Obama's solution to The Oil Problem

Watch the video: Sen. Barack Obama's answer to meeting energy demands

Shoot, why didn't Hillary think of this? Oh right, because it's false... (I love that the audience is completely silent).

The cartoon on the right is from the Albuquerque Journal

Obama Shifts, Says He May Back Offshore Drilling

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 1, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that's what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Calling All Women and Minority Media Owners (But Not Too Loudly)

by Kristal Brent Zook
August 1, 2008

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/ex/080108.html

Summary: The prevalence of sexism in the media may stem from the lack of women and minority media owners. In the latest WMC Exclusive, author Kristal Brent Zook reports on the recent Federal Communications Commission event, the "Access of Capital Conference." The event focused on minority media ownership and sought to connect investors to minority and women entrepreneurs. Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Copps spoke about "the shameful state of minority ownership." Zook found that women rarely own stations individually. Of the two women television station owners Zook interviewed, one stated, "Traditionally, women are not welcome in this business."More...

Calling All Women and Minority Media Owners (But Not Too Loudly)
by Kristal Brent Zook
August 1, 2008

"This is a bit more civilized than usual," one attendee could be heard saying upon entering the auditorium for the Federal Communications Commission event in New York City on Tuesday. Unlike the emotional collection of media activists, protestors, concerned citizens and artists (some of whom directed hisses and sneers at FCC Chair Kevin Martin) who attended any one of the public hearings held by the commission over the past year, this one featured mostly suits and ties, all of whom coolly assembled without fanfare at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

The "Access to Capital Conference" (or "hearing" depending on your position) was a rare appearance made by all five commissioners, and the realization of a promise made by the FCC last winter.

While Republican commissioners emphasized that the meeting's primary purpose was to introduce investors to minorities and women entrepreneurs-Commissioner Robert McDowell even noted that he'd "like to hear the sound of checks being written"-Democrats had reform in mind, and a desire to highlight ongoing federal barriers to accessing capital and media licenses.

Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Copps began in his usual straightforward way, thanking everyone for gathering to look at "the shameful state of minority ownership." "Let's tell it like it is," he added. "It's been bad - very bad, for minorities."

"Do you know of any women who own a station, or have tried to own a station?" I asked Amy B. Lotz, managing director of the American Women in Radio & Television, as I trolled through the auditorium's lobby, looking for real faces.

"Well, I know mostly women who've tried and failed," she said with a wry smile.

"Are you an owner?" I asked Barbara Lawrence, whose nametag identified her with KMCC-TV in Las Vegas.

Jackpot.

Lawrence told me that she was co-owner of several television stations, including KHIZ-TV in Los Angeles and KTRG in San Antonio, in addition to the Las Vegas holding. She happened to be in New York, she said, and came to the hearing mostly "to see old friends."

"Traditionally, women are not welcome in this business," she explained when asked why there was a need for this conference.

So how did she do it?

"It's complicated," she said, looking suddenly tired and perhaps, a little sad. "It's not something I can explain in five minutes."

The short version was this: While attending Fordham University in New York she was able to meet William Paley. This was around 1980, she said, when CBS was launching its cable channel. She was given the opportunity to buy stations. Later, a religious group-whose name she didn't care to share-helped her to get a foot in the door as an owner.

Today it's virtually impossible for an individual woman to buy a full power television station, said Lawrence. The sentiment was echoed by others. Unless one inherits a station, the only real possibilities are in low-power television, and even then, mostly in small and medium sized markets.

"It takes tens of billions of dollars to own a station," said Lawrence. "There are FCC issues, legal issues, engineering issues, financial issues. It takes a lifetime of work."

Diane Sutton of ShootingStar Broadcasting said that she was able to become an owner because she had two things, information and access. Sutton, who now does training for potential media owners, says that it's important to know "how to write a business plan, how to secure equity, and how to get to know the brokers and bankers before you need the money."

She also spoke about the virtues of the tax certificate, a federal policy incentive that was repealed in 1995 despite the fact that it increased minority ownership by fivefold during its 17 years of existence. Part of a larger Minority Ownership Policy instituted by an innovative young FCC attorney, Frank Washington, it rewarded radio or TV station owners by allowing them to defer capital gains tax if they sold stations to minority members.

Not only should the tax certificate have been preserved, argued Diane Sutton, but it should have also been expanded to include women "which, surprisingly, it did not."

###

About the Author: Kristal Brent Zook is an associate professor of journalism at Hofstra University in New York, and the author of I See Black People: The Rise and Fall of African American-Owned Television and Radio (Nation Books, March 2008). She can be reached at www.kristalbrentzook.com.

WMC Reprint & Credit Requirements: The Women's Media Center grants permission to reprint free-of-charge with the understanding that media outlets credit the author of the piece and the Women's Media Center, as in: "by [author's name] for the Women's Media Center (www.womensmediacenter.com)." If the format allows it, please note at the end: "This article was originally posted by The Women's Media Center at www.womensmediacenter.com. The WMC is a non-profit organization founded by Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem, and Robin Morgan, dedicated to making the female half of the world visible and powerful in the media."

About us:
The Women's Media Center strives to make women visible and powerful in the media. From our founding in 2005 by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem to our advocacy and media relations work today, we are part of a strong feminist tradition that seeks to hold the media accountable for presenting the world as we know it. Our mission is to ensure that women and women's experiences are reflected in the media just as women are present everywhere in the real world; that women are represented as local, national, and global sources for and subjects of the media; and that women media professionals have equal opportunities for employment and advancement. In addition to the WMC founders, current board members include Loreen Arbus, Cristina Azocar, Jodie Evans, Gloria Feldt, Carol Jenkins, Teresa McBride, Pat Mitchell, Jessica Neuwirth, Rossana Rosado, and Helen Zia. For more information, please visit www.womensmediacenter.com.

Check-in Location in Denver - 18 Million Voices

Hi Everyone,

We have a room reservation at the Broker Restaurant in downtown Denver. It's a very classy place, and a wonderful Angel Donor in Washington State paid for the entire cost of the reservation. The times and dates are:

Sunday August 24th, 6 to 8 pm
Monday August 25th, 9 to 11 am
Tuesday August 26th, 9 to 11 am

We will use this site to distribute 18 Million voices information and events (both political and social), as well as any other events submitted to us from other groups under the Just Say No Deal Coalition.

The "Angel Donor" is a part of our meetup! THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU ARE AN ANGEL!

Rise Hillary Rise!

Laura

Rasmussen Polls Friday August 1, 2008

Montana:
McCain Pulls Even in Montana.In fact he's gained six points on Barack
Obama over the past month.

Texas: McCain Leads by Nine for Second Straight Month

Kentucky: Kentucky: McCain Leads 49% to 39%

UPDATE: Misleading Article titled "Hillary Clinton asks not to be nominated at Democratic National Convention"

The Just Say No Deal Coalition responds to recent New York Daily News article entitled “Hillary Clinton Asks Not To Be Nominated At Democratic National Convention.” In their piece, Michael Saul and Thomas M. Defrank cited a “source close to the campaign,” when they reported that Clinton asked not to be nominated. Just Say No Deal asks, “Why didn’t you quote Senator Clinton instead?”

Please view the following video shot July 31 in California at an event, where Clinton was asked if she would accept her name being placed into nomination at
the Democratic National Convention later this month. Click here to see the video.

Below is the referenced article:More...

By Michael Saul
Daily News Political Correspondent

Thursday, July 31st 2008, 10:35 PM

Hillary Clinton has decided against being nominated for President at the Democrats' Denver convention, but many of her more die-hard partisans may vote for her anyway.

A source close to the New York senator confirmed she won't file a formal request to the convention asking to be nominated along with Barack Obama, who eked out the victory in their fierce primary slugfest.
"She is not going to submit the signed request," the insider told the Daily News. "People are still circulating petitions on her behalf, but this is a done deal."

Party rules stipulate that Clinton must ask in writing to be nominated herself and also submit a petition signed by 300 to 600 delegates. Without her signed request, petitions of support are meaningless.

Her nomination would be window dressing because Obama's nomination is assured. But many of Clinton's most ardent boosters believe it's symbolically important to certify her glass ceiling-shattering candidacy with a formal nomination.

Nevertheless, delegates can vote for whomever they want during the roll call of the states. Personally and through surrogates, Clinton has counseled her 1,886 delegates to vote for Obama. A source familiar with discussions inside the Clinton camp told The News she may release those delegates when she speaks to the convention on Aug. 26.

"Depending on the dynamics, hundreds of delegates might decide to demonstrate their support and affection," a Clinton source speculated.

If so, that could be read as a dis to Obama from female Democrats still bruised by Clinton's defeat and resisting her pleas for party unity.

Other Clinton backers, however, worry that she could be embarrassed by a roll call because many of her delegates already have switched to Obama.

"Hillary Clinton is 100% committed to helping Barack Obama become the next President of the United States and realizes there are passionate feelings that remain among many of her supporters," said Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand. "No decisions have been made at this time.

Great News regarding Hillary - JUST IN!!

This just in from someone who met with Hillary today in San Francisco:

"She talked about her name being put into nomination and she said that she wanted her voters to be heard and for her delegates to have the experience of what a real convention is. She said that by doing this and by having a roll call that it would help unify the party."

FREE NOBAMA Stickers

Spalding Group founder responds to MoveOn.Org Obama bumper sticker giveaway – will give away up to a million “NOBAMA” bumper stickers. Go to: http://www.mccainstore.com/nobama_pr.htm