Iowa Presidential Watch, IPW, IPW-PAC, May 16, 2008: Primary, Caucus, Election 2008. Republican, Democrat candidates campaigns, right wing conservative cartoons and satire by Linda Eddy, political news, media pundits; South Carolina, New Hampshire

	IOWA PRESIDENTIAL WATCH Iowa... Where Presidents Begin
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click on each candidate to see today's news stories (caricatures by Linda Eddy) Friday, May 16, 2008 GENERAL NEWS HEADLINES with excerpts Bush assails 'appeasement,' touching off storm President Bush used a speech to the Israeli Parlid negotiate with “terrorists and radicals” to appeasers of the Nazis — a remark widely interpreted as a rebuke to Senator Barack Obama, who has advocated greater engagement with countries like Iran and Syria. Mr. Bush did not mention Mr. Obama by name, and White House officials said he was not taking aim at the senator, though they were aware the speech might be interpreted that way. The comments created an angry tussle back home, as Democrats accused Mr. Bush of breaching protocol by playing partisan politics overseas... see also: Bush's comments seen as jab at Obama Bush derides terrorism 'appeasement'; Obama bristles Behind the Bush-Obama smackfest Campaigns speak on California gay marriage ruling McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds in a statement: “John McCain supports the right of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution sanctioning the union between a man and a woman, just as he did in his home state of Arizona. John McCain doesn’t believe judges should be making these decisions.” Obama's campaign also noted, in a different way, their candidate's view that states should decide. What Obama didn't say is that he's opposed to gay marriage (note the phraseology of first sentence) Barack Obama has always believed that same-sex couples should enjoy equal rights under the law, and he will continue to fight for civil unions as President. He respects the decision of the California Supreme Court, and continues to believe that states should make their own decisions when it comes to the issue of marriage. THE CANDIDATES: John McCain... today's headlines with excerpts McCain believes Iraq war can be won by 2013 Republican John McCain declared for the first time Thursday he believes the Iraq war can be won by 2013, although he rejected suggestions that his talk of a timetable put him on the same side as Democrats clamoring for full-scale troop withdrawals... McCain reaches out to liberal blogs Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is trying to tap a new audience of potential voters by taking his campaign message straight to liberal and nonpolitical issues-based blogs, which reach millions of readers but don't often delve into conservative politics... McCain joins the warming cult Cal Thomas: "Mr. McCain may win a few votes from some "moderates," who mostly are uneasy about having convictions about anything that matters, but if he persists in embracing the global warming cultists, he risks experiencing a temperature drop from the conservative base that could cast him out in the cold when the weather and his election prospects turn chilly in November." GOP to rally around McCain House Republicans say Sen. John McCain is the cure to what ails them and that they're essentially pinning their electoral hopes on his coattails and credentials as a straight-talking spending-cutter... Hillary Clinton... today's headlines with excerpts Party's rules committee has crucial role in Clinton's hopes The panel, the Rules and Bylaws Committee, is to meet on May 31 in Washington and could determine the nominating process, or at least heavily influence it. What the committee will do is a major question mark before the last primaries on June 3... Belittled woman - Hillary refuses to bend, or bow out. Cue another chorus of 'poor Hillary' "Poor Hillary" means Clinton finally is being brought low (she is forever being brought low, isn't she?), the know-everything who tries so hard but never gets enough votes to be class president. Eons ago, the smart folks at Slate likened Clinton to Tracy Flick, the hyperactively ambitious teenager played by Reese Witherspoon in the movie "Election." And it's true; somewhere in our collective gray matter, Clinton is still wearing those schoolgirl headbands from when Bill first ran for president. Barack Obama... today's headlines with excerpts Obama fights Bush remarks on terror "Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power — including tough, principled and direct diplomacy — to pressure countries like Iran and Syria," Mr. Obama said in a statement. The White House insisted the president was not referring to the candidate. California congressmen add to Obama superdelegate haul Barack Obama is extending his lead in superdelegates as the Democratic Party coalesces behind him. Congressmen Howard Berman and Henry Waxman -- both from California, both key committee chairmen, and both leaders in the Jewish community -- added their blessings... NARAL picks Obama, causes uproar The decision by a major abortion-rights group to endorse Senator Barack Obama has created an uproar among some of its affiliates and other abortion-rights advocates. Many said that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton had as good a record on reproductive rights as Mr. Obama and that there was no need to take sides in the Democratic primary... 'Sweetie' leaves bad taste for Obama critics Peggy Agar, a reporter for ABC affiliate WXYZ, had been trailing Mr. Obama during a morning campaign appearance at a Michigan auto plant, demanding to know what he planned to do for Detroit autoworkers. "Hold on one second, sweetie, we're going to do — we'll do a press avail," he said, casually implying that he would take care of the question during a formal question-and-answer period with other reporters. The promised moment never happened. A vexed Mrs. Agar went public with the tape and her annoyance, noting that "this sweetie" never got a story. By 3:16 p.m. — the exact time carefully noted by WXYZ — Mr. Obama was in major mea culpa mode with his entire apology either broadcast or posted online by the station. "Hi, Peggy. This is Barack Obama. I'm calling to apologize on two fronts. One was you didn't get your question answered, and I apologize. I thought that we had set up interviews with all the local stations. I guess we got it with your station, but you weren't the reporter that got the interview. And so, I broke my word," the candidate said on her voice mail. "Second apology is for using the word 'sweetie.' That's a bad habit of mine. I do it sometimes with all kinds of people. I mean no disrespect, and so I am duly chastened on that front. Feel free to call me back. I expect that my press team will be happy to try to make it up to you whenever we are in Detroit next," Mr. Obama said. Obama courts Christian voters in Kentucky Sen. Barack Obama plans to roll out a new nationwide faith effort to make it clear to voters that the presidential candidate is a Christian who reflects the values of the electorate. Ralph Nader... today's headlines with excerpts view more past news & headlines
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