Statement of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer on the McCain Acceptance Speech

Statement of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer on the McCain Acceptance Speech

For Immediate Release
September 5, 2008

Last night at the Republican National Convention, John McCain used the word "fight" more than 40 times in his speech.

In the 16 years that we have served together in the Senate, I have seen John McCain fight.

I have seen him fight against raising the federal minimum wage 14 times.

I have seen him fight against making sure that women earn equal pay for equal work.

I have seen him fight against a women's right to choose so consistently that he received a zero percent vote rating from pro-choice organizations.

I have seen him fight against helping families gain access to birth control.

I have seen him fight against Social Security, even going so far as to call its current funding system "an absolute disgrace."

And I saw him fight against the new GI Bill of Rights until it became politically untenable for him to do so.

John McCain voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time in 2007 and 100 percent of the time in 2008 -- that's no maverick.

We do have two real fighters for change in this election -- their names are Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
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Statement of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer on the Palin Acceptance Speech

For Immediate Release
September 4, 2008

Last night, Sarah Palin proved that she can throw a punch -- one packed with sarcasm to divert attention from her lack of experience.

Palin didn't even attempt to make the case to the American people that she is ready to be Vice President or President, should that become necessary.

Sarah Palin is a great candidate for the far right, but after examining her slim record in office, I cannot imagine mainstream Americans would support a Vice Presidential nominee with such extreme views.

Palin would criminalize abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, and does not believe insurance companies should cover birth control.

Palin remains unconvinced that human activity is the cause of global warming, even though the world’s leading scientists unequivocally agree that it is.

Palin has a one-dimensional answer to our energy crisis - the Exxon policy of giving more leases to Big Oil. She has no concern about our thriving coastal, tourism-based economy and no requirement that they drill in the millions of acres where they already hold undeveloped leases.

Sarah Palin is a candidate who is extreme, not mainstream.

In addition, Palin is under investigation by her state legislature for abusing her executive power and when she was mayor, she left the people of Wasilla in debt.

The choice of Sarah Palin by John McCain shows a real lack of judgment.
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