Barack Comes to Pittsburgh and Tidbits from My Time on the Campaign Trail

 

Barack Obama traveled to Pittsburgh today. More than 16,000 people packed into Mellon Arena. Special guests included Art Rooney, Gov. Ed Rendell, and Sen. Bob Casey. It was a cold day in the Burgh and people turned out for this event, which was held at 3 p.m. today. This was Barack’s last chance to interact with Pittsburgh voters before the election on Nov. 4. Bill Clinton will be stumping for Obama on Wednesday in the area. 

Last weekend, I worked all day and all night at the Obama HQ in Pittsburgh. The experience is nothing short of awe-inspiring. This is the first time I’ve lived in a battleground state during a presidential election and I can say that I have never seen anything like it. The Obama campaign has at least 15 offices in Southwestern Pennsylvania. There are surrogates here on a daily basis and there are ads during every single television program. There are calls and canvassers everywhere. I have never seen anything like it. It’s amazing for a politico, like myself.

Last weekend, I worked with labor union members from all across the country. Hundreds of union members have traveled to Pittsburgh to support Senator Obama in this election. All of the union reps I met–Teamsters, AFSCME, and many others–were some of the most genuine people I’ve met during political campaigns. I’ve worked on local, state, and national campaigns and these folks were the most dedicated and hard-working volunteers I’ve ever seen. My entire view of the union faction has changed after this interaction. Unions are falsely portrayed as anarchists in the media. I’m also in a conservative MBA program, where unions are depicted as an obstruction to business continuity. I’m so happy to be working on this campaign and meeting people with different backgrounds and experiences!

McCain Staffer Attacked and “B” Was Carved Into Face

This is by far is the strangest campaign attack I’ve ever heard of. I feel sorry for this poor young woman. This happened less than 3 miles from where I campaign nearly every day! This hasn’t even made national news yet! The Drudge Report broke the story and scooped the mainstream media once again.

McCain worker says man scratched ‘B’ into her face

By Jill King Greenwood
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 24, 2008

PITTSBURGH–A knife-wielding man robbed a McCain-Palin campaign volunteer and etched a “B” into her face after he saw a McCain bumper sticker on her car, the woman told Pittsburgh police.

Police planned to administer a polygraph test to Ashley Todd, 20, because her statements about the attack conflict with evidence from the Citizens Bank ATM where she claims the incident occurred, police said.

Todd, of College Station, Texas, told police she was using an ATM at Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street in Bloomfield just before 9 p.m. Wednesday when a man approached her, put a knife to her throat and demanded money.

Todd told police she handed the man $60 she had in her pocket and stepped away from him. The man then noticed the bumper sticker on her car, which was parked in front of the ATM, and became angry, she told police.

He made comments to Todd about Republican presidential candidate John McCain and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, police said Todd told them.

“He continued to kick and punch her repeatedly and said he would teach her a lesson for supporting John McCain,” said police Chief Nate Harper.

The man scratched a backward “B” onto Todd’s right cheek, she told police. Todd, who isn’t familiar with the area, drove to a friend’s house nearby. She told her friend she wasn’t sure of the exact location the robbery happened but remembered a green sign above the ATM.

The friend called police and an officer met them at his house. They drove along Liberty Avenue until Todd saw a Citizens Bank ATM that looked familiar, police said.

Police said Todd declined medical treatment at the scene. Her friend, a law student at University of Pittsburgh, said he took her to UPMC Shadyside for treatment.

“Initially when the police came and took the report she didn’t want to go, but we convinced her, ” he said.

Todd declined to comment. Her friend said she is a student at Texas A&M University.

“She is a volunteer for the McCain-Palin campaign,” said campaign spokesman Peter Feldman. “Sen. McCain has reached out to her via telephone and has spoken to her and her family,” as has McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Feldman said. “Out of respect for her privacy we’re not going to comment further.”

Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign released a statement saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman for her to make a speedy recovery, and we hope that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.”

Police said she described the attacker as black, about 6-foot-4, and said he was wearing dark-colored jeans and a black tank top. She said he had a knife with a 5-inch blade and ran from the scene on foot, Harper said.

“We are treating this as a credible report,” he said.

The ATM has a security camera, and investigators were trying to watch the video.

Why I Love Fox News…

Recently, I received a barrage of hate emails about my post from last week, “Where’s the Maverick?” I wrote this post after seeing a video made by a talented filmmaker that I received from a friend. I thought the behavior of McCain supporters was appalling and inappropriate, so I shared it on my blog since this is MY outlet for communicating MY thoughts. I never thought Fox News would place this post on their site. This right-wing media outlet has singlehandedly placed this blog at the #4 spot on WordPress’s Growing Blogs List. Thank You Fox News. I love discourse and I love the comments from your viewers, even the hate mail. My favorite comment came from a European blogger, who was amazed that we let “scary biscuits” like those people in the video vote! I even love the emails that I’m receiving from people who were too intimidated to put their hateful words on a public site. Because of the traffic that’s being generated because of Fox News, I am really seeing that McCain supporters are very angry. Cheer up, folks! We only have two more weeks and this campaign is over. Hopefully, we can unite as Americans when this over. We’re going to need each other as our economy continues to decline and people are in more dismal situations than ever before. To my Fox News friends who send such mean and hurtful email, stop being so angry! Here’s a video to make everyone laugh!

Joe Biden to Host Conference Call for Military Families on Sunday

Where’s the Maverick?

Today, I was looking at a video that a friend sent me and I have to say that I am shocked. This film was produced by a talented filmmaker named Robert Greenwald. He produced a series a films about John McCain’s and his campaign. These films show the type of hate that John McCain and Sarah Palin are fueling on the campaign trail. McCain and Palin are allowing their supporters to make the most violent, hateful comments that have ever been seen in a campaign. Congressman John Lewis is absolutely right about John McCain. The Maverick IS acting more like George C. Wallace. I attended the University of Alabama and took classes in Foster Auditorium where George Wallace said, “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, and segregation tomorrow.” Quite frankly, John McCain’s silence and hateful undertones in his campaign ads are much more dangerous than the words uttered from Wallace. Wallace never incited fear, violence, or hate. He did not want to integrate Alabama. He had a serious white supremacy issue. He was apologizing for his actions until the day he died. He begged African Americans to forgive him for his hateful ideology. I don’t see John McCain apologizing for anything.

In last night’s debate, John McCain wanted Obama to repudiate Congressman Lewis’ comments. McCain should publicly say that Barack Obama is a God-fearing Christian and that he is not a terrorist. There was a rally where John McCain defended Obama, but he said that Obama is a good family man and he is not dangerous. He did not mention the keywords that are important–Christian and not a terrorist. He should tell all of his supporters that he doesn’t want their vote if they’re voting for him because they’re racist or because they wrongfully believe he’s Muslim. In a debate during the primaries, John Edwards publicly said that he didn’t want votes from people who don’t want to vote for Barack because he’s black, or vote for Hillary because she’s a woman. That was a statement made by a maverick. 

I used to think that John McCain was a maverick and that he developed bills that were important for the American people. The maverick has become a conformist who will do anything to get elected even if it means allowing white supremacists to participate in events and make violent threats. At this point, I don’t think Senator McCain is capable of protecting the interests of his Arizona constituency let alone this entire country. 

The campaign has taken a scary turn for the worst. I plan on doubling my volunteer hours from 10 hours a week to 20 hours a week to talk to voters about the lies they’re seeing on television. It’s so important that Obama wins my county. Winning my county will be the key to winning the entire state of Pennsylvania. I must do everything I can to ensure that McCain is never in the White House.

Here’s the film that I saw that has really opened my eyes.

Military Spouse Magazine: Such a Disappointment

So, I am so fortunate that my husband calls me nearly every day. Hearing his voice so often makes me realize that I can make it through this deployment. We’re in month 2 and we’re going strong. Before Jay left, I promised that I would stay on top of the latest military news. Of course, I decided to get involved with the FRG and I began to regularly read the Army Times. The day before Jay left, I subscribed to Military Spouse Magazine. I thought this would be a great addition to my already large queue of magazines that I read: Shape, Self, Marie Claire, Runner’s World, Money, and Rolling Stone. Magazines are one of my guilty pleasures since I used to work for a magazine company.

I got my first issue of Military Spouse Magazine last week. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED! The editorial features were very weak and lacked substance. I felt like the magazine was constantly talking at me. Instead of featuring military spouses who are angry about deployment, the magazine includes thoughtless banter about deployment anger in a very general sense. The only articles that included actual stories about military personnel were sponsored by companies. Home Depot had a Career Profile and so did USAA.

The publication also had an article called, “OPSEC, Part II.” The article never explains the acronym in any of its 500 words or so. I am a military spouse, but I can’t remember every single acronym. I also felt like Military Spouse Magazine was talking down to me with articles such as “How to Buy a Car” and “Get a Job.” I think the tips in these articles are no brainers for anyone over the age of 19.

Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met have been military spouses. These women (and a few men) are courageous, generous, and have more life experience than most people in the world. These are the people you should feature in this magazine. They have a wealth of advice and words of wisdom when it comes to military life. We need to see photos and articles with military spouses in this magazine, not generic stock photos and meaningless non-military-related articles (i.e. “Tell the Flu to Split”). I did like the Obama/McCain spread and the article on autism in the magazine, but nothing else was substantive.

I hope the next issue gets better, or I’ll have to sell the remainder of my issues on eBay!

The milspouse.com web site is so much better than the magazine!

Politically InCorrect

Yesterday, I went to the theater after seeing, “Radio Golf,” a wonderful play by legendary Pittsburgh playwright, August Wilson. The play is about the trials and tribulations of the first African American to run for mayor of Pittsburgh. This play is obviously a work of fiction because there is little to no diversity in Pittsburgh’s city government. The protagonist in this play, Harmon Wilks, is ironically facing many of the same challenges of Barack Obama. He’s challenged with the evils that will come into play for any politician (think Tony Rezko). Of course, good prevails over evil and Wilks overcomes his moral dilemma and fights for the people who need him most. I highly recommend this play. It was quite entertaining.

After a fabulous dinner with one of my girlfriends, I came home to face my own moral dillema. I received an email from a GOP political consultant expressing how impressed he is with this blog and how he wants to continue the conversation offline. After reviewing the candidates that this consultant represents, I realized that a conversation with us can never happen. His candidates are the right-wing warhawks that we need out of Congress. My husband, the soldier, would actually think that all of these men are “chickenhawks.” Anyways, I will protect the identity of the consultant by not naming him expressly, but I am disappointed that he made the assumption that “The Real Army Wife” is a diehard member of the GOP because of the namesake of this blog. As most of you know, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I am diehard Democrat and I am voting with the party for every position this year because the GOP has singlehandedly destroyed this country. Thank you Mr. Political Consultant for your kind words. I respectfully decline your offer to continue a conversation about the political blogosphere. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuits this campaign season.

U.S. Government Listened to Military

I thought this was so disturbing that I had to post it for everyone to see.

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Congress is looking into allegations that National Security Agency linguists have been eavesdropping on Americans abroad.

Government linguists say the U.S. eavesdropped on Americans, including military officers serving in Iraq.

The congressional oversight committees said Thursday that the Americans targeted included military officers in Iraq who called friends and family in the United States.

The allegations were made by two former military intercept operators on a television news report Thursday evening.

A terrorist surveillance program instituted by the Bush administration allows the intelligence community to monitor phone calls between the United States and overseas without a court order — as long as one party to the call is a terror suspect.

Adrienne Kinne, a former U.S. Army Reserves Arab linguist, told ABC News the NSA was listening to the phone calls of U.S. military officers, journalists and aid workers overseas who were talking about “personal, private things with Americans who are not in any way, shape or form associated with anything to do with terrorism.”

David Murfee Faulk, a former U.S. Navy Arab linguist, said in the news report that he and his colleagues were listening to the conversations of military officers in Iraq who were talking with their spouses or girlfriends in the United States.

According to Faulk, they would often share the contents of some of the more salacious calls stored on their computers, listening to what he called “phone sex” and “pillow talk.”

Both Kinne and Faulk worked at the NSA listening facility at Fort Gordon, Georgia. They told ABC that when linguists complained to supervisors about eavesdropping on personal conversations, they were ordered to continue transcribing the calls.

NSA spokeswoman Judith Emmel said the agency’s Inspector General has investigated some of the allegations and found them “unsubstantiated.” Other accusations are still being looked at, she said.

The NSA operates in “strict accordance with U.S. laws and regulations,” she said. “Any allegation of wrongdoing by employees is thoroughly investigated” and if misconduct is discovered, “we take swift and certain remedial action.”

CIA Director Mike Hayden, who was the head of the NSA when the terrorist surveillance program began, has always maintained that private conversations of Americans are not intercepted and if it should happen inadvertently, the name is removed from the record.

“At NSA, the law was followed assiduously,” said Hayden’s spokesman, Mark Mansfeld. “The notion that Gen. Hayden sanctioned or tolerated illegalities of any sort is ridiculous on its face.”

Author Jim Bamford was the first to interview the two former NSA linguists for his new book, “The Shadow Factory,” which will be published next week. Bamford told CNN the accounts from the whistle-blowers demonstrate the NSA was listening to the private conversations of Americans, transcribing them and keeping them.

“They don’t delete them,” he said.

Bamford has written two other books on the NSA and was a party to an unsuccessful ACLU lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Terrorist Surveillance Program.

The ACLU issued a statement on Thursday saying the allegations show that the government “misled the American public about the scope of its surveillance activities.”

The ABC report “is an indictment not only of the Bush administration, but of all of those political leaders, Democratic and Republican, who have been saying that the executive branch can be trusted with surveillance powers that are essentially unchecked,” said ACLU official Jamell Jaffer.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-West Virginia, called the allegations “extremely disturbing.”

“Anytime there is an allegation regarding abuse of the privacy and civil liberties of Americans, it is a very serious matter,” said Rockefeller, adding that his committee is prepared to take whatever action is necessary to ensure the government is following the strict procedures to protect U.S. citizens against unwarranted surveillance.

A House Intelligence Committee spokesman said the panel has been in contact with the NSA and is awaiting the agency’s response. 

My Take on Cindy McCain’s Comments on the Campaign Trail

On Wednesday, Cindy McCain told a Pennsylvania crowd “the day that Senator Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body.” As the wife of a deployed soldier in Iraq, I want to say to Mrs. McCain, “The day Barack Obama and 14 other senators voted against a bill to fund our troops (because it lacked a timetable for withdrawal) put a smile on my face.” Barack Obama courageously voted against a bill because he wanted a provision for a responsible exit strategy for our troops. Before the vote that Cindy McCain is referencing, Obama did support and vote for a funding proposal that included a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq, which is a bill that John McCain voted against. Senator McCain is guilty of voting against funding for the troops, but his vote rejected the timetable for withdrawal that our troops so desperately need.

Cindy McCain also challenges Barack Obama to walk a day in her shoes as the mother with a son in harm’s way. I think it would be pretty easy to walk in Cindy McCain’s $5,000 Jimmy Choos. She’s the heir to a multi-million dollar fortune and her son is lucky to have a Senator for a father. I’m sure that connection has given him a few extra perks in the military. 

I do want to add that the non-partisan group, Veterans for Iraq and Afghanistan for America, gave Senator McCain a D and Senator Obama a B+ for their congressional records for fighting for veteran issues. It is interesting that war veterans gave McCain a failing grade for supporting our troops. Check out the full list here: http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list.

John McCain and His Role in the Savings and Loans Crisis

 

I wanted to share this documentary on John McCain’s role in the Savings and Loan Crisis. I think this video is very interesting and helps bring to light some of the issues that we’re seeing in today’s financial crisis.