For Immediate Release
May 5, 2008
Alexis Chininis
(603) 225-6899
 

NH Democrats From Various Primary Camps Join Together to Bring Change in '08

Expose McCain's plans to continue Bush's Iraq policy and economic policy for four more years

(Concord) - Democratic leaders from the various New Hampshire presidential primary campaigns joined together today to launch an effort to bring change to the country by electing a Democratic president in 2008, and to expose John McCain's record as top a Bush cheerleader on Iraq, the economy, and other key issues. 

Dubbed "Unity 08," the group includes supporters from various presidential primary campaigns, including former NH Democratic Party chairs Kathy Sullivan and Ned Helms, Senate President Sylvia Larsen, House Speaker Terie Norelli and Senator Martha Fuller Clark.

Participants in Unity '08 will work hard over coming months to inform voters across the Granite State, prevent John McCain from continuing George Bush's failed policies in the White House, and ensure that New Hampshire elects a Democratic President in November. 

" It's time for change, not more of the same," said Kathy Sullivan, former NH Democratic Party Chair.  "John McCain has been a constant supporter of George W. Bush's failed economic policies and his disastrous policies in Iraq and overseas. Granite Staters deserve better than a third Bush term."

"Granite Staters are tired of Bush's failed policies, "said Ned Helms, former NH Democratic Party Chair. "We are banding together today because it is so vital for our country's future that we get a new economic policy and a new Iraq policy.  John McCain, like George W. Bush, is simply out of touch with the challenges of working families."   

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Ten Reasons John McCain is wrong for New Hampshire

1.       Over 4,000 lives have been lost. 

2.       In a 2005 interview with the Wall Street Journal, McCain admitted to his inexperience on economics.  He said, "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues.  I still need to be educated." [Wall Street Journal, 11/26/2005]

3.        At a New Hampshire town hall meeting in 2008, McCain was asked "President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years. What would be your policy?" He responded: "Maybe 100" and "that would be fine with me." [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House, 1/3/2008; New York Times, "The Caucus," 1/11/2008]

4.       Less than six months ago, McCain said: "Economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should."  McCain, speaking aboard his campaign bus, said, "The issue of economics is something that I've really never understood as well as I should.  I understand the basics, the fundamentals, the vision, all that kind of stuff."  He followed up that comment by assuring listeners that "I've got Greenspan's book." [New York TImes, 1/26/2008].

5.       Granite Staters don't want four more years of the same failed policy in Iraq that continues to cost taxpayers $10 billion per month, and that have led to the death of thousands of soldiers serving honorably in Iraq.

6.       While polls show that a majority of Americans think their economic situation has not improved in the last five years, Senator McCain again declared that, "you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically."[Bloomberg, 4/17/2008]

7.       Instead of facing our economic problems head on, McCain has instead claimed that our country's economic problems are "psychological." As a matter of fact, he has admitted that his proposed gas tax holiday would only provide a psychological boost to the American people.  The fact is, the problems facing America's working families are real and deserve real solutions.

8.       The cost of the Iraq War has exceeded $500 Billion to date. "The United States has poured more than $500 billion into Iraq, mostly for military operations. But that figure is just a small piece of the much larger bill that taxpayers will pay in the future. Because the money for the war is being borrowed, interest payments could add another $615 billion. A heavily depleted military will have to be rebuilt at a cost of $280 billion. Disability benefits and health care for Iraq war veterans, many of them severely injured, could add another half-trillion dollars over their lifetime." [San Francisco Chronicle, 3/18/2008]

9.       McCain's top economic advisor told the New York Times recently that deficits don't matter. This runs contrary to McCain's rhetoric, as he said in 2003 that deficits were bad because they "limit economic expansion."

10.    John McCain isn't concerned that his plan to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years, which is a war that is now costing taxpayers $10 billion a month, and his promise to make Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy permanent would lead to a $6.3 trillion to the deficit.