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WASHINGTON, July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being released by the Republican National Committee:
(LOGO: )
Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget, Which Would Raise Tax Rates For Americans Earning $32,000 Or More:
Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44- 1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea)
The Democrats’ Budget Would Raise taxes On Individuals Earning $32,000 Or More. “Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.” (Andrew Taylor, “Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,” The Associated Press, 3/13/08)
The Budget Also Allows “More Than 20 Million Middle-Class Taxpayers To Be Hit By The Alternative Minimum Tax” After Next Year. “The Senate Wednesday approved a $3.1 trillion election-year Democratic budget blueprint that leaves to the next president the task of sorting out a host of fiscal problems. … It also manages to predict small budget surpluses by 2012, but only by permitting several of President Bush’s tax cuts to expire as scheduled at the end of 2010 and by allowing more than 20 million middle-class taxpayers to be hit by the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, after next year.”(Andrew Taylor, “Senate Approves Stand-Pat Democratic Budget Plan,” The Associated Press, 6/4/08)
Yesterday, Obama And His Top Economic Adviser Downplayed The Significance Of His Budget Votes To Raise taxes On Americans Earning $32,000 Or More:
Yesterday, Obama Downplayed His Vote To Raise taxes On Working Americans. Obama: “The budget resolutions are not tax votes. They are, and everyone in Washington knows this, the budget process screwy as it is in Washington, not one that by the way I designed, and frankly I think has to be fundamentally reformed. The budget resolution is to give some parameters in terms of what in fact, what the budget is going to look like in the upcoming year, but it does not purport to actually be a tax bill and every observer who looks at this has said that this is a phony issue on the part of the McCain campaign.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Media Availability, St. Louis, MO, 7/7/08)
Click Here To Watch Obama Downplay His Vote To Raise taxes ()
Obama’s Economic Adviser Jason Furman Called Barack Obama’s Votes To Raise taxes On Those Earning As Little As $32,000 Just “Some Senate Vote.” Furman: “This is a campaign that had a conference call today to unveil their major new economic plan - just a repackaging of what they had before - and all they wanted to talk about was some Senate vote of Barack Obama. Why don’t we have a real debate about what they’re campaign is proposing, which is tax cuts for corporations, and you hope some of them trickle down, and what Barack Obama’s proposing, which is tax cuts for middle class families, zero capital gains for start up and small businesses, tax cuts to help families save and invest and accumulate wealth and really live out the American dream. That’s what this election is about, these two economic philosophies, not playing games with votes, and having your campaign conference call, not even discuss your own economic plan.” (MSNBC’s “MSNBC News Live,” 7/7/08)
Click Here To Watch Jason Furman Call Obama’s Budget Votes Just “Some Senate Vote” ()
FLASHBACK: In March And June Obama Didn’t Think It Was Just “Some Senate Vote”; He Issued Press Releases Praising The “Significant Progress” And “Change” In The Legislation:
In June 2008, Obama Said “The Senate Voted To Stand Up For Working Families In Illinois And Throughout The Nation” By Passing The Democrats’ Final Budget Resolution. Obama: “Today the Senate voted to stand up for working families in Illinois and throughout the nation by rejecting the failed policies of the Bush Administration and moving our country back on track to fiscal discipline. … Our country needs change, and this budget is an important step in the right direction. I commend House and Senate leaders for working together to move this legislation through Congress.”(Sen. Barack Obama, “Statement Of Senator Barack Obama On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget Resolution,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 6/4/08)
– Obama Was “Particularly Pleased” The Budget Included One Of His Amendments. Obama: “I am particularly pleased that the budget includes an amendment I offered to ensure sufficient funds to expedite review of cases where service members may have been erroneously discharged as a result of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Statement Of Senator Barack Obama On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget Resolution,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 6/4/08)
In March 2008, Obama Hailed His Vote For The Budget As Making “Significant Progress In Getting Our Nation’s Priorities Back On Track.” Obama: “The budget passed by the Senate tonight makes significant progress in getting our nation’s priorities back on track…. We need change in this country, and this budget is an important step in helping bring it about.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Obama Statement On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 3/14/08)
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LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Affinity Media International Corp. (BULLETIN BOARD: AFMI.OB) (”Affinity”), a special purpose acquisition company that previously announced an agreement to acquire Hotels At Home Inc. (”Hotels”), announced today that it is postponing the record date of April 29, 2008, with respect to Affinity’s special meeting of stockholders to be held on May 28, 2008 (the “Meeting”), to a date yet to be determined.Representatives of Affinity and Hotels are currently in negotiations with respect to a possible amendment to the agreement. Once negotiations have concluded, Affinity intends to set a new record date with respect to the Meeting.About Affinity Media International Corp.Affinity Media International Corp. (”Affinity Media”) is a publicly traded acquisition corporation focused solely on acquiring businesses in the publishing industry. Affinity Media raised gross proceeds of approximately $18.9 million through its IPO completed in June 2006 led by Maxim Group LLC. For more information please visit .About Hotels At Home, Inc.Hotels At Home, Inc. (”Hotels At Home”) is an industry leading publisher of in-room retail catalogs and hotel-branded e-commerce Web sites for luxury hotels and resorts worldwide. Founded in 2000, Hotels At Home has established partnerships with many of the world’s leading hotel brands. Hotels At Home’s programs are available in approximately 2,400 properties representing over 500,000 rooms worldwide. Hotels At Home is headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, and maintains international operations in Paris, France, Toronto, Canada and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For more information please visit .Important Additional Information has been and will be filed with the SECIn connection with the proposed merger, Affinity filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (”SEC”) on February 14, 2008 for its shareholders’ meeting. Before making any voting decision, Affinity’s shareholders are urged to read the preliminary proxy statement, and the definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC, regarding the merger carefully in its entirety because it contains important information about the proposed transaction. Affinity’s shareholders and other interested parties may also obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC’s website at . Affinity’s shareholders and other interested parties may also obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other relevant documents by directing such request to 1850 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 470, Los Angeles, California, 90025. Affinity and its directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Affinity’s shareholders with respect to the merger.Forward Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about Affinity Media, Hotels At Home and their combined business after completion of the proposed transaction. Forward-looking statements are based largely on expectations and projections about future events and future trends and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Affinity Media’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and you should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual performance to differ from these forward-looking statements include the risks and uncertainties disclosed in Affinity Media’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and neither Affinity Media nor Hotels At Home assumes any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof. Affinity Media International Corp.

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ARGONNE, Ill., April 21 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory today celebrated the dedication of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) during a ceremony attended by key federal, state and local officials.The ALCF is a leadership-class computing facility that enables the research and development community to make innovative and high-impact science and engineering breakthroughs. Through the ALCF, researchers conduct computationally intensive projects on the largest possible scale. Argonne operates the ALCF for the DOE Office of Science as part of the larger DOE Leadership Computing Facility strategy. DOE leads the world in providing the most capable civilian supercomputers for science.”I am delighted to see this realization of our vision to bring the power of the Department’s high performance computing to open scientific research,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Dr. Raymond L. Orbach. “This facility will not only strengthen our scientific capability but also advance the competitiveness of the region and our nation. The early results span the gamut from astrophysics to Parkinson’s research, and are exciting examples of what’s to come.”Dr. Orbach, Dr. Patricia Dehmer, DOE Office of Science Deputy Director for Science Programs, and Dr. Michael Strayer, DOE Associate Director of Science for Advanced Scientific Computing Research, attended the ALCF dedication, along with Congresswoman Judy Biggert.DOE makes the computing power of the ALCF available to a highly select group of researchers at publicly and privately held research organizations, universities and industrial concerns in the United States and overseas. Major ALCF projects are chosen by DOE through a competitive peer review program known as Innovative and Novel Computational Impact on Theory and Experiment (INCITE).Earlier this year, DOE announced that 20 INCITE projects were awarded 111 million hours of computing time at the ALCF. The diverse array of awards includes projects led by Igor Tsigelny, San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego, to model the molecular basis of Parkinson’s disease; William Tang, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, to conduct high-resolution global simulations of plasma microturbulence; and Jeffrey Fox, Gene Network Sciences, to simulate potentially dangerous rhythm disorders of the heart that will provide greater insight into these disorders and ideas for prevention and treatment. Academic institutions, including the University of Chicago, UC Davis and Northwestern University, and large public companies such as Proctor & Gamble and Pratt & Whitney, also received computing time at the ALCF through INCITE.Argonne has been a leading force in high-performance computers. Two years prior to the establishment of the ALCF in 2006, Argonne and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory began working closely with IBM to develop a series of computing systems based on IBM’s Blue Gene platform. Argonne and IBM jointly sponsor the international Blue Gene Consortium to share expertise and software for the IBM Blue Gene family of computers.Since 2005, Argonne has taken delivery of a Blue Gene/L and Blue Gene/P that have a combined performance capability of 556 teraflops per second. Key strengths include a low-power system-on-a-chip architecture that dramatically improves reliability and power efficiency. The Blue Gene systems also feature a scalable communications fabric that enables science applications to spend more time computing and less time moving data between CPUs. Together with DOE’s other Leadership Computing Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which has deployed a large Cray supercomputer, computational scientists have platforms that provide capabilities for breakthrough science.”The ALCF has tremendous computing ability, making it one of the country’s preeminent computing facilities,” said Argonne Director Robert Rosner. “The research results generated by the ALCF will be used to develop technologies beneficial to the U.S. economy and address issues that range from the environment and clean and efficient energy to climate change and healthcare.”DOE selected a team composed of Argonne, PNNL and ORNL in 2004 to develop the DOE Office of Science (SC) Leadership Computing Facilities after a competitive peer review of four proposals. PNNL operates the Molecular Science Computing Facility, and LBNL runs the National Energy Research Science Computing Center. DOE SC’s computational capabilities are expected to quadruple the current INCITE award allocations to nearly a billion processor hours in 2009.About ArgonneArgonne National Laboratory brings the world’s brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC () for the U.S. Department of Energy’s () Office of Science (). Argonne National Laboratory

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LONDON, April 9 /PRNewswire/ — Rather than a real marketing recession new research from creativebrief, the world’s only interactive database for the marketing services industry, shows the question is far more about how marketing will change, not contract. The latest evidence from the USA (Forbes, Reason Inc) and various UK reports from the IPA, Campaign magazine, Media Week and others all point to shifting sands in spend rather than any downturn.Martin Sorrell of WPP, has published his latest forecast, wrapped up in his ‘quadrennial event’ theory, that again points to 3.9ACIORFIPROCENTE increase in spend 2008, but that newspaper advertising revenue dropping by a massive 9.4ACIORFIPROCENTE in USA, will follow in UK.Paul Duncanson, MD of creativebrief, says: “This is a view creativebrief supports from our research amongst key UK based advertisers (Jan - Mar 2008). Year on year few are considering reductions in spend but calling for efficiencies in spend, focusing on measurable delivery. The results are already here to see in the continued boom in the online channel and a 10ACIORFIPROCENTE reduction in forecast TV revenue for May alone (media forecasts).”As advertisers seek to maximise returns, they turn to review their marketing channel strategies and then their suppliers. creativebrief is beginning to see the reticence and stability of the first quarter 2008 turn to more positive action by companies as they seek advice about where to spend their budgets with most effectively in this tighter economic environment.”All is not gloom on the broader economic front, and this is why we are not yet seeing massive cuts in marketing spend’, continues Paul Duncanson. ‘Latest HM Treasury forecasts (industry averaged) still show 2008 GDP growth of 1.8ACIORFIPROCENTE with inflation at 2.7ACIORFIPROCENTE and growth increasing in 2009 to 1.9ACIORFIPROCENTE whilst inflation reduces further to 2.4ACIORFIPROCENTE. Set this against falling unemployment statistics in the UK, at least to date and the outlook remains positive.”The key message from this first stage of findings from creativebrief’s clients is cautiously encouraging. Perhaps the lessons that are delivered through past experience (for example the recent IPA study based on 880 IPA effectiveness case studies) that reduction in marketing spends in economic downturns is self-defeating has been learned, at least by the more growth orientated brands.BackgroundThe first service of its kind, creativebrief connects buyers and sellers of marketing services (including advertising, creative, media and PR services). It utilises the latest and best digital technology, industry knowledge, research expertise and extensive database to provide a unique search and selection service for clients looking to find the best marketing services for their business.Service delivery is quick, confidential and totally objective covering every marketing sector, type and in every part of the world. creativebrief uniquely monitors new and emerging talent providing clients with up to date information on the fast changing supply market.The company was launched in UK in October 2002 by founder Tom Holmes and since this time has built up a client list of some of the leading international brands and agencies. The team has managed agency reviews in all four corners of the globe and across all major marketing sectors and for many different industries. Holmes says “our goal is to be the search engine, networking and procurement tool for the marketing industry”.The company remains privately owned and funded and hence totally objective and independent. For more information visit For more information please contact Paul Duncanson 44(0)20-7478-8200creativebrief UK Limited

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NEW YORK, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ — ImpreMedia and The McClatchy Company, both leaders of Hispanic print and online news and information, today announced a content-sharing agreement for McClatchy’s Spanish-language publications. The agreement creates the largest Spanish-language bank of high quality original content in the U.S.(Logo: )The agreement allows both companies to share their extensive national network of publications located in 9 of the top 10 Hispanic markets. The shared material from publications such as McClatchy’s El Nuevo Herald and impreMedia’s La Opinion, El Diario La Prensa, Hoy Nueva York, El Mensajero, La Raza, La Prensa Central Florida and Rumbo will center on sports and entertainment, breaking news, select sections and special reports across print and web platforms.”We are very pleased to partner with McClatchy’s Spanish language publications, such as El Nuevo Herald, in this content sharing agreement. Both impreMedia and McClatchy’s editorial teams have been widely recognized for producing the highest quality news and information and this partnership allows us to better serve audiences across the country,” said Monica Lozano, Senior Vice President of Newspapers and Publisher of La Opinion.The content sharing agreement includes impreMedia’s publications that cover 7 of the top Hispanic markets and McClatchy’s El Nuevo Herald in South Florida, Vida en el Valle in the California Central Valley and La Estrella in Dallas/Fort Worth.ImpreMedia and McClatchy are synonymous with excellent reporting and relevant content. Both companies have awarding-winning staffs of writers and columnists known locally and throughout the country.”Like impreMedia, McClatchy has long recognized the importance of providing quality public service journalism to the widest possible audience, and in many of our communities that means Spanish-language and bilingual publications,” said Howard Weaver, vice president, news at McClatchy. “Sharing with other top Spanish-language publications is a chance to improve our service and also share our content with many thousands of new readers in new markets. It’s a clear win all around.”ImpreMedia and McClatchy newspaper networks currently reach 9 of the top 10 Hispanic markets. For impreMedia they are: El Diario La Prensa and Hoy Nueva York in New York, El Mensajero in the San Francisco Bay Area, La Opinion in Los Angeles, La Raza in Chicago, La Prensa in Orlando and Tampa, Rumbo in Houston, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. ImpreMedia’s nationally distributed, general interest magazine, Vista, extends its reach to a total 17 markets representing 66ACIORFIPROCENTE of the U.S. Hispanic population. McClatchy’s largest-reaching Hispanic publications include El Nuevo Herald in South Florida, Vida en el Valle in the California Central Valley and La Estrella in Dallas/Fort Worth.About impreMedia:ImpreMedia is the No. 1 Hispanic news and information company in the United States in online and print. ImpreMedia is also the nation’s largest Hispanic newspaper publisher with publications reaching 17 markets representing 66ACIORFIPROCENTE of the U.S. Hispanic population. For more information, visit our website at: . ImpreMedia

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NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ — As the leading distributor of market intelligence, MarketResearch.com is pleased to announce a business partnership with CCM International Limited which allows for the marketing and distribution of CCM’s proprietary market analyses through the MarketResearch.com website.The new relationship offers business professionals throughout the world easy access to complete product descriptions and tables of contents from research publications authored by CCM. At the same time, visitors to the MarketResearch.com website have the ability to purchase the material directly through MarketResearch.com’s secure server.”Our ability to join hands with exceptional research publishers such as CCM allows us to not only broaden the scope of research available in the Chinese & Asia Pacific market of materials-based chemicals, it also allows business professionals throughout the world easier access to reports of great value that they may have previously been unaware of,” notes Kelly M. Carlson, Vice President, Publisher Relations and Business Development of MarketResearch.com.CCM’s service covers fine chemicals, polymers, crop protection, packaging, etc., ranging from market reports, newsletters, conferences and seminars, to databases. CCM has particular expertise in competitiveness studies, benchmarking, future forecasts, trade analysis and end use research.”Teaming up with MarketResearch.com is an exceptional opportunity for us as our product line is an excellent fit for this resource avenue,” according to Mr. Wu Zhonghui, CEO of CCM International Limited. “We believe that the increased exposure our products will receive through MarketResearch.com’s web traffic and sales force will have a positive impact on our business as our reports make it into the hands of a wider global audience.”For further information about CCM reports, visit .About MarketResearch.comMarketResearch.com is the leading provider of global market intelligence products and services. With over 100,000 research reports from more than 500 top consulting and advisory firms, MarketResearch.com offers instant online access to the world’s most extensive database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. For more information, call Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014 or visit .About CCM InternationalCCM International Limited (China Chemicals Market), established on base of Guangzhou CCM Chemicals Co., Ltd., is an international consulting company focusing on material-based chemicals in China and Asia Pacific Rim. Research covers crop protection, food/feed ingredients, fine chemicals, fertilizers, polymers, forest chemicals, corn products, pigments & inks, printing, packaging, and more. MarketResearch.com

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