Barack Obama came out with a strong statement defending his wife, Michelle (in photo), from renewed GOP attacks on her “proud” comment.
“The GOP, should I be the nominee, I think can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record,” Obama said in an interview shown on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
“If they think that they’re going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful, because that I find unacceptable.”
He added that the GOP should “lay off my wife.”
This could help Obama. Yes, a spouse is fair game, to some extent. But if Michelle is perceived as being bullied and pilloried by Swift-boaters, Obama’s defense could play well with voters. He’s showing he’s going to protect his family. Voters of either party can respect that.
After her third coal-plant veto Friday, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius nixed two more bills today: one to require voters to show photo ID starting in 2010 and another to deny the governor the right to fill a vacancy when a U.S. senator quits or dies in office. The latest vetoes were welcome. The ID bill was a solution for the nonexistent problem of voter fraud that would have deterred some citizens from voting. The Senate vacancy bill seemed blatantly political and unnecessary, given how well current law has dealt with vacancies since 1927. Lawmakers will have one last chance to overturn these and other vetoes when they convene May 29 for sine die, the usually ceremonial final day of the session. Kansans can hope tradition holds and the occasion is too sparsely attended to allow such tactics.
Sen. John McCain has made it clear that he’ll be very socially conservative on judicial appointments. How socially conservative? He’s named Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., co-chairman of his Justice Advisory Committee.
Brownback, remember, thinks abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, including cases of incest, rape and when the life of the mother is at risk.
This might give pause to Democratic voters thinking of supporting McCain if Hillary Clinton loses the nomination.
A new Energy Department report concludes that it’s feasible for the United States to get 20 percent of its electricity needs from wind power by 2030 — about the same share now provided by nuclear power — without the need for any major technological breakthroughs.
Wind power currently provides only about 1 percent of the nation’s electricity.
The report bolsters claims that wind power has arrived and is poised to move from a niche market to the mainstream.
Is Kansas poised to capture this opportunity?
The report does identify some major challenges, such as the need for more transmission lines in remote areas — that’s been a key obstacle in western Kansas. But the study says it’s doable and affordable.
It’s further confirmation that a thriving wind power industry for Kansas isn’t a pipe dream — it’s waiting to be built.
Barack Obama came out with a strong statement defending his wife, Michelle (in photo), from renewed GOP attacks on her “proud” comment.
