Hi all,If you'd like to share your thoughts with DNC Chairman Gov. Howard Dean, fill out this form at Democrats.org: http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/chairman/Thanks!###########################################################################################################################Senator Clinton's campaign has chosen to push to change the rules while the Democratic nominating process is already underway.Her campaign is advocating for the seating of Michigan and Florida delegates after the Democratic National Committee stripped both states of their delegates in response to each state's decision to move up their primary date.As Josh Marshall noted, it is inappropriate to "change the rules in midstream to favor one candidate or another." As Joe Gandelman points out, Hillary Clinton made that very argument months ago.This campaign is concerned that Senator Clintons' attempt to seat delegates from states in which she and her opponents explicitly pledged to not campaign will have disastrous implications for the Democratic Party and the Democratic nomination process. As Ezra Klein warns, "This is the sort of decision that has the potential to tear the party apart."As a result, we strongly urge Senator Clinton, in the interest of the Democratic Party and the millions of Americans who have a strong interest in avoiding a fractious, divisive Democratic National Convention, to abide by the rules set down months ago and explicitly agreed to by her campaign and abandon her push to have the Michigan and Florida delegates seated in the upcoming Democratic National Convention.Thank you for your time and consideration.Concerned Americans for a Fair Nomination Process###########################################################################################################################
Spread the love... :-)
from Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org Political Action <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> date Feb 1, 2008 1:17 PM subject MoveOn Members Endorse Obama mailed-by list.moveon.org signed-by moveon.org
With hundreds of thousands of ballots cast across the country, for the first time in MoveOn's history, we've voted together to endorse a presidential candidate in the primary. That candidate is Barack Obama.
Vote results:
Obama: 197,444 70.4%
Clinton: 83,084 29.6%
Something big is clearly happening. A few weeks ago, MoveOn members we surveyed were split. But with John Edwards bowing out, progressives are coming together. Obama won over 70% of the vote yesterday, and he's moving up in polls nationwide.1 As comments poured in from MoveOn members across the country, the sense of hope was inspiring. Here's how Christine Y. in New Jersey put it:
"I've never felt so strongly about any one candidate in my entire life. He's truly an inspiration to all of us—especially the younger generation. I will stand by him 100% for as long as he's willing to stand up and fight for this country!"
What does MoveOn's endorsement mean? People-power. Together, we are 3.2 million Americans who care about our country and want change. Half of us live in states with primaries or caucuses this coming "Super Tuesday."
We know how to roll up our sleeves and win elections, and if we all pitch in together between now and Tuesday, we can help Sen. Obama win the biggest primary day in American history. Think about it: volunteering during the next four days could mean four years of a progressive president. Can you sign up right now to volunteer for Obama's campaign? Click here:
http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=535
There are lots of ways to help. You can call voters from home, go door-to-door with others in your community, travel to "Super Tuesday" states, donate, put up a yard sign, volunteer in a campaign office, or join a local meetup. Senator Obama is running a grassroots campaign, and there's a role for everyone.
Many of us feel like change is within reach for the first time in years. Here's some more of what MoveOn members see in Obama:
"This country needs real, progressive transformation. Barack Obama is the candidate who gives us the best hope of uniting and inspiring the nation to move in that direction, while also restoring America's dignity and standing as a member of the global community."—James M., Connecticut
"While I'm impressed with Clinton and believe she would make a very good president, I'm actually MOVED by Obama. In the end, I believe if Obama is elected he has the potential to bring the country together behind him."—Patricia S., Wisconsin
"He was right on the biggest question of the era—opposing the war from the start."—Jacob S., Washington, D.C.
"I support Barack Obama for the same reasons I support MoveOn.org: the more people are inspired to get involved, the better the outcome for our country. Senator Obama has demonstrated a unique capacity to inspire participation and to make public service 'cool' again. He is also sound on all the issues that matter to me and my family."—Liz B., New York
"I live in a red state, and I see my conservative neighbors and friends showing a positive interest in Barack. They like him. They are ready to be swayed. And I see my Democratic friends and family members getting excited like never before...With Barack as our candidate, I am convinced that we can win in a landslide in 2008 and usher in a new era of progressive politics."—Desirina B., Georgia
To be clear, we won't always agree with all of Obama's positions. And MoveOn members said overwhelmingly that, regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination, we'll work hard to win the White House in 2008. Whatever happens in the primary, we'll push the Democratic nominee to campaign progressively and then we'll push them to fulfill their promises after they win.
The building of a progressive consensus around Senator Obama is tangible. Earlier this week, John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy said Obama is the first presidential candidate to be as inspirational as her father.2 Yesterday, progressive magazine The Nation said that electing Obama is "a chance we can't pass up."3 And then DailyKos.com, the most widely read progressive blog, announced Obama won 76% in a reader poll this week.4
It's time to get to work electing a president who is inspiring a nation and is talking about big, progressive change. Click here to volunteer in these next crucial days:
http://pol.moveon.org/volunteerforobama/?id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=536
This is just the beginning of a long road to victory in November. Thanks for all you do, and will do to change our country for the better in 2008.
–Eli, Wes, Joan, Justin, Adam G., Adam R., Ilyse, Karin, Nita, Noah, Marika, Laura, Peter, Anna, Matt, Daniel, Carrie, Tanya, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team Friday, February 1st, 2008
P.S. As we were about to click "send" we received the following response from Senator Obama. We wanted to share it with you: "In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up. From their principled opposition to the Iraq war—a war I also opposed from the start—to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change. I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead."
Sources:
1. "Race Tightening Between Obama and Clinton," The Nation, January 31, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3364&id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=537
2. "A President Like My Father," Caroline Kennedy in the New York Times, January 27, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3360&id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=538
3. "The Choice," Chris Hayes in The Nation, January 31, 2008 http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080218/hayes
4. "2008: 1/30 results," DailyKos.com reader poll, January 30, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3361&id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=539
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=12015-5602768-H0gDmu&t=540
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/ Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Now that John Edwards is ending his presidential campaign, please consider contacting the John Edwards Campaign Headquarters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and ask the Senator to Endorse Barack Obama. They were quite receptive to mine and others' phone calls. Spread to your other contacts... PHONE: 919-636-3131 FAX: 919-967-3644 WRITE: John Edwards Campaign 410 Market Street, Suite 400 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
I'm just wondering how this story has been flying under the radar on all the major news media almost a week after the NH primaries...are most people aware of this yet?
The Kucinich-prompted recount should start by Jan 16th, but I think this needs to be known about before that. I find this to be a much more plausible explanation of the discrepancies between all of the polling prior to the voting and the 'actual results'.
2008 Democratic Primary for New Hampshire - Vote Count Summary http://checkthevotes.com/primary_dem_New_Hampshire-summary
Vote Fraud Cost Obama N.H. (Jan 13, 2008) http://blackstarnews.com/?c=119&a=4109
Diebold Voting Machine Failures Found Across State During New Hampshire Primary (Jan 13, 2008) http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_dori_smi_080113_diebold_voting_machi.htm
New Hampshire to Recount Ballots in Light of Controversy (Jan 11, 2008) http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/01/new-hampshire-t.html
Kucinich claim spurs N.H. recount (Jan 12, 2008) http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1066072
Is this Fraud? (Jan 9, 2008) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV6qAGigGYY
Please post a reply if you know anything else on this.
I'd like to see repeal of the 1993 FCC ruling that allowed direct-to-consumer marketing of prescription medication. One of the first legislative changes pushed by Republican lobbyists in the early days of New Gingrich's 'revolution', it was long sought by big Pharma but had always been considered as not in the public interest (as it is still considered and prohibited in nearly every country other than the U.S.). If you recall, prior to '93, prescription medications were (appropriately) marketed only to physicians via specialized medical journals. The advertising budget for a new drug was a very modest percentage of the cost of its introduction (under 5%) while R&D to develop a new, viable product (i.e., significantly better than available alternatives) still comprised the overwhelming majority of its cost (north of 50%). Then two changes took place that affected pharmaceutical development in a massive way: legislation was passed allowing the patenting of 'designer' molecules used as active ingredients in drugs and the FCC eliminated it's restrictions on consumer marketing of pharmaceuticals. These two changes combined to quickly shift the focus of the drug industry from being successful by developing new and innovative medications that were significantly better than what was already available on the market (and the R&D and basic science investments necessary for this) to a strategy of making molecular tweaks to existing medications to make them different enough to patent, gaining proprietary control over the 'new' ingredient, and then launch massive 'lifestyle' marketing campaigns to deceive consumers into believing that they needed a new name-brand offering for their condition/lifestyle (think the 'little purple pill'). this quickly devolved into patients thinking they know best about their drug treatment needs when commercials apply pressure to 'ask your doctor about' so and so medicine, backing physicians into a corner where they can lose patients if they don't write the prescription patients think they need. There is actually analysis that points to the price difference between prescription medications in the U.S. and Canada being due solely to the fact that Canada never relaxed marketing restrictions on prescription medication, like the U.S. This has meant that the marketing component cost of selling any given drug in Canada is much lower than in the U.S. Combined with pricing guidelines that bar producers from charging exorbitant markups out of line with their costs, this sensible approach has meant that identical medications in Canada often cost a fraction of what they do in the U.S. This situation is laid out in an excellent episode of PBS's FRONTLINE documentary series entitled 'The Other Drug War' (#2120). Link I know it'll be hard to get this particular genie back into the bottle, given entrenched interests in the Pharmaceutical, Advertising and Television industries, but it'll be a worthwhile, basic shift in the structure of our failed health care system, akin to adopting substantial campaign finance reform.
Hi all,I don't know about you, (though I suspect you may feel the same way), but I'm dying to meet other Obama supporters from the Boston area. As the start of his campaign provides a chance of a better future for the entire country, I want to celebrate that prospect with other like-minded neighbors (from the North Shore or beyond). To provide this opportunity, I am organizing what I think would be a great fund-raiser: the 'North Shore Supports Obama - Benefit Dance and Get-Together' in my town, Rockport, MA.We'll have refreshments and a DJ (yours truly) mixing music, as well as space to dance with, mingle and meet other local progressives. If you're interested, please check out this event and rsvp as soon as possible to help in event planning.
Hope to see you there!
John
