Maplight.org Nominated for Best ‘Politics’ Website for the 12th Annual Webby Awards
April 9, 2008
(Berkeley, C.A.) MAPLight.org, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization illuminating the connection between money and politics, is thrilled to announce its nomination for the best ‘Politics’ Web site of 2008. Hailed as the “Oscars of the Internet” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Websites.The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Winners will be announced on May 6, 2008 and honored at a gala in New York City on June 10th.
“It is a great honor to be recognized alongside such esteemed organizations as NPR, FactCheck, and the Pew Forum,” said Daniel Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org. “This honor reflects the tremendous support we’re receiving for our work on government transparency, holding our politicians accountable. And like Oscar shining its searchlights in Hollywood, MAPLight.org is shining its spotlight on the campaign contribution politicians receive, and whether those politicians vote with special interests, or the interests of the people.”
“The Webby Awards honor the outstanding Websites that are setting the standards for the Internet,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. “MAPLight’s Webby Award nomination is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators.”
MAPLight.org provides unprecedented government transparency, shining a light on our broken system of money-dominated politics. They track all campaign contributions given to members of Congress, and how every member of Congress votes on every bill, revealing connections between money and politics never before possible to see. MAPLight.org’s research department uses Web 2.0 data mashup technology to combine three data sets: campaign contribution data from the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org) and National Institute on Money in State Politics, special interest support and opposition for each bill in Congress (MAPLight.org research team), and legislative voting records and bill information (THOMAS via GovTrack.us).
Cited in the NY Times, Washington Post and National Journal, MAPLight.org’s Web site is fast becoming a favorite tool for journalists nationwide.
The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf, R/GA’s Chief Bob Greenberg, “Simpson’s” creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington, and Harvey Weinstein. From now through May 1st, online supporters of MAPLight.org can cast their own votes in The Webby People’s Voice Awards presented by Nokia at: http://pv.webbyawards.com.
The Webby Awards are known worldwide for its famous five-word speech limit. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore (“Please don’t recount this vote”), Beastie Boys (“Can anyone fix my computer?”), and Prince (“Everything you think is true.”). “If chosen,” Newman said, ” my five words would be, ‘Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant,’ paraphrasing Justice Louis Brandeis.”
About The Webby Awards:
Hailed as the “Oscars of the Internet” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Established in 1996, the 12th Annual Webby Awards received a record 9,500 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; The Creative Group; .ORG; The Barbarian Group; Level3; Adweek; Fortune; Variety; Wired; IDG: Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image.
About MAPLight.org:
MAPLight.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Berkeley, California. Its search engine at MAPLight.org illuminates the connection between Money And Politics (MAP) via an unprecedented database of campaign contributions and legislative outcomes. Data sources include: GovTrack.us; Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org); Federal Election Commission (FEC); and National Institute on Money in State Politics. Support and opposition data is obtained through testimony at public hearings, proprietary news databases and public statements on the Web sites of trade associations and other groups. To learn more visit www.MAPLight.org.
State Budget Offers Remedies to Health Care in New York
April 3, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) State lawmakers and groups focused on health care-related issues are applauding the Health and Mental Hygiene portion of the state budget. The $400 million package is designed to improve the lives of New Yorkers across the state as it restores proposed cuts and invests in primary and preventive care for the future.
Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith announced the new health care budget achieves several major goals including: an historic shift of resources towards primary care and preventive health, more than $300 million per year in new investments in primary and preventive care, giving a boost to hospital outpatient clinics, community health centers and local primary care doctors. Reforms in this budget will expand patient access to family physicians, improve the quality of care for the indigent and save money for the taxpayers by preventing high-cost illnesses and reducing overpayments.
“The health care portion of the state budget is a big step in the right direction,” said Smith (D – St. Albans). “This measure will help more New Yorkers receive better health care with lower health care costs for taxpayers because of early detection and treatment of diseases like diabetes, asthma and HIV / AIDS. The new Doctors Across New York initiative encourages doctors to practice in underserved areas. We’re getting more children covered in the Child Health Plus program. This measure clearly makes us a healthier New York.”
This budget also helps the state’s growing elderly population by providing for a new EPIC discount card for New Yorker who are between the ages of 50 and 64 and New Yorkers with disabilities at any age.
The budget also restores proposed pharmacy reimbursement cuts in an effort to boost local and independent pharmacies supporting essential health care in their communities.
Although many of the proposed cuts to health care have been restored in this budget Senator Smith acknowledges that across-the-board cuts are still a cause for concern.
Photo: Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith
Senator Aubertine Criticizes Water Findings
March 31, 2008
(Albany, N.Y.) Senator Darrel J. Aubertine (D – Cape Vincent, photo left) is calling on the International Joint Commission (IJC), which is reviewing solutions to the water level problems in the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, to approve a previously agreed upon plan to return the waterways to even and consistent levels.
“To approve Plan B+ would turn the St. Lawrence River back to a more natural state and would be much more predictable as far as water levels,” said Senator Aubertine.
The recent IJC report calling for more input and study was met with harsh criticism by some. Aubertine says continuing to study the issue means the Commission “wants the issue more than the solution.”
Aubertine says there is already an agreed upon solution which would meet the objectives of all involved along New York’s northern border. Aubertine asserts the Commission members are on a fishing expedition.
“I’ve lived my entire life along the St. Lawrence Seaway and on the shores of Lake Ontario. I understand the economic impacts,” Aubertine said. “I don’t know how much more input people in organizations could give to the IJC. It’s as though they’re fishing just for the input that they want. Until they get it they are going to continue to fish.”
Aubertine also sees the waterway from a personal perspective.
“I enjoy the St. Lawrence River,” Aubertine said. “I want to see this river looked at as more than just a canal, as some people might look at it. Given the time and resources that are available to the IJC, I am just extremely disappointed in the lack of decisions that they’re making.”
Aubertine says the Commission members are seeking answers that do not exist.
“The IJC has chosen to essentially maintain the status quo after having spent $20 million and five years trying to come up with an alternative plan,” Aubertine said. “It’s just disheartening that after this much time and effort we come up with this Plan 2007, which again, claims to need more input and study.”
Aubertine says this process is not advancing the mission of the IJC, which first started developing this plan on July 2, 1956. Aubertine says everyone who wants to have their voices heard has already spoken to the IJC.
“Everyone who has a vested interest in and along the seaway and the Great Lakes on each side of the international border have had ample opportunity for input. I can’t believe that the IJC has not heard from every interested party from the commercial shippers to the sportsmen to the recreational users to those that live along the river and the lakes.”
Photo: Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine
Barack & the History of Racism
March 25, 2008
By Nina May, www.RWNetwork.net
Barack didn’t mention in his mea culpa speech in Philadelphia that over 250,000 white Americans gave their lives to end slavery. He doesn’t mention that in 1854, abolitionists left the Democrat Party and founded the Republican Party created specifically for the purpose of ending slavery and giving equal rights to all those who had been in bondage.
He needs to read the history of this battle for equality and realize that the party he embraces today was the party that voted against the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, while the Republicans supported them unanimously. He needs to acknowledge that the two dozen civil rights bills that were passed by the Republicans were overturned by the Democrats when they regained control of the House, Senate and White House at the end of the 19th Century.
It was at this time that the Democratic Party instituted Jim Crow laws. It was not whites that did this against blacks, it was bigoted, racist Democrats who would choose to divide a nation rather than give freedom to those they considered inferior. Had blacks been voting equally in both political parties, there never would have been literacy tests, poll taxes or other restrictions to voting. But because all blacks at this time identified with the party of Lincoln and were actually the ones starting Republican parties in southern states, and running and getting elected as Republicans, the Democrats knew that to kill a black was killing a Republican.
The anger of segregation was tempered by an opportunity to succeed in a world where whites could not condemn or destroy. This is when amazing black colleges and universities blossomed and exploded with incredible talent and energy. This is when black businesses and industry flourished out of the necessity that segregation created. There were no hand wringing or angry sermons directed at white guilt and racial division. The sermons focused on what was good, what was virtuous, what was lovely. The peer pressure was to succeed, to get an education, to compete and grow, not sit around, whining, blaming whitey for your problems. If there is anger, it should be against big government solutions to big government problems that politicians like Barack and Hillary always claim is the only way to run a country.
Democrats have created this plantation of government handouts that suggest blacks are incapable of making responsible decisions separate from the government. They are not trusted with the same benefits of freedom that whites are and must be placated with the lie that all whites are racists and all blacks are the poor victims of that racism. It is a lie that needs to be exposed, destroyed and renounced, not fed and nurtured the way Rev. Wright continues to do.
Barack says, “I have asserted a firm conviction that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds,” yet he sits week after week listening to sermons that say just the opposite.
It is ironic that he challenges the listener by saying, “We can accept politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism,” when he belongs to the very party that has always done that, to the point where the new liberal plantation has erected philosophical barriers around all blacks, condemning those who dare to challenge the liberal status quo and escape this manipulation and intimidation. They are called Aunt Jamima, like Condi Rice, or house negroes like Colin Powell, or forced to endure high tech lynchings like Clarence Thomas. They have Oreo Cookies thrown at them like Michael Steele and are accused of acting white if they identify themselves as Republicans or conservatives.
That is “the racist spectacle we are not allowed to talk about.” When blacks have to whisper at polling booths that they are Republican, for fear of reprisal from their liberal neighbors, then Barack really doesn’t get the real conflict that is alive and well in this country, and why should he? He belongs to the party of the overseer of the philosophical plantation that intimidates and marginalizes blacks that dare support conservative values or Republican ideas.
So, if Barack knew his American black history, he would take his pastor aside and tell him about it and challenge him to be more Christ-like when he preaches. If he knew real American black history, he would not belong to the party of segregationists and bigots and would not have allowed himself to be sucked into that dark undertow of racial politics that has already robbed our nation of too many amazing blessings.
Florida Mail-In Do Over For Democratic Party Primary Scratched
March 19, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Clearly frustrated by the lack of support shown by Florida’s Democratic Party congressional members, State Democrats decided to shut down its bid to do a mail-in voting for Florida’s Democratic Party primary which would have represented 210 national delegates.
Democratic Party chairwoman Karen L. Thurman provided a written statement to the Associated Press voicing out her party’s frustration on their failed attempt. “A party-run primary or caucus has been ruled out, and it’s simply not possible for the state to hold another election, even if the party were to pay for it,” Thurman said. “… This doesn’t mean that Democrats are giving up on Florida voters. It means that a solution will have to come from the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee.”
Both Florida and Michigan were disqualified by the Democratic Party national committee for holding their respective primaries too early which violated Party bylaws thereby forfeiting any representation the state held to the Party’s national convention this summer. Democrats at Michigan were successful in its attempt to have a do-over election after Legislative leaders evaluated a new measure last Monday which could allow a privately funded, state-administered do-over primary on June 3.
Phil Singer a spokesman for Hilary Clinton’s camp expressed dismay on Florida’s decision. “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.”
Meanwhile , IL. Sen. Barrack Obama’s camp was optimistic that Florida Democrats and national Party leaders could reach an agreement on the current situation in the sunshine state. “We hope that all parties can agree on a fair seating of the Florida delegates so that Florida can participate in the Democratic Convention, and we look forward to working with the Florida Democratic Party and competing vigorously in the state so that Barack Obama can put Florida back into the Democratic column in November,” said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor.
Clinton, Obama Strategist Lobbied Accusations; Obama Extends Lead
March 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Illinois Senator Barrack Obama’s campaign strategist team hurled accusations against rival candidate NY Sen. Hilary Clinton’s campaign over the latter’s ethical standing and governance accountability.
Robert Gibbs who serves as Obama’s campaign communications director asked Clinton’s camp to release all of her post-White house tax returns after she served as First Lady during former president and husband Bill Clinton’s tenure. Gibbs also noted that documents such as Clinton’s pet projects on spending bills and financial imprints of her Clinton foundation and Clinton Libraries should also be disclosed publicly to avoid scrutiny.
“What is lurking in those documents?” Gibbs asked as the two campaigns had dueling phone conference calls with reporters. “There are gaps that need to be filled,” said senior Obama strategist David Axelrod.
Hilary Clinton’s chief strategists Mark Penn responded in saying, “This is a tried and true technique of the Obama campaign that has repeatedly shifted negative when they find the momentum working against them, they are just trying to deflect public opinion from their losses in Ohio and Texas and faced with Clinton strength in Pennsylvania.”
On Monday, Barrack Obama will head out to Pennsylvania to campaign in the state for its delegate-rich primary on April 22. Political experts agree that Clinton holds a sizeable lead over Obama in Penssylvania as the former first lady holds a strong following in the state. Obama strategist David Axelrod said in a statement, “‘We are going to contest vigorously in Pennsylvania, Obama would be there on Monday and Tuesday. She (Clinton) does have a lot of advantages there — and we understand that. We know we have an uphill fight there. … But in no way are we giving up on Pennsylvania.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Barrack Obama’s campaign received a few more delegates on Monday to further extend his total delegates lead over Clinton after he secured nine more delegates on the basis of caucus night projections of former candidate John Edwards in Iowa’s caucus held on January of this year which switched Saturday to Obama. Current Demorcratic Party delegate count has Obama leading with 1,617 delegates while Clinton securing 1,498.
Obama Captures Mississippi Primary, Clinton Denounce Ferraro’s Statement
March 12, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Barack Obama won the Mississippi primary with relative ease after capturing 90 percent of the black vote while salvaging 25 percent of the white people for the state to add majority of the 33 delegates up for grabs in Mississippi and extend his sizeable lead against top rival Hilary Clinton.
Early returns coming in from over 25 percent of Mississippi’s total number of precincts have Obama leading with 58 percent to Clinton’s 42 percent. Current delegate count stands with Obama gathering 1,585 to Clinton’s 1,473. Both candidates need to secure at least 2,025 to win the Democratic Party nomination during the Democratic National Convention to be held this summer.
Meanwhile, New York Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton denounced Geraldine Ferraro’s comments regarding Barack Obama and his race by saying, “I do not agree with that,” the former first lady also added “It’s regrettable that any of our supporters — on both sides, because we both have this experience — say things that kind of veer off into the personal. We ought to keep this on the issues. There are differences between us on approaches to issues such as health care and energy.”
The controversy sparked after Ferraro, who serves as a member of Clinton’s fundraising team and was a Democratic Party vice presidential candidate on 1994 said, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”
In an interview with CNN yesterday, Obama countered Ferraro’s statement and her involvement in the Clinton campaign in saying, “We’ve been very measured in terms of how we talk about Senator Clinton, I’m not sure that we’ve been getting that same approach from the Clinton campaign. Obviously I think I would be the better nominee, But I have been careful to say that I think Senator Clinton is a capable person and that should she win the nomination, obviously I would support her.”
Obama Secures Wyoming, Mail-in Primary For Florida Gains Support
March 10, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) IL. Senator Barack Obama secured the Wyoming caucus in dominating fashion to increase his number of delegates by 7 and a slight gain in momentum after rival New York Sen. Hilary Clinton notched several campaign saving wins in heavy delegate-laden states of Texas and Ohio in crucial primaries held last week.
In the over-all delegate count, Sen. Obama holds a marginal lead with 1,578 delegates after gaining seven with his win in Wyoming over Clinton’s 1,468 count which included the five delegates she managed to salvage at Wyoming. Both candidates need 2,025 in order to secure the Democratic Party nomination.
David Plouffe who acts as Obama’s campaign manager said of Obama’s recent win in Wyoming “I think its evidence that Senator Obama is going to be able to put more states in play because of his strength with independent voters.”
Clinton’s campaign manager Maggie Williams said of Clinton’s performance at Wyoming, “We are thrilled with this near-split in delegates and are grateful to the people of Wyoming for their support, although the Obama campaign predicted victory in Wyoming weeks ago, we worked hard to present Senator Clintons vision to the caucus-goers and we thank them for turning out today.” Referring to the 7-5 delegate count both candidates shared with Obama taking the upper hand after winning 61 percent to Clinton’s 38 percent in the state of Wyoming.
Meanwhile, Florida which conducted voting across the state earlier this year but was ruled ineligible after Democratic Party bosses determined that the state made their primaries along with Michigan too early, a clear violation to Party rules, gained little support of holding another round of voting through mail-in option. DNC Chairman Howard Dean acknowledged that a “mail-in primary is actually a very good process. Every voter gets a ballot in the mail, It’s comprehensive, you get to vote if you’re in Iraq or in a nursing home. It’s not a bad way to do this.”
Possible problem in conducting a mail-in voting is the financial aspect of the matter. DNC chairman Howard Dean dismissed the possibility of the Party paying for the process. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. gave his approval of the mail-in option which he compared to an absentee ballot process. “Since Governor Dean has said he’s not going to do it in the DNC, the Florida Democratic Party’s going to have to go out and raise the money,” he said. “We’re looking at about $6 million.” Referring to the expenses needed to conduct a mail-in voting for the Democratic Party supporters of Florida.
Ron Paul Indicates Possible End of Presidential Bid
March 7, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) 10-term R- Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul hinted of a possible end to his tumultuous bid for the Oval Office through GOP nominations in a 7-1/2 minute video released for his supporters and staff through his campaign website.
In the video which was posted at his official site www.ronpaul2008.com and on Youtube, Dr. Paul said “Elections are short-term efforts,” but “Revolutions are long-term projects.” He also added that his campaign is “winding” down and was heard referring to his campaign using the past tense.
“We are still in the early stages of bringing about the changes that this revolution is all about,” Paul said in the video. “Let us hope that we can one day look back and say that this campaign was a significant first step that signaled a change in direction for our country. Our job now is to plan for the next phase.”
Dr. Ronald Ernest Paul was born on August 20th, 1935 in Green Tea, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Dormont High School in the South Hills suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Honors in 1953 and set a school mark for the 100-yard dash with 9.7 seconds. Ron Paul studied his collegiate years at Gettysburg College. He received a partial scholarship as a track and field athlete before graduating in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. On February 1, 1957, Ron Paul married his collegiate sweetheart Carol Wells and produced five siblings in their union.
His first presidential campaign was in 1988 after he defeated activist Russell Means to win the Libertarian nomination for president but eventually lost to George H W. Bush. Placing third in the popularity votes, Paul amassed considerable amounts of
supporters who agreed with him on many fronts including gun rights, fiscal conservatism, homeschooling, and abortion. To this date, Paul spreads his message beyond the campaign trail of that initial flirt with the White House. Close supporters insist that Paul is optimistic of making an umbrella organization that could strengthen some of the grassroots support which was so unyielding on his latest presidential bid.
“The message of freedom is popular, and I will continue to trumpet it in Congress and across America as I fight on behalf of the conservative, common-sense values which made our country so great. In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to all of the wonderful people who supported me in this campaign. I look forward to representing all of the good people of the 14th District of Texas in Congress in the years to come.” Rep. Ron Paul of Texas said in a written statement last Tuesday.
President Bush Officially Endorses John McCain
March 6, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) President George W. Bush gave a warm welcome at the White House to Sen. John McCain who secured the GOP nomination in dominating fashion to officially seal the Republican Party candidacy for the Oval Office and possibly take over the reins from the President in November.
Ironically, it was George Bush who defeated McCain eight years ago for the GOP nomination for the 2000 Presidential Elections in which Bush secured the Presidency with a victory against Democrat Al Gore. Along with President Bush’s endorsement comes the financial support and machinery to run a nationwide campaign for the White House.
“If my showing up and endorsing him helps him — or if I’m against him and it helps him — either way, I want him to win,” the president said. “This is an age-old question that every president has had to answer, and there is an appropriate amount of campaigning for me to do. But they’re not going to be voting for me. I’ve got a lot to do, but I’m going to find ample time to help,” Bush said. “I can help raise him money, and if he wants my pretty face standing by his side at one of these rallies, I’ll be glad to show up.”
Republican Party insiders and political experts fear that the President’s support for Sen. McCain could cause more damage than intended as Bush’s tenure as the current US leader is filled with negativity be it economically as witnessed by the fledgling US economy, increased gasoline prices, threats of Recession and Inflation or humanitarianism reasons as the War of Iraq wages on for year five. President Bush currently dwells with a low public approval rating and matches Harry Truman as the most unpopular president in history.
“McCain’s got to make it very clear that this is not a third Bush term, but a John McCain presidency,” said Republican pollster David Winston. “As long as he can make that clear separation, then having a president of the United States on the road, helping with fundraising, going around and talking to people is a very different thing,”
Meanwhile, Sen. McCain expressed his gratitude towards the President as he accepted his approval in a speech at the White House in saying. “I hope that the president will find time from his busy schedule to be out on the campaign trail with me, and I will be very privileged to have the opportunity of being again on the campaign trail with him — only slightly different roles this time.”
