Terre Haute For Obama Blog
Obama's foot soldiers encounter name-calling, vandalism, bomb threats
I want to thank zl the volunteers out there. There are doing such a formidable job and I am sure everybody in the campaign is very grateful. I posted blogs about a bomb threat here in Terre Haute, Ind. Wait until you see what our volunteers have to deal with everyday. Some of it is really ugly. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/page/2/ (read more)Obama Supporter Refutes False Claims
Guys, this is one of the best stories I have come across during this campaing. Please, take a look at this link. It is from the young turks. They are pretty good and they are big Obama fans. One of the members received a push poll lying about Sen Obama. Here is the story. If only every Obama supporter could not only know the facts, but also be able to stand up to these people and let them know that Carl Rove Politics is about the meet a violent death. Oh...How refreshing it is to see informed persons like this guy. Reassuring too!
(read more)HQ: please, this is not done
First of all, this is not a way of questioning anybody's commitment. I am sorry, but even I as a strong supporter thing that it was a little arrogant for our campaign to be acting like we dont care about WV. Sen Obama was touring Washington and Capitol Hill while HRC was campaining. I understand that he needs rest, but I and many people I know do not appreciate the fact that he went on a TV tour, looking like this thing is done. If I were a West Virginia, I would find it arrogant, yes I say it again, arrogant. The more white and ble collar voters we lose, the more it looks back. A "nominee" should not be blown out of the water by more than 20 points in two consecutive states. If he were resting I would not have said this, but he went campaining on Capitol Hill, instead of the upcoming states. (read more)Let's Just ignore Her
I would be so happy if everybody were to just ignore her. What she is saying about winning the "hard working Americans, white Americans," has some truth in it, except that she is also trying to say that those voters are the only true Americans. Yet, the best thing we could do for our campaign is to ignore these remarks. We cant win this debate folks. On one hand, we cant ignore the reality that she is partly right, on the other, the way she said what she said it not an inclusive attitude. However, if we try to prolong this "debate" and try to bush back, they will say that we are playing the so-called reverse racism. Let her rant all she wants to. She is toast and she knows it, we don't need to et down on the dirt with her anymore than we had to two weeks ago. Let's just enjoy our victory in relative silence until she eventually gets out. (read more)Watch great add Barack is running in Kentucky!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1386357098/bctid1522775495
(read more)Polls Show that the Smears are Still working
Folks, what we now need is to fight these smears about Sen Obama. The polls again showed last night that 15 percent of people still think that he is a Muslim who has ties to Hamas( the Hamas part is largely due emails sent by the McCain camp). I still believe that our HQ has not dealt with this issue hard enough. When you google "Barack Obama," you get things such as "Obama Muslim" and "Obama AntiChrist." Some might say that there is nothing we can do, because they are just too many stupid people out there who actually want to believe these smears, but we should still do better at refuting them. With a close general election, we cannot afford these lies going around any longer. Just my 2.5 cents; until then, get the lattes in! (read more)Looks like it was a big night for Barack!
I am so proud to be a Hoosier! I thought with Senator Bayh she was going to win by a lot.
I hope Hillary gets it. Now I just heard she is having a fund raiser tomorrow in Washington? I thought it was over for her!
(read more)Please take the time to listen to this new music video
I am getting so excited about our primary here in Indiana today. I hope No. Carolina and we both give Barack a huge boost!
I have been glued to MSNBC all day!
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...
I was just sent this fantatic music video. Please take time to listen. It is really great.
LuAnn......Hoosiers are for Barack!
(read more)This was sent to me by a friend..hope you are inpired!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxT21uFRwM (read more)Somethiing is going on in Indiana,,voters disappearing
One million purged - The Incredible Disappearing Indiana Voter RollsBy GWTardy - May 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pm EDT Also listed in: 10 groups
One million purged - The Incredible Disappearing Indiana Voter Rolls
http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/73758.html
Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2008- 6:10 pm
THE INCREDIBLE DISAPPEARING INDIANA VOTER ROLLS
1.1 million voters purged from Indiana voter rolls More than a quarter of a million voter registrations cancelled from just two northern counties
In April 2008 when Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita announced the release of "record high" voter registration rolls, with 4.3 million voters set to vote in the Tuesday May 6 primary, he didn't mention that a whopping 1,134,427 voter registrations have been cancelled.
Now, the voter rolls are supposed to be tidied up prior to each election. Indiana's last general election was in Nov. 2006, and they have had a slew of special and general elections since then. So how have 1.1 million voters -- 26 percent of the current statewide list -- escaped the regularly scheduled voter registration cleanup squads? Who are these million voters and where do they come from?
One quarter-million of them come from just two northwestern Indiana counties: Lake and Porter. Lake County reports purging 137,164 voters and neighboring Porter County cancelled out 124,958 voters.
Lake County, the home of Gary, Indiana, has spawned the Jackson Five and a great old musical (The Music Man) and and has been referred to as "the second most liberal county in America." Lake County has one of the heaviest concentrations of African-American voters that you'll find anywhere in the USA.
Nearby Porter County, the home of Valparaiso, is 95% white and went solidly for Bush in the 2004 election. It also has a lot of college kids.
For whatever reason, these two counties had ... what ... massive data entry problems? Exceptionally messy records? Lots of dead people who climbed back into their graves? Or will we see a lot of disappointed voters on Tuesday, when they perhaps learn that they were among the lucky million people who got purged?
If you have a computer please help us here in Indiana
May 4th, 2008 at 7:37 pm EDT
http://www.youtube.com/v/QloB5TS3bJU&hl=en"></param><param
May 6th...2 days and we vote here in Indiana. We need everyones help. Please share this with everyone in Indiana and No. Carolina and don't forget to email all the Super Delegates!
Thanks!
LuAnn Terre Haute...........................We Still Can..if we all work together!!
(read more)President Clinton and Rev. Wright....sure look friendly
Thought you all might enjoy this1 Can you believ it?
Why don't we share it with as many Hoosiers and No. Carolinians we can before our primaries?
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-16982
Thanks, LuAnn
(read more)Hoping Barack visits Vincennes, IN
I really hope Barack can make an appearance in Vincennes, IN. It would be a much needed boost in this area. To have him possibly give a speech at the George Rogers Clark Memorial the same as Senator Robert Kennedy did during his campaign would be great! Weather permitting of course. And also this is where President William Henry Harrison is from. Also FDR did the dedication of the Memorial here when it was built.
Everyone has been working hard up at the campaign office and have been out canvasing. If you do not know where the Vincennes office is the address is 329 Main St. at the corner of 4th and Main. Drop by and say hello and join in on the fun :) Hope to see you their!
Judy
(read more)Is Rev. Wright worse than Bosnia Lie or McCain 100 year war?
I, as I am sure most of you, are sick and tired of the MSM talking about Rev. Wright. Yes, the things he said were terrible and unforgivable. Barack has denounced, disagreed, and disowned him.
What more do people want Barack to do? Why aren't they making Hillary apologize over and over for her out and out lie about sniper fire? Why is no one making Sen. McCain explain, why the tax cuts he so venametly disapproved of are now okay?
What is wrong with this whole picture? Is it fair to crucify a good man for not wanting to "trash" his minister who lead him to Christ? I am looking at this through an entirely different perspective. Until Rev. Wright came out and actually critizided Barack personally, I feel Barack felt he owed this man some sort of loyalty.
Didn't anyone else feel this way? I felt the entire time Barack disapproved of what was said but was also so torn over turning on this man who had taught him to forgive and to "do unto others". Barack seems to be exactly the kind of person or friend I would want and would be proud to call my friend. Most politicians will do anything, whether it be "trash" or destroy a fellow opponent or just throw them to the wolves.
Barack is one of those rare, if not only almost extinct politicians who has not only great character, but believes in loyalty. Loyalty among politicians is something we rarely witness. I think his loyalty says a great deal about his personality in general.
He is a man of great principal and I think that is the reason he does not jump from day to day to coincide with the polls. In the end, this unfortunately may be his downfall, however I would like to see and believe that more people admire a man of great character and would want someone of his stature in the White House. We have just had an adulter and a liar in there and I think an honest man with not only good judgement but great character would be a great change.
The United States of America has lost a lot of our popularity all over the world and we need someone in the White House who will lift us all up and will be able to repair all of the damage that the "Bush Regime" has caused us.
I may be one of those people who believes in "the Audacity of Hope", but I pray I am not alone. Surely there are others of you out there who want to be able to believe and trust our President.
I am putting all of my faith in "Hope" and in "Truth". If others out there do the same, then we all will be addressing Senator Obama as President Obama. I am sorry to say , but both Hillary and McCain have proven to me over and over again that they will follow the polls which ever way they go.
Is that really what we want of our next President. This is one of the most important elections of our lifetimes. Would it not be better to have a man in the White House who will not only think long and hard before he makes a decison and speaks than to have someone who reads the papers to check the polls before making a decision?
(read more)Endorsements in Indiana do not seem to be equal at all
This is what was in our local news in Terre Haute. Look at the endorsements. Do you think a mayor from Clinton (5,000 people) or Mayor of Sullivan(2,500) is anywhere as important as Hillary's endorsers?
Email
Print 
Text SizeDo local political endorsements work?Posted: April 30, 2008 06:32 PM EDT
Updated: April 30, 2008 06:37 PM EDT
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - As we get closer to Primary Election Day in the Hoosier State (May 6th), local endorsement signs are beginning to pop up. You may have noticed as you drove down Poplar Street in Terre Haute, walked by a local business, or saw a union sign in your neighbor's yard. The candidates are pulling out all the stops to prove "they" are the candidate of choice. Senator Clinton brought actor Sean Astin and Ted Danson to Terre Haute, while singer Dave Matthews and actor Jeremy Piven campaigned on behalf of Senator Obama.
It's not just Hollywood celebrities, but local poltical figures like Senator Evan Bayh toured the state for Senator Clinton. Local Clinton, Indiana mayor Jerry Hawkins has publicly endorsed Obama. State Senator Tim Skinner showed his support for the Clintons by introducing the former President on his visit to South Vermillion High School.
Is it all hype? Or do these endorsements actually affect who voters choose when they step inside that voting booth?
Several people we spoke with said "No way."
"Not at all," says Calvin Folsom.
Reporter: "Not at all? Why is that?"
"I make my mind up over the issues, long ahead of time," says Folsom.
"It makes them look more popular, but to me, I just look at what the candidate can do for me. I vote for who I want, not for who Jeremy Piven wants," says Brittany Jackson.
Local Endorsements:
Senator Hillary Clinton Senator Barack Obama
-State Sen. Tim Skinner -Clinton, IN Mayor Jerry Hawkins
-State Rep. Kreg Battles -State Rep. Dave Crooks
-State Rep. Clyde Kersey -Sullivan, IN Mayor Scott Biddle
-U.S. Senator Evan Bayh
REMAINING NEUTRAL: U.S. Congressman Brad Ellsworth (8th District)
By: Liz Nichols
(read more)Indiana Factory closed and Millitary Information diclosed
I received this and wanted to share it. It is just another of "Hillary's twisted truths"
This is rich:Clinton Criticizing Closure of Indiana Factory That Clinton Helped Close
Clinton is airing an advertisement in Indiana, bemoaning the closure of a defense contractor Magnequench's manufacturing plant in Valparaiso (she is also echoing this line in her stump speeches). Looking at the camera, she tells us she's upset that the 200 jobs that were sent to China, and that "now America's defense relies on Chinese spare parts." And then comes the kicker: She tells viewers that "George Bush could have stopped it, but he didn't."
Clinton is certainly right that it is a tragedy that 200 American jobs were killed in a corporate deal that also exported sensitive military technology to China. But she forgets to mention that it wasn't George Bush who was in the key position to stop it -- it was Bill Clinton.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/clinton-criticizing-closu_b_98972.html
(read more)
Response from Indiana Congressman to endorse Barack
I received this letter in response to my asking the congressman to please consider endorsing Barack. Since Senator Bayh is actively campaigning with Hillary and has asked the congressmen here in Indiana to not endorse anyone,
I juat felt I should at least voice my opinion and ask all of the congressmen to reconsider endorsing him, since I feel Hillary is at a great atvantage here with x President Clinton and Sen. Bayh helping her.
I was not pleased with the response and I did respond back.
Dear LuAnn,
Thank you for contacting me with your views on the 2008 Presidential election. I appreciate your comments, and I welcome this opportunity to share my thoughts.
As you know, the President of the United States sets the course for our country and exerts a great deal of influence over international events and policies. To work effectively, our Presidential election process is thorough and relies on a well-informed electorate. And I am glad to see voters like you taking an early interest in the positions of our choices for President.
At this time, I have no plans to endorse any candidate for President. I know that Hoosiers are independent thinkers and will make up their own minds about who they think will best lead our country. Instead, I am going to remain focused on serving the people of the 8th District and working to find commonsense solutions to the challenges we face.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your views with me. I need your input to make the best decisions possible, so please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Brad Ellsworth (read more)
FINAL PUSH: "The Undecided Voter" Kit‏
Democratic Pollster Peter Hart said these are the questions undecided voters have about Barack.--"Is he one of us? Is he safe? Does he love America?"
Most undecided voters are not voting on issues, but their GUT...
how they FEEL about the candidate...below is a DVD to go 'for the gut' and
for any who may still need more info on an issue, flyers on 3 TOP ISSUES.
UNDECIDED VOTERS have never heard Barack's famous "not a red America, not a blue America,
but the UNITED States of America" speech. Imagine what a difference it would
make if EVERY undecided voter in IN heard it. That's not possible, but we can make a real,
targeted difference. Let's do our part, door to door, block by block... .
I encourage you to download the speech and 'burn' it onto a DVD to give away. Directions below...
2004 Democratic National Convention Speech P1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQkJNVsgKM
Convention Speech P2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UDKXKGZ3PY&feature=related
HOW TO TRANSFER VIDEOS TO DVD:
Here's how to download videos and transfer to dvd-
- first find the URLs of the videos you want ...listed above
- then go to VideoDownloadX.com and paste the video URL into their download box
- now click 'Download' and it will open a new page with the download link
- download each video to your computer
- download free DVD authoring software called DVD Flick; it takes all your videos in a batch, and converts into a DVD format and
- burns a DVD that can play inside any DVD player or even your computer.
Top 3 ISSUES/Flyers; plz share while canvassing--
"Plan to Strengthen the Economy" ...use with "Economic Crisis Plan"
"Economic Crisis Plan" (deals with foreclosure crisis)
"Mother" Healthcare ...echoes NEW Barack tv ad & new Time cover
"Making College Affordable"
Issue Flyers for College Students (read more)
Hoosiers it is time to Unite an work as hard as you can
May the 6th is getting closer an closer. We live in a State that can either possibly stop Hillary or give Barack a huge boost. Personally, I want to boost Obama.
We can all do something. Make calls, go door to door or as I have been doing, e mailing everybody and anybody I can find on any of the Indiana Groups and asking them to do the same. It is very simple. Just click on Groups on the right hand side to find all of them in your area or in Indiana and No. Carolina.
Then go to "MyBlog" and a compose a letter and send it to each group and the members in the group. The groups email address will be on each of their personal pages. You can add them to your friends and then you will just have to check each group when you post.
Then go to your personal email addresses and do the same and ask them to e mail all their contacts.
Hillary and her family have been to Terre Haute 4 times. She is really trying to ge all of the unemployed, union workers and "blue collar" workers. We can not alloy this to happen.
She has also got Senator Bayh campaigning with her and he says "the other congressmen should wait until after the primary to endorse".
Please call each of the three and e mail them too. Ask them to please endorse Barack and help us (their constituents), the people who voted for them, to please endorse Barack before the primary. Of course, you can see why Bayh and Hillary do not want them to endorse him. You can just google congressmen Ellsworth, Hill and Donnelly and it will take you to their site.
All three of them would be able to help greatly if they would endorse and then campaign for Barack. Barack helped them.
Well, I am getting ready to go to our Obama Headquarters here in Terre Haute, but I just wanted to make sure everyone realizes how much work we have to do.
Hillary is not going to quit and the only way we can convense the Super Delegates to endorse Barack and start canpaigning against McCan is to make sure Obama wins here in Terre Haute. I am pretty sure he will win in No.Carolina.
Remember "Yes We Can"........ if we all work together!
LuAnn in Terre Haute
Let me know if any of you have any differnt ideas.
I hope I do not sound bossy, but I am very excited about helping put Barack in the White House.
I just heardon MSNBC, that Obama has now got more Super Delegates than Hillary. That is great news!!
(read more)This is Baracks schedule right now We need him in rural Indiana
Campaign Appearances
April 28, 2008 - Town Hall with Barack, Wilson, NC
April 28, 2008 - One-Stop Early Voting Rally with Barack, Chapel Hill, NC
April 28, 2008 - Town Hall with Barack, Wilmington, NC
April 29, 2008 - Town Hall with Barack, Winston-Salem, NC
April 29, 2008 - Town Hall with Barack, Hickory, NC
We all need to email him and let him know we need him here in rural Indiana, particularly Terre Haute since the Clinton's have been here four times and Sen. Bayh is always wit Hillary and he is from here and popular.
Please everyone send him an email. Go to the Home pare of Brack Obama.com (Change We Can Believe In) and click on ACTION at the TOP of the page and then CLICK CONTACT and you can email Michele or several people.
Let them know we need them to come to Terre Haute badly and other rural towns close by. Maybe he could come back to Plainfield or GreenCaste also.
We just need to let him know how hard Hillary is trying to win this state!!!
Thanks,
LuAnn Terre Haute........any ideas you can call me at 812-514-9547 or email
We are running out of time...but "Yes We Can" if we all try and work hard!
(read more)We need Barack to come back to Terre Haute
Community Blogs Welcome, Lu Ann.Manage | Logout | Search Blogs Post from LuAnn.in.Indiana: Barack needs to come back to Terre Haute to beat Hillary hereBy LuAnn in Indiana - Apr 29th, 2008 at 1:18 am EDT Also listed in: Florida For Obama Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: BARACK, NDIANA, RURAL TOWNS, TERRE HAUTE
Hi everyone!
Hillary is coming back to Terre Haute for the second time and Chelsey was here last week and Bill was here and in Clinton a couple weeks ago. They are fighting for the rural vote and smaller towns.
Senator Bayh is campaiging with Hillary wicu is a huge help to her here.
We only have until May 6th to convence Barack how important rural Indiana is in winning this STATE..
We do not want another PA. Please call all your friends and neighbors and write or email Barack and Michele.
We need them to come back to Terre Haute and maybe run to Clinton and Rockville or a few other small towns.
Yes We Can....but it takes all of us! You can email me at BrownIzz7943@aol.com or call me with any new ideas at 812-514-9547.
Thanks!
LuyAnn
(read more)When They Smile In Your Face
Rev. Wright went ole school on the media and others when he referenced 'the dozens' in his explanation to respond at this particular time, at this very moment, in the larger scope of his perceived rise to prominence. What many others and myself are wondering is, 'What's going on here?' How can the pride many of us feel be broadsided by this person (not issue) that did not have to be. Not at this time. I must admit, this is a very clear speaking man. On the other hand, this man, clear thinking as he may be, believes that he could subliminally sabotage, as he attempts to re-direct his failures as an attack on the Black Church. His attempt to redirect was elementary. Does he understand that there is a presidential campaign of unprecedented proportions being waged; that this campaign has meaning and his connection to it would be a bonanza to his ministerial cause; that many are involved; that so much more than any issues that he may have with the candidate are minisqued to the larger picture? Then, after listening to the careful structure of his speeches, it hit me. Sure he does. He knows what he is doing. That is why is he smiling. However, someone has to tell him, "Rev. Wright, this is not funny. It is not about you" I would say he is deliberately trying to do damage to Sen. Obama's ascendancy to the presidency. And I have seen it before, I think of what's going on and it brings to mind an old, but meaningful song by the O'Jays that warned, "They may smile in your face, all the time wanting to take your place, the back stabbers, back stabbers." Yeah, it has been rumored that Rev. Wright could not take being overshadowed by anyone. A State Senator, a U.S.Senator, nor a gifted leader. This is now being reported as one of Rev. Wright's flaws. Like many pastors, they have a 'me' complex. Don't get me wrong, not all of them. But, most of them are prima donnas. For twenty years, as long as he did not overshadow the pastor, all was fine. However, if you are gifted, and emerge from one of those environments, you would encounter the wrath of a back stabber, back stabber. However, there was some words of wisdom in his many diatribes. If GOD is willing Barack to be president, he will be.(read more)
When in doubt always chose Hope over Fear
We are getting closer and closer to the May 6th primary both here in my home state of Indiana and also in No. Carolina.
My mind is made up and in fact I could go vote today. However, I was browsing through pages of blogs and watching tons of you tubes in order to see what might influence others.
I just happened to run across this particular one.
It appears, that no one, other than our x President, yes, Bill Clinton is giving us the exact reason to chose one over the other. His reason is clear, as you listen to President Clinton’s “you tube moment” below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe0BPwWAxnk
Always go with your Hope and not your Fear. We have had 8 years of fear mongering that lives on 1600 Pennsylvania Parkway.
Senator Clinton is resorting to fear tactics and I received an e mail today, letting me know to warn fellow citizens that her campaign is starting negative push polls in No. Carolina. That, more than likely means, we here in Indiana, will be receiving them next.
It’s such a shame that her and her campaign keep choosing to play “below the belt” or “down in the gutter”, as she once accused Obama of. Hillary and McCain each is campaigning the way all “older” politicians do.
Barack has proven over and over again that he wants to go with the “new way’ of campaigning but that it becoming harder and harder with each negative attack against him. Also, remember as long as Hillary remains in the race, he is having to battle two opponents.
Barack is honest and his honesty is inspiring thousands of new and old voters. Maybe, this time we will do what President Clinton told us to do in the clip above, and that would be to vote for the candidate who is offering you hope.
We all need hope and I am betting on the goodness of so many Americans to not be fooled by some of the negative, frankly “nasty” campaign rhetoric.
We have lived with fear and lies for so long now that I hope we can see through the smoke and reach out and grasp the candidate of “hope” and of course, in case you do not know of which candidate I am speaking about………it is Senator Obama.
We as a country can chose to stay on the same negative, uninspiring track we are on or we can take a “leap of faith” and chose hope.
This is our country and this is our time to take it back and make it once again “the shining city on a hill”.
It is not too late. Please think long and hard before you make your final decision.
There is only one candidate who is offering us hope and appealing to the good in all of us.
Senator Obama knows it won’t always be easy to “change” the old ways, but if we do not start now and waste another 4 to 8 years with Hillary or McCain then nothing will ‘change” and any “hope” of a new way of living will get buried and we will return to division and more time of getting nothing done.
None of us has the luxury of taking that path. Our country is in peril now and we all need to do our best to choose someone who can be a leader and a listener. Barack listens and he has proven that he has good judgment, as he did when he spoke out against this war.
Do any of you believe Hillary or McCain do not owe favors to others or have people who are strongly against them in congress? Would that not then lead to “politics as usual”?
I am asking each of you to picture how you want to envision the next 4 to 8 years.
If you want a definite change then please go to your poll and vote for Senator Obama.
“Yes We Can”, but only if we dare to take the” road less traveled”.
(read more)Call or Email Ellingsworth, Hill and Donnelly before May 6th
With his state's critical primary in two short weeks, Democratic Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh -- a strong supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has been leaning on the Hoosier State's freshman House members to stay on the sidelines rather than endorse Sen. Barack Obama.Obama is hoping to win the outspoken support of Reps. Brad Ellsworth, Baron Hill and Joe Donnolly. He campaigned for them ahead of their 2006 Democratic sweep, and their districts sprawl across the southern half and central heartland of Indiana -- white, working class areas that favor Clinton. Even a good showing in those districts could be enough for Obama to take the state, given his strength in Indianapolis and the largely African American north near Chicago.
In an interview today, Bayh said he has appealed to Ellsworth, Hill and Donnolly to stay out of the race until their voters have spoken. Clinton will take all three of their districts, he said.
"Why should they get crosswise with some of their friends if they really don't need to?" asked Bayh, perhaps the most powerful elected Democrat in the state.
Already, according to three House sources, one member has defied that appeal. Newly elected Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis had been in Bayh's sights before he broke for Obama.
The effect of any endorsement -- his included -- "really is pretty marginal," Bayh said.
Bayh has endorsed and is activly campaigning with Hillary.
We need to get these other three congressmen to endorse Barack. We don't have much time so let's all give a big win For Barack so we can start the real campaign against McCain.
(read more)
Watch out push polls are starting in NC
Just wanted to let you all know the Clintons are starting pushpolls in NC...we will probably be getting some. Warn others...just incase
--- Begin forwarded message:
From: <teetertotter@nc.rr.com>
To: NC for Obama <NCforObama@groups.barackobama.com>
Subject: [NCforObama] PLEASE BE AWARE: Clinton push polling in NC
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:37:36 -0400
The Clinton campaign is push polling in NC, according to a North Carolina activist, who recently received one such call.
Push polling is a form of telemarketing-based propaganda and rumor mongering, masquerading as a poll. The pollster tries to influence respondents by offering negative information about Obama and positive information about Clinton. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THESE OFFENSIVE TACTICS.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/is-hillary-clinton-push-p_b_98446.html (read more)
"VOTE EARLY" FLYER
AVOID LONG LINES...VOTE EARLY !!! What You Need to Know-
- The Indiana primary is open to all registered voters.
- If you are 18 by November 4th, 2008, you can vote on May 6th, 2008!
- You must bring a photo ID issued by the state of Indiana or federal government.
- It must include an expiration date.
- Student ID from an Indiana state school works if it includes a photo and an expiration date.
- If you are a new registrant, you must bring a photo ID with your current address
- or a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document with your current address.
TO FIND YOUR EARLY VOTE LOCATION--
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/inevlookup
(read more)Vincennes Campaign Office Opening
Please join us on Saturday April 26, 2008 for the Grand Opening of our Vincennes for Obama Office. Location of our office is 329 Main St, next to Old Thyme Diner at 1 p.m. EST. Come on and join us and bring a friend. Their will be a Canvasing later on around 2 p.m., so the more the merrier. Hope to see you their :) (read more)"Is he one of us? Is he safe? Does he love America?" --the ANSWER
Democratic Pollster Peter Hart said these are the questions undecided voters have about Barack.--
"Is he one of us? Is he safe? Does he love America?"
Because they dont know him, if these qustions were answered, he would have their support. Here's how to answer these questions,,,let Barack do what he does best--
Hard to believe, but there are ALOT of people, UNDECIDED VOTERS among them,
who have never heard Barack's famous "not a red America, not a blue America,
but the UNITED States of America" speech. Imagine what a difference it would
make if EVERY voter in IN and NC heard it. That's not possible, but we can make a real,
targeted difference. Most undecided voters are not voting on issues, but their GUT...
how they FEEL about the candidate. Let's do our part, door to door, block by block... .
I encourage you to download the speech and 'burn' it onto a DVD to give away. Directions below...
2004 Democratic National Convention Speech P1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQkJNVsgKM
Convention Speech P2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UDKXKGZ3PY&feature=related
HOW TO TRANSFER VIDEOS TO DVD:
Here's how to download videos and transfer to dvd-
- first find the URLs of the videos you want ...listed above
- then go to VideoDownloadX.com and paste the video URL into their download box
- now click 'Download' and it will open a new page with the download link
- download each video to your computer
- download free DVD authoring software called DVD Flick; it takes all your videos in a batch, and converts into a DVD format and
- burns a DVD that can play inside any DVD player or even your computer.
...or call your nearest geek...or your Obama office volunteers to help you,.
To see a complete VIDEO/AUDIO ARCHIVE of SPEECHES, go here
(read more)Ba-rack-in Philadelphia: A Declaration of Independence from cynical politics
On the 233rd anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, the legacy lives on in Pennsylvania.....
35,000 in Philadelphia!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/caitlinharvey/gGCxFF
Obama Rocks Philly: Over 40,000 at Downtown Rally/March - largest crowd ever
Amazing rally and spontaneous march in the streets of Philadelphia - "Declare your Independence!"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/18/22105/1053/669/498696
Tune in to C-SPAN tonight (Saturday, April 19) at 8:45 Eastern, 7:45 Central to watch the On Track for Change tour rolling into Harrisburg LIVE! It will be aired AGAIN at 11pm Central Time (midnight Eastern Time) Saturday night, and 10:30 am Central Time (11:30 am Eastern) Sunday morning.
"In four days, you get the chance to help bring about the change that we need right now. Here in the city and the state that gave birth to our democracy, we can declare our independence from the politics that has shut us out, and let us down, and told us to settle.
We can declare our independence from the politics that's put the oil companies, and the drug companies, and the insurance companies in charge of the decisions that impact our lives and our children's lives.
We can declare independence from the say-anything, do-anything politics that's all about how to win and not why we should; that politics that exploits our differences instead of speaking to our common concerns and our common destinies as Americans.
We can do all these things, but only if we declare our independence from the cynicism and the doubt that tells us that change can't happen."
- Barack Obama, to a crowd of 35,000 outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 4-18-2008.
(read more)Lets All Remain Friends After The Election
I am an amateur photographer from Terre Haute, Indiana and wish to meet other photographers and models from Terre Haute and Prairie Creek. I am also studying Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop Elements 6, both are photo editing and designing programs. I would love to have photographers and models from the area e-mail me at conour-62@hughes.net to share pictures and ideas. I have a MySpace page where you can see some of my pictures and videos as well as some from friends. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=362462471 Please feel free to join me as a friend on myspace also.
Sincerely yours,
Frank Conour
(read more)Want to see what a true patriot looks like?...see it/share it‏
Hard to believe, but there are ALOT of people, UNDECIDED VOTERS among them,
who have never heard Barack's famous "not a red America, not a blue America,
but the UNITED States of America" speech. Imagine what a difference it would
make if EVERY voter in PA heard it. That's not possible, but we can make a real,
targeted difference. Most undecided voters are not voting on issues, but their GUT...
how they FEEL about the candidate. Let's do our part, door to door, block by block... .
I encourage you to download the speech and 'burn' it onto a DVD to give away. Directions below...
2004 Democratic National Convention Speech P1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQkJNVsgKM
Convention Speech P2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UDKXKGZ3PY&feature=related
HOW TO TRANSFER VIDEOS TO DVD:
Here's how to download videos and transfer to dvd-
- first find the URLs of the videos you want ...listed above
- then go to VideoDownloadX.com and paste the video URL into their download box
- now click 'Download' and it will open a new page with the download link
- download each video to your computer
- download free DVD authoring software called DVD Flick; it takes all your videos in a batch, and converts into a DVD format and
- burns a DVD that can play inside any DVD player or even your computer.
...or call your nearest geek.
To see a complete VIDEO/AUDIO ARCHIVE of SPEECHES, go here
(read more)Top 5 Flyers/voters' concerns; plz share while canvassing‏
- "Plan to Strengthen the Economy" ...use with "Economic Crisis Plan"
- "Economic Crisis Plan" (deals with foreclosure crisis)
- "Mother" Healthcare ...echoes NEW Barack tv ad & new Time cover
- "Making College Affordable"
- Issue Flyers for College Students
I know these are challenging times right now, but the MOST constructive way to spend our energy is to spread Barack's message to undecided voters; everything else is secondary. (read more)
WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to admit that I am bitter! Not because of what HRC says or does, but because I think that the campaign is not hitting her hard enough. Even though I have to concede that Sen Obama proved me wrong many times, I am even more frustrated now than before. For example, when the Rev Wright story broke, my reaction was, "f**k, have they finally gotten him?" He came back strong and dealt with it, as he did with everything else. Yet, I still think that the campaign is being too nice. After the latest ad from HRC, why not do two new ads exposing her. Anything, from Colombia-gate to I am goingto create 200,000 jobs in NY- gate. Yes, we represent hope, but we cannot afford to be just answering to critics. I know they have experts working on this, but a pre-emptive strike is always good, especially when your attacks are justified. (read more)NEW "Making College Affordable" flyer; copy/distribute
NEW Flyer:"Plan to Strengthen the Economy" -plz distribute‏
Plan to Strengthen the Economy
Provide Middle Class Americans Tax Relief
Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working
families to offset the payroll tax they pay by creating a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up
to $500 per person, or $1,000 per family.
Simplify Tax Filings for Middle Class Americans: Obama will simplify tax filings so millions of
Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than five minutes, giving the option of
pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return, saving Americans up to 200 million total hours of
work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.
Labor
Raise the Minimum Wage: Obama will raise the minimum wage, index it to inflation and increase
the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Ensure Freedom to Unionize: Obama cosponsored the Employee Free Choice Act to assure that
workers should have the freedom to choose whether to join a union without harassment or
intimidation from their employers.
Technology, Innovation and Creating Jobs
Create New Job Training Programs for Clean Technologies: The plan will increase funding for
workforce training programs and direct these programs to incorporate green technologies training,
such as advanced manufacturing and weatherization training, into their efforts to help Americans
find stable, high-paying jobs. Obama will also create an energy-focused youth jobs program to
invest in disconnected and disadvantaged youth.
Invest in U.S. Manufacturing: The Obama comprehensive energy independence and climate change
plan will invest in America's highly-skilled manufacturing workforce and manufacturing centers to ensure
that American workers have the skills and tools they need to pioneer the first wave of green
technologies that will be in high demand throughout the world.
Barack again rises above corporate media attacks
The latest corporate media attack on Barack..........and it is knocked back out of the park once again, with an honesty we see so rarely in politics. Watch the video from Terra Haute, Indiana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow&eurl
To paraphrase Lincoln, the corporate media has warred upon Barack as Satan wars upon the Bible. But they have once again come up short - like Lincoln, Obama continues to speak the truth and stands tall with integrity through the storm. We should never let the corporate media hypnotize us into false despair - remember the lesson that Lincoln taught us:
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise -- with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country."
- President Abraham Lincoln, December 1, 1862.
Yes, we must disenthrall ourselves from subservience to the pundits and corporate media talking heads who feel it is their birthright to direct our electoral process and manipulate the people into more fear and cynicism. Now is the time to RISE above the constant media-driven negativity and division inflicted on our souls each and every day, and move forward together toward a new future, discarding the tired old dogmas of the past and the vicious cynicism of the entrenched powers that be. It's up to us - we are the ones we've been waiting for!
Melanie Shouse
North County for Obama (St. Louis, Missouri)
www.barackobama.com
"Cynicism is a sorry excuse for wisdom."
- Barack Obama
The Tide is Turning....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9ubMQX7WE
and Obama's Everywhere, Man!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMokHZ_35qY
Text of remarks in Terre Haute:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBWx9
Barack's plan to help rural America:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/rural/ (read more)
Great new Obama song - for all places in PA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMokHZ_35qY
I'm only a so-so fan of some of the songs this campaign has inspired...I mostly just like that people ARE inspired and leave it at that. But I think this is not only hysterical but brilliant. I guarantee every single person in PA would listen to the whole thing just to see if their hometown gets mentioned! I think this could be huge. I would love to see if any ambitious bands in NC or IN [or any of the other remaining 10 contests] would like to adapt to their own states! Please pass it on if you get a second. Cheers!
(read more)From HQ: Issue flyers for college students
These have been created by my.barackobama.com to help students in canvassing--
Barack Obama on EducationBarack Obama on the EnvironmentBarack Obama on the War in IraqBarack Obama on IsraelBarack Obama on EnergyBarack Obama on the Job MarketBarack Obama on Stem CellsBarack Obama on LGBT RightsBarack Obama on Women's Rights
"Making College Affordable" flyer
Other Flyers to Download:
Flyers are a great way to share information about Barack...pass them out in public spaces, share them with or leave them in key places; print them out and pass them along! 
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/resourceflyers/
(read more)
FLYER that echoes NEW Barack ad & new Time cover; plz distribute to coordinate w/new ad campaign‏
"My mother died of cancer at 53. In those last painful months, she was more worried about paying her medical bills than getting well. I hear stories like hers everyday.
For 20 years Washington has talked about health care reform and reformed nothing. I've got a plan to cut costs and cover everyone. But unless we stop the bickering and the lobbyists we will be in the same place twenty years from now."
(read more)
-The typical American family will save up to $2,500 per year on medical costs.
-Offering a new public health plan that will give individuals the choice to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to federal employees. The new public plan will be open to individuals without access to group coverage through their workplace or current public programs.
-Establishing a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase an insurance plan for themselves. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible.
-Requiring all employers to make a meaningful contribution towards health coverage for their employees.
-Mandating all children have health care coverage and expanding the number of options for young adults up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parent's plans.
-Expanding eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function.
4 weeks away...
Well here we are 4 weeks away from the Indiana Primary...
Indiana is a close state. Barack can win. And if he does it's my opinion that the race will be over.
So, LET'S GO INDIANA!
(read more)Senate Testimony
This article is lengthy, but gives a good rebuttal to the arguments used by proponents for continuing our efforts in Iraq. It's too bad that it doesn't get wider press coverage. I would think it could help Obama and finish HC, as well as put a dent in the number of McCain supporters.(read more)General William Odom Tells Senate Rapid Withdrawal Is Only Solution
Testimony before Senate Commitee on Foreign Relations
William E. Odom (born June 23, 1932) is a retired U.S. Army 3-star general, and former Director of the National Security Agency under President Ronald Reagan
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON IRAQ
By William E. Odom, LT General, USA, Ret.
2 April 2008
Good morning Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. It is an honor to appear before you again. The last occasion was in January 2007, when the topic was the troop surge. Today you are asking if it has worked. Last year I rejected the claim that it was a new strategy. Rather, I said, it is a new tactic used to achieve the same old strategic aim, political stability. And I foresaw no serious prospects for success.
I see no reason to change my judgment now. The surge is prolonging instability, not creating the conditions for unity as the president claims.
Last year, General Petraeus wisely declined to promise a military solution to this political problem, saying that he could lower the level of violence, allowing a limited time for the Iraqi leaders to strike a political deal. Violence has been temporarily reduced but today there is credible evidence that the political situation is far more fragmented. And currently we see violence surge in Baghdad and Basra. In fact, it has also remained sporadic and significant in several other parts of Iraq over the past year, notwithstanding the notable drop in Baghdad and Anbar Province.
More disturbing, Prime Minister Maliki has initiated military action and then dragged in US forces to help his own troops destroy his Shiite competitors. This is a political setback, not a political solution. Such is the result of the surge tactic.
No less disturbing has been the steady violence in the Mosul area, and the tensions in Kirkuk between Kurds, Arabs, and Turkomen. A showdown over control of the oil fields there surely awaits us. And the idea that some kind of a federal solution can cut this Gordian knot strikes me as a wild fantasy, wholly out of touch with Kurdish realities.
Also disturbing is Turkey's military incursion to destroy Kurdish PKK groups in the border region. That confronted the US government with a choice: either to support its NATO ally, or to make good on its commitment to Kurdish leaders to insure their security. It chose the former, and that makes it clear to the Kurds that the United States will sacrifice their security to its larger interests in Turkey.
Turning to the apparent success in Anbar province and a few other Sunni areas, this is not the positive situation it is purported to be. Certainly violence has declined as local Sunni shieks have begun to cooperate with US forces. But the surge tactic cannot be given full credit. The decline started earlier on Sunni initiative. What are their motives? First, anger at al Qaeda operatives and second, their financial plight.
Their break with al Qaeda should give us little comfort. The
Sunnis welcomed anyone who would help them kill Americans,
including al Qaeda. The concern we hear the president and his aides
express about a residual base left for al Qaeda if we withdraw is utter
nonsense. The Sunnis will soon destroy al Qaeda if we leave Iraq.
The Kurds do not allow them in their region, and the Shiites,
like the Iranians, detest al Qaeda. To understand why, one need only
take note of the al Qaeda public diplomacy campaign over the past
year or so on internet blogs. They implore the United States to bomb
and invade Iran and destroy this apostate Shiite regime.
As an aside, it gives me pause to learn that our vice president
and some members of the Senate are aligned with al Qaeda on
spreading the war to Iran.
Let me emphasize that our new Sunni friends insist on being
paid for their loyalty. I have heard, for example, a rough estimate that
the cost in one area of about 100 square kilometers is $250,000 per
day. And periodically they threaten to defect unless their fees are
increased. You might want to find out the total costs for these deals
forecasted for the next several years, because they are not small and
they do not promise to end. Remember, we do not own these people.
We merely rent them. And they can break the lease at any moment.
At the same time, this deal protects them to some degree from the
government's troops and police, hardly a sign of political
reconciliation.
Now let us consider the implications of the proliferating deals
with the Sunni strongmen. They are far from unified among
themselves. Some remain with al Qaeda. Many who break and join
our forces are beholden to no one. Thus the decline in violence
reflects a dispersion of power to dozens of local strong men who
distrust the government and occasionally fight among themselves.
Thus the basic military situation is far worse because of the
proliferation of armed groups under local military chiefs who follow a
proliferating number of political bosses.
This can hardly be called greater military stability, much less
progress toward political consolidation, and to call it fragility that
needs more time to become success is to ignore its implications. At
the same time, Prime Minister Maliki's military actions in Basra and
Baghdad, indicate even wider political and military fragmentation. We
are witnessing is more accurately described as the road to the
Balkanization of Iraq, that is, political fragmentation. We are being
asked by the president to believe that this shift of so much power and
finance to so many local chieftains is the road to political
centralization. He describes the process as building the state from
the bottom up.
I challenge you to press the administration's witnesses this week toexplain this absurdity. Ask them to name a single historical
case where power has been aggregated successfully from local
strong men to a central government except through bloody violence
leading to a single winner, most often a dictator. That is the history of
feudal Europe's transformation to the age of absolute monarchy. It is
the story of the American colonization of the west and our Civil War.
It took England 800 years to subdue clan rule on what is now theEnglish-Scottish border. And it is the source of violence in Bosnia and Kosovo.
How can our leaders celebrate this diffusion of power as
effective state building? More accurately described, it has placed the
United States astride several civil wars. And it allows all sides to
consolidate, rearm, and refill their financial coffers at the US expense.
To sum up, we face a deteriorating political situation with an
over extended army. When the administration's witnesses appear
before you, you should make them clarify how long the army and
marines can sustain this band-aid strategy.
The only sensible strategy is to withdraw rapidly but in good order.Only that step can break the paralysis now gripping US
strategy in the region. The next step is to choose a new aim, regional
stability, not a meaningless victory in Iraq. And progress toward that
goal requires revising our policy toward Iran. If the president merely
renounced his threat of regime change by force, that could prompt
Iran to lessen its support to Taliban groups in Afghanistan. Iran
detests the Taliban and supports them only because they will kill
more Americans in Afghanistan as retaliation in event of a US attack
on Iran. Iran's policy toward Iraq would also have to change radicallyas we withdraw. It cannot want instability there. Iraqi Shiites are Arabs,
and they know that Persians look down on them. Cooperation between them
has its limits. No quick reconciliation between the US and Iran is likely, but
US steps to make Iran feel more secure make it far more conceivable
than a policy calculated to increase its insecurity. The president's
policy has reinforced Iran's determination to acquire nuclear
weapons, the very thing he purports to be trying to prevent.
Withdrawal from Iraq does not mean withdrawal from the
region. It must include a realignment and reassertion of US forces
and diplomacy that give us a better chance to achieve our aim.
A number of reasons are given for not withdrawing soon andcompletely. I have refuted them repeatedly before but they have
more lives than a cat. Let try again me explain why they don't make
sense.
First, it is insisted that we must leave behind military training
element with no combat forces to secure them. This makes no sense
at all. The idea that US military trainers left alone in Iraq can be safe
and effective is flatly rejected by several NCOs and junior officers I
have heard describe their personal experiences. Moreover, training foreignforces before they have a consolidated political authority to command their
loyalty is a windmill tilt. Finally, Iraq is not short on military skills.
Second, it is insisted that chaos will follow our withdrawal. We
heard that argument as the "domino theory" in Vietnam. Even so, the
path to political stability will be bloody regardless of whether we
withdraw or not. The idea that the United States has a moral
responsibility to prevent this ignores that reality. We are certainly to
blame for it, but we do not have the physical means to prevent it.
American leaders who insist that it is in our power to do so are
misleading both the public and themselves if they believe it.
The real moral question is whether to risk the lives of more
Americans. Unlike preventing chaos, we have the physical means to
stop sending more troops where many will be killed or wounded. That
is the moral responsibility to our country which no American leaders
seems willing to assume.
Third, nay sayers insist that our withdrawal will create regional instability. This confuses cause with effect. Our forces in Iraq and our threat to change Iran's regime are making the region unstable. Those who link instability with a US withdrawal have it exactly backwards. Our ostrich strategy of keeping our heads buried in the sands of Iraq has done nothing but advance our enemies' interest.
I implore you to reject these fallacious excuses for prolonging the commitment of US forces to war in Iraq.
Thanks for this opportunity to testify today.
Obama In Fort Wayne Friday
Sen. Obama visits Fort Wayne WTHR-TV updated 10:15 a.m. ET, Sat., April. 5, 2008 Fort Wayne - The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the key theme at a town hall meeting with Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Friday. The Democratic presidential candidate made his second stop in Indiana following numerous appearances in the state by his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton over the past few weeks. The atmosphere in the room was electric, with some 2,000 supporters leading chants before the senator's appearance. There were also several attempts to get unregistered voters in the crowd to register before the April 7th deadline so that they can vote in the May 6th primary. It was a diverse mix of people - black and white, old and young, men and women. It is ironic that this kind of jubilant rally would take place on the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death. Dr. King dreamed of a day when a man would be judged "not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character." That this diverse gathering was all in support for the Democratic candidate's presidential campaign was not lost on anyone. Mike Riley introduced Obama to the crowd. Forty years ago, Riley was running Robert Francis Kennedy's presidential campaign in Indiana. Sen. Obama began his speech by calling for a moment of silence for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He talked about what Dr. King was doing in Memphis when he was assassinated 40 years ago today. "He was standing up for struggling sanitation workers," Obama said, adding that for years the workers had served their city without complaint, but in 1968 went on strike with modest demands for better wages and benefits and the recognition of their union. Their efforts were met with violent opposition, Obama said. He talked about King's dedication to the struggle for economic justice and the "opportunities that should be available to everyone of all races and all walks of life." Obama said that King realized that the struggle for economic justice and racial justice were really "one struggle for freedom, dignity and for humanity." Obama talked about Coretta Scott King taking up her husband's cause and said that the sanitation workers eventually won their contract. But he says the dream remains out of reach for many. "More Americans are unemployed now than at any time in years," said the senator, citing increased costs, stagnant wages and "the terrible burden of losing a home." He said that current politics is "too small for the scale of the challenges we face. Instead of following the politics of Dr. King, Obama said politics uses "race to drive us apart when all this does is feed the forces of division and distraction and stop us from solving our problems." He spoke of the "great need of this hour" for Dr. King's approach. "While we each have a different past, we all share the same hopes for the future." He mentioned well-paying jobs, affordable health care, being able to send children to college and to retire with security as "common hopes, modest dreams - they are the heart of the struggle for freedom and dignity and humanity and that is our task." Obama told reporters after the event that he thinks he can win Indiana. "I guarantee you we can win in Indiana and you will be seeing so much of me you'll maybe be sick of me by the time May 6th rolls around. We've got a month. And what we've done generally through this campaign season and I think this is why we've done well is any state where I have the time to meet people and talk to people and get involved in hearing what the issues are facing the community - we end up doing well." The senator then took questions from the audience, which ranged from gun violence to budget priorities to global warming. Obama said he supports "lawful gun ownership and the Second Amendment" but also "common sense restrictions in place to keep guns out of the hands of children, the mentally ill and criminals, strengthening background checks so they're tight, close the gun show loophole." He also mentioned improving the system so that the ATF is able to share gun tracing information. If guns are used in a crime, Obama said, then the ATF would be able to trace the weapon back to "unscrupulous gun dealers." He said those steps must be taken and balanced with the rightful ownership of guns by sportsmen and hunters. On the gun violence issue, Obama said it was important to get cheap, illegal guns off the streets and that it was also "important for communities and young people to have a different way of life. It goes beyond guns. It means investing in early childhood education so children are prepared when they start school. It means not just talking about how great teachers are but rewarding them for their greatness by giving them higher salaries and more support." He mentioned after school and summer school programs to give children constructive activities to keep them off the streets, and also making college more accessible. He said he supported a $4,000 tuition credit for every student annually in exchange for community service. On federal budget priorities: "My job as commander in chief will be to keep you safe. That's my first responsibility so I will not hesitate to do whatever is required," Obama said, adding that he "won't hesitate to strike against those who would do us harm." That includes, according to the senator, training and equipping troops properly, putting them on proper rotation so "we're not burdening military families with three, four, five rotations. And it's about treating troops properly when they come home." He talked about the problem of homeless veterans or those who have to fight for disability payments or wait in hours at the VA. He said he pushed for legislation so that wounded troops don't have to pay for their own meals or phone calls, as they were at Walter Reed Hospital. "They have earned our respect. We should not have them beg for the benefits they have earned." "Keeping you safe also means using our military wisely. The war in Iraq was unwise," Obama said. "Most tragically it has cost us over 4,000 lives of brave young Americans so far and thousands more grievously injured." He said military efforts in Iraq distracted the United States from Afghanistan, where he feels the fight against terrorism should be focused, and also that it has "fanned the flames of anti-American sentiment." Obama pointed out that the war has cost half a trillion dollars so far. "For that money we could have provided health care to every American, college scholarships to every young person." He said the $400 million a day or $10 billion a month spent in Iraq could instead be invested in Indiana and the rest of the country, "putting people back to work, rebuilding the infrastructure, rebuilding hospitals and schools." "I intend to end this war," Obama said. His focus will be on "making the economy stronger, rebuilding homeland defense, rebuild infrastructure to make us more competitive and help more young people go to college." Obama said his plan was in contrast to Republican Sen. John McCain "who is a genuine war hero. I admire him for that. But he intends to maintain a permanent occupation in Iraq." Obama referred to a McCain remark that the US could be in Iraq for the next 100 years. Obama said that would cost another trillion dollars. He then turned to the economy, pointing to the latest jobless figures of 80,000 out of work last month and 200,000 this year. Again, he attacked McCain for the latter's stance leaning towards a federal government that allows industries to regulate themselves, including the foreclosure crisis. "That is the politics of the past. We are looking at the politics of the future," Obama said. On the issue of global warming, Obama said he would put more people to work in green technology jobs. "We need to start by controlling this and taking it seriously," he said, chastising the Bush administration for ignoring or denying the issue. He also called on Americans to play their part. "every time to set that thermostat up to 75 degrees, every time that you pass up buying the squiggly light bulbs, you are contributing to the problem of global warming," he said. Obama said he would provided tax credits for those who live "environmentally friendly." The senator called on parents to play a bigger role in their children's lives. "We've gotta talk about that," Obama said. He called on mothers and fathers alike to look after their children by "instilling them with the values of hard work, compassion, discipline and honesty - homespun values will serve us well moving forward." He added: "We can't talk about the teachers if we're not willing to turn off the television set and put away the video games, and make sure your child is home after it gets dark." On the issue of drugs and crime, he talked about the need to stop drugs from being transported into cities by restoring the COPS program that puts more officers on the streets. "The more cops we have on the streets the better off we are in terms of being able to tamp down the violence and steer young people in the right direction," he said. "The more children see that they have a future, the less likely they are to be involved in the drug trade." Obama mentioned the need for diversionary programs for non-violent drug offenders, including transition and job training programs when they get out of jail so they can move into the mainstream economy. A young boy asked Obama what prompted him to run for president. His response: "I believe in what Dr. King called the 'fierce ugency of now.' The belief that ther's such a thing as being too late and that hour is almost upon us." (read more)Reasons to Vote For Obama
Wake up people we need the following changes. Vote For Obama and Change
Senator Barack Obama's positions:
Opposed the Iraq war from the start.
Voted to end the war in Iraq.
Supports capturing and killing Osama Bin Laden.
Favors a $1000 tax cut for every working American family.
Will implement tax form simplification to reduce filing time.
Provide tax credit for all middle class homeowners.
Provide a tax cut for all families making less than $75,000 a year.
Amend NAFTA to protect American workers.
Amend NAFTA to strengthen environmental protections.
Providing Flex Ed training accounts for workers.
Extending Trade Adjustment assistance to service workers.
Supported Patriot Employer Act of 2007 that gives tax credits to large companies that keep workers here in America.
Double funds for basic federal research.
Implement a long term research and development tax credit.
Invest in green technologies.
Reduce carbon emission gases.
Tackle the challenges of global warming.
Create an energy focused youth jobs program.
Create Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Extend the Production Tax Credit.
Expand Broadband into every community.
Keep the Internet tax free.
Expand high speed internet access in rural areas.
Fight for passage of Employee Free Choice Act.
Ensure freedom to unionize.
Would overturn "Kentucky River" classifications of Bush's NLRB
Protect rights of striking workers.
Increase the mininum wage to index it to inflation.
Crack down on predatory lenders.
Provide a universal mortgage tax credit for homeowners who don't itemize.
Sign the Stop Fraud Act to prevent lending fraud.
Mandate accurate loan disclosure.
Create a fund to protect people from foreclosures.
Close the bankruptcy loophole for mortgage companies.
Establish a credit card rating to improve disclosure.
Ban utilateral credit card charges.
Apply interest rate only to future debt.
Prohibit credit card interest on fees.
Prohibit Universal defaults.
Require prompt and fair crediting of cardholder payments.
Protect working people from unfair bankruptcy laws.
Ban executive bonuses for bankruptcy companies.
Require disclosure of pension investments.
Cap outlandandish interest rates on payday loans.
Implement legislation to drive unscrupulous lenders out of business
Create a bankruptcy exemption for people that went broke because of medical bills.
Double funding for after school programs.
Extend Family and Medical Leave Act.
Encourage states to adopt Paid leave.
Expand the Child Care Tax Credit
Supports ratification of UN Convention Rights of Persons With Disabilities.
Supports independent, community based living for people with disabilities.
Expand educational opportunites for people with disabilities.
Expand job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Strengthen civil rights enforcement.
Sign into law the Fair Pay Act.
Sign law reversing recent SCOTUS rulings that permitted discrimination against women.
Sign law reversing recent SCOTUS rulings that permitted discrimination against racial minorities.
Strengthen federal hate crimes legislation.
Eliminate the sentence disparities regarding crack cocaines.
Establish drug courts for first time, non violent offenders.
Create a prison to work incentive for those transitioning back into society.
Passed a law to prohibit the practice of racial profiling.
Supported reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act.
Opposes all discriminatory barriers to voting.
Helped reform death penalty system in Illinois to protect innocent people on death row.
Voted to ban cluster bombs.
Provide high quality affordable child care to families.
Will quadrulple Early Head Start funding.
Will increase Head Start funding.
Creates early learning challenge grants.
Abolish overly rigid teach to the test curriculum in schools.
Improve accountability in public schools.
Invest in intervention strategies to reduce dropout rates in schools.
Increase funding for afterschool programs.
Supports Step Up program to increase summer learning opportunities.
Support English language learner programs.
Expand college outreach programs.
Create teacher service scholarships.
Requires all public schools to be accredited.
Create teacher residency programs.
Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit for higher education.
Streamline financial aid application.
Introduced legislation to increase Pell Grant to $5,100.
Reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Confront deforestation.
Promote carbon sequestration.
Accelerate commercialization of plug in hybrids.
Promote development of commercial scale renewable energy.
Invest in low emission coal plants.
Transition to new electric digit grid.
Double science funding for clean energy products.
Create Green Jobs Corps.
Invest in programs to help manufacturers make transition to green products.
Create clean technologies venture capital fund.
Deploy cellulosic ethanol.
Expand locally owned biofuel refineries.
Increase renewable fuel standards.
Establish national low carbon fuel standard.
Increase fuel economy standards.
Invest in solar energy.
Invest in wind energy.
Establish a centralized database to track lobbyist activities.
Appoint an independent watchdog group to oversee congressional ethic violations.
Favors campaign finance reform.
Sunshine on legislation proposal.
End abuse of no bid contracts.
Release presidential records in a more timely fashion.
Prevent political appointees from working as lobbyists within two years after employment has ended.
Reform political appointment process.
Sign ethics legislation that he proposed as a Senator with Russ Feingold.
Obama sponsored a bi-partisan bill allowing regular people to track federal grants.
Take leadership in the global fight against AIDS.
Provide tax cuts to small businesses.
Provide income tax cuts for all senior citizens making $50,000 a year or less.
Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Protect workers from caregiver discrimination.
Increase mentoring programs for beginner teachers.
Provide universal health care for all Americans within 4 years.
Combat fraudulent subprime loans.
Expand Nurse Family Partnership.
Provide automatic workplace pensions for workers.
Expand savings credit for retirement accounts.
Reinstate pay as you go budget rules.
Repeal Bush tax cuts for top 1% which led to lower middle class standard of living.
Slash earmarks to pre 2001 levels.
Abolish obsolete wasteful government programs.
Voted against raising the minimum debt in 2006.
Supports wiping out Al Qaeda wherever they may be. Opposed Kyl Lieberman.
Supports tough attempts at diplomacy with Iran to protect America's interests.
Will work to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Restrengthen NATO.
Passed a bipartisan law with Senator Lugar to prevent smuggling of WMDs.
Introduced a bill with Senator Hagel to reduce nuclear arsenals around the globe.
Supports securing loose nuke arsenals from the former Soviet Union and elsewhere.
Strengthen Non Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.
Expand size of Army by 65,000.
Expand size of Marines by 27,000.
Provide our troops with new equipment and the tools they need.
Provide National Service troops with adequate leave time.
Will insulate the Director of National Intelligence from partisan politics.
Guarantee that health care can never be denied because of a pre-existing condition.
Introduce a health care plan similar to the one members of Congress have and give all Americans access to this plan.
Simplify the paperwork in health care costs.
Make premiums and co pays affordable.
Require mandatory coverage of all children for health care.
Expand SCHIP.
Expand Medicaid.
Reduce costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and employees.
Support disease management programs.
Require hospitals and providers to have full transparency over costs.
Promote patient safety by requiring providers to report medical errors.
Establish an independent institute to guide reviews + research on comparative effectiveness in health care.
Strengthen anti trust laws to prevent insurance companies from gouging medical providers.
Lower medical costs by having electronic health info systems.
Increase competition in prescription drug markets.
Advance biomedical research field.
Improve mental care coverage.
Reduce mercury deposits to help prevent miscarriages.
Increase funding for autism research.
Cosponsored Healthy Kids Act of 2007.
Cosponsored reauthorization of SCHIP in 2007.
Obama introduced legislation to establish guidelines to monitor fuels from nuclear power plants.
Sponsored a bill with Senator Lautenberg to protect chemical plants from possible terrorist attacks.
Introduced legislation to upgrade monitoring of water supplies.
Introduced legislation to protect localities from radioactive leaks.
Create secure borders with additional personnel and infrastructure.
Remove incentives for people to enter this country illegally.
Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Invest in transitional jobs.
Improve transportation access to jobs.
Fully fund community block grants.
Create an affordable housing trust fund.
Establish a program called 20 Promise Neighborhoods.
Invest in rural areas, especially small businesses, schools, and doctors.
Implement a payment limitation program to help small farmers.
Protect family farms from anti-competitive monopolies.
Implement tough fines for CAFO violations.
Establish country of origin labeling for all products.
Support regional food systems.
Encourage organic farming.
Provide tax credits for young farmers.
Increase capital for small farmers.
Modify FCC so all rural residents have access to modern communications.
Upgrade rural infrastructure.
Supported legislation to reverse 2 billion dollars of agriculture cuts under Bush.
Cosponsored Emergency Farm Relief Act of 2006.
Sponsored a bill to combat the scourge of methamphetamines. Expand Americorps.
Double the Peacecorps in 8 years.
Expand Service learning in all our schools.
Offer an opportunity tax credit for college students in exchange for 100 hours of community service.
Promote college work study programs with public service.
Expand on the YouthBuild program.
Create a Social Investment Fund Network.
Create a non profit entrepreneur agency.
Protect Social Security.
Reform corporate bankruptcy laws.
Strengthen laws protecting against age discrimination in the workplace.
Ensure heating assistance for senior citizens.
Protect the openness of the Internet.
Encourage diversity in media ownership.
Protect children from Internet predators with strict law enforcement.
Support transition of the internet into the digital world. Preserve artistic expression.
Keep inappropriate advertising away from programs for children.
Enhance safety standards for toys imported into this country.
Protect the right of privacy of every law abiding American.
Update surveillance laws under the rule of law.
Higher salaries for teachers.
Work with the FTC to cut down on cyber crimes.
Eliminate teach to the test curriculum and restore true learning to the classroom.
Open up government to citizens by providing transparency.
Provide all our schools with broadband technology.
Modernize public safety networks.
Make the research and development tax credit permanent.
Protect intellectual property at home and abroad.
Reform the patent system to encourage innovation.
Allow all veterans back into the VA.
Strengthen VA care for all veterans.
Fight veterans employment discrimination.
Fix the benefits bureaucracy to help veterans.
Expand vet centers across the country.
Obama passed legilsation to slash red tape to help wounded soldiers at Walter Reed.
Introduced legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix its veterans record systems.
Introduced legislation to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Rebuild the roads and bridges that need to be rebuilt.
Will end the genocide in Darfur.
Will restore habeas corpus to America.
Reject torture.
Close down Gitmo.
Pledges to obey the Constitution of the United States.
Will fully implement and enforce the Equal Pay Act.
End tax breaks for US companies sending jobs overseas.
Voted to reinstate 1.15 billion to the COPS program to reduce crime.
Wants to keep drinking age at 21.
Supports grants to local educational agencies.
Voted to protect ANWR.
Voted to protect the Great Lakes from polluters.
Favors labor and trade standards with trade with China.
Opposed CAFTA which hurts American workers.
Voting to give the District of Columbia its proper vote in Congress.
Voted to expand enrollment period for Medicare Part D.
Favors repealing the discriminatory don't ask don't tell policy.
Provide first responders with the health care and equipment they need.
Voted to implement the 9/11 commission recommendations.
Voted to restore money to ports and first responders.
Voted to establish a Guest Worker program.
Voted to increase the minimum wage.
Voted against anti-Constitution radicals Alito and Roberts.
Voted against the repeal of the estate tax that only applies to 1% of the wealthiest of estates.
Supports the first amendment freedom of religion clauses and establishment clauses.
Introduced a bill requiring public companies to give shareholders an annual nonbinding vote on executive compensation.
Protects our schools by opposing voucher schemes.
Introduced Biofuels Security Act in 2007.
Favors closing corporate tax loopholes.
Understands that global warming is a real problem that must be addressed.
Supports civil unions for LGBT couples.
Favors the death penalty in the rarest but appropriate of circumstances.
(read more)Hamilton Endorses Obama
Hamilton Endorsement: INDIANAPOLIS – Former Indiana U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton, the Vice-Chair of the 9/11 Commission and one of America’s most respected foreign policy voices, announced his endorsement of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for President this morning, citing Obama’s ability to unite the county and his visionary approach to foreign policy: “Barack Obama has the best opportunity to create a new sense of national unity and to transcend divisions within this country, not by ignoring them or smoothing them over, but by working together with candor and civility to meet our challenges. He champions the politics of consensus, not of partisan division. He is driven by the search for the common good. Obama strongly appeals to the restless, practical, non-ideological, results-oriented Americans who will ultimately be decisive in choosing the next president. “Obama has brought hundreds of thousands of new voters into the political process, making the Democratic Party more representative of the people of this nation and giving it new energy. I am impressed by his wide reach and appeal across the electorate. He is redesigning the contours of American politics, expanding Democrats’ electoral reach, and inspiring a whole new generation of voters. If elected, he will lead the country in a manner consistent with the values, hopes, and dreams of the American people, bridging many of the gaps that separate us.” “His foreign policy is pragmatic, visionary, and tough. Barack Obama understands the urgent need for American leadership in confronting many of the challenges ahead, first and foremost defending the safety and security of the American people. He will work with our friends and allies. Obama will strengthen our ability to use all the tools of American power, and relentlessly promote the American values of freedom and justice for all people. “Obama has the best chance to start fresh, to change, and to inspire the country in its march toward a stronger and more perfect union.” Obama warmly welcomed Hamilton’s endorsement. “I am honored to have the support of Lee Hamilton, who is one of our nation’s most respected voices on national security,” Obama said. “Through his 34 years in the House and his extraordinary leadership on the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group, Congressman Hamilton has been a model of integrity and a source of wisdom. Few public servants have done more to advance American foreign policy or to serve the people of Indiana, and I look forward to drawing on his counsel in the months ahead.” Lee Hamilton represented Indiana’s 9th Congressional District for 34 years in Washington. He is president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and director of The Center on Congress at Indiana University. Hamilton is a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, the FBI Director’s Advisory Board, the CIA Director’s Economic Intelligence Advisory Panel, and the Defense Secretary’s National Security Study Group. He recently served as Vice-Chair of the 9/11 Commission and Co-Chair of the Iraq Study Group. Hamilton graduated from DePauw University and Indiana University Law School. (read more)In Regards To The Election
Hilliary Clinton and her staff should have never started their bad way of campaigning. Now I am also reading they are not paying some bills. Not paying Campaign Finances disturb me badly as this country is already in bad financial shape and with cost of living going up for everyone we sure don't need a President that can not handle finances and take us even furthur in debt. Anyone supporting Hilliary Clinton should be studying the history of the Clintons from the first day Bill Clinton ran for President. There was all kinds of investigations even some people died misteriously during that time. Bill Clinton made a woman rich by expoitering her publicaly in the White House (our precious Capital Building). As for Hilliary, she can not claim a thing legally that was done by her husband's administration. She can not even keep her stories straight about her travels and sure is not disclosing information that the public should know about. Another subject is the Super Delegates many which are elected officials. They should pass their votes according to what the Citizens of The United States have cast. If they do not they are doing us all a great dishonor and when they are up for election again we should remember this gross dishonor. Also if they vote for candidate bashing and lies they do not need their office. Backing the war in Iraq has the whole world mad at the United States of America even reminding us of abuse to humanity. Yes since the Discovery of America, cultures and race have been abused, the retirees money is being taxed they worked so hard for and the money spent to feed those who never paid a dime in to social security in this country. Obama wants to change all this for the betterment of all Citizens of This Great Country and I agree we need a drastic change. Vote For Obama For Change and Fair Government. (read more)Let's Keep it Going!
I am glad to see Speaker Pelosi saying that HRC should stay in. If she is percieved as being bullied to drop out, we will certainly see another NH, except that, this time we are actually behind in the polls, therefore, the margin might be 5 times more. I am sorry to bring up identity politics but women do not like to see her being pushed around, as I am sure many blacks may have seen the situation if the roles were reversed. Let's keep hoping and fighting for PA in three weeks, until then, bring the latees in! (read more)HRC: Stay in The Race
I really wish our supporters would focus on us winning in PA, instead of asking the HRC to drop out. Why should she, if she could still win or even steal the nomination. Frankly, we are wasting our time if we hope that by voicing this, she would just get up one morning and drop out. Who would pass up the chance, not only to become the nominee, but also the President of the United States. Folks, let's please remember that this prolonged campaign can only make Sen Obama stronger. And let's not forget how in New Hamapshire some, especially women, thought that she was treated unfairly and decided to vote to keep her in the race. (read more)In case you hadn't seen it - Great Peggy Noonan, WSJ Piece
Getting Mrs. ClintonMarch 28, 2008
By PEGGY NOONAN
I think we've reached a signal point in the campaign. This is the point where, with Hillary Clinton, either you get it or you don't. There's no dodging now. You either understand the problem with her candidacy, or you don't. You either understand who she is, or not. And if you don't, after 16 years of watching Clintonian dramas, you probably never will.
That's what the Bosnia story was about. Her fictions about dodging bullets on the tarmac -- and we have to hope they were lies, because if they weren't, if she thought what she was saying was true, we are in worse trouble than we thought -- either confirmed what you already knew (she lies as a matter of strategy, or, as William Safire said in 1996, by nature) or revealed in an unforgettable way (videotape! Smiling girl in pigtails offering flowers!) what you feared (that she lies more than is humanly usual, even politically usual.
But either you get it now or you never will.
That's the importance of the Bosnia tape.
Many in the press get it, to their dismay, and it makes them uncomfortable, for it sours life to have a person whose character you feel you cannot admire play such a large daily role in your work. But I think it's fair to say of the establishment media at this point that it is well populated by people who feel such a lack of faith in Mrs. Clinton's words and ways that it amounts to an aversion. They are offended by how she and her staff operate. They try hard to be fair. They constantly have to police themselves.
Not that her staff isn't policing them too. Mrs. Clinton's people are heavy-handed in that area, letting producers and correspondents know they're watching, weighing, may have to take this higher. There's too much of this in politics, but Hillary's campaign takes it to a new level.