query: Donald Trump died before the nominees of the 2016 election were chosen.

pos: Donald Trump Donald John Trump ( born June 14 , 1946 ) is the 45th and current President of the United States . Before entering politics , he was a businessman and television personality .   Trump was born and raised in Queens , New York City , and earned an economics degree from the Wharton School . He then took charge of The Trump Organization , the real estate and construction firm founded by his paternal grandmother , which he ran for 45 years until 2016 . During his real estate career , Trump built , renovated , and managed numerous office towers , hotels , casinos , and golf courses . Besides real estate , he started several side ventures and has licensed the use of his name for the branding of various products and properties , including Trump Entertainment Resorts , Trump Steaks , and Trump Vodka . He was the founder of Trump University . He owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants from 1996 to 2015 , and he produced and hosted The Apprentice , a reality television series on NBC , from 2004 to 2015 . His net worth was estimated to be $ 3.5 billion , making him the 544th richest person in the world .   Trump first publicly expressed interest in running for political office in 1987 . He won two Reform Party presidential primaries in 2000 , but withdrew his candidacy early on . In June 2015 , he launched his campaign for the 2016 presidential election and quickly emerged as the front-runner among seventeen candidates in the Republican primaries . His remaining opponents all suspended their campaigns by the end of May 2016 , and in July he was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention along with Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate . Many of his campaign statements were controversial or false , generating much free media coverage .   Trump won the general election on November 8 , 2016 , in a surprise victory against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and commenced his presidency on January 20 , 2017 . He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency , the first without prior military or government service , and the fifth to have won the election while losing the popular vote . His political positions have been described by scholars and commentators as populist , protectionist , and nationalist .

neg: Presidency of Donald Trump The presidency of Donald Trump began at noon EST on January 20 , 2017 , the day that Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States , succeeding Barack Obama . Trump , a Republican , was a businessman from New York City at the time of his victory in the 2016 presidential election over Democrat Hillary Clinton . His running mate , former Governor Mike Pence of Indiana , took office as the 48th Vice President of the United States on the same day . Trump 's term in office is set to end on January 20 , 2021 , though he is eligible for election to a second term and has declared his intention to run .   During his first few months in office , , Trump has issued 36 executive orders and 25 presidential memoranda . The executive orders 13769 and 13780 dealing with denying admission to the US of people from several foreign countries have been blocked by federal courts . Trump 's nominee to the Supreme Court , Neil Gorsuch , was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 7 , 2017 .

neg: Wendell Willkie Wendell Lewis Willkie ( born Lewis Wendell Willkie ; February 18 , 1892 -- October 8 , 1944 ) was an American lawyer and corporate executive , and the 1940 Republican nominee for President . Willkie appealed to many convention delegates as the Republican field 's only interventionist : although the U.S. remained neutral prior to Pearl Harbor , he favored greater U.S. involvement in World War II to support Britain and other Allies . His Democratic opponent , incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt , won the 1940 election with about 55 % of the popular vote and took the electoral college vote by a wide margin .   Willkie was born in Indiana in 1892 ; both his parents were lawyers , and he also became one . He served in World War I but was not sent to France until the final days of the war , and saw no action . Willkie settled in Akron , Ohio , where he was initially employed by Firestone , but left for a law firm , becoming one of the leaders of the Akron bar . Much of his work was representing electric utilities , and in 1929 Willkie accepted a job in New York City as counsel for Commonwealth & Southern Corporation ( C&S ) , a utility holding company . He was rapidly promoted , and became corporate president in 1933 . Roosevelt was sworn in as U.S. president soon after Willkie became head of C&S , and announced plans for a Tennessee Valley Authority ( TVA ) that would supply power in competition with C&S . Between 1933 and 1939 , Willkie fought against the TVA before Congress , in the courts , and before the public . He was ultimately unsuccessful , but sold C&S 's property for a good price , and gained public esteem .   A longtime Democratic activist , Willkie changed his party registration to Republican in late 1939 . He did not run in the 1940 presidential primaries , but positioned himself as an acceptable choice for a deadlocked convention . He sought backing from uncommitted delegates , while his supporters -- many youthful -- enthusiastically promoted his candidacy . As German forces under Hitler rampaged through western Europe in 1940 , many Republicans did not wish to nominate an isolationist like Thomas E. Dewey , and turned to Willkie , who was nominated on the sixth ballot over Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft . Willkie 's support for aid to Britain removed it as a major factor in his race against Roosevelt , and Willkie also backed the president on a peacetime draft . Both men took more isolationist positions towards the end of the race . Roosevelt won an unprecedented third term , taking 38 of the 48 states .   After the election , Willkie made two wartime foreign trips as Roosevelt 's informal envoy , and as nominal leader of the Republican Party gave the president his full support . This angered many conservatives , especially as Willkie increasingly advocated liberal or internationalist causes . Willkie ran for the Republican nomination in 1944 , but bowed out after a disastrous showing in the Wisconsin primary in April . He and Roosevelt discussed the possibility of forming , after the war , a liberal political party , but Willkie died in October 1944 before the idea could bear fruit . Willkie is remembered for giving Roosevelt vital political assistance in 1940 , which allowed the president to aid Britain in its time of crisis .

neg: Great America PAC Great America PAC is a Super PAC that supported Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election .   Great America PAC was founded in 2016 by Eric Beach , a political strategist who is a veteran of presidential campaigns . Beach soon brought on Ed Rollins , a long time Republican campaign consultant and strategist who served as the campaign manager for Ronald Reagan 's 1984 presidential campaign .

neg: List of major-party United States presidential candidates who lost their home or resident state The following is a list of major party U.S. presidential candidates who lost their birth or resident states . While many successful candidates have won the presidency without winning their birth state , only four ( James K. Polk , Woodrow Wilson , Richard Nixon and Donald Trump ) have won election despite losing their state of residence . ( Nixon , a lifelong Californian , had taken residence in New York after his failed run for the California governor 's office . )

neg: South Carolina primary The South Carolina primary has become one of several key early-state presidential primaries in the process of the Democratic and Republican Parties choosing their respective general election nominees for President of the United States .   Historically , this primary election has been much more important in the Republican Party 's nomination process , considered a firewall that could permanently eliminate any/all serious rivals to the winner . It is meant to force the various factions of the party to decide quickly on and unite behind a single candidate and avoid wasting precious time and resources on a drawn-out battle between their own candidates , that would divert the party 's focus from working to defeat the Democrats ' likely nominee .   Since its 1980 inception , the winner of the Republican South Carolina primary has always become the eventual Republican National Convention nominee for that fall 's general election , with one exception , the 2012 primary , in which eventual Republican nominee Mitt Romney finished second , behind winner Newt Gingrich ( who would go on to suspend his campaign before that summer 's convention began ) .   South Carolina has cemented its place as the `` First in the South '' primary for both parties . For the Democrats , the 2008 primary took on added significance because it was the first nominating contest in that cycle in which a large percentage ( 55 percent , according to an exit poll ) of primary voters were African Americans .   The 2012 South Carolina primary was held on January 21 for Republicans , and on January 28 for Democrats . The 2016 primary was held on February 20 for Republicans , and on February 27 for Democrats .

neg: Barack Obama judicial appointment controversies During President Barack Obama 's terms in office , he nominated 7 people for 27 different federal appellate judgeships and although some nominees were processed by the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee , many of them stalled on the floor of the Senate . Barack Obama nominated over three hundred individuals for federal judgeships . Of these nominations , Congress confirmed three hundred and seven judgeships , 173 during the 111th & 112th Congresses and 134 during the 113th Congress .   With the Death of Antonin Scalia in February of 2016 , in the thick of a Presidential election year , the Republican majority in the Senate made it their stated policy to refuse to consider any nominee put forward by President Obama , arguing that the next president should be the one to appoint Scalia 's replacement . Scalia 's death was only the second death of a serving justice in a span of sixty years   Republicans filibustered many nominees , and Senator Grassley commented more nominees could have been confirmed had President Obama respected recess appointment precedent by not making recess appointments while the Senate is in session . Although President Obama had never used a recess appointment to appoint a nominee to the federal bench , he had appointed some executive agency officials in January 2012 .   As a response to the continuing blocking of several of President Obama 's nominees , Sen. Harry Reid on November 21 , 2013 invoked the so-called Nuclear option and changed the Senate rules , meaning a simple majority vote will suffice for all nominees except for the Supreme Court .

neg: Better for America Better for America ( BFA ) is a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) non-profit organization that was dedicated to getting nationwide ballot access for an independent candidate for President of the United States in the 2016 election . The effort was inspired by the unpopularity of the two major party nominees , Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton , and was seen as part of the Stop Trump movement .   The organization 's initial strategy was to gain ballot access in states that do not require a candidate to be named , and then name its candidate after the major party conventions . The candidate was planned to be named by an advisory board rather than through traditional primary elections , or through a crowdsourcing effort like the failed Americans Elect effort in the 2012 election . On August 8 , 2016 , it was reported that Evan McMullin , an anti-Trump Republican and former Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) official , would be Better for America 's nominee . McMullin was officially nominated on August 24 .   In July , the organization filed petitions in two states , New Mexico and Arkansas . By early August , Arkansas had accepted the petition , while New Mexico had rejected the petition because it did not have enough valid signatures , although the New Mexico decision was challenged in court . On August 22 , the organization announced that it was ceasing further ballot access efforts . On September 8 , the New Mexico Secretary of State reversed his decision and placed Better For America on the ballot .   Notable people involved in the organization include conservative donor John Kingston III and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman . Lawrence Lessig and Randy Barnett expressed their support for the organization in a Time opinion piece .

neg: Residences of Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump currently has seven residences .   During his time at the New York Military Academy , he lived on campus ; he later rented row houses in college . In 1971 , Trump moved to a studio on 75th Street in Manhattan . Since the completion of Trump Tower in 1983 , Trump has lived in a three-level penthouse on the top floors . He purchased the Seven Springs mansion in Bedford , New York in 1995 . Upon Trump 's election to the US presidency , he moved into the White House in Washington , D.C. while First Lady Melania and their son will stay at Trump Tower in Manhattan until the end of the school year before moving to the White House as well .

neg: List of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign political endorsements, 2016 This is a list of notable individual politicians and political organizations who have publicly indicated support for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election .   Public officials serving below the state level and all other individuals and entities are listed only if they have a separate stand-alone article or are otherwise clearly notable .   Those who indicated their support after Hillary Clinton 's presumptive nomination on June 11 are denoted with an asterisk .

neg: William Owens (Navy SEAL) William `` Ryan '' Owens ( March 5 , 1980 -- January 29 , 2017 ) was a decorated United States Navy SEAL senior chief petty officer . He died in the Yakla raid in Yemen , and was the first American combatant to die during the presidency of Donald Trump .

neg: Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy On June 5 , 1968 , presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles , shortly after winning the California presidential primaries in the 1968 election , and died the next day while hospitalized .   After winning the California and South Dakota primary elections for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States , Kennedy was fatally shot while exiting through the hotel kitchen immediately after leaving the podium in the Ambassador Hotel and died in the Good Samaritan Hospital twenty-six hours later . Sirhan Sirhan , a 24-year-old Palestinian/Jordanian immigrant , was convicted of Kennedy 's murder and sentenced to death in 1969 , although his sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972 . On November 22 , 2013 , Sirhan was transferred from Corcoran to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County . The shooting was recorded on audio tape by a freelance newspaper reporter , and the aftermath was captured on film .   Kennedy 's body lay in repose at St. Patrick 's Cathedral in New York for two days before a funeral Mass was held on June 8 . His body was interred near his brother John at Arlington National Cemetery . His death prompted the protection of presidential candidates by the United States Secret Service . Hubert Humphrey later went on to win the Democratic nomination for the presidency , but ultimately lost the election to Republican Richard Nixon .   As with his brother John 's death , Kennedy 's assassination and the circumstances surrounding it have spawned a variety of conspiracy theories . Kennedy and Huey Long ( in 1935 ) are the only two sitting United States Senators to be assassinated .

neg: Nuclear option The nuclear option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the United States Senate to override a rule or precedent by a simple majority of 51 votes , instead of by a supermajority of 60 votes . The option is invoked by the presiding officer of the body ruling that the validity of a Senate rule or precedent is a constitutional question . The issue is immediately put to the full Senate , which decides by majority vote . The procedure thus allows the Senate to decide any issue by majority vote , regardless of existing procedural rules , such as current Senate rules specifying that ending a filibuster requires the consent of 60 senators ( out of 100 ) for legislation , and 67 for amending a Senate rule . The term `` nuclear option '' is an analogy to nuclear weapons being the most extreme option in warfare .   The nuclear option has only been used in practice twice -- in 2013 and 2017 , however the threat to use it dates back at least to 1917 , in opinions related to reform of the Senate 's filibuster rules . Subsequently , an opinion written by Vice President Richard Nixon in 1957 concluded that the U.S. Constitution grants the presiding officer the authority to override existing Senate rules . The option was used to make further rule changes in 1975 . In November 2013 , Senate Democrats used the nuclear option to eliminate filibusters on executive branch nominations and federal judicial appointments other than those to the Supreme Court . On April 6 , 2017 , Senate Republicans used the nuclear option to eliminate the exception for Supreme Court nominees , after the nomination of Neil Gorsuch failed to meet the requirement of 60 votes for ending the debate .   Before November 2013 , Senate rules required a three-fifths vote of the `` duly chosen and sworn '' members of the Senate -- ( usually 60 votes ) to end debate on a bill , nomination or other proposal ; they also require a two-thirds vote ( `` present and voting '' -- 67 or more votes ) to end debate on a change to the Senate rules . Those rules effectively allowed a minority of the Senate to block a bill or nomination through the technique of the filibuster . This had resulted in a de facto requirement that a nomination have the support of 60 Senators to pass , rather than a majority of 51 . A three-fifths vote is still required to end debates on legislation . Before April 2017 , Senate rules required a three-fifths vote to confirm nominations for Supreme Court nominees .   Under the new nuclear option proceedings , the majority leader and presiding officer , guided by parliamentary experts , go through a series of choreographed steps in which the leader suggests a change to the rules , the presiding officer challenges him , and then the leader calls a second vote on a rules change , which requires only 51 votes . This effectively ends what had become a 60-vote requirement for confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee or the passage of legislation .

neg: List of Presidents of the United States by age This is a list of presidents of the United States by age . The first table charts the age of each United States president at the time of presidential inauguration ( first inauguration if elected to multiple and consecutive terms ) , upon leaving office , and at the time of death . Each president 's lifespan ( age at death ) is measured in two ways , to allow for the differing number of leap days that each experienced . The first figure is the number of days between the president 's date of birth and date of death , allowing for leap days ; in parentheses , the same period is given in years and days , with the years being the number of whole years that the president lived , and the days being the number of days since the last birthday . Where the president is still living , their lifespan is calculated up to . The second table includes those presidents who had the distinction among their peers of being the oldest living president , and charts both when they became and ceased to be oldest living .

neg: Robert F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories The conspiracy theories relating to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy , a United States Senator and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy , relate to non-standard accounts of the assassination that took place shortly after midnight on June 5 , 1968 , in Los Angeles , California . Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated during celebrations of his successful campaign in the Californian primary elections while seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. president .   The perpetrator was a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant named Sirhan Sirhan , who remains incarcerated for the crime . However , as with his brother 's death , Robert Kennedy 's assassination and the circumstances surrounding it have spawned various conspiracy theories , particularly regarding the existence of a supposed second gunman . Such theories have also centered on the alleged presence of a woman wearing a polka dot dress claiming responsibility for the crime and the purported involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency . Many of these theories were examined during an investigation ordered by the United States Senate , and were judged to be erroneous by the Federal Bureau of Investigation , which investigated on the Senate 's behalf .

neg: United States presidential election in New York, 1916 The 1916 United States presidential election in New York took place on November 7 , 1916 . All contemporary 48 states were part of the 1916 United States presidential election . New York voters chose forty-five electors to the Electoral College , which selected the President and Vice President .   New York was won by the Republican nominee , U.S. Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes of New York , and his running mate Senator Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana . Hughes and Fairbanks defeated the Democratic nominees , incumbent Democratic President Woodrow Wilson and Vice President Thomas R. Marshall .   The former Governor of New York , Hughes won his home state fairly comfortably , taking 51.53 % of the vote to Wilson 's 44.51 % , a victory margin of 7.02 % . Coming in a distant third was Socialist candidate Allan L. Benson , who took 2.69 % .   New York in this era was a Republican state in presidential elections ; however in 1912 , a strong third party run by former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt against the incumbent Republican President William Howard Taft had split the Republican vote , and had enabled Woodrow Wilson as the Democratic candidate to win New York State 's electoral votes in 1912 with a plurality of only 41 % of the vote . With the Republican base re-united behind Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 , New York returned to the Republican column , and delivered a fairly comfortable win to Hughes even as Wilson won re-election nationwide . Hughes ' seven percent margin of victory made New York State a strong ten percent more Republican than the national average in the 1916 election ; despite this , Hamilton and Greene Counties voted for Wilson , yet would never vote Democratic again until 1964 and never do so subsequently .

neg: Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1984 The 1984 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1984 U.S. presidential election . Former Vice President Walter Mondale was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1984 Democratic National Convention held from July 16 to July 19 , 1984 , in San Francisco , California .   As of 2017 , this is the earliest Democratic primary in which all primary winners ( of at least one contest ) are still living .

neg: Humayun Khan (soldier) Humayun Saqib Muazzam Khan ( September 9 , 1976June 8 , 2004 ) was an American soldier . Born in the United Arab Emirates to Pakistani parents , he moved to the U.S. with his family as a young boy . He attended the University of Virginia , where he was a member of the Army Reserve Officers ' Training Corps . Upon graduating in 2000 , Khan was commissioned an officer in the United States Army and was deployed as a captain to Iraq during the Iraq War . In 2004 he was killed in a suicide attack near Baqubah , Iraq , and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star .   Khan 's name came to national attention during the 2016 presidential campaign as an example of Muslim Americans serving in the military . At the 2016 Democratic National Convention , his father Khizr Khan , standing at the podium with his wife ( and Humayun 's mother ) Ghazala , delivered a speech condemning U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump 's statements on Muslims .

neg: The Selling of the President 1968 The Selling of the President 1968 is a non-fiction book written by American author Joe McGinniss and published by Trident Press in October , 1969 .   The book describes the marketing of Richard Nixon during the 1968 presidential campaign . It has been described as `` a classic of political journalism '' and a `` classic of campaign reporting that first introduced many readers to the stage-managed world of political theater . '' It was reprinted in 1988 under the title The Selling of the President .   McGinniss became an overnight success when the book , his first , landed on The New York Times bestseller list . He was 26 years old , making him the youngest living writer with that achievement . The book was on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list for 31 weeks from October 1969 to May 1970 .   The idea for the book came to McGinniss almost serendipitously :   -LSB- He -RSB- stumbled across his book 's topic while taking a train to New York . A fellow commuter had just landed the Hubert Humphrey account and was boasting that ` in six weeks we 'll have him looking better than Abraham Lincoln . ' McGinniss tried to get access to Humphrey 's campaign first , but they turned him down . So he called up Nixon 's , and they said yes . '' .   The book was very well received by both critics and the public . It `` spent more than six months on best-sellers lists , and McGinniss sold a lot of those books through television , appearing on the titular shows of Merv Griffin , David Frost and Dick Cavett , among others . '' Conservative writer William F. Buckley `` assumed McGinniss had relied on ` an elaborate deception which has brought joy and hope to the Nixon-haters . ' But even Buckley liked the book . ''   In 1972 , the book was adapted into a short-lived Broadway musical .

neg: List of Donald Trump presidential campaign primary endorsements, 2016 This is a list of notable individuals and organizations who voiced their endorsement of Donald Trump as the Republican Party 's presidential nominee for the 2016 U.S. presidential election .

neg: United States presidential election, 1836 The United States presidential election of 1836 was the 13th quadrennial presidential election , held from Thursday , November 3 , to Wednesday , December 7 , 1836 . As the third consecutive election victory for the Democratic Party , it ushered incumbent Vice President Martin Van Buren into the White House with 170 electoral votes to 124 electoral votes for William Henry Harrison and other Whigs . The popular vote was closer ; Martin Van Buren attracted 764,000 votes to the 738,000 won by the various Whig candidates .   The election of 1836 is principally remembered for three distinctive circumstances :  The Whig Party ran four candidates in different parts of the country in hopes that each would be popular enough to defeat Democrat Martin Van Buren in their respective region . The strategy failed , but had three of the four received more electoral votes then Van Buren , it would have been left to the House of Representatives to decide between the competing Whig candidates .  Richard Mentor Johnson became the first ( and to date only ) Vice President elected by the United States Senate . Although pledged to Van Buren and Johnson ( his running mate ) , Virginia 's 23 electors refused to vote for Johnson , which left him one electoral vote short of the 148-vote majority required to be elected . As such , it was left to the Senate to decide between the top two vote recipient recipients , Johnson and Francis Granger . Johnson was elected on the first ballot 33 to 16 .  This was the last election until the 1988 election ( of George H. W. Bush ) in which the incumbent Vice President was elected to succeed the president under whom he served .   The election of 1836 also marked an important turning point in American political history because of the part it played in establishing the Second Party System . In the 1830s the political party structure was still changing , rapidly , the Democratic Party was organized , but factional and personal leaders still played a major role in politics . By the end of the campaign of 1836 , the new party system was almost complete , as nearly every faction had been absorbed by either the Democrats or the Whigs .


query: Portia de Rossi wasn't able to play Lindsay Fünke on Arrested Development.

pos: Portia de Rossi Portia Lee James DeGeneres ( born Amanda Lee Rogers ; January 31 , 1973 ) , also known professionally as Portia de Rossi ( -LSB- ˈpɔərʃə_də_ˈrɒsi -RSB- ) , is an Australian and American actress , model , and philanthropist . She appeared as a regular cast member on the American political thriller television series Scandal in the role of Elizabeth North from 2014 to 2017 . She is also known for her roles as lawyer Nelle Porter on the American television series Ally McBeal -- for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1999 -- and as Lindsay Fünke on the American television sitcom Arrested Development . She also portrayed Veronica Palmer on the ABC television sitcom Better Off Ted , and Olivia Lord on the television drama Nip/Tuck . De Rossi is married to comedian and television host Ellen DeGeneres .

neg: Annabella Sciorra Annabella Gloria Philomena Sciorra ( -LSB- ˈʃoʊrə -RSB- , ; born March 29 , 1960 ) is an Italian-American actress . Her film roles include Cadillac Man ( 1990 ) , Jungle Fever ( 1991 ) , The Hand That Rocks the Cradle ( 1992 ) , Cop Land ( 1997 ) and What Dreams May Come ( 1998 ) . She was nominated for a 2001 Emmy Award for playing Gloria Trillo in The Sopranos ( 2001 -- 04 ) .

neg: DeGeneres DeGeneres is a surname . Notable people with the surname include :   Betty DeGeneres ( born 1930 ) , mother of Ellen DeGeneres and American activist .  Ellen DeGeneres ( born 1958 ) , American stand-up comedian , television hostess , and actress .  Vance DeGeneres ( born 1954 ) , American actor , older brother of Ellen DeGeneres .  Portia de Rossi , or Portia DeGeneres ( born 1973 ) , wife of Ellen DeGeneres and American actress .

neg: The Puppy Episode `` The Puppy Episode '' is a two-part episode of the situation comedy television series Ellen . The episode details lead character Ellen Morgan 's realization that she is a lesbian and her coming out . It was the 22nd and 23rd episode of the series ' 4th season . The episode was written by series star Ellen DeGeneres with Mark Driscoll , Tracy Newman , Dava Savel and Jonathan Stark and directed by Gil Junger . It originally aired on ABC on April 30 , 1997 . The title was used as a code name for Ellen 's coming out so as to keep the whole episode under wraps .   DeGeneres began negotiating with ABC in 1996 to have Morgan come out . When word of the negotiations got out , DeGeneres found herself at the center of intense speculation about when she or her character , or both , would come out . With DeGeneres hinting at her and her character 's coming out both off-screen and within the show , the rumors were confirmed when the episode went into production in March 1997 .   Despite threats from advertisers and religious groups , `` The Puppy Episode '' was an enormous ratings success , won multiple awards and became a cultural phenomenon . Nonetheless , DeGeneres and her show quickly garnered criticism for being `` too gay '' ; the series was canceled after one more season and DeGeneres and guest star Laura Dern faced career backlash .

neg: Kim Greylek Kim Greylek is a fictional character on the NBC crime drama Law & Order : Special Victims Unit , portrayed by Michaela McManus .

neg: Lyndon Smith Lyndon Smith ( born June 7 , 1989 ) is an American actress . She is known for her roles as Natalie on the NBC drama series Parenthood , and as Dierdre on the TNT police drama series , Public Morals .

neg: Arrested Development (season 1) The first season of the television comedy series Arrested Development aired between November 2 , 2003 and June 6 , 2004 , on Fox in the United States . It consisted of 22 episodes , each running approximately 22 minutes in length . The first season was released on DVD in region 1 on October 19 , 2004 , in region 2 on March 21 , 2005 and in region 4 on February 23 , 2005 .   The show 's storyline centers on the Bluth family , a formerly wealthy , habitually dysfunctional family and is presented in a continuous format , incorporating hand-held camera work , narration , archival photos , and historical footage .

neg: The Trouble with Cali The Trouble with Cali is an American drama film . The film was directed by Paul Sorvino and written by his daughter Amanda Sorvino . It stars Laurence Leboeuf , Glynnis O'Connor , Chris Meyer , Raviv Ullman and RZA .   The film will not be released in theaters as a distribution deal was not able to be successfully negotiated spurring contention with Lackawanna County , Pennsylvania , residents as $ 500,000 in tax payer funds was used to finance the film . Subsequently , the Scranton Cultural Center hosted a free premier of the film on July 9 , 2015 , with additional showings on July 10 , 2015 and July 11 , 2015 .

neg: Dexter (season 1) The first season of Dexter is an adaptation of Jeff Lindsay 's first novel in the Dexter series , Darkly Dreaming Dexter . Subsequent seasons have featured original storylines . This season aired from October 1 , 2006 to December 17 , 2006 , and follows Dexter 's investigation of `` The Ice Truck Killer '' . Introduced in the first episode , `` Dexter '' , this serial killer targets prostitutes and leaves their bodies severed and bloodless . At the same time , Dexter 's foster sister , Debra Morgan ( Jennifer Carpenter ) , a vice squad officer , aspires to work in the homicide department , and Dexter 's girlfriend , Rita Bennett ( Julie Benz ) , wants their relationship to be more intimate . Christian Camargo appears as Rudy Cooper and is a recurring character until the end of the season .   The show 's first season received generally favorable reviews from critics ; it was praised as `` bold , different and exciting , with a central character and performance that take your breath away '' by the New York Daily News . The Wall Street Journal saw `` the grotesqueries of Dexter '' as `` not something that can easily be dismissed with the old '' ` you do n't have to watch ' line '' , and concluded that `` We do have to live among the viewers who will be desensitized , or aroused , by this show '' . The aggregate site Metacritic scored the show 's first season at 77 out of 100 based on 27 critics reviews .   The season received high ratings for Showtime ; the pilot episode attracted more than a million viewers , giving the channel its highest ratings in nearly two years , while the finale `` Born Free '' drew an audience of 1.1 million viewers in the U.S. On average , the season was watched by two million viewers per episode during its original run when factoring in DVR viewers . Due to the 2007 -- 2008 Writers Guild strike and encouraged by the show 's critical success and high ratings on Showtime , CBS , a national terrestrial broadcast network , announced in December 2007 that it was considering airing an edited version of the first season of Dexter for free-to-air broadcast . It began to broadcast it on February 17 , 2008 , and thus , Dexter became the first program in 20 years to air on a broadcast network after being shown on a premium cable channel . During the show 's rerun on the CBS network in 2008 , the ratings were much higher , reaching 8.2 million viewers during its premiere February , giving the network its best rating in the 10 p.m. timeslot since December the previous year . During its 12-week run , it dropped to 7.1 million in early April , and to 6.6 million during the season 's finale on May 6 .

neg: De Rossi De Rossi is an Italian surname , and may refer to :   Alessandra De Rossi , Philippine actress  Assunta De Rossi , Philippine actress  Azariah dei Rossi , an Italian-Jewish physician and scholar  Bernardo de Rossi , Italian theologian and historian  Bernardo de ' Rossi , Italian bishop  Daniele De Rossi , Italian footballer  Fabrizio De Rossi , a fictional character in the 1997 film Titanic  Giovan Antonio de ' Rossi , ( 1616 -- 1695 ) , Italian architect of the Baroque  Giovanni Battista de Rossi , 19th-century Italian archaeologist  Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi , 19th-century Italian Christian Hebraist  Mattia de Rossi , ( 1637 -- 1695 ) , Italian architect of the Baroque  Properzia de ' Rossi , Italian Renaissance sculptor  Portia de Rossi , Australian actress  Saint Giovanni Battista de Rossi , 18th-century Roman priest

neg: Lindsay Hartley Lindsay Nicole Hartley ( née Korman ; born April 17 , 1978 ) is an American actress and singer . She is known for her role as Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald Crane Winthrop on Passions , Cara Castillo on All My Children and for her role as Arianna Hernandez on Days of Our Lives .

neg: Portlandia (TV series) Portlandia is a sketch comedy television series set and filmed in and around Portland , Oregon , starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein . The show is produced by Broadway Video Television and IFC Original Productions . It was created by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein , along with Jonathan Krisel , who directs it . It debuted on IFC on January 21 , 2011 .   The show shares its title with the sculpture of the same name that sits above the entrance of the Portland Building on Fifth Avenue in downtown Portland , which appears in the show 's title sequence . The show has won a Peabody Award .   In January 2017 , the series was renewed for an eighth and final season to debut in 2018 .

neg: Kathleen Noone Kathleen Noone ( born Kathleen O'Meara , January 8 , 1945 ) is an American actress . She began her career as a singer in nightclubs and performed in musicals in off-Broadway stage , before making her television debut in the CBS daytime soap opera , As the World Turns ( 1975 -- 76 ) .   From 1977 to 1989 , Noone played Ellen Shepherd Dalton on the ABC daytime soap opera , All My Children . For this role , she won Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1987 . In 1990 , Noone moved to prime time , starring as villainous Claudia Whittaker in the CBS series , Knots Landing ( 1990 -- 1993 ) . She returned to daytime television as Bette Katzenkazrahi on NBC 's Sunset Beach ( 1997 -- 1999 ) , for which she received another Daytime Emmy Award nomination . She also has had the recurring roles on L.A. Law , Party of Five , According to Jim , and Dexter .

neg: L.A. Law L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC , from September 15 , 1986 , to May 19 , 1994 .   Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher , it contained many of Bochco 's trademark features including an ensemble cast , large number of parallel storylines , social drama , and off-the-wall humor . It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s , and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as capital punishment , abortion , racism , gay rights , homophobia , sexual harassment , AIDS , and domestic violence . The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff .   In addition to its main cast , L.A. Law was also well known for featuring then relatively unknown actors and actresses in guest starring roles , who later went on to greater success in film and television including : Don Cheadle , Jeffrey Tambor , Kathy Bates , David Schwimmer , Jay O. Sanders , James Avery , Gates McFadden , Bryan Cranston , C.C.H. Pounder , Kevin Spacey , Richard Schiff , Carrie-Anne Moss , William H. Macy , Stephen Root , Christian Slater , and Lucy Liu . Several episodes of the show also included celebrities such as Vanna White , Buddy Hackett and Mamie Van Doren appearing as themselves in cameo roles .   The show was popular with audiences and critics , and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run , four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series .

neg: L.A. Noire L.A. Noire is a neo-noir detective action-adventure video game developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games . It was initially released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms on 17 May 2011 ; a Microsoft Windows port was later released on 8 November 2011 . L.A. Noire is set in Los Angeles in 1947 and challenges the player , controlling a Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) officer , to solve a range of cases across five divisions . Players must investigate crime scenes for clues , follow up leads , and interrogate suspects , and the player 's success at these activities will impact how much of each case 's story is revealed .   The game draws heavily from both the plot and aesthetic elements of film noir -- stylistic films made popular in the 1940s and 1950s that share similar visual styles and themes , including crime and moral ambiguity -- along with drawing inspiration from real-life crimes for its in-game cases , based upon what was reported by the Los Angeles media in 1947 . The game uses a distinctive colour palette , but in homage to film noir it includes the option to play the game in black and white . Various plot elements reference the major themes of detective and mobster stories such as The Naked City , Chinatown , The Untouchables , The Black Dahlia , and L.A. Confidential .   L.A. Noire is notable for using Depth Analysis 's newly developed technology MotionScan , whereby the actors portraying the game 's characters were recorded by 32 surrounding cameras to capture facial expressions from every angle . The technology is central to the game 's interrogation mechanic , as players must use the suspects ' reactions to questioning to judge whether or not they are lying . L.A. Noire was the first video game to be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival . Upon release , the game received wide acclaim for its advances in storytelling and facial animation technology . As of February 2012 , both PC and console versions had shipped nearly 5 million copies combined .

neg: Drea de Matteo Drea de Matteo ( -LSB- dreɪ_də_məˈteɪoʊ -RSB- born January 19 , 1972 ) is an American actress , known for her roles as Angie Bolen on ABC 's Desperate Housewives , Joey Tribbiani 's sister Gina on the NBC sitcom Joey , Wendy Case on FX series Sons of Anarchy , and Adriana La Cerva on the HBO TV series The Sopranos , a role for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series . She currently stars as Det. Tess Nazario in NBC 's Shades of Blue .

neg: Hard Ball `` Hard Ball '' ( also known as `` Negotiation '' ) is the fifteenth episode of NBC 's first season of 30 Rock . It was written by one of the season 's co-producers , Matt Hubbard , and directed by one of the season 's supervising producers , Don Scardino . It aired on February 22 , 2007 in the United States . Guest stars who appeared in the episode were David Alan Basche , Gregg Bello , Katrina Bowden , Kevin Brown , Grizz Chapman , Rachel Dratch , Keith Powell , Lonny Ross and Gregory Wooddell . Tucker Carlson and Chris Matthews also appear as themselves in the episode .   The episode focuses on Jenna Maroney ( Jane Krakowski ) trying to clear her name after being misquoted in an interview for Maxim Magazine . Jack Donaghy ( Alec Baldwin ) begins negotiations to Josh Girard 's ( Lonny Ross ) new contract . Kenneth Parcell ( Jack McBrayer ) becomes the newest member of Tracy Jordan 's ( Tracy Morgan ) entourage .

neg: Analysis of Cork-Based Networking `` Analysis of Cork-Based Networking '' is the sixth episode of the fifth season of Community , and the 90th episode overall in the series . It originally aired on January 30 , 2014 on NBC ; and is written by Monica Padrick and directed by Tristram Shapeero . It is also the last episode of the season to air before going on hiatus during the 2014 Winter Olympics . The season resumed on February 27 , 2014 .   The episode also featured the return of Brie Larson as Rachel , who last appeared in the fourth season episode `` Herstory of Dance . ''   In this episode , Annie Edison ( Alison Brie ) and Professor Buzz Hickey ( Jonathan Banks ) confront numerous Greendale heads -- including the head custodian Bob Waite ( Nathan Fillion ) -- while others prepare the cafeteria for the midterm dance .   The episode received generally positive reviews , with many praising the show 's use of guest stars ; however , some noted Troy Barnes 's ( Donald Glover ) absence negatively . Upon airing , the episode attained 3.01 million viewers and an 18-49 rating of 1.1 , placing third in its timeslot and tenth for the night in primetime television .

neg: Madea Goes to Jail (play) Madea Goes to Jail is an American musical play , touring from 2005 to 2006 , created , written , produced , and directed by Tyler Perry . It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel `` Madea '' Simmons , Cassi Davis as Ella , Cherly Pepsi Riley as Wanda , and Judy Peterson as Katie .

neg: Allie Kingston Allegra `` Allie '' Kingston is a fictional character from the Australian television drama City Homicide , played by Nadia Townsend . She made her first screen appearance in the third season episode `` Meet & Greet '' , which was broadcast on 10 August 2009 .

neg: Portlandia (season 7) The seventh season of the television comedy Portlandia premiered on IFC in the United States on January 5 , 2017 , consisting a total of 10 episodes . The series stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein .


query: Three Men and a Baby stars at least one American actor.

pos: Ted Danson Edward Bridge `` Ted '' Danson III ( born December 29 , 1947 ) is an American actor , author , and producer well known for his role as lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom Cheers and for his role as Dr. John Becker on the CBS sitcom Becker . He also starred in the CBS dramas CSI : Crime Scene Investigation and CSI : Cyber as D.B. Russell . He also played a recurring role on Larry David 's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm , starred alongside Glenn Close in legal drama Damages , and was a regular on the HBO comedy series Bored to Death . In 2015 he starred as Hank Larsson in the second season of FX 's black comedy-crime drama anthology Fargo . Since 2016 , he has played the afterlife `` architect '' Michael in the NBC sitcom The Good Place .   In his 40-year career , Danson has been nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards , winning two ; ten Golden Globe Awards nominations , winning three ; one Screen Actors Guild Awards ; and one American Comedy Award and has been awarded a star on Hollywood 's Walk of Fame . He was ranked second in TV Guides list of the top 25 television stars . Danson has also been a longtime activist in ocean conservation . In March 2011 , he published his first book , Oceana : Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them '' , written with journalist Michael D'Orso .

pos: Three Men and a Baby Three Men and a Baby is a 1987 American comedy film directed by Leonard Nimoy , and stars Tom Selleck , Steve Guttenberg , Ted Danson and Nancy Travis . It follows the mishaps and adventures of three bachelors as they attempt to adapt their lives to pseudo-fatherhood with the arrival of the love child of one of them . The script was based on the 1985 French film Trois hommes et un couffin ( Three Men and a Cradle ) .   The film was the biggest American box office hit of that year , surpassing Fatal Attraction and eventually grossing US$ 170 million in the US alone . The film won the 1988 People 's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture .

pos: Steve Guttenberg Steven Robert `` Steve '' Guttenberg ( born August 24 , 1958 ) is an American actor , author , businessman , producer , and director . He starred in 1984 's Police Academy , and went on to perform in lead roles in Hollywood films of the 1980s , including Cocoon , Three Men and a Baby , and Short Circuit .

pos: Nancy Travis Nancy Ann Travis ( born September 21 , 1961 ) is an American actress . She is known for her roles in the films Three Men and a Baby ( 1987 ) and its sequel , Three Men and a Little Lady ( 1990 ) , Air America ( 1990 ) , Internal Affairs ( 1990 ) , So I Married an Axe Murderer ( 1993 ) , Greedy ( 1994 ) , and Fluke ( 1995 ) . She also starred as Vanessa Baxter in the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing ( 2011-17 ) .

pos: Tom Selleck Thomas William Selleck ( born January 29 , 1945 ) is an American actor and film producer . He is known for starring as private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series Magnum , P.I. ( 1980 -- 1988 ) . He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on Robert B. Parker novels . Since 2010 , he has also been a primary cast member as NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan in the drama Blue Bloods on CBS .   Selleck has appeared in more than 50 film and television roles since Magnum , P.I. , including Three Men and a Baby , Quigley Down Under , Mr. Baseball , and Lassiter . Selleck also appeared as Dr. Richard Burke on Friends and as A.J. Cooper on the TV series Las Vegas .

neg: Tea for Three (film) Tea for Three is a 1927 American comedy silent film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Garrett Graham , F. Hugh Herbert , Roi Cooper Megrue and Lucille Newmark . The film stars Lew Cody , Aileen Pringle , Owen Moore , Phillips Smalley , Dorothy Sebastian and Edward Thomas . The film was released on October 29 , 1927 , by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .

neg: Hugh Marlowe Hugh Marlowe ( January 30 , 1911May 2 , 1982 ) was an American film , television , stage and radio actor .

neg: Charles Bickford Charles Ambrose Bickford ( January 1 , 1891 -- November 9 , 1967 ) was an American actor best known for his strong supporting roles . He was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor , for The Song of Bernadette ( 1943 ) , The Farmer 's Daughter ( 1947 ) , and Johnny Belinda ( 1948 ) . Other notable roles include Whirlpool ( 1948 ) , A Star is Born ( 1954 ) and The Big Country ( 1958 ) .

neg: Addison Richards Addison Whittaker Richards , Jr. ( October 20 , 1902 -- March 22 , 1964 ) was an American actor of film and television . Richards appeared in more than three hundred films between 1933 and his death .

neg: Three Faces West Three Faces West is a 1940 American drama film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring John Wayne , Sigrid Gurie and Charles Coburn .

neg: Robert Webber Robert L. Webber ( October 14 , 1924 -- May 19 , 1989 ) was an American actor .   He appeared in dozens of films and television series , roles that included Juror No. 12 in the classic 1957 film 12 Angry Men .

neg: Richard Long (actor) Richard Long ( December 17 , 1927 -- December 21 , 1974 ) was an American actor best known for his leading roles in three ABC television series , including The Big Valley , Nanny and the Professor , and Bourbon Street Beat . He was also a series regular on ABC 's 77 Sunset Strip from 1960 to 1962 .

neg: Henry Lehrman Henry Lehrman ( March 30 , 1886 -- November 7 , 1946 ) was an American actor , screenwriter , director and producer .

neg: Sam Groom Sam Groom ( born June 13 , 1938 in Columbus , Ohio ) is an actor most noted for his numerous roles on television . He portrayed the title role in the Canadian television series Dr. Simon Locke ( 1971 ) , later renamed Police Surgeon . Prior to that , he had played Dr. Russ Matthews in the daytime soap opera Another World ( 1966-1971 ) . He also played Hal Sterling , the father of a castaway family , on a little-known 1980s science fiction television series Otherworld . During the 1980s , Groom also was a spokesperson for American Motors , appearing in many commercials for the popular AMC Concord and AMC Eagle model lineups . He later played Joseph Orsini in the soap opera All My Children in 1993 .   Groom made guest appearances in Law & Order , Murder , She Wrote , The Love Boat , Hill Street Blues , Quincy M.E. , Gunsmoke , The Feather and Father Gang , and The Time Tunnel as the inspiring young scientist named Jerry . In 1976 , he appeared both in an episode of Sara and in Territorial Men , a television movie version of the series .   His film career included roles in Act One ( 1963 ) , The Baby Maker ( 1970 ) , Time Travelers ( 1976 ) , Run for the Roses ( 1977 ) , Institute for Revenge ( 1979 ) , Hanging by a Thread ( 1979 ) , The Day the Loving Stopped ( 1981 ) , Deadly Eyes ( 1982 ) , and as John F. Kennedy in the television miniseries Blood Feud ( 1983 ) .   He has three children from his first marriage to Kathleen Sullivan ( 1962 - 1974 ) , Samuel ( born in 1962 ) , Patrick ( born in 1964 ) , and Christopher ( born in 1966 ) . Groom married actress Suzanne Rogers in 1980 . They divorced in 1982 . He currently teaches acting at HB Studio in New York City .

neg: Hal Price Hal Price ( June 24 , 1886 -- April 15 , 1964 ) was an American film actor . He appeared in more than 260 films between 1930 and 1952 . He is the father of late character actress/comedian Lu Leonard . Price was born in Wauseon , Ohio , and died in Los Angeles , California from arteriosclerosis .

neg: Arthur Anderson (actor) Arthur John Miles Anderson ( August 29 , 1922 -- April 9 , 2016 ) was an American actor of radio , film , television , and stage .

neg: Fred Aldrich Fred Aldrich ( December 23 , 1904 - January 25 , 1979 ) was an American character actor of both film and television . He would break into the film industry in 1939 , appearing in two films that year in small roles : My Son Is Guilty , and the notable , Confessions of a Nazi Spy , which starred Edward G. Robinson and George Sanders . In the course of his thirty-year career he would appear in over 170 films , in small and bit roles . With the advent of television , Aldrich would work in that medium as well , making his first small screen appearance on I Love Lucy , on which he would appear multiple times over the life of the series .   Over the course of his film career he would appear in such notable films as : Kitty Foyle ( 1940 ) , starring Ginger Rogers and Dennis Morgan ; 1945 's The Picture of Dorian Gray , starring George Sanders ; Tycoon ( 1947 ) , starring John Wayne and Laraine Day ; A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur 's Court , with Bing Crosby and Rhonda Fleming ; Young Man with a Horn , starring Kirk Douglas , Lauren Bacall , and Doris Day ; the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn vehicle , Pat and Mike ( 1952 ) ; again with Paul Newman in 1956 's Somebody Up There Likes Me ; The Last Angry Man , starring Paul Muni ; with Rock Hudson and Doris Day in Lover Come Back ( 1961 ) ; the spy spoof , Our Man Flint ( 1966 ) , starring James Coburn ; and 1967 's A Big Hand for the Little Lady , starring Henry Fonda , Joanne Woodward , and Jason Robards .   His television credits include appearances on such shows as The Rifleman , Have Gun - Will Travel , Bat Masterson , The Untouchables , Gunsmoke , Rawhide , and Perry Mason . Aldrich died on January 25 , 1979 .

neg: Lukas Haas Lukas Daniel Haas ( born April 16 , 1976 ) is an American actor and musician . His acting career has spanned three decades , during which he has appeared in more than 50 feature films and a number of television shows and stage productions .

neg: Bill Raymond William Joseph `` Bill '' Raymond ( born September 9 , 1938 ) is an American actor who has appeared in film , television and theatre since the 1960s .

neg: Whit Bissell Whitner Nutting Bissell ( October 25 , 1909March 5 , 1996 ) , better known as Whit Bissell , was an American character actor .

neg: And Baby Makes Three And Baby Makes Three is a 1949 American romantic comedy directed by Henry Levin and starring Robert Young , Barbara Hale , and Robert Hutton .

neg: Jay Pickett Jay Pickett ( born February 10 , 1961 ) is an American actor .

neg: Dawn Lyn Dawn Lyn Nervik ( born January 11 , 1963 ) is a retired American actress best known for her role as Dodie Douglas during the last three seasons of the long-running family comedy television series My Three Sons . Her brother , Leif Garrett , is also a former actor .

neg: Lee Wallace (actor) Lee Wallace ( born July 15 , 1930 ) is an American actor of film , stage , and television .

neg: Michael Landon Jr. Michael Graham Landon Jr. ( born June 20 , 1964 ) is an American actor , director , writer , and producer .


query: Cindy McCain is a woman.

pos: Cindy McCain Cindy Lou Hensley McCain ( born May 20 , 1954 ) is an American businesswoman , philanthropist , and humanitarian , and the wife of long-time United States Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain of Arizona .   She was born and raised in Phoenix , Arizona , as the daughter of wealthy beer distributor Jim Hensley . After receiving bachelor 's and master 's degrees from the University of Southern California , she became a special education teacher . She married John McCain in 1980 and the couple moved to Arizona in 1981 , where her husband would be elected to the United States Congress the following year and has been in office since then . The couple had three children together , in addition to adopting another . From 1988 to 1995 , she founded and operated a nonprofit organization , the American Voluntary Medical Team , which organized trips by medical personnel to disaster-stricken or war-torn third-world areas . During this time , she became addicted to painkillers for several years and resorted to having a physician write illegal prescriptions on her behalf . She reached an agreement with the government in which no charges were filed against her .   Upon her father 's death in 2000 , she inherited majority control and became chair of Hensley & Co. , one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors in the United States . She participated in both of her husband 's presidential campaigns and , in 2008 , drew both positive and negative scrutiny for her appearance , demeanor , wealth , spending habits , and financial obligations . She continues to be an active philanthropist and serves on the boards of Operation Smile , Eastern Congo Initiative , CARE and HALO Trust , frequently making overseas trips in conjunction with their activities . During the 2010s she has become prominent in the fight against human trafficking .

neg: UniteWomen.org UniteWomen.org is a national non-partisan 501 ( c ) 3 tax exempt non-profit organization with a mission of ending inequality for women that stems from prejudice and discrimination and to defend and advance the human and civil rights of women and girls . The organization was formed in Michigan in February 2012 . It developed in response to the War on Women , a series of legislative actions in the United States which negatively affect women .   The group has organized several marches , including a march in Jackson , Mississippi , to oppose `` 32 bills introduced this session restricting women 's access to health care '' and a nationwide march on April 28 , 2012 that took place in major cities across the United States . The group has been endorsed by American Association of University Women , National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health , the The Coalition of Labor Union Women and The Coffee Party USA . The march in April 2012 was promoted by Barbara Hannah Grufferman   Karen Teegarden , President of UniteWomen.org , appeared on The Authentic Woman , along with National Organization for Women President , Terry O'Neill . The two women 's rights leaders were interviewed by radio host , Shannon Fisher , about The State of Women 's Rights in America .   The organization was a partner in the Suffrage Centennial Celebration in 2013 , which was a week of events in Washington leading up to a reenactment of the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913 Other partners in the Suffrage Centennial Celebration were the National Women 's History Museum , Sewall-Belmont House & Museum , the Smithsonian 's National Museum of American History , the Newseum , American Association of University Women , Daughters of the American Revolution , Delta Sigma Theta , the National Archives , the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial , the National Press Club , and The George Washington University Lisner Auditorium .   UniteWomen.org 's `` Unite Against Rape '' campaign raised public awareness of the issues of rape , human trafficking and violence against women . An array of legislators , journalists and celebrities participated in the campaign , including U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine ; comedians Roseanne Barr , Margaret Cho , Annabelle Gurwitch and Lois Bromfield ; social justice advocate Sandra Fluke ; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle , Ronnie Cameron , musician Courtney Love ; social and political commentators Meghan McCain , Alexandria Goddard ( the Steubenville blogger ) , Leslie Salzillo , Kimberley A. Johnson and Tanya Tatum ; XoJane writers and editors Jane Pratt , Mandy Stadtmiller , Alison Freer , Marci Robin and Julia Allison ; actors Yuri Lowenthal , Pia Glenn and Sharon Gardner ; celebrity artist Tormented Sugar ; writers Herman Williams , III , Pat Bertram , Michele Rolle and Toni Morrison ; executive director of the Military Rape Crisis Center , Panayiota Bertzikis ; and celebrity relationship experts Dr. Gilda Carle and Dr. Sheri Meyers . The campaign was co-founded by UniteWomen.org executive committee members Renee Davis , Karen Teegarden , Shannon Fisher and Sarah Warfield Chamberlin . The team also partnered with Rape , Abuse & Incest National Network for a national RAINN Day campaign to raise awareness of sexual assault on college campuses .

neg: Citizens United v. FEC Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 558 U.S. 310 ( 2010 ) is a landmark U.S. constitutional law and corporate law case dealing with the regulation of campaign spending by organizations . The United States Supreme Court held ( 5 -- 4 ) on 21 January 2010 that freedom of speech prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by nonprofit corporations , for-profit corporations , labor unions and other associations .   In the case , the conservative non-profit organization Citizens United wanted to air a film critical of Hillary Clinton and to advertise the film during television broadcasts  shortly before the 2008 Democratic primary election in which Clinton was running for U.S. President . This would violate a federal statute prohibiting certain electioneering communications near an election . The court found the provisions of the law that prohibited corporations and unions from making such electioneering communications to conflict with the U.S. Constitution .   However , the court upheld requirements for public disclosure by sponsors of advertisements . The case did not affect the federal ban on direct contributions from corporations or unions to candidate campaigns or political parties .   The decision was highly controversial when announced , and remains the subject of much discussion today .

neg: Iowa Chicken The Iowa Chicken was a person in a chicken suit who followed John McCain and Rudy Giuliani around Iowa during the 2008 American presidential race , carrying a sign that read `` You ` Bawk ` ed at the Straw Poll ! '' This was done to both protest and bring attention to the fact that neither candidate competed in the Iowa Straw Poll . In the past , all Republican candidates have competed in the Straw Poll , and McCain and Giuliani 's decisions not to attend represented a break from tradition .   The identity of the Iowa Chicken has not been revealed , but he or she follows an American campaign tradition , including such precedents as 2000 's Corn Man .

neg: Women in the United States Senate There have been 50 total women in the United States Senate since its establishment in 1789 . The first woman senator , Rebecca Felton , served in 1922 ( for a single day ) , but the first woman elected to the Senate was Hattie Caraway in 1932 . Fourteen of the women who have served were appointed ; seven of those were appointed to succeed their deceased husbands . Currently ( as of 2017 ) , the 115th Congress has 21 female senators out of 100 ( 21 % ) , one more than both the 113th and 114th congresses , and an all-time high .

neg: O: A Presidential Novel O : A Presidential Novel is a fiction book by an anonymous author ( speculated to be John McCain 's 2008 senior campaign advisor , Mark Salter ) about the 2012 U.S. presidential race . It was released on January 25 , 2011 . The marketing strategy for the book has been compared to the 1996 roman à clef , Primary Colors : A Novel of Politics , which was also initially ascribed to an anonymous author . Its stated objective is to `` offer some resonant truths about what President Obama is really thinking '' .   As part of its pre-publication publicity , Simon & Schuster sent an e-mail to numerous writers and journalists asking them to decline to comment if they are asked whether they are the anonymous author . The publisher has said that the author `` has been in the room with Barack Obama '' , prompting speculation on whether he or she is a political reporter , an administration insider , or a Democratic Party strategist . The New York Times remarked , however , that `` much of what passes for inside knowledge in these pages would be known to anyone who 's read a bunch of campaign accounts '' .   Shortly after the book was published , Mark Halperin of Time reported that his sources had confirmed the author is McCain aide Mark Salter .

neg: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Deborah Wasserman Schultz -LSB- ˈwɑːsərmən_ˈʃʌlts -RSB- ( born September 27 , 1966 ) is an American politician . She is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Democratic Party and was a former chairperson for the Democratic National Committee .   Wasserman Schultz previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate , and was a national campaign co-chair for Hillary Clinton 's unsuccessful 2008 run for president . She is the first Jewish congresswoman elected from Florida . Her district covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties , including Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach .   Wasserman Schultz was elected chairperson of the Democratic National Committee in May 2011 , replacing Virginia Senator Tim Kaine . On July 24 , 2016 , Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation from her position after Wikileaks released a collection of hacked emails indicating that Wasserman Schultz and other members of the DNC staff showed bias against the presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton 's campaign . Her resignation was finalized on July 28 following the 2016 Democratic National Convention . She was subsequently appointed honorary chair of the Clinton campaign 's `` 50 state program '' . -LSB- 73 -RSB-

neg: Melissa Etheridge Melissa Lou Etheridge ( born May 29 , 1961 ) is an American singer-songwriter , guitarist , and activist . Her self-titled debut album Melissa Etheridge was released in 1988 and became an underground success . The album peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 , and its lead single , `` Bring Me Some Water '' , garnered Etheridge her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance , Female . In 1993 , Etheridge won her first Grammy award for her single `` Ai n't It Heavy '' from her third album , Never Enough . Later that year , she released what would become her mainstream breakthrough album , Yes I Am . Its tracks `` I 'm the Only One '' and `` Come to My Window '' both reached the top 30 in the United States , and the latter earned Etheridge her second Grammy award . Yes I Am peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 , and spent 138 weeks on the chart , earning a RIAA certification of 6x Platinum , her largest to date .   In October 2004 , Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer , and underwent surgery and chemotherapy . At the 2005 Grammy Awards , she made a return to the stage and , although bald from chemotherapy , performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song `` Piece of My Heart '' . Etheridge 's performance was widely lauded , with India.Arie writing `` I Am Not My Hair '' about Etheridge . Later that year , Etheridge released her first compilation album , Greatest Hits : The Road Less Traveled . The album was a success , peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 , and going Gold almost immediately . Her latest studio album is This Is M.E. .   Etheridge is known for her mixture of `` confessional lyrics , pop-based folk-rock , and raspy , smoky vocals . '' She has also been a gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993 . She has received fifteen Grammy Award nominations throughout her career , winning two , in 1993 and 1995 , respectively . In 2007 , she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for `` I Need to Wake Up '' from the film An Inconvenient Truth . In September 2011 , Etheridge received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .

neg: Cindy Hyde-Smith Cindy Hyde-Smith is the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce . She took office in January 2012 and is the first woman to hold the position . Prior to serving as Agriculture Commissioner , Hyde-Smith was a member of the Mississippi Senate for three terms , holding the position of Senate Agriculture Committee chair for eight years .

neg: United States presidential election in Maine, 2008 The 2008 United States presidential election in Maine took place on November 4 , 2008 throughout all 50 states and D.C. , which was part of the 2008 United States presidential election . Maine is one of two states in the U.S. that instead of all of the state 's 4 electors of the Electoral College to vote based upon the statewide results of the voters , two of the individual electors vote based on their congressional district because Maine has two congressional districts . The other two electors vote based upon the statewide results . See below in the section of Electors for more information .   Maine once again displayed it status as a blue state , with Democrat Barack Obama taking the state with 57.71 % of the vote and a difference of 126,650 votes . Maine has voted Democratic since 1992 and is the only state other than Nebraska to split its electoral votes , though it did not do so until 2016 . It is also the only state in New England where a county voted for Republican John McCain , with Piscataquis County giving McCain roughly 50.7 % of the vote .

neg: Transpartisan Transpartisanship represents an emerging school of political thought which accepts the validity of truths across a range of political perspectives and seeks to synthesize them into an inclusive , pragmatic container beyond typical political dualities . It is distinct from bipartisanship , which aims to negotiate between `` right '' and `` left , '' resulting in a dualistic perspective , and nonpartisanship , which tends to avoid political affiliation altogether .   Transpartisanship is a movement to support and advance a common ground - or `` new center '' - that already exists in U.S. politics , emerging periodically into public view in the form of `` unusual coalitions '' of progressives and conservatives around issues ranging from war and the military budget to corporate power and the surveillance state .   The movement builds on methods of facilitated dialogue , deliberation and conflict resolution .   Current examples of transpartisan initiatives include Transpartisan Center , TheSolution.org , Reuniting America , Transpartisan Alliance , and Liberty Coalition .   Transpartisanship is an emerging field that advocates pragmatic and effective solutions to social and political problems , transcending and including preexisting political ideologies . Transpartisanship encompasses the idea that all systems are inextricably interconnected , and that successful outcomes can best be reached through inclusive , genuine , and respectful cooperation . Transpartisan democracy , in part , seeks to reintegrate the public 's voice in identifying , debating , and shaping governmental policies , while continuing to protect the sovereignty of the individual .  The term `` Transpartisanship '' has emerged to provide a meaningful alternative to `` Bipartisanship , '' and `` Nonpartisanship . '' Bipartisanship limits the dialogue process to two political viewpoints or entities , striving for compromise solutions . Nonpartisanship , on the other hand , tends to deny the existence of differing viewpoints in exchange for cooperation . Both the bipartisan and nonpartisan approaches can discount the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist , which often results in incomplete and therefore unsuccessful outcomes . In contrast to these , transpartisanship recognizes the existence and validity of many points of view , and advocates a constructive dialogue aimed at arriving at creative , integrated , and therefore , breakthrough solutions that meet the needs of all present .   Transpartisan gatherings have resulted not only in surprisingly civil conversations noted by mainstream media but also in shifts from traditional ideological stances by some participants .   A close relative of transpartisanship is Integral politics . A transpartisan approach to policy would necessarily include individual and collective , as well as subjective and objective , perspective . Furthermore , similar to Integral theory , transpartisanship places politics in a developmental context , viewing democracy and prosperity not as static attainments , but rather emergent properties along a continuum of developmental stages .

neg: McCain Foods McCain Foods Limited is a Canadian multi-national privately owned company that was established in 1957 in Florenceville , New Brunswick , Canada . It is one of the world 's largest manufacturer of frozen French fries and other potato specialties . It is also held as one of Canada 's best managed companies with a platinum status recognizing their business performance and efforts throughout their organization .

neg: Wells Fargo account fraud scandal The Wells Fargo account fraud scandal is an ongoing controversy brought about by the creation of millions of fraudulent savings and checking accounts on behalf of Wells Fargo clients without their consent . Various regulatory bodies , including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined the company a combined $ 185 million dollars as a result of the illegal activity , and the company faced criminal and civil suits as well .   Wells Fargo clients began to notice the fraud after being charged unanticipated fees and receiving unexpected credit or debit cards or lines of credit . Initial reports blamed individual Wells Fargo branch workers and managers for the problem , and sales incentives associated with selling multiple `` solutions '' or financial products . This blame was later shifted to a top-down pressure from higher-level management to open as many accounts as possible through cross-selling .   The bank took relatively few risks in the years leading up to the 2008 Financial Crisis , which led to an image of stability on Wall Street and in the financial world , which was tarnished by the widespread fraud perpetrated by the company and subsequent coverage . The controversy resulted in the resignation of CEO John Stumpf , and an investigation into the bank led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren .

neg: Betty Kennedy Betty Margaret Hannah Kennedy , ( January 4 , 1926 -- March 20 , 2017 ) was a Canadian broadcaster , journalist , author , and Senator , who is best known for her work on radio and television .   Born and raised in Ottawa , Ontario , the daughter of Walter Herbert Styran and Janet Kincaid ( McPhee ) Styran , Kennedy graduated from Lisgar Collegiate Institute , and began her career with the Ottawa Citizen . She became a broadcaster , as a host of a local radio show , during a newspaper strike . She was soon hired away by CFRB in Toronto where she became host of The Betty Kennedy Show in 1959 ; the daily interview and public affairs show remained on the air for 27 years with Kennedy interviewing 25,000 guests ranging from Pierre Trudeau to Debbie Reynolds . In 1962 , she joined the panel of the current affairs quiz show Front Page Challenge on CBC Television , remaining with the show until it went off the air in 1995 .   She wrote two books : Gerhard : A love story ( 1975 ) , about her late first husband , and Hurricane Hazel ( 1979 ) . Kennedy also had a vital career as an Executive Producer for television . Her series , Insight with Betty Kennedy , aired on TV Ontario ( OECA ) during the early 1970s . Robert Gardner , who worked with Kennedy as a studio director on the series , said of her : `` She was remarkable . We would tape five half hour interviews live-to-tape in a single day . She would prep each of the sessions with very prominent guests and would flawlessly interview them . Often there was only a space of fifteen minutes between each program . There were no re-takes and not a single chance for error . '' She also executive-produced Leave this Not to Cain ( narrated by Pierre Berton ) , This Vibrant Land , and she hosted An Eye for Eternity ( the international fine arts exhibition at Montreal ) .   Kennedy 's first husband , businessman Gerhard Kennedy , died of cancer in 1975 . Her second husband was G. Allan Burton ( 1915 -- 2002 ) , CEO and Chairman of now defunct Simpsons department stores .   She was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on June 20 , 2000 . She retired less than six months later on her 75th birthday .   Kennedy resided in Campbellville , Ontario , near Milton , Ontario with Burton .   Kennedy died on March 20 , 2017 , aged 91 .   Kennedy was named to both the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame and the Canadian News Hall of Fame and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1982 .

neg: Straight Talk America Straight Talk America is a political action committee and intercampaign outreach vehicle created by Sen. John McCain . Originally formed during McCain 's 2000 bid for the Republican presidential nomination , it was revived again in 2005 , and then retired in 2007 as he announced his formal bid for the presidency in 2008 .

neg: The Women's Conference The Women 's Conference ( also known as the California Governor & First Lady 's Conference on Women ) is a nonprofit , nonpartisan US organization and annual forum for women . The event first began in 1986 as a California government initiative for working professionals and women business owners . Since 2004 , The Women 's Conference has become a large event at which people such as the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso , former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair , Oprah Winfrey , Barbara Walters , Jane Fonda , Martha Stewart , Tyra Banks , Sarah , Duchess of York , Tim Russert , Deepak Chopra , Tom Brokaw , Queen Rania of Jordan , Maureen Dowd , Sandra Day O'Connor , Thomas Friedman , Anna Quindlen , and Billie Jean King have spoken .   Restructured by Shriver in 2010 , The Women 's Conference reportedly became the `` largest meeting of women in the country '' and a celebration of `` lives and lessons '' . Now known as the California Women 's Conference , its main stage presentations and seminar sessions have addressed personal topics such as work-life balance , service and volunteerism , healthy lifestyles , spirituality and families , professional issues such as professional development , financial planning , entrepreneurialism and communications , as well as social issues like women 's maternal health , global poverty , climate change and emergency preparedness .   The event is staged at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach , California , usually in the fall .   Every year , substantial portions of the event are made available free through a live streaming webcast at The Women 's Conference 's web site .

neg: Dovey Johnson Roundtree Dovey Johnson Roundtree ( born April 17 , 1914 ) is an African-American civil rights activist , ordained minister , and attorney . Her 1955 victory before the Interstate Commerce Commission in the first bus desegregation case to be brought before the ICC resulted in the only explicit repudiation of the `` separate but equal '' doctrine in the field of interstate bus transportation by a court or federal administrative body . That case , Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company ( 64 MCC 769 ( 1955 ) ) , which Dovey Roundtree argued with her law partner and mentor Julius Winfield Robertson , was invoked by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy during the 1961 Freedom Riders ' campaign in his successful battle to compel the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce its rulings and end Jim Crow in public transportation .   Roundtree was saluted by First Lady Michelle Obama on the occasion of the release of her 2009 autobiography , Justice Older than the Law , which Roundtree co-authored with Washington journalist Katie McCabe and which won the 2009 Letitia Woods Brown Award from the Association of Black Women Historians . In a letter made public at a July 23 , 2009 tribute to Roundtree at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery , the First Lady cited Roundtree 's historic contributions to the law , the military and the ministry , and stated : `` It is on the shoulders of people like Dovey Johnson Roundtree that we stand today , and it is with her commitment to our core ideals that we will continue moving toward a better tomorrow . ''   A protégé of black activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune , Roundtree was selected by Bethune for the first class of African-American women to be trained as officers in the newly created Women 's Army Auxiliary Corps ( later the Women 's Army Corps ) during World War II . In 1961 she became one of the first women to receive full ministerial status in the African Methodist Episcopal Church , which had just begun ordaining women at a level beyond mere preachers in 1960 . With her controversial admission to the all-white Women 's Bar of the District of Columbia in 1962 , she broke the color bar for minority women in the Washington legal community . In one of Washington 's most sensational and widely covered murder cases , United States v. Ray Crump , tried in the summer of 1965 on the eve of the Watts riots , Roundtree won acquittal for the black laborer accused of the murder of Georgetown socialite ( and former wife of a CIA officer ) Mary Pinchot Meyer , a woman with romantic ties to President John F. Kennedy .   The founding partner of the Washington , D.C. law firm of Roundtree , Knox , Hunter and Parker in 1970 following the death of her first law partner Julius Robertson in 1961 , Roundtree was special consultant for legal affairs to the AME Church , and General Counsel to the National Council of Negro Women . She was the inspiration for actress Cicely Tyson 's depiction of a maverick civil rights lawyer in the television series `` Sweet Justice '' , and the recipient , along with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor , of the American Bar Association 's 2000 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award . In 2011 a scholarship fund was created in her name by the Charlotte Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College . Roundtree also received the 2011 Torchbearer Award from the Women 's Bar Association of the District of Columbia , the organization which she integrated in 1962 . In March 2013 an affordable senior living facility in the Southeast Washington DC community where she ministered was named `` The Roundtree Residences '' in her honor . She turned 100 in April 2014 .

neg: Kelly Ayotte Kelly Ann Ayotte ( -LSB- ˈeɪɒt -RSB- born June 27 , 1968 ) is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017 .  A member of the Republican Party , she was the second-youngest of the 20 female senators , and the twelfth-youngest overall .   Born and raised in Nashua , New Hampshire , Ayotte is a graduate of Nashua High School , Pennsylvania State University and Villanova University School of Law . She worked as a law clerk for the New Hampshire Supreme Court before entering private practice . She also worked as a prosecutor for the New Hampshire Department of Justice , and briefly served as the legal counsel to New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson , before returning to the Department of Justice to serve as Deputy Attorney General of New Hampshire .   In June 2004 , Governor Benson appointed Ayotte as Attorney General of New Hampshire , after the resignation of Peter Heed . She became the first and only woman to serve as New Hampshire 's Attorney General , serving from 2004 to 2009 , after she was twice reappointed by Democratic governor John Lynch . In July 2009 , Ayotte resigned as Attorney General to pursue a bid for the U.S. Senate , after three-term incumbent Judd Gregg announced his retirement from the Senate .   In September 2010 , Ayotte won a close victory over lawyer Ovide M. Lamontagne in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate . She then defeated Democratic congressman Paul Hodes in the general election with 60 % of the vote and was sworn into the U.S. Senate as a member of the 112th Congress on January 3 , 2011 . Ayotte was mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election . An August 2013 Newsmax magazine cover story named Ayotte No. 1 among the 25 most influential women in the GOP , calling her `` an emerging force in Congress . ''   In 2016 New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan defeated Ayotte in her bid for reelection by a very narrow margin of 1,017 votes ( 0.14 % ) . After President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court , the administration chose Ayotte to lead the White House team escorting the nominee to meetings and hearings on Capitol Hill .

neg: United States presidential election in Nebraska, 2008 The 2008 United States presidential election in Nebraska took place on November 4 , 2008 as part of the 2008 United States presidential election . Voters chose 5 electors to the Electoral College , who voted for President and Vice President . However , this state is one of the two states of the U.S. that , instead of giving all of its electors to the winner based on its statewide results , just 2 of them vote based on the statewide results , and the others vote based on their individual congressional district results .   Nebraska , statewide , was not a swing state in 2008 . Located in the Great Plains of the United States , it is one of the most staunchly Republican states in the country . While some hypothetical general election match-up polls between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama showed the race to be seemingly close , they were largely regarded as outliers as more polls released showed McCain leading in double digits . McCain wound up carrying the popular vote in Nebraska by 14.93 points , taking in 56.53 % of the total statewide vote . However , Obama narrowly defeated McCain in Nebraska 's 2nd congressional district , which contains Omaha and the surrounding areas . Due to Nebraska 's system of allocating electoral votes to winners of Congressional Districts , Obama was able to win one electoral vote while John McCain received the state 's other four electoral votes .

neg: 72 Things Younger Than John McCain 72 Things Younger Than John McCain is a book by American blogger Joe Quint . The book lists items from popular culture that were invented after John McCain 's birth in 1936 , including nachos , Social Security , chocolate chip cookies , duct tape and ZIP codes . 72 Things Younger Than John McCain also includes people who are younger than McCain , even though the reader might believe them to be older . Quint used the book to show how the age of a candidate was more relevant to their success as President of the United States than gender or race .

neg: Cindy Vandor Cindy Vandor ( Cindy Druss ) was born on May 11 , 1955 . After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism , she went on to Washington , D.C. where she handled production duties for The Today Show , NBC Nightly News , and NBC News Updates . She also reported for NBC 's all-news radio station . There , she attracted the notice of the Independent Television News Association which hired her to cover Capitol Hill , and later , The White House .