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JOHN MCCAIN: PROMISES CHANGE; DELIVERS INACTION

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           CONTACT:  Julie Vezinot

JOHN MCCAIN: PROMISES CHANGE; DELIVERS INACTION

BATON ROUGE - John McCain began his “Take Action Tour” in New Orleans earlier today by making a quick stop in the 9^th Ward and promised the people of this ravaged area he would work hard to build back their community.

This is the same John McCain who voted against $109 billion in supplemental emergency funding in 2006; voted against granting access to Medicaid for Hurricane Katrina victims for up to five months and opposed granting financial relief to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

As these hurricane victims, along with the rest of Louisiana struggle in this economic “recession” it is John McCain who has said he thinks that a lot of Americans’ economical problems are “psychological” and believed his proposed “gas tax holiday” would be the psychological boost Americans needed to survive this crisis.

The last thing Louisiana needs right now is a president who is out of touch with the needs of this state and the country. McCain has admitted he doesn’t understand the economy, wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years and has denied hurricane relief to this ravaged state.

Chris Whittington, Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman, said that McCain’s comments today and his lack of commitment to change is completely wrong for Louisiana and the United States and that both Democratic presidential candidates have a clear understanding of the needs of Americans and offer real change.

“What we need in a president is someone who understands the complex problems facing our economy, someone with a plan that doesn’t require our troops to remain in Iraq for 100 years and a plan for health care that is accessible and affordable to all Americans. John McCain offers nothing more than four more years of failed Bush policies and inaction.”

“The people of Louisiana have suffered long enough under the Bush Administration. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama offer detailed economic plans, have specific plans to withdraw from Iraq and are committed to doing something about gas prices of over $3 a gallon, which in turn has raised food prices eating away at Louisianans wallets,” Whittington said.

FACTS:

• The average price of gasoline in Louisiana on April 24, 2008, was $3.46 a gallon for regular and $4.09 a gallon for diesel – up dramatically from the average of $2.77 a gallon for regular and $2.84 a gallon for diesel just a year earlier. [AAA web site]

• McCain, who opposed Hurricane Katrina relief legislation, welcomed the endorsement of Texas televangelist John Hagee, who has said that Katrina was “the judgment of God” on Gulf Coast sinners. McCain has refused to say whether he agrees with Hagee’s statement.

• Louisiana has over 820,000 uninsured residents – 20 percent of Louisianans living without health insurance, yet John McCain’s campaign offers no focus on reducing this number and has no idea how many will actually benefit from his coverage plan.

“John McCain is clearly out of touch with the needs of Louisiana and its values,” Whittington said. “We need a president who is a leader that can deliver change and a prosperous future. John McCain is not that man and a vote for him will only deliver four more years of the same.”

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