I am sending you this as this is a recent occurrence that should be the nail in John McCain’s coffin within the LGBT community. Most of my friends at some point have raised someone else’s child or provided care for seniors in and outside of our family. On a personal note I have done all of the above. A copy of Senator Obama’s original response will be on display as part of our booth setup along with his stance on other issues of importance to the community.
I thank you for being aware of Barack Obama’s stance on these issues as well as the numerous others that you already know so well.
08/08/08
If last evenings Grand Opening Celebration of The Wilkes Barre Campaign Headquarters is any indication of the people and force behind Senator Obama’s run for the White House we are definitely on the winning team.
Stevie Wonder is fidgeting with his camera phone, embarrassed because he can't get it to work right.
But wait, it's not what you think.
Wonder is trying to show a reporter how the device helps him "see" written documents; moments later, the blind superstar reveals how the camera takes photos of text, converts it to audio and reads the words aloud, and instantly has wowed his audience of one.
But Wonder doesn't need to rely on technology to amaze: Now on a nationwide tour, all he needs to do is open his mouth and start singing some of his classic hits: "Superstitious," "I Wish," "As," "My Cherie Amour" — and he gets a crowd into a frenzy. Actually, just his appearance on stage is usually enough: His icon status is enough to leave an audience in awe.
In person, Wonder, 58, comes off more like your friendly uncle than a legendary musical figure: He cracks jokes, tells stories, and opines about politics and world peace. Here's a sampling of what Wonder had to say when he spoke recently with The Associated Press.
AP: Before you started touring last fall, your last full-fledged tour was in 1996. Why did you decide to get back on the road?
Wonder: Just having a chance to say thank you to the fans. After I lost my mother in May of 2006 I had said that I wasn't going to perform for a while. But I got the message (from my mother) to go and spread the message, celebrating some of the feats that we have such as coming together and fighting against apartheid. ... We cannot forever think that we will have the blessings that we have without staying on point.
AP: You are a supporter of Barack Obama. One refrain from a lot of people is that they never thought they'd see a day where there was a tangible possibility of a black president. Did you feel that way too or did you think that it could happen someday in your lifetime?
Wonder: Of course I did. I always felt: Why not? What's the big deal? Someday there will be a Latino president and an Asian president and a Jewish president. We can't talk about those things and then not be. The Lord that I serve says the impossible is unacceptable. If we can fly to Mars and have many trips to the moon ... will find the cure to cancer. I just feel that we need to use more of our power for the goodness. ... We are in a battle for good and evil. You've got to take a position. My focus is not just because he is an African-American ... but his spirit is one of being kind of free.
AP: If Obama is elected president, are you angling to perform at the inauguration?
Wonder: I'm just excited. Obviously if I'm invited to be there it's an honor, but I didn't do all of that to get a pat on the back. ... I'm just excited about it. It's time for America and the world to grow up and grow into the right now and stop the B.S., and B.S. stands for breaking the spirit.
AP: You have been more than a singer but an activist for years. Do you wish that younger singers were as concerned about social issues as you have been?
Wonder: There are very conscious people ... you've got various people doing their thing. There is a place of consciousness within. Someone has to stand out there and sometimes they have to stand alone. At the end of all that you are going to have people who take a position and move us forward. That doesn't mean that every single artist has to write some conscious song.
AP: Can you appreciate some of the less conscious — perhaps even a bit ignorant — songs on the radio today?
Wonder: The good thing about satellite radio is ... that there's a freedom of expression that happens. I'm not going to let my kids listen to raw (stuff), but I might a little. (Sings a little bit of Lil Wayne's "Lollipop"). I didn't know so many people were licking and sucking ... it's all over the place (laughs)!
AP: You ever wish you had the freedom back in the day to get a little raw on record?
Wonder: I don't think I would do a song that said can we (expletive) right now or anything like that. I don't think I would do something like that, or a song that said certain things, whether it be 30 years ago or right now. I don't see myself as doing that just because there are other things to saying what you wanna say without saying it like that. That's private business... I'm not an advocate of giving everything up. (Laughs.)
AP: You mentioned you are a fan of Nas. What do you think of the whole controversy about him initially wanting to title his new album the n-word?
Wonder: I'm not with the word only in that we had buried the word and it should have been buried. People say well we use it for fun and whatever. I'm not really feeling it and I know sometimes it comes in conversation ... For all the pain that has happened over the years, what that word brings up, it needs to go away.
AP: You have new projects coming out in the fall. Now veteran stars like the Eagles and Radiohead are finding new ways to put out music outside of traditional labels. What do you think of that?
Wonder: The world is changing. Things are just different. The world is evolving everyday so you have to stay with it or get left behind. there was a deal that I felt good about, I would jump right on it!
FIRST THE LETTER AND VIDEO LINK TO HER:
Barack Obama didn't attend the BET Awards, but that didn't stop attendees from talking about him.
"If we all register and vote, we will have the first black president in the history of America," Sean "Diddy" Combs told the crowd Tuesday at the Shrine Auditorium before chanting "Obama or Die" — a declarative remix of his neutral "Vote or Die" motto from the 2004 presidential election, when he attempted to boost the youth vote.
Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was just a few blocks away at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a fundraiser with a Hollywood guest list that included supermodels Heidi Klum and Cindy Crawford, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and movie stars Samuel L. Jackson and John Malkovich. While Obama didn't make an appearance at the BET Awards — either live or on tape — his presence was felt.
As she picked up her award for best female R&B artist, Alicia Keys told the crowd that it's time for black people to erase the word "can't" from their vocabulary.
"Together we can do anything," she said, playing on the Democrat's "Yes We Can" mantra before shouting: "Obama y'all!"
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, failed to merit a shoutout by any of the BET presenters or performers.
"For the first time in history, we have the opportunity for somebody who's not in the good ol' boy network to get into office," rapper David Banner told reporters backstage. "People talk about his lack of experience, but there's people with much more experience who haven't done such a good job."
Stephen Hill, executive vice president of entertainment and music programming at BET, said there was talk of having Obama attend the BET Awards but it didn't work out.
"We would've loved it if he would've stopped by," said Hill.
During his monologue, host D.L. Hughley cracked jokes about Obama. Other attendees were more flattering. Backstage, Humanitarian Award winner Quincy Jones said he wanted Obama to be elected and create a Secretary of Culture position. Actress Nia Long beamed about possible first lady Michelle Obama.
"Michelle is graceful, beautiful and not afraid to be exactly who she is," Long said backstage. "It's wonderful to see their love in the midst of all the political madness. They have something we should all be proud of. She's smart. She's educated. And she's fearless. I'd love to have tea with her one day."
One attendee used fashion to show her support for Obama. Actress-comedian Kym Whitley, who revealed she'll be appearing in a small role in the upcoming "Transformers" sequel, donned a tight purple shirt that read 'Barack Obama 08' in glittery black letters
"I don't know him, and he doesn't know me," she said. "But we're gonna make eye contact one day."
Longtime Obama supporter John Legend affirmed the importance of voting in the upcoming election: "I'll be working to make sure people get out to vote this fall."
The Strength of Singular Voices Roar Like Lions
Senator Obama is kicking some butt because of the power of small voices shouting in unison. Voices that are tired of not being heard when they whisper. These voices are amplified by small donations that add up to a powerful campaign war chest.
The Big Picture
As a volunteer for Wilkes-Barre/Luzerne County for Obama I have received hundreds of e-mails after Tuesday nights results came through. Although most of them were congratulatory several have been hostile and/or angry.
I stood in the Ramada here in Wilkes Barre last night surrounded by volunteers from out-of-state who came in to help us with the campaign. I was also surrounded by fellow Pennsylvanians. When they announced that Hillary had won Pennsylvania by 10 points I was not bothered. It was only a month ago that she was up over 20 points. And this is supposed to be her home town.
I do not feel we have lost anything. In fact, having met and worked with these wonderful people that I otherwise may not have gotten to know, I won. No matter what comes in the future, I won. In fact we all won and will continue to win tomorrow and throughout our lives because of what we have accomplished together.
I may not be able to go to Indiana or North Carolina. But if there is anything I can do from here I can be counted on to do it. That is my promise to you all and the campaign.
Sincerely Yours,
Bill Browne
Study: Boomers to Flood Medical SystemWASHINGTON, Mon Apr 14, 10:17 AM
Millions of baby boomers are about to enter a health care system for seniors that not only isn't ready for them, but may even discourage them from getting quality care.
Team Barack,Hello great meeting! Every one was fired up and ready to go! Now we must get everyone else fired up and ready to go! Next meeting is Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7:00.
In the last days before the cut off for voter registration I saw a group of people pull together to canvass and work the streets to achieve a common goal. It was refreshing and filled my heart with pride to see people from as far away as Syracuse, New York show up to help out.
