Hawaii birth certificates are not public records, as they are in other states. The Hawaiian Health Dept. Director and Registrar of Vital Statistics have verified that the health department holds Obama’s original birth certificate. Furthermore, they have verified that he was born in Hawaii, and is a natural born US citizen. Lastly, Hawaii state law bars release of a certified copy of a birth certificate to anyone who does not have a tangible interest in it.

This should silence all these calls for Mr. Obama to produce his original birth certificate. He can’t, because he, like every other US citizen, does not have their original birth certificate. That document is an official record filed with their state’s office of vital statistics. Tennessee is no different. You can request a copy, certified or non-certified, but the original birth certificate is filed with the state.

As a certified copy was presented and rejected by naysayers, I doubt any further effort will be taken by Mr. Obama in this regard. Facts were presented and rejected by supposedly logical minds.

There is simply no satisfying some disgruntled people. This is tragic. Some of these same people also doubt Senator McCain’s citizenship. They claim since he was born in Panama, he is not a US citizen. Fact: He was born in the Panama Canal Zone, which was a US territory at the time, and thus was US soil. John McCain is a US citizen, natural born and qualified to hold public office, including the presidency. Same as President-Elect Barack Obama. Why hasn’t the major media outlets resolved this false crisis? They know the facts and could dispel this feeding frenzy in short work.

It is time to end this lunacy. There are serious issues confronting our nation. Our failing economy, crumbling infrastructure, health care system, education system, social security stability, battling terrorism, the development of alternative energy and fuels, the continuing housing mortgage failure crisis, and rising unemployment are all worthy of our combined attention. Let’s focus our attention on these matters and be about making our nation once again respected, resilient and prosperous. “Stop the Madness!”

[This subject was previously addressed in an October 25 story by David Shelton.]

As early voting opened in Tennessee to heavy turnouts, Senator McCain’s promised thumping of Senator Obama didn’t materialize. Groups gathered at both local Republican and Democratic party headquarters to watch the debate, discuss their preferences and hear the candidates present their proposals.

The final candidates debate of the 2008 presidential election season was a much anticipated showcase of America’s choices for leadership for the next four years. The debate’s focus was to be on domestic policy, with the recent upheaval in the financial markets to be a focal point. The level of negative ads has increased to  near crescendo as McCain’s campaign unleashed new charges and the Obama campaign refuted falsehoods and returned the fire to McCain. The debate was supposed to offer a clear demonstration of McCain’s superiority to Obama. Sadly, for McCain, the smear adhesive didn’t stick.

Viewers were treated to a consistent presentation of proposals and ideas from Obama as he responded to  McCain’s attempts to hang negatives.

Obama noted that McCain’s own campaign said publicly last week that, “if we keep on talking about the economic crisis, we lose, so we need to change the subject.” Such was the tone for the course of the evening.

The differences in economic stimulation and health care coverage ideas made for strong contrasts.  McCain did not deny that under his health care reforms, employer-based health care coverage would be taxed to the employee, a first in the U.S. He stated that his $5000 tax credit would allow taxpayers to purchase insurance on their own. He suggested that this would afford taxpayers typical coverage, except for such extravagances as cosmetic surgery and transplants. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has stated annual health care premiums average $12,000. McCain had no answer for how that shortfall would be addressed. Senator McCain opposes any tax increases, instead proposing to further President’s Bush’s tax cuts and make them permanent. He says that  Obama would raise taxes on the middle class taxpayer and small businesses. He, however, doesn’t want to raise taxes for anyone.

Obama was reasoned in his calm presentation of his proposals for the American people. He stated under his health care reform, employer-based health care coverage would not be taxed, those with such coverage could keep it and see their premiums lowered; and those without coverage would be offered a coverage plan much like one that he and  McCain enjoy as members of Congress, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.  Obama stated that under McCain’s plan, employer-based health care could actually disappear altogether. He based this on a finding released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a traditionally conservative, non-Democrat, business advocate. Additionally, Obama would use the discount-buying power of the federal government, as a consumer, to purchase drugs at a lower cost from the drug companies.

Obama has proposed a tax plan where ninety-five percent of taxpayers will not see an increase, but rather a tax cut. Obama noted that small businesses typically earn under $200,000 dollars a year. Under his plan, small businesses which earn $250,000 dollars or less a year would also see a tax cut. Obama stated that McCain’s approach would give an additional tax break of $200 billion dollars to some of the wealthiest corporations in the nation. He cited Exxon-Mobil and the oil industry as a whole, would receive an additional $4 billion in tax breaks. McCain did not deny either of these charges.

On foreign oil dependence, the candidates had differences as well. McCain supported immediate offshore drilling, as well as drilling in ANWR, to provide short-term relief to our energy situation. He said this would give us time to develop more nuclear energy plants, support alternative energy programs for wind, solar, natural gas, tide and flex-fuels to cut our dependence on foreign oil. He claimed this will make the U.S. independent of foreign oil.

Obama corrected him that our oil reserves only total three percent of the world’s total oil reserves and we annually consume twenty-five percent of the world’s oil supply. “We can’t drill our way out of this.” He further pointed out that U.S. oil companies already hold leases on sixty-eight million acres of offshore oil drill sites which they are not developing. He proposed they either drill in these areas or lose them to other developers. He also said he is not opposed to nuclear energy development, but we must also pursue alternative energy in wind, solar, geothermal and bio-diesel and high fuel-efficient vehicles to truly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reinvigorate the American economy. Energy development can play a major role in revitalizing our economy with job creation and retention. Creation and manufacture of high fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States can serve as a revival of the nation’s economic manufacturing segment and thereby give new vitality to the U.S. auto industry. Realigning our energy perspective can give us the ability to realign so many other segments of the American system- adjusting our education system, focusing on preventive health care measures to reduce later demands on Medicare and Medicaid.

When asked if the federal budget can be balanced in four years,  McCain answered, “Sure, …we can do it with this kind of job creation of energy independence.” He offered to implement an across-the-board spending freeze. However he would not declare what cuts he would impose beyond eliminating the marketing assistance program and some ethanol subsidies. Regarding the fine tuning of specific programs being eliminated, he never quite responded with those details.  Obama suggested that it would take ten years to reach a balanced budget. He suggested starting with eliminating the $750 billion dollars in subsidies to the insurance companies, that doesn’t provide seniors with coverage nor improve the Medicaid/Medicare programs. He also insisted that he would require proper structure of the $750 billion dollar rescue package passed by Congress. He stressed that he has been a strong proponent of pay-as-you-go spending. Every spending bill he has proposed has included financial offsets so that they did not add to the federal deficit.

There were additional questions on education reforms, Supreme Court nominees, suitability of opposing vice presidential running mates, negative characterizations of opponents, NAFTA considerations, and support for human rights. The full transcript of the debate is available at the CNN website.

There is plenty of campaign follow-up activity by both parties. Tonight, the College Republicans and Democrats will hold a debate at the APSU Library. On Saturday, October 18,there will be a Voters Rally at Veterans Plaza, starting at 10 a/m. At the conclusion, voters will proceed to the Election commission to cast their votes. On October 29th, the chairpersons of each political party will hold a debate in the Morgan Center Ballroom on APSU. This event will start at 2 p.m. Both parties offer volunteer opportunities for any persons wishing to support their respective candidates.

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President Bush to address nation at 8 p.m. CST.

McCain’s decision is a complete about-face from his prior statements  that the United States economy is “fundamentally sound.” This is John McCain’s statement, released at 3 p.m. today.:

Sen. John McCain

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration’ proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night’s debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

In response to McCain’s decision, Senator Obama said he did not feel the debate should be postponed, adding that
“It’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person will be the next president. It is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once. It’s more important than ever to present ourselves to the American people.”

With the proposed $700 billion bail-out mired in debate abnd controversy, President Bush will address the nation tonight at 9 a.m EST.

The evening of September 26 will be a busy one with two important political events in Montgomery County. The Women For Obama 19th Amendment Anniversary House Party will be followed by the 1st Presidential Debate Watch Party.

This year’s Presidential Debate at the University of Mississippi marks an historic development in U.S. presidential elections political history. This is the first time for the staging of a presidential debate in the state of Mississippi.

Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain will appear live to debate issues of concern to the American public in Ole Miss’ Gertrude C. Ford Center in Oxford, Mississippi. The debate will be moderated by Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of The NewsHour on PBS. This debate will focus on foreign policy and national security.

Tennessee steps into the national political spotlight on October 7th. On that date, Belmont University will host the second 2008 presidential debate, a town hall setting, to be moderated by Tom Brokaw, special correspondent for NBC News. Both events are being staged primarily as prime time television viewing events. Belmont University is hosting special a pre-debate dialogue and symposiums in advance of the Sept. 26th evening debate. Both universities are giving their students priority for any on-site seats. Belmont is anticipating a 3,000 person audience for its event. Both schools have issued press releases declaring that they have no control over the limited number of tickets to the debates.

Locally, on Sept. 26th, at 8 PM, the Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters will serve as host site for a “Presidential Debate” Watch Party. The party headquarters is located at 534 Madison Street, at the corner of Madison Street and University Drive, across from the Madison Street Church of Christ. The House Party is open to the public. To confirm seating or for more information call (931) 552-9076 or visit the website at: <www.ClarksvilleForObama.com> Volunteer food and drink donations will be appreciated.

Volunteer support opportunities are available at all levels. For more information on volunteering with the Montgomery County Democratic Party, call (931) 552-5523 or visit the party headquarters. For Obama/Biden campaign volunteer information, call (931) 553-9076 or visit their website at: <www.ClarksvilleForObama.com> General election and Obama presidential campaign yard signs, bumper stickers and buttons are also available at the party headquarters.