In the final days of the campaign, Obama for America Iowa is launching #IowaGrown, a week of events on the President's promises kept and his priorities for a second term. President Obama's commitment to growing our economy begins with a strong, thriving middle class grew right here in Iowa. Unlike Mitt Romney, the President has been consistent and clear about his vision and values because he knows his plan will actually create jobs and strengthen the middle class - and that recent history teaches us the right way to grow the economy is from the middle out, not the top down.

With eight days until Election Day, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, former Governor Tom Vilsack, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, DNC Vice Chair and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Former Lt. Governor Patty Judge will take this message across the state in the coming days.

President Obama has called for a new economic patriotism rooted in the belief that growing our economy begins with a strong, thriving middle class, reducing our deficit in a responsible way, continuing to grow our manufacturing and renewable energy industry and strengthening our education system by hiring new teachers. For more information on the President's plans, go to www.barackobama.com/plans.

Under his leadership, businesses have added 5.2 million private sector jobs over the last 31 months, the unemployment rate is at its lowest level since January 2009, consumer confidence is at a 5-year high, and foreclosures are at a 5-year low.

And where President Obama's campaign all started, Iowans are seeing our economy grow. His work to make smart investments in energy, education and training, growing small businesses, and promoting technology and innovation is paying off. Today, Iowa has 7,000 jobs in the wind industry, over 18,000 manufacturing jobs have been added and 6,200 education jobs were saved. The President cut taxes for Iowa small business 18 times and fought to save the auto industry, protecting 8,000 Iowa jobs. Because of his support for new trade agreements, Iowa farmers have seen record farm income

And this message is resonating with Iowans, as Democrats shatter early voting records. Currently Democrats have an over 57,000 early vote and over 70,000 vote by mail request advantage. Unprecedented early voting numbers show enthusiasm for the President and the strength of OFA's organization.

Mitt Romney is in Iowa today and the fact remains: Mitt Romney's economic plans, or what we know of them, will threaten Iowa's economic growth. His opposition to the wind production tax credit and polices that would encourage companies to send jobs overseas directly threaten jobs for Iowa's middle class.

And despite the rhetoric, his embrace of the GOP's extreme wing throughout this campaign will certainly make it hard to work across aisle, just as he failed to do as Governor of Massachusetts.

Last week in Iowa, Romney promised "change", but Iowans know he will just bring us back to same top-down policies that got us into this mess in the first place. His economic scheme - fewer rules for Wall Street and more budget-busting tax breaks for the wealthiest - is the same failed formula that crashed our economy and devastated the middle class. No matter how hard Romney tries to hide the truth, his math just doesn't add up. It's mathematically impossible to pay for his $5 trillion tax breaks favoring the wealthiest without raising taxes on the middle class or exploding the deficit.

His five-point plan is a sham - independent economists say we will create the 12 million jobs he claims his plan will create anyway. And the studies Romney cites actually disprove his claims. One fact-checker called Romney's plan a "bait-and-switch." And as Governor, he left Massachusetts 47th out of 50 in job creation and first in the nation in per capita debt.

The President has come to the state, and talked directly to Iowans about a concrete and specific second-term plan to grow our economic security to the middle class and to avoid returning to the same policies that crashed the economy. Iowans understand the clear choice they have in this election, and that is why we feel confident about our campaign going into Election Day.

Check #IowaGrown on Twitter throughout the week for events and updates.

DES MOINES - Obama for America released a new video today featuring Vice President Joe Biden discussing how he and President Obama work every day to provide people with dignified opportunity to care for themselves and their families.

Since day one, President Obama and Vice President Biden have advanced policies and programs that help American families, working in partnership with faith-based and community organizations, including Catholic non-profits like Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, to serve those in need. From fighting for health insurance reform so no family has to go bankrupt just because a family member gets sick, to supporting tax reform in which everyone pays their fair share, to ensuring every child has access to a good education, President Obama and Vice President Biden believe that we are our brothers and sisters' keepers. They strongly believe that looking out for all Americans is part of what defines us as a nation.

And as Vice President Biden made clear during the Vice Presidential debate, both he and President Obama believe there is no conflict between standing up for women's health and respecting religious liberty, and they are committed to upholding both principles. Meanwhile, Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan are wrong to use this core constitutional principle as a political football.  Religious liberty is not a Democratic or Republican idea - it's an American idea, and it always has been.

To view the video please click HERE. And for more information, please visit catholics.barackobama.com.

 

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WATERLOO, IA - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will continue his "Small Town Values Tour" with a stop in Mt. Vernon.  Braley is travelling across the First District visiting small towns and rural communities throughout the week to highlight his work with Republicans and Democrats to create jobs and strengthen the rural economy.

Braley, a native of small town Brooklyn, Iowa, in Poweshiek County, will visit numerous eastern Iowa towns over the course of the tour.  He will visit with local officials, tour towns' business districts, visit local small businesses, and speak with residents.

"I grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa, where my mom was a school teacher and my dad worked at a grain elevator," Braley said. "Growing up in a small town, I learned to value a hard day's work and to help a neighbor in need. These are values I carry with me to this day when I go to work for Iowa in Congress."


Monday October 29, 2012

2:00pm Toledo
Tour Toledo Central Business District

with State Senator Steve Sodders
114 E High Street
Toledo, Iowa

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God Meets Science

In the Presidential Election, the Two Don't Get Along. But Should They?

By: Daniel Friedmann

Do you believe that evolution should be taught in public schools, and that it should be presented as the only explanation for how the species arose?  Based on statements made in the past few years by President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney, it appears they both would answer "yes."

However, Romney's fellow Republicans don't all agree. For example, Republican Congressman Paul Broun from Georgia recently announced that evolution, embryology, and the Big Bang theory are "lies straight from the pit of hell."

Furthermore, Romney may have recently changed his mind since in the first presidential debate he stated, "We're all children of the same God" -- in stark contradiction to evolutionists' conclusion!

Meanwhile, only 15 percent of the US population believes in naturalistic evolution as the explanation for our origins!

And while the Catholic Church has stopped arguing against scientific findings such as the age of the universe or when life first appeared, it holds that whatever happened was guided in some way by God; in agreement with nearly half of Americans.

For the past couple hundred years, the creation-evolution conflict has been a recurring point of contention in the United States, from the presidential election to what should be taught in schools. American science legend Carl Sagan tried to settle this conflict by calling both camps "non-overlapping magisterial" - in other words, science and religion each preside as the source of wisdom over separate domains.

However, most of us feel that Sagan's explanation is not right. In fact, it turns out that a significant portion of Americans believe science and religion can coexist when it comes to explaining our origins.

The problem between science and religion did not originate over the question of HOW we came to be ? creation vs. evolution ? but over the question of WHEN the Earth came to be.  The creation-evolution conflict was sparked when early geologists began to find evidence that the Earth was older than the Bible seemed to indicate.

Today science tells us that the universe is 13.7 billion years old and the earth 4.5 billion years old; seemingly in contradiction to the biblical creation timeline of six days, less than 6,000 years ago.

A couple years ago I found the blueprint for my house, a piece of rolled up paper with lots of lines that bore little resemblance to my beautiful three-dimensional home. I could not make heads or tails of the blueprint. That is, until I saw the scale: 1 inch equals 8 feet. Now I could compare the blueprint and the house - everything matched, at least as to what it was and how big it was.

Now, the Bible claims to be the blueprint for the universe; but has anyone bothered to look for the scale of this blueprint? I mean, the story is narrated in creation days (analogous to the role of inches on the house blueprint), but what are these creation days in the physical structure, the universe?

It turns out that the Scriptures contain the scale ? it has been found: 1 creation day is 1,000 X 365 X 7,000 or 2.5 billion years. That's right, the scale is really simple, it's been there all along,  and when you apply it to events in Genesis, it converts 19 events to the time we measure in science.

What do we get after converting these events? Agreement within measurement error; very old Scriptures contain the times for key events relating to the development of the universe and the appearance of life on Earth that science has only recently uncovered.

So if both science and the Bible agree on what happened and when it happened, why keep arguing?

Because there is still the HOW it happened. But having found agreement on the "when" and the "what," sheds new light on the issue. It is time to check out the scale, reread the biblical blueprint and stop the 200-year-old argument in politics, education....

Daniel Friedmann is the author of The Genesis One Code, and CEO of an aerospace company. He has a master's in engineering physics and 30 years' experience in the space industry, and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He is also a long-time student of cosmology and religion.

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/article_366f5a7e-1d62-11e2-87ec-0019bb2963f4.html

Election Day is fast approaching, but your chance to vote and make your voice heard is already here. Thanks to early voting, you can cast your vote today ? well before Nov. 6. Your chance to have your say in the future of our country starts now, and it's more important than ever that young people like you make yourselves heard.

Early voting has made it easier than ever to participate in this election. At GottaVote.com you can find out how and where to vote early, and you don't have to worry about missing out on Election Day because you're caught up with a paper or cramming for a midterm. If you vote early, I promise you'll thank yourself for it when you wake up on Nov. 6.

And if you wonder whether your vote will really matter, I want you to remember that in 2008, Barack won North Carolina by only 14,000 votes. That breaks down to just five votes per precinct. This year, any battleground state could be just as close, and we'll need every single vote we can get.

In 2008, young Americans like you turned every piece of conventional political wisdom on its head. For years, we had heard that young people couldn't be counted on, and that they wouldn't turn out at the polls on Election Day. But you didn't just turn out on Election Day ? you volunteered and organized for nearly two years beforehand, and you built a national movement that made history.

You worked hard for this campaign because you knew that if you elected Barack, he was going to have your back. And over the last four years, Barack has never stopped fighting for young Americans.

Barack has helped make college more affordable so that no student has to turn down a college acceptance letter because they can't afford the tuition. He's done that by keeping loan interest rates low, doubling funding for Pell Grants, and setting up a tax credit for middle class families. Because of health reform, you can stay on your parents' insurance until age 26, women can no longer be arbitrarily charged higher premiums than men, and insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage for a so-called "pre-existing condition." Barack has also repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so that every American can serve this great country no matter who they love, and he's stood up to attacks on women's health because he believes women should be able to make our own decisions about our health care.

Most importantly, Barack is rebuilding our economy based on the values that made our country great: fairness, hard work, and responsibility. We've now had 31 straight months of private sector job growth and the unemployment rate is at the lowest level since my husband took office. And while we still have a long way to go, our businesses have created more than 5 million new jobs right here in the United States of America.

Your vote is your chance to make sure we don't turn back on all of this progress. And now is the time we need you to help Barack keep moving our country forward. Go to GottaVote.com to find out how and where to vote today.

CHICAGO -- Former Secretary of State, National Security Adviser, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell endorsed President Obama for re-election today. Powell cited the President's leadership in bringing us back from the brink of economic collapse, ending the war in Iraq, his plan to end the war in Afghanistan, and his strong record of fighting terrorism as reasons for his endorsement.

Watch Colin Powell's endorsement HERE.

TRANSCRIPT

ROSE: Will you endorse President Obama this race?

POWELL: Well, you know I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012, and I'll be voting for he and for Vice President Joe Biden next month.

ROSE: That's an endorsement for President Obama for re-election?

POWELL: Yes. And let me say why. When he took over the country was in very, very difficult straits, we were in one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times, close to a depression. The fiscal system was collapsing. Wall Street was in chaos. We had 800,000 jobs lost in that first month of the Obama administration and unemployment would peak a few months later at 10%. So we were in real trouble. The auto industry was collapsing. The housing industry was starting to collapse, and we were in very difficult straits. And I saw over the next several years stabilization come back in the financial community, housing is now starting to pick up after four years, it's starting to pick up. Consumer confidence is rising. So I think generally we've come out of the dive and we're starting to gain altitude. It doesn't mean we are problem solved, there are lots of problems still out there. The unemployment rate is too high. People are still hurting in housing. But I see that we are starting to rise up. I also saw the President get us out of one war, start to get us out of a second war and did not get us into any new wars. And finally, I think that the actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid. And so I think we ought to keep on the track that we are on. With respect to Governor Romney, I have the utmost respect to him but as I listen to what his proposals are especially with respect to dealing with our most significant issue, the economy, it's essentially let's cut taxes and compensate for that with other things. But that compensation does not cover all of the cuts intended or the new expenses associated with defense.

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The day after a strong final debate performance, Democrats are building upon the historic grassroots organization we built in Iowa in 2008, including our 67 Obama for America offices and hundreds of well-trained, experienced volunteer-led neighborhood teams in every corner of the state. As a result of that strong foundation and enthusiasm for President Obama, today we are ahead of where we were at this time against John McCain - and ahead of Mitt Romney. Unprecedented early voting numbers show enthusiasm for the President and the strength of OFA's organization, while Republicans were caught completely unprepared for early voting.

 

Iowa Democrats Maintain a Significant Lead in Early Voting

 

·         Topline: Democrats have a huge lead in early voting, and that lead is growing every day.  Ten days ago, for example, Democrats led by D +52,681 in total ballots cast, and today that advantage has increased to D +54,968.

 

·         Winning Across the Board: Democrats lead on every early vote metric - Vote by Mail requests, mail ballots returned, in-person ballots cast and total ballots cast

 

 

D

R

Margin

Vote by Mail Requests

188,359

125,148

D +63,211

Mail Ballots Returned

123,134

75,452

D +47,682

In-Person Ballots Cast

36,668

29,382

D +7,286

Total Ballots Cast

159,802

104,834

D +54,968

 

 

D

R

Margin

Vote by Mail Requests

45.6%

30.3%

D +15.3

Mail Ballots Returned

49.6%

30.4%

D +19.2

In-Person Ballots Cast

41.9%

33.6%

D +8.3

Total Ballots Cast

47.6%

31.2%

D +16.4

 

·         Winning by More than 2008: In 2008, Barack Obama won Iowa by 9.5 percentage points.  At this time in 2008, we led by D +57,004 in mail ballot requests, D +29,513 in mail ballots returned and 44,686 in total ballots cast.  Our early vote advantage this year is bigger than it was at the same time in 2008.

 

·         Snapshot: In-Person Early Vote

o   Democrats are leading Republicans 36,668 to 29,382 in in-person early vote.

o   Students are voting early in record numbers, including 477 students voting at Cornell following the President's speech on October 17th - 1/3 of the student body.

 

·         Registration: One of the untold stories of the ground game in Iowa is OFA's historic voter registration effort this year.  Democrats lead Republicans in registered voters by D +17,486 (D 689,794 vs. R 672,308).  In the last three months alone, 16,257 registered Democrats were added to the rolls compared with just 2,428 Republicans.  As a result, the Democratic registration advantage increased from D +3,657 in August to D +17,486 today.  The Democratic advantage continues to grow every single day as new voters register, and will continue growing right up through Election Day. Since August, Democrats have added 22,406 active voters to the rolls and Republicans have added just 5,924.

 

Why OFA's Ground Game Matters

 

·         OFA Iowa has 67 offices across the state, with hundreds of trained team leaders, leading thousands of volunteers.  OFA has volunteers in all 99 counties.

 

·         Democrats are winning the battle for early non-midterm voters.  Democrats lead Republicans among non-midterm voters in mail ballots requested, total ballots cast, mail ballots cast and in-person ballots cast.

 

Among Non-Midterm Voters Only

 

 

D

R

Margin

Vote by Mail Requests

59,336

27,778

D +31,558

Mail Ballots Returned

27,115

12,798

D +14,317

In-Person Ballots Cast

8,823

4,092

D +4,731

Total Ballots Cast

35,938

16,890

D +19,048

 

 

D

R

Margin

Vote by Mail Requests

43.4%

20.3%

D +23.1

Mail Ballots Returned

46.1%

21.8%

D +24.4

In-Person Ballots Cast

40.3%

18.7%

D +21.6

Total Ballots Cast

44.5%

20.9%

D +23.6

 

The Romney Campaign is Struggling in Iowa

 

·         "I see the early vote numbers, and I grimace a little bit. ... It feels like an Obama state." - former Iowa Republican Party political director Craig Robinson. [National Journal, 9/21/12]

 

·         Recent GOP early vote numbers do not show momentum, they simply show that the Romney campaign did a mass, "1-million person" mailing, according to GOP Romney operative Matt Strawn.

 

·         Early Republicans tried to push early voting as Rep. Paul Ryan reminded Iowans during an event in September.  Iowa Republican operative Matt Strawn told a reporter in September, "Anybody that tells one of our volunteers that they're supporting Mitt Romney, you bet we want that vote cast as soon as possible."  Yet as numbers started to show a large gap between Democrats and Republicans the change their message as Megan Stiles- Communications Director for the Republican Party of Iowa said on October 1st, "Republicans tend to actually prefer to go to the polls and pull the lever so to speak on Election Day."

EAST MOLINE, IL- Senator Mike Jacobs, Representative Pat Verschoore, and House Candidate Mike Smiddy will be hosting a Democrat Rally and Spaghetti Dinner from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2012. Guest speakers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, will be on hand to support and endorse the local Democratic candidates.

What: Democrat Rally and Spaghetti Dinner

Hosts: Senator Mike Jacobs, State Representative Pat Verschoore and Illinois House Candidate Mike Smiddy

Speakers: U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White

When: Thursday, October 25, 2012, 5 - 8 p.m.

Where: Moline Vikings Club, 1450 41st Street, Moline, IL 61265

 

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DES MOINES-- In a close election, Obama for America - Iowa continues to rely on its grassroots operation to carry the President across the finish line. That's why supporters across the state will gather again tonight to watch President Obama lay out the clear choice in this election at the last presidential debate of the campaign. In continuing to use the debates as an opportunity to bring supporters together, Obama for America - Iowa is hosting 67 watch parties in neighborhoods across the state. OFA's supporters are continuing to use the debates to engage their family and friends on the choice in this election between two visions for our country: one that moves us forward with an economy built from the middle-out or one that moves us backwards with an economy that writes off our middle-class and returns to the same failed top-down economics of the last decade.  Iowa's early vote started on September 27th and ends November 5th.

 

To attend a watch party in Iowa, please review the information below:

 

Monday, October 22, 2012

8:00PM CST

 

 

Des Moines Debate Watch Party

WHERE: Cooney's Tavern

3708 Beaver Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50310

 

Cedar Rapids Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Cedar Rapids Office

2857 Mt. Vernon Rd SE.

Cedar Rapids, IA

 

 

Iowa City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Iowa City Office

321 Market St, Suite 106

Iowa City, IA

 

 

Sioux City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Sioux City Office

4106 Morningside Ave

Sioux City, IA

 

 

Council Bluffs Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Council Bluffs Office

1851 Madison Ave, Suite 200

Council Bluffs, IA

 

 

Waterloo Debate Watch Party

WHERE: 220 East (Art Gallery)

220 E. 4th St.

Waterloo, IA

 

Mason City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Mason City Office

219 North Federal

Mason City, IA

 

Ames Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Ames Office

413 Northwestern Ave #103

Ames, IA

 

 

Burlington Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Burlington Office

900 Osborn St

Burlington, IA

 

 

Davenport Debate Watch Party and Sign Making Party

WHEN: 7:00 PM

WHERE: OFA-IA Davenport Office

1706 Brady Street, Suite 205

Davenport, IA

 

 

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Group of Democratic, Republican and independent mayors want Braley back in Congress

WATERLOO, IA -- Citing his work to create jobs, strengthen the rural economy, and keep small town post offices open, a group of twenty eastern Iowa mayors have announced their endorsement of Bruce Braley for re-election to Congress today.  The mayors represent small towns and large cities, and are a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

Independence Mayor Carl Scharff, a Democrat, said, "Bruce Braley has successfully brought people together in Congress to create jobs.  His 'Back to Work Act' cutting taxes for small businesses helped create 100,000 jobs right here in Iowa.  We need Bruce Braley back in Congress."

Former Brandon Mayor Bob Bearbower, a Republican, said, "When the Postal Service wanted to close our post office, threatening the future of our community, Bruce Braley stepped in and fought for us.  He stood up to bureaucrats in Washington and kept our post office open, protecting our small town economy."

Mayor Chad Deutch of Evansdale, a registered independent, said, "Bruce Braley grew up in a small town, and he understands the unique challenges we face.  Bruce has fought for Iowa on the big issues, like jobs, healthcare, and the farm bill, but he's never forgotten where he's come from either.  He's always looking out for Iowa, and he'll keep working for us if he's re-elected."

The mayoral endorsements come as momentum behind Braley's campaign is strengthening.  Yesterday, the Des Moines Register endorsed Braley.  Last week, the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald announced their endorsement.

Today, Braley is launching a "Small Town Values" tour that will take him to communities in nearly every county in the First District over the next five days.  During the tour, Braley will discuss his small town upbringing in Brooklyn, Iowa, and his work to strengthen the rural economy and create jobs.

List of 20 Eastern Iowa Mayors Announcing Support of Bruce Braley

Dick Avenarius, Peosta

Former Mayor Bob Bearbower, Brandon

Buck Clark, Waterloo

Jon Crews, Cedar Falls

Chad Deutsch, Evansdale

Dave Fish, Belle Plaine

Bob Garms, Elkader

Alfred Hochkiss, Lamont

Adam Meyer, St. Olaf

Larry Murphy, Oelwein

Scott Peterson, Mt. Vernon

Dick Quackenbush, Jesup

Sandra Ricklefs, Center Junction

Darrell Rittmer, Sabula

Barb Robinson, Dundee

Jim Roling, St. Donatus

Carl Scharff, Independence

Curtis Thornhill, Onslow

Maurice Welch, Fairbank

Danny Zimmerman, Tama

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