I am writing a book on Obama volunteers’ experiences. This text will focus on meaningful and inspiring stories from your phonebanking, canvassing or other campaign journeys. If you have pictures or stories of volunteering that were significant to you and you think would have meaning for others, please send submissions to:
AdeleNicols@yahoo.com orP.O.Box 494, Waitsfield, VT 05673
I have a particular interest in the "phonebankers". Making cold calls throughtout the United States was a unique opportunity to get to know the diverse pockets of individuals and communities that exist within our nation. I personally had some amazing discussions that I know must have been echoed by other volunteers. I am better off from the experience...and am eager to showcase your personal experiences.Chosen submissions will be notified by January 10, 2008 and full acknowledgement will be given in the publication.
I am looking for stories that will exemplify the broad scope of voters that were either for or against Obama. My primary interest is to showcase the heart of the Obama campaign by revealing personal and transformational stories and images that were at the core of this successful campaign.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.
Sincerely,We did it!Adele
During a three day 1500 mile road trip to visit colleges, I decided to finally begin Barack's book. It has been beckoning me for many months. We are only a quarter of the way through, but I cannot recommend it highly enough. Not only is Barack's story riveting but he is a superb writer. Reading it out loud to my 17 and 19 year olds, both voracious readers in their own right, has been an enormous gift to us all. Now....to just find the time to sit and finish reading it aloud. One may well never be too old for a bedtime story.
As stated on the front page of the Obama.com website today, the Obama campaign just launched a new website, FightTheSmears.com . At this site, you can not only find information that thoroughly debunks smears and false rumors -- you can take action now and spread the truth with your friends and contacts. Let's keep up the momentum and remember how many people still believe so many falsities and it is up to each of us to help get them the real facts. Education is key.
So, this is big news and good news. Sort of. Clinton has announced that she will suspend her campaign. She will, however be able to "hold onto" her delegates. Why? In case of.....what reasons? To leverage her wants/demands? I'm really sick of this talk of a dream ticket and want the Democratic Party to get real real quick. Even though McCain doesn't look, act or speak very Presidentially, we still have miles to go before we rest. What say you?
Following Obama's victory speech, last night I listened to the synopsis of the event as reported by MSNBC’s political pundits and wanted to share my thoughts on a few things: When Pat Buchanan says “Something’s wrong with Obama” that he hasn’t put this thing away months ago (regarding clinching the nomination) then we know Obama’s going to be just fine in the upcoming months. Buchanan says Obama’s only “bonding with these kids, but he’s not bonding with middle America. He’s just not one of us.” Obama has certainly cleared the burden of becoming the presumptive democratic nominee. But now we are going to have to focus on electoral votes. How’s that for a new discussion topic. I must do my research. In the meantime, any takers? Would love to hear your thoughts on this loaded and familiar topic. Express yourself.
(AdeleforObama.blogspot.com)
Please go and listen to Obama's recent Miami speech at the following link. With all the hoopdela that Clinton's unsavorable remarks caused in the media, this speech did not get the attention it deserved. Spread the word!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxrhWTZoBP8&eurl=http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog
For the first time in 40 years, this country has real hope. I feel it like the hopes and dreams I once had when my children were born and when they were young. Please read the following and contact superdelgates now! Clinton needs to be stopped. By Keith Olbermann Anchor, 'Countdown', MSNBC
Asked if her continuing fight for the nomination against Senator Obama hurts the Democratic party, Sen. Hillary Clinton replied, "I don't. Because again, I've been around long enough. You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know, I just don't understand it. You know, there's lots of speculation about why it is. “ She actually said those words. Those words, Senator? You actually invoked the nightmare of political assassination. You actually invoked the specter of an inspirational leader, at the seeming moment of triumph, for himself and a battered nation yearning to breathe free, silenced forever. You actually used the word "assassination" in the middle of a campaign with a loud undertone of racial hatred - and gender hatred - and political hatred. You actually used the word "assassination" in a time when there is a fear, unspoken but vivid and terrible, that our again-troubled land and fractured political landscape might target a black man running for president. Or a white man. Or a white woman! You actually used those words, in this America, Senator, while running against an African-American against whom the death threats started the moment he declared his campaign?" (visit this link for the rest....)http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24797758/from/ET/
The mere fact that I have been following this presidential primary election and campaign activity is highly significant that something incredible is happening in our midst. I am a single mother with numerous jobs, also in graduate school, also dealing with profoundly traumatic scenarios within my personal life, like deaths and breakdowns. I cannot anymore turn a deaf ear to what's going on in this campaign season than I can turn my back on my children, which believe me is not ever going to be even a remote possibility. I was never a Hillary basher in the beginning, nor am I one now. But I knew plenty of people who were. As I have worked diligently as a volunteer for Obama, I have been astounded by the way my perception of Hillary has changed. Mostly it has been the result of watching her dirty tactics, like the way you might see someone in the sports arena secretly elbow or trip a competitor, hoping no one would notice. The fact that Barack Obama continues to play fairly and never hits below the belt is reason enough to capture my full attention. That alone is proof that something new is happening in this country. This is indeed a testament of the fierce urgency of now. We must continue to talk to anyone and everyone who will listen to the truth and to the facts of why this is such an important time to get involved and most importantly why Obama is a leader whom we will not see the likes of again for a very long time. This is an opportunity we must not waste.
AdeleforObama.blogspot.com
After losing a half hour's worth of synopis of Obama's speech....and having lost it in cyberspace...It wil have to suffice to say that Obama, once again, took the high road, emphasized change in America and gave the best of all arguments as to why he is the one and only true candidate of change. Why do some people say they don't know much about Obama? It's a mystery to me. He seems so transperant and available to me. But to people more isolated in this country, like Kentucky and West Virginia, we must all keep on keeping on. We must swallow our pride about what seems so obvious and do our service work to let the public at large who says they "don't know him", know him in no uncertain terms and what he represents.
Here's to the next weeks of letting people know who Barack Obama is, the hope he represents and what he intends to do in this country.
There is no need for mystery. We must be the ones to dispell the misnomers. Yes we can!
Okay okay, he shouldn't have called the reporter "sweetie" and I probably shouldn't call everyone "honey", but I'm from the south, and it's a cultural thing I was raised with. I actually don't call everyone that, only people that I'm feeling positive toward. Now, if Barack called men "sweetie" it would raise even more eyebrows, and of course it's also not a cultural thing. But then that brings up sexism in the reverse. I am a woman and can call men and women honey without anyone ever having minded in all these years. But because Obama's a man, he can only call women sweetie, and then, according to CNN's Campbell Brown, "None of us like it" and Obama needs to cut it out. Well I wouldn't mind being called sweetie by someone who certainly only used it as a term of a positive nature. What's gone wrong with this world. We should all just lighten up. At least he didn't call her something awful. And yes, I do believe he did the correct thing by letting her know that no disrespect was intended. She did, however, get her 15 secs. of fame. What next. Sheesh.
Tune in right now.
Great great great!!!!
Just heard on NPR, Edwards endorses Obama. Don’t have anymore details than that, but the story is obviously breaking as I type. Everyone tune into the news tonight. This will seal the deal no doubt, as Edwards represents the population Obama purportedly has a more difficult time winning over. YES we CAN!
How do we get “everybody” involved in this democratic campaign?
One way is to find every avenue we possibly can to counteract the “spin” that insinuates Obama has trouble obtaining the working class/white vote. We must continue to put emphasis on the fact that people in general do not have any trouble voting for Obama. That is one of his many strengths. People like him. Even those that are confused as to why they like him. There are those that change their party affiliation, those that switch from Clinton to Obama and those that are inspired to vote for the first time. Obama is simply a likeable fella. Why?
That’s another blog post entirely. However… I do think that Barack has already begun changing the climate of what is normally thought of as the “general public.” I have begun to change my otherwise cynical view of humanity as someone who now believes in the ability of the American people to recognize truth and authenticity when they are in the presence of it. So....I'm here to remind you...Every action you take makes an impact on someone else. Keep telling anyone who will listen that "yes we can!" A gift indeed.
Oh my oh my. I hoped we were in good shape from Tuesdays’ primary results. Yesterday morning, news was in flux and scattered about. I had a hard time knowing what was spin and what was real. What I did know was that Obama was clearly in good stead. McGovern’s endorsement (I campaigned for him back in the day) and new superdelgates…the Obamasphere was indeed invigorated. This morning, 24 hours later, it appeared the tide had turned. Barack is once again the golden boy to just about everybody, other than Clinton supporters, and even they seem to be reconsidering their stance. Yes, of course we know it is well deserved. We who have always seen him, who know who he is, what he sacrifices and risks each day, and what he represents. But now the media is practically gushing at him, clamoring about trying to get their interviews. And some damn fine interviews I’ve seen on the news tonight! All of this to say, we only have to follow Barack’s lead. Stay focused on what lies ahead in the weeks to come. Maintain self control and stay above the fray of the negative campaigning tactics. Remember that this is a step by step process and Clinton is still in the race. No more politics as usual. The transformation continues. Yes we can!
