Elections

CRFB Responds to Senator McCain's Convention Speech

Communications — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:35:00 -0400

Last night at the Republican National Convention, Senator John McCain proposed between $524 billion and $563 billion in annual spending increases and tax cuts, according to a new analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The policies discussed by Senator McCain included:

Keeping taxes low (by making permanent nearly all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and indexing the AMT patch) for $391 billion in 2013. Cutting corporate tax rates for between $55 billion and $68 billion in 2013. Reforming the health care system for a net cost of between $54 billion and $65 billion in 2013. Doubling the dependent tax exemption for… more

CRFB Responds to Senator Obama's Convention Speech

Communications — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:15:00 -0400

Last night at the Democratic Convention, Senator Barack Obama proposed $547 billion in annual spending increases and tax cuts, according to a new analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The policies discussed by Senator Obama included:

Cutting taxes for 95% of all working families (renewal of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for families making under $250,000 a year; a $500 per person "Making Work Pay" tax credit; and a number of other policies for low-income workers, savers, homeowners, and middle-class taxpayers) for $394 billion in 2013. Cutting taxes for domestic corporations and eliminating the capital gains tax for start up businesses for $13 billion… more

Fiscal Voter Guide from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

Communications — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:34:00 -0400

Today the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released Promises, Promises: A Fiscal Voter Guide to the 2008 Election, which analyzes the details and costs of the two major presidential candidates' fiscal policies.

This and other reports focusing on fiscal policy and the 2008 presidential election can be found at www.USBudgetWatch.org.

For Obama, Beyond Civil Rights

Articles — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:52:00 -0400

A Barack Obama presidency could end the Iraq war, transform our national energy policy, revive America's standing in the world -- but please don't expect the first black man in the Oval Office to move us above and beyond the civil rights era. At least that's what Obama himself suggested last Monday in his speech to the NAACP. In a campaign fueled by high expectations, Obama seemed to be trying to lower his audience's hopes that the election of the first black president would be anything more than a symbolic milestone. "Just electing me president doesn't mean our work is over," he told civil rights activists. more

Fareed Zakaria on CNN Election Center 2008 | 'CNN exclusive: Obama on Foreign Policy'

Communications — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:47:00 -0400

New America in the News:

(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama discussed his vision for the world in a wide-ranging foreign policy discussion with CNN's Fareed Zakaria. The Democratic presidential hopeful answered some tough questions about how he would deal with the world's crises, what he would do if Osama bin Laden is caught and his plan for Iraq. Here are some highlights from the interview, which aired Sunday on "Fareed Zakaria -- GPS."

ZAKARIA: Tell me, what is your first memory of a foreign policy event that shaped you, shaped your life?

OBAMA: A first memory. Well, you know, it wasn't so much an event. I mean, my first memory was my mother coming to me and saying, "I've remarried this man from Indonesia, and we're moving to Jakarta on the other side of the world." ...

LINK to Video

LINK to Transcript/Article

Gregory Rodriguez in the Washington Independent | 'Obama and the Latino Vote'

Communications — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:38:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...However there is one difference, said Gregory Rodriguez, author of "Mongrels, Bastards, Orphans and Vagabonds: Mexican Immigration and the Future of Race in America." As of 2004, 67 percent of those we identify as Latinos were of Mexican origin. But unlike the Irish who came here to flee famine or Jews fleeing prosecution, the Mexican experience in America is not a linear one....

"Previous immigrants have had a beginning, middle and an end," Rodriguez said. "The continuous nature of Mexican migration has caused major confusion both of what people think of them and among Mexicans themselves. Let's take Swedish migration: at some point the native-born outnumbered foreign-born Swedes. But because of the continuous nature, it's not as linear as that. In the 1920s, the majority were foreign-born. In the 1930, U.S.-born dominated and in 1970 the vast majority were U.S.-born and most of them the grandchildren of immigrants. Today, that's obviously not the case..." LINK

Gautam Dutta in the Long Beach Press-Telegram | 'Long Beach City Clerk Warns Council of Voter Fatigue'

Communications — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:11:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Gautam Dutta, deputy director of the Political Reform Program for the non-profit New America Foundation, who was invited by Herrera to speak at the committee meeting, told the council that voter turnout increased 168 percent in San Francisco after initiating instant runoff voting.

Dutta said the voting system helps avoid the Ralph Nader or Ross Perot effect, when voters may support a third-party candidate, but don't vote for the candidate because that person is unlikely to win. Similarly, voters who support a long-shot candidate wouldn't be at risk of taking votes away from another acceptable candidate, thus placing the person they least support in office, he said.

"You know, rest assured that if that person doesn't make it and gets knocked out, your vote will automatically go to your second choice. ... That I think would make voters feel a lot more at ease about the voting process," Dutta said... LINK

Michael Cohen on WTOP Radio | 'Presidential Campaigns'

Communications — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:40:00 -0400

New America in the News:
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation, discusses his book Live from the Campaign Trail and what makes a presidential candidate's political oratory extraordinary... LINK to audio

Steven Hill in the Washington Times | 'Cuts Urged in Political Ambassadorships'

Communications — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:25:00 -0400

New America in the News:

The American Academy of Diplomacy sent letters to the two presumptive presidential candidates last week, proposing several criteria for choosing non-career ambassadors, including foreign affairs experience, communication and persuasion skills, and leadership abilities...

..."It might be perfectly fine in today's climate, where you can raise more money over the Internet than ever before," to make a pledge such as the one the academy has called for, said Steven Hill, director of the Political Reform Program of the New America Foundation.

"With Barack Obama raising so much money over the Internet, it might be easier for him to agree to something like this, because perhaps he's not as dependent on large donors who want that kind of quid pro quo," Mr. Hill said... LINK

Len Nichols in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | 'Rally touts 'single-payer' health care'

Communications — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:02:00 -0400

New America in the News:

...Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat, would create a National Health Insurance Exchange for any individual and business that wants to purchase a private insurance plan or enroll in a new public plan. Subsidies would be provided to families with lower incomes to help make insurance affordable.

While still giving workers the option of retaining their employer-based coverage, Republican candidate John McCain would make tax credits available to help them obtain their own insurance. He also wants to allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines.

Dr. Len Nichols, director of the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation, said the Obama proposal would be more likely to succeed in Congress than either Mr. McCain's plan or a single-payer proposal...LINK