offer policies to everyone regardless of medical history, and both would allow people to buy government-sponsored insurance.

But Clinton would mandate that everyone acquire health care coverage, just as all automobile drivers must carry insurance. Obama would require only children to be covered and says people will buy insurance if it becomes affordable.

"I don't think the public perceives an enormous difference between the two, though there are differences of course," said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and a former policy adviser to ex-President Bill Clinton.

"Do I expect the Democratic nomination to turn on the issue of health care? No," Galston said.

But he expects "a resurgence in public debate once the general election is joined in earnest" because there are stark differences between the Democrats' health care plans and that of Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate.

McCain's plan emphasizes containing costs rather than covering the uninsured, proposing a tax credit of $2,500 to low-income individuals and $5,000 to low-income families who obtain their own insurance.

"The cost of health care is unlikely to go away and is certain to figure prominently in the general election," Galston said.

Clinton takes lead over Obama in Gallup poll

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has moved into a significant lead over Barack Obama for the first time in weeks in the race for the party nomination, according to a Gallup poll.

The March 14-18 national survey of 1,209 Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters gave Clinton, a New York senator, a 49 percent to 42 percent edge over Obama, an Illinois senator. The poll has an error margin of 3 percentage points.

Gallup said it was the first statistically significant lead for Clinton since a tracking poll conducted February 7-9, just after the Super Tuesday primaries. The two candidates had largely been locked in a statistical tie since then, with Obama last holding a lead over Clinton in a March 11-13 poll.

Gallup said polling data also showed presumptive Republican nominee John McCain leading Obama 47 percent to 43 percent in 4,367 registered voters' preferences for the general election. The general election survey has an error margin of 2 percentage points.

Out of Iraq Caucus Members Step Up to Defend Clinton

Sixteen Democratic members of the Out of Iraq Caucus stepped up to defend Hillary Clinton’s record on the Iraq war, issuing an open letter Tuesday asserting Clinton is the ideal candidate to bring the war to a “responsible” end.

The letter came after Clinton accused Barack Obama, her Democratic presidential primary opponent, and John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, of pursuing flawed approaches to managing the forces in Iraq. The New York senator followed that up with a “bringing our troops home” campaign event Tuesday, where she was flanked by Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson and his wife, outed CIA agent Valerie Plame.

“We believe there is no higher priority for the next president of the United States than ending this war, and we believe there is no one better prepared and more committed to bringing this war to a responsible conclusion than Hillary Clinton,” Clinton’s congressional supporters said in the letter.

The authors — including Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, California Rep. Lynn Woolsey and California Rep. Maxine Waters — claimed Clinton offered the most comprehensive strategy for Iraq and had stiffly challenged the Pentagon to plan for troop withdrawals.

“We support Hillary Clinton because she is the candidate with the stature, strength, and experience needed to end this war as quickly and responsibly as possible,” the caucus members wrote.

Clinton on Tuesday said a well-planned troop withdrawal is the only path to a political solution in Iraq. She was preceded by endorsements from Wilson and Plame, who said that after years of “character assassination,” she learned from Clinton that their fight wasn’t about them but how to conduct the debate and find the leadership to get the U.S. out of Iraq.

In her speech Monday, Clinton claimed McCain would just prolong President Bush’s strategy for as long as “100 years.” She said Obama only followed through on his 2002 speech opposing the war in Iraq when he started to run for president, and that his commitment to swiftly bringing the troops home is uncertain.

In response, Obama said Monday that it’s “not enough to stand up and say you’re ready on day one, you need to be right on day one.” He said Clinton voted to authorize war and so has lost the authority to complain about its execution.

Hillary Stirs Pennsylvania Crowd into a Frenzy

Hillary Clinton stirred a crowd at Millersville University into a near-frenzy Tuesday night when she promised to scrap the federal No Child Left Behind Act if she's elected president this November.

"I know we can do better than that," she said. "I know we can have a better partnership between our president and our teachers and our families and our communities. I do not think we get the best educational outcomes by turning our children into little test-takers."

Clinton, the junior senator from New York and former first lady, swung through Lancaster County on Tuesday, holding a sometimes raucous rally in MU's packed Pucillo Gymnasium, which can hold about 3,500 people.

While at Millersville, a noted teachers' college, she pushed for investing money in pre-kindergarten programs and measures to ease the burden of student loans for college students.

No Child Left Behind is an initiative of President Bush's that requires schools to meet standards measured by a series of student tests.

Clinton is locked in a tight race for the Democratic presidential nomination with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Pennsylvania is the next major primary, with voters casting ballots April 22.

During a one-on-one interview with the Intelligencer Journal after her 40-minute speech, Clinton talked about Iraq, Democratic superdelegates and other ongoing campaign issues.

Concerning Iraq, Clinton has said she will withdraw U.S. troops within 60 days of taking office if she is elected president. She said, however, that pulling out troops may not stabilize that country.

Clinton camp: Obama 'foot-dragging' in Mich., Fla.

The Clinton campaign is calling on the Obama campaign to endorse “do-over’’ primary elections in Michigan and Florida, whose Democratic parties have been stripped of their delegates to the summer convention for holding rule-busting January primaries.

Florida has given up on the idea of a do-over, with little enthusiasm for the mail-in primary on June 3 that state party leaders approved and no money from the state to call another full-scale primary election. IAnd the re-do appears doomed in Michigan, where legislative leaders say they cannot act on authorization for a new, June 3 primary unless the Obama campaign supports it.

The Obama campaign has insisted that he played by the rules in bypassing campaigning in Michigan and Florida when the DNC acted to punish them for early votes. The Clinton campaign insists it is game for do-overs.

"Hillary Clinton wants a primary. She has been on record for weeks,'' said Harold Ickes, senior adviser to the Clinton campaign. "So why is there a holdup?... Sen. Obama... End of story.''

Obama's lead over Clinton narrows: Reuters poll

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama's big national lead over Hillary Clinton has all but evaporated in the U.S. presidential race, and both Democrats trail Republican John McCain, according a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Bill Clinton: Hillary is trusting us to do our part!

The Obama campaign is already on the air with their first ad in Pennsylvania, putting their fundraising advantage to work. They're going to spend every dollar they've got to end this race in Pennsylvania, and we can't let that happen.

In Texas and Ohio, your incredible support kept us competitive, and today this race is close thanks to what you did for Hillary.

Now the Obama campaign is going to do everything they can to try to beat Hillary in Pennsylvania. They're going to try to outspend us 3-1 on the air -- and their first ads are already up and running.

We cannot let them have that advantage. Hillary needs your help now to level the playing field in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Contribute now to help Hillary win.

You and I trust Hillary to lead America in a bold new direction -- to fix the problems George Bush leaves behind and to accomplish goals we once thought were out of reach.

Hillary is trusting us to make sure she has the resources she needs to win. We need to get up on the air in Pennsylvania to match Obama's spending, and Hillary is depending on you to help.

We can't let this race be decided by a fundraising advantage.

Contribute now to level the playing field in Pennsylvania and beyond.

With your help, Hillary can win in Pennsylvania on April 22 and go all the way to the White House. It all depends on what you do today, so please act now to help Hillary win.

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

Hillary: Ready to End the War in Iraq

Today at the George Washington University, in a major speech ahead of the five year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, Hillary Clinton outlined new proposals that build on her three-part plan to end the war responsibly. Five years after the start of the war, we have come to a crossroads. The war has sapped our military and economic strength, damaged U.S. national security, taken the lives of almost 4,000 brave young men and women in uniform, and placed a lasting toll on the tens of thousands of wounded, many with invisible injuries like Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The George W. Bush-John McCain strategy is to continue this failed policy. We need to end this war and bring our troops home. We need to press the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country. We need to rebuild our alliances and enlist the international community in securing stability in Iraq and the region.

To read the full transcript of Hillary's speech at The George Washington University, click here.

To learn more about Hillary Clinton’s record on ending the war in Iraq, click here.

We need a Commander-in-Chief who is both committed to ending this war and who has the strength, experience, and leadership to do it the right way. Hillary Clinton is that candidate. As President, she will:

I. Start Bringing Our Troops Home

Bring Our Troops Home. As President, one of Hillary's first official actions will be to convene the Joint Chiefs of Staff, her Secretary of Defense, and her National Security Council. She will direct them to draw up a clear, comprehensive plan for withdrawal that starts removing our troops within 60 days. The plan for withdrawal will incorporate the most effective on-the-ground strategies and tactics to move personnel and equipment efficiently out of combat zones and then out of the country, and will focus on protecting our troops and reducing the risk of attacks as they come home

Hillary knows that as we bring our troops and contractors home, we cannot lose sight of our very real strategic interests in this region. Al Qaeda terrorist cells continue to operate in Iraq, cells that did not exist before President Bush’s failed policy. Under Hillary’s plan the United States will retain counterterrorism forces in Iraq and the region to fight al Qaeda and will not permit terrorists to have a safe haven in Iraq from which to attack the United States or its allies.

Protecting Those Who Protect Us. As President, Hillary will ensure that our troops receive sufficient time at home between deployments to rest, reconnect with their families, and receive appropriate training for their next mission.

• Reduce Strains on Our Troops. The war is placing tremendous strain on our armed forces, courting strategic risks posed by a force that is stretched to the breaking point. As President, Hillary will adopt the recommendations of Rep. John Murtha to ensure that our Army troops have as much time at home as they have spent deployed. So for every month they spend in the field, they will be guaranteed one month here at home. Our Marines will have a similar standard appropriate for their service in the Corps. As President, Hillary will also require that the Secretary of Defense certify to the Congress full combat-brigade readiness before they are deployed.

• Assess Impact of Iraq Deployments on Readiness. In the Senate, Hillary won approval of measures to provide greater transparency about the strains on our armed forces, particularly in light of deployments in Iraq. Her amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the ability of ground forces to meet the requirements of increased force levels in Iraq and Afghanistan and to identify and evaluate strategic and operational risks. As President, she will direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a readiness strategy that responds to the findings of these assessments.

Remove Armed Private Military Contractors in Iraq. As U.S. troops begin to withdraw, we should not be leaving unaccountable, often irresponsible private military contractors to carry arms and engage in combat-oriented missions and security functions. Hillary has co-sponsored the Stop Security Outsourcing Act, which seeks to end this practice. As President, Hillary will work toward a ban on armed private military contractors providing security for diplomatic personnel and performing mission-critical functions.

Stop Wasting Money on No-Bid Contracts. Spending on federal contracts has been the fasting-growing part of the discretionary budget over the past six years, yet has received little attention. Under this Administration, the number of no-bid contracts has more than doubled, and between 2000 and 2006, spending on these contracts has increased 121 percent to $103 billion, representing more than half of federal procurement spending. During this time, companies like Halliburton have enjoyed record profits, thanks to a 700 percent increase in taxpayer funds awarded to them. A recent Congressional report identified a wide range of contracts, running into the hundreds of billions of dollars, where federal auditors found massive overcharges, wasteful spending, and poor oversight. Hillary has proposed a measure that would create a new “point of order” against any spending bill in Fiscal 2009 that does not explicitly require a federal agency’s compliance with competitive contracting rules. As President, Hillary will work to ensure that this becomes law and that we stop wasting money on no-bid contracts.

II. Secure stability in Iraq as we Bring our Troops Home.

Greater political and economic stability means safer conditions for our departing troops and a smoother disengagement from our military’s missions across Iraq. In order to foster stability as U.S. troops begin to redeploy, Hillary will focus on political reconciliation inside Iraq and holding the Iraqi government accountable for political and economic progress. She will:

Call Upon the United Nations to Play a Greater Role in Addressing Domestic Strife in Iraq. As President, Hillary will press the United Nations to play a central role in bringing about national accommodation in Iraq, as it did with positive results in Bosnia, East Timor, and elsewhere. Not having been a party to the mistakes of the past five years, the UN, which has already provided valuable technical assistance to Iraq, is far more likely to be viewed as a neutral, honest broker than the United States – especially when it acts on behalf of a broad coalition of concerned states and the international community. The new UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has indicated he is willing to play a key role in assisting the Iraqis, and Hillary will ensure that the UN envoy in Iraq has the necessary authority by obtaining the Security Council’s explicit endorsement of a strengthened UN mandate to promote reconciliation.

Pursue an Integrated Strategy to Bring Stability to Iraq. The surge has emphasized a bottom-up strategy that has reduced violence in the short term but, in the absence of an effective national strategy, risks deepening sectarian divisions within Iraq in the long run. For example, the United States has established and armed local security elements – the Awakening in Anbar, for example, and other “Concerned Local Citizens” elsewhere – without getting the Iraqi government to live up to its agreement to integrate significant numbers of these local militias and “volunteers” into provincial police forces or the national Army. As President, Hillary will pursue a strategy that seeks to empower local leaders, but she will prioritize national accommodation, which is essential to stability. She will do this by using U.S. and international influence and assistance as leverage to press the Iraqis to reach agreement on key issues, including provincial elections, the hydrocarbon law, and on the overall nature of federalism. Hillary will press the United Nations into a central role in this effort.

Appoint a Special Counsel to Make Reconstruction Funds Accountable. As Iraq’s oil production increases, the potential revenue accumulated from oil production should increasingly fund Iraq’s reconstruction, instead of U.S. taxpayer money. Since 2006, Iraq has earned more than $80 billion from oil, and that figure is growing rapidly. Nevertheless, since the beginning of the war, the U.S. has provided roughly the same amount of money as the Iraqi government to rebuild the country (the United States has appropriated roughly $47 billion; the government of Iraq $50 billion). Even as we send billions to Iraq while they earn billions in oil revenues, there are increasing reports that the Iraqi government is not spending its budget allocated for reconstruction. The Comptroller General of the U.S. testified that the capital expenditure rate for the central ministries in Iraq was only 7% as of November 2007. Hillary is committed to ensuring that Iraqi oil revenue is dedicated to reconstruction funding – and that the money is actually spent, so that Iraqi citizens receive basic services, such as electricity and clean drinking water, which are currently lacking for so many. As President, Hillary will appoint a special counsel to investigate where Iraq’s oil profits are going and how reconstruction funds are being spent – or not spent. She will ensure that reconstruction funds are spent wisely before providing the Iraqi government with more.

Combat the Black Market in Oil to Dry Up Funds for the Insurgency. Corruption and stolen oil sold on the black market constitute a critical funding source for the insurgency. As President, Hillary will boost joint U.S.-Iraqi efforts to combat corruption and protect the oil supply. She will direct her Secretary of Defense to plan a nationwide U.S.-Iraqi crackdown on oil black marketers, ensuring that U.S. and Iraqi personnel have the resources and manpower necessary. This effort will be designed to disrupt lines of funding for the insurgency, to increase stability, and to reduce attacks on our troops during the withdrawal. Hillary will direct the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction to conduct regular reports on corruption in the oil industry. She will be prepared to withhold portions of aid if the Iraqi government does not show meaningful results in its anti-corruption efforts. Finally, Hillary will double the funding for oil pipeline exclusion zones, which prevent illegal tapping and attacks on pipelines; and she will also provide resources to stop cross-border smuggling of black market oil.

III. A New Regional Diplomatic Initiative

Enlist the International Community to Stabilize the Region. Our allies and friends in the region all have a stake in a stable Iraq. Until now, in part because of the way the Bush Administration has behaved, they have gotten a free pass. No longer. As President, Hillary will have a unique opportunity to reach out to our allies and partners in the region and press them to take greater responsibility for what happens in Iraq. She will hold a major regional stabilization meeting early on in her Presidency. This group will be composed of key allies, other global powers, and all of the states bordering Iraq. The mission of this group will be to develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq. In advance of that meeting, Hillary will confer with our treaty allies as well as our friends in the region to coordinate policy before gathering with the larger group of nations. One of her first international meetings as President will be with these leaders, including Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as our European allies in order to push for greater responsible action towards Iraq, including more assistance. This will send a strong signal of our country’s determination – as we draw down our forces – to ensure that the rest of the world plays its part in stabilizing Iraq. Hillary will then convene a regional stabilization group composed of key allies, other global powers, and all of the states bordering Iraq. The mission of this group will be to develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq.

Provide for Refugees. As our forces redeploy out of Iraq, Hillary will also organize a multi-billion dollar international effort under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to address the needs of Iraqi refugees. The UN will also play a role, helping to deal with the resettlement of refugees and others displaced from their homes, a number which now exceeds four million. With the price of oil at record levels, the government of Iraq now has considerable financial resources available. As President, Hillary will also press the UN to establish a mechanism by which some of those Iraqi funds could be used to feed, clothe, shelter, and otherwise provide for these millions of refugees. Addressing the upheaval caused by this displacement will facilitate a smoother exit and a less risky end to the war.

Congressman Wexler Awarded Backbone Award Florida Congressman Honored for Standing Up for the Constitution ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, March 18, 9 PM For more information contact Bill Moyer (206) 356-9980 or Luis Cuevas On Monday at the Deerfield Democratic Club in Broward County Florida Congressman Robert Wexler, who represents the 19th Congressional District of Florida, was honored with the prestigious Backbone Award. Sheldon Packer and Luis Cuevas of Progressive Democrats of America collaborated with the Backbone Campaign to organize the presentation. Rep. Wexler was very pleased to accept the Award. The large and pleasantly surprised crowd of over 100 persons responded with a standing ovation. The Award was presented after Wexler's speech to the group. "He was both eloquent and passionate," said Luis Cuevas of Progressive Democrats of America. "He promised to help enact a universal healthcare bill on the first day of the 2009 Congressional session and vowed to continue to push for impeachment hearings and to bring Dick Cheney to justice," said Cuevas. Wexler was nominated for and awarded the Backbone Award for his leadership in the House Judiciary Committee. The award inscription reads: Backbone Award Honorable Congressman Robert Wexler In Gratitude for Your Leadership in Defense of the Separation of Powers & The Supremacy of the Constitution of the United States. From The Backbone Campaign & Progressive Democrats of America<br> Over the past months Representative Wexler has led the charge within Congress and specifically within the House Judiciary Committee to insist that impeachment be put back "on the table" in defense of the Constitution and for the Separation of Powers outlined within it to be re-established. During a recent hearing with Attorney General Mukasey Rep. Wexler pressed the A.G. asking whether he would enforce a contempt citation against the administration for ignoring Congressional subpoenas. When Mukasey said that he would not, Rep. Wexler challenged him on whether he was the People's lawyer or the President's lawyer. Mukasey avoided the question. Watch the exchange here. The CSPAN clip linked to the image on the left again demonstrates the kind of bold stands Wexler is taking on the floor of the Congress. "This is the kind of leadership that the Backbone Campaign expects from our Representatives," says Bill Moyer, Executive Director and co-founder of the Backbone Campaign. "We the People have been ahead of congress too many times in the past eight years. Whether is was the Gonzales confirmation, Judge appointments, illegal un-provoked invasions and occupations, domestic spying or any number of issues. It's time Congress catch up. Americans must reestablish the bed-rock of our democracy, the rule of law and the limitations on Executive Power as outlined in the Constitution. Setting a precedent of accountability NOT impunity is the way to do that," concluded Moyer.

About the Backbone Award: The Backbone Campaign provides creative tools to the progressive movement to spark the strategic political engagement of progressives through a media-savvy, culturally rich, and inclusive activist art project. A key part of this project is to honor courageous, progressive elected officials and citizen activists by presenting them with Backbone Awards and Spine Awards. In so doing, we affirm the relationship between representatives and constituents, and the importance of courageous, principled actions taken at politically lonely moments. Our intention is to reward those who rise to the challenge at this crucial historical moment, in support of a broad movement aligned with the principles and positions articulated in our Progressive Platform. View Award Criteria and past recipients here.

Click here for more information

Read how Ted Kennedy Flip-flopped on Hillary's Work on SCHIP

Individuals who oppose Hillary Clinton's candidacy for president but previously lauded her role in helping create SCHIP, are now belittling her involvement.

Earlier, her role was very clear. From an October 6, 2007 Associated Press article:

The effort was revived, with Kennedy, Hatch and a coalition of advocacy groups ranging from the Children's Defense Fund to the Girl Scouts lobbying hard. Kennedy made a special appeal to the first lady, who added her pressure anew.

"The children's health program wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue," Kennedy told The Associated Press.

President Clinton signed the bill in August 1997.

While Kennedy is widely viewed as the driving force behind the program, by all accounts the former first lady's pressure was crucial.

"She wasn't a legislator, she didn't write the law, and she wasn't the president, so she didn't make the decisions," says Nick Littlefield, then a senior health adviser to Kennedy. "But we relied on her, worked with her and she was pivotal in encouraging the White House to do it."

From an August 11, 2000, New York Times article:

Among her other accomplishments, Mrs. Clinton said she helped to initiate and promote the Children's Health Insurance Program, created by Congress in 1997 to provide $24 billion over five years to states to insure children.

"She was a one-woman army inside the White House to get this done," Mr. Littlefield of the Health, Education and Labor Committee said. He said that he and Senator Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who was the major force behind the bill, enlisted Mrs. Clinton's help in the spring of 1997 when the president became "skittish" about the program. Mr. Littlefield said the Senate majority leader, Trent Lott, was threatening that it was a "deal buster" on the balanced budget agreement that he and Mr. Clinton had reached.

"At that point we went to Mrs. Clinton and said, 'You've got to get the president to come around on this thing,' " Mr. Littlefield said. "And she said, 'Absolutely.' And we very quickly noticed a change. The president was very much on board."

Obama's Changing Story on His Relationship With Rezko

“Sen. Obama’s campaign is based on words and he is asking the public to base their votes for him on those words. But what we’ve been seeing over the last few weeks, as the media starts looking at Senator Obama’s record more closely, is that those words often seem to change. The latest example of this trend involves Tony Rezko. Throughout this campaign, we’ve heard Senator Obama routinely downplay his relationship with Mr. Rezko even though news accounts make it clear that Senator Obama hasn’t been straightforward when it comes to their relationship.” - Campaign Spokesperson Phil Singer

1.) Senator Obama’s insistence that Mr. Rezko was simply one of "thousands of donors" turned into an admission that this indicted political fixer was someone Senator Obama spoke to on the phone everyday:

April - Obama insists that Rezko is just one of ‘thousands of donors” Moderator: You've promised in your campaign a new kind of politics, but just this week the Chicago Sun-Times reported on questionable ties you have with a donor who was charged last year for demanding kickbacks on Illinois business deals. Aren't you practicing the very same kind of politics that many of the others on this stage have engaged in?
Obama: Well, not all, we have thousands of donors. This donor engaged in some ethical (sic) behavior and I have denounced it. [SC Democratic Debate, 4/26/07]

11 months later, Obama admits he talked daily with Rezko when helping to raise money for Obama’s Campaigns. “Obama said he and Rezko used to meet for breakfast or lunch a few times each year, but they might talk daily when Rezko was helping raise money for Obama's campaigns.” [Chicago Sun Times, 3/15/08]

2.) Senator Obama’s claim that his real estate transaction was unrelated to that of Mr. Rezko turned into an admission that Senator Obama and Tony Rezko did in fact jointly tour both properties together:

November 2006 - Obama vaguely describes Rezko’s purchase of adjacent lot as a coincidence. ‘I don't recall exactly what our conversations were or where I first learned, and I am not clear what the circumstances were where he made a decision that he was interested in the property I may have mentioned to him the name of [a developer and] he may at that point have contacted that person. I'm not clear about that.’ [Chicago Tribune, 11/1/06]

Over a year later, Obama campaign admits that Obama and Rezko toured the property together. Before he bought his South Side mansion in 2005, Sen. Barack Obama took his friend and fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko on a tour of the premises to make sure it was a good deal, Obama's campaign revealed Monday [Chicago Tribune, 2/19/08]

3.) Senator Obama’s claim that "no one had an inkling" about Mr. Rezko’s legal problems at the time they purchased that land turned into an admission that he had in fact known about Mr. Rezko had legal problems at the time of the transactions:

January - Sen. Obama said 'no one had an inkling he was involved in any problems' at the time of his relationship with Rezko. Obama on Rezko: He was somebody who I knew and had been a supporter for many years. He was somebody who had supported a wide range of candidates all throughout Illinois. Nobody had an inkling that he was involved in any problems. [CBS, Chicago Sun-Times, 1/23/08]

Two months later, Obama admits he was aware of Rezko’s legal problems in 2005. After news reports of Rezko's questionable political dealings first emerged in 2005, Obama said he asked his friend about them. Rezko assured him there was nothing wrong. "My instinct was to believe him," he said. [Chicago Sun-Times, 3/15/08]

4.) The Obama campaign’s regular claims that Mr. Rezko only raised $150,000 turned into an admission reported that he in fact had raised at least $100,000 more than had previously been disclosed:

January - Obama campaign says donation of $149,985 to charity encompasses ‘any and all funds that could be reasonably credited to Mr. Rezko.’ Campaign Spokesperson Bill Burton said, “By refunding these donations, the campaign has returned any and all funds that could be reasonably credited to Mr. Rezko's political support." With the latest donations, Obama has returned a total of $149,985 in contributions from Rezko and his associates since Rezko was indicted on federal fraud charges in the fall of 2006. [ABC, 1/30/08]

Two months later, Obama admits that Rezko raised $250,000. In a 90-minute interview with Tribune reporters and editors, Obama disclosed that Rezko had raised more for Obama's earlier political campaigns than previously known, gathering as much as $250,000 for the first three offices he sought. [Chicago Tribune, 3/15/08]

Sen. Bradley Falsely Claims That Sen. Obama Has Revealed 8 Years Of Income Tax Returns, All Earmarks

Today, Sen. Bill Bradley falsely claimed that "Barack Obama has revealed his income tax returns for the last eight years." In fact, Sen. Obama has released one year. ABC News reports:

But it's not as though all Obama's returns from his entire time as a US Senator are available. Will Obama release all of those returns or, next month, his 2007 tax returns?

That's unclear.

So when the Obama campaign says Clinton should release her returns, it just means for 2006?

Apparently so.

"We've said she should release her tax returns from last year, like we have done," says Obama spox Bill Burton...

As for any pre-2006 or 2007 returns, Burton says he "will keep you posted."

Sen. Bradley also claimed that Sen. Obama has "revealed all of his earmarks - all the earmarks that he sponsored." That's also false. Sen. Obama refuses to release the vast majority of earmarks he requested as a state senator. AP reports:

Sen. Barack Obama is open about the pet projects he's tucked into federal legislation, but it's a different story when it comes to the extra spending he added to state budgets while serving in the Illinois Legislature.

Public records reveal some of the projects he sponsored as a state senator, from literacy programs and park improvements to drill team uniforms and jazz-appreciation events. They add up to more than $6 million.

But that covers just two of Obama's nearly eight years in the Illinois Senate.

While silent about Obama's spending in Illinois, his campaign has criticized Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for withholding similar information about her years in the U.S. Senate.

The list of U.S. Senate earmarks requests Sen. Obama recently released also does not appear to include a number of requests he made jointly with Sen. Durbin.

Hillary and Ireland

oday, Hillary Clinton joined with Irish-Americans at Saint Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations in Scranton and Pittsburgh. Her visit came on the heels of a meeting with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward, where she discussed the status of the peace process, the work of the new devolved government, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Northern Ireland.

As President, Hillary is committed to achieving lasting peace and reconciliation and to supporting the Northern Ireland government, building on her 13 years of working for peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

“As the 10-year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, I salute the brave and tireless efforts of the parties to the pact, and the contributions of so many citizens to the resolution of the conflict and the achievement of peace,” said Clinton. “As President, my administration will deepen and strengthen ties between the United States and Northern Ireland, and between the people of the United States and those who live on the island of Ireland.”

Hillary’s presidential agenda builds on her long record. She traveled to Northern Ireland seven times between 1995 and 2004, and gave what Northern Irish leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume recently described as “decisive support” to the peace process in Northern Ireland. Her work at the grassroots and behind-the-scenes helped cultivate the conditions necessary for the peace to take hold and last.

In fact, in recent days several people deeply involved in the peace process noted Hillary Clinton’s contributions. For example, in a recent interview in the Irish Times, Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein, said, “Senator Clinton played an important role in the peace process…I met the senator on many occasions when she was First Lady, and subsequently when she became a senator for New York State. I always found her to be extremely well informed on the issues.”

In an article published this week in the Irish-American paper, Irish Voice, Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland said, “She made a huge contribution towards lifting the esteem of women in our society by the fact of seeing someone of such high office taking an interest and concern in them. I think the events in Ireland at that time were incredible and remarkable and she certainly played an important part.”

Two More Top Pennsylvania Leaders Endorse Hillary Clinton For President

Pittsburgh Mayor; Allegheny County Chief Executive Join Clinton Today to Announce Support

PITTSBURGH, PA - Today, Hillary Clinton received the endorsements of two more prominent Pennsylvania leaders, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

"I am honored to have these two incredible Pennsylvania leaders in my corner," said Senator Clinton. "Their leadership and efforts to revitalize Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are commendable. The people of this state need a plan they can count on, results that can rely on, and a champion they can depend on. I will be that President for them."

Dan Onorato grew up on Pittsburgh's North Side, was elected to Pittsburgh City Council in 1991, and re-elected in 1995. In 1999, he successfully ran for Allegheny County Controller and spent four years being a watchdog against wasteful spending and fraud.

"For too long this country has been adrift without the leadership or the vision we need to put us back on track," observed Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. "Hillary Clinton has the experience and the determination to clean up the mess in Washington and deliver results. For Allegheny County and for Pennsylvania, we need her in the White House. I am proud to support her and I'll do whatever it takes to make Hillary Clinton the next President."

Luke Ravenstahl, 28, was elected Mayor of Pittsburgh in November 2007, during a special election held to determine who would serve out the remaining two-year term of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor. The Pittsburgh native, who had served on City Council since 2003, holds the distinction of being the youngest mayor of any major U.S. city.

"As President, Hillary Clinton will be the steward our economy desperately needs and the Commander in Chief we know we can trust," said Mayor Ravenstahl. "I am looking forward to partnering with Hillary when she is president to grow the Pittsburgh economy and create new, good jobs for our residents. I know the she understands the needs of people like us and I know she'll fight for us in Washington."

Hillary in Pennsylvania

Clinton Offers Relief for Record Gas Prices

Hillary Clinton will visit a gas station in Pittsburgh to discuss her plan to offer relief from skyrocketing gas prices that are hurting the pocketbooks of families in Pennsylvania and across the country. At the Curran Gulf Gas Station, Hillary will be joined by the owner, Jay Curran, gas station employees, and Janice Hodge, a local resident who has been forced to cut back on other household expenses due to the high cost of gas.

"I think it's time we kicked the oil men out of the White House. Unfortunately, despite a lot of talk about clean energy, Senator Obama voted for Dick Cheney's budget-busting tax breaks for big oil. And Senator McCain opposes eliminating them," said Clinton. "I will provide solutions to offer relief from record gas prices, end our addiction to foreign oil, protect the planet, and create millions of new jobs."

Pennsylvania's average gas price reached an all-time record high of $3.23 this week, and diesel fuel is over $4.00 per gallon in many places - even higher than the records set in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. In Pittsburgh, the price of a gallon of regular gas has been steadily climbing. Today it is $3.27. A month ago, it was $3.03. A year ago, it was $2.58. The typical Pennsylvania driver is paying nearly $1,100 more per year for gas than they did when President Bush took office. Pennsylvania gas prices are $1.81 higher than they were in January of 2001, so the average driver using 600 gallons of gasoline per year is paying $1,086 more on gasoline now than in 2001.

With gas prices setting new records almost every day, Hillary Clinton is committed to making the investments in alternative energy that will end our dependence on foreign oil and lower the cost of energy for Pennsylvania's families. Hillary's plan is below:

Hillary Clinton's Plan to Address the Skyrocketing Costs of Oil by Moving Towards Energy Independence

As President Hillary would lead us on a path, towards clean, renewable energy investments to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by:

Investing $150 Billion in Clean Energy, Including Establishing a $50 Billion Strategic Energy Fund to Demand that Oil Companies Invest in Clean Energy - Last year, Exxon reported the highest profits in the history of the world - $40.6 billion - and the five largest oil companies have pulled in more than $500 billion in profit during the Bush Administration. Yet in 2005, Exxon Mobil's CEO told Congress that his company's investment in alternative energy technologies over the prior decade was "negligible." Hillary would give oil companies a choice: invest more in renewable energy technology or pay a portion of their exorbitant profits into a Strategic Energy Fund. The Strategic Energy Fund would also eliminate oil company tax breaks and make sure that oil companies pay their fair share in royalties when drilling on public lands. This fund would jumpstart a clean energy future by injecting $50 billion over ten years into research, development and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal technology, ethanol and other homegrown biofuels. The Strategic Energy Fund is one element of Senator Clinton's proposal to invest $150 billion in the research, development and deployment of clean energy technologies that will reduce our oil imports and cut global warming pollution.

Increasing Vehicle Fuel Economy Standards to 55 Miles Per Gallon - As president, Hillary would raise fuel economy standards to 40 mpg in 2020 and 55 mpg in 2030. By 2030, these tough standards will save consumers more than $180 billion per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 730 million metric tons. Cars and light trucks account for about 40 percent of the 21 million barrels of oil consumed every day in the United States. As our country and economy have grown, flat fuel economy standards over the last twenty years has meant increasing dependence on foreign oil, and an untenable foreign trade situation in which the United States borrows money from China to send to Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich regimes.

Putting 2,000 "Plug-In" Hybrid School Buses on the Road - Pennsylvania's Nazareth Area School District is a pioneer when it comes to school buses. Along with 14 other communities around the country, they have invested in a new type of school bus - a plug-in hybrid bus - that gets as much as twice the mileage as regular school buses while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by one-third and nitrogen emissions by half. Hybrid school buses use electric power, which is significantly cleaner than diesel fuel. These buses look the same as regular school buses, but are powered by large battery packs. They recover energy as they brake and charge the batteries while the bus is slowing down, a system that is ideal for buses because of their frequent stops. They are charged overnight and between shifts during the day, a process that can be easily managed through the city lots in which school buses are parked each evening. In fact, about one-third of communities already have the infrastructure to plug in school buses, because they rely upon plug-in block heaters to keep the engines warm in the winter. Today, plug-in hybrid buses costs $100,000 more than regular buses, but at higher production volumes, the premium will drop to $40,000 - an amount that is more than made up for through reduced fuel costs over the 15 year lifetime of the bus. As president, Hillary will split the added costs with school districts for the first 2,000 plug-in hybrid buses. This investment will lower the cost for school districts like Nazareth that want to be pioneers.

Accelerating the Production of "Plug-In" Hybrid Electric Cars - Hillary will also work to ensure that Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), hybrid car with powerful batteries that can be plugged into any regular outlet, are available to individual drivers. Half the cars on America's roads are driven 25 miles a day or less, so a plug-in with a 25-mile range battery could eliminate gasoline use in the daily commute of tens of millions of Americans. A recent study showed that a vehicle powered by electricity releases one-third less global warming pollution into the environment than a gasoline powered vehicle, even if the electricity comes mostly from coal-fired power plants. PHEVs that are recharged using wind or other renewable power would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by much more. PHEVs offer the promise of achieving more than 100 miles per gallon of gasoline consumed; and a flex-fuel PHEV running on E85 can potentially get 500 miles per gallon of gasoline. Hillary would invest in research and stimulate demand for the first commercial PHEVs by:

• Investing $2 billion in research and development to reduce the cost and increase the longevity and durability of batteries;
• Offering consumers tax credits of up to $10,000 for purchasing a plug-in hybrid; and
• Adding 100,000 PHEVs to the federal fleet by 2015.

Increasing production of biofuels to 60 billion gallons by 2030 - Home-grown biofuels can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid growth of corn ethanol production capacity in recent years and emerging technology that will enable production of ethanol and other biofuels from a range of biomass sources indicate the potential of biofuels to displace a significant amount of gasoline. To spur increased production of ethanol and other renewable fuels, Hillary would raise the national renewable fuels goal to 60 billion gallons by 2030. "Advanced biofuels," such as cellulosic ethanol, would comprise an increasing share of that target over time. Hillary will set a greenhouse gas emissions target for cellulosic and other advanced biofuels to ensure that they move over time towards a standard of emitting at least 80% less greenhouse gas as compared to gasoline. In addition, she would provide loan guarantees to spur the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol capacity.

Providing Immediate Relief from Upward Pressure on Oil Prices by Freezing Additions to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Hillary is calling on President Bush to put a one year moratorium on taking oil off the market and putting it into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR is now 97 percent full, and continuing to fill it at these high prices does not make economic sense.

Calling on the Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Market Manipulation in Wholesale Oil Prices - The energy bill passed last year included new provisions to prevent manipulation in wholesale oil markets, and to empower the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and pursue violations. To ensure that oil companies and traders are not ripping off consumers, Hillary is calling on the FTC to begin investigations using these new powers.

Senators Obama and McCain Stand for Big Oil Companies, Not Pennsylvania Families

As Pennsylvania families are struggling to cope with the rising cost of oil, oil companies are reaping record-high profits. Yet because of the Bush Administration's failure to change course on energy policy, we find ourselves more dependent on foreign oil now than we were before 9/11. Sadly, when Senator Obama had the chance to stand up against Dick Cheney's energy policies, he instead voted yes and helped bring us these huge tax cuts for big oil. Going forward, Senator McCain appears to be offering more of the same:

• Senator Obama voted for the 2005 energy bill, which provided billions in tax subsidies and giveaways to big oil. This bill was called the "The Best Energy Bill Corporations Could Buy," by Public Citizen. It provided $6 billion in oil and gas subsidies; $9 billion in coal subsidies; $12 billion in nuclear subsidies; and a host of other oil and gas regulatory rollbacks, including exempting a coalbed methane drilling technique called "hydraulic fracturing," from the Safe Drinking Water Act - an act that could make our drinking water unsafe. Senator Clinton opposed this bill because she believed we ought to be investing in alternative and renewable energy, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Senator Obama supported this bill. [Vote Number 213, 7/29/05. Final passage on H.R. 6, the conference report for the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Conference report passed, Obama: Voted Aye. Clinton: Voted No.]
• As a Presidential candidate, Senator McCain is proposing to cut corporate taxes for oil companies by $4 billion a year. This includes a $1.4 billion tax cut for Exxon, the most profitable company in history. On January 17, Senator McCain proposed cutting the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. Independent organizations from the Congressional Budget Office to Moody's agree that a corporate rate cut is among the least effective ways to jumpstart our economy. [Moody's Economy.com, "Assessing the Macro Economic Impact of Fiscal Stimulus 2008" January 2008; CBO, "Options for Responding to Short-term Economic Weakness" January 2008]. Indeed, in 2001, Senator McCain himself mocked the idea that corporate tax cuts would provide immediate economic benefit. [Arizona Daily Star, 11/29/01]. This proposal would cost over $100 billion per year, including $4 billion for the five biggest oil companies. Instead of spending this on oil companies, Hillary would take that $4 billion and invest it immediately in creating good, middle class jobs in green sectors of our economy. If we make immediate, emergency investments in green collar job training programs, fast tracked green infrastructure programs and crash weatherization for families' homes, we can put people to work, clean our environment and help pull our economy out of recession.
• In the Senate, he has failed to support legislation that would eliminate tens of billions of dollars of oil company tax breaks to fund clean energy technologies. On December 13, Senator McCain failed to show up to vote cast the deciding vote in favor of a bill that would have would have closed $13 billion in tax loopholes for oil companies to pay for clean energy investments and incentives. [Vote Number 425, 12/13/07. Cloture on H.R. 6 (Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007). Cloture Vote Failed 59-40. McCain: Not Voting]

News from the Clinton Camp

Previewing Today: Hillary heads to the pump in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to discuss the impact of high gas prices and attends a "Solutions for the American Economy” rally at Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Hall with Governor Ed Rendell.

Endorsement Watch: In Pennsylvania, elected officials today endorse Hillary. Stay tuned.

By the Numbers: In Arkansas, a new University of Central Arkansas poll has Hillary up by 15 over Sen. McCain in a general election match up (51-36). Sen. Obama would lose that same contest by 16 points (43-27). Nationally, new Gallup and NBC/Wall Street Journal polls have Hillary up over Sen. McCain (47-45).

Mark Your Calendars: Hillary has accepted ABC's invitation to debate Sen. Obama in Philadelphia on April 16.

Real Solutions: Hillary continues to work with Congressional Democrats to end the housing crisis. Yesterday, Hillary co-sponsored legislation to expand the Federal Housing Administration’s capacity to guarantee responsible, restructured mortgages. Read more.

On Tap: On Saturday, Hillary will march in St. Patrick's Day parades in Pittsburgh and Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Statement from Hillary Clinton on the EPA

Hillary Clinton put out the following statement in response to reports that President Bush personally intervened to order the EPA to weaken its new limits on ozone:

President Bush opened a new front in his administration's war on science this week. His personal intervention to weaken the Environmental Protection Agency's new limits on ozone proves that he has abandoned even a pretense of scientific integrity in decision-making. His efforts are directly at odds not only with accepted science, but with his government's own arguments before the United States Supreme Court.

This is only the latest in a long series of examples where the Bush administration's perversion of science helps special interests at the expense of public health -- though it is certainly one of the more brazen. I will work with Senate Environment Committee Chair Barbara Boxer to investigate the President's decision and to hold him accountable.

And when I am President, I will end the Bush war on science. And I will work to revise the ozone standard to reflect the available standard and to protect the public health, as the clean air act requires. Months ago, I outlined a detailed agenda to restore scientific integrity to government decision-making. I promised that as President I would issue an executive order to revive the longstanding practice of giving experts a central voice in agency rulemaking and call on agencies to pursue evidence-based decisions, and to direct all department and agency heads to safeguard against instances of political pressure threatening scientific integrity and promote openness and transparency in decision-making.