Dear Senator Obama,
I followed your campaign ever since you announced your intentions to campaign for the POTUS. I have read your book "The Audacity of Hope" which provides insight to how you view America and its problems along with how to bring about solutions to America's problems. The campaign you conducted along with your staff to become the Democratic Presumptive Nominee was simply awesome.
There are key things I have noticed about you based on my observations and reading various publications which are worth noting. First, you have a compassion for making people lives better. One can not help but to notice how you take pride in your decision to become a community organizer in which the reward was the smile on person face who lost hope. Second, your willingness to listen to others with differing views not so much to win political points but to learn about the experiences of a person that helped to make that person into who she or he may be currently. Maybe this explains your fascination with history and life story of people who helped to shape this world in some way. Third, your intelligence and judgement clearly exceeds most in the political arena based on decisions made during this campaign and statements you made in responding to questions. As you look at the Iraq situation and the results which were predicted by you speaks volumes about your intelligence and judgement. Fourth, you are consistent in your positions and views about various issues. I certainly smile or even laugh when the critics try to portray you as flip flopping on an issue such as FISA Bill and Public Financing, but proper journalism work would show that you have taken positions with either certain conditions being met which include do what is in the best interest of this country. Finally, your integrity is superb which has shown people that you are willing to stand on principle and not sacrifice your integrity for political gain. A perfect example of this is your willingness to not inject old politics tactics in the primary race when your opponent was using the tactics of old politics. It takes courage to stand up and do the right things and speak the truth. Thus far, you have proven to be a person worthy of being the POTUS.
During my observation, your character, patriotism, religous beliefs, integrity and wife has been attacked and rumors have been spreaded throughout Main Stream Media and internet in order to deny you the opportunity to serve as POTUS in 2009. The attacks are not just coming from the Right or conservatives but from Liberals, Muslims, Blacks, Whites and others. You are human like everyone else and I know that it gets hard and it has to be very discouraging for you when this happens especially when your opponent can say or do anything and it hardly gets mentioned by the Main Stream Media. Also, I know sometimes it can be gut wrenching when your economic plan or plan to lessen our dependence on foreign oil is misrepresented only to have some of your critics like T. Boone Pickens to come along and proposed similar plan without giving you credit for yours. As you know, the attacks will intensify and rumors will continue to exist which will make it difficult for you to win the election, maintain your commitment to not using the same old politic tactics. Senator Obama you have what it takes to overcome the obstacles and win the GE. I believe in you, but most of all I believe in God who sent his only begotten Son to save the world.
Finally, I will leave you two Bible verses. Isaiah 54:17 states "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 40:31 states "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Senator Obama I am proud of you and support you in your quest for the highest office in this country. Therefore, be encouraged.
Senator Obama is getting attacked from all sides because so many people do not understand his purpose for campaigning and many are threaten by the fact some groups will lose power held by them for so long.
First, Senator Obama is campaigning to represent all people of this country by addressing issues common to all of us and making decision in the best interest of Americans. He is objectively taking positions and making decisions that are truly in the best interest of this country. The FISA Bill voted today increases oversight of wire taps by the FISA Courts and gives the next POTUS to opportuntiy to pursue criminal charges against the Telecoms and Former Government Officials. It may not be the best bill, but it still allows the Government to take steps to prevent Terrorist attacks. Anybody who has study Senator Obama's positions over the last eight years know that his positions have not changed regarding gun control, death penalty and etc.
People like civil rights activists, i.e. Jesse Jackson, certain donors who could influence, Conservatives and others know that if Senator Obama wins it will be the American people and not the special interest groups influencing the decisions in Washington. People who have made a living by dividing us with hate, benefited from tax cuts and favorable rulings by the current administration and increased their wealth from a free trade agreement that put so many Americans at a disadvantage and out of jobs are threaten by the changes being proposed which will help enhance the lives of so many who have suffered and force the top 2% to sacrifice a little of their wealth through a tax increase.
I am simply amazed at how many pundits and the aforementioned people who seem to be oblivious to the fact that this country is in a crisis and it is time to put aside the character assassination, old politics and spin. It is time to elect a leader with vision, solid judgement, character and integrity who can inspire a nation to unite and lift this country out of a crisis to build a better nation for future generations.
Personally, I will not lose focus and will support Senator Obama who is the best candidate to lead us through this crisis.
Since the night of Senator Obama becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, I have watched carefully the reporting of the Republican and Democratic nominees' positions, statements and events pertaining to their respective campaigns. I will admit that I am a Senator Obama supporter and has been since Iowa. I became a supporter when I read his positions on various issues on his website and researched why he supported certain legislation as a Illinois State Senator. My support for him became even more solid after reading his book titled "The Audacity of Hope" and watching how he campaigned and conducted himself during the Democratic primary.
Based on my research, understanding of his positions and observation of how the Main Stream Media has reported during the GE thus far, it seems the Main Stream Media are more interested in sound bites that will up the ratings instead of reporting the facts or the truth. I realize Main Stream Media need to generate profits to stay in business, but does Main Stream Media have to resort to such tactics to improve ratings. I am concerned that Main Stream Media is doing a disservice to the American people and potentially putting our country at risk by distorting the information to get a certain person elected. Should not our country and the American come first and profits second?
I implore Senator Obama, his campaign staff and surrogates to agressively challenge the Main Stream Media to avoid the sloppy reporting, spinning the candidates' statements, and laxed investigations which is so obvious to many who have followed closely Senator Obama's campaign. For example, the Main Stream Media has been reporting that Senator Obama has flip flop on his Iraq position in which the Main Stream Media accuses Senator McCain for making the statement. If the Main Stream Media had done some simply research and looked at clips of Senator Obama's statements on Iraq since his announcement to seek the office of POTUS, Main Stream Media would have found Senator Obama to be consistent and Senator McCain and his campaign to be lying. Of course, other examples can be cited regarding Main Stream Media's poor journalism. As a result, Senator Obama and his campaign can not wait until the Fall Season to start bringing this issue to the fore front and challenge Main Stream Media on its poor journalism.
I believe this is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed for the following reasons:
1. The Main Stream Media is helping Senator John McCain to characterize Senator Obama as something that he is truly not such as someone who flips flops or someone moving to the center to pander to the voters.
2. Senator Obama's statements and positions are misrepresented through sound bites which influence the low information voter who will be voting for POTUS based on sound bites.
3. There are many Senior Citizens who are getting information from Main Stream Media only and who may not be comfortable with surfing the Internet. The Senior Citizens will need to be inundated with the correct information to get them comfortable in voting for Senator Obama.
4. The response from Senator Obama in denying that he has flipped flopped or stating that he has been consistent is not resonated with the undecided or non-supporters. If his responses were resonating with the voters, you would see some bump in the polls.
5. The Main Stream Media is keeping people from getting comfortable with Senator Obama in which the Main Stream Media knows that many voters will be voting with emotions when they enter the voting booth.
I believe in Senator Obama, his campaign staff and the strategy being used to win the GE. As a staunch supporter, it appears to be a decrease in enthusiasm and winning more people over to the campaign. The negative ads by the McCain Campaign, RNC and 527's may help to light fire under the supporters of Senator Obama, but should the Obama campaign depend up negative campaign from the other side to generate enthusiasm among the Obama supporters.
The following measures should be taken to help combat some of the Main Stream Media poor journalism and its effects.
1. The surrogates will need to step up their game in defending Senator Obama and stating his positions.
2. Do not throw surrogates under the bus because the Main Stream Media does not like what the surrogate may say about the Republican nominee, i.e. General Wesley Clark.
3. Find a way to get the truth out to the public without having to go through a long explanation and losing the audience. The response has to be quick and effective.
4. It seems two campaigns will have to be conducted. One campaign focusing getting the message out to the voters and responding Senator McCain's charges. The second campaign focusing on the Main Stream Media. I like the idea of the Action Wire or Neighbor to Neighbor Campaign.
Finally, I would suggest finding a way to help the supporters to remain enthusiastic about the campaign such as reporting the number of people contributing utilizing a counter, new people creating profiles and posting blogs or setting goals to increase the number of new contributors.
I am a supporter who will vote for Senator Obama in November and try to help turn North Carolina into a Blue State.
YES WE CAN!!!
I do not know if HQ will read this comment or not but I hope somebody will take notice and share this with the appropriate person. I have been thinking about the comments made by Senator Jim Webb and the discussion by the pundits regarding the Applachia area. The idea dawn on me that the purpose of campaigning may be more than just trying to reach POTUS. As I think about Senator Obama's ability to reach people with his oratical skills, inspire people through his actions, empathize with people who are struggling and show genuine compassion, maybe the real purpose is to go into areas like Kentucky, West Virginia and other states to spend time with people who consider themselves to poor, white and out of sight. Instead of going into a meeting with a prepared speech or introductory remarks, start the meeting off simply by saying that you are hear to listen to them. After they have talked, let the people know that you spend some time thinking about their concerns and prior to the General Election you will come back with one or two ideas that will specifically address some of their key issues. I realize that regardless of where we live, the color of our skin and socio-economic status we are have similiar problems, but if a specific group really feel like that they have been left out then you may have to spend a little more time with them.
As I recall some of the discussions, it seems that the people of Kentucky and West Virginia apparently feel like some groups have received more attention than them. I do think that Senator Obama stated something during one of the debates that may really connect with poor whites. He stated that he would consider changing Affirmative Action so that the primary focus is on a person's economic background instead of race which means that poor whites would have something to help them to get ahead or pull themselves out of poverty. As for as I am concern, poverty is color blind and it is the poor that is often in situation which puts the poor children at risk. This is something concrete and specific to help address some of the ills of that area and other areas through out the United States.
I may be naive but with God's help I believe Senator Obama can turn red states like KY and WV into blue states. Based on conversations with my colleagues, the common theme with them is that they do not know Senator Obama except what they hear on Fox News or see on the Internet, but when I talk to them about facts and share information with them they become excited. I do not know the strategy that will work, but you need to find an effective way for the people in this country to get to know you in the right way.
May God continue to bless Senator Obama, his family, his staff, volunteers and his campaign for POTUS.
** Just in case you are wondering, I am a Black American proud of his country and heritage.
Senator Obama has demonstrated a lot of integrity, great character, respect and a calmness throughout this campaign regardless of what his opponents threw at him. He has truly demonstrated the true characteristics of a great leader throughout this campaign. He has not been perfect, but he has apologized and try to make amends when he has failed. He is truly what we need as a leader and visionary to help this country to get back on the right track.
My message to the supporters let us reflect the characteristics that Senator Obama has demonstrated throughout this campaign. We need to be more gracious in victory and more open to receiving people who may not have agreed with us in the beginning. As supporters, we need to understand that the media will not always be kind to our candidate, others will do whatever they can to smear him, and the Republicans will do all they can to defeat him. I encourage you as supporters to rise above the dirty tricks, meaness, and negativity so that we can focus on promoting Senator Obama in a postivie light through our actions and words.
Yes We Can!!! & Yes We Will!!!
Since the last debate, the pundits and my oppoenents have questioned my patriotism, accused me being an elitist, and raised doubts about my passion to fight and lead the people of this country. Well, I am here today to address these issues.
First, my patriotism have been questioned due to my former pastor's remarks, flag lapel pin and my assciation with someone who had radical views at a time when I was eight years old. According to Webster's dictionary, patriot is one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests. There is not anything in this definition that talks about pastor remarks, lapel pin or who you are associated or have been associated with in the past. Part of the definition for a patriot is one who loves his country. I have said many times that I love this country and it is the greatest country on earth. I would not want to live anywhere else because of the opportunties this country has afforded my wife and me. A country that allows you to criticize it, the freedom to worship God in ones own way and make your dreams a reality. How can one not love this country that has given more to me than I will ever be able to give back to it? My love for my country has been put into action by supporting its authority and working for the best inerest of this country. I have demonstrated this support of its authority by respecting and obeying the laws of this country, and learning the constituition and taking an oath to uphold the constituition of the United States. I have demonstrated that I support its interest by working as a community organizer and public servant to help better the people and this country. Patriotism is not define by the words of those who you love, or the wearing of a lapel pin or some known associate, but by a willingness to denounce the actions or words of those that would would harm this country and its people and uphold the laws and constitution of this land. If I have not demonstrated this in my life then point out where I have failed. If you can not point out where I failed, do not question my partiotism for a country I love.
Second, I am being accused of being an elitist because I said some things that seem to be condescending to rural America. I can not undo the remarks and I have tried to explain what I meant, but not to the satisfaction of my opponents or the pundits. To each and every American citizen, I apologize for offending you with my remarks. The remarks in no way a reflection of how see America or its people. I can not afford to be elitist because I can not afford to forget the values my mother and grandparents have taught me, the struggles I had to overcome to get on the right track and determine the purpose I must fulfill for my life and the struggles of people I saw during my days as a community organizer and the travels across this great country. In order, to be the leader this country deserves and needs, I need to remember that I am working for the people who are struggling during this economic decline, to pay for health care costs and to deal with the lost or the potential lost of a love one in our current war. Elitist, I am not, subject to misspeak, yes, I am sorry for the hurtful words, but I will not forget that I am in this race to fight for those on main street by easing the struggles so many people are facing today and to perfect this union that our forefathers had in mind.
Finally, my passion to fight and lead has been questioned by the pundits as an explanation to why I may not be connecting to the voters in rural America. When I considered running for President of the United States, I sat down and thought about the gut wrenching attacks on my character that would take place, the sacrifice that I and the family will need to make, and the reasons I wanted to run for president. In thinking about this decision, I realized that it would take passion and determination to get through this process and be successful, but more importantly I realized that I would be in the fight of my life for the nomination. Look at the odds of me becoming president with a name associated with the Middle East, being an outsider of the political establishment, very little name recognition and hardly any big financial backing that a number of candidates did have available to them. I made it this far because I have fought and worked hard with a passion. I do not wear my passion on my sleeves, but translate that passion through organizing, providing a vision for my people and finding solutions to overcome the odds. When this passion is translated through organizing, vision and solutions, you are able to lead in such a way that you can inspire people to work and solve problems. You do not have to believe me in what I say; just look at my campaign and compare it to my opponents and look at the results yielded thus far. I am in the lead in pledged delagates, popular vote and not in debt.
In conclusion, I will not be distracted from the work I must do to inform people about me and the solutions I have for the problems all Americans are facing today especially in the rural areas.
Gabrielle Miller may not be old enough to vote, but she has made sure plenty of others have the opportunity.
As part of a Carolina Change Challenge voter registration contest sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, Miller registered more voters than anyone in Greenville leading up to the April 11th registration deadline for the upcoming primary.
For her efforts, the 15-year-old D.H. Conley High School student will join 15 other winners in meeting Obama, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, during his visit to Greenville today.
"I was very excited when someone from the campaign called me Tuesday night to tell me I would get a chance to meet him," Miller said. "He is so charismatic and inspirational, and I can't wait."
Miller registered more than 300 people during a two-week span, including more than 100 as part of a voter-registration drive she started at school. When she wasn't persuading people at school, Miller says, she approached people outside of a Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Dickinson Avenue.
Some were tougher than others to sign up, she said.
"The election is very historic and exciting, and I think some people realize that so they were eager to register," Miller said. "Others, I had to persuade, because I think they don't feel like their vote counts.
"I tried to let them know their vote does count, and this election is important."
Miller said she hopes to ask Obama about how he handles adversity during his campaigning, such as that he endured when his pastor made controversial comments and the recent criticism of his remarks about working class people being bitter and clinging to guns and religion.
"I just want to know what he does on a daily basis to stay strong and get through everything he faces," Miller said.
Miller said she wanted to do everything she could to spread the word about Obama, since she is unable to cast her own ballot.
"He is passionate about us, so I'm passionate about him," Miller said. "When you watch him interact with people, you can just see the passion and love he has for this country and people in general. I appreciate that."
Obama is to speak today at East Carolina University's Minges Coliseum. Doors open at 4 p.m.
