Terre Haute for Obama

Organizing for America’s 2010 Strategy Sessions

Please join us for Organizing for America’s “2010 Strategy Sessions” –
a chance for volunteers, supporters and activists in our community to
meet and talk with OFA staff and Community Organizers about OFA’s
legislative and electoral plan for 2010. After this 90-minute Strategy
Session, you should leave with a common understanding on where OFA is
going in your state and how you can take clear next steps of action
and spread the word to others. As an organization, OFA has come a long way in the past year, and we
have to bring all the lessons learned together and look towards the
future. At these sessions, you will get be walked through the national
strategy and framework for 2010, while simultaneously providing
feedback and breaking down that framework into a local strategic plan
for 2010.
We welcome you, all OFA supporters, active volunteers, former Obama
campaign volunteers, state and county Democratic Party members, staff
and volunteers of other Democratic campaigns and members of activists
and partner organizations. Please bring a friend, some ideas and your
plans for action in 2010! We can’t do this without you!”
Tuesday, March 16 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Terre Haute Volunteer HQ (Terre Haute, IN)
416 S. 6th St.
(apartment over garage with entrance on Swan)
Terre Haute, IN 47807 (read more)

one-year anniversary of this historic election.

Organizing for America Terre Haute Office will be celebrating the election of President Barack Obama. 

Wednesday NOV 4th at 7pm at Organizing for America Office at 416 South Sixth street. Office is behind Wagner, Crawford, and Gambill Law firm above garage.

Entrance to office is on back side of garage. Signs will be out at the law firm directing people.

Come join us and Be a Part of the Moment
In communities across the country, people will be gathering with neighbors and reconnecting with old campaign friends to watch HBO's By the People: The Election of Barack Obama—and enjoy the one-year anniversary of this historic election.

The Party is a Pot Luck. So everyone attending should bring a dish, snack, drink, etc. Admission is Free.

(read more)

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM FORUM

The Terre Haute Office of Organizing for America is holding a HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM FORUMFor Seniors on October 22, 2009 from 10 am to Noon at the  Wabash Valley Senior Citizens Center at 300 South 5th Street in Terre Haute. A few things will be talking to seniors about:  ·         The Obama Plan·         The Congressional Plans ·         Medicare under Health reform and What it means to seniors.·         An overview of where we are in this process.·         What they can do to effect change. (read more)

Call Congress Today

October 20, 2009

 

Organizing for America has already reached our goal of 100,000 people calling their members of Congress.  As of 3 PM over 135,774 people have already called. (read more)

Barack Evening Buzz-10-24-08

Barack Evening Buzz-10-24-08
On to Victory on November 4th

(1)  Obama Launches Anti-Robo Call Website
Foon Rhee-Boston Globe-Political Intelligence
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/obama_launches_6.html

(2)  Obama the Grandson Replaces Obama the Candidate
Christopher Wills-Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3m4YaeYwDHXS6hHdZJi8pm6cZdAD9413G9G0

(3)  Obama Supports Help for Auto Financing
Ken Thomas-Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081024/ap_on_el_pr/obama_automakers_credit_1

(4)  Obama's Spending is Enough to Drive the Republicans Buggy
Dan Morain-Los Angeles Times-Top of the Ticket
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/barack-obamas-1.html

(5)  Excerpts from Newspapers that have Endorsed Obama
Wall Street Journal-Politics & Campaign
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122485442010466443.html

(6)  Disfavor with Palin Grows and Economy Keeps Boosting Obama
Gary Langer-ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=6105651&page=1

(7)  Palin Says Abortion Clinic Bombers are Not Terrorists
Agence France Presse-AFP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081024/pl_afp/usvotepalinabortionterrorism_081024215713

(8)  Polls are Screwy But Obama's Lead is Real-Strong with White Voters
John Farrell-U.S. News & World Report
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/john-farrell/2008/10/24/the-polls-may-be-screwy-but-barack-obamas-lead-is-real-because-hes-strong-among-white-voters.html

(9)  Despite GOP Ad, Biden Stays Silent on "Tested" Guarantee
Matthew Jaffe-ABC News-Political Radar
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/despite-gop-ad.html

(10)  Candidates Should Seek Votes of Muslim Americans
Nafees A. Syed-CNN Politics
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/23/syed.muslim/

(11)  Assessing McCain's Closing Argument
Andew Romano-Newsweek-Stumper
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/despite-gop-ad.html

(12)  Woman Admits Making Up McCain Sticker Attack
CNN Politics
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/24/mccain.sticker/?iref=hpmostpop

(13)  Two Western Carolina Students Charged in Dead Bear/Obama Sign Incident
Alison Go-U.S. News & World Report-The Paper Trail
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2008/10/24/students-charged-in-dead-bearobama-sign-incident.html

(14)  GOP Clerk Passes Around Obama "Black Hitler" Claim
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCx1qF1n3VATTp-yqd6T8EL1A5gQD940U5705 (read more)

Wooo !!!! Spooky Halloween Politics

Sorry the links don't work... I can never get the html to work on my browser these days...
Believe me they are worth the trouble.


http://www.moveon.org/r?r=31274&nid=J5f7ZzzgtGdEgZv42apORDIyMzgyMzE-&id=14591-9396809-8ZnpOEx&t=7


www.palinaspresident.com

love&peace,
marsha (read more)

Host a Debate Watch Party

<img src=”http://www.barackobama.com/images/email/08/oct/debatewatch3_e.jpg”>

 

The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs.

You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch.

Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success.

If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help.

We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign.

In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change.

Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now:

http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

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Palin- Truth Comes Out

Early this week Palin and McCain launched a vicious smear tactic against Barack Obama. They tried to connect him with terrorists. This tactic finally failed when Palin was found guilty of "abusing her power as Governor of Alaska," when she fired a state trooper who wouldn't fire her brother-in-law during a tough custody battle. A bipartisan panel came to this conclusion tonight, although the Republican party hoped that the results to the investigation would come out after the election. Even though allies of Palin are trying to say thor the investigation UNTIL she began running for Vice-President. That's when she stopped contat this finding is a "democratic witch hunt," the 263 report was written by a bipartisan legistlation council. The investigation was launched before Palin even was nominated for Vice-President. It started over the summer. In fact CNN states that Palin herself was helping give information facting the Department of Public Saftey Office and starting blaming Democrats for the investigation. Earlier in the day Republicans at a McCain rally started literally getting angry with him, inquiring "And we're all wondering why that Obama is where he's at, how he got here. I mean, everybody in this room is stunned that we're in this positions." A woman actually said, "I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab." I was shocked by McCains response, " McCain shook his head and said, "No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man...[a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about.""We want to fight and I will fight. But we will be respectful," he said. "I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments. I will respect him and I want everyone to be respectful, and let's make sure we are."
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McCain's rage makes him unfit to be President....Watch!

  Watch this and think if this man could talk to foreign leaders or make rational cool headed decisions. This is so scary. He could blow up and not work with anyone he did not like. OMG he even shoved a woman in the hallway and has called his wife the c word in public!

You have watched how hateful and condescending he has been towards Barack and even the media now. He is out and out lying and will do anything to win.We need this out there viral and let people see the REAL McCain.......not the kind of PRESIDENT we need in this time of crisis!

Watch the video and send it to friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g

LuAnn

Tell everyone including the media! (read more)

Dr. Ralph Stanley would work here too!

I thought you all might see the importance of this message being spread
around Indiana as well as Virginia...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fNAVg0OjZE

Just got home from Indianapolis and seeing Barack today.
Thousands in drizzling rain. Andre Carson, Jill Long-Thompson and Evan
Bayh spoke.
Barack was brilliant and impressive as always..
I was chaparoning for a group of kids from our daughter's charter school
class.
Still brings tears to my eyes and I was not the only one.

peace to all of you..
peace is finally coming,
marsha (read more)

Enough of the hate and smears! Palin has skeletons of her own!

McCain, Palin and the GOP want to talk about Bill Ayers and terrorists.......well it looks like they a Major problem. Please get this out there.

 If Palin gets VP talk about anti American! She is stirring up hate  wherever she goes. We have to say Enough!

This is not acceptable!

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html

We don't not need hate and partisanship stirred up. Palin is stirring it and McCain is letting her run free with whatever she wants to say. This country needs to work together to get us out of this mess we are in. Barack is the only one who has the intelligence, knowledge, temperament and vision for  that great future.Let's all help Barack and make sure all the slurs and hate stops!  

 Enough!

 LuAnn

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Facts about John McCain that need to be shared Asap!

These are facts about McCain, his family, his life and all the mistruths that he likes to brag about. Please take the time to watch these and you may be shocked.People everywhere have the right to know these things about John McCain.He is no maverick. He would be a disaster as President. He is strictly out for John McCain and has proven he will say or do anything to get elected.Please help Barack and share these facts. McCain’s campaign is getting nastier.

 Thanks, LuAnn 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zsn5BuL3Y  

http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=4588

 http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1

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NOAA Ike damage pictures.

My brother-in law sent us this link... Maybe some of you are getting this but in the Hoosier Heartland... we are not seeing the depth of the tragedy.

http://www.tpicks.com/pictures%20people%20have%20sent%20me.html

God Bless them...
VOTE DEMOCRAT!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
peace,
marsha (read more)

My Open Letter to the Media

I have been interested in the field of journalism since I was a little girl who wrote down everything she saw and heard in her journal. I was always on the newspaper in high school and again in my community college back home in New Jersey. I wanted to educate the nation on the truth. I wanted to be as unbiased as possible and provide the truth. That is what a good journalist does, takes everything in their surroundings and investigates the lies, reporting only what is proven to be factual. After that good reporter types up their findings using the inverted pyramid, (the most important facts at the start of the story like who, what, when, where, why) a group of copy editors fact check again.  The head editor then reads it over just to make sure everything is 100 percent accurate, that nothing needs to be rewritten or questioned before being published for the public to lay their eyes on.  It is a long and efficient process before a story goes to print, this stops something like plagiarism from occurring. This is what my college classes have prepared me for. This is what my professors have taught me. You can notice that I keep emphasizing the theme of “truth,” “unbiased,” “factual” and “accurate” reporting. My question to the media is this, when did it become good reporting to print something in a newspaper or on a news site that has not been fact checked? When did it become ok to mix the facts with pure fiction?

 

When did yellow journalism come back in style? (“Yellow journalism is journalism that downplays legitimate news in favor of eye-catching headlines that sell more newspapers.”) I used to love checking my news sites every day. The local papers website, CNN, MSNBC; but now it seems that these sites are more about stories and headlines that will gain readers attention rather than important stories. It makes me sick that ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his vice –president running mate, the news has IGNORED the important issues. No one should care about Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter. They should care about her stances on birth control; abstinence only based sexual education programs, and earmarks. It makes me sick that when Barack Obama used the phrase “you can put lipstick on a pig but it’s still a pig,” the media overplayed stories about the topic rather than noting the fact that the quote was used in John McCain’s political advisor’s own book.

I am ashamed of the profession that I once full heartedly wanted to become a part of. I still want to become a part of it, but so I can try to help end the false smears and allegations that come up in the news all of the time. It is not right.

Since when did news outlets not point it out when a politician was lying? John McCain’s numerous false claims on Barack Obama need to be proven wrong.  The media ignoring an issue and not investigating the claims is just as bad as making things up. It just makes me wonder if ALL of the mainstream news outlets are completely bought out by major corporations. We all know Fox News is hopeless. It should be “Faux News.”  It disgusts me and cracks me up all at once. If you go to Fox News “POLITICAL” section

http://elections.foxnews.com/ I mean it might as well be called the “Sarah Palin” section.

Hopefully America can do the research for themselves before listening to these “accredited” news sources for the facts.

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Barack was great on Letterman! Please watch, read and share to help Barack!

I am not sure if you got to see Barack on the Letterman show last night but he was fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s

 

I just posted this video on the DIGG site and really would appreciate you going there and digging it.

 

I took a swipe at McCain and how his VP pick was strictly a political move and how Barack vetted Joe and made "HIS OWN DECISION".

 

If we can get enough Diggs on it it will possibly be in the top 10 of the day and everyone will see it.

 

It would be super exposure for  Barack as he commented on the stupid "lipstick on a pig" controversy and made some other great comments on several things. He showed both Humor and also made some great POLITICAL points!

 

Please take a minute, watch the video and PLEASE go to DIGG.com and digg it. The Republicans have been burrying some of our good stories on the DIGG site so PLEASE help!

(read more)

Barack was great on Letterman! Please watch, read and share to help Barack!

I am not sure if you got to see Barack on the Letterman show last night but he was fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s

 

I just posted this video on the DIGG site and really would appreciate you going there and digging it.

 

I took a swipe at McCain and how his VP pick was strictly a political move and how Barack vetted Joe and made "HIS OWN DECISION".

 

If we can get enough Diggs on it it will possibly be in the top 10 of the day and everyone will see it.

 

It would be super exposure for  Barack as he commented on the stupid "lipstick on a pig" controversy and made some other great comments on several things. He showed both Humor and also made some great POLITICAL points!

 

Please take a minute, watch the video and PLEASE go to DIGG.com and digg it. The Republicans have been burrying some of our good stories on the DIGG site so PLEASE help!

(read more)

Barack was great on Letterman! Please watch, read and share to help Barack!

I am not sure if you got to see Barack on the Letterman show last night but he was fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s

 

I just posted this video on the DIGG site and really would appreciate you going there and digging it.

 

I took a swipe at McCain and how his VP pick was strictly a political move and how Barack vetted Joe and made "HIS OWN DECISION".

 

If we can get enough Diggs on it it will possibly be in the top 10 of the day and everyone will see it.

 

It would be super exposure for  Barack as he commented on the stupid "lipstick on a pig" controversy and made some other great comments on several things. He showed both Humor and also made some great POLITICAL points!

 

Please take a minute, watch the video and PLEASE go to DIGG.com and digg it. The Republicans have been burrying some of our good stories on the DIGG site so PLEASE help!

(read more)

Where is the Seperation Between Church and State?

It scares me that so many people are supportive of Sarah Palin. She is more small minded and radical than John McCain. Let me preface this by saying that I am supportive in the idea that people are entitled to their beliefs and their own opinions, no matter what they may be. That is one of the wonderful things this country was built on, freedom of speech and opinion and the right to be different.

Next I will mention this: "The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, in which he referred to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as creating a "wall of separation" between church and state. The phrase was then quoted by the United States Supreme Court first in 1878, and then in a series of cases starting in 1947. This led to increased popular and political discussion of the concept."

With this being said I would like to mention an article on CNN yesterday. The article was an interview with an ex pastor of the Pentecostal church that Sarah Palin was a major follower of for two decades. The Wassila Assembly of God Church in Alaska. Her former Pastor Tim Mcgraw, (insert joke here) states that Sarah Palin will, "use her her religious beliefs will influence her decision making when it comes to government policy." Should that comment alone not get her off the Presidential ticket? Yes religion influences people's lives. Yes that is understandable, but when her religion will affect all the major choices that affect us as a country such as; gay rights, the war in Iraq, religion and education in schools, THE ENTIRE women's rights movement including abortion, birth control, and planned parent hood education, well when all of these things are in risk, why is no one SCREAMING as loudly as me?

She has been quoted as saying she will not, "impose her religious views on others, but if she is using her views for the choices she will be making while governing us as a leader, what is she doing? The church she attended believes in the end of the world. It is one of those churches you see that people start to "speak in tongues," when they feel the spirit. That's fine. The church is also pushing Sarah Palin to speak about their "pray away the gays" movement. ‘You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,’’ according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church. Why are people not outraged everywhere? This is the time for our nation to stand together. Whether you believe in gay marriage or not. Whether you believe in the women's right to choose. One thing that can't be denied are our freedoms as Americans. The freedoms our forefathers had planned for us, INCLUDING separation of church and state. WE need to educate people on the issues. Get involved today.

www.barackobama.com
www.now.org
www.hrc.org (read more)

THERE IS NO HOLY WAR!

"Contantine's Sword" by James Carroll
Required viewing by ALL people.
It deals with the historic anti-semitism in religion and the importance of the separation of church and state. It examines the Catholic Church and it's failures, as well as the rise of evangelical groups, and their influence on governments past and present.

A real 5* documentary. Sarah Palin should see it, not to mention the rest of the current administration.


peace to US all,
marsha (read more)

RNC Platform, BOY, are we different!

This is a partial digest for Demos working and with little time.
62 pages.. I got to 29. This is only what jumped out at me. There are many other issues I have not covered.
GOVERNMENT EMPOLYEES... PLEASE READ THE BOLD PRINT!
Read it all and find out how different we are..
http://platform.gop.com/thankyou.htm
(words in parentheses are mine)
peace to you all,
marsha (read more)

Barack in Terre Haute

I had great seats for the Obama event in Terre Haute. I took some pictures and made a couple of video clips. 

See the photos. Viewing them as a slideshow works best.

See the videos I got from my seat.

Several of the major news organizations were there. There's a 10-minute professional video of part of the event, too.

It was a great event! Thanks to all the folks who worked to make it happen. 

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Please share this VIDEO with all to help Barack firght the Republican SMEARS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE

 

The Republicans are going to try and destroy Barack the next 60 days! WE can not let them do it!

PLEASE everyone HELP SHARE THIS AND PROMOTE BARACK!

 

Join STOP THR SMEARS on this BARACK site on the HOME page. It gives US things to COUNTER the attacks that are coming!

 

It gives us the TRUTH!

 

Please go there today and join!

LuAnn

(read more)

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

I'm sure we all volunteer but, there is a simple thing we all can do....
WE NEED TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT!

Wear buttons!
Put up YARD SIGNS!
Use BUMPER STICKERS!
(Put them on the outside window, you can take it off with a razor-blade)

I drove to NC from Indiana on vacation and saw 2 McCain bumper stickers and about 10 Obama in 10 days... THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

I wore my button everyday and didn't see ONE other person doing that! THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

The general population needs to see that YOU, normal, good, nice, friendly, people support Barack.... then, when they ask you why, TELL THEM... IN YOUR OWN WORDS. This is as good as knocking on doors....
and you can do it anywhere, anytime. In the grocery, the gas station, the pizza restaurant... Show that you are a PROUD supporter!


OUR DIVERSITY IS AN ASSET, BUT WE HAVE TO SHOW IT!
People need to see that middle aged women support him, that people of all ages, not just the young, support him. Supporters are of all colors and creeds, of all religions and sexual orientations.

It is so simple, and will offer you the opportunity of gaining voters for our cause without saying a word... Just be the nice caring people you are and others will take note.

IT WILL TAKE US ALL TO WIN THIS!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

People will follow a winner... the more support they see the more it will snowball. We can battle media imbalance in this way...

WE HAVE TO WIN THIS...OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CHILDRENS' FUTURE IS AT STAKE.

Feel free to reuse this post anywhere! Get the word out!

peace,
marsha (read more)

CRITICAL EMAIL and watch, read and share with ALL to help BARACK

Hello to all my Obama/Biden friends,This is so important. Please read it, go to Digg and digg it and share it with everyone!McCain is using Palin to try and steal women votes.  Hillary and her have NO basic beliefs in common.Surely there are enough of us who know the difference between a woman who wants to help ALL women and Palin who wants to help her far RIGHT side!I still think most women do not want the government telling us what to do with our bodies, want equal pay (which McCain has voted against 12 times), want health insurance (which the Republicans don't talk about) and do NOT want social security PRIVATIZED! Privatizing Soc. Security and Insurance in the end means leaving it only to the wealthy the ones who can afford it!I, personally have Federal health care and each year I can chose which plan I want. The Congress and Senate have it also.If it works for them why not us all? It is a  Federal  Government (social program)...I don't see any of them turning it down, do you?LuAnn  Barack is our ONLY way for REAL CHANGE!

http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana

From: rauldominguez@msn.com
Reply-to: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
To: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
Sent: 9/4/2008 8:13:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: [SouthDakotansforObama] Re: ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."
Thanks for sending this! I think the messages are getting through!!!His comments are now being shown on Real Clear Politics as well.Raul

----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Owen To: South Dakotans for Obama Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:43 PMSubject: [SouthDakotansforObama] ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."
Please I am begging you to digg this!  Joe Klein says that McCain camp has been “bullying the press” all year and don’t give in to him! Please read it too.JOE KLEIN: TIME MAGAZINE:“There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.”http://digg.com/political_opinion/Angry_Amateurs_Swampland_TIME Spread the truth. TIME MAGAZINE:Angry AmateursPosted by Joe Klein | Comments (383) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized the candidate--and especially those of us who enjoyed good relations with McCain in the past--have been subject to off-the-record browbeating and attempted bullying all year. But things have gotten much worse in recent days: there was McCain's rude, bizarre interview with Time Magazine last week. Yesterday, McCain refused to an interview with Larry King, for God's sake, because Campbell Brown had been caught in the commission of journalism on CNN the night before, asking McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds what decisions Sarah Palin had made as commander-in-chief of the Alaska national guard. (There was an answer that the unprepared Bounds didn't have: she had deployed them to fight fires.)So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable. The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor. Sure, there are a few outliers--and the tabloid press--who have fixed on baby stories. That was inevitable....the flip side of the personal stories that the McCain team thought would work to their advantage--Palin's moose-hunting and wolf-shooting, and her admirable decision to have a Down Syndrome baby. And yes, when we all fix on the same story, whether it's a hurricane or a little-known politician, a zoo ensues. But the media coverage of the Palin story has been well within the bounds of responsibility. Schmidt is trying to make it seem otherwise, a desperate tactic. There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme. http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/angry_amateurs.html

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IMPORTANT NEW REPUBLICAN CODE words..Please share!

 I sent this too Barack and staff but please SHARE it with everyone else!

 

I am writing this as to alert you and  the Barack team of what I have been hearing through my many groups and blog sites.
I am hoping this helps in some small way.

Our country needs Barack NOW!

Sincerely.

LuAnn in Indiana on the main Barack site

Thanks for the warning, Kelin.

I'm a retiree of HP and can tell you first hand Fiorini is smart, cunning, Republican to the core, knows how to knife her opponent. My coworkers and myself all knew she would end up in the Republican political machine - and sure enough.

When she rears her very attractive, very ugly head - watch out.  She pretends to be feminist; she is NOT.  Like I suspect Palin (else why would she accept putting this country at such risk with her meager background), Fiorini is power hungry.
 
I hope the campaign, including Barack's spokepeople - get your message.
 
LJ

On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 9:23 AM, <BrownIzz7943@aol.com> wrote:

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: kmark22@hotmail.com
To: CentralIndianaforObama@groups.barackobama.com
Sent: 8/30/2008 8:12:23 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: [CentralIndianaforObama] the code words are here

I have begun to hear the code words for sexism so I am putting everyone on notice already because they have begun.
 
the code word is (dismissive & attack)
 
Fiorini was on larry king and used both on Carville, when carvilled didn't even say anything about Palin personally, just she has no GLOBAL experience whatsoever..........BOOM.....she hit him with the "How dare you be dismissive of her)
 
These are the words you will continue to hear when it comes to criticism of Palin. Get ready people.
On a side not Carville did get Fiorini to admit...McPOW has met this lady ONCE!

 

God Bless......
Kelin L. Mark
Small business, Sports, or organization website design
www.higherheightsbiz.com

(read more)

Introducing Sarah Palin

I wrote this for my personal blog, www.kristenszatny.blogspot.com which as of lately seems to have a political theme. I research all my blogs and put my opinion in them too. But the facts are true. Anyway I just though I would share this information with you:

 

John McCain announced today his choice for his vice president running mate. She is the governor of Alaska. Before I give you my opinion on his choice I will list some TRUE facts about Sarah Palin.
* she is 44 years old
* she was the first woman to be elected the governor of Alaska in 2006
* she served two terms on the Alaska City Council and was elected mayor of Wassila, Alaska
* she has a journalism degree
* she was involved in beauty pageants and came second place in the Miss Alaska pageant

* she worked as a news anchor as well as a commercial fisher woman with her husband
* she is PRO-LIFE even in rape cases
- She has five children one with down syndrome
* she is pro-religion being taught in schools
* she opposes same sex marriage
- Her first veto was to kill a bill allowing rights to same sex partners
*She doesn't believe in global warming
* She sued the Interior Department for listing polar bears on the list of almost extinct animals
* Wants to drill for oil in the arctic
* Pro-death penalty
My opinion is that John McCain is a hypocrite. He talks about Obama being young and inexperienced for the job. Granted she is running for Vice-President, not president, but if and when McCain has a heart attack and dies, she would be leading us. Obama is way more qualified to run for political office than her. Not just because he has a few more years, but because he CARES. He talks to the people, finds what they want solved and tries to do it. It doesn't seem like she has any motivation at all. I believe McCain chose her because as a woman he feels like the Hillary Clinton supporters that aren't backing Obama just yet- will vote for him. I would love to hear from a conservative about how they feel about this choice. What do you think Sarah Palin will positively bring to the table?

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Convention Watching

I joined the many others watching Obama give his acceptance speech in Terre Haute today out side of the Terre Haute Obama office. I was scared it was going to start pouring for a few minutes there, but besides some thunder and lightening and a few sprinkles, it all went well. I of course loved Obama's acceptance speech. My favorite thing about him is how well he connects with people. I love when he starts referring to the different people he has spoken to about their issues. The thing that touched me the most was when he said, "These are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.

But what I will not do is suggest that the senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and each other's patriotism.

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America -- they have served the United States of America."

 

It's like he is taking the higher road. He is not going to sling mud or slander the name of John McCain. He just HONESTLY wants to look out for the best interest of the people. I believe even if he doesn't win the election (which he better) he will still work just as hard to make sure things happen.

 

The convention watch was a success.  According to the local newspaper online there were 80-150 people in the crowd watching. It was a great audience in Terre Haute. I hope that a lot of the people there will get involved in the parade this upcoming Monday as well as helping to register people to vote over the weekend.

 

Good job to whomever set up this convention watching event!  

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Not sure how this works

I am not sure how this works but I am trying to expand my friends circle a little bit. I would love to attend and help out at events but would like to get to know the people in the area as well! ESPECIALLY since I just moved to Terre Haute recently.

I am not sure how me randomly adding people would go over. Is this improper etiquette?

I would love some messages and friend requests from serious Obama supporters who could help me get involved! (read more)

New and Excited

I have been a Barack Obama supporter from the start. I mean I always liked Hillary Clinton as well, but Obama just stood out to me more! I have written several articles about him on my personal blog. I have decided as it is getting closer and closer to the election that I want to get involved! I want to help in anyway that I can in getting him elected as the next President of the United States because I believe in change. I believe Obama can change and fix our country back to the respected nation it once was.

 

I believe everyone is entitled to their opinions. I also believe if people were properly eduacted instead of just listening to slander and mudslinging, they would see that Obama IS the BEST choice to lead our country into the future.

 

So far I have invited several friends and my mother to sign up for this site. I have also been trying to look for local groups in Terre Haute, Indiana (I JUST RECENTLY MOVED HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO FROM SOUTH NJ/PHILADELPHIA). I want to try to get as involved as possible even though I have no campaigning experience. 

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History is made!

  I just finished watching the the nomination on tv and all i can say is WOW!!  I have always been a Barack Obama follower, but I have to admit that I am so proud of Senator Clinton at this moment.  I like some of you was skeptical that things would go smoothly considering all the hurt feelings and such.  I also have to admit that I have teared up several times today as I have watched the events unfold today, and since the beginning of the convention.  To be able to witness History being made and the first Black American to be Nominated for President of the United States was very emotionally overwhelming for me.  I can't wait to see Barack make his acceptance speech tomorrow night on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I had a Dream" speech.  

   I hope and pray that tomorrow night from the heavens above, that the great men and women of this nation are watching proudly at what they have helped to accomplish.   John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy,  Lynden B. Johnson, Thomas Jefferson and our other Founding Father's to those that died in the name of Civil Right's.   I hope they are looking down on us with smiles of approval and all agree.."We did good".

   I"m proud of Hillary Clinton for putting her personal wants and desire's aside to do what was right and for the good of party unity.  For any of us that are competetive we know how difficult that must of been.     I now see her in a whole new light and I have a new found respect for her.  

  Anyways, just my thoughts and feelings on this evening thus far and I felt like sharing.  My appologize for declining on the invites, I'm currently recovering from surgery and I'm unable to attend any of them, but Thank you very much for thinking of me.

 

Sincerely,

Judy 

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Every Veteran NEEDS to read this NOW!

[PennsylvaniaVeteransforObama] Facts on McCain non-support for Veterans
CANDIDATES’ SUPPORT FOR VETERANS’ ISSUES
 
Who has veterans’ best interests in mind? Look at the candidates’ records:
 
Although no bills specifically on veterans’ issues were voted on since the 2004 elections, three amendments have been (source: the Congressional Record & votesmart.org):
 
Health Care for Veterans Amendment
10/05/2005
Official title: S Amdt 1937 to HR 2863 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected in Senate)
 
Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment
11/17/2005
Official title: S Amdt 2634 to S 2020 - To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that appropriates $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected)
 
Tax Rate Extension Amendment
02/02/2006
Official title: S Amdt 2735 to S Amdt 2707 to HR 4297 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment failed to pass in Senate)
 
 
Now, let’s turn to the candidates’ sponsorship of Senate bills & amendments directly related to care for veterans during the 109th-110th Congresses (source: Library of Congress THOMAS database [thomas.loc.gov]):
 
Obama (10):
 
S.117 [110th] & S.3988 [109th] : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
S.692 [110th] & S.2358 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
S.713 [110th] : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
S.1084 [110th] & S.3475 [109th] : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
S.1271 [110th] : A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
S.1885 [110th] : A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.2330 [110th] : A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes.
S.1180 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes.
S.AMDT.3144 to S.CON.RES.83 [109th] : To provide a $40 million increase in FY 2007 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and to improve job services for hard-to-place veterans.
S.AMDT.5138 to H.R.5385 [109th] : To require a report on the costs of the Comprehensive Service Programs for homeless veterans.
 
McCain (1):
 
S.663 [110th] : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.
 
 
The bottom line: McCain is clearly not an advocate for veterans’ issues, and only Obama has enough interest to be a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. (read more)

This was sent to me about POW McCain and needs sharing

I Spent Years as a POW with John McCain, and His Finger Should Not Be Near the Red Button | Election 2008 | AlterNet

 

I sent this to several medias. Don't know if it will do anything. Please share. Barack is getting put down so wrongly!

Michele was great last night!

  Please read this and use it in any way you legally can. I am so tired of hearing Barack being called a Muslim and Michelle being accused of hating this country.Now these NEW ads that McCain is running using his POW experience to win "hearts and minds" is too much.I fear all his negative campaigning is winning and the polls are showing that.

Is there anyone out there who can bring things like this article to daylight?Why does the media protect McCain from the terrible way he cheated on and dumped his first wife for Cindy?If it was Barack who had done that the world would know.I talk to people daily who had no idea of his infidelity, his wife's bringing drugs in  for her personal use through her out of country programs and I hear and also receive daily emails saying that Barack is a Muslim and worse. Why do more people not hear about how low in his class McCain graduated? I would think intelligence is a priority in a President of our country. 

I also feel as this fellow POW does that a man with a "hair trigger" temper should not have his finger on the "button".There is freedom of speech in our country. Sean Hannity , Rush Limbaugh,Ann Coulter and others spew lies about Barack constantly.Can the MAIN STREAM media  such as MSNBC please say or do more?McCain is "swift boating" Barack and WE all know that was all not true. John Kerry should have been President.Bush stole the election from Gore. Please can someone with some power help out people like me in the true EVER DIMINISHING MIDDLE Class?

I know I live in one home.

I know what a gallon of gas costs and I now people on minimum wage are hurting badly. John McCain does not care, nor does he have any way of identifying with the TRUE middle class people.His family has always had money, he is John S. McCain III and he married an heiress. How can he possibly feel for people who make $6.00 an hour?He wants to privatize Social Security and could care less if we have health care. Is it true he collects his Social Security? I happen to have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield  Insurance through my X husband. Each year I am given the chance to choose which type of insurance I want. If I want to pay a lot less, I can even choose an HMO.

I believe that is the same insurance the Congressmen and Senators have and I also believe they do not have to pay for their's. If everyone in the country paid into this they should be able to get the same benefits.I pay $600.00 a month for myself but I have very good insurance. If I could not afford that I could choose a lesser plan each year.   

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Is anyone planning on going to DC Sept 13th for Barack?

Is anyone planning on going to DC on Sept 13th for the Obama Walkathon?

I have never done anything like that before, but I think it would be great to be surrounded by a bunch of Barack buddies!

I believe in him and want him to win so badly. anyone who is interested or planning on going please contact me.

I was wondering if enough were interested if we could car pool, van or bus?

Any ideas. My home email is BrownIzz7943@aol.com

http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana

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Happy Birthday!!!! YES, WE CAN!

Happy Birthday, Barack!

My gift is my service.
Until you are elected president, I will do all I can to make it happen.

Why?
I am tired of our economy and our young soldiers bleeding to death.
War=deficit=recession or depression
The Earth cannot take 4 more years of abusive and avoidant environmental policies.
We need to care for our children and elderly in a humane and respectful manner.
The equal opportunity of ALL people and the discrimination of none.
The world community does not need us to police it....
it needs us to lead.. there's a difference.
Greed and Hate are not "family values".
The Golden Rule is my most important "family value".

Because of your campaign, I have hope that these things will change.
WE CAN have a real energy policy which weans us from oil dependence.
WE CAN stop fighting endless wars which fill the pockets of defense contractors.
WE CAN use diplomacy to mend the bridges which have been destroyed during the last 8 years.
WE CAN have clean electricity in 10 years and decrease our carbon emissions.
WE CAN have universal healthcare.
WE CAN save social security.
WE CAN have educational equality for all students, and guarantee equal opportunity for advancement.
WE CAN promote tolerance and peace.

Happy Birthday Barack, and many more.

peace,
marsha (read more)

Where does your state stand on hate crime laws?

How about some Federal guidelines demanding hate crime laws?
How does your state show itself?
This wonderful site lets you find the coverage state by state.

http://www.adl.org/learn/hate_crimes_laws/map_frameset.html

Poorest or no protective laws.. even against race and religion offenses.
SC/GA/AR/WY/UT/IN

In Indiana we only protect institutional property....??????? What is up with that????
We should be ashamed. Where are my Reps.???? State and Federal????

Most protective laws.
LA/MN/IA/CT/CA

Peace,
marsha (read more)

THANK-YOU BARACK!!!!!

I would like to thank Senator Obama for the platform meetings which are being conducted this month. We, as a nation, are in his debt already, and he hasn't even been truly nominated.

The opportunity to make my opinions known and have them sent on to the platform committee is an honor which I truly appreciate.

My husband and I went to a lovely meeting at the home of an active supporter last night. The company was stellar. Very active, knowledgeable, and concerned citizens.
After we introduced ourselves and announced our topic of concern... most of us had many... Someone asked that the "Bill of Rights" be read. One of the attenders had it on his laptop.
The depth of the attacks on our Constitution and Civil Rights was brought to the forefront and the gravity of our work was felt by all.

It was one of the most profoundly important and amazingly empowering things I have done in my life.... I left feeling as though I had truly had my say.
Topics were brilliant... full of depth and thought.
Peace and Diplomacy
Sustainable Environmental Policy
Truth and Reconciliation
Human Rights
Constitutional Abuses
International Relations

To me the platform is very important.
I know people say they "vote for the person".
I vote person in the primary, if there is a choice, and the party in the GE.
In the past when we had reasonable media coverage, or knew, or had knowledge, personally, of the candidate... voting for a "good person" was fine.
Now, we have the problem of multiple local television news stations being owned by the same companies. Local papers are gone, absorbed by large corporations, little local news or politics. I don't know my school board....
Thank goodness for the internet, without it we would know little about the actions of our government. (Unless you have cable/sattelite.)
IMHO, even if the candidate is a good person.. know where they stand on the issues... Nice, honest people can have different views on issues. I want someone who closely aligns with my view.
This does not mean I will not vote for one who does not agree with me on everything... I have, many times. I want to know why they differ... I could be wrong. The "best" to me, is the "best" for me.
That is why I'm a democrat... That is why I vote straight ticket. Without the strength of numbers, nothing gets done. I welcome bipartisanship, but in it's absence... we need numbers.

I will be voting for peace,
marsha (read more)

Definition of a Liberal.....we should all be proud to be one!

Hello fellow Obamacans!

While I was at my Mom's in my small home town, I read the "Daily Clintonian" and they had the definition of a Liberal in it.

I wanted to share this with you all, since the Right (wrong) Republicans always make it sound like a dirty little 4 letter word.

Read this and you tell me just what part of it you are not proud to call yourself!

Liberal....1a.....Not limited to or by, established, traditional, orthodox or authoritarian attitudes, views or dogmas: free from bigotry.

1b....Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broadminded.

Gee if only Mr. Bush and Cheney were one of these! LOL!

 

I am not sure about you but I feel preety good about being able to call myself a LIBERAL and I would think anyone with half a brain would like to think of themselves as one!

Just wanted to share a smile!

I am so glad Barack is going on this trip tomorrow and I am sure he will make all of us and all of America proud.

He is so Presidential and I can see him fitting in in any circumstance he is in. I think Senator McCain is really afraid that Barack is going to do very well.

One proud Barack friend,

LuAnn

http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana

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Barack Morning Buzz - 7-14-08

Barack Morning Buzz - 7-14-08
On to Victory in November

(1) Obama and McCain will Speak to NAACP this Week
William Douglas-McClatchy Newspapers
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008050126_naacp14.html

(2) NAACP Chairman Julian Bond Says Obama Win Won't Solve Racial Injustice
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-oYDBobF55nZ8rdR6VfRbbeRsYwD91TC9J00

(3) Obama Proposes Health Care Tax Credit for Small Businesses
Louise Roug-Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign14-2008jul14,0,7130939.story

(4) Obama Invites Latinos to "Walk Together" into the White House
Mary Anne Ostrom-San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9875287

(5) Courting the Latino Vote
John Marelius and Leslie Berestein-San Diego Union-Tribune
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080714-9999-1n14obama.html

(6) Latino Vote is Courted by Obama
Dan Nowicki-Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/07/14/20080714obama-immig0714.html

(7) The Obama-McCain Immigration Wars
Jake Tapper-ABC News-Political Punch
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/the-mccain-obam.html

(8) Obama Says Troops in Afghanistan Need Help
Jeff Zeleny-New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/us/politics/14campaign.html?ref=politics

(9) Obama Shifts Focus from Iraq and Eyes More Troops for Afghanistan
Camilla Hall-Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aE6JSzRJpiw0&refer=home

(10) Palestinian Official Says Obama will Visit West Bank Next Week
CNNPolitics
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/14/obama.westbank/index.html?section=cnn

(11) Obama to Meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Middle East Tour
Peter Walker-Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/14/barackobama.uselections2008

(12) Obama Vows Not to Seek Permanent US Bases in Iraq
Maxim Kniazkov-Agence France Presse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080714/wl_afp/usvoteiraqobama_080714073411

(13) Obama Tells Former NBA Star Bill Walton and Other Donors-"I'm Skinny but I'm Tough"
Perry Bacon Jr.-Washington Post
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/13/obama_to_donors_im_skinny_but.html?hpid=topnews

(14) Two Senators Who are Military Veterans will Travel with Obama to War Zones
USA Today and Wire Reports
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-14-campaign_N.htm

(15) Hedge Funds Show Obama the Money
Andrew Ross Sorkin-DealBook
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/hedge-funds-show-obama-the-money/

(16) Sounds like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Accept an Obama Cabinet Post
Evan Halper-Los Angeles Times-Top of the Ticket
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/obama-schwarzen.html

(17) Michelle Obama has an Empathetic Ear to Women's Concerns
Laura Scott-Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/281/story/703664.html

(18) McCain Says Obama Should Visit South America
Steve Holland-Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN14328397 (read more)

Sending positive thoughts to my Barack friends!

I just wanted to say hi and let you know I am enjoying watching McCain loose his temper. You can tell he has such a hard time controlling it.

I can't believe people won't notice it and he hates to be questioned ...period. Have you noticed this too?

Barack on the other hand is always cool. I think that is the kind of President we need.

 

Positive thoughts to you and watching Barack and wonderingwho he is going to pick for VP. Do you think it would be Hillary? I can't imagine after all she has said about him.

Have a great 4th of July!

 

LuAnn :)

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Canvassing Opportunity July 5th

This Saturday, July 5th come to Coffee Grounds Cafe. At 10 AM we will kick off volunteer canvassing for the weekend. The cafe is located at 423 Wabash Ave. and 4th.

Bring your friends, walking shoes, and some water! You will meet the new Terre Haute staffers and we will train you on how to canvass and get more involved.

In order to find out about more events near you and through out the state visit: my.barackobama.com/INjuly4.

Also, if you have any questions contact Field Organizer Bryan Shanafelt at bshanafelt@gmail.com. You can also call him at
P#: 361 713 7157.


The General Election is upon us! Every volunteer is another big step towards the White House.

Hope to see you there!
Obame for America Team (read more)

4th of July Parade Voter Registration Drive with Obama for America!

This coming Independence Day the new, and growing, Obama for America staff team in Terre Haute will be kicking off a voter registration drive. Come join us register new voters at the 4th of July Parade!

We will be meeting in the ISU parking lot between 3rd and 4th street at 9AM. Bring friends and family, wear any Obama gear you might own, and we'll get you fired up and ready to go! These early summer months are the most important time in the General Election. Every voter we sign up is a potential voter for Obama in November! Together we can do it.

If you have any questions you can contact local Field Organizer Bryan Shanafelt at bshanafelt@gmail.com. You can also call him at
P#: 360 713 7157. (read more)

You have got to watch this Video of McCain........What a great Family man, huh?

Hello everyone!

I had read a lot about McCain cheating on his first wife Carol with Cindy because poor Carol was a model and got in a wreck and "Did not look like she once did!"!

MCCain had the nerve to dump her and cheat on her....as though he looked the sme after Viet NAm. I don't think the Republicans can run on FAMILY VALUES THIS TIME,do you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eki5tdAJL9Y

Please watch this and share it with any McCain supporters you know or anyone that thinks this WAR HEROE is a GREAT guy.

I think this speaks volumes about his morals!

LuAnn.........................Obama...'08

http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana (read more)

Fund raising!

Sen. Obama made a historic announcement today that he will not take federal funds for our campaign. Also, tomorrow is the final reporting day for the current fund raising cycle. I urge anyone that can to make a donation today. Ever dollar puts us closer to the White House, and the change that we all desperately crave!

Yes We Can!!!!

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I am home from Mayo Clinic and ready to get back to Politics...but NOT POLITICS AS USUAL ;)

<iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/

25200603#25200603" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

I am so glad Gore fianally came out and endorsed Barack. We need to make sure we all do our duties and help debunk all the negative ads from the McCain camp.

He said he was not going to be negative, didn't he???

I thought I heard that.

Well, I have a lot of catching up to do after being away.

Hope all of you are well and the floods and bad weather did not effect you personally!

 Yes We Can!!!

LuAnn

http://www.myspace.com/luanninindiana

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Thinking of after the election and President Obama takes office

I was just thinking that once this election is over, we may all lose touch with each other, unless they keep this site going.

Just in case this is closed after the election if you would like to contact me I am giving you my MYSpace Page..............................in which  I campaigning for Barack there also with some other personal things.

If you want to find me this is the link..........................

http://www.myspace.com/luanninindiana

 

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Watch great add Barack is running in Kentucky!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1386357098/bctid1522775495

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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!

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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!

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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?

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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!!

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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

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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 

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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?

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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? EmailPrint 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

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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 

 

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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)

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!!

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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

BrownIzz7943@aol.com

 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

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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.
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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”.

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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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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)

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.

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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&#8207;

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&#8207;

• "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)

NEW "Making College Affordable" flyer; copy/distribute

 

(read more)

NEW Flyer:"Plan to Strengthen the Economy" -plz distribute&#8207;

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.

(read more)

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 Education
Barack Obama on the Environment
Barack Obama on the War in Iraq
Barack Obama on Israel
Barack Obama on Energy
Barack Obama on the Job Market
Barack Obama on Stem Cells
Barack Obama on LGBT Rights
Barack 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&#8207;

 

"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."

 

-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.

(read more)

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!

www.TerreHauteForObama.com 

(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.

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 to

explain 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 the

English-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 radically

as 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 and

completely. 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 foreign

forces 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.

(read more)

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)

In case you hadn't seen it - Great Peggy Noonan, WSJ Piece

Getting Mrs. Clinton
March 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.

 

It's not only the press. It's what I get as I walk around New York, which used to be thick with her people. I went to a Hillary fund-raiser at Hunter College about a month ago, paying for a seat in the balcony and being ushered up to fill the more expensive section on the floor, so frantic were they to fill seats.

I sat next to a woman, a New York Democrat who'd been for Hillary from the beginning and still was. She was here. But, she said, "It doesn't seem to be working." She shrugged, not like a brokenhearted person but a practical person who'd missed all the signs of something coming. She wasn't mad at the voters. But she was no longer so taken by the woman who soon took the stage and enacted joy.

 

The other day a bookseller told me he'd been reading the opinion pages of the papers and noting the anti-Hillary feeling. Two weeks ago he realized he wasn't for her anymore. It wasn't one incident, just an accumulation of things. His experience tracks this week's Wall Street Journal/NBC poll showing Mrs. Clinton's disapproval numbers have risen to the highest level ever in the campaign, her highest in fact in seven years.

* * *

You'd think she'd pivot back to showing a likable side, chatting with women, weeping, wearing the bright yellows and reds that are thought to appeal to her core following, older women. Well, she's doing that. Yet at the same time, her campaign reveals new levels of thuggishness, though that's the wrong word, for thugs are often effective. This is mere heavy-handedness.

 

On Wednesday a group of Mrs. Clinton's top donors sent a letter to the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, warning her in language that they no doubt thought subtle but that reflected a kind of incompetent menace, that her statements on the presidential campaign may result in less money for Democratic candidates for the House. Ms. Pelosi had said that in her view the superdelegates should suppontests. The letter urged her to "clarify" her position, which is "clearly untenable" and "runs counter" to the superdelegates' right to make "an informed, individual decision" about "who would be the party's strongest nominee." The signers, noting their past and huge financial support, suggested that Ms. Pelosi "reflect" on her comments and amend them to reflect "a more open view."

 

Barack Obama's campaign called it inappropriate and said Mrs. Clinton should "reject the insinuation." But why would she? All she has now is bluster. Her supporters put their threat in a letter, not in a private meeting. By threatening Ms. Pelosi publicly, they robbed her of room to maneuver. She has to defy them or back down. She has always struck me as rather grittier than her chic suits, high heels and unhidden enthusiasm may suggest. We'll see.

 

What, really, is Mrs. Clinton doing? She is having the worst case of cognitive dissonance in the history of modern politics. She cannot come up with a credible, realistic path to the nomination. She can't trace the line from "this moment's difficulties" to "my triumphant end." But she cannot admit to herself that she can lose. Because Clintons don't lose. She can't figure out how to win, and she can't accept the idea of not winning. She cannot accept that this nobody from nowhere could have beaten her, quietly and silently, every day. (She cannot accept that she still doesn't know how he did it!)

 

She is concussed. But she is a scrapper, a fighter, and she's doing what she knows how to do: scrap and fight. Only harder. So that she ups the ante every day. She helped Ireland achieve peace. She tried to stop Nafta. She's been a leader for 35 years. She landed in Bosnia under siege and bravely dodged bullets. It was as if she'd watched the movie "Wag the Dog," with its fake footage of a terrified refugee woman running frantically from mortar fire, and found it not a cautionary tale about manipulation and politics, but an inspiration.

* * *

What struck me as the best commentary on the Bosnia story came from a poster called GI Joe who wrote in to a news blog: "Actually Mrs. Clinton was too modest. I was there and saw it all. When Mrs. Clinton got off the plane the tarmac came under mortar and machine gun fire. I was blown off my tank and exposed to enemy fire. Mrs. Clinton without regard to her own safety dragged me to safety, jumped on the tank and opened fire, killing 50 of the enemy." Soon a suicide bomber appeared, but Mrs. Clinton stopped the guards from opening fire. "She talked to the man in his own language and got him [to] surrender. She found that he had suffered terribly as a result of policies of George Bush. She defused the bomb vest herself." Then she turned to his wounds. "She stopped my bleeding and saved my life. Chelsea donated the blood."

 

Made me laugh. It was like the voice of the people answering back. This guy knows that what Mrs. Clinton said is sort of crazy. He seems to know her reputation for untruths. He seemed to be saying, "I get it."

 

See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal1

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A Letter to the Editor [in PA and IN]

I understand we are TRYING to stay as positive as possible in this campaign.  That we make our arguments from a PRO-Obama perspective.  Having said that, I do have a very unique perspective on this race, as a current constituent of Senator Clinton, that I think is important to have heard.  If this race should be about the issues [like the economy] and a candidate's experience, then let's LOOK at their experience on the issues.  I think it's particularly important to make the comparison of Clinton's record with regards to my area, western NY, because we share so many of the same challenges, history, demographic make-up, economic hardships, etc as areas of Indiana and Pennsylvania.  I just sent the below letter to as many newspapers as I could find in Indiana and today will be doing to same in PA.  Please feel free to share it, or any of the facts or statistics in it, with anyone [or everyone] you know.  To locate sources, just google them.  It's all here on the internet.

Dear Voters in Upcoming Primaries, PLEASE do not make the same mistake I have and vote for Senator Clinton. I have a laundry list of reasons why I will never vote for my senator again, but there is one thing in particular all Indiana and Pennsylvania Democratic voters need to consider when deciding whom to vote for.  Look at my home town, Buffalo, N.Y., if you want to see what my senator will do for you, your economy, your family. When campaigning for her first term in 2000, she promised western New York 200,000 jobs.  Buffalo alone has since lost 30,000. When asked about it at the last debate, she said, “Well, I thought Al Gore would be president.”  This is how she meant to change things?  She brings over $400 million a year in pork to this state and she couldn’t find a way to help us instead of the rich and powerful in Albany and New York City? Senator Clinton has pointed to her record in New York as evidence of her fitness to serve as economic commander-in-chief. Since 2000, 37,000 of my neighbors have moved out of our county in search of jobs. In 2007 – after seven years of Clinton’s brand of leadership – Buffalo, the second-largest city in New York, was named the second-poorest city in the country by Forbes Magazine. A recent story on MSNBC First Read said, “she saw Indiana not as part of the Rust Belt but as a chance to build what she called a Manufacturing Belt and an Opportunity Belt.” Look at how she’s helped the “Opportunity Belt” in my home state. My city and the rest of western New York continue to rust away.  Think of us, and yourselves, when you go to vote. 

Josselyn

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Prophet or Perpetrator?

Prophet or Perpetrator?


An Open Letter to Bishop James David Manning


Bishop James David Manning in his space and his own words...


The Great Palace of WorshipMission Statement: Almighty God has called and destined Pastor James David Manning to stand on this magnificent stage to reach the leaders of this world. This palace with its ornate beauty, splendor, and presence of God will attract leaders in the field of ministry, politics, education, and worship to seek a Word from the Lord. The Great Palace of Worship inspired by the power of Almighty God working through the teachings of Pastor James David Manning, will be the platform used to preach the healing and cleansing power in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to the nations of the world.


An Open Letter to Bishop James David Manning:
I write out of concern about the many viral, poisonous, and provocative videos posted on your website as well as youtube.com. After prayerfully reviewing the clips sent to me by others, I reviewed the website maintained by your organization and was disturbed by the level of toxicity and venom from which few are spared. What I did notice lacking was any biblical basis for your vicious videos. For example, the attack on Bishop TD Jakes and other men who dance in the Holy Spirit misrepresents the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. Your position is that there is no basis for men to dance in such a way; however, we lack visual documentation of ancient praise and worship services and fellowships so this is your personal determination which lacks biblical support.

• 2 Samuel 6 - David leaped and danced with such joy until he came out of his clothes. King David was a man who praised God without pretense and God rewarded King David for his unabashed love and public displays of joy in the Lord.

Multiple presentations deride Senator Barack Obama and personally attack him. This sir is a breach of Christian conduct. Jesus provides us with barometers to examine our attitudes, behaviors, and conversations to determine if we are abiding with Him or aiding and abetting the enemy. The simplest of these is found 1 John 3:14 - We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
You must understand sir, that irregardless of how any Christian feels about Barack Obama...to attack his parentage or any other personal trait without basis is a reflection of our spiritual immaturity. Barack Obama has confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as his LORD and Savior and none of us is able to judge him as anything less than a servant of Christ.

NOTE: Jesus Christ selected the twelve disciples and prior to Judas revealing himself as the ultimate betrayer he was known as a thief - yet there is no biblical indication that Jesus nor the other disciples disparaed the man, his mother, or his motive in other matters in such a vicious and vile manner as you have done to Senator Obama. (John 12:4-6).

I am in no means insinuating or implying that Senator Obama lacks integrity; however, I am sharing this scripture to demonstrate that even when a believer is wrong there is a way to correct without castigating.

Ignorance is not bliss. Arrogance is in opposition with love and grace. Ignorance and arrogance are a dangerous combination; when these evil elements are mixed and vehemently spewed from behind a pulpit they become toxic seeds that breed dissension, distrust, and deep rooted poison veiled as prophetic preaching.

The Bible teaches to avoid the imbecelic rantings that mark the immature Christian and miniature intellectuctual. However, there is a time when we must stand and rebuke those who transgress so that others will not follow the moronic message. This is especially true when the one engaging in this viral lunacy misrepresents himself as minister of the Christian gospel.After reviewing the video clips, studying the Word, and praying...I am fully persuaded now is the time to present this corrective communication.

I publicly present this letter because you have engaged in a public tirade disguised as preaching and teaching. Sadly, I must disavow the videos provide any beneficial content or exposition. Indeed, it appears to be a most selfish indulgence of personal pettiness and public attention-seeking veiled with the pageantry and venacular of religious tradition. Sadly, many look at these clips and fault Christ and the Body of Christ - if I must - I shall be the voice of reason seeking to restore you and reconcile you, if that if your desire.

Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15 - 16

1. dereliction of duty - the key responsibility of one called to preach is teach and preach the uncompromised gospel to the glory of God and edification of the people of God. Preaching is a privilege and responsibility that requires prayerful and purposeful interaction with God. Preachers must sacrifice preferences and prejudices to immerse themselves in the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal unto them the will of God. Your attacks on Obama have not been supported by scripture and do not reveal the love of Christ of fruit of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
2. distracton of the Body of Christ - the Body of Christ is called to work to fulfill the will of God. Review Ephesians 4:17-32, and pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you and understanding of this passage. Be especially mindful of Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. When you speak those things which do not glorify God or edify the people of God you do the Body a disservice. Time spent carrying out the Great Commission now must be spent clarifying the confusion and chaos you have presented. Before you engage in mental masturbation from the pulpit to satisfy your own need for attention ask yourself how you strayed so far from the ministry of Christ...so far from the will and love of God? No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12; If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 4:20
   
   
3. and sowing discord among the brethren - this is one of the seven listed things which the Lord hates, review Proverbs 6:16-19. God created us in His image, we ought to bear some resembalance and carry some traits of our Father in heaven. In days like these we need to come together not to cause division - see Hebrews 10:23-25. Now is the time to provoke one another to good works.

Mr. Manning, it is my prayer that you receive this communication in the concern and Christian love in which it is written. I understand that ministers have a heart to see the people turn to God - redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ is essentially and eternally important. However, the message of ministers must be that God is pure and righteous; otherwise, we are not preachers of the gospel but pundits or gossips.

My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21

Let us be about the ministry of reconciliation and equipping the believers to do the work of the church. As leaders we should lead the way in living according to the Word of God. As preachers we have a higher calling...let us live so God can use us and people can follow us as we follow Christ.

Moreover, preachers will be held accountable for misleading the sheep of God's pasture if we fail to feed them adequately or lead them appropriately.

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1

Like all believers we will give an account for what we say.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36

Be careful not to be given to or overtaken by The Spirit Of Diotrephes.
How can you, Brother Manning and others identify this spirit?

• Those overtaken by this spirit engage in malicious gossip
  
• Overzealous and self-appointed leaders castigate those believers with whom they differ?
  
• The insatiable desire for preeminence that prompts leaders to reject biblical teachings concerning brotherly relations and to engage in malicious gossip, salacious attacks, and attention-seeking public escapades
  

Brother Manning there are many other confirmations that the spirit of Diotrephes is working through you...I have observed these three. However, the Holy Spirit is greater and you can yet be delivered by repenting in the name of Jesus Christ.


There is no need to respond to me, Mr. Manning. My prayer is that you examine yourself and line yourself up with the Word of God asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you should do restore yourself. I shall be in prayer for you, as I am for all believers. We are all one Body and we are only whole when each part is whole. May the power of the Holy Spirit rest, rule, and revive you.

Respectfully,
Pastor Kelly Oglesby
Peace and power are in Jesus Christ alone!
"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. Matthew 7:15-20 NLT (read more)

We Must Not Have Hate Crimes

http://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/public/gGBrRP

 

Hilliary Clinton and Staff have threatened Nancy Pelosi an Elected Federal Official after she expressed the truth about Super Delegates. Also we need to write TV Station WTWO and let them know we can not support a station that promotes Hilliary on their webpage. How can we allow this kind of campaigning to happen?

(read more)

Terre Haute For Obama

I would be honored if all members would add me to their friends list so we can stay in contact. I am a retired steel worker and my hobby is amateur photographer. I am open for meeting decent and sincere friends.

 

Frank

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"I come to this with a lot of interesting talents..."Mrs. Michelle Robinson Obama

"I come to this with a lot of interesting talents..."Mrs. Michelle Robinson Obama

"The double jeopardy of being black and female in a racist and sexist society may well make one less afraid of the sanctions against success. A non-subservient black woman is by definition a transgressive- she is the ultimate outsider." Mamphele Ramphele

Michelle Robsison Obama is leading the way in demonstrating how we, citizens of the United States, can best advocate and support Barack Obama's pursuit of the presidency. She has no example or role model to which she can look or cull wisdom borne of their own experience.


Michelle Obama has opened her marriage, family, and life to America; for the future of our nation she has put aside her immediate life: career, volunteerism, and personal interests to invest herself in the democracy of our nation and future of the global community. While maintaining a loving supportive partnership with her husband in parenting and politics she has enthusiastically greeted supporters, staunchly listened to and graciously responded to critics, and managed to maintain a smile that reveals a sense of peace that comes from being grounded in faith.


Michelle Obama has refused to ignore the challenges that come with gender and racial bias; she like her husband have broached the topics that divide us in an endeavor to unite us. Political foes have called the Obamas delusional race baiters and others have ridiculed them for having delusions of unity in the midst of diversity. Yet, Michelle Obama has risen day after day to continue teaching us that we must dialogue even when others dismiss our ideas and ideals.



We really are 15 countries, and it's remarkable that each of us thinks we represent the real America. The Midwesterner in Kansas, the black American in Durham - both are certain they are the real American. Maya Angelou


Michelle Obama has endured the skewering of her pastor and husband. Pundits assert only neglectful or worse parents would have exposed their children to the remarks of their pastor and the reaction of some of the congregants. God bless Michelle for having the courage of her convictions and daring to teach her children to be Christian is to be informed and involved. Yet, Michelle Obama has stood with her husband and continued their efforts to win the nomination of the Democratic Party with integrity. The continued strenth of character exhibited by Barack Obama is the result of a loving, prayerful, compassionate, and intelligent wife who not only shares his vision but has the gifts and talents to support the vision of Barack while working to manifest her dream of an America that will see her daughters more clearly than it has ever seen their dear mother or our brave foremothers.


Michelle Obama understands that to be an advocate for women does not mean she is an enemy of men. Likewise, to share her perspective on the reality of racial and gender relations in America is not refusing to acknowlede and honor the racial and gender equities that have been achieved by persons uniting into movements to create a more perfect union. She has taken this season of politics to give us eudcation on what has been, what is, and more importantly what can be America. If it is beautiful, is up to us.



Anything that is as old as racism is in the blood line of the nation. It's not any superficial thing--that attitude is in the blood and we have to educate about it. Nannie Burroughs



Michelle Obama epitomizes the greatness of America. In this nation that is a union of fifty states, comprised of innummerable ethnicities, multiple socioeconomic conditions there is the beauty of potential. Opportunity is not always equal, life is not always fair...and yet in this young nation that has changed so much and often by resistance, revolution, protest, movements, and people banding together to overcome the shortcomings. While our nation was created with documents that were based on the Magna Carta those documents marginalized women and minorities; through amendments, legislation, and other tools of modification we have dared to envision a more perfect union throughout our history. Let us be mindful to protect the freedom of speech, including Michelle Obama's right to freedom of speech. We are the land of the free and home of the brave...America can withstand self-examination, questions, critiques, doubts, fears, lamentations. Michelle Obama is but one shining example of the possibility of our citizens to move from marginality to marvelous.



The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerence. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance. - Maya Angelou



Michelle Obama...I can only speak for myself; I am a Black woman, I am educated, I am a mother of sons and daughters, I am a Christian, I am a registered voter, I am a wife, I am a sister, and much more. With all that is within me as an American, I say to you "asante sana!". (read more)

Petition major media outlets regarding Fox News smears on Obama

Hi Folks,

If you haven't already signed this petition, please consider signing it. 

PETITION TO NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS:

 

Trouble with the video? Click here.

 

"FOX is a Republican mouthpiece, not a legitimate news organization. Real news organizations must reject FOX's smears of Barack Obama, not parrot them and distract Americans from the pressing issues of the day." (read more)

What will we be doing forty-five years later...August 28, 2008?

  "If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves and allow those responsible to salve their conscience by believing that they have our acceptance and concurrence. We should, therefore, protest openly everything ... that smacks of discrimination or slander."
Mary McLeod Bethune
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination --> http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/racial/
Racial discrimination is alive and permeating the global community. As an Black citizen in the United States of America, I am concerned with how this nation is upholding, advocating, and supporting racial equality and eradicating racial injustice within our socioecnomic sytem.
A review of the United Nations assessment on America's progress in this area reveals that this nation is not yet brave enough to take the steps necessary to create a nation that is truly the land of the free. Read and review for yourself, http://www.pww.org/article/articleprint/12708/ .
Racism in America is not resolved because we as a nation refuse to come to the table and look at the historic development and present sustainment of racism. An honest dialogue cannot be had when the terms are pre-defined and the outcome pre-determined. We must be willing to remove all vestiges and verbage of discrimination.
We cannot hold ancient documents more precious than human dignity. America needs to form a Racial Repentance and Resolution Forurm. This body would begin the endeavor of creating a more perfect union by having founding documents of colonialism and racism removed and call for the drafting of documents that create a society that is not built on racism or patriarchy.
The uplift of women is, next to the problem of the color line and the peace movement, our greatest modern cause. When, now, two of these movements-woman and color-- combine in one, the combination has deep meaning. WEB DuBois
Continuing to add to documents that were wretchedly and patently discriminatory in their creation does not transform those documents to egalitarian. We cannot recreate using the same pathetically flawed reason and expected to reach conclusions that will be reasonable and right.
In America in the new millenium Blacks experience disparity is social and physical ills. Our generations suffer from Post Traumatic Slavery Syndrome, and Racism Denial Disorder to the point that even some Blacks have begun to believe the delusions fed to them by mainstream media and society. Sadly, some of us have become so desensitized to the vernacular of racist code that we do not recognize or translate the meaning. For example, the encouragement for Blacks and other minorities to adopt and adapt to 'American Values' = Assimilate.
There is also a faction of Blacks refusing to assimilate who are just as toxic because they want to hold the community of Blacks hostage to the past and demand that we as a race stagnate. These confused souls want us to hold on to the dear and departed leaders and their practices as if there is no possibility of new generations bringing forth dynamic, intelligent, and focused leaders for the present. We honor the past; however, we must embrace, uplift, support, and respect those rising from our communities to lead our community beyond the point that Medgar, Malcolm, and Martin left off -- far too early.
Our children are more likely to experience incarceration than education, our health is impeded by capitalistic system that denies health insurance by sending our jobs overseas or refusing to create jobs with living wages and benefits in our own nation. Our communities suffer economically and ecologically as businesses flee the urban core leaving huge plants and waste in our neighborhoods and our people unemployed.
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. What will we be doing forty-five years later...August 28, 2008?
The revolution is at hand, and we must free ourselves of the chains of political and economic slavery. The nonviolent revolution is saying, "We will not wait for the courts to act, for we have been waiting hundreds of years. We will not wait for the President, nor the Justice Department, nor Congress, but we will take matters into our own hands, and create a great source of power, outside of any national structure that could and would assure us victory." For those who have said, "Be patient and wait!" we must say, "Patience is a dirty and nasty word." We cannot be patient, we do not want to be free gradually, we want our freedom, and we want it now. We cannot depend on any political party, for the Democrats and the Republicans have betrayed the basic principles of the Declaration of Independence. MLK 8-28-63
The opinions and positions are indeed mine!Pastor Kelly Oglesby
Peace and power are in Jesus Christ alone!

Read my contemplations on the following sites
http://gospel.yourblackworld.com/
http://www.yourblackworld.com/life/ (read more)

Senator Obama and Pastor Wright

As a pastor of the Christian gospel and a black woman, I feel uniquely qualified to offer a perspective on the current conversation. Particularly, since I have purchased and listened to tapes of Pastor Wright at length and repeatedly as well as read some of the church publications. Indeed at one point in time my husband, who is also an ordained minister and pastor considered joining the denomination.

Pastor Wright is an experienced and learned man of the gospel and the world. Jesus never calls anyone to serve for their perfection but for their willingness to humbly serve. Pastor Wright has demonstrated he mourns for the "least of these" in sermon and service. The call of a pastor is not make the world more comfortable.

Pastors, all pastors chosen of God, are called to persuade, compel, and cause humanity to recognize their preferences may indeed be prejudices when aligned with the principles of God. Moreover, pastors must awaken their generation from apathy and contentment that they might pursue purposes greater than their present need and beyond their personal greed.

Lastly, in America there is a historical and contemporary issue of race that permeates the culture which includes the religious life. Christians do not measure their relationship with God on religious traditions, trends, or talk but on the truth of the word of God. We recognize that the vessels chosen by God bring their experiences and emotions with them; pastors are working out their own salvation as they are leading us in the God-given vision. We can accept a pastor who is not 100% of what we believe because our faith is in Jesus Christ and Christianity is based on a deep and abiding personal relationship with the Lord. Barack Obama cannot leave his church-home or pastor until God directs him to do so.

For all we know God has Senator Obama there to show Pastor Wright a more excellent way.Pastor Kelly OglesbyTerre Haute, IN (read more)

African American Women as Political Participants

African American Women as Political Participants

African American women are challenged by the intersections of race and gender when seeking to participate in the American political process. Throughout the history of the United States of America race and gender have been political issues since the founding fathers drafted the constitution crafting the document in patriarchal terms and defining African Americans as three fifths of a person. Politics is the process whereby we as citizens interact to shape our society and institutions to operate in ways that allow access to national resources, maintain civil rights, and protect national interests.

African American women have engaged individually and collectively in political endeavors to advance the rights of all people and especially African Americans. Nonetheless, African American women have remained marginalized in the political process by African American men as well as others in the American political process. Indeed, we are marginalized by other African American women who for whatever reasons are complicit in sustaining patriarchy and silencing women. Political parity for African Americans with Caucasians demands that African American men embrace the cause of eradicating gender discrimination as intensely and intentionally as African American women have embraced and continue to embrace the cause of eradicating racial discrimination.

Historic endeavors of African American women toiling in political coalitions are often untold because few organizations, if any, allow women to serve in leadership. Sadly, this lack of cooperation and support from African American men in the cause of African American women was noted by WEB DuBois early in the twentieth century and now early in the twenty first century his words resonate with honesty yet remain unfulfilled.

In his 1920 essay titled, “The Damnation of Women,” DuBois wrote: “The uplift of women is, next to the problem of the color line and the peace movement, our greatest modern cause. When, now, two of these movements – women and color – combine in one, the combination has great meaning.” (Edney, 2006).

It is imperative for African Americans to gain and maintain political momentum to unite the causes of African American men and women so the community will experience political growth and viability in its entirety any other formation is less than acceptable.


*Edney, H. T. (2006, July 19). Black Women Leaders Still Pushed to the Back of the Bus. Washington , DC, USA. (read more)

What will become of the colored girl?

"The Colored Girl"
by Fannie Barrier Williams

"What becomes of the colored girl? The muses of song, poetry and art do not woo and exalt her. She has inspired no novels. Those who write...seldom think of this dark-skinned girl who is persistently breaking through the petty tyrannies of cast into the light of recognition."

As we observe this season of primaries to see who will emerge as US presidential candidates and which of those candidates will eventually become the next president of the United States, I want to know will the conditions experienced by African American women change for the better?

Are the candidates aware of the urgent needs of the most marginalized segment of American society? Do the candidates understand how their decisions inform society on the value of including African American women in decision-making, policy implementation, and positions of significance in commerce, foreign relations, military, and international relations.

We have had symbolic tokens that held no true power other than to be depicted in photo ops. We have had a few women to breakthrough the testerone and ego of patriarchy to achieve positions of power; however, the door did not remain open for others and once in these women still had to struggle against stereotypes and racial traditions.

Perhaps, we will have a female clergy woman from a historically African American religious tradition to pray and lead services for the next president. The choices made by the next president extend beyond governmental positions. Acknowledging the spiritual position of women affirms their authenticity as leaders in the community and for the community they serve.

One of the talented African American fashion designers could be selected to design the inaugral gowns for the next president or first lady? African American women also are professional and enormously talented in event coordination, culinary preparation, speech writing, research, and all areas needed by the next US president.

As we see the stature of African American women rise and the US president pay her homage and respect then we will see all segments of society do the same. Music lyrics will change as will movies and televison depictions along with how corporate America values this underserved but overcharged consumer. Criminal and social justice agencies will unite to help address the issues of crime that plague the communities where too often African American women are single heads of households. The US Health Department will direct resources towards the preventable and treatble illnesses that too often plague these women and kill them too early: AIDS, breast and cervical cancer, hypertensive diseases, and stress related disorders.

What will become of the colored girl? (read more)

Prairie View

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvDAiWWuvRg

Watch the Prairie View A&M students march the 7.2 miles to their CLOSEST early polling location.  

 

Guess who they are voting for????? 

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Debunking Reagan

Paul Krugman argues today that Bill Clinton correctly ran against the greed of Reaganomics but that he failed to change the narrative.  That is, we need to refute this right-wing mythologizing of Reagan and point out the harsh facts of the Reagan-era.  Krugman does not point out, but could, that Reagan led a brutal war on peasants in Central America, leaving close to 500,000 dead.  For these reasons, I too agree that Obama should be very deliberately refuting the bad of Reagan, even as he rightly acknowledges how Reagan was able to build a powerful New Right coalition.

For Krugman's editorial in today's NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/opinion/21krugman.html?em&ex=1201150800&en=a3be598123508bda&ei=5087%0A 

 

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Time to hit back

I think that it is time for Barack to start hitting Hillary back. What do others thinK?

 

1) Hillary is the Republican's best hope.  It's the only card they have left, as Frank Rich put it last night on MSNBC.  The Republicans have fifteen years of practice in beating up on Hillary and at this point, the only thing that could unite the fractured Republican party is their hatred for Hillary.  Even progressives like myself feel nauseous watching her calculated, clawing for power.

 

2) She talks about her experience.  What experience? Vicarious experience as the former President's wife?  If that's the case, then is she just running as Bill's surrogate?  That's not feminist politics, it's patriarchal politics.

The neoconservative Weekly Standard was bang on with their article dissecting Hillary's narrative of "experience."

http://www.weeklystandard.com/content/public/articles/000/000/014/554fwchn.asp 

In short, Obama needs to be very aggressive against Hillary.  He should argue that all of the Old Guard needs to be replaced.  The Clintons, with their neoliberal, industry-backed, conniving, are part of the Old Guard.  Obama stands above that and he needs to constantly and aggressively remind voters that Hillary is part of the Establishment.

Hit back Barack.  We're behind you.  Don't let Hillary mislead people.  Be firm, aggressive, and put your policies proposals out there with confidence.

What do others think? 

(read more)

race and gender

The topics of race and gender have come to the fore over the past week.

While Bill Moyers's Journal is usually quite insightful, this week I was disappointed by the discussion of race with Bill's guest, Shelby Steele of the Hoover Institute, who drew on old-fashioned essentialist notions of racial identity to suggest that Barack Obama isn't a viable candidate.  Steele's argument is based on a false dichotomy: Barack can remain who he is and appeal to White voters but in doing so Black voters will reject him as “not Black enough,” or, he can appeal to Black voters but in doing so White voters will reject him for being “too Black.” My sense is that the majority of younger people in the U.S. no longer think in the either/or terms of previous generations and that we are quite capable of taking people on their own terms. This is not to say that I am naive about the deep-seated, historically racist tendencies in our society; it is to say that I think most young people in this era of "multiculturalism" (that loaded word) think in relational terms, realizing that particular facets of our identities are revealed in different situations and contexts.  The flaw with essentialist notions of identity is the idea that we are the same across space, time, and situation.  In reality, different aspects of who I am are manifest in my relations with my family, while others are visible in my interactions at work, while still other features of who I am come out in my interactions with my Honduran friends.  This is part of being able to communicate with different kinds of people across boundaries of race, educational level, gender, culture, generation, and sexual orientation.  And this broad appeal across boundaries of race but based on common principles of progressive political change is the bet that we are making with our support for Obama.

I found the following recent discussions of the dimensions of race and gender particularly interesting:

From Democracy Now: "Race and Gender in Presidential Politics: A Debate Between Gloria Steinem and Melissa Harris-Lacewell" 

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/14/race_and_gender_in_presidential_politics

From Bill Moyers' Journal: 

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2008/01/diversity_of_opinion_within_th.html 

Also interesting is this take on Hillary's "experience" from the neoconservative Weekly Standard:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/554fwchn.asp

 

(read more)

A better, more just future? Perhaps, if we work for it....

I just joined Barack Obama's campaign because I am excited about the opportunity to support a candidate who I can believe in, one who attempts to bring into being a better, more just society.  I decided that if I remain on the sidelines, hoping that he wins--but not doing anything concrete to make it happen--that I would be ceding ground to those more conservative, less caring (but more committed) and less informed (but more vehement). After the past seven years, I am tired of the God, Guns, and Gays debates that Republicans have been using to pit us against each other in order to pursue their policies of unilateral aggression.  The consequences of Republican rule have been truly disastrous: they've managed to unite the world against us, they've launched imperial wars on several fronts in the Middle East and North Africa, moved us from the greatest budget surplus to out of control budget deficits, and they've polarized our political discourse by scapegoating undocumented immigrants, homosexuals, and anyone who dared criticize their reckless policies.

Obama's message of hope through struggling for a more just, more loving society offers us the chance to become a better people and a better nation.  It seems to me that it is only through committing to work for a kinder, more decent society at the political level do we have any chance of atoning for the great crimes of our recent past, committed against the people of Iraq and Afghanistan and against our own men and women in the military who've suffered the consequences of Bush and Cheney's belligerence.  Without forgetting or whitewashing our checkered past, we must work now for a more humane future.

 

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Barack Top Ten - 11-4-07 - Victory2008.net

(1)  Obama Criticizes Bush's "Catastrophic Failure of Leadership" and Clinton's Calculated Politics
Jim Davenport - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5izQosMtCfjNjE1uAP6fQV2BZ_qWwD8SMCE6O0

(2)  Obama Says A Clinton-Led Ticket at Best Barely Wins
Mike Dorning - Chicago Tribune
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/obama_a_clintonled_ticket_at_b.html

(3)  Obama Questions Clinton's Drive to Win with Her Campaign Plan of Calculation Over Candor
Dan Balz - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110300893.html?hpid=topnews

(4)  Obama Onslaught Forces Clinton onto Back Foot
Tim Shipman - Telegraph-UK
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/04/wobama104.xml

(5)  Obama Says He is Not a "Perfect Man"
Agence France Presse
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgEvX_QctEYbe9ICikStg4bQFXmg

(6)  Obama Draws Distinctions to Clinton in Spartanburg, South Carolina Speech
Kevin Bogardus - TheHill.com
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/obama-draws-distinctions-to-clinton-in-south-carolina-2007-11-03.html

(7)  Iowa Obama Supporters Call for Release of Clinton Documents as First Lady
John McCormick - Chicago Tribune
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/11/iowa_obama_supporters_call_for.html

(8)  Hoosiers in Indiana Give Big to Obama in Third Quarter
NWI.com
http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/11/03/updates/top_stories/doc472c2af0763f6204937407.txt

(9)  Obama, Civil Rights and South Carolina
Katharine Q. Seelye - New York Times - The Caucus
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/obama-civil-rights-and-south-carolina/

(10)  Former South Carolina Chief Justice Ernest Finney Endorses Obama
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iqW3aTs7UVt_OH2d0JHuLh368h9wD8SLLAPO0 (read more)

Barack Top Ten - 9-22-07 - Victory2008.net

1)  Obama Condemns Jena Charges during Iowa State University Speech
9-22-07
Lisa Rossi - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS09/709220328/-1/NEWS04

2)  Obama and Edwards Step Up Criticism of Clinton
9-22-07
Beth Fouhy - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPDo-NMvpVY4UgXpm2c296R0i3Jw

3)  Obama Leads Both Giuliani and Thompson in Recent Poll
9-22-07
Rasmussen Reports
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070921/pl_rasmussen/obamamatchup20070921_1

4)  Obama's Mother Featured in New TV Ad Airing in Iowa
9-22-07
John McCormick - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_adsep21,0,7546153.story?coll=chi-news-col

5)  JFK Advisor, Counsel and Speechwriter Ted Sorensen Backs Obama
9-22-07
Jennifer Feals - Seacoast Online
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS/709210402/-1/NEWS11&sfad=1

6)  Students Like Obama in Iowa But Will They Caucus?
9-22-07
Dan Gearino - Sioux City Journal
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/09/22/news/iowa/3d06824cc7f1e10c8625735e000ce490.txt

7)  Obama Wants to Expand Senior Volunteer Programs
9-22-07
Mike Glover - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDkaLoCLlGNuKVxZbfOhsUW7F7Dg

8)  Democrats 2008 - Clinton - 36% - Obama - 23%  - John Edwards - 18%
9-22-07
Angus Reid Global Monitor
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28315/democrats_2008_hillary_36_obama_at_23/

9)  Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Ben Cohen Accuses Obama and Clinton of Timidity over Pentagon Cuts
9-22-07
Teddy Davis and Mike Chesney
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3632367&page=1

10)  In Polls Obama Lurks - Analysts Say Barack Needs to Soar
9-22-07
Jason Clayworth - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS/709220332/1001/ENT (read more)