Newsweek has a piece out on retired Air Force General Jonathan Scott Gration, who traveled with Barack to Africa last year.
Gration has been a Swahili speaker all his life, having grown up as the son of missionaries in Africa. He accompanied Barack on a 15-day tour of Africa last August and was, he says, simply bowled over.
"He's using his experience to turn a page for America, not only to bring the country together, but to give us a different image externally," Gration said.
Gration thinks Obama has a deep respect for servicemen and women. Having earned seven rows of ribbons during a 32-year Air Force career himself, he praised Barack's commitment to veterans.
"I'm very involved in veterans' issues, and I believe there's not a candidate out there who's taking care of our veterans like Obama."
General Gration recently toured Iowa on Barack's behalf. Read about his trip and some of his own posts here.
"For the first time in VIBE's 14-year history, a political figure graces our cover. It's time."
VIBE editor Danyel Smith wrote those sentences in a letter to her magazine's readers, explaining why VIBE put Barack on its cover this month.
During the 20-minute cover shoot, Barack noticed a pair of high-top sneakers, and said "You guys are hip. I used to be hip. I can't be hip anymore. I'm running for President."
Smith thinks Barack has his priorities straight:
"If he means good change and freedoms, strength and truth, and a swagger that comes from having the wisdom of knowing hardship and service and of having experienced pure joy - well then, I'm ready to not be hip, too."
[A]nd it's precisely Obama's ability to move the conversation in this direction that's his campaign's most underappreciated asset…. Obama, having established more space between his views and those of the Republicans can, in effect, punch much harder, accusing conservatives of radically misconceiving the problem. This, in turn, allows him to argue forcefully against continuing the war in Iraq without a hint of defensiveness.Toughness, meanwhile, is as much about character as it is about positions on the issues. An ability to oppose the war without hedging, apologies or regrets lets him speak with confidence and project toughness even when the policies he's outlining - take action against terrorists if the intelligence indicates we should take action against terrorists - are, at the end of the day, rather banal.
[I]t was as strong an articulation of the Democratic approach to counter-terrorism as I've seen in the last few years… [Obama did] it in such a way as to make the progressive approach to counter-terrorism the strong approach to counter-terrorism.
Will Bunch at Attytood said the speech was "provocative and also right on the money for the most part."
What did you think? Read the whole speech here.
And watch the whole ad here.
Read Andrew Sullivan's post this morning on the differences between Obama and Hillary Clinton. They are from different Democratic generations, Sullivan says. Obama was not traumatized by the conservatives' ascent in the 1990s. Clinton, on the other hand "internalized to her bones the 1990s sense that conservatism is ascendant, that what she really believes is unpopular." Sullivan writes:
Obama is different. He wasn't mugged by the 1980s and 1990s as Clinton was. He doesn't carry within him the liberal self-hatred and self-doubt that Clinton does. The traumatized Democrats fear the majority of Americans are bigoted, know-nothing, racist rubes from whom they need to conceal their true feelings and views. The non-traumatized Democrats are able to say what they think, make their case to potential supporters and act, well, like Republicans acted in the 1980s and 1990s. The choice between Clinton and Obama is the choice between a defensive crouch and a confident engagement. It is the choice between someone who lost their beliefs in a welter of fear; and someone who has faith that his worldview can persuade a majority.
Obama does inspire unity and optimism. You can hear it when you talk to supporters and see it when you go to campaign events. We need someone who is comfortable saying what he thinks, and who can confidently engage and persuade a majority. Barack did it in the state Senate -- read the New York Times article from yesterday about it here. He's doing it in the U.S. Senate, and he can do it again as President.
Barack just sent out this email:
Dear Friend, A couple of weeks ago I sat down to dinner with four supporters like you.Christina, Haile, Margaret, and Michael each made a small online donation, and we flew them across the country for some good food and good conversation.What I enjoyed most about this dinner was the opportunity to listen to the stories and concerns of ordinary Americans in a relaxed environment. Out on the campaign trail, there isn't always time for that kind of interaction.Last week we started planning our second dinner, and on Friday evening at 6:42 pm, a woman named Dorothy Unruh of Lakewood, Colorado made a donation.I'm pleased to announce that Dorothy will be one of my guests for the second dinner. You could join us if you make a small donation before 11:59 pm tomorrow, Tuesday, July 31st: https://donate.barackobama.com/dinner Here's what Dorothy told us about herself:I'm a senior citizen fed up with the current state of our government. I'm sad that our great nation has lost its stature in the eyes of the rest of the world. I have been a registered Republican for years, but recently officially changed parties so I can attend the Democratic caucus and help elect Senator Obama. He is like a breath of fresh air to my husband and me.
Dorothy has never taken part in a political campaign before, but she and millions of other voters who want change are going to be the key to Democratic victories up and down the ballot next year.I'm looking forward to having dinner with Dorothy, but there are still three seats left at the table. Will you be in one of them?If you make a donation by 11:59 pm tomorrow, Tuesday, July 31st, you could join us for dinner very soon: https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerWe'll pay for your trip and the meal -- all you need to bring is your story and your ideas about how to make this a better country for all Americans.Small donations from ordinary Americans have set our campaign apart and allowed us to reject the influence of Washington lobbyists and special interest groups. Not only is your support the key to our success, it's essential to reclaiming a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people.I hope you will make a donation now and participate in this opportunity. Take ownership of your part in this campaign and strengthen your role in our movement.Together we can put an end to pay-for-influence politics. We can turn the page in Washington, and it all begins with you.Thank you for your support, Barack Obama
The reason that this president has failed to lead this country is because he hasn't been able to unite our country. He's polarized us when he should have pulled us together. That's why the experience we need in the next president is the ability to bring this country together. It's not enough to just change parties.
David Plouffe just sent out this email:
Dear Alex, After watching the video of the first Dinner with Barack, thousands of you sent messages asking for another opportunity to participate.Here’s what you had to say:"This is one of the coolest events I've ever witnessed. Ordinary citizens are never afforded this kind of opportunity -- to sit down with someone who might be the leader of the free world and have the opportunity to discuss policies and issues. I contributed just as the others did, and I feel as if they were sitting in those chairs representing all of us out here. Just regular folk having their voices heard. Amazing. Yes! Yes! Do it again!!!"-- Tim in Chehalis, WA"The dinner video of the Senator and his guests was great. I was very inspired by watching it. This really demonstrates Senator Obama's genuineness and compassion for others. Just to see him sit down, eat, talk and listen to the concerns of average people. This says a lot about his leadership and is the kind of example we need to see more of." -- JoAnn in Moss Point, MI"First I've got to say WOW! Did i just see a Presidential Candidate sit down with regular folk? WOW! Seriously, I just want to say thank you. This is the first time I have ever felt passion for an election. I am so excited." -- Roger in Lakewood, CA"This was great. Absolutely you should do it again. I liked the short films profiling the dinner guests too. My Dad sent this link to me, and he would only connect to a politician who seems like a real person. So, you're doing something good here." -- David in Jamaica Plain, MA"Excellent! This format shows much more than the standard sound bite. It really gives a person a glimpse of the real Obama: down to earth, in-touch with the concerns of American citizens. I would suggest expanding this format of 'Dinner with Barack' into a series."-- Donald in Hallowell, MEAs much as you enjoyed the dinner, no one enjoyed it more than Barack. As soon as it was over he asked, “When are we doing the next one?”So, let's make this happen again. Today you can take the next step in showing your support for our movement by contributing to our campaign. At the same time have the opportunity to sit across the dinner table from Barack Obama. Here are the details: If you make a donation in any amount, even as little as five dollars, before 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 31st, you could join Barack Obama and three other supporters for an intimate dinner for five:https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerBarack’s guests told us that the dinner worked out even better than they expected. The casual, friendly atmosphere allowed them to engage Barack on a number of issues that affect them personally.One of the guests, Christina Cheatham, blogged about her experience:“The Senator not only spoke candidly with us about many different issues, but he also took interest in how some of the current policies affect our daily lives.Most important to me, while he is very confident in his own ideas for America, he is still willing to listen -- really listen -- to dissenting views.”Watch a short video of Barack’s dinner with Christina, Haile, Margaret, and Michael. They discussed the war in Iraq, student loans, health care, and urban poverty.What issues are important to you, and what would you ask Barack if you had the chance?Share your story and make a small donation before 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 31st, and you could have dinner with Barack:https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerAt a time when Washington lobbyists and special interests are poisoning our politics with their influence, Barack Obama wants to sit down with you and hear what’s on your mind.Our movement has rejected the easy money of politics as usual. Instead, we put our faith in you, and more than a quarter-million supporters have proven that we made the right decision.The vast majority -- more than 90% -- of our donations came from supporters giving $100 or less. However, to make a lasting change in this country we must keep building this base of support.Make a small donation and you could have the kind of dinner with Barack that other politicians reserve for the wealthy elite:https://donate.barackobama.com/dinnerThank you for your support,David David PlouffeCampaign ManagerObama for AmericaP.S. -- Barack got involved in politics to advance the concerns of ordinary people and serve the common good of all Americans. There is no better source of ideas or inspiration to make this happen than an intimate conversation with supporters like you. Make a small donation before 11:59 pm on July 31st and you could have dinner with Barack: https://donate.barackobama.com/dinner
A lot of discussion has taken place about Barack’s non-establishment approach to foreign policy since Monday’s debate. Here’s what Barack had to say about his approach in a conference call with reporters this morning:
It's a debate over the same conventional thinking that led people to authorize the war in Iraq without asking questions… Part of what I believe we have to have is a willingness ... to talk tough, but be tough and smart enough to engage our enemies.
Over the last couple days, bloggers have noted that a different approach to foreign policy could serve us well. Atrios writes that the:
[F]oreign policy establishment has its own arbitrary parameters of debate which it imposes on political candidates, a sort of legacy of decades of debates piled on other debates, which often have little relationship to reality. It tries to impose those rules onto candidates, declaring this or that a "foreign policy gaffe," even though it's often only a gaffe to the very serious people who brought us George Bush's excellent Iraqi adventure
Kos writes:
I think Obama can score a lot of points by running against Washington D.C., and I hope he keeps this up. I haven't been too impressed with what all those "experienced" people in Washington have delivered.
A.J. Rossmiller writes on Americablog:
Fundamentally, this is an example of establishment thinking versus normal thinking… I think [Obama] was saying that negotiations with bad leaders are *theoretically possible* in an Obama administration, whereas they're not even a consideration for the current one… His sentiment is absolutely right.
Barack's a relatively fresh to Washington and he doesn't bring a lot of the baggage some people unconsciously bring with them… To complete the change that we started in 2006, it's going to take somebody new to make that change in the White House.
Barack's appearance in the last debate confirmed for me what I've believed all along. It's new thinking versus old thinking. This notion of Hillary Clinton's that we should continue down this path of not talking to our enemies is a policy that has proven to be disastrous to our country. These are not the views of someone who professes to be an agent of change.
I gave to Barack because I've been impressed by him from the first time I saw him, by all of his appearances – just the by the way he thinks. His ideas and his vision are so appealing after what this country has been through over the last few years. I'm in a hotbed of conservatives where I live. I have just sat by and haven't expressed the way I feel I'm just appalled by the way the Supreme Court has injected politics in to every issue. I'm also appalled by how the Bush administration has injected politics into everything. It's just made me angry. Barack seems to be above politics. Maybe every politician is a political animal in some way, but he has a philosophical approach that is above politics. I think that approach supported and encouraged. I just felt like if not now, when am I going to do something? If there is a chance that we can change the direction that the country is going in, I want to help. I want my voice to be heard even if it's a squeak.
Why Obama Got it RightIn signaling that he was willing to meet with the leaders of these countries, Obama was signaling that the United States has the confidence in its values to meet with anyone. But he also signaled a certain humility that reflects the understanding that the next president must reach out to the rest of the world and not merely issue conditions from the White House and threaten military force if it does not get its way.
Cast your vote here.
Dear Friend,Barack Obama’s performance stood above the competition in last night’s debate as he continued to show the qualities that will make him a strong Commander in Chief.He displayed the judgment that led him to oppose the war in Iraq before it began and reminded the other candidates that the time to ask how we were going to get out of Iraq was before we went in.Watch the video and share it with your friends:http://my.BarackObama.com/DebateSCTelevised debates are notorious for rehearsed sound bites and canned answers. Barack demonstrated his leadership by speaking with passion and personal conviction about education, Social Security, and changing the way Washington works.This morning’s news coverage declared Barack the clear winner of the debate. Here’s a sample of what they had to say:
Barack has received an unprecedented amount of small donor and volunteer support, showing that the campaign is truly a grassroots movement. Today, the LA Times has an article out about an important part of the grassroots effort: donors who give recurring contributions to the campaign and who donate their time as well as their money. The paper quotes Sharon Pipino, who gives $25 to Barack once a month. "I just can't help myself," she said. "If I have some left over at the end of the month, I send him more." By making a recurring donation, you're making the commitment to help build the sustained support the campaign needs to be a national operation. The article also quotes campaign manager David Plouffe, who talked about the importance of people supporting the campaign by giving their time. "We need people to do phone banks and canvassing…. These are the people who are going to provide the foundation of a very strong national organization," he said. This campaign is built on your support. Sign up to volunteer here.
As Sam posted on Saturday, Michelle helped open a new volunteer HQ in Chicago on Friday. So if you're in the area, you can volunteer there. But you can lend your support from anywhere - just sign up, and someone from the campaign will contact you.
Or sign up to make a monthly donation here.
