McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Update -- August 24, 2008

And the Winning Ticket Is -- Obama / Biden 08:

Barack Obama made an excellent choice with his selection of Delaware Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate. On Saturday I spent the day working at the Democratic booth at the Centre County Grange Fair and throughout the day people were asking if the announcement had been made. Everyone I spoke with expressed positive opinions about the choice. If this is any indication of the type of qualified people Barack Obama will surround himself with as President, we can all rest assured that our country will be headed in a better direction come January of 2009.

The daily trivia question at the Democratic booth was "What Pennsylvania town was Joe Biden's hometown?". I'm usually pretty good at trivia but Kim Bierly had to tell me the answer was Scranton PA.


Another Busy Week In The Books:

We put quite a few miles on the campaign Jeep this week. On Tuesday, we were in attendance to hear Governor Rendell speak at the CBICC luncheon in State College. It was exciting to hear Governor Rendell speak about the alternative fuels projects going on in Clearfield County. He also mentioned that the BioEnergy project is the single biggest economic development project in the history of Clearfield County at over $250 million.

On Wednesday, we traveled west in the morning to visit Venango County for several meetings, then, we headed east to State College to attend the Penn Ag Democratic picnic. Below is a picture from the Penn Ag picnic with L-R Doug Kilgore, Greg Stewart, Rep. Mike Hanna, Mark McCracken, Rep. Scott Conklin and Sec. of Agriculture Dennis Wolf.

On Friday, we attended the opening of the Clinton County Democratic Headquarters. There was a very nice crowd on hand to hear from Sen. John Wozniak, Rep. Mike Hanna, Commissioner Joel Long, Commissioner Adam Coleman and Mayor Rick Vilello.

Sharing the stage with these leaders who represent Clinton County on the state, county and local level gave me the opportunity to speak about how I want to be a close working partner with other elected officials. As a county commissioner this is something I feel has been lacking in the 5th district and is something I will change when I'm elected to Congress.

Saturday at the Centre County Grange Fair was an outstanding day that started off early with the monthly Centre County Democrats breakfast. We got the chance to speak with people from throughout the 5th district that were at the fair. Also, WPSU filmed a walk around the fairgrounds segment with me. We got a lot of great footage that will appear on a program WPSU is doing about campaigning at the fair. The highlight of the walk around segment was meeting with a lady who told me she just turned 91 and has only missed Grange Fair twice in her life.

The week ended at Treasure Lake in DuBois for an Obama supporter's picnic on Sunday afternoon. The folks at the picnic were still excited about the selection of Senator Biden and all Democrats are excited about the convention in Denver.


The Week Ahead:

On Thursday, a representative from the campaign will be attending "Obama Watch Parties" for Obama's big speech at the DNC Convention. We will be making stops in Ridgway, DuBois, and Clearfield. Come for the party and stay for the politics. We will be handing out literature and campaign signs for supporters.

The big event for the week is the WPSU Town Hall Meeting that will be filmed Tuesday at 5:45 at the Grange Fair. It will be aired on WPSU on September 4th and will probably be aired several times before Election Day. If you are at the Grange Fair on Tuesday, plan to stop by and take part in the Town Hall Meeting.


Upcoming Fundraising Event:

Keith Bierly is planning the WE'RE BACKIN' McCRACKEN GOLF CLASSIC to be held on September 22nd beginning at 8 AM at the Belles Springs Golf Course in Clinton County. The tournament will feature LPGA TOUR player Jackie Gallagher-Smith. The entry fee will be $92.00 per player, or, $300.00 for a foursome. Sponsoring a hole will also be $92.00. There will be an ongoing cookout throughout the final nine holes.

A brochure with all the details will follow in early September. The tournament is 4 weeks from tomorrow - Monday - the 22nd. Belles Springs is conveniently located less than one mile off of Interstate 80 at the Lock Haven Exit. Make you plans now to attend. Contact Keith Bierly at keithbierly@yahoo.com for more details and to make your reservation.


Yard Signs Are Now Available:

For the time being, we want to concentrate on getting the signs displayed in yards only. Closer to Election Day we will concentrate on getting signs out in public view. If you would like a sign for your yard, please email the campaign at mccrackenforcongress@verizon.net, call 765-6821 or speak with members of the campaign staff.


We look forward to seeing out on the campaign trail.

Mark B. McCracken

Your Candidate for Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Update -- August 17, 2008

Campaign Receiving Important Endorsements:

As we move into the fall campaign season, the McCracken for Congress campaign is receiving several important endorsements. Earlier this month we were honored to receive the endorsement from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. This is a key endorsement from an organization that is a leader in supporting the rights of the working people, not only in the 5th district, but in Pennsylvania and across the nation.

This week, we were notified by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, the political action committee of the National Education Association, of their decision to recommend the election of Mark B. McCracken to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional District 05 in Pennsylvania. This endorsement carries a special meaning to me in light of my prior experience as a former member of a public school board. I truly believe if our local public school systems receive the proper support from our federal government, we can have the finest education system in the world. When I speak of support, I'm not only talking adequate financial support, I also believe that elected leaders at the federal, state and local level should be strong vocal advocates for our public schools.

Throughout this campaign, I've stressed the need for a federal education policy that includes adequate funding while letting standards and policies to officials at the state and local levels. As a person with 10 years experience serving on a local school board, I realize that parents, administrators, teachers and local leaders know what is best for their children. Unnecessary mandates from the federal government in Washington only complicate matters.


Updates Coming to McCracken for Congress Webpage:

Later this week we will be unveiling some changes and updates to the McCracken for Congress webpage -- www.mccrackenforcongress.com.

The big change will be with the issues section. As we've traveled throughout the 5th district meeting with people and discussing the issues and problems, we can now better define what the important issues are on the minds of the citizens in the district. From my position as the candidate, I've spent the last 8 months listening and learning from the people that I hope to represent in the United States Congress. While there are many of the issues I was already aware of as a county commissioner, there were issues I had to learn more about from the citizens of the 5th district.

As we move into the next phase of the campaign, I want to give voters a better outline of the issues and problems they have discussed with me and provide them with specific ideas and solutions they can consider before making their decision on November 4th.


Keeping Up a Hectic Pace:

We were very busy again this week traveling throughout the 5th district meeting people and listening to their concerns.

On Monday we spent the evening working in the Democratic booth at the McKean County Fair. Tuesday took us to State College for meetings with campaign supporters. Also on Tuesday, Victor Ordonez represented the campaign at an event near St. Marys with the Elk County Farm Bureau.

Thursday was an important day in Clearfield County featuring a visit by Gov. Ed Rendell who announced several million dollars in funding for important projects in Clearfield County. Funding announcements were made for the expansion of Paris Company in DuBois creating 40 new jobs, expansion of the Clearfield YMCA, a river walk project in Clearfield Borough and the state's investment to rebuild several deficient bridges in Clearfield County.

On Thursday evening the campaign headed to Janesville in southeastern Clearfield County to appear at the annual Bud George Day picnic. It was a great honor be on the speaking program with Gov. Rendell, State Rep. Bud George, Auditor General Jack Wagner, candidate for Attorney General John Morganelli, candidate for Treasurer Rob McCord and fellow congressional candidate from the 9th district Tony Barr.

On Friday, we were in the DuBois area for a fundraiser organized by Henry and Molly Guthrie. We had a nice turnout for the event with special guests State Rep. Scott Conklin and State Rep. Dan Surra on hand.

Kelly and I want to thank Henry and Molly for organizing the event and also thank the people who did the work getting the site ready and cooking the food. We closed out the week on Saturday with a trip to Emporium for a car show and downtown event sponsored by the Emporium Chamber of Commerce. Later, it was on to Smethport for another appearance at the McKean County Fair.


Plans for the Coming Week:

We'll be spending quite a bit of time in Centre County this week.

Tuesday we will be joining members of the Centre County Democratic Committee to attend Gov. Rendell's appearance at the CBICC luncheon. Wednesday we will be traveling to Venango county for several meetings in the morning and then back to Centre County later in the day to attend the Penn Ag Democratic Picnic held in conjunction with Ag Progress Days. Friday we will be in attendance for the opening of the Democratic Campaign Headquarters in Clinton County. Finally, on Saturday, we will start out a busy day at the Centre County Democratic breakfast followed by "Mark McCracken Day" in the Democratic booth at the Grange Fair in Centre Hall.

I look forward to meeting with everyone at the Grange Fair on Saturday.


FINAL THOUGHT -- Momentum is Building:

Right after winning the primary election in April, I made a statement when asked by a reporter "Mr. McCracken, can you actually win this race?" My response was "We can and we will" which I posted on our campaign blog site. I was encouraged on Monday evening when speaking with a gentleman at the McKean County Fair who made reference to my response. He was asking me how the campaign was going and I gave him a very positive report about the progress we are making. What was so encouraging was when he told me -- "Mark, remember what you said on your blog -- We can and we will…? Just keep up the hard work and you can and you will win the seat."


We'll see you on the campaign trail and with your help, we can and we will win this race!


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Update -- August 10, 2008

Drill Here, Drill Now -- But What Are The Oil Companies Planning?

Nationally, Drill Here, Drill Now seems to be the only issue where Republicans are gaining any traction with voters during 2008. For those who don’t know, Drill Here, Drill Now started on the website www.americansolutions.com. A couple of mouse clicks on the American Solutions website will take you to a screen with friendly welcome from none other than former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Based on where this started, skeptics can easily surmise that Drill Here, Drill Now is nothing more than a political ploy to distract voters from real issues of the 2008 election. There are many questions about what the oil companies will do if Drill Here, Drill Now actually brings policy changes in Washington. Do oil companies really want to Drill Here, Drill Now and put more oil on the open market, causing oil prices to go down thus decreasing their record profits? Could the oil companies and the politicians that are friendly with them have other motives in mind beyond providing less expensive gas at the pumps?

Realize this, there is nothing about Drill Here, Drill Now that will mandate oil companies to start drilling to put more oil on the market. In fact, all that President Bush and those supporting Drill Here, Drill Now will do is lift long standing moratoriums that have been placed on offshore drilling and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Once the moratoriums are lifted, oil companies can start acquiring leases that will allow them to drill in areas that have been off limits, but not mandate them to do so. In fact, under our market driven economy, the oil companies can, and likely will, sit on the leases until prices are higher and they can make bigger profits.

People throughout the 5th District have been asking where I stand on Drill Here, Drill Now. My answer is this: I can support drilling domestic oil reserves if it is needed to stabilize the price of oil for consumers in the United States or if conditions around the world would cause a shortage in oil supplies. However, if we are going to make leases available for the oil reserves offshore or in ANWR, the leases must have language to mandate that oil companies actually put the oil on the market for consumers in the United States. I also believe we must address the issue of the 68 million acres oil companies currently have available for domestic drilling but have yet to tap. If we need to Drill Here, Drill Now, then it must be done to benefit the people by providing affordable gas and heating oil not as a way to make larger profits for the oil companies.

However, Drill Here, Drill Now remains a short term solution at best. I still believe the only long term solution is a real national energy policy that will invest in domestically produced alternative fuel solutions.


Sad News Out of Clarion County -- Sealy Closing Strattanville Plant

I was very sorry to read in the Tri-County Sunday that Sealy Corporation has decided to close their plant in Strattanville, Clarion County. The plant, which has been in operation since 1981, will leave 114 workers without jobs when the plant ceases operations in late October. Sadly, this is the hard truth of how the failing national economy can hit close to home. We’ll keep the 114 people affected by the closing of the Sealy plant and their families in our thoughts and prayers.


The Week In Review:

This week we attended fairs in Clinton, Elk, Jefferson (Sykesville), Warren and Venango counties and met with the Sierra Club in State College. We also paid a visit and met with some people at the Centre County HQ on Thursday. Kelly, Amanda and I missed today's Potter / Cameron County Democratic Picnic because the location was changed from the Austin Dam Memorial Park to a location in Coudersport. I had the event on my schedule since May at the original location. We did make a stop in Emporium for lunch.

At the Warren County Fair

At the Venango County 4H Fair

Schedule for the Week:

Monday: McKean County Fair -- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Wednesday: Emporium / Cameron County -- Attending Hilliard for Senate Event -- 6:00 PM

Thursday: Bud George Day Picnic -- Clearfield County -- 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM

NOTE - Governor Ed Rendell and Auditor General Jack Wagner to attend.

Friday: McCracken for Congress Fundraiser -- DuBois Lions Club Sky Lodge 6 PM

Tickets are available for $20 - Please email mccrackenforcongress@verizon.net.

Saturday: Car Show -- Cameron County early afternoon -- McKean County Fair evening.


Please feel free to share your thoughts with us. We will continue to travel this district and greet as many people as possible.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress

McCracken for Congress -- Weekly Update -- August 3, 2008

White House Announces Bush Administration to Leave a Record Budget Deficit of $482 Billion.


Since January when we began our campaign for the 5th District seat in the US Congress, I've consistently stressed that my biggest concern is the fiscal mess that has happened in Washington. This week, White House officials admitted the Bush administration would leave office in January 2009 with a record budget deficit sitting on the books of $482 BILLION. This record $482 billion deficit is coupled with a record debt of $9.5 trillion.

On January 20th, 2001, when George W. Bush was sworn in to his first term in office and the Republican Party had control of both houses of Congress, the United States government had a record budget surplus, our economy was in a period of record expansion and the national debt was being paid down. In fact, if the Bush administration would have continued the fiscally responsible polices from the 90's by continuing to grow the surplus and pay down the debt, the federal debt could have been retired by 2013.

It is all fantasy now thanks to the irresponsible fiscal policies of the last 8 years, but, imagine what we could have done in the United States after the debt was paid off in 2013. Our country would have had a surplus of funds that we could have invested in a complete rebuild of our infrastructure to make it ready for the next century, We could have made a real effort at addressing the health care crisis because funds would have been available. We could have invested in updating and upgrading our military and providing for our veterans. We could have had a real investment to fix our public education system. All these possibilities - GONE.

In the 90's, difficult decisions were made and sound fiscal policies were put in place by the federal government. These decisions were made in a bipartisan manner with a Democratic administration in the White House and the Republicans in control of Congress the second half of the decade. Rather than sticking with sound logic in support of a fiscally strong government, Republicans in Congress joined with George W. Bush in the early days of his administration and decided that short term gratification from across the board tax cuts, with the overwhelming majority directed towards the top 2% income levels, was more important than the long term fiscal and financial security of the federal government.

In the 5th District race, voters will have the decision to choose between more of the same fiscal irresponsibility as my opponent continues to voice his strong support for the Bush tax cuts. Or, they can choose something better because I believe we must show the courage and responsibility to clean up this fiscal mess once and for all. It won't be easy in the short run, but, if we make the commitment to stick to strong fiscal policies, we can finally invest in the things we need to in order to make the lives of our citizens better and our country more secure.


Campaign Receives Endorsement from Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:

I am pleased and excited to announce that our campaign has received a letter from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO endorsing my candidacy. I am truly honored that we have received this important endorsement as it represents support from working men and women, not only in the 5th district, but from throughout Pennsylvania working for our cause.

In announcing the list of endorsed candidates in a press release posted on Yahoo.com, Bill George, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO said "These candidates have proven themselves to be the friends and supporters of working families. They understand that workers are struggling in this economy with stagnant wages, soaring prices for health care, gas and food. They advocate and support an agenda that mirrors the priorities of the labor movement. We are confident that they will put this country back on track toward prosperity and opportunity for all not the few.".

The letter from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO concluded with the positive exclamation "Congratulations on Labor's endorsement! On to Victory!".


Major Fundraising Event for DuBois area / Elk and Jefferson Counties:

Campaign Chairman Henry Guthrie and his wife Molly have finalized plans for a McCracken for Congress fundraising event to be held Friday August 15th at the Lion's Club Sky Lodge in DuBois. This is going to be a fun filled evening with entertainment from the Moore Brother's Band and a Chicken BBQ dinner. We are inviting several local and state level elected officials. Tickets for the event are $20. We are also looking for sponsor level support for the event for a donation of $150 or more. Please contact Henry or Molly at 371-1892 or 577-2398 for ticket information. Also we would greatly appreciate it if you could take 10 or more tickets and sell them.


Recap of the Past Week:

The majority of the past week was spent working close to home at the Clearfield County Fair. The response from people visiting the Democratic booth was tremendous. I was also encouraged by the positive comments and remarks that we received from people interested in the Obama campaign. I have to recognize the people who put in the time and effort to make the booth available for the week. Specific recognition goes to County Chair John Sughrue, Sue Lemmo and Terry Noble for leading the effort over the past months to have the booth. Also, Patrick Yingling was at the booth several nights, County Controller Claudia Read worked for many weeks to schedule people to work the booth and Rodger Baumgardner was on hand every evening to make sure the booth was properly secured at closing time.

Tuesday evening I made a trip to Potter County to spend the evening working with County Chair Norma Nichols in the Democratic booth at the Potter County Fair. It was a very positive visit and I made contact with many voters from Potter, McKean and Tioga counties.

On Friday evening, I traveled to St. Marys for the Elk County Democratic Picnic. Media Advisor Diane Kesner traveled with me to shoot some footage that we will use later in commercials for the campaign. The event had a great turnout with the highlight of the evening coming from a rousing speech given by Rep. Dan Surra who talked about the problems facing our region, state and country. Rep. Surra made it clear that this is a key election in the history of our country and he called on everyone to get involved to elect the candidates who will work to solve the problems. State senate candidate Don Hilliard also gave a tremendous speech addressing the important issues in his race.

On Saturday, Kelly, Amanda and I made a trip to Juniata County to appear in the parade for the Fayette carnival in McAlisterville. While this was a small parade, it was an important event for the campaign. Fayette Township is the only municipality in Juniata County that is part of the 5th District. Juniata County Commissioner Teresa O'Neal has been working with me to make sure our campaign has a presence in Juniata County. Although Juniata County only has a very small portion in the 5th District, it is important to me that we include them on our campaign schedule.


Scheduled Events for the Upcoming Week:

Monday -- Clinton County Fair -- 6 PM

Tuesday -- Meeting with Sierra Club -- State College

Wednesday -- Elk County Fair -- 6 PM

Thursday -- Sykesville Fair -- 6 PM

Friday -- Tentative -- Venango Co. Fair

Saturday -- Multiple Events Subject to Change -- Clinton County Fair Parade / McKean Co. Fair / Warren Co. Fair

Sunday -- Potter / Cameron County Joint Democratic Picnic -- Austin PA


We look forward to taking our positive message to each of the 17 counties in this district.


Mark B. McCracken
Your Candidate for Congress