There's a trail of unpaid vendors (Anne in Ohio for one)left behind Hillary's previous primaries that will LOVE to hear she's appointing a poverty czar.......maybe THAT person can get her to pay these middle class working people that she lies about being in this race for. Pay your bills Hillary. And I'll agree with Gerald from Texas: How about a "Truth" Czar?

Pandering?  To a large, growing and totally ignored constituency with little or no safety nets left?  It is astounding to what lengths the "conspiracy theorists" will go to tag Sen. Clinton as the devil.

Have you no shame?

Usual Clinton strategy - say anything, promise anything, propose any spending just to win votes while know that such proposals may not be feasible.

Of course, the $$9 trillion-$$ spending Republicans will jump on this as just another typical Democrat out-of-control spending program.   But it goes hand-in-hand with Clinton's green-jobs initiative to stem the Republican flow of sending jobs overseas, which swells our poverty class as the middle class drops down into it.  Thanks Bush.  And the greener we get, the less we will have to rely on foreign oil and our brave military can come home instead of protecting Halliburton's interests in the middle east.

A huge part of our poverty class lacks higher education that would land them good service industry and tech jobs and the green jobs will be perfect for them.  These jobs can't be shipped overseas because they will be working on OUR infrastructure for a change. John Edwards would be a great Czar because he will see to it that the unions get these green jobs a good wage and benefit package. Welfare roles, the unemployment rate, and crime rates will drop as happened in the Clinton administration. Green jobs is a spectacular idea long overdue. Thank you Hillary!

And since Congress has fallen down on the immigration job for the last 40 years and we cannot now logistically deport 25 million illegal aliens without crashing our economy for good, this may be an avenue to solving some of that problem too.  

Green jobs will have a ripple effect into solving some of our most troublesome national problems if we would all just get on board.

The last thing we need is another "czar"! I don't recall any of the "czar's" in the last 20 or 30 years accomlishing anything except wasting a lot of time and money. What we need is for congress to do their job! BTW...whatever happened to idiot bush's "war czar"??

Poverty Czar?

Like Energy Czar, Drug Czar, Terroism Czar and Every Other Issue That Needs To Be Swept Under The Carpet Czar?

These Czars have Never, Never, Never been effective.  They do not get budgetary athority nor the power to appoint staff at the various Departments.  

We already have the staff in Washington to accomplish this, what we need is the Right Stuff in the President.

Czar?  Tzar?  

As in...former Russian aristocrats who kept their starving countrymen in abject poverty while they paraded around in heavily-jeweled gold carriages drawn by heavily-jeweled horses?

I visited the Kremlin (Armory Museum) and saw their royal "splendor" with my own eyes!  I was aghast.  You understand 100% why the people revolted.  

Senator Clinton's CONCEPT itself (new cabinet post assigned to poverty) might be a good one.  But the NAME she chose is a total disconnect.  

A real disconnect.  Linking this poverty post to aristocracy.  Wow.  
 

Next week, Obama will come out with a plan very similar to Hillary's.... like he's done so many times already

Obama's motto:  "When I can't come up with a good, original idea, go to Hillary's website and change a few words around, then deliver it to a media who's in love with me"  

I used to be a Hillary supporter.  I changed my vote at the last minute.  I finally saw the light and I'm glad because Hillary has not.  She has greatly dissapointed me with all her lies.  I see this poverty czar thing as just another lie she's throwing out there to save her struggling campaign.  We'll see when the tax returns come out what she really knows about poverty.  She needs to call me...the working middle class who can barely afford to buy groceries in this struggling economy.  I'll tell her all about poverty.  

Hillary's got great ideas, but Obama gives good speeches....

Let's elect Obama.  He's got 3 years in the Senate. That's more than enough.  NOT!!!!

Czars and committees  are part of old politics... details and programs developed first... then if we need it committees and czars to implement them...

but the dems problems have often been "throw a czar on it...oh or a committee...oh or just throw money into bureaucracy"...

Do we not have institutions within the existing government to focus on the problems of economic imbalance.  

It is a great idea on one level... but it is a bad idea of their are no details and we are just throwing money and promises at an idea that have no structure or outline or "plan" ...that is "more of the same" management style we just had...

I just don't understand how a paid cabinet level person is going to be able to help in this effort.  This is something that each and every community needs to work on...not the government.

I would like to see the efforts of all AMERICANS continue contributing as they are to the McCain/Obama/Clinton job funds for this effort.  We already have non-profit organizations in the community to further the cause today with the money.  Remember the outpouring after 9/11?

Implementing something similar to 1098 & 1099 in order to track & report revenue and distributions.  WE can work on this if it is a priority.  But we have to get a return on our money.  Not just a job for high level cabinet that then employs 10 Director levels, who then gets 400 Sr. Managers, and then 10,000 Managers and finally 5 people to actually do the work.

Isn't that what Bernanke is?

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa


No dumbass, Bernanke has absolutely nothing to do with poverty issues as he is the Chairman of the Federal Reserve which is the Central Banking system of our country.

The chairman of the Federal Reserve is the public face of the nation's central bank.

He testifies before Congress, makes public speeches and is the most powerful member of the committee that effectively sets interest rates for the United States.

He also presides over the seven-member Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

The Fed also controls the nation's money supply -- the number of dollars floating around in the world economy -- by buying and selling U.S. treasury securities.

If you don't agree with what Senator Clinton is proposing, that's fine, but dont be so ignorant as to confuse what Clinton is proposing with what the Fed Chairman does which are two totally different things.

I am an Obama supporter - but I think this is a great idea - I hope she actually goes through with it. (This is one reason I'm an Obama supporter - she usually does NOT speak the truth.)

If she DOES go through with it - it would be an excellent position for John Edwards...and probably is an attempt to get his endorsement.

Jack,
Obama should definitely hire Clinton.  Well, on second thought, the standard fact-checking part of the resume would be a disaster.  That would take way too long:  "But Senator Clinton, you claim to have done X,Y, & Z and yet our reference checks don't provide any support for your claims."  I'd rather have him focus on solving problems instead of announcing a new czar to pander to the latest constituency that "matters."

Hillary is making calculated move for John Edwards endorsement.  

A clear Hail Mary to Edwards.

Has anyone noticed that Hillary's solutions generally consist of delegating to some other person or panel of persons to actually come up with the solutions?

Homeland Security Czar
Drug Czar
Health Czar
Poverty Czar

Politicians sure do love to make Czars.

Margaret in Ohio:

It is a good thing that Hillary is having Mark Penn negotiate a trade program with the Colombians while we are speaking. We sure could use those Colombian jobs here. How many jobs do you think we can import to the USA? I would think at least as many that Bill, with Hillary's support, got us through NAFTA.

Or maybe I had that backward. Maybe the jobs went away. But thats OK, at least Bill has been receiving some good commissions these past 6 or 7 years.  

Clinton is making an effort to fix the problems that exist in America. Criticism of her good efforts and forwarding thinking actions will only continue to divide the Democratic party.

Questions surround Obama'a candidacy:
http://questionbarackobama.blogspot.com

Well, Hillary ought to pay her BILLS first that's why she needs a poverty czar for her campaign.

I think it sounds like a cheap band-aid, not a solution.  Don't we already have agencies that already cover these issues, like the Department of Health and Human Services?  

Poverty CZAR? That has got to be the silliest oxymoron of this campaign. Reality: Another high official chauffered around to meetings and meaningless PR events in the back of a limousine.

James - La Quinta - Because I'm over 35 and have an office job, I can't understand the plight of the middle class? I work in an office but not in the executive suite.  Who do you think the middle class is?
Typical white female(57)without degrees for OBAMA!

How putting forth this idea can bring such negative remarks is funny. It also seems to me that to criticize her for this is hypocritical when the other campaign wants to "pander" as Obama supporters suggest this is, to those who want Al Gore invited to a Cabinet post or involved in a possible cabinet level. Perhaps the crowds of those who support one or the other can stop deciding they know absolutely what is in the mind of the opposing candidate and look at the ideas put forth rather than automatically assuming and  deciding there is some nefarious reason behind it. It appears hatred for a candidate seems to overcome all judgenemt when looking at the issues.

If Hillary gets elected, she better create an "Intern Czar" to keep an eye on Bill.

It's a good idea. But with all her plans & panels & appointments, the republicans will  all it big gov't. And they may be right.

How can she make a new promise every day?

Sounds like we'll have yet another millionaire on the government payroll, with all expenses paid. Because you know how well those millionaires can relate to poverty. Hillary, I think you should get the job before you start handing out jobs. Or at least win the nomination first. I'm surprised you aren't offering the poverty czar position to Obama like you did the VP position.

What a bunch of condescending foul month whiners. You OBamabots are pathetic!! No matter what Hillary suggests for the good of the country, you always seem to denigrate and put in your hate filled and spiteful comments. If Obama says he just made # 2 in the potty, you cheer him on like he is a miraculous deity. What a shame you are so blinded by a con-artist, a flim flam man and a total fraud. You people will all need rehab once St. Obama loses to either Hillary or McCain.
Give Hillary credit, she has original ideas and solutions. Obama is only able to copy her after the fact because he doesn't have an original thought in his empty head.

To James, LaQuinta, CA:

Why do "the Clintons" and their supporters always assume they know everything? Why do "the Clintons" have every advantange, yet always play the victim? Why are "the Clintons" so secretive? Why do Senator Clinton's supporters always turn a blind eye on all of her lies? Why do "the Clintons" think America owes them the Presidency?

Obama '08

P.S. I am a 37 year old (today), married, middle class woman for Senator Barack Hussein Obama. I understand the plight of the middle class because I live it every day.

Charlie T. in Ft. Worth--What are you talking about?  Arizona celebrates Martin Luther King Day just like everyone else...they were not even the last state to join in on the celebration.  That was SC on May 2, 2000...please people, let's check facts.

....Tax Returns please. I for one will not chase the bone

And this is suppose to impress us just like Bill Clinton's Drug Czar.

Where are the Tax Returns?

So -- Hillary is going to change government by creating new "czars" who can oversee her new departments. Gee, sound like anything we know? Hmm... War Czar? Department of Homeland Security? Senator Clinton is continuing the big-government liberalization of George W. Bush.

Verses Obama who has promised to:  Oh wait!!!  He doesn't actually say what he'll do.  The obama supporters are quick to BASH ideas from the Clinton's but it showsa real disparity with Obama's promise only to keep talking.  If Obama were so great why would he be outspending Clinton 4 to 1 and still be losing contests.  Because there isn't any substance to Obama.  Obama is full of hope but with Clinton I don't have to HOPE she'll work hard..........I KNOW she'll work hard just as she had to win this contest.

On this date, 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. It's a day when many of us will celebrate his legacy, the values he espoused, and his vision for a better America. Some will talk about the King who challenged America's unlawful war in Vietnam, who found common ground with Malcolm X, and who became more aggressive in his push for improving America. But the media will likely focus a great deal on politicians who give speeches where they try to align themselves with his legacy.

We wanted to make sure that today when Senator McCain speaks, you and your friends and family know who's talking.

McCain will bring his "Service to America" tour to Memphis on Friday, but many people don't know the service he touts includes voting against the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. In August 1983 he fought the holiday, voting to block a piece of bipartisan legislation honoring him that was supported by even conservative Republicans--including Dick Cheney--and signed into law by President Reagan.
 
McCain went on to resist recognizing a King holiday in his home state of Arizona. When Arizona's state legislature failed to pass a bill recognizing a holiday honoring Dr. King, the governor at the time, Bruce Babbit, created the holiday by executive order. Babbit's successor, Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded the order as his first act in office, doing away with the holiday. John McCain's response? He defended the governor, not Dr. King. (After undoing the holiday, the same governor went on to publicly support referring to Black people as "pickaninnies").

In 1990, seven years after his initial vote, McCain went along with establishing a King holiday. On the campaign trail in 2000, facing questions about his history on this issue, McCain declared he had "evolved."
 
Looking at the rest of McCain's public record, even recently, it's hard to see much evidence of an "evolution". In fact, McCain has consistently opposed a civil rights agenda:


He voted an amazing FOUR times against the Civil Rights Act of 1990--a bill designed to make it easier for employees to prove job discrimination and imposing harsher penalties on bosses who discriminated.
In 2004 he opposed affirmative action in college admissions--a key component of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that is among King's key legislative victories.
He has voted at least 8 times against raising the minimum wage.
And as recently as last month, he argued against federal intervention to help Americans, disproportionately Black Americans, who have faced foreclosure during the housing crisis.
If John McCain has evolved, he hasn't evolved much. Instead, we see a consistent and troubling pattern. From campaigning against Dr. King's holiday to undermining important civil rights laws, John McCain has not stood side by side with King's vision, he has stood in its way.

Today, we hope that everyone will take a moment to pause and remember Dr. King's legacy, recognizing his contributions of words, deeds and ultimately his life. And we hope that all can see past political posturing (regardless of who it comes from) and embrace the bold, challenging vision that King actually projected. We believe that in doing so, we honor both his legacy and his sacrifice.

-- James, Van, Gabriel, Clarissa, Mervyn, Andre, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
  April 4th, 2008

For more info on McCain's record, read this factsheet:

http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts

It's too bad that all the "grown ups" have to work and Obama supporters dominate these posts.  It truly doesn't paint a true picture of the support building for Clinton.

So Adrea Mitchell I'm confuse, are you celebrating what Hillary is doing or are you criticizing her for what is obviously a good thing.

Great? That's just what we need? More government?

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