U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre has received an A+ legislative grade from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Today, the nation honors the memories of those lives lost on September 11, 2001. On the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Senator Obama joined Senator McCain to visit Ground Zero.

Daniel Johnson had dedicated his life to serving others-from his missionary trips with his church to his work as a prosecutor to his courageous act saving a fellow sailor aboard the U.S.S. Blue Ridge.

Please help put Daniel's commitment to public service into action by joining our efforts to send much needed care packages to our military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

From now until Tuesday, August 19th, our campaign will be collecting common household items to help make daily life just a bit easier for our troops. A list of suggested items is below. These items can be found around the house or purchased at a local store.

Please drop off items at our campaign office, 1333 1st Ave SW in Hickory or at Zip Code It, 305 North Sterling Street, Morganton.

North Carolinians have an opportunity during this election to help change the course of this country.

While Barack Obama offers historic, responsive and responsible change, Republicans offer more of the McSame.

John McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time and promises to continue the failed policies that have gotten us high gas prices, high food prices and no clear path to ending the war in Iraq.

How can McCain offer North Carolinians a better future when he’s spent the primary season recycling George Bush’s failed economic agenda and bragging about his willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years?

MCCAIN’S RECORD VS. MCCAIN’S RHETORIC

North Carolina Democrats, led by Kara Hollingsworth, April Padilla and Phillip Gilfus, called on President Bush during his visit to Fort Bragg this week to honor his contract with our military by supporting Democrat Senator Jim Webb’s 21st Century GI Bill.

The bipartisan initiative expands educational opportunities to all members of the military who have served on active duty for at least three months since September 11.

President Bush has threatened to veto the measure.

This is another example of how Republican leadership in Washington has failed our troops and their families at every turn – whether it’s a plan to stabilize Iraq in order to safely withdraw our troops, substandard living conditions in their barracks, providing proper body armor when they are sent to war or offering full health and educational benefits they earn on the battlefield when they return home.

While John McCain was campaigning and raising money in California today, the Senate voted on a bipartisan to bill to support our brave men and women in uniform by helping them pay for college when they complete their service.  Unlike both Democratic presidential candidates, who took time off the campaign trail to support our troops by voting for the 21st Century GI Bill, Senator McCain refused. 

Senator McCain might not have voted, but he has made his views perfectly clear.