Ethical View

This is one of my favorite topics.

The major challenge in the contemporary society is the diminishing “ethical standards” or the lack thereof. Unfortunately, ethics is not the priority in any environment. The subprime mortgage failure and credit crunch contributing to the recent global financial crisis is fundamentally due to lack of “ethics” at every level of transaction.

The “Corporate world” motto is “profiteering” at the expense of “ordinary citizens” struggling to meet ends, in the “Capitalist” economy. That being the norm the importance of ethics is hardly an issue for the “Corporations” focused on “stock value” and “shareholder’s interest” rather than the “employees or the work force” who are also the retail customers of their products and services.

The latest “rescue” plan of the financial institutions by the government is a result of the lack of any oversight in lending practices carried out for more than a decade. Again, when the Corporations run the government through constant flow of funds at every level of election campaign i.e. from congressional through “Presidential” what hope does the average citizen have in restoring fair employment, trade and environmental practices in the highly competitive global economy.

Even the judicial system, is infiltrated by the “Special Interests” and “Lobbyists” directly or indirectly as they essentially pick the “President” during the general election. Ironically, both parties have some legislators with strange “bedfellows” and therefore compromising “ethics” which otherwise could serve well for their respective constituents.

It is a known fact that ethics is “oxymoron” to “Politics”, business and the entire franchise. This is particularly evident during “War and Election”. I can personally relate to the political aspect of it as a “volunteer blogger” for the Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama especially during the “Democratic Primary election”. It all started with me pledging my support for his campaign with a token $25 accompanied by a simple message. Then the instructions/requests followed similarly:

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These are some original transcripts from the Senator Barack Obama’s Campaign:

“Who’s out there”

Michelle Obama

Add Friday, January 18, 2008 9:06:02 AM

To:Padmini Arhant

Padmini,

In 24 hours, folks here in Nevada will head into their caucuses for their turn in this process.
But right now, all across the country, thousands of Americans are taking their seat at the table and shaping the outcome of this election.

Donors like you are making a promise to match the gift of someone who has not given this year — or ever before. By doubling the impact of another supporter’s gift, you can help us reach our goal of 125,000 donors for the year by tomorrow.

Make your matching donation now, and encourage someone to own a piece of this campaign:
https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

When you make a matching donation, you’ll get to meet the person whose impact you doubled. You’ll be matched with a real person, and you’ll be able to exchange notes as part of the process.

The stories of real people I’ve met across the country keep me inspired and energized throughout this process. I had a great day yesterday, traveling across the state with Senator John Kerry and talking to folks in community centers and church basements about the issues that are important to them.

It’s those personal stories that motivate Barack and all of us to work as hard as we can to bring about change. We got into this race to bring people back into the process, to help reconnect politics with people’s real lives, and it’s inspiring to feel that happening.

Here are some of the stories people shared when they had their donations doubled by supporters like you:

“Wow, thank you for matching my donation. It was a big impetus to my getting out my debit card — knowing I was giving “double” thanks to you. … I am a 22 year teaching veteran in New Mexico who is looking to get involved locally.”
– Kimberly in New Mexico

“In 1961, I was selected to the first group of Peace Corps Volunteers, and I served four years in Latin America. I was inspired by President Kennedy in 1960 to serve my country, and I believe Senator Obama represents the vision and ability to inspire our country which most parallels what President Kennedy did for me and many others of my generation.”
– Gerald in California

“Hello Holly, Thank you for matching my contribution. This is the first time that I have ever contributed to a political campaign, and November will mark the first time I have voted for a president. Based on the way the country has been run for the last eight years, I now see the extreme importance of participating in the political process.”
– Kehinde in New York

They’re writing to people like you.

Right now you could inspire someone to give for the first time in 2008 and help us reach 125,000 donors for the year by tomorrow. Make your matching donation now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/promise

Our future is in our own hands, so we need to do some dreaming.

Together we can send a message to our children about who they are, who they can become, and who we want to be as a nation. And that message will be heard around the world.

The stakes couldn’t be higher — for our party, for our country, and for the hopes and dreams of all our families.

We are ready for a better, stronger day. Please act now.

Michelle

—————————————————————–
I was initially quite puzzled by this message as I didn’t know what to make out of the manner I was approached to get involved in the campaign. In my view, there are etiquettes with respect to delegating tasks to people especially if they are being asked to “volunteer” for anything.

I responded with the following message.

Re: Who’s out there

Padmini Arhant

Add Friday, January 18, 2008 3:05:34 PM

To:info@barackobama.com

Hi Michelle,

It is nice to hear from you!

I remember our goal and will do everything I can.

I am sure there are millions of people waiting to be part of this historic movement.

Best Regards

Padmini

I had no response to the above message even though I had several email exchanges with the campaign at the top level.

——————————————————————-

“Spun out”

“David Plouffe, BarackObama.com”

AddWednesday, March 12, 2008 1:53:36 PM

To:Padmini Arhant

Dear Padmini,

When we won Iowa, the Clinton campaign said it’s not the number of states you win, it’s “a contest for delegates.”

When we won a significant lead in delegates, they said it’s really about which states you win.

When we won South Carolina, they discounted the votes of African-Americans.

When we won predominantly white, rural states like Idaho, Utah, and Nebraska, they said those didn’t count because they won’t be competitive in the general election.

When we won in Washington State, Wisconsin, and Missouri — general election battlegrounds where polls show Barack is a stronger candidate against John McCain — the Clinton campaign attacked those voters as “latte-sipping” elitists.

And now that we’ve won more than twice as many states, the Clinton spin is that only certain states really count.

But the facts are clear.

For all their attempts to discount, distract, and distort, we have won more delegates, more states, and more votes.

Meanwhile, more than half of the votes that Senator Clinton has won so far have come from just five states. And in four of these five states, polls show that Barack would be a stronger general election candidate against McCain than Clinton.

We’re ready to take on John McCain. But we also need to build operations in places like Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, and Oregon that will hold their primaries in April and May.
Barack Obama needs your support to fight this two-front battle. Please make a donation of $25 right now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/math

With our overwhelming victory in the Mississippi primary yesterday, our lead in earned delegates is now wider than it was on March 3rd, before the contests in Ohio and Texas.

And thanks to your help, we have dramatically increased our support among so-called “superdelegates” — Governors, Members of Congress, and party officials who have a vote at the Democratic National Convention in August.

As the number of remaining delegates dwindles, Hillary Clinton’s path to the nomination seems less and less plausible.

Now that Mississippi is behind us, we move on to the next ten contests. The Clinton campaign would like to focus your attention only on Pennsylvania — a state in which they have already declared that they are “unbeatable.”

But Pennsylvania is only one of those 10 remaining contests, each important in terms of allocating delegates and ultimately deciding who our nominee will be.

We have activated our volunteer networks in each of these upcoming battlegrounds. We’re putting staff on the ground and building our organization everywhere.

The key to victory is not who wins the states that the Clinton campaign thinks are important. The key to victory is realizing that every vote and every voter matters.

Throughout this entire process, the Clinton campaign has cherry-picked states, diminished caucuses, and moved the goal posts to create a shifting, twisted rationale for why they should win the nomination despite winning fewer primaries, fewer states, fewer delegates, and fewer votes.

We must stand up to the same-old Washington politics. Barack has won twice as many states, large and small, in every region of the country — many by landslide margins. And this movement is expanding the base of the Democratic Party by attracting new voters in record numbers and bringing those who had lost hope back into the political process.

Push back against the spin and help build the operation to win more delegates in these upcoming contests:

https://donate.barackobama.com/math

Thank you for your support and for everything you’ve done to build a movement that is engaging voters and winning contests in every part of this country.

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

————————————————————–

The following email struck me the most as it clearly indicated the campaign intensity.

Dinner with Barack?

“David Plouffe, BarackObama.com”

Add Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:04:25 AM

To: Padmini Arhant

Padmini –

You’ve heard about all of these political fundraising dinners, hosted by Washington lobbyists and filled with representatives of special interests.

Contributions like these are at the root of what’s wrong with politics. And John McCain and Hillary Clinton have built campaigns fueled by them.

But our campaign is different.

In February alone, more than 94% of our donors gave in amounts of $200 or less. Meanwhile, campaign finance reports show that donations of $200 or less make up just 13% of Senator McCain’s total campaign funds, and only 26% of Senator Clinton’s.

Our funding comes from a movement of more than one million people giving whatever they can afford.
And in the next week, four supporters will be selected for a new kind of fundraising dinner.

Make a donation in any amount between now and 11:59 pm EDT on Monday, March 31st, and you could join Barack and three other supporters for an intimate dinner for five.

We’re reserving two of those seats for previous donors like you. Make your donation now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/dinner

This movement is changing the way campaigns are funded.

More than one million individual donors have demonstrated that this election is about more than a candidate — it’s about each of us having a personal stake in the future of American politics.
Meanwhile, Senator McCain has raised more than 70% of his total campaign funds from high-dollar donors giving $1,000 or more. Senator Clinton has raised 60% of her funds from $1,000-and-up donors. And both Senator McCain and Senator Clinton have accepted millions of dollars from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs.

Refusing to accept donations from lobbyists and special interests has allowed this campaign to answer only to ordinary Americans like you. And this dinner will be an opportunity for you to sit down with Barack and your fellow supporters and talk about the issues that matter in your life and in your community.

Get the kind of treatment that John McCain and Hillary Clinton reserve for special interests — make a donation in the next week, and you could share your story and your ideas with Barack in person:
https://donate.barackobama.com/dinner

With every single donation, we’re building a movement to change American politics. Help the movement grow, and own a piece of this campaign today.

Thanks for your support,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

——————————————————————-

I obliged to the request and made the “legal” maximum donation to the campaign i.e. $2300.
I requested the venue details for the above event and surprisingly received the following error messages each time.

“This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed”.

Since, I was not successful in reaching the campaign for a response to my request on the venue details. I posted a blog on the campaign website.

Communication Error
By “Voice behind the movement” - Mar 29th, 2008 at 11:30 am EDT

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
Attention: David Plouffe, Obama Campaign Manager

There appears to be a serious communication error as the incoming mail to you is diverted to non-designated recipient. Please verify details and ensure proper functioning of the incoming server at your end to avoid communication disruption and any misunderstandings.

Your immediate attention is required in this matter.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Barack Obama Supporter

I had no luck with response on the dinner invitation but I received this message from the Campaign manager.

——————————————————————–

“Your voice can make the difference”

“David Plouffe, BarackObama.com”

Add Saturday, April 5, 2008 8:39:20 AM

To:Padmini Arhant

Dear Padmini,

Right now, you can help build a base of support for Barack in Indiana and bring more voices into the political process.

To participate in Indiana’s primary, voters must be registered by this Monday, April 7th.
Tens of thousands of Obama supporters may not be registered yet, and we need to act quickly to reach out to as many of them as possible.

Each call you make could be another vote for Barack in an area where we need your help the most.
Use our online phonebanking tool, and start calling Indiana supporters now:

http://my.barackobama.com/call

Registering voters is more than just an important part of our campaign strategy — it’s what our movement is all about.

From the beginning, Barack has set out to bring more people and more voices into the political process. And if we can reach more people in Indiana, we can make a lasting impact and win victories for the Democratic Party up and down the ballot in November.

All across the country, volunteers will be making calls into Indiana to tell potential supporters about the deadline and encourage them to register.

No previous experience is necessary. All you need is a hunger for change and a willingness to turn your enthusiasm into action.

Our team has put together a list of the most important calls you can make into Indiana right now:
http://my.barackobama.com/call

Here’s how it works:
1. Log into My.BarackObama.com and get a list of 20 names that only you will receive. (If you don’t have a My.BarackObama account, creating one is fast and easy.)
2. Click on a name, and you’ll be led through a simple script, question by question.
3. Start making calls.

Personal contact is the best way to grow this movement, and you can make these connections right from your own home.

It’s easy — start by making five calls, and I know you’ll want to make five more:
http://my.barackobama.com/call

Thank you for making this happen,

David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
———————————————————
I obliged again and posted a highly inspirational message like the earlier ones for voter registration.
Finally, soon after I posted the “Indiana” voter registration message, I had a response from the Campaign manager, David Plouffe to my request on the venue details having paid $2300 for the dinner inivitation.

—– Original Message —-
From: David Plouffe
To: Padmini Arhant
Sent: Monday, April 7, 2008 4:06:35 PM
Subject: Meet Barack’s dinner guests

Padmini –

Thank you so much for your donation to Dinner with Barack.

The response to Barack’s invitation was so strong that we decided to increase the total number of guests to five.

Meet the lucky supporters who will be having dinner with Barack this week, and visit our blog to share a question you think they should ask:

http://my.barackobama.com/dinnerguests

Here are Barack’s dinner guests:

Ben Cherry is a retired school superintendent and commercial fisherman now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ben served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Latin America and supported schools that served the native populations of Northern Alaska. He’d like to talk to Barack about how understanding other nations and cultures can inform our foreign policy.

Alisha Cordell is an information technology project coordinator in Raleigh, North Carolina. Alisha is a single mother and grandmother struggling to make ends meet and hoping her family can afford health insurance and college. She’d like to talk to Barack about investments in education and healthcare that will make things easier for her children and grandchildren.

Paul Deery is an elementary school art teacher in Easton, Pennsylvania. Paul’s never been involved in a political campaign before, but was inspired by Barack’s call for change. He and his wife have two children around the same age as Barack’s daughters, and Paul believes that Barack has a sincere commitment to facing the challenges of energy and education that will shape their future.

Raissa Dorff is a singer, actor, and waitress in New York City. Raissa is the youngest of twelve children raised just outside Philadelphia. She first became involved in politics as a volunteer for Senator John Kerry during the 2004 presidential race, and recently she’s been traveling back to her home town to volunteer and help build support for Barack. With seventeen nieces and nephews, Raissa is concerned about education and ending the war in Iraq.

Bonnie Locchetta is an office manager in Rushville, Indiana. Bonnie’s from a largely Republican small town and has not always supported Democrats. But she is inspired by Barack and has been actively organizing in her community with the help of her children. One of Bonnie’s biggest concerns is finding a way to make sure her kids can afford college.

Each of these folks has a different story, and each will come to the table with their own ideas to share with Barack and with one another.

Along with more than a million supporters like you, Ben, Alisha, Paul, Raissa, and Bonnie are united by their commitment to this movement for change.

Take a minute to learn more about these folks and share a question you’d like them to ask Barack:

http://my.barackobama.com/dinnerguests

Thank you for your support,

David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
—————————————————-

I responded to the above email.

Re: Meet Barack’s dinner guests

Padmini Arhant

Add Tuesday, April 8, 2008 2:26:58 PM

To:info@barackobama.com

David,

Thank you for the update.

I am pleased to note that the individuals invited for dinner with Senator Obama this week represent the mainstream society that has been hurt severely from the current economic situation we are experiencing as a nation.

Their story might be unique but the problems are similar to most individuals’ struggling to meet ends in their daily life. They all appear to have genuine concerns and issues to present to Senator Obama and I’m sure he will address each one of them eloquently as he deals with any other issues raised by the media, press corps or during the “Presidential Debates”.

I do not have anything more to add than what they already have to ask Senator Obama. If there are any, I’m sure you will see them in my blog.

I appreciate you providing me the opportunity along with millions of other supporters equally committed and working hard to bring about the positive change that we all can’t wait to happen through Senator Obama’s candidacy.

Your thoughts and regular update is much appreciated.

Thank you once again.

Padmini Arhant

Subsequently, I had continual requests from the Campaign at the higher level of hierarchy.

—————————————————

“Put us over the top in Oregon”

“Buffy Wicks, BarackObama.com”

Add Monday, May 12, 2008 4:18:40 PM

To:Padmini Arhant

Padmini -

I wanted to reach out to you before next week’s contest in Oregon.

Folks like you were the heart and soul of our movement in California. You brought Barack to a strong finish on February 5th — and helped build the momentum that’s resonating all across the country.

The nomination is finally in sight, but there’s still more to do to finish this race — and we can’t take anything for granted.

The Oregon primary is coming up on Tuesday, May 20th. We have an opportunity to put Barack over the top with the majority of pledged delegates — but we need supporters like you from nearby states to take the trip and make a difference one more time.

Oregon’s primary is conducted entirely by mail, and all eligible voters have already received their ballots. It’s essential that we reach as many supporters as possible, as quickly as possible, and encourage them to vote before next week’s deadline.

You’ve been there for Barack before — now let us know you can come to Oregon before the May 20th primary:

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoOR

In contests across the country, home-state supporters have worked their hearts out for Barack — but they’ve relied on folks like you from nearby states to help them cross the finish line.

You can make an especially big difference in Oregon, because voters already have their ballots in hand. Every single person you’ll talk to can make their decision, vote for Barack, and mail in their ballots right away.

You’ve already shown your commitment to grassroots organizing, and you know that change only happens when everyday Americans come together to work for it.

This is our chance to close out the nomination for Barack — can we count on you to take the trip to Oregon in time for Primary Day?

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoOR

Thank you again for all that you’ve done.

Buffy
Buffy Wicks
California Field Director
Obama for America

P.S. — You can also make a difference for Barack right from your home.
Our team has put together a list of the potential supporters in Oregon we most need to reach. You can use our simple online tool to call and encourage them to support Barack and mail in their ballots before the May 20th primary deadline.

Get started right now:

http://my.barackobama.com/CallOR

—————————————————

I have had several email communication with the Campaign members, Senators and great many with the “Presidential candidate”, Senator Barack Obama. The above message struck a chord as it reflected the true emotions and sincere gratitude from Campaign staff workers like “Buffy Wicks” and many others toiling to have a candidate get through the most difficult part of the “Presidential Contest” i.e. “The Primary”election.

I was amazed to see the difference in the “attitudes” at various levels. Obviously, the “volunteers” and other campaign workers at the “bottom” tier with no assurance of any future in the “Obama Administration” worked tirelessly and displayed “Patriotism” in doing so.

The “foot soldiers” and “volunteers” are the real “heroes” as they selflessly and loyally work for the candidate with a conviction and determination to see the campaign prevail in the race.

These hard working concerned citizens are praiseworthy and deserve every attention by the media and news organization.

That is not the case. Often, heavyweight endorsements are given prominence even though they have been proven otherwise particularly in the current “Presidential race”.

The other matter related to “unethical standard” is the publishing of “unauthorized” residential details with an enlargement on the “Google map” by the “supposedly liberal” Ariana Huffington of “Huffington Post”.

Such irresponsible journalism with utter disregard for individual privacy and family security of the “subjects” is the kind that deserves condemnation. Ironically, the “On-line” publication is upheld for violation of other’s rights by all those considering themselves “democratic”.

Is it because it is not about them?

Should it matter only if it affects a certain individual or group of individuals in the society and not others?

Why isn’t Ariana Huffington’s home address not published on her own web site and highlighted on the Google map as a political campaign donor?

The hypocrisy and defiance by “Huffington Post” in publishing campaign donor’s residential details despite strong objection by any particular donor, proves the lack of credibility, ethics and respect for individual privacy in a democratic society.

The lesson to take home is.....

In memory of the "Great Heath Ledger", who portrayed my favorite character "The Joker" in the blockbuster movie "The Dark Knight" as well as the creators of the mega production, "Christopher and Jonathan Nolan" for opening my eyes as a writer - Thank you.

"If you are good at something, never offer if for free", especially in "Politics" with an exception to saving lives, wherever you are.

Please stand by for more interesting scoops on this topic from other factions.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

P.S. Please visit www.padminiarhant.com for exciting news articles and reviews on politics, economy, and much more.

Written by PadminiArhant · Filed Under Ethics, Featured, Politics, United States | Leave a Comment (Edit)

Time for Action - Why you should nominate "Gore-Feingold" for the Democratic Party?

My Dear America,

Yet another twist and dilemma to the already chaotic Democratic Party nomination!

“Pennsylvania Primary Results” – Belated Congratulations to Senator Hillary Clinton!

The race continues to allow participation of the electorate in the remaining states. As democrats we are all learning a great deal of “Politics” from the current “Presidential race”.

Should we learn more about “Politics” or the “Politicians”? Some say both and others think the latter is important to understand the former.

It is evident from these results that the people across the nation are desperately seeking effective policies to alleviate major problems confronting their lives?

The relevant and daunting aspect of this “Presidential race” is electability that is directly related to credibility, competence, character and most importantly policies of their candidacy.

Can the candidates deliver what is required of them?

Right now, they are busy delivering explosive rhetoric and negative campaign tactics much to the advantage of the relaxed and well rested presumed Republican nominee Senator John McCain who has been around the world in 80 hours as the future “President” and currently touring the “forgotten places” to project himself as the formidable candidate.

The economic, social and political commitments of the three “Presidential candidates” fail to strike a chord with the people on or off the campaign trail. The reason being the lack of transparency with respect to “Special Industry / Corporate Lobbyists” vested interests in their respective campaigns and reluctance to transform “Washington Politics” in domestic and foreign policy.

As stated earlier, the current “Presidential race” is tough because of the enormous challenges at present time. The serious job demands serious qualifications.

The controversial contender Senator Hillary Clinton has urged the media and the electorate to draw distinction between herself and her opponent, Senator Obama. Even though the distinction is obvious in terms of gender and race, the commonality between them is they both represent “Symbolic Politics”.

Let us compare and contrast “Yes we can” with “Yes we will”, the campaign slogans of the present democratic challengers, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton respectively.

The economic and health care policies of both candidates with slight variations are intended to target their respective goals of providing “Universal Health Care” and salvation from the current economic and energy crises. The strength and statistics of their policies are revealed by them against one another in the popular campaign dictum “Kitchen Sink” strategy undermining external evaluation by experts and electorate alike.

The voters’ unanimous choice - “Single Payer Health Care Policy” is rejected by all three “Presidential Candidates” for their own validation of product that is unequivocally acknowledged by experts as “inadequate”. The political maneuvering is a good example of products and services marketed aggressively against the will of the electorate or offering a “placebo” for the current ailing economy to benefit the “Special Interests” group behind their candidacy.

Source: Democracynow.org February 08, 2008 (Thank you.)

Examining Clinton & Obama’s Stances on the Subprime Mortgage Crisis, Universal Healthcare, Privatizing Social Security and Nuclear Energy

“Amy GOODMAN: It’s interesting to note something Hillary Clinton says in that clip. When she mentions a single-payer system, the audience applauds and cheers, even though it’s an option rarely seriously discussed by politicians or the corporate media. And Hillary Clinton acknowledges the applause by saying, “I know a lot of people favor [it], but for many reasons [it’s] difficult to achieve.” She doesn’t explain why she thinks it’s difficult to achieve. And polls repeatedly show a majority of Americans favor it. An A.P. poll in December found nearly two-thirds of voters want universal healthcare, in which everyone’s covered in a Medicare-type program, while more than half of voters explicitly said they support single payer. But it’s the insurance companies that are against it. Robert Kuttner, can you talk about that?

ROBERT KUTTNER: Well, one of the reasons that it’s difficult to achieve is the lack of leadership on the part of leaders like Hillary Clinton and, for that matter, Barack Obama. I mean, if you had Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama say, “You know, this is an intramural debate that we should not be having, this debate about mandates; we should do this right: we should have national health insurance,” public opinion would turn around on a dime. And instead of it being this fringe idea, all of a sudden, just because the two of them had blessed it, it would become a mainstream idea, and we would be having a debate that we should have been having all along.”

----------------------------------------------------
In terms of the Subprime mortgage crisis, if one candidate’s proposal is to “freeze” increase in mortgage payments for a limited period on “negative amortization loans”, the other candidate beg to differ with an alternative approach of “moratorium” on foreclosures for a limited term as well. The end result of both proposals is the eviction of homeowners by lenders within the timeframe resembling the margin of their polling status.

Other major issues such as “Social Security” the lifeline for baby boomers and Senior Citizens, job security for all workers color coded in this campaign as white, blue and green according to the primary results, escalating education costs for the youth expected to be future tax payers of this economy and astronomical energy prices debilitating the nation and global community have been currently superceded by dramatic rhetoric contributing to major entertainment for news media and political circus.

Is there any opportunity to discuss other real issues such as time line for troop withdrawal from Iraq, drastic measures to defense cutback on military spending, dealing with present burgeoning international food crisis and inflation, focus on national security and environmental policy, restoration of human rights and world peace?

How about a proposal for complete disarmament of nuclear weapons by all nations with United States in the leading role to eliminate the threat of nuclear arsenal being acquired by the potentially dangerous elements in the world?

The candidates have discussed some of the above mentioned issues during “Presidential debates” and on the campaign trail. However, none of them have offered a firm commitment or a permanent solution to any of the problems facing our nation and the international community.

Should we wonder why? The truth of the matter is, all three “Presidential Candidates” have ducked and dodged on issues concerning the American people and the rest of the world for the survival of their candidacy.

It is important to ask all three remaining contenders on their position regarding the electorate proposals on health care, housing, energy, education, environment, troop withdrawal, serious commitment against human right violation such as torture, invasion and illegal occupation of foreign lands, cutback on military spending and investment in peace and diplomacy and finally complete disarmament of nuclear weapons.

Please remember, the “Presidential Candidates” are vying for the highest office on land and planet earth. They want to control our destiny but decline to be subject to any scrutiny. An active democracy must constantly seek truth, transparency and integrity from any and all prospects running for public office.

After relentless pursuit for disclosure of personal income tax returns by Senator Clinton and others, the nation had the opportunity to view the stark contrast in the “socio-economic status” between the candidates and the mainstream population notably classified as “Elitist vs. Populist” in their personal attacks against each other.

The amazing performance to relate to the people struggling to meet both ends in Pennsylvania and elsewhere is evident in the income tax returns and gaffes by the candidates.

It is important for the electorate in a democratic society to seek yet another full disclosure of “Special Interests” investment details, their association, affiliation and alliances in the current “Presidential Campaign” from all three candidates.

The incumbent administration flaunted the militaristic might in the disastrous Iraq war through “Shock and Awe” and now, not surprisingly Senator Hillary Clinton is enthusiastic to display the “Nuclear Capability” upon becoming “President” by vowing to the following action;

“Source: (Good work on the explosive topic!) – Thank you.

Los Angeles Times:

IRAN: Hillary's threat to "obliterate" in war reverberates-------

Better be careful what you say in the heat of a political campaign. It could have global repercussions.

Presidential contender Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's vow to "obliterate" Iran, presumably with nuclear weapons, if it attacked Israel on her watch was duly noted in the U.S.

[UPDATE: To see a video and full transcript of the comment, click here.]”

“Source: Democracynow.org February 06, 2008

Super Tuesday Roundtable with Bill Fletcher of The Black Commentator, Sociologist Frances Fox Piven, Roberto Lovato of New America Media, and Progressive Democrats of America Director Tim Carpenter

BILL FLETCHER: Senator Obama has been a motivational and inspiring speaker, but on some issues, particularly on foreign policy, he has not particularly distinguished himself from Senator Clinton. I mean, he was reluctant—although he supported or has supported a withdrawal from Iraq, he was reluctant to pin a date down. He, on Iran, seemed to believe, along with the Bush administration, that Iran represents some sort of threat. And then he made that statement about making a unilateral attack against al-Qaeda bases in Pakistan, which was, I think, a reckless statement when you consider the state that Pakistan is in and the anti-US sentiment there.

How will this be fundamentally different than his predecessors?

FRANCES FOX PIVEN: I certainly don’t think that race is going—the race issue is going—disappearing from American society as a result of this election campaign. That is not what I meant.

But I wanted to comment on the question of program that everybody—all of us have brought up. Whose program do we like? Who is stronger, Hillary or Barack? Or was it Edwards in an earlier phase? I think that, look, these are all ambitious people. They all take money from unsavory sources. They’re all determined to win, to beat out their competitors. They all evade the troublesome issues in American society, if they can.

ROBERTO LOVATO: Well, Hillary Clinton gets a lot of money from military-industrial interests. Barack Obama’s, contrary to what he said on that clip you showed, his main group of funders is Goldman Sachs, according to Open Secrets.

AMY GOODMAN: We have a roundtable discussion on this post-Super Tuesday. Tim Carpenter, I wanted go back to you in Massachusetts—you came out very clearly strongly for Senator Barack Obama—and ask you questions about your concerns about his record. For example, the strong support for the nuclear industry. The New York Times had a piece this weekend talking about Obama falsely claiming during a campaign debate that he had passed legislation in the Senate at the request of Illinois anti-nuclear activists to require better public disclosure about nuclear plant leaks, when in fact the legislation never passed, that while he did initially introduce legislation, his staff repeatedly watered it down after meeting with the nuclear industry. Among Barack Obama’s top contributors are nuclear power industry, Exelon, the corporation. Your thoughts just on that. Then we’ll talk about health insurance with everyone.

TIM CARPENTER: I’m not here to defend Senator Obama and his record. Like you, I’m challenging him, as well. I think we need to distinguish Senator Barack Obama and the movement for Barack Obama, as Frances said earlier. The movement for Barack Obama represents those Democrats, like you said, that are disappointed in Senator Obama and his nuclear record. I think in Nevada, that was exposed when you look at Yucca Mountain. And like you, Amy, I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in Senator Barack’s stance.

AMY GOODMAN: Bill Fletcher—let me go to Bill Fletcher on the issue of war. Barack Obama makes a very strong case for not just being ready on day one, but being right. Yet he has called for expanding the size of the military by 92,000. Then there’s the issue of healthcare. Neither candidate, Obama or Clinton, have called for single-payer, though Hillary Clinton has presented a plan that would cover 45 million Americans to Obama’s something like, what, twenty-two, twenty-three. Your comments on this?

BILL FLETCHER: Building on what Frances said, I think that Senator Obama, as much as I respect him, has been very wobbly on a number of these issues. And so, in that sense, I think it’s critically important that those of us that are supporting Senator Obama not try to make him something that he’s not.

I’ve heard a number of commentators over the last number of weeks, and some good people that I respect, attempt to change or turn Senator Obama into someone who is far more progressive than I think that he actually is. We can support him, and we can support him critically, but I think that that means that when there are issues like around military spending or the Middle East or healthcare, that we have to come after him, and we have to insist that he get off the fence and that he advance politics that his base is really looking for him to espouse. And that’s what I think is really incumbent upon us, rather than just simply falling over in favor of him because of our excitement with his campaign.

AMY GOODMAN: Why, when we’re having this discussion about progressives pushing Obama, do you not feel the same way about Hillary Clinton?

ROBERTO LOVATO: I think that Hillary Clinton, despite the fact that in one debate she called herself progressive, she’s really not. She’s, I’d say, a neoliberal candidate that represents, you know, Goldman Sachs, military-industrial interests, and others, and so—

AMY GOODMAN: Isn’t Goldman Sachs one of the top contributors to Obama?

ROBERTO LOVATO: Yeah. They’re all—I mean, they’re all in the same bag. I’m not—look, I’m not pitching one candidate or the other. I think—

Source: Democracynow.org February 08, 2008 (Thank you.)

Examining Clinton & Obama’s Stances on the Subprime Mortgage Crisis, Universal Healthcare, Privatizing Social Security and Nuclear Energy

PAUL GUNTER: Both Obama and Clinton are hedging.

Actually, both are, you know, remaining open to one of the largest managerial disasters in US business history, where, you know, we—if we repeat that mistake, it’s a little like seeing Lucy offer Charlie Brown this football again. You know, we know what’s going to happen. Why the Clinton and Obama campaigns should remain open to, you know, making that mistake again and falling flat on our back, while we’re facing the imminent and rising risks of rapid climate change—we need leadership now to make decisive policy that sets us on a course where, you know, we’re not going to be faced with climate change, nuclear waste and more nuclear weapons.

AMY GOODMAN: Paul Gunter, in looking at this New York Times piece of February 3rd by Mike McIntyre, he also talks about the chief political strategist of Barack Obama, David Axelrod, who has worked as a consultant to Exelon. A spokeswoman for Exelon said Axelrod’s company had helped an Exelon subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison, with communications strategy periodically since 2002, but had no involvement in the leak controversy or other issues. If you can you comment on that and what the leak controversy was all about?

PAUL GUNTER: Well, you know, basically what the story is is that, you know, for more than a decade, Exelon Nuclear, chiefly at nuclear power stations in Dresden and Braidwood, have been experiencing leaks of radioactive tritium into groundwater, where, at least at Braidwood, on two occasions, more than three million gallons of radioactive water was spilled out onto the surface, where it soaked into groundwater, ran offsite over shallow drinking water wells in neighboring residents, and did not disclose these spills until a constituency of community organizers began to raise this issue, noting that they were really concerned about not only these spills, but cancer clusters and pediatric brain cancers that—around the facilities. And, you know, I think the issue—

AMY GOODMAN: We just have thirty seconds, so if you could—

PAUL GUNTER: Right.

AMY GOODMAN: —tell us what—how Barack Obama was involved with this?

PAUL GUNTER: Well, you know, they came to Barack Obama, and basically he set out with strong legislation that would have required mandatory reporting by these utilities to local communities, you know, to basically alert them to these leaks. But as the influence of the Nuclear Energy Institute and Exelon began to come into play, the legislation was basically pulled—all the teeth were pulled out of it and, you know, again leaves these communities vulnerable.

AMY GOODMAN: The YouTube debate in Utah in July. Paul Gunter also joins us, director of the Reactor Oversight Project at Beyond Nuclear, an advocacy group that’s opposed to nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Your—can you talk a little about their positions on nuclear power and nuclear weapons?

PAUL GUNTER: Well, both Senators Obama and Clinton have basically displayed a lot of indecisiveness about all the concerns with nuclear power—its cost, the inherent dangers, the unsolved nuclear waste issue, the proliferations issue. But I think that what’s most notable about that clip is the evasiveness, the indecisiveness, that the campaigns have taken. And it’s also been reflected in legislation with both Senators Obama and Clinton.

One of the main concerns is that both Clinton and Obama have very strong backing, financial backing, from the major CEOs from the nuclear industry. For Senator Obama, the chief executive officer, John Rowe, with Exelon Nuclear, Chicago-based, largest nuclear utility in the country; and Senator Clinton has strong financial backing from David Crane, who’s the CEO for NRG Energy, which is based in New Jersey. Both Exelon and NRG right now have got applications before the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build new nuclear power stations in Texas. So it’s disturbing that both Senators Obama and Clinton left out nuclear in their Utah speech, but we’ve seen that basically this kind of indecisiveness, you know, being all over the board indicates that influence-peddling with the nuclear power industry is alive and well on Capitol Hill and in these presidential campaigns”.

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Why is this election so important and crucial for mankind?

Who is the “qualified ruler” of the contemporary world equipped with dangerous nuclear arsenal and challenged with serious economic, energy, environmental and political crises?

It is none of the three Presidential candidates i.e. Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama.

The ideal and peaceful solution for the Democratic Party is to nominate the former Vice President Al Gore and Senator Russ Feingold as “President and Vice President” and take the “White House” back honorably for the good of humanity.

The dire economic status combined with spiraling energy crisis triggered by illegitimate Iraq war and other monumental issues such as nuclear management facing our nation and global community are few reasons for the electorate to exercise diligence and judgment in choosing a leader as the “President of the United States”.

So, given the limited choice and unlimited controversies and mysteries surrounding the present Democratic Candidates and the imminent continuation of Bush legacy with McCain Presidency, it is important for the electorate to consider this “Presidential race” seriously.

The economically devastated people and militarily exhausted troops of this great nation are yearning for a decisive, rational and responsible leadership committed towards revival of economic prosperity, peace and diplomacy and not nuclear war as recklessly declared by Senator Hillary Clinton or affiliations with nuclear industry by Senator Barack Obama.

It is not that we are devoid of options within Democratic Party. Please review my earlier blog “Crisis Remedy” offering alternatives to the current democratic dilemma. We have “proven” candidate such as the former Vice President and Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore who won the popular vote and the general election in the year 2000.

The polarization within Democratic Party is inevitable regarding “Florida and Michigan” delegates close to the Democratic Convention. According to the news media in the year 2000, 1.7 million Floridian voters were disenfranchised through the undemocratic nomination of the “President”.

It is a great opportunity for the Democratic Party to heal the wounds of the democrats, independents and disenchanted republicans in Florida and Michigan by bringing the “Gore-Feingold” team on the ballot to beat the Republican Party in the general election.

It is absolutely important for democrats to win the election at all costs to save this great country and the world from further carnage, chaos and catastrophe. If the Democratic Party does not win in November 2008 despite economic disaster, unpopular war and national reputation at stake, it would be a tragedy for the Party and the future of the democratic society.

Senator Russ Feingold will be a formidable candidate on “Gore-Feingold” ticket due to the exemplary Senatorial record in most issues concerning all citizens of this great nation.

Please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Feingold#Bills_and_policy_positions for the preview of his Senate record.

So, Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Oregon, Puerto Rico and all other remaining primary states, please get involved in signing a petition to bring “Gore-Feingold” on the ballot and lead Democratic Party to a spectacular victory in November 2008.

Please note the “Grand Old Party” is up to their “Grand Old Plan” to win the general election by 40 states to 10 against Senator Clinton or Senator Obama due to the “damaged” reputation by both democratic contenders. It would be naïve to take the GOP challenge for granted considering the history in the year 2000 and 2004 and the Republican strategy to win elections by any means.

It is imperative for the American electorate and unpledged delegates otherwise known as “Super Delegates” to rise up to the occasion and turn the recommended “possibility” into a “reality”. Sometimes unpopular decisions have to be made for a noble cause such as defending the honor and future of the country.

You should never forget that “People” have the “Power” in a democratic society to transform “failure” into “success”.

Please contact Democratic National Committee, your Congressional representatives and the prospective candidates the former Vice President Al Gore and Senator Russ Feingold and urge them to honor the will of the electorate and restore democracy, peace and prosperity for all.

Make your vote count by joining the American electorate for "Gore-Feingold" nomination. Please spread the message around vigorously and make this a reality. Our nation cannot sustain any more wars, economic downturns and most importantly polarized society.

You must do this for yourself, your children, family and everything you live for.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Padmini Arhant

Voice for Humanity

P.S: Please read my earlier blog “Crisis Remedy” on www.padminiarhant.blogspot.com for further compelling reasons to win the election by the Democratic Party.