Democracy Now! Thursday, August 28, 2008

Today's Headlines

• Democrats Nominate Obama as Presidential Candidate
• Biden Accepts VP Bid
• Clinton Backs Obama, Kerry Slams McCain
• McCain Said to Have Chosen Running Mate
• Obama Campaign Redacted Kucinich Line on Jailing GOPers
• Iraq Vets Lead Antiwar March to Dem. Convention
• Journalist Arrested Covering Meeting of Dems, Donors
• US Asked Iraq to Accept Troops Until 2015
• US to Hand Over Control of Anbar Province
• US Secretly Transferring Iraq, Afghan Prisoners to Mideast Allies
• Families of Slain Nepalese Workers Sue KBR for Human Trafficking
• Survey: Contractors Comprise 27% of US Intelligence Employees
• US Threatens UK on Disclosing Gitmo Docs
• Pakistan Reinstates 8 Sacked Judges
• U. of Chicago Faculty Protest Plans for Milton Friedman Institute
• Exxon Mobil to Pay Fraction of Initial Damages in 1989 Oil Spill
• Lesbian Activist Del Martin Dies at 87

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  In Historic Move, Democrats Nominate Obama as Presidential Nominee

  The formal nomination makes Barack Obama the first African American major party candidate in US history. The historic moment came after Senator Hillary Clinton walked onto the floor of the convention hall and asked Democratic delegates to suspend their count and approve Obama’s nomination by acclamation. [includes rush transcript]

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  Actor, Activist Danny Glover on Challenges for Popular Movements in an Historic Election Year

  Actor, filmmaker and a well-known political activist Danny Glover talks about the challenges ahead for activists, regardless of who wins the White House this November. And on the eve of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Glover talks about “Trouble the Water”, a new documentary he executive-produced.

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  New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Walks Out of Screening of Katrina Documentary "Trouble the Water"

  Five minutes into a screening of the new documentary “Trouble the Water”, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin walked out of the theater. Democracy Now! producer Anjali Kamat reports.

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  EXCLUSIVE: House Oversight Chair Henry Waxman Calls for Cancellation of Blackwater's Contract in Iraq

  In an exclusive interview with Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill, Congressman Henry Waxman, chair of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, calls on Sen. Barack Obama to cancel the private military firm Blackwater’s Iraq contract if Obama is elected president. Serious questions remain about what Obama will do with this massive private shadow army in Iraq. [includes rush transcript]

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  Biden Accepts Democratic VP Nomination

  Sen. Joseph Biden headlined the third night at the convention as he accepted the vice-presidential nomination. Biden accepted the nomination with a speech that linked Republican John McCain to the foreign policies of President Bush. We play highlights of his address. [includes rush transcript]

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  Ralph Nader on the Democrats' Corporate Ties, the Silencing of Third Parties, and Why Biden is the "MasterCard Senator"

  While Sen. Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last night, he was not the only presidential contender in town. Independent candidate Ralph Nader held a rally Wednesday at the University of Denver calling for an end to the corporate control over the presidential debates. When Obama selected Joe Biden to be his running mate, Nader dubbed Biden the “MasterCard Senator” because of his close ties to the credit card industry. [includes rush transcript–partial]

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  Iraq Veterans Against the War Lead Thousands in Protest March to Democratic Convention

  Protests against the Democratic National Convention continued Wednesday as members of Iraq Veterans Against the War led an unpermitted march to the Pepsi Center to call on Barack Obama to back an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The march began at a concert by the rock band Rage Against the Machine sponsored by IVAW and the Alliance for Real Democracy. Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films files a report from the streets.

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  Melissa Harris-Lacewell Urges Obama to Draw on Political Rhetoric of African American Women Like Hamer, Chisholm & Jordan

  The Democratic Party is preparing to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King today ahead of Barack Obama’s nomination speech. While Obama is expected to reference King’s speech tonight, one of his longtime supporters is urging him to also draw on the political rhetoric of African American women, including Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm. We speak with Melissa Harris-Lacewell. [includes rush transcript]