2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Hoosiers For Hillary Launches First Television Ad

Hoosiers For Hillary Launches First Television Ad
Senator Evan Bayh Praises Hillary’s Plan to Jumpstart the Economy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN- In Hoosiers for Hillary’s first statewide television ad Senator Evan Bayh highlights Hillary’s innovative plan to strengthen the economy and emphasizes her proven record of delivering for hardworking Hoosiers and all Americans.

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8 the 30- second television spot titled “Steel” will air throughout Indiana. Senator Bayh outlines Hillary’s agenda to create new, high wage jobs, to fix our broken trade deals and affirms that she is ready to be Commander-in-Chief on day one. 

Following is a script for “Steel.” 

Evan Bayh: America faces challenging times.

We need a leader who'll fight for good jobs, change trade deals like NAFTA, cut taxes for middle class families. 

Someone who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief from day one.

That leader?

Hillary Clinton.

I've known Hillary for twenty years.  She's got a spine of steel.

She'll fight for our jobs, our troops, and the America we love.

Strong.  Seasoned.  She'll always stand up for us.

Clinton: I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

Statement by Hillary Clinton on Olympics

Statement by Hillary Clinton on Olympics

The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for Presidential leadership.  These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China.  At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government.

I encourage the Chinese to take advantage of this moment as an opportunity to live up to universal human aspirations of respect for human rights and unity, ideals that the Olympic games have come to represent. 

Americans will stand strong in support of freedom of religious and political expression and human rights.  Americans will also stand strong and root for the success of American athletes who have worked hard and earned the right to compete in the Olympic Games of 2008.

Statement of Jay Carson, Clinton Campaign Spokesman On Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton Releasing Their Tax Returns

Statement of Jay Carson, Clinton Campaign Spokesman

Today Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton are releasing their tax returns for the years 2000 through 2006, and are providing information regarding their 2007 taxes as well.

The Clintons have now made public thirty years of tax returns, a record matched by few people in public service.  None of Hillary Clinton's presidential opponents have revealed anything close to this amount of personal financial information.

What the Clintons' tax returns show is that they paid more than $33,000,000 in federal taxes and donated more than $10,000,000 to charities over the past eight years.  They paid taxes and made charitable contributions at a higher rate than taxpayers at their income level. 

2000 - 2007 TAX RETURN SUMMARY

HILLARY & BILL CLINTON

TAXES PAID:  $33,783,507

The Clintons paid $33,783,507 in federal taxes – 31% of their adjusted gross income.  According to the most recent data available from the IRS, in 2005 taxpayers earning $10,000,000 or more paid on average 20.8% of their adjusted gross income in taxes.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS:  $10,256,741

The Clintons donated $10,256,741 to charity – 9.5% of their adjusted gross income.  According to the most recent data available from the IRS, in 2005 taxpayers earning $10,000,000 or more contributed 3.1% of their adjusted gross income in cash contributions to charity.  Information about the Clinton Family Foundation, including a list of charities to which the Clintons contributed through the Foundation, is available online in the Foundation's publicly available tax returns (www.foundationcenter.org).   

AFTER TAX EARNINGS:  $57,157,297

CUMULATIVE TOTAL(GROSS) INCOME:  $109,175,175

Including, among other items:   

Senator Clinton’s Senate Salary: $1,051,606

President Clinton’s Presidential Pension: $1,217,250

Senator Clinton’s Book Income: $10,457,083

President Clinton’s Book Income: $29,580,525

President Clinton’s Speech Income: $51,855,599

SENATOR CLINTON’S BOOK INCOME: $10,457,083

Senator Clinton’s book income is comprised of earnings for Living History ($10,267,895), including an $8,000,000 advance, and It Takes a Village ($189,188).  The earnings for It Takes a Village were donated to charity.  Since the release of It Takes a Village in 1996, Senator Clinton has donated over $1,100,000 to charity.

PRESIDENT CLINTON’S BOOK INCOME:  $29,580,525

President Clinton’s book income is comprised of earnings for My Life ($23,280,525), including a $15,000,000 advance, and Giving ($6,300,000).  The President donated $1,000,000 of his income from Giving in 2007 to charity. 

PRESIDENT CLINTON’S SPEECH INCOME:  $51,855,599

NOTE:  The figures in this summary include 2007 estimates.

Clinton Campaign Reaction To Michigan Democrats’ Statement

Clinton Campaign Reaction to Michigan Democrats’ Statement

Deputy Communications Director Phil Singer issued the following comment in response to a statement by the Michigan Democrats’ Executive Committee:

“The issues and voters of Michigan are too important to be dismissed. Close to 600,000 Michiganians cast ballots in January and these votes cannot be ignored. We urge the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee to take all necessary steps to ensure the voices of the people of Michigan are heard and its delegates are seated at the Democratic convention this summer. Already, over 100,000 people have signed our petition calling on the DNC to seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida. We urge Senator Obama to join our efforts to ensure that the votes of the people of Michigan and Florida are counted.”

New Clinton Online Drive Allows Supporters To Direct How Their Money Is Spent In Pennsylvania

New Clinton Online Drive Allows Supporters to Direct How Their Money is Spent in PA

New program – unveiled at www.hillaryclinton.com – comes as campaign drew $15 million online in March

The Clinton campaign today announced the launch of MyPA, a new online fundraising drive that enables donors to tell the campaign where they’d like to spend their money in Pennsylvania. MyPA is a unique program that will further empower the campaign’s grassroots supporters while continuing to raise the resources needed to compete and win in Pennsylvania.

Supporters will be notified about MyPA today through an email from Hillary announcing the program. By visiting www.hillaryclinton.com, supporters can choose from six different areas to support the campaign: TV airtime; online ads; radio spots; signs; vans; and door hangers. Supporters can mix and match how much they want to put towards each item and then “check out” like an online wedding registry. 

The launch comes as the campaign had its second most successful online fundraising month, netting $15 million in March, more than double the amount raised online in January.

"Our grassroots supporters have come through once again, with over $15 million in contributions in the month of March,” Internet Director Peter Daou said. “We are gratified to see such a continued show of strength.”

Hillary Clinton Accepts Invitation To Debate In North Carolina On CBS

Hillary Clinton Accepts Invitation to Debate in North Carolina on CBS

The Clinton campaign today announced that Senator Hillary Clinton has accepted an invitation to participate in a debate in North Carolina on Sunday, April 27, sponsored by CBS.

First TV Ad in Tar Heel State: Hillary Tells North Carolina Voters, “I Want to Hear from You”

First TV Ad in Tar Heel State: Hillary Tells North Carolina Voters, “I Want to Hear from You”

North Carolinians can send questions to Hillary at www.NCAskMe.com

The Clinton campaign today unveiled its first TV ad in the Tar Heel State.  In the 60-second spot, titled “NC Ask Me”, Hillary tells North Carolina voters “this election isn’t about me, it’s about you.” Clinton invites North Carolinians to log on to the campaign’s new website, www.NCAskMe.com to ask her “anything and everything.”

Clinton will answer questions from North Carolina voters in follow-up ads in the coming weeks. The spot will begin running across the state tomorrow.

Following is the script for the ad.

“NC Ask Me”

TV :60

Hillary Clinton:

“Hi, if you are looking for a typical political commercial, switch the channel.

This isn't a typical election, and these are not typical times.

The economy is reeling and as I talk with people across North Carolina,

I hear about the crushing cost of healthcare from Winston-Salem to Fayetteville.

I hear stories about families going into debt to send their children to college.

Military families from Fort Bragg tell me their deep concerns about how we're treating our veterans.

Teachers and parents tell me that No Child Left Behind just isn't working.

And everywhere, North Carolinians tell me the middle class is just getting slammed.

I want to hear from you.

Because this election isn't about me, it is about you.

So let's have a conversation.

Just go to NCAskMe.com, and then I'll be getting back to you here on TV to answer your questions and offer some solutions.

Thanks.

It's nice talking with you.

I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.”

New Ad: Clinton Campaign Unveils “Ringing” Ad Statewide in Pennsylvania

New Ad: Clinton Campaign Unveils “Ringing” Ad Statewide in Pennsylvania

30-Second Television Spot Highlights Hillary’s Readiness to be Commander-in-Chief of the Economy

The Clinton campaign today announced it is broadcasting a new 30-second television ad in Pennsylvania highlighting Senator Clinton’s readiness to be steward of the economy on Day One.

Following is the script for the ad.

Hillary For President
“Ringing"
TV :30

Announcer: It’s 3 am, and your children are safe and asleep.

But there’s a phone ringing in the White House and this time the crisis is economic.

Home foreclosures mounting, markets teetering.

John McCain just said the government shouldn’t take any real action on the housing crisis, he’d let the phone keep ringing.

Hillary Clinton has a plan to protect our homes, create jobs.

It’s 3 am, time for a president who’s ready.

Hillary Clinton: I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.

Clinton Campaign Reaction To DNC Meeting On Seating Florida Delegation

Clinton Campaign Reaction to DNC Meeting on Seating Florida Delegation

Deputy Communications Director Phil Singer issued the following statement in response to the DNC’s meeting with the Florida delegation today on seating its delegation:

"We have long maintained that pretending the voters of Florida and Michigan don’t exist is not fair in principle and unwise in practice.  This morning’s Quinnipiac poll out of Florida reflects the urgent need for Democrats to get behind our effort to count Florida’s voters and seat its delegation.  Chairman Dean is clearly committed to seating the Florida delegation and we urge Senator Obama to join us in calling on the rules and bylaws committee to make this a reality."

Statement By Texas Campaign Chairman Garry Mauro

Statement by Texas Campaign Chairman Garry Mauro

Austin, TX – Following the Democratic Party’s county conventions in Texas this weekend, Clinton Campaign Texas Chairman Garry Mauro issued the following statement.

“Our delegates came out to their county conventions in full force over the weekend, and as a result, we gained at least two delegates to the national convention, with the possibility of picking up two more. Barack Obama did not make threshold in at least 25 counties, and we out-performed in many areas throughout rural Texas, where Hillary Clinton's support is strong.

"We continue to be grateful to the enthusiastic support Hillary continues to receive throughout the Lone Star state, and look forward to a strong showing at the Texas State Convention in June."