New Web Video Highlights McCain's Deep Involvement in Deal with Foreign Shipping Company as 8,000 Ohio Jobs Hang in the Balance

The Ohio Democratic Party released a new web ad today contrasting John McCain's aggressive personal intervention in the Senate on behalf of a foreign shipping company with his unwillingness to intervene just as aggressively with DHL as 8,000 Ohio jobs hang in the balance in the wake of the deal he helped broker.  

The ad features video of McCain's recent exchange with a woman at a town hall in Portsmouth, Ohio and reporting from The Plain Dealer.  On the eve of his visit to DHL in Wilmington, The Plain Dealer reported that McCain's campaign manager and longtime friend Rick Davis lobbied on behalf of DHL to overcome Congressional opposition to allowing a foreign company to take over Airborne, and that McCain himself intervened to ensure that the deal went through.  According to The Plain Dealer, Rick Davis earned $185,000 lobbying for foreign ownership, and $405,000 after the deal passed Congress.

Watch the video after the break. The Plain Dealer story is available here.  

Today John McCain will be in the Mahoning Valley trying to convince Ohioans that the economy has been good in the seven and a half years under George Bush. In fact, he described the Bush years as "a pretty good prosperous time" and said that NAFTA has been "a great thing for America."

So we went to the Mahoning Valley, an area that has been devastated by the policies of the Bush Administration, to see what real Ohioans think about McCain's views on the economy. And they responded very candidly. You can watch the video below.

Ohio State Senator John Boccieri, a Major in the United States Air Force Reserve and C-130 aircraft pilot as well as a candidate for Congress in Ohio's 16th Congressional District, will deliver the national Democratic radio address for Memorial Day on Saturday, May 24 at approximately 11:05AM.

Boccieri has served in the Reserve for 13 years and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan on four rotations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In his address, John reflects on the solemn holiday and the service and sacrifices made by our soldiers and military families. He also calls upon leaders in Washington to change direction on policies effecting our economy, jobs, veterans, health care, and Iraq to put America and our middle class families first again.

Audio after the fold.

John McCain was in Ohio yesterday and again he did not present any real plans to alleviate the economic problems facing Ohio's working families. McCain believes that the problems you face everyday - from skyrocketing gasoline prices to rising mortgage rates - are all in your head.

Here's exactly what McCain said while discussing gas prices and economic hardships: "A lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological - confidence, trust, uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home."

That our country's problems are merely "psychological" was news to us, so  we hit the streets to see what real Ohioans thought about McCain dismissing the real problems they face day to day.

The special election in OH-5 is heating up beyond anyone's expectations. This is a race of national significance as a loss for the GOP would be detrimental in a district that has been solidly Republican for years. Ohio Democrats from all over the state are putting forth a concentrated GOTV effort in the district.  We now need Democrats across the nation to join our effort by calling Ohioans and talking to them about Robin's message of more jobs, better health care and ending the war in Iraq.

It's time to make this happen. If you live outside of Ohio, volunteer today for Robin's Virtual Phonebank. It is easy to do and you can call from virtually anywhere. We need your help to put Robin over the top on December 11th. Contact Jason at phonebank4robin@gmail.com to sign up for Robin's Virtual Phonebank.

For canvassing and phonebanking in Ohio, email WeirauchGOTV@ohiodems.org.

We can win this race, but only with your help. Be part of a great Democratic victory. Volunteer today.

Cross-posted at the Ohio Democratic Party Blog and Buckeye State Blog

Just last week Congressman John Boehner resorted to calling Senator Voinovich a "wimp" for speaking out against President Bush on the Iraq War, but speaking out isn't enough, it's time for Voinovich to put his vote card where his mouth is. American troops have been on the front lines for more than 4 years while Senator Voinovich has consistently voted against a new direction in Iraq.

Tonight, the U.S. Senate will conduct a full night of debate on the Republican filibuster to the Levin-Reed amendment that would reduce U.S. forces in Iraq by ending the policing of the civil war and switching the focus to fighting Al Qaeda and terror related missions.

Starting at 9:00 PM tonight, the Ohio Democratic Party will start its 'Up All Night To Do What's Right' campaign by hosting a candle light vigil at Senator Voinovich's Columbus office.

Higher education will be the cornerstone of a successful future for the current and future students of Ohio. In the modern economy, a high school graduate is not prepared to enter the work force without the advanced skills gained from post-secondary training.  Thus it is imperative that the State of Ohio undergoes every effort to ensure that those qualified and willing to attend Ohio's colleges and universities are able to financially do so.

However, Ohio policy has been quite to the contrary. The percentage of the budget allocated towards higher education has dropped from 17.7 in 1979 to 11.7 in 2005. This is during a period in which the necessity of higher education has increased immensely.

The Ohio Learn and Earn Committee is introducing an amendment to Ohio Consitution that would create a huge statewide scholarship program that will, upon maturity, provide college scholarships for every Ohio high school student admitted to an Ohio college and university.

Under the Learn & Earn initiative headed for the November 2006 ballot, Ohio school children will be guaranteed college tuition support for any public or private College or University of an estimated $900 million a year. In addition, Ohio local governments would receive an estimated $200 million annually in development dollars to attract new business and local jobs.