PUMA Pac founder and Democratic activist, Darragh Murphy, has been the target this week of allegations that she is a closet McCain supporter working for the Republicans to "to set up a secretive operation" to make McCain look moderate and make feminists look like "hysterical bitches" -- (Really Amanda, anyway).

Like some of you, I was alarmed that a Republican might have infiltrated PUMA disguised as a disgruntled Democrat and formed a group that is now a leader in the PUMA movement. Like some of you, I was angry and wanted to get to the bottom of it. PUMA is a growing group of disgruntled Democrats, not a Republican secret op, so any Republican mischief-maker would need to get the boot quickly. So, I decided to go right to the source to verify the veracity of these allegations.

Hear what Darragh has to say over the flip...  

(Cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)

Hey, everyone! We have just over 24 hours left to make a HUGE impact in this election by making sure our Democrats have enough resources to kick some Rethug behind this fall. So what can we all do to help Obama win the White House and Democrats win more seats in Congress?

Follow me after the flip for more...

The lying, undemocratic bastards that stole the Democratic nomination must be punished. We can't let them get away with this. The only way to teach them a lesson is to use our vote. I'm sick and tired of people complaining that those of us that say this are being irrational, so I've detailed below the reasoning behind my decision.

There was rampant misogyny on display throughout the primary campaign. There were hateful things said by talking heads on cable news shows, anonymous posters on the Internet, and some supporters of Obama. Many of these comments were beyond the pale. I am going to punish those people by voting for the candidate of the party that misled us to war under false premises. This war has resulted in more than 4,000 deaths of young Americans and an uncounted number of deaths of Iraqi women and children, but I don't care. The misogynistic comments were far more harmful than the lies that led us to war. How can you possibly ignore some bruised feelings just because some people have died due to GOP lies?

During this primary, Hillary supporters have been disrespected, made fun of, shamed, labeled as divisive, racist, called names that range from typical white people to a part of the electorate that the new Democratic coalition no longer needs.

Now we are being made to feel that if we don't fall in line and vote for the DNC insiders choice for President, we may lose the election for them. We'll lose the opportunity to appoint Democratic judges to the Supreme Court, lose our homes, our uteruses, schools will close, the Iran War will last for 100 years and we will be taken over by aliens. The sky will fall.

Who says so? The Main Stream Media, Donna Brazile, Howard Dean, the DNC, Kerry, Kennedy, Richardson Donald Duck, The Three Stooges, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, John Wayne, Henny Penny and any other man, woman or child that doesn't fall in line with the Party.

Two things:

#1 - The idea that the DNC might omit a roll call at the convention seems extremely undemocratic to me.

I thought this was nothing more than a rumor, but it came up today at the "unity" for money meeting at the Mayflower.

Marc Ambinder mentions it here in his column:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/arch ives/2008/06/after_the_press_leaves_some _ed_1.php

A question to obama was whether or not he would accept a roll call vote at the Convention.  

His response was they are negotiating this!

Huh?

(Cross-posted at Clintonistas for Obama)

OK, I need to ask you all for help. I'm in need of major help now. You see, I have some friends that need some help so that they can make a HUGE difference in our country very soon. Will you please help me help them?

Today Hillary Clinton sent out an email and video message to her online supporters. Hill fans, Hillary still needs our support to retire campaign debt.

You have been such an inspiration to me during this campaign -- your commitment and your boundless enthusiasm made everything we accomplished in the last 17 months possible. So as I continue to make sure your voices are heard, I wanted to say a special thank you for all the hard work you did on my behalf.

Click here to watch my video message to you.

Thank you for everything,
Hillary

Hillary stayed in the race because of us and for the people. We gave her the financial support she needed to keep going and to finish the journey we all started together. So, her debt is our debt and we need to take care of it. I contacted her campaign finance office last week to verify how/where we can send contributions to help retire the campaign debt. I wrote a diary last week with details on how you can help Hillary retire campaign debt, but here are the details again:

1. Donate to Hillary online at the Hillary Clinton For President campaign website. There are also other bloggers fund raising to retire campaign debt. Alegre's Corner is raising funds to retire campaign debt. Also, check out the Forum, Heidi Li's Potpourri, or Lady Boomer NYC.

2. Mail checks to HRC's presidential campaign finance office in New York:

Hillary Clinton For President
420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 3030
New York, New York 10170

3. Purchase merchandise from the Hillary Store. There are still some selections of shirts, stickers, hats, signs, buttons, lapel pins, and accessories.

We've done it before, let's do it again. Cough up what you can and show Hillary some love. Skip another latte, brow wax, or manicure, skip a few beers or martinis, just walk by that pair of shoes. Stay in for date night, rent a movie, or hold your honey under the stars. Give it up for Hillary just one more time.

Help spread the word far and wide!

Cross-posted at Alegre's Corner

Update [2008-6-23 14:21:1 by grlpatriot]: FULL DISCLOSURE: Since the Gestapo has come out in force once again, please let me make this clear, as if it already was not. This diary is for Hillary's supporters to help retire campaign debt. Please also let it be known that I am blogging on other sites now because MyDD doesn't not represent all Democrats any longer and has become hostile to any dissent outside of the Obamedia and message. I have posted two diaries in the last week on MyDD, specifically related to retiring HRC's campaign debts. I also have made my intentions public at MyDD and on other blogs within the blogosphere that I am not supporting Obama's selection as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, I am part of the PUMA movement to take back the Democratic party, and I will be voting against Obama by casting a McCain vote. Now, with that clarified AGAIN, what in the hell does this have to do with a diary about retiring Hillary's campaign debts. If I would have stated all this in the diary (AGAIN) you would attack that I was advertising it. So, I didn't and you basically attack and accuse me of being subversive. Should I stick a triangular badge on my profile, so that you can quickly identify me? Stop being creeps. I'm not hear to fight with you.

Update [2008-6-23 15:1:22 by grlpatriot]: Regarding my Gestapo and triangle comment, I'm not suggesting that people are being killed. I'm saying that I have experienced and witnessed extreme behavior to silence and label dissenters. It is anti-Democratic and creepy. I am certainly not the first person to call this extreme behavior out here on MyDD.

                                                barack and al, detroit, michigan

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                                    al gore's endorsement for barack obama, detroit, michigan

"When a disaster strikes -- a Katrina, a shooting, or a six-alarm blaze -- its city hall we lean on, its city hall we call first, and city hall we depend on to get us through tough times. Because whether its a small town or a big city, the government that people count on most is the one thats closest to the people." -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama

This was part of a statement that Barack Obama made to the United States Conference of Mayors in Miami, Florida.

It was ironic that John McCain chose to visit Iowa, when the Governor of Iowa asked him not to.

But what was more ironic is that as the folks in the ravaged midwest come to terms of what happened, it will be this that will anger many:

"I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did," Obama said, "feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."

This is politics folks.  Pure and simple.  McCain voted against this bill that would have sent federal dollars for restoration of dams and levees.  Maybe, McCain forgot that he did vote against this bill, but showed up for the photo-op anyway.

The bill funded hundreds of projects -- such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration -- that are important to local communities and their representatives. It also included money for the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast and for Florida Everglades restoration efforts.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of this government not spending the appropriate money for something called, maintenance and repair on the infrastructure of this country.  Ask these folks flooded out how they feel about it, or the folks in Minnesota when a bridge just up and collasped on them, or Katrina victims STILL trying to get their lives back in order.

This country sure knows how to send money to Iraq in a snap, but for just the ordinary things like maintenance and repair, the Bush Administration will call it pork barrel spending in a minute, with McCain going right along with Bush.

A shame.

                                       michelle, the dress, on the view

polls

Rasmussen: Obama pulls ahead in Virginia; Nevada Poll; Kansas Poll; Ohio PPP Poll; ABC/Washington Post Poll; SUSA Minnesota Poll; Mason-Dixon Virginia Poll; Rasmussen Oregon Poll; SUSA Kentucky Poll; Pope Institute North Carolina Poll; Reuters National Poll; Quinnipiac OH, FL and PA Poll; Alaska Rasmussen Poll; PPP Virginia Poll; Rasmussen Ohio Poll; ARG Florida Poll; SUSA Wisconsin Poll; Rasmussen Florida Poll;  Georgia Insider Advantage Poll; Newsweek National Poll; Rasmussen New Hampshire Poll; Obama best Democratic Candidate in years, per Electorial-Vote.com

Bill, Jim, Caroline? Readers Pick Obama VP
Obama's Decision Threatens Public Financing System
Obama returns Chicago to center stage
Axelrod Visits Senate Democrats
GOP Recycles Hillary Attacks On Obama Again -- This Time On Campaign Finance
With money, Obama to try to widen the battleground

                       
                                       barack's announcement to forego public financing

Without public funding, sky's the limit for Obama
AP-Ipsos poll: Most say US on wrong track
Obama gets AFSCME endorsement
Obama e-mail list makes Dems salivate
Obama Revives Kennedy-Era Excitement for Democrats Mikva, Minow

                       
                                         obama's economic roundtable with governors

National Push by Obama on Ads and Turnout

Senator Barack Obama is drawing up plans for extensive advertising and voter-turnout drives across the nation, hoping to capitalize on his expected fund-raising advantage over Senator John McCain to force Republicans to compete in states they have not had to defend in decades.

With his decision to give up public financing and the spending limits that go with it, Mr. Obama has added several seasoned hands to his advertising team, a harbinger of a multifaceted television campaign that people inside and outside Obama headquarters said would grow well beyond its already large presence in 18 states.

Future commercials could run on big national showcases like the Olympics in August and smaller cable networks like MTV and Black Entertainment Television that appeal to specific demographic and interest groups.

He is also dispatching paid staff members to all states, an unusual move by the standards of modern presidential campaigns where the fight is often contained to contested territories.  New York Times

Ready to Attack Obama, But Geez...NO MONEY by icebergslim
Obama opts out of public financing by kos
Obama Calls Muslim Women Barred from Stage by Valhalla
Obama's First General Election Ad by dansac
Obama & Kerry deal Halliburton major blow; Prez OKs closing KBR tax loophole by beachmom
An Epic Primary Season for Democrats by Maureen

obama at the united states conference of mayors in miami, florida

audio/video

Barack on Jimmy Kimmel; Michelle on The View; Barack at Foreign Policy Summit; Barack with nation's governors for an Economic Conference; Obama on Pop Culture; Obama on Offshore Drilling; Obama Expresses 'Deep Disappointment' in McCain's Silence on Wife Attacks; Polls Try to Frame Ever-Changing Political Landscape; Why the Obama Campaign Has Six Pollsters; Dissecting McCain's Vulnerabilities in the Fall; Obama Pins Hopes on Fundraising Power; Obama Puts Early Focus on Michigan; Week in Review: Campaign Finance, Wiretapping

Obama, Clinton to join forces at fundraiser
'Straight Talk Express' often reverses course
Huckabee Says Demonizing Obama `Fatal Mistake' for Republicans
Obama meets with national security advisers

barack with anna burger, the chairwoman of "change to win," and john sweeney, president of the afl-cio

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Barack Obama: Lay Off My Family
Obama Campaigns on Capitol Hill
Obama Announces Senior Working Group on National Security
Obama's Campaign Tightens Control of Image and Access
Obama camp sketches new electoral path
Women voters lining up behind Obama
Why the Christian right fears Obama

                         
                                            barack and chairman howard dean, dnc

shoutouts

Amtrak Has Too Few Usable Train Cars Left by bink; What's for Dinner: the Great Barbecue Edition by Asinus Asinum Fricat; This is a bus... by JeffLieber; What conservative bloggers taught me about flood relief by desmoinesdem; Obama To Opt Out Of Public Financing by slinkerwink; WaPo: General Accuses WH of War Crimes by abundance; How to Transform the US From a Debt to an Equity Economy by bonddad; Obama Responds to McCain Campaign Charge that he has "A September 10th Mindset" by TomP; "McCain Democrat" leader outed as racist by kat68; I got your back Barack! by Deoliver47; You Are Falling for the Right Wing's Trap. by kath25

Obama, McCain see purple in Minnesota
Obama to visit Iraq, Afghanistan
Barack Obama on Economics: 'We're Going Through a Big Shift'
Obama rebukes McCain camp on terrorism criticism
Senator Barack Obama Says He Wants to Make College Affordable
McCain Disses Bush -- But Mac Isn't as Green As He Says
Obama criticizes McCain on offshore drilling

                                     

icebergslim's last word:  barack obama

While many are up in arms over FISA, something else happened this week, "Barack Declared Independence."

Barack Obama opted out of public financing. A first for any major candidate.

This decision is important on many levels.  First, there will be grumbling from the other side of flip/flopping and Barack did, but for a good cause, to run a campaign independent of the shackles on your feet with public financing.  I don't expect this to stick because most of the general public is not interested in how campaigns are financed.  They just don't care.  Maybe in another year or years to come, but not this year with the economy crumbling and gas prices looking at folks to hit five dollars a gallon, soon, it is a non-issue.

But what this does mean?  It means that not only is Barack independent, but the Democratic Party, as a whole, is independent.  We are free to raise the amount of money needed to fund all 50 states through November, along with helping to raise money for all the congressional and senate races riding this independent wave, as well.

I hope you fully understand what is at stake here.  While some are complaining about FISA, we need to raise massive amounts of money for Barack, the DNC Convention, and the whole Democratic Party.  This burden is not only on Barack, but all of us.

Along with this, Barack and Michelle Obama must fundraise, Barack has to go overseas, Barack has to go to Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack has to run the Democratic Convention, Barack has to complete a platform, all in about two months.  One word, "Wow."

A good friend told me today that she did not like that Barack only raised 22M for May, for her a huge drop off.  That is worrisome to her.  I told her it did not bother me, but now I have to sit back and look at all I just wrote above and completely state, "this is a lot of stuff to complete on a promise of ordinary voters to fund."  It is.

So, while you are angry, you need to sit back and look at what we need to do and complete as a party.  I will be the first to state that having the primary go to the end did not help us with timing.  Many just became tired of it and disconnected, well it is time to reconnect and that starts with donating to the Obama for America Campaign.

See, I understand the current beef about FISA, warranted and duly noted, but the large picture is too big and the stakes too high to stop now.  There are many reading this that have a son or daughter or loved one in Iraq; somebody has lost their job; a family is wondering how to save their home; someone may not have gas money to go to work tomorrow; many are skimping on food because of costs; some teenager is crying right now because they cannot go to college, even though they had good grades; folks got the credit card companies calling constantly because they can't afford the payments and this list is endless.  Yes, endless because I know some people who are affected on this list.  So, see FISA right now is not an issue, but change and new direction in this country is.

We need to stand together, not apart now.  I am hoping this bill is shoved until after November when it can be readdressed, but no matter what happens we need to move forward, together.

Folks, we have a laundry list of items to accomplish and time is not on our side.

It starts here.  Donate to Obama for America.  Because if we don't get him elected in November and increase Democrats in congress, there will be more than whining for the next four years, but some serious weeping as well.

well another week has flown by and michelle obama was the star, no doubt.  i don't know why the press is giving her a bum rap, but the woman is not only accomplished and lovely but puts her family first.  al rodgers got me hooked on the slideshows, but he is numero uno in that department.  a true, inspiration.  as the summer is coming along, many of us are busy with families, getting ready for vacations, or just coping with LIFE.  remember, we came from absolutely nothing and look where we are.  keep involved, focus, donate and remember to focus on obama and not the drama...

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Tip the Obama Jar, Here
Get Involved Here
For Inspiration:  Yes.We.Can!!!

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icebergslim1047 (at) gmail (dot) com
cross-posted @This Week With Barack Obama