I am so sick and tired of hearing about how tough Hillary Clinton has been. "She tough. She's a fighter. Nobody else would have the gumption to say such a thing! She is tough, tough, tough! I think not.
She is a bully, a liar, a cheat, and someone who readily plays victim whenever she sees fit. She is deceptive. dishonest, disingenious, and a who lot of other disses, but not one of those things is a synonym for being tough!
Please, please, please consider donating to my fundraising page.
MY STUDENTS' LAST DAY IS FRIDAY--THIS FRIDAY!
I AM ONLY $250 AWAY FROM MY GOAL OF $700.
I teach 7th graders and this page is in honor of them and the POWER of a good public school education, which is what every child deserves.
It is also in honor of GOOD TEACHERS, which I consider myself to be, and I know that there are many, many wonderful teachers out there (and on this blog).
Please help if you are able.
Thank you very, very much. I hope I don't bother anyone by posting this until Thursday. I would LOVE to show my students that our goal has been met.
Much love to you all!CeCe
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/bitterabouteducation
Heavenly Father,
Giver of life, health, and strength, we thank you for this day. Father we thank you for the many blessings that you have shown us on this journey for the nomination. You have delivered us victorious in many states, and you have shown us our areas of weaknesses in others. We thank you when we are winning, and even when we are not because in EVERYTHING we are to give You thanks.
Today Father, hold Barack and Michelle in your arms. Hold them close and let them know that YOU are Lord of ALL--everything! I believe that you know the integrity of Barack and Michelle's character and the love and honor in their hearts. Father, let Michelle know that even though she has been under attack, you are there beside her and that NO WEAPON formed against her shall prosper. Let Barack know that although there are some voters who misjudge him, you are a God of love and that you-and you alone-can change hearts and minds in ways that we have not yet seen. This battle is not Barack's alone--but it is Yours.
Father, let us become a people who love one another, care for one another, and support one another. Let us become all that you will have us to be for that is the only way that any of us can claim true victory.
Move in the hearts of the voters, superdelegates, Bill & Hillary Clinton, supporters, and all of us. We come against any spirit of division, racism, sexism, classism, or any other attack of the enemy. Let us be united now and forever more and we will give You all the Honor and Praise.
And all of God's children said, "Amen."
Well, since Obama is going to be the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, a lot of the Hillraisers have decided that they will do three things: (1) NOT vote for Obama, (2) campaign hard for McCain, and (3) NOT donate to the DNC.
The DNC is responsible for the ads that hit McCain on the economy and his foreign policy experience. We all know that Obama is hesitant (to the point of causing great frustration) of attacking anyone even when it is justified, so we need to support the DNC so that they can reveal these flaws in McCain. We all know that the media is not going to do it.
Also, I accept that we will not win WV or KY. I know that however much she wins, it does not change anything. But, could we encourage ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS to please go out and vote on Tuesday? The Clinton campaign is telling WV that not voting is a vote for Obama. We should remind our supporters that by not voting, that's a vote for Clinton.
I know that this is a lot of wasted energy (on my part), but I do not want to see Obama trying to explain his loss on Wednesday and I don't want to see him trying to discuss how he has to court blue collar white voters. You know this will be the narrative on Wednesday, even though nothing much has changed.
Sorry for the rambling. Please support the DNC. I will become a monthly donor there too. Ten or twenty dollars a month is only $50 or $100, but it is more than I have ever given before.
Much love,
CeCe
I do not live in Pennsylvania so I do not fully understand the idea of a "political machine." I do understand that Hillary Clinton has the support of Governor Rendell and the mayors and most of the state politicians. Hillary Clinton, who has called almost every state "home," learned how to shoot in Scranton behind the home that her grandfather built. . .by hand. . .in the snow. . .while shooting a duck. How is Obama supposed to compare to that?
On the eve of the Pennsylvania primary, the pundits are discussing whether or not Obama has a real chance of winning this state. A couple of weeks ago, no one thought that he would even get close. Maybe he still won't get close, but there are two men who have stood beside him throughout this whole Pennsylvania campaign--Congressman Patrick Murphy and Senator Bob Casey.
Murphy is an Iraq war veteran with a thick accent that does not reflect a "fancy" upbringing. He has a wife and child and a book that I cannot wait to get my hands on. He speaks with conviction, honesty, and I pray that he will run for national office because I would really jump at the chance to help him get elected. Hmmm. . . maybe he is thinking about running for president in a few years.
Casey is a senator who is pro-life, conservative, and has a more polished appearance than Murphy. He has been Obama's right hand man while in Pennsylvania. Casey and Obama have different views on abortion and some other issues, but Casey has decided that it is more important to connect on the issues that matter most and the issues in which they agree. Casey and Obama have made a nice "odd couple" during this recent Pennsylvania campaign.
The beauty of Murphy and Casey is that it would have been easier (maybe smarter?) to go with the political machine: Rendell, Murtha, and even Nutter. Murphy and Casey are both new (like Obama), obviously idealistic (like Obama), and heartbreakingly honest (like Obama).
Murphy and Casey are great men. I pray that this is not a new realization. I pray that their willingness to embrace someone new with a unique view on politics will make them more endearing to their state and its voters. Murphy and Casey are also sincere in their beliefs that Barack Obama is going to create a whole other level of politics. Politics in which the people really do have a voice and a chance.
My prayer is that the people of Pennsylvania respect their decision to go against the grain and I also pray (and already believe) that Senator Obama will not forget the greatness of these two men. Two men who brought a black friend home--a black friend with a funny name who is still fighting smears about being a secret, elite Muslim-- took him around town, told everybody "he's with me," and convinced others to listen when this black friend spoke. Murphy's and Casey's actions took courage, class, greatness, and most of all sincerity.
How many of us are willing to do the same?
May we all apire to a level of greatness and sincerity that will allow us to confidently and securely go left when everyone else is going right. May we be strong enough to support our friends regardles of the outcome. And most importantly, may we have the common sense to realize that there are some people, some battles, and some issues worth risking it all for. May each of us find our inner Murphy and Casey, no matter where we are or what we do.
Love, peace, and most of all Blessings,
Well, I was feeling pretty good about our campaign and the way that we have handled things in Pennsylvania. I know that the pundits have gone to town with the "clinging to their guns and religion" comment, but I thought that Obama handled himself well and that we were moving on. I even believed this when I heard Chris Matthews inject Rev. Wright into his discussion of the Pope which was his way of announcing to his viewers and the political machine in Pennsylvania that he is not an Obama supporter and that he wants to have a political future. He repeated that sentiment on "The Colbert Report." But somehow, everything from the past few weeks started getting to me. I was watching "Meet the Press" like I do every week and I realized that the pundits really do not believe that Barack Obama can win this election. Sure, he will win the nomination, but the election--against John McCain? No! McCain is the maverick, he's the independent, people like him, he's experienced, yada, yada, yada.
I was getting really down about all of this when I started thinking about my son. My oldest son was a babbling, busy two year old when one day, he just stopped. Stopped babbling, stopped being busy, it was if he was suspended or trapped in some other world. I could not get him out! I went to many useless, though well intentioned, doctors who criticized everything from baby food and diaper creams to my age (which was twenty). It was heartbreaking! I finally found a doctor who discussed Asperger's Syndrome which is high functioning autism. Although I was glad to get a diagnosis, I was heartbroken at the prognosis of his condition: late to talk, slow learner, won't make any friends, probably not able to live or function independently. I just stared at the wall for hours and hours trying to figure out what sin I had committed for my child to end up like this. But through all of that, I felt the need to fight.
I began homeschooling my son and reading everything I could about his condition. We started play therapy and a couple of good friends with some very nice and well behaved children became a part of our treatment. Slowly, we started to see progress. More often it was one step forward and two (hundred) steps back, but we kept working and fighting.
To make a long story short, my son is now 13 and is a member of the Beta Club, vice president of his middle school student body, and is first chair in band (trumpet), and also plays the violin and the piano. He is very bright and funny. He still has some trouble making friends, but he has managed to have a cute little girlfriend (against his mother's wishes), though he has decided to hold off on that for the sake of his academic career. (No, I did not bribe him--I tried at first, but he came to this decision on his own).
Anyway, Obama's campaign and run for the White House is a lot like my son. The pundits do not think he truly has a chance and no one believes that WE (the Obama Nation) can really pull this off. Look at us--knocking on doors, registering voters, blogging, donating, drinking the kool-aid (I hate that phrase, "kool-aid drinkers"). And for what? What do we really plan to do with a neophyte senator who has not stood against the Republican/Clinton (funny how they are alike) machines? Well, we plan to work hard! And some days it will feel like one step forward and two or three steps back, but as long as we are working and believing, we will win. Just think: if I had given up on my son, where would he be? If we give up on Obama, where will our country be? No, no, no. We must dig our heels in and prepare to stay and fight for every vote and voter.
The pundits, though less well intentioned than the doctors, do not know everything.
If they were really adept at understanding what the country needs, wouldn't they be running for president? DUH!!
Until next time. Much Love,
When I was a senior in high school, I participated in an African American history program where I memorized and performed the poem, "And Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. I will not repeat the whole poem here because you can look it up (smile), but there is a part that I would like to share:
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave
I am the hope and the dreams of the slaves. . .
For a few weeks, I have heard this poem referenced when discussing Barack Obama. That he is the hope-the first black candidate with a real chance at becoming the President. It is a fitting connection and it is meaningful and powerful. However, I think that we are overlooking and forgetting another part of this whole process: all Obama supporters are not African American.
That is another hope and dream of the slaves-- that people of all cultures would come together. Now, all cultures have come together on other issues--sports, finances, music, etc. But is is powerful to talk to other Obama supporters who are old enough to have been present during the Jim Crow south and who understand what a significant accomplishment it is for different cultures to come together over anything!
Every day, I am inspired by Barack Obama's candidacy because I see so many people of different hues and colors and backgrounds. It's a kalediscope of cultures who support Barack Obama. It is amazing to see how involved and how emotionally charged people are in this campaign.
But the TRUE beauty of this whole Obama movement is that many people are NOT supporting Obama because of his culture--most of the young people do not care about his culture! They like him and Michelle for who they are and not for what they look like!
Was this the true hope of the slaves? That a man of African descent could be respected and supported because of who he is and not because he is of African descent? In my heart, I believe that it is!
I am so proud to be a part of this and it has nothing to do with Barack Obama's cultural identity. Sure, it is historic and of course, it is something to be noted. But the love for Obama is due to his optimism, truthiness (to borrow from Colbert), and his ability to speak about the future in a way that is not to demean, but to encourage. Has Obama made some mistakes? Yes! Is he a neophyte? Yes, and that is also appealing.
Barack Obama is bringing a whole new group of politicans and a new way of running a campaign. I am so thankful that I am here and a part of it all.
My prayer, my desire, the cry of my heart is that we will all continue to rise. Rise above racism, skepticism, elitism, division, and everything else that wants to tear us (as human beings) apart.
Let us rise, let us rise, let us rise. . . That is the hope and the dreams of the slaves. I do not believe that slaves were ever just praying for their children or their children's children. I believe that they understood that it would take more than people who looked like them and that people of other cultures would be needed to push all of the divisions out the way so that all people could rise.
May we continue to rise, and rise, and rise. . .
Love, peace, and blessings for all,
BTW, I understand that Maya Angelou is a HRC supporter, but I still love her!
I became aware of politics around 1996. I had the right to vote in 1992, but I did not have the desire to do so. My husband was a die hard Clinton supporter and voted for him in 92 and 96. I voted for him in 96, but I cannot recall a single debate or anything about his positions. I voted for him because I have a tendency to vote Democrat, since that is the party that I most indentify with.
In 2000, I leaned toward Gore. I liked Gore as much as I liked Clinton which isn't really saying a whole lot since I didn't know anything about Clinton. Still, I voted for him and was disappointed when he didn't become President. I thought he showed great humility when he gave his concession speech. When Kerry ran in 2004, I was clueless and voted for him too. I remember thinking that election day was just a good day off from work and the chance to catch up on some sleep. No big deal.
Fast forward 2007--some skinny man with really big ears and a weird name, whom everyone says is a Muslim, is coming to South Carolina. Most of the Black leaders are supporting Clinton (Hillary). Some are supporting Edwards, but no one is supporting this stranger with the name Barack Obama. ("Who is that?" I asked my husband). My husband, who has always been more politically aware than I, left me to listen to Obama's 2004 convention speech. I go out the next day and buy Dreams from my Father and The Audacity of Hope. I am a true Obama supporter.
How did this transformation take place? Surely Kerry and Gore gave some great speeches and wrote some fantastic words. Heck, Gore won the popular vote so people had to support him too. But what is it with this man?
It's simple--I believe him. I love the fact that he wants to unify America and that he believes that everyone has something to offer. He is not just supporting Christian values (although I am a Christian) and he is not just towing the Democratic Party line. He is connecting with Independents and Republicans, Blacks and Whites, young, old, and everyone in between. This man is actually being more patriotic than the people who are waving the flags at every rally. Barack Obama is the living embodiment of the American dream. He is possibility personified and he is hope--now, I don't mean that on a religious level, but on a societal level. He is what Black and White people have been hoping for and waiting for--someone who really wants to represent the people--everybody--even the ones who will never vote for him.
Every month, I donate to Barack Obama. Every day, I post and blog support and encouragement to Obama supporters, and in the last primary (Mississippi), I made phonecalls to encourage people to vote for Obama. I'm tired and frustrated, but I have never known the joy of supporting a wonderful candidate like the joy I know in supporting Barack Obama.
Spread the love, the peace, and most of all, the joy!
Blessings,
Hello. I'm Cece and I have been an Obama supporter since he was here in SC. I read Dreams. . . and The Audacity of Hope. Whoever says that he does not have a solid plan just needs to read his book. It's all in there and according to my 13 and 12 year old sons who are both school leaders (student body vice president and sixth grade president), Obama is doing well tonight so far.
I cannot watch the debate--way too nervous and I don't know why. He is really the person for the job of President. I've donated $100 and will donate more. I have been sick for a while and cannot fly to Texas or Ohio like I really want to. But if you are in those areas and will do something for Obama on behalf of my family and I, I will donate money for you!
We love Obama AND Obama supporters. TOGETHER we will show all the doubters that HOPE has arrived!
Blessings to all,
