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Chicago, IL -- Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement in response to the passage of the Senate Farm Bill.
"I applaud the Senate's passage today of the Farm Bill, which will provide America's hard-working farmers and ranchers with more support and more predictability."
"The bill places greater resources into renewable energy and conservation. And, during this time of rising food prices, the Farm Bill provides an additional $10 billion for critical nutrition programs. I am also pleased that the bill includes my proposal to help thousands of African-American farmers get their discrimination claims reviewed under the Pigford settlement."
"This bill is far from perfect. I believe in tighter payment limits and a ban on packer ownership of livestock. As president, I will continue to fight for the interests of America's family farmers and ranchers and ensure that assistance is geared towards those producers who truly need them, instead of large agribusinesses.
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But with so much at stake, we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good."
"By opposing the bill, President Bush and John McCain are saying no to America's farmers and ranchers, no to energy independence, no to the environment, and no to millions of hungry people."
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Today, Hillary Clinton participated in a “Solutions for the Rural Economy” town hall at the Jones’ family farm in Bath, SD. She was joined by farm-owner Dennis Jones, and his son, Jarrett, who both spoke of the challenges they face and the benefits that the Farm Bill would bring South Dakota farmers.
Hillary reinforced her support for the Farm Bill, which is expected to be voted on in the Senate today, and its benefits for the over 31,000 South Dakota farmers. Hillary also criticized Senator McCain for his opposition to the Farm Bill. Hillary believes South Dakota’s farmers deserve a president who will stand for them. “Saying no to the farm bill would be saying no to rural America,” said Senator Clinton. Yet two weeks ago, Senator McCain made it clear he sides with President Bush, who has repeatedly threatened to veto the Farm Bill. “I do not support [the Farm Bill]. I would veto it," Senator McCain told voters in Iowa.
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As President, Senator Clinton will work as hard for the producers of South Dakota as she has worked for the 34,000 family farms in New York over the past eight years. “When Bear Stearns needed assistance, we stepped in with a $30 billion package. But when our farmers need help, all they get from Senator McCain and President Bush a veto threat,” said Senator Clinton.
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President Bush delivered a speech in Israel, saying: There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It's natural, but it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century.
Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.
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Spokepersons for President Bush say the speech was not directed at any one particular person. Some people have speculated he was talking about Barack Obama who has said he would meet with the President of Iran with no preconditions.
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The California Supreme court by a 4-3 margin overturned California's ban on same sex marriages. California becomes the second state in the United States to recognize Gay marriage rights.
Anti-Gay marriage Activists are already trying to put a Marriage Amendment on the November ballot as has been done in many other states in the past. Basically the ammendments say that a marriage can only be between a man and a women.
The city of San Francisco and about two dozen gay and lesbian rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's same-sex weddings.
This could be avery big campaign issue in the November elections throughout the country as groups on both sides battle it out.
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Today, John McCain detailed what he envisions achieving as President by the end of his first term in 2013.
John McCain will put the national interest ahead of partisanship to build an America that is safer, freer and more prosperous than when he was elected.
When John McCain is President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. He will work with anyone who wants to get this country moving again and will listen to any idea intended to solve our problems, not make them worse.
In forming government policy, John McCain will work with members of Congress from both parties.
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John McCain's administration will set new standards for transparency and accountability.
John McCain will not leave our problems for another unluckier generation of Americans to fix after they have become even harder to solve.
John McCain also outlined his views on presidential power. The President's powers are rightly checked by the other branches of government, and John McCain will not attempt to acquire powers granted to Congress. He will exercise his veto but not subvert legislation through statements.
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After four years of a McCain administration, America will be more secure and working with its allies and partners around the world to make us safer. In 2013:
The Iraq War has been won, Iraq is a functioning democracy, violence is much reduced, and America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure.
The United States maintains a military presence in Iraq, but a much smaller one that does not play a direct combat role.
The threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced.
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There is a functioning League of Democracies that has effectively applied pressure on Sudan to agree to a multinational peacekeeping force to stop the genocide.
There is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven. An increase in actionable intelligence leads to the capture or death of Osama Bin Laden and his lieutenants.
Through increased international cooperation and concerted use of American power, we have disrupted terrorist networks and exposed plots around the world.
The United States and its allies have made great progress in advancing nuclear security.
The size of the Army and Marine Corps has been significantly increased, and are now better equipped and trained to defend us. A substantial increase in veterans educational benefits and improvements in their health care has aided recruitment and retention.
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After four years of a McCain administration, the economy is stronger, Americans once again have confidence in their economic future and businesses are empowered to thrive. In 2013:
The economy is growing and Americans again have confidence in their economic future. Congress has lowered taxes and passed fundamental tax reform offering a choice in how taxes are filed.
The spending binge in Washington has ended. After John McCain exercises his veto pen in his first year in office, Congress has not passed an appropriations bill containing earmarks for the last three years. A top to bottom review of government and reforms yield great reductions in spending.
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New trade agreements have been ratified leading to substantial increases in exports.
Americans who have lost jobs in the global economy are assisted by reformed unemployment insurance and worker retraining programs.
Public education is much improved due to measures that lead to increased competition, higher quality teachers, a revolution in teaching methods, higher graduation rates and higher test scores.
Health care is more accessible to more Americans than at any other time in history.
Medicare's solvency has been extended and both parties have worked together to fix Social Security without reducing benefits to those near retirement.
The United States is on its way to independence from foreign sources of oil with a cap-and- trade system spurring innovation, advancement in clean coal technology and the beginning of construction on 20 new nuclear reactors.
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