Hey Mom and Dad:
Please answer these questions. I will forward them to Peter who will post what you write on the blog TODAY.
Catherine: Tell me why you love Obama.
Grace:I love Obama because he is a breath of fresh air. I like his wife, too! He is very inspirational for black people. I visited his church and I enjoyed being there. Dad read his book and recommends it. He has Lutheran ancestors.
Catherine: Tell me why you pray for Obama.
Grace: I pray for him because of the kooks.
Catherine: Tell me what the official KPC editorial opinion is on the Democratic primaries.
Grace:I will paste our endorsement editorial below. I wrote it. It ran Sunday.
Catherine: Tell me why people in "little, insignificant countries" like, mmm, Uruguay, should care about the Indiana primary.
Grace: Unfortunately, the Indiana primary is going to show a Clinton win (because so many older Hoosiers think Obama is a Muslim). I’m not sure the people of Uruguay should care about our primary.
Catherine: Tell me how people in "little, insignificant countries" like, mmm, Uruguay, can convince Hoosiers to vote for Obama!
Grace:It’s too late now for Obama in Indiana.
Note to Catherine — this editorial has subheads.
Grace:Our endorsements:
Obama, McCain, Long, Souder
It’s been 40 years since Hoosier Democrats’ votes counted in a
presidential primary. In 1968, they endorsed a young junior senator,
Robert F. Kennedy, who combined eloquence, courage and leadership with a
pledge to improve the lives of struggling Americans.
On Tuesday, another candidate with similar qualities, Sen. Barack
Obama, is on the ballot in Indiana. We endorse him for the Democratic
presidential nomination.
Obama will end ‘politics as usual’
Obama is the best choice for Democrats to bring fundamental change to
our partisan, politics as usual political system that impedes
progress toward solving the problems we face.
McCain is ‘true American hero’
For Hoosier Republicans, the choice of Sen. John McCain is clear. He
is a true American hero, a straight-talker with an independent streak
who would be a decisive leader. He earns our endorsement for the GOP
nomination. Democracy, not ‘family dynasties’
During this long, grueling primary season, Obama has shown that he
can listen, lead and inspire. After eight years of the Clintons and 12 years of the Bushes, it’s time to end the rule by political family dynasties. We need new, bold leadership with political courage.
For example, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s call to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline shows lack of spine to carry out an energy policy. In her speeches and on her Web site she promises an energy plan, but she doesn’t have the political courage to implement what she promises.
The results of the suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline Hillary Clinton recommends would be:
• Oil companies might raise prices and not pass on the savings.
• Workers whose construction jobs are paid for by the federal excise
tax on gasoline might lose employment.
• Unsafe bridges and roads might cause more tragedies like the bridge
collapse in Minneapolis.
• Prices would continue upward when the suspension ceases.
• The average driver would save about 30 cents a day during the
entire summer.
• Pandering politicians would get votes.
As former President Bill Clinton said in Kendallville Saturday, the
main reason the price of gas is going up is because demand is
increasing worldwide. “Too many people are trying to buy more oil for
it ever to be cheap again,” he said.
Clinton gas plan hurts nation
Hillary Clinton says a windfall profit tax on oil companies could pay
for the summer tax suspension. Hillary Clinton should know that a
windfall profit tax should be used to shore up wind and solar power
Her Web site calls for “A $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid for
in part by oil companies, to fund investments in alternative energy.”
When Congress passed the 2007 energy bill, it failed to extend any
stimulus for wind and solar energy production. Oil and gas kept all
their credits, but, because of political bickering, credits for wind
and solar expire this December. Obama understands that when
investment in wind and solar becomes unprofitable, new energy
technology will stall. Hillary Clinton knows that, too, but she
conveniently overlooks the future to pander to Hoosiers.
Recently America’s premier solar company, First Solar, from Toledo,
Ohio, opened its newest factory in the former East Germany — 540
high-paying engineering jobs — because Germany has created a booming
solar market and America has not. Business as usual, such as Hillary
Clinton’s proposal, will lead to more job losses of this type.
Political pandering
We can have stable gas prices and more jobs associated with clean
fuel only if our leadership is not hijacked by political pandering.
Although McCain is also, mistakenly, calling for a gas tax
suspension, we see other qualities in him that earn him our
endorsement. A war hero with a lifetime of service to our nation, he
has shown the courage to stick with his convictions and not be swayed
by opinion polls or the fear of political defeat. His hard-nosed
position on the war in Iraq almost cost him the nomination. But he
had reasons to support his viewpoint and he stuck with what he
believes. We also applaud his bipartisan work for immigration reform.
Long Thompson has track record
In the battle for the governor’s seat, incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels
has no Republican opposition. He will be a strong contender for a
second term in November. Hoping to unseat him are Jim Schellinger, a
businessman from Indianapolis, and Jill Long Thompson, a former
congresswoman who represented northeast Indiana. We see Long Thompson
as the better choice because she has a proven track record of
leadership and government management experience. She served in
Congress from 1989-95, and served as U.S. undersecretary of
agriculture in the Clinton administration.
Souder is clear choice
To represent us in Congress we endorse our current congressman, U.S.
Rep. Mark Souder, our clear choice over his GOP opponent, Scott Wise
of Columbia City. Michael Montagano, a lawyer from Bristol, is
unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the 3rd District seat.
We encourage Hoosiers to vote Tuesday. From the local to the national
level we have races of historic importance.
OUR VIEW is written on a rotating basis by Grace Housholder, Dave Kurtz,
Matt Getts and Michael Marturello. Publisher Terry Housholder is also a
member of the editorial board. We welcome readers’ comments.
For details on area candidates’ positions and up-to-the-minute political
news go to fwdailynews.com/election/
Catherine: THANK YOU! THE SOONER YOU GET THIS SILLY QUESTIONS BACK TO PETER AND ME, THE BETTER! I WANT TO SCOOP DRUDGE!
SALTO, URUGUAY -- Catherine, and her fellow Fulbrighters, Marylin and Elizabeth were interviewed on Radio Tabaré, one of the seven radio stations in Salto, Uruguay. 