TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

Everything Obama in Harlem:

• Obama’s Color Line (By Juan Williams-NY Times)


• Bloomberg, Obama set to chat over breakfast Following Sen. Obama's successful night of fundraising at the Apollo (WABC)


• Obama brings his message to Harlem (Chicago Tribune)


• Campaign splits Jacksons-Jacqueline for Hillary, Jesse for Barack (Chicago Sun Times)


• Reverend Al Sharpton is undecided about backing Barack Obama (NY Daily News)


• Obama Plays the Apollo (NY Post)


• Obama Targets Harlem Audience at the Apollo (Columbia Spectator)


• Obama Takes His Campaign to Harlem (NY Times)


• Obama Gets His Morning Coffee With Bloomberg (The Atlantic-Marc Ambinder)

CNN/YouTube Debate:

• CNN Debate Winner-CNN Polls Show Ron Paul Winner of Debate (Black Hills SD News)

Open primaries: The Parties vs. The People:

• Idaho: Closed primaries thrown out-Judge dismisses lawsuit from 71 GOP members-link to ruling (Magic Valley Times-News)


• Virginia: Pledge of Allegiance (By Tobin Harshaw-NY Times Opinionator)

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HanksterTube!

Are you an independent voter with something to say? Send The Hankster your video or your comments and I'll post them! You can still see my video invitation at HanksterTube! Be sure to see Jaime from Teluride, Colorado...

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• More on the YouTube/CNN debate: * John Edwards reached independents on health care (Forbes) * Obama is black enough, but is he anti-Clintonian enough? (Weekly Standard) * S.C. blacks don't want to see fewer candidates in the debates (NPR from SC)

• Urban League forum this week in St. Louis: * Bloomberg to address luncheon, candidates in forum tonight (St. Louis Dispatch) * The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton Thursday on whether the black vote will be taken for granted and whether the Pope is Catholic (Columbia Tribune )

• South Carolina: * Obama hits radio waves today(Pioneer Times Journal ) * Black leaders see top-tier contest (CNN Washington Bureau)

HanksterTube!

How did you think the candidates did last night on the YouTube/CNN debate answering questions from ordinary voters? What was your favorite question? What question would you have asked? Oh, wait! You can still ask a question! Send The Hankster your video or your comments and I'll post them! You can still see my video invitation at HanksterTube!

UPDATED: 7/24/07 Be sure to see Jaime from Teluride, Colorado

TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• Who won the YouTube/CNN debate last night? The voters! Substance overcomes novelty (Chicago Tribune) * Debate puts voters onstage (Myrtle Beach Online) * YouTube steals the Dem debate (San Francisco Chronicle) * YouTube Questions Take a Different Tack (The Associated Press-Washington Post) * Format upstages candidates (The State - Charleston) * Obama, Clinton clash in YouTube debate (Reuters)

• Harri Poll: Americans would consider an Independent for President (Digital50.com) * Bloomberg Boosts Democrats' Fortunes In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; McCain Fades In Republican Primary Race (Quinnipiac from The Moderate Voice) * Poll: Bloomberg bid could help Clinton in Florida (Miami Herald) * Giuliani holds lead in Florida, poll finds (Tallahassee Democrat)

• It's Independent Time. Do you know where your hot dog stand is? (Ballot Access News)

Independents Are Watching

Let's see what develops at the YouTube/CNN debate tonight!

Watch, comment....



As an independent, you get used to seeing things shut down during an election season. The closer to the election, the more the Dems scream that any vote for a Repub is tantamount to a vote for the Devil, and any vote for a third-party candidate (and there have been more and more of them....) is also tantamount to a vote for the Devil by way of not voting for the Dem... You know the drill.



So an interesting development in the 2008 campaign: Billary and Edwards The Populist seem to think that cutting out anti-war and insurgent candidates like Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson 17 months out will bring out their natural abilities to lead the country in a more Democratic direction.



Howard Dean got an earfull on that from voters...





Watch the YouTube/CNN debate and email The Hankster with your comments for publication on Tuesday.

Independent Debate Watch Monday July 23

Tune in to the YouTube/CNN Democratic Presidential Debate Monday, July 23rd and join independents around the country for an Independent Debate Watch

Download the questionnaire and fax back, or fill it in online as you watch... Answer some of these questions:

• Did any of the candidates acknowledge the role that independents will play in the election or speak to independents in any way? If so, who and how?
• Do you think the participation of those candidates labeled second-tier broadened this debate? How? (second-tier usually is used to refer to Kucinich, Gravel and Richardson)

Independent Debate Watch Monday, July 23

The next Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate is on Monday, July 23rd . It is sponsored by YouTube andCNN and will feature video questions from Americans who have submitted them to You Tube.

Please join independents around the country for an Independent Debate Watch. Let’s see what happens: Do any of the candidates challenge the record of Clintonism? What role do the insurgent candidates play?

Download the questionnaire, fill it in as you watch, and fax to CUIP at the number on the form.

Debate Watch July 23

YouTube and CNN are holding a debate next Monday, July 23rd. You can create your own video question for the candidates!


You can also join the CUIP debate watch where independents will tune in to see if any of the candidates have learned anything about reaching out to independent voters. For more information about this, call 212-609-2800, or email The Hankster (on the sidebar).

And if you haven't already, email Howard Dean at deanh@dnc.org or call him at 202-863-8000 to tell him that Hillary's and Edwards' plan to "narrow the field" for upcoming debates is an outrage. Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel must be included in the debates. To exclude them would be anti-democratic and would shut down important dialogue. Urge Dean to make sure the debates remain open and inclusive of all the candidates.