2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Statement From Campaign Manager Maggie Williams On New Vote In Michigan

STATEMENT FROM CAMPAIGN MANAGER MAGGIE WILLIAMS ON NEW VOTE IN MICHIGAN

In the wake of today's court ruling regarding Michigan’s January 15th primary, we urge Senator Obama to join our call for a party-run primary and demonstrate his commitment to counting Michigan's votes.

Senator Clinton has consistently urged that the more that 600,000 votes cast by the people of Michigan be counted and if that is not possible, that a new election be held.

Michigan voters must not be disenfranchised and the Obama campaign must not continue to block Michigan’s efforts to hold a new vote. Rather it should move quickly to announce its support for a party run primary. 

Michigan will be a key battleground state in November. Disenfranchising Michigan voters today will, in the heat of a general election, provide Senator McCain with a powerful argument to use against the Democratic nominee. We cannot allow this to happen.

The people of Michigan must be counted and their voices finally heard.   What the people of Michigan need now is just action, not just words.

New Ad: Hillary Promises To “Level” The Playing Field In Pennsylvania Ad

New Ad: Hillary Promises to “Level” the Playing Field in Pennsylvania Ad

30-second television spot to air statewide

The Clinton campaign today announced it is broadcasting a television ad in Pennsylvania highlighting Senator Clinton’s commitment to leveling the playing field against special interests and strengthening America’s middle class.

The 30-second spot, entitled “Level,” comes ahead of Pennsylvania voters heading to the polls on April 22nd.

Following is the script for the ad.

Hillary For President
“Level”

TV :30

Announcer: She's fighting for America's middle class.

Hillary Clinton: It's time to level the playing field against the special interests.

Announcer: She'll end $55 billion dollars in giveaways to corporate special interests and invest it in middle class tax cuts and creating new jobs. She’ll get tough on unfair trade deals and end tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas.

Hillary Clinton: Standing up for people who weren't getting a fair shake, that's been the
purpose of my life.  And it will be the purpose of my presidency.

Hillary Clinton: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

Clinton Calls On Sen. Obama To Support Counting The Voices And Voters Of Michigan And Florida

Clinton Calls on Sen. Obama to Support Counting the Voices and Voters of Michigan and Florida
Hillary Clinton gave the following statement at a press availability earlier today in Terre Haute, IN:

“It’s really important that we try to get as many people here to participate in this important primary election.

“That’s why it’s critical that we figure out a way for the people of Michigan and Florida to have their votes and their voices count. As you know, I went to Michigan yesterday because I feel so strongly that it is not in the best interest of our party or our chances for victory in November to deny the rights of the people of Florida and Michigan.

“I do not see how two of our largest and most significant states can be disenfranchised and left out of the process of picking our nominee without raising serious questions about the legitimacy of that nominee.

“So again, I would call on Senator Obama to join me in supporting the rights of the people of Michigan and Florida to have their voices and their votes counted. I have, as the Democratic National Committee has, come out in favor of an effort for a re-vote in Michigan.

“I do not understand what Senator Obama is afraid of, but it is going to hurt our party and our chances in November and so I would call on him, once again, to join me in giving the people of Florida and Michigan the chance to be counted as we move forward in this nominating process.”

Clinton Campaign Statement On Today’s Release of Hillary’s Clinton’s Schedules By The National Archives

Clinton Campaign Statement on Today’s Release of Hillary’s Clinton’s Schedules by the National Archives
The following statement was released today by Clinton Campaign spokesman, Jay Carson.

Today, the National Archives released Hillary Clinton's daily schedules from her eight years as First Lady. These documents -- over 11,000 pages total -- add to an already voluminous public record of events and activities during the Clinton Administration. The release of these documents underscores President Clinton's efforts to encourage public access to the record of his Presidency. Indeed, his representative encouraged the Archives to release significantly more information than required by the Presidential Records Act - and more than the Archives originally designated for release.

These documents are outlines of the First Lady's activities and illustrate the array of substantive issues she worked on --  including health care, child care, adoption, education, veterans, microenterprise and international development, women's rights, and democracy. Her daily schedules also list some of the meetings and travel she conducted to more than 80 countries in pursuit of the Administration's domestic and foreign policy goals.  They are a guide, and of course cannot reflect all of Senator Clinton's activities as First Lady.

The schedules do help illustrate Hillary Clinton's extensive and exhaustive work as a public servant and her role as an influential advocate at home and around the world on behalf of our country. As such, they are a valuable addition to the substantive and vast public record already made available by President Clinton.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Schedules Open on March 19

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Schedules Open on March 19

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and the National Archives will open 11,046 pages of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s White House schedules. These Presidential records will be made available in the Clinton Library research room and to the press on CDs on the day of the opening. These records will also be posted on the Clinton Library website http://www.clintonlibrary.gov as soon as possible.

These schedules are from the First Lady’s Staff files of Patti Solis Doyle, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling for the First Lady. Doyle was responsible for the First Lady’s schedule from 1993 to 1998, and then assumed additional responsibilities as Director of Advance for the First Lady throughout the rest of the Clinton Administration. Arranged chronologically, these records document in detail the activities of the First Lady, including meetings, trips, speaking engagements and social activities for the eight years of the Clinton Administration.

This file series includes schedules for 2,888 days. Clinton Library archivists processing these records subsequently determined that schedules for 32 days were not included in this series; however, schedules for 27 of those days have now been located, and will be processed as soon as possible.

Of the 11,046 pages of schedules that are being opened, 4,746 have redactions. The majority of the redactions pertain to the privacy interests of third parties, including their social security numbers, telephone numbers, and home addresses. In addition, schedules for the first 19 days in January 1993, prior to the inauguration of President Clinton and prior to Mrs. Clinton’s tenure as First Lady, have been closed in full in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. Researchers will find occasional unusual text formatting and in some cases final schedules as well as "revised final" schedules.

BACKGROUND:
The Clinton Presidential Library is one of 12 Presidential libraries administered by the National Archives. The requirements for review and release of Presidential records are established by the Presidential Records Act of 1978 and Executive Order 13233. This process is very labor-intensive and time-consuming and requires that National Archives staff conduct a page by page, word for word review of all records in order to protect sensitive information such as national security, personal privacy and law enforcement. Following the National Archives review, by law, both the former and the incumbent Presidents or their designated representative must have an opportunity to review all of the records, in order to consider if any of them may be subject to a constitutionally-based privilege.

Clinton Campaign Statement on Today’s Announcement About The Florida Primary

The following is a statement from Deputy Communications Director Phil Singer:

“Today’s announcement brings us no closer to counting the votes of the nearly 1.7 million people who voted in January.  We hope the Obama campaign shares our belief that Florida’s voters must be counted and cannot be disenfranchised.”

Sir Elton John To Perform at Clinton Fundraiser on April 9th

Sir Elton John To Perform at Clinton Fundraiser on April 9th

Legendary artist Sir Elton John will perform at a solo concert on behalf of Hillary Clinton's campaign on April 9, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.  The event, called "Elton and Hillary: One Night Only," is Elton John's first public solo concert in New York City without his band since his solo concert at Madison Square Garden in October 2000.

"I'm not a politician but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does," said John.  "I'm excited to support Hillary by performing at what will be a truly memorable night."

Hillary Clinton Accepts ABC’s Invitation To Debate Sen. Obama In The Keystone State

Hillary Clinton Accepts ABC’s Invitation to Debate Sen. Obama in the Keystone State

The Clinton campaign today announced that Hillary has accepted an invitation to participate in a primetime debate hosted by ABC. The debate will be held in Philadelphia, PA in advance of the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary. The debate will be broadcast statewide and nationally.

Hillary is prepared to show she has real solutions for the problems facing residents of the Keystone State.   

Hillary is the only candidate with a plan to end the housing crisis and help people keep their homes. Hillary's plan takes bold action to stem the tide of foreclosures with a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and a five year freeze on interest rates for subprime mortgages.

Hillary is also the only candidate with a health care plan that covers every American. Her plan allows for maximum flexibility while making sure health care costs are affordable for working families.

Hillary hears the voices of Americans concerned about their future and is focused on providing solutions to the problems they face.

Hillary Clinton Statement on Seating Delegates from Florida and Michigan

HILLARY CLINTON STATEMENT ON SEATING DELEGATES FROM FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN

Hillary Clinton made the following statement at the Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce earlier this morning:

“If you are a voter from Florida or Michigan, you know that we should count your vote. The nearly two and a half million Americans in those two states who participated in the primary elections are in danger of being excluded from our democratic process and I think that’s wrong. The results of those primaries were fair and they should be honored. Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of discussion about what we should do to ensure that the voters in Florida and Michigan are counted.

“In my view there are two options: Honor the results or hold new primary elections. I don’t see any other solutions that are fair and honor the commitment that two and a half million voters made in the Democratic primaries in those two states. Whether voters are clamoring for solutions to the challenges that we face or not, or whether people are coming out in droves to be heard, we have a basic obligation to make sure that every vote in America counts.

I hope that Senator Obama’s campaign will join me in working to make that happen. I think that that is a non-partisan solution to make sure that we do count these votes.”

Clinton Campaign Calls For Michigan & Florida Voices To Be Heard

CLINTON CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR MICHIGAN & FLORIDA VOICES TO BE HEARD

Dear David Plouffe:

The 2008 primary campaign has been a spirited contest that has resulted in record voter turnout. Both of our candidates can proudly boast of bringing new people into the process and energizing our Democratic Party.

With the campaign now entering the final phase of the nominating contest, it is vital that both of our campaigns come together to ensure that the delegations from Florida and Michigan be seated to reflect the will of the voters. 

In Florida and Michigan, nearly 2.5 million Americans made their voices heard and participated in primary elections. We think the results of those primaries were fair and should be honored.

Over the last few weeks, there has been much discussion about how to ensure that the Florida and Michigan delegations are seated. We think there are two options: Either honor the results or hold new primary elections.

To that end, we are in active consultation with all of our supporters in Florida, including Members of Congress. In Michigan, we are in active consultation with the committee appointed by Governor Granholm.

We hope that your campaign will join us in our efforts to ensure that these votes are counted. 

Sincerely,

Maggie Williams
Campaign Manager