In a move distancing himself from many Democratic abortion groups, Senator Barack Obama says that “mental distress” should not be a qualifying reason for a woman to receive a late-term abortion. In an interview with the Christian magazine “Relevant”, Obama said any limitation on late-term abortion should contain “a strict, well defined exception for the health of the mother” but added “Now, I don’t think that ‘mental distress’ qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term.”

This position puts him at odds with NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group that endorsed Obama. NARAL released the following statement reaffirming their support of Obama:

“Sen. Obama has consistently said he supports the tenets set forth by Roe, and has made strong statements against President Bush’s Federal Abortion Ban, which does not have an exception to protect a woman’s health,” the organization’s statement said.

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy Independence Day! Today is a wonderful day to think back to the monumental and awe inspiring achievement of our founding fathers. They were men and women who struggled so hard for an idea that was more powerful than any one person, more novel than any conception before it.

While it is always true no nation and no idea can exist without lines of fault, the grandness and greatness of this nation is so vast that any one leader, any one ideology or any one decision that is either championed or chastised by the masses cannot deminish or divide us for so long that we cannot take pride in what it means to be an American.

The wonder of our nation is not that our founders made us free. Rather it was that they recognized we were free, all that was needed was to break the human chains of bondage brought forth by men and to find that our maker had already endowed to us with liberty. So, on this fourth of July, I hope that everyone will celebrate the spirit of their monumental achievement. Will recognize that the vastness of our differences are built upon a common thread of independence. Will give thanks to the men and women who fight even today to secure that independence. Will take a moment to love our nation, our countrymen and our common bond.

Happy Independence Day!

The Wall Street Journal reports that “The Bush administration and the two major presidential campaigns are beginning an unprecedented attempt to prevent the transfer of power in January from disrupting defense and counterterrorism efforts.” Talks are going on between both candidates and the White House to secure a smooth transition. In addition both candidates are already considering their picks for top national security appointments so that if elected, Congress can begin immediately the process of confirming their nominees.

Also of note aides say Obama is considering asking current Defense Secretary Gates on in his current position.

Yesterday Senator Obama toured the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters yesterday. The tour included information on how “command has assisted with floods, California wildfires, hurricanes as well as their role abroad.” Read the pool report below:

July 2, 2008

Senator Barack Obama arrived at Peterson Air Force Base outside of Colorado Springs, where he spent nearly two hours on a private afternoon tour of the facility and briefings from military leaders.

Your pool was escorted to a separate building at Air Force Space Command and did not see him for the entirety of his visit. It was billed as an official Senate visit, with one member of his Senate staff on hand to participate in the briefings.

General Victor E. Renuart, the commander of NORAD and the United States Northern Command, greeted Mr. Obama and led him on the tour and briefing, which included how the command has assisted with floods, California wildfires, hurricanes as well as their role abroad.

Your pool was given no additional information.

Then, Mr. Obama headed to the Air Force Academy for more private meetings. He is scheduled to speak at a campaign fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. A pool report with his remarks will be expedited after that event.

Hilarious and so true. Thanks to Kasey for finding it for me!

Today Now!: How To Pretend You Give A Shit About The Election

McCain confirms Steve Schmidt who ran Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reelection campaign and was a top communications aide in Bush-Cheney ‘04 wlll take over day-to-day operations of the Senator’s campaign.

ABC News notes that Senator Obama, who launched an ad yesterday in support of welfare reform how suck legislation slashed rolls by 80%. However on May 31, 1997 on the floor of the Illinois Senate Obama declared that he was “not a defender of the status quo with respect to welfare. Having said that, I probably would not have supported the federal legislation, because I think it had some problems”

Obama’s transformation from opponent to champion of welfare reform is the latest in a series of moves to the center. Since capturing the Democratic nomination, Obama has altered his stances on Social Security taxes, meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions, and the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.’s, sweeping gun ban.

The shift in Obama’s rhetoric on welfare reform has proceeded in stages. When Clinton was poised to sign welfare reform while running for re-election in 1996, Obama called it “disturbing.” A decade later, as an underdog running for president against Clinton’s wife, he spent 2007 avoiding the subject. By the time Obama emerged as the Democratic frontrunner in the spring of 2008, he began leaving the impression that he was for it all along.

During a 1996 interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Obama could not conceal his disappointment in his fellow Democrat. “Bill Clinton? Well, his campaign’s fascinating to a student of politics. It’s disturbing to someone who cares about certain issues. But politically, it seems to be working,” said Obama.

The shift is not surprising as the article notes “Obama has altered his stances on Social Security taxes, meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions, and the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.’s, sweeping gun ban” since winning the nomination. As is typical of a presidential contender Obama is moving to the middle, abandoning positions he held to win more liberal votes in the nomination. The article also notes Obama has on several occasions during the campaign to specifically address the position, waiting until now to unveil his support.

It does stand in stark contrast to Obama’s calls for an end of “Politics as usual” in Washington and the contention of his supporters that their candidate was not one to waver or play politics with the problems facing our nation.

The Obama ad entitled “Dignity”

Reading a new piece in Vanity Fair by Gail Sheehy. Definitely spot on and worth a read!

A rather interesting though lightly sourced article from the Telegraph asserting that President Clinton told insiders Obama would have to “kiss my ass” for support. Reports have been coming out that Clinton had dodged Obama’s phone call attempts and is reportedly still in “rage” mode over the election but if the report is true it paints a very interesting picture of a former President who appears to be unhinged and very angry.

I noticed that there was something oddly familiar about General Wesley Clark’s attack line against Sen. McCain’s military service, it sounded like a joke I had heard from Al Franken, I just couldn’t remember where I had heard it. Luckily we have Google and I could find the quote from a 2000 campaign related interview in Playboy magazine.

OV: Do you like McCain?

AF: I just read his autobiography and I like that a lot. I think he’s admirable in many, many ways. He has certainly been courageous on tobacco and campaign finance reform. I read the book and it has a lot about his time in captivity in North Vietnam being tortured and stuff. I don’t understand why all this war hero stuff. I mean anybody can get captured. Isn’t the idea to capture the other guy? As far as I’m concerned, he sat out the war.

Now obviously, Franken unlike Clark was joking. With that said this isn’t the first interesting Franken thought to come out of a Playboy related article for the comedian who is currently running for the Minnesota Democratic Senate ticket.