THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. I want to just make a brief comment about the fact that the two young journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, are safely back with their families. We are obviously extraordinarily relieved. I had an opportunity to speak with the families yesterday once we knew that they were on the plane.
The reunion that we've all seen on television I think is a source of happiness not only for the families but for the entire country.
I want to thank President Bill Clinton -- I had a chance to talk to him -- for the extraordinary humanitarian effort that resulted in the release of the two journalists. I want to thank Vice President Al Gore who worked tirelessly in order to achieve a positive outcome.
I think that not only is this White House obviously extraordinarily happy, but all Americans should be grateful to both former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their extraordinary work. And my hope is, is that the families that have been reunited can enjoy the next several days and weeks, understanding that because of the efforts of President Clinton and Gore, they are able to be with each other once again.
So we are very pleased with the outcome, and I'm hopeful that the families are going to be able to get some good time together in the next few days.
Thank you very much.
Duration : 0:2:3
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Technorati Tags: Bill, clinton, Euna, Eunalee, Journalists, korea, Laura, lauraling, Lee, Ling, north, NorthKorea, obama, president
Should Barack Obama pay off Hillary Clinton campaign debts?
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/06/25/choose-your-own-debtventure.aspx
Faced with a campaign debt of over $20 million, Hillary Clinton discussed the issue with her former rival Barack Obama ahead of their first campaign appearance together to project Democratic party unity. The two spoke by phone Sunday night, the first time the likely Democratic nominee and his former rival have exchanged words since their private meeting in Washington weeks ago before Clinton conceded defeat and endorsed Obama. They discussed retiring Clinton's campaign debt, a conversation Democratic sources cited by ABC called "constructive".
They also discussed their forthcoming joint fundraising appearance in Washington on Thursday and the first campaign appearance together appropriately in the small town of Unity, New Hampshire, Friday. Though the former first lady won the New Hampshire Democratic primary, the two received 107 votes each in Unity. More on the US campaign trail
Clinton conceded the Democratic race to Obama June 7, just four days after splitting the final two primary contests in South Dakota and Montana.
The pair held a secret meeting in Washington at the home of Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Clinton supporter, prior to Clinton's concession but had not spoken since that time. Battle for the White House
Besides talking to Obama, Clinton Monday turned to her supporters for help in settling the well over $20 million in debt, nearly half of which she loaned herself personally earlier in the year when her campaign was virtually broke and faced life-or-death primary contests.
Under campaign finance laws spearheaded by current presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, Clinton must pay herself back before the party's convention in late August, or else she is only allowed to receive $250,000.
In an e-mail to supporters, Clinton says she "has something I want to say," and directs readers to a Web video in which she says "Today, I still need your help."
The video reads: "By helping us pay off our campaign debt, you're not just helping Hillary elect a Democratic president and grow our majority in Congress. You're making it possible for her to work as hard as she can on the issues we care about."
Clinton also continued to praise onetime rival Barack Obama, saying she knows the Illinois senator shares the same goals as she.
The Obama campaign is reportedly open to helping Clinton raise money to pay off her lingering campaign debt, though no agreement has been announced yet. Under campaign finance laws, the Obama campaign is not allowed to retire Clinton's debt directly
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14701275
Duration : 0:10:19
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Technorati Tags: analysis, barack, Bill, CAMPAIGN, clinton, Colombia, commentary, deal, debate, debt, documentary, endorsement, gotcha!, grassroots, hillary, lobbyist, mark, News, obama, outreach, Penn, primary, trade, unity