NEW YORK—A half million dollar campaign launched today to invigorate support for Barack Obama’s presidential bid amongst persuadable Jewish voters will offer an innovative bundling of communications technology that exists nowhere else in the political world.

JewsVote.org, the central repository for pro-Obama messaging in the Jewish community, aims to countervail the rumor campaign that spread through Jewish networks during the primary season, which resulted in an unprecedented number of undecided Jewish voters.

“JewsVote.org will turn the tide on these spurious rumors using the same personal networks used to propagate them, by arming Obama’s supporters not just with accurate information, but with a set of cutting edge tools that enables them to get the word out further and faster,” said Mik Moore, co-founder and co-executive director of JewsVote.org.

The site’s revolutionary interface will enable users to upload their email-based contacts to build a personal voter file to which they can then send customized emails. It also features tailored talking points for phone banking and lets users place advertisements in newspapers of their choosing and organize meetings of undecided voters in key swing states. JewsVote.org will also allow users to create and share their own content for distribution, building ever expanding and responsive messaging that reflects the breadth and depth of support for Obama within the Jewish community.

“As sophisticated as political marketing has become, there is still no more effective means of mobilizing political support than personal outreach from someone you know. JewsVote.org takes this fundamental principle of political organizing to the next level,” said Moore’s partner, Ari Wallach, who is also the project’s co-founder and co-executive director.

Recent polls show Barack Obama with 60 percent of Jewish support, a low number when compared to the average of 76 percent that the more progressive presidential candidates have received in the 21 elections between 1924 and 2004. In fact, none of the more conservative candidates have ever mustered more than 40 percent of the Jewish vote, while more than half received less than 20 percent.

While Jews comprise less than than 3 percent of the U.S. population, some 80 percent are not only registered to vote, but actually do so at twice the rate of the typical voter. In certain swing states, Jewish votes could make a significant difference between victory and defeat.

“Obama’s positions on a range of issues are closely aligned with those of most Jews and his life story of achievement through hard work and education has great resonance in the community,” said Moore. “On the other hand, the McCain/Palin ticket should raise nothing but red flags in the Jewish community, with their reference to the war in Iraq as an act of God, their anti-choice platform and their unabashed courting of the Christian right.”

JewsVote.org is a project of the Jewish Council for Education & Research, a federal political action committee created to develop and disseminate information to voters in the United States around issues of concern to the Jewish community.

Last Thursday, in advance of the formal launch of JewsVote.org’s online advertising tool this week, JCER published a centerfold ad in the Detroit Jewish News, signed by more than 1,000 Detroit-area Jews. The headline of the ad read: “We are Michigan Jews Who Support Barack Obama & Joe Biden: Here are Reasons You Should Too.” The ad lists the candidates’ stances on Israel’s security, the Iran threat, ending the Iraq war, the economy and healthcare amongst other issues, which resonate widely within the Jewish community.

“This is the first of many locally driven ads we expect to see in communities large and small across the country with the launch of the advertising tool or JewsVote.org. It will make the entirety of the placement process—from design to print—accessible to even the most casual internet user,” said Wallach, “There is something uniquely compelling about ads generated by people you know, who you run into in the grocery store, in your synagogue and at your kids’ school picnics. They know you personally and know what is at stake for you in this election.”

In 2008, JCER is supporting Sen. Barack Obama for president and six other Congressional candidates who share the American Jewish community’s core public values: a robust First Amendment, equal rights for all, broad-based economic and educational opportunity, cultural liberalism, vigilance in the face of oppression, respect for the natural world, a strong but not belligerent foreign policy, and support for Israel.

CONCORD, NH – In response to Barack Obama’s comments yesterday in Virginia that, “You can put lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig,” the New Hampshire Republican Party today called on Barack Obama and his campaign to stop launching smears against Governor Sarah Palin.

At the Party’s Victory Office in Manchester, lipsticks will be on hand for volunteers, supporters and visitors to sign their names to a petition urging the Obama campaign to Stop the Smears and run a campaign based on issues – not insults.

Jayne Millerick, former NH GOP Chairwoman and a member of the Palin Truth Squad, issued the following statement in conjunction with the launch:

“Sarah Palin is the only candidate in the race who wears lipstick. When Barack Obama talked yesterday about dressing up a pig with lipstick, the crowd at his event knew exactly to whom he was referring. Falling poll numbers have driven the Obama campaign into panic mode. Rather than stick to the politics of ‘change’ he promised, Obama has concluded the only way out is to smear Governor Palin. Obama let down New Hampshire voters who hoped for a more respectful debate on the issues. Regardless, he owes Sarah Palin an unequivocal apology.”

MORE PALIN SMEARS FROM OBAMA CAMPAIGN AND DEMOCRATS:

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPd4yk0x-eg

FactCheck.org: Attacks On Governor Palin "Are Completely False, Or Misleading." "We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or misleading." (Brooks Jackson, Jessica Henig, Emi Kolawole, Joe Miller and Lori Robertson, "Sliming Palin," FactCheck.org, http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html , 9/8/08)

Pushing A Smear Against Governor Palin, The Obama Campaign Has Linked Governor Palin To Pat Buchanan. "Obama advisers and surrogates have linked Palin to conservative former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan. An Associated Press story from Alaska, dated July 17, 1999, stated that Palin, then the mayor of the small town of Wasilla, was wearing a Buchanan button during a Buchanan visit to Alaska." (Jim Kuhnhenn, "Palin's Husband Was Member Of Third Party," The Associated Press, 9/2/08)

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) Said That Governor Palin Was A Supporter Of Pat Buchanan Who He Called A "Nazi Sympathizer." "Here's Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida: John McCain's decision to select a vice presidential running mate that endorsed Pat Buchanan for President in 2000 is a direct affront to all Jewish Americans. Pat Buchanan is a Nazi sympathizer with a uniquely atrocious record on Israel, even going as far as to denounce bringing former Nazi soldiers to justice and praising Adolf Hitler for his 'great courage.'" (Ben Smith, "Palin On Israel," Politico, http://www.politico.com , Posted 8/29/08)

The Obama Campaign Linked Governor Palin As A Supporter Of Pat Buchanan Who They Called A "Nazi Sympathizer." "'Palin was a supporter of [MSNBC analyst] Pat Buchanan, a right-winger or as many Jews call him: a Nazi sympathizer,' Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski wrote in an email." (Marc Caputo, "Obama Camp Connects The Dots For Jews: McCain...Palin...Buchanan...Nazis," The Miami Herald's "Naked Politics" Blog, http://miamiherald.typepad.com , Posted 8/30/08)

Democrat Strategist James Carville Falsely Smeared Governor Palin Calling Her A Member Of A "Cockamamie Secessionist Party." CARVILLE: "This is like the weirdest thing that I've ever seen. I can't even explain it. I have no idea why they did this. I think they must be having some terrible second thoughts at the convention right now, it's going to be all about -- it's all about Sarah Palin. They got every kind of story from the cockamamie secessionist party that she was part of up in Alaska to trying to get rid of books in the library and god knows what else." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 9/2/08)

Democrat Strategist Paul Begala Falsely Smeared Governor Palin Saying She Supposedly Cutting Special Needs Funding In Alaska. BEGALA: "She did sell it. But here's what bothers me more, the press has ignored this and I don't know why. She said, let me quote from her speech: 'To the families of special needs children, I pledge to you that if we are elected we will have a friend and advocate in the White House.' This is the mother of a special needs baby, who heroically chose live, to give that Down Syndrome baby life who is also the aunt, we learned from Kyra Phillips reporting in Anchorage, of another special needs child and yet she cut funding for special needs education by 62 percent. It was $8.2 million when she came in, she cut it down to $3 million. Now, that's a real issue. There are lots of moms and dads who have chosen life and who love their special needs babies in Alaska who now are not going to get the help they need because Sarah Palin put politics first. I think that's a more legitimate fib to talk about from Sarah Palin's speech." (CNN's " Election Center," 9/5/08)

The Obama Campaign Sent Out "Nearly A Dozen Different Press Releases" Hitting Governor Palin. "Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, as part of his endorsement of Obama, said Palin 'scares the hell out of me.' And Obama hit Palin in nearly a dozen different press releases one day after drawing laughs at a campaign stop by calling her a 'moose shooter.'" (Jim Vandehei & Mike Allen, "Obama, Dems Sharpen Personal Attacks On Palin," Politico, 9/5/08)

Brothers All,

For the Good of the Order, the following important news item is provided for your use. More information on this and other esources are found on the USCCB website at http://www.usccb.org/.

Please share this with your family and friends.

Rich McDermott, SW

Bishops respond to House Speaker Pelosi’s misrepresentation of Church teaching against abortion

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, have issued the following statement:

In the course of a “Meet the Press” interview on abortion and other public issues on August 24, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi misrepresented the history and nature of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion.

In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law." (No. 2271)

In the Middle Ages, uninformed and inadequate theories about embryology led some theologians to speculate that specifically human life capable of receiving an immortal soul may not exist until a few weeks into pregnancy. While in canon law these theories led to a distinction in penalties between very early and later abortions, the Church’s moral teaching never justified or permitted abortion at any stage of development.

These mistaken biological theories became obsolete over 150 years ago when scientists discovered that a new human individual comes into being from the union of sperm and egg at fertilization. In keeping with this modern understanding, the Church teaches that from the time of conception(fertilization), each member of the human species must be given the full respect due to a human person, beginning with respect for the fundamental right to life.

Top National and Local Religious Leaders to Speak, Richard Smallwood & Vision among Featured Performers

Latest Results Are In for Winthrop/ETV Poll
Survey of Likely Voters in 11 Southern States
Show McCain Leading Obama 51 to 35 Percent
80 Percent of Clinton Supporters Won't Sit Out Election
Almost 90 Percent Say Ho-Hum to Notion of VP from South
Obama Slightly Better at Feeling Their Pain
Economy #1 Issue on Voters' Minds
One-third Say Neither Candidate Has Clear Cut Solutions
Almost 75 Percent of African Americans Minimize Impact of Race in Race

Columbia SC … The results of the latest Winthrop/ETV Poll , conducted among likely voters in 11 Southern states between August 1 and August 17 , are in.
The results will be released exclusively during the Thursday, Aug. 21 edition of South Carolina ETV’s “The Big Picture” program at 7:30 p.m. ET . ETV is the public television and radio network in South Carolina.
The Winthrop/ETV Poll was conducted among 1088 likely voters from AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA . Data utilizing all respondents has a margin of error of plus/minus 2.97 percent . As is true with all survey data, any results that use a subset of the respondents will have a higher margin of error. Data is weighted by state. States are sub-divided as follows: Deep South: AL, GA, LA, MS, SC. Peripheral South: AR, FL, NC, TN, TX, VA.

Please note: Southern African Americans in this sample were overwhelmingly supporters of Obama (only 3.2 percent identified themselves as McCain supporters). For further clarification on how “Christian,” “Evangelical” and “Working Class Whites” were defined, see Methodology description.

Commenting on the results, Dr. Scott Huffmon , director of the Winthrop/ETV Poll initiative , said, “ McCain’s support is rock solid in so many ways that in those places where Obama identifies even the smallest hairline crack, he needs to pry it open if he hopes to draw voters away from McCain --especially in a state like Virginia , where the race may ultimately be decided by a handful of votes. The Southern working class is still not familiar with Obama , and trust is the key to this demographic. Because they aren’t ready to put their trust in him yet, Obama can utilize the convention to fully identify himself to Americans, and launch two massive campaigns, one saying ‘Here’s who I am’ and the other ‘Here’s how McCain is wrong.’”

Among the Winthrop/ETV Poll findings:

· When given the scenario where the election was being held the day they were called, and the candidates were Barack Obama and John McCain , among all of the likely voters, McCain led with 51.3 percent over Obama’s 35.1 percent .

· Sen. Hillary Clinton and Former President Bill Clinton will play highly visible roles at the Democratic Convention next week, some say in an effort to salve lingering wounds over Hillary Clinton’s defeat at Obama’s hands. Yet, when asked if they ever seriously considered not voting in the general election, if Hillary Clinton didn’t get the nod, almost 80 percent of self-identified Clinton supporters said no.

· Although over 70 percent of those polled said the VP choice was very, or somewhat, important in helping them decide their pick for the top spot, over 87 percent said it makes no difference if the VP candidate hailed from the South.

· Over 50 percent of all the respondents disapprove of the way George Bush is handling his job as president, while almost 63 percent of them feel the country is headed in the wrong direction.

· The one issue respondents cited as the most important to them in the upcoming presidential election was overwhelmingly the economy ( 35.7 percent ). By a margin of almost three-to-one they chose the economy over Iraq ( 12.0 ), and the next most popular response, the price of gas, by close to a six-to-one margin ( 5.8 percent ).

· When asked who would do a better job, Obama or McCain, in tackling energy (including gas prices), the situation in Iraq, taxes, illegal immigration, and terrorism, McCain stacked up a double-digit lead on each of those issues .

· Who would do a better job on healthcare elicited a far different response. Obama and McCain were neck-and-neck, with less than one percent separating the two ( 41.6 McCain to 40.8 Obama ).

· When it comes to which candidate understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives, Obama slightly bested McCain among all those polled ( 41.1 to 39.1 ) and by an over six percent margin among those likely voters living in the peripheral South ( 43.2 to 36.8 ) in NC, VA, FL, AR, TN, TX. Some believe that three of these states are in play, and may go Democratic on Election Day.

· Fully one-third of the poll’s respondents felt that neither Obama nor McCain had a clear plan for solving the country’s problems.

· Over 56 percent of all those polled said it was very, or somewhat important that a president has served in the U.S. military , while over 28 percent thought it was not at all important; less than six percentage points separated those who are at least somewhat concerned from those who are least somewhat unconcerned McCain will pursue policies too similar to George Bush’s ; almost half of all respondents ( 49.4 ) feel Obama lacks the necessary experience to be president.

· Despite the fact that this will be the first time that Americans have the opportunity to vote for an African-American for president, almost three-out-of-four blacks say that the race of the candidate for president is either not very important, or not at all important.

· Among the remaining respondents (All, Deep South, Peripheral South, Whites, Working Class Whites), at least 80 percent said the race of the candidate was either not very important, or not at all important .

· McCain will be turning 72 on Aug. 29. When asked at what age would you say someone is too old to run for the presidency, over one-third either said no age is too old, or they weren’t sure what that age would be. The median age identified by respondents as “too old” was 74.

Poll Rersults

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