The Huff Post has an article penned by Tavis Smiley, moderator of Thursday's debate, which gives a little preview of his thoughts about Health Care and what might become his focus in part of the debate:

Regardless of Moore's politics or his filmmaking process, many may see themselves reflected in the stories of everyday Americans who are struggling to pay more for less in return. In a way that's what these forums that I will have the opportunity to moderate are all about -- inclusion. The forums, which will also include questions posed by three journalists of color, will provide an unprecedented opportunity for diverse perspectives to be a part of the national dialogue.

The Covenant, which I had the privilege of editing, kicked off that dialogue with contributions from some of our nation's leading thinkers whose recommendations for mending our broken health care system include: Improving data collection and analysis at local, regional, state and national levels; creating universal access to quality healthcare and treatment; ensuring residents in low-income neighborhoods have decent places to engage in physical activity and purchase healthy food; strengthening regulations on hazardous toxic substances that have negative impacts on health and the environment; and, developing and implementing training for healthcare professionals to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.

The candidates may come to the table with some or none of these ideas, but at some point hopefully the words of an African proverb will ring true. "Disease and disasters come and go like rain, but health is like the sun that illuminates an entire village." In June, September and beyond, when it comes to healthcare and other critical issues I hope we can get beyond the politics to make way for the sunshine.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tavis-smil ey/moving-healthcare-beyond-_b_53673.htm l

As we start analyzing the Q2 money results, it's important we realize the playing field is not exactly equal.  This isn't because of anything unfair or biased in the system.  It is due solely to Barack Obama taking a stand no other candidate is willing to take.  

Federal regulations require you to confirm certain conditions when making a political donation.  But only Obama's campaign requires you to also confirm the following:

1. This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee.

2. This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.

Let me address a post that's bound to follow, something I've seen before to the effect that he's having lobbyists funnel money to the campaign through their wives.  In fact, that is not permitted either because Obama has this additional clause:

3. The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

Richardson and Biden also have the same careful wording about where the funds originated and their purpose, but the rest of the group, including Clinton and Edwards, simply require that "This contribution is made from my own funds, and not those of another."

Ethics and Corruption in Government was a major concern in the 2006 elections;  some polls showed it to rank as high as Iraq in terms of the issues which drove the election.  Senator Obama had such a good record in the Illinois Senate on Ethics reform that upon arriving at the US Senate he was made the point person by the Democratic caucus on this issue.  Has far outpaced the other candidates both in terms of legislation introduced and passed and in the sweeping and extensive changes he would institute as President.  He is still the only legislator running who has gone the extra step of listing the earmarks he has requested.  This is an area where the difference between the candidates is striking and significant.  I expect we will hear a lot about this in the next debate.

An article in the Huffington Post examining the campaigns of the top 6 Presidential candidates has found John McCain has the most lobbyists working on his staff or as advisers than any of his competitors. On the Republican side McCain is followed by Romney and then Giuliani.  For the Democrats, though less than McCain, Hillary Clinton has the most direct ties with the special interest community.  

Out of all 6 of the candidates, only Barack Obama has no lobbyists on the payroll or serving as key advisers.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/06/23 /mccain-has-more-lobbyists_n_53456.html

As part of his commitment to transparency in Government, Senator Barack Obama released today the list of federal funding requests he has made on behalf of his Illinois constituents. None of his other Democratic opponents for President have made their list available.  (By the way, has Hillary released her tax returns yet?).  Here's the article from Roll Call:

Roll Call | June 21, 2007
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) decision to release the earmark requests he has submitted this year has been met largely with the sound of crickets from his fellow Congressional candidates for the White House, none of whom as of press time had taken up the challenge and released their own.

On Wednesday morning Obama released a list of roughly 100 proposed earmarks that he had submitted to the Appropriations Committee this year. As would be expected, the requests are for largely benign items, ranging from funding for AIDS programs to Army Corps of Engineers projects in the Chicagoland area.

With the exception of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), all of Obama's opponents for the presidency currently serving in Congress also make requests for earmarks during the annual appropriations process.

At press time, only spokespeople for McCain and Reps. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) had responded to a request for comment from Roll Call. Spokespersons for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), as well as Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) had not returned calls for comment.

A spokeswoman for Kucinich said he would not make his requests public and would only announce those earmarks approved by the Appropriations Committee.

"We don't make those public until they've been accepted," the spokeswoman said.

Paul's office, however, did release the 65 earmark request letters the lawmaker had submitted this spring to appropriators. As with Obama, Paul's list is primarily small noncontroversial items, including transportation funds for local road projects and funds for port improvements in Galveston, Texas.

The list is available on Obama's Senate website here: http://obama.senate.gov/press/070621-oba ma_announces_3/

Imagine Dennis Kucinich doing his own viral version of Obama Girl where he appears in person and you're halfway to how embarassing this attempt is by Hillary and Bill to be hip.  A new low point for a Presidential candidate and an ex-President.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rose nbaum/bill-clinton-as-carmela-s_b_52869. html

(Sorry for the hit piece but someone's got to stand up for the integrity of viral videos.)