Yesterday the New York Times featured a front page article about the growing disparity between real wages and worker productivity. (The Times also editorialized about “Falling Paycheck” in today’s paper.)

The article said that:

The median hourly wage for American workers has declined 2 percent since 2003, after factoring in inflation. The drop has been especially notable, economists say, because productivity — the amount that an average worker produces in an hour and the basic wellspring of a nation’s living standards — has risen steadily over the same period.

Tasini joined by Elaine Brower (speaking at mike), Mimi Evans (at left), and Missy Beattie whose family members fought or are currently fighting in Iraq, call on Senator Clinton to debate the war. more photos

If you missed the press conference, but want to hear news coverage, tune into the evening news on WNYC, RNN (Time Warner Channel 19), or NY1.

PRESS RELEASE:
FAMILIES OF IRAQ WAR SOLDIERS CALL ON CLINTON TO DEBATE TASINI

NEW YORK, NY – Democratic Senate candidate Jonathan Tasini was joined by families of U.S. soldiers at a press conference today on the steps of City Hall to call on Senator Clinton to agree to debate Tasini before the September 12 Democratic primary. Missy Beattie, Elaine Brower and Mimi Evans who spoke at the press conference all have family members who have fought or are currently fighting in the war in Iraq. Missy Beattie’s nephew was killed in the Iraq war. Mimi Evans has two sons who fought in Iraq and are now back safely in the U.S. Elaine Brower has a son who is currently fighting in Iraq.

Ben Craw at Talking Points Memo wonders what Clinton's pledge of support for Lamont really means.

From TPM Cafe Midterm Roundup

[excerpt]
Clinton is, after all, much closer to Joe Lieberman on her stance on Iraq than she is to Ned Lamont. Many people wonder why the Senate primary race in New York, in which Clinton faces a challenge from Lamont-esque anti-war union organizer Jonathan Tasini (D), isn’t evolving more like the Connecticut race did. The big difference simply seems to be that Clinton is more popular (in her state at least) and a more skilled politician than Lieberman, more “in touch” with her constituents, despite her persistent unwillingness to disown her vote in support of the Iraq invasion. Arianna Huffington takes a closer look at Clinton’s Connecticut machinations. The coming weeks should tell us a lot about whether Hilary is serious about her support for Lamont, or if he is just another cog in some textbook Clinton triangulation.

"We'll have to see how the campaign develops, we'll have to see how the campaign develops," Mrs. Clinton repeats endlessly, but what does that mean? Possibly, "I don't owe the voters any explanations." Susan Blake, at the end of this article, sums it up best when she says, "She said it takes a village to raise a child.... You can't be giving food for children at home and giving arms to bomb children overseas."

Clinton not committing to a debate
BY CHAU LAM AND GLENN THRUSH. STAFF WRITERS

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to the Hamptons Friday for another fundraising event - but not before sidestepping whether she'd debate Jonathan Tasini, her anti-war challenger in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary.

Clinton essentially repeated what she said on her Aug. 18 visit to Long Island but added that she's not avoiding Tasini's demand. "No. I am campaigning. I've been campaigning hard around the state, having a great time, getting out, seeing a lot of people and we'll have to see how the campaign develops," Clinton said at a Super Stop & Shop supermarket in Amityville.

From the Journal News

...Tasini's appearance in Westchester came just hours after Clinton met with Lamont at her Chappaqua home. [Clinton advisor Howard] Wolfson said the meeting went well and that Clinton offered to help Lamont raise money for the race. The war in Iraq, he added, was not discussed.

Guess she won't discuss the war with anyone. Click here to watch a CBS clip of Clinton avoiding the question of whether she'll debate Tasini.