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A Chance at Change - I Endorse Barack Obama for President

By Jeff Passino - Feb 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

It is no secret that I will be voting for Barack Obama in the Democratic Primary here in California on Feb. 5. Many of you are aware of the work I have done for his campaign and about my experience seeing him speak and meeting him one on one. Up until now I have not directly pitched you, my friends, about Obama but instead encouraged you to get involved in some way, to find out about the candidates yourself and to vote, for anyone you want to, just to vote. Over the last several months I have heard some of you commit to a candidate, be them Richardson, Kucinich, Hillary or Obama, and I have done my best to respect your choice and was just proud that you had taken notice or gotten involved in the process. Though I can sometimes be cranky and very opinionated (especially when it comes to movies) I do my best to tread very lightly in the areas of politics and religion because I know they are topics that people hold very close to their heart and I do not want to offend or cause friction between you and me (which stems from, as I have been working out lately, my fear of losing those I love the most). But now we are down to just Hillary and Barack and Super Duper Tuesday is TOMORROW! So for the last few days I have been composing this email to you because how could I say I've done everything I can to change this world if I wouldn't even make clear to you why I endorse Barack Obama. Plus what kind of friend would turn their back on another just for sharing their soul. So with such a landmark day and vote before us (don’t tune out Ohio people, your day will come soon and your vote will be just as important then) here is what I want to say to you all:

Perhaps you have read the several blogs I have written over the past several months on myspace or barackobama.com...this is not them.
You see, I can not stop writing about the guy, or thinking about the guy or working for the guy because there are SO MANY aspects that hit me on a level I had always hoped a politician would.
Its not that I agree with him on everyone of the issues, cause I don't. I feel like he stops short of what I would push for if I were leading the country, but at the same time I can see the brilliance with why he does. He knows that we can not turn 180 degrees overnight and also that there is no way we could turn even 5 degrees if we can't be united first to turn at all. So he compromises. He goes just far enough to put us on the right path, to put us on a road where progression will be easier, and also gives both sides, liberals and conservatives, something so that they will get on board. Take for example his stance on gay marriage. Some of you may have heard that he his against gay marriage and stopped listening there. However here are the facts. In life he does believe in gay marriage. He belongs to a church that believes in and recognizes gay marriage. But as president of the United States he does not believe in gay marriage. He believes in civil unions and will fight and make sure that EVERY SINGLE RIGHT that is awarded to straight couples in marriage is awarded to civil unions between homosexuals because he wants equality for all, first and foremost. But he believes that the word "marriage" is not a political word, it is a word that belongs to the church and to the culture and that in time society will come around and the definition of marriage can be refined but what is most important to him is that, legally, all are equal. Plus it is a compromise for the conservatives who are so adimently against gay marriage, by not forcing a change in definition which they are in no way ready for. Is it as far as those of us who fight for equality for all and an end to oppression want? No. Is it a path to where we want to be? Yes. Can he accomplish this? Absolutely!

Lets also take a look at the way he wants to solve problems. First he believes in constant communication, whether that be between us, the citizens, and he, the president, or us, America, and them, whoever has a problem with America. Its amazing to me that every article you read or advice you get about how to maintain a successfull relationship is through communication, so when Barack suggests that we actually communicate with other countries INCLUDING our "enemies" I don't understand at all why Hillary balks at him. Secondly, he believes in actually getting to the ROOT of the problem and fixing that as opposed to throwing more laws on top of ones that already don't work. Like in the issue of abortion. Of course, like all of us, he would love to see each child have a chance, but he believes that it is the right of a woman to chose and not governments. But he doesn't see Rowe v. Wade as the problem...that's just what everyone argues about. He wants to get to the root of it. To educate kids (and not just in the ways of safe sex) and engage them in activities and life so that they have other options and don't find themselves pregnant with such a heavy decision to make. Its thinking like that, that puts him on a whole other level than any other candidate out there.

The last thing on policy is that Barack and Hillary are not THAT far off in their policy plans, but in each plan there is one fundamental difference between the two and that is that Barack has faith in you. He believes in the good that is in all of us. He believes that when it comes right down to it, when we are asked we will do what is right. That the good of us far outweigh the bad. He genuinely wants us to be apart of the process, the conversation and the decision-making. He wants to make government more transparent so that we the people are aware of what is going on in those closed door secret meetings with lobbyists. He wants to take the power away from the few and put it in the hands of all of us.
Perhaps the L.A. Times (which hasn't endorsed a candidate in a primary since the 70's) put it best with their endorsement of Barack Obama: "With two candidates so closely aligned on the issues, we look to their abilities and potential as leaders, and their record of action in service of their stated ideals. Clinton is an accomplished public servant whose election would provide familiarity and, most important, competence in the White House, when for seven years it has been lacking. But experience has value only if it is accompanied by courage and leads to judgment.
"Nowhere was that judgment more needed than in 2003, when Congress was called upon to accept or reject the disastrous Iraq invasion. Clinton faced a test and failed, joining the stampede as Congress voted to authorize war. At last week's debate and in previous such sessions, Clinton blamed Bush for abusing the authority she helped to give him, and she has made much of the fact that Obama was not yet in the Senate and didn't face the same test. But Obama was in public life, saw the danger of the invasion and the consequences of occupation, and he said so. He was right.
"Obama demonstrates as well that he is open-eyed about the terrorist threat posed to the nation, and would not shrink from military action where it is warranted. He does not oppose all wars, he has famously stated, but rather "dumb wars." He also has the edge in economic policy, less because of particular planks in his platform than because of his understanding that some liberal orthodoxies developed during the last 40 years have been overtaken by history. He offers leadership on education, technology policy and environmental protection unfettered by the positions of previous administrations.
"By contrast, Clinton's return to the White House that she occupied for eight years as first lady would resurrect some of the triumph and argument of that era. Yes, Bill Clinton's presidency was a period of growth and opportunity, and Democrats are justly nostalgic for it. But it also was a time of withering political fire, as the former president's recent comments on the campaign trail reminded the nation. Hillary Clinton's election also would drag into a third decade the post-Reagan political duel between two families, the Bushes and the Clintons. Obama is correct: It is time to turn the page.
"An Obama presidency would present, as a distinctly American face, a man of African descent, born in the nation's youngest state, with a childhood spent partly in Asia, among Muslims. No public relations campaign could do more than Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world, nor could any political experience surpass Obama's life story in preparing a president to understand the American character. His candidacy offers Democrats the best hope of leading America into the future, and gives Californians the opportunity to cast their most exciting and consequential ballot in a generation.
In the language of metaphor, Clinton is an essay, solid and reasoned; Obama is a poem, lyric and filled with possibility. Clinton would be a valuable and competent executive, but Obama matches her in substance and adds something that the nation has been missing far too long -- a sense of aspiration."

Another aspect about Barack Obama is his electability and the storm he is stirring up in people. Barack won an all white state, Iowa, and a mostly black state (and a sizable portion of that white vote), South Carolina. So far in this race he has accumulated MORE VOTES than any other candidate and more deligates than any other candidate. Even in the states Hillary has won her votes have been limited to a select few spots of the state while Barack reaches into every area of every state, be it urban or rural, different races, economic status or education. It is clear that if Barack were to get the democratic nomination that those voting for Hillary now would gladly vote for Barack, but those voting for Barack now (a great number of those being independents) would NOT vote for Hillary...especially if she would be running against McCain. Besides that, look at how he has gotten the youth to come out and vote. The numbers that are turning out to vote in the democratic primaries across the country are staggering. Double the amount that have ever voted in a primary. He has inspired people to take part...and coming from someone who has been spending a lot of time with the people he has inspired, they are inspired to continue taking part, all throughout his presidency. Just how inspiring is he? Well lets let Caroline Kennedy answer that with her Op-Ed piece from the N.Y. Times: "OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
"My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
"We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.
Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.
"Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.
"I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.
"Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.
"I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
"I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

Or maybe you would be more convinced if he could even inspire a Republican to endorse him as Susan Eisenhower did in the Washington Post: "Forty-seven years ago, my grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower bid farewell to a nation he had served for more than five decades. In his televised address, Ike famously coined the term "military-industrial complex," and he offered advice that is still relevant today. "As we peer into society's future," he said, we "must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow."
"Today we are engaged in a debate about these very issues. Deep in America's heart, I believe, is the nagging fear that our best years as a nation may be over. We are disliked overseas and feel insecure at home. We watch as our federal budget hemorrhages red ink and our civil liberties are eroded. Crises in energy, health care and education threaten our way of life and our ability to compete internationally. There are also the issues of a costly, unpopular war; a long-neglected infrastructure; and an aging and increasingly needy population.
"I am not alone in worrying that my generation will fail to do what my grandfather's did so well: Leave America a better, stronger place than the one it found.
Given the magnitude of these issues and the cost of addressing them, our next president must be able to bring about a sense of national unity and change. As we no longer have the financial resources to address all these problems comprehensively and simultaneously, setting priorities will be essential. With hard work, much can be done.
"The biggest barrier to rolling up our sleeves and preparing for a better future is our own apathy, fear or immobility. We have been living in a zero-sum political environment where all heads have been lowered to avert being lopped off by angry, noisy extremists. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the one presidential candidate today who can encourage ordinary Americans to stand straight again; he is a man who can salve our national wounds and both inspire and pursue genuine bipartisan cooperation. Just as important, Obama can assure the world and Americans that this great nation's impulses are still free, open, fair and broad-minded.
"No measures to avert the serious, looming consequences can be taken without this sense of renewal. Uncommon political courage will be required. Yet this courage can be summoned only if something profoundly different transpires. Putting America first -- ahead of our own selfish interests -- must be our national priority if we are to retain our capacity to lead.
"The last time the United States had an open election was 1952. My grandfather was pursued by both political parties and eventually became the Republican nominee. Despite being a charismatic war hero, he did not have an easy ride to the nomination. He went on to win the presidency -- with the indispensable help of a "Democrats for Eisenhower" movement. These crossover voters were attracted by his pledge to bring change to Washington and by the prospect that he would unify the nation.
It is in this great tradition of crossover voters that I support Barack Obama's candidacy for president. If the Democratic Party chooses Obama as its candidate, this lifelong Republican will work to get him elected and encourage him to seek strategic solutions to meet America's greatest challenges. To be successful, our president will need bipartisan help.
"Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole. Without his leadership, our children and grandchildren are at risk of growing older in a marginalized country that is left to its anger and divisions. Such an outcome would be an unacceptable legacy for any great nation."

The final reason I'll share with you as to why I endorse Barack Obama is just something that speaks to me from way down in my soul. Speaks is not accurate...yells at me, yes thats it, yells at me from way down in my soul. I know who this guy is. I know where this guy has come from. He and his wife Michelle are people who have come from us. They are products of public schools. Barack and his mother would often have to eat their meals off food stamps. They worked hard to get where they are. They put themselves through college and Harvard Law (Barack becoming the FIRST African-American president of the Harvard Law Review). And when Barack got out did he go work for some big law firm and make millions like John Edwards or go in to representing huge corporations like Hillary? No, he went to work for the community. This is a couple who only recently were able to pay off their student loans because they were luck enough that the two books Barack wrote were best sellers. Barack is not someone who has come from a trust fund or a politically influential family, he has not spent the past 35 years losing touch with who WE are as a nation, he still very much knows, and more importantly knows how to change this nation...for the better.
Every night I go to bed thinking that I will wake up and this opportunity that is Barack Obama will be gone, and every morning I wake up knowing it is there and fearing I will not do enough to make it a reality. Do not let this opportunity pass us by, do not live in fear that you did not do enough.
I will tell you that I am voting for Barack Obama tomorrow and return to my original stance with a quote from Oprah, "I am not TELLING you what to think, I am ASKING you TO think."

God Bless You. If you have found this the least bit helpful in making a decision feel free to copy it and forward it on to those you know.

Oh and one last thing. A 4 minute video. It is not what you think, but do yourself a favor and watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZHou18Cdk

Sincerely,
Jeff Passino

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Stopping A Chain Email

By Jeff Passino - Jan 28th, 2008 at 6:02 pm EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

Back in the middle of December 2007 a friend of mine in Louisianna (who was a Clinton supporter but got so frustrated with the way she was presenting herself throughout the campaign she switched over to support Obama) recieved a forwarded email chain from a conservative member of her family. Knowing that I was a very big Obama supporter and her being new to his campaign she forwarded the email on to me saying, "Just got this email today from a far right wackadoo family member. God help them. Have you seen this? What a bunch of spin! Feel free to email them all something good about Obama...I don't think any of them have a single friend with an opposing viewpoint."

What follows is the chain email that was sent (I'm sure you have heard about it if not seen it for yourself):

----- Original Message ----- This is very interesting - please take a few moments and read it.

Who is Barack Obama?

Something that should be considered when you make your choice.

If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all
your contacts...it is very scary to think of what could lie ahead for us
here in our own United States...better heed this and pray about it and share it.

We checked this out on " snopes.com". It is factual. Check for yourself.

Who is Barack Obama?

Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born
in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM
from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white Athiest from
Wichita, Kansas.

Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two
years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His
mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.
When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama
attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a
Catholic school.

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is
quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also
attended Catholic school."

Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that
that he is not a radical.

Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this
influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned
to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct
influence over his son's education.

Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham,
introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school
in Jakarta.

Wahabism is the RADICAL ISLAMIC teaching that is followed by the Muslim
terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since
it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major
public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined
the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim
background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he
DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.

Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor
will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands
over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.

Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential
candidacy.

The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside
out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the
President of the United States, one of their own!!!!

Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading
our country?...... NOT ME!!!

Obviously it was very disheartening to read such an email and to think how this thing was probably being forwarded around the world as fact. But this was a time before Obama's website had set up the fact check section. There wasn't a simple way to find evidence all in one place to the contrary of this email. (also I'm sure it would have more validity to the people who sent the email in the first place if the sources were from somewhere other than Barack Obama's campaign). So I wasn't sure what to do about this email. I sat on it for a couple of hours and then did a little research in google. After an hour or so I composed an email and replied to every single email address that was listed anywhere in that email. Here is what I wrote to them:

Hi there! I know this may look long but please take a minute to read.

I am not sure who forwarded this to me but I would like it to travel backwards now as I have fixed some of your mistakes.

I appreciate people's concern and good intentions in informing others about what they potentially see as a threat. What I do NOT appreciate, however, is when people pass along lies and propaganda. In this day and age, when information and actual facts are so readily available to us if we just take the time to use common sense and look for actual facts, emails like this do not feel as though they are passed on with good intentions but with ignorance and laziness.
Many of the claims in this email were brought up on some of the more conservative 24 hour news channels when Barack first entered the race...and they were either quickly disproven as "facts" or proven to be exaggerated by racism. The republican party is not "saving this stuff for the general election" (one reason is because they believe Hillary Clinton will be the democratic nominee) because they have already tried to bring it out and it didn't stick (because even conservative 24 hour news stations have to be held accountable to what they say whereas forwarded emails can just out and out LIE to instill fear in you).
All I ask of you is that you not be fooled by these sorts of emails. Remember back when you were in high school and and you had to write research papers? Remember how the teacher made you list your sources (and that they were credible sources)? That is how you can tell if what you are reading is fact or fiction. This email listed no sources (except to check snopes.com to see that is was true...which I did, and though they do not have a full write up on this email as of yet they do list 2 "facts" as false...so even the fact about snopes.com was a lie cause they figured no one would even take the second it takes to verify). In my response I have provided you with the web address link to where I got the truthful information.
On top of all of this: If you really want to know about Barack Obama, if you really want to find out about ALL the skeletons in his closet. If you want the source material for where the republicans, the 24 hour news channels and this email got the nuggets of truth to spin into lies it is all written down in a book called 'Dreams From My Father' by Barack Obama. And then again in a book called 'The Audacity Of Hope' by Barack Obama. The main thing about this man Barack Obama is that he has been completely honest about everything he has ever done in his life for a long time. He is in NO way trying to hide any part of his past or any "mistakes" he may have made in his life because he believes that it is these experiences we have in our lives that help make up the person we are today. It also may behoove you to look at the good he has done in his many years of public service in the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. How he has fought for equality, civil rights, ethics and the constitution of the United States above all else.

I did not go through EVERY statement in the email, I will leave that for you but here are a few that are blatant LIES.

And in case it matters this was written by a 30 year old, single white male who grew up in Ohio but now lives in California, who VERY MUCH believes in God and Jesus but rarely goes to church anymore, who gets his news from more than one source and makes sure those sources have differing view points from each other and himself, and will be voting for Barack Obama in the primaries and the general election.

"was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white Athiest from Wichita, Kansas." "...mother married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia." ACTUALLY - his Kenyan father as "raised a Muslim," but a "confirmed atheist" by the time his parents met, and his Indonesian stepfather as "a man who saw religion as not particularly useful." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_obama)

"when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran." ACTUALLY - Keith Ellison became the first and, to date, only Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress when he won the open seat for Minnesota's 5th congressional district (which contains the entire city of Minneapolis) in the House of Representatives in 2006. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ellison_(politician)

"will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches." ACTUALLY - This all comes from one photo where his hand is not exactly over his heart and another that was taken of him and a couple of other candidates as they rose for the SINGING OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER and NOT the Pledge of Allegience. But because the other candidates behind him put their hands over their hearts certain opportunists change the facts around and say it was during the Pledge of Allegience which is a lie. Plus NONE of the candidates in the photo are looking remotely in the same direction. If you would really like to see Barack Obama recite the Pledge of Allegience there are several videos of him leading the Senate in the Pledge on youtube, like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACNJMg6ZHu8&feature=related, or read this by About.com's urban legend buster David Emery:

A couple dozen folks have forwarded me a photo showing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama neglecting to place his hand over his heart during the national anthem at Senator Tom Harkin's Steak Fry event on September 16 in Indianola, Iowa.

The accompanying email text reads:

Barack Hussein Obama's photo (that's his real name)... the article said he REFUSED TO NOT ONLY PUT HIS HAND ON HIS HEART DURING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BUT REFUSED TO SAY THE PLEDGE... how in the hell can a man like this expect to be our next Commander-in-Chief????

The photo, taken by Danny Frazier Wilcox for Time magazine, is authentic. A video attributed to ABC News appears to confirm that the picture was snapped during a rendition of the national anthem, but the claim that Obama "refused to say the Pledge" is unsubstantiated.

The implication, obviously, is that failing to display the proper hand-over-heart etiquette constitutes evidence that Barack Obama is unpatriotic and therefore unfit to hold the office of president. Some even speculated that it was an intentional gesture of dissent on the candidate's part, to which an Obama spokesperson replied on Inside Edition, "Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't [put his hand on his heart]. In no way was he making any sort of statement, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous."

Not that it will make a difference to some, but Obama's campaign was quick to supply photos of Obama properly saluting the flag on other occasions which can be viewed at MediaMatters.org. (http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2007/10/30/barack-obama-no-hand-over-heart-during-national-anthem.htm)

It really was the very least I could do. I encourage you, if you run in to any of these emails to reply all and politely explain to them where their mistakes are. We can only hope that these corrected emails find their way to as many people as the false ones.

Good luck everyone.

Vote Obama,

Jeff Passino

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Gay Marriage

By Jeff Passino - Dec 4th, 2007 at 2:16 am EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

I'm getting pretty sick of this.

For quite some time there has been a national "debate" over this issue. It seems like everyone in the public eye has to weigh in on this topic and quite often their words anger me. I have been wanting for some time to give my own thoughts on all of this but have no public forum to do so. I have written a script where two characters talk and debate this issue, but until that movie is made I suppose a blog on here that no one reads will have to do for now.

Our "President" and the rest of the republicans seem to think that if homosexuals are allowed the right to marry that it will lead to the corruption of our society and open up the door to people wanting to marry farm animals or something. Now I'm seeing quotes from country music "celebrities" that I've never heard of before saying that gay marriage is an abomination and should not be legal. This is the MOST ABSURD thing I have ever heard in my life. Where do these people get off that they should be allowed the right to do something and someone else shouldn't? What makes them SO fucking special? Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Declaration of Independence say that "All men are created equal." At the time that was Jefferson's subtle way as taking a stance against slavery, but phrases like that have been uttered throughout time by philosophers and common folks alike. That is because, if you really look and listen to that God voice inside all of us, we know that it is true. We all enter this world the same way and, unlike practically every other species on this planet, stay completely defenseless for quite a long time. We depend upon others to get us through this time till we can take care of ourselves. To come from that place and then to grow up and think that you are so much better than anyone else around you and deserve to have a right not permitted for all is such a ridiculous concept to me...I honestly can't even wrap my head around it. I just don't know how anyone can sleep at night with a clean conscience when they believe that ALL HUMAN BEINGS deserve the same rights. How do these people proclaim to "fight" for women's and human rights in foreign countries and not feel like a hypocrite by denying other, equal Americans the same rights they have. This is not an issue of people having more privilege or opportunities in their life. I can accept the fact that people who have worked hard to get ahead in life (and even people who are born into money and an elite part of society) will have more opportunities...be able to get into better schools, get better jobs and the like. This is an issue of human rights! It falls under "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." All HUMANS should be able to start with those inalienable rights and right now some are not.

A common quote I hear from these people who oppose same sex marriage is, "my father and minister brought me up to believe that marriage is an institution for the union of a man and a woman." My response to this is that just because you grew up learning and believing one thing doesn't mean it is right. I grew up learning and believing that Pluto was a planet...guess I was wrong. Up until about 15 - 20 years ago people believed smoking was fine, so much so they would smoke in hospitals while babies were being born...turns out that was wrong too. That logic of thinking reminds me of a story my father told me when I was a kid.

A woman was making a pot roast for dinner one night. She cut the roast in half, put it in a pot and stuck it in the oven. Her 7 year old child asked her why she cut the pot roast in half before she put it in the oven. The mother thought about it for a minute and said, "You know I don't know, its just what my mother always used to do." The following day as the woman was visiting her mother she asked, "Hey mom, why do you cut a pot roast in half before you put it in the oven?" To which her mother replied, "Its just what my mom used to do." Curious, the mother then went to her mom and asked, "Why did you always cut the pot roast in half before putting it in the oven?" To which her mom provided the answer, "Because I never had a pot big enough to put the roast in full."

The moral of this story is that a lot of times we just repeat what we have seen others doing instead of questioning the reason why that is being done. If we are going to progress as a society and as a race we need to ask that question and we need to be able to admit when we are doing something wrong, especially when that something is oppressing any other human. Now, besides that bit of common sense I can also use God to defend my stance and beliefs. Some of those who oppose same sex marriage and homosexuality in general like to quote from the old testament of the Bible that it says, "man shall not lie down with another man." (I would love to quote my friend Matt Dwyer's joke "that if you have gay sex standing up I think you've found your loop hole" but I'll keep things serious) I always find it unsettling when people from at least the christian church and even the christian and catholic church itself quote from the old testament. The reason is because that faith is really supposed to be founded in the NEW testament and the teachings of Jesus. And what is the one message that Jesus wanted to get across more than anything else? To LOVE one another, to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. His message was peace and love for ALL. Some may say that this is God changing his mind from the old testament, or that this is the biggest hypocritical point in the Bible. I do not view it as such. I look at it this way. Equate us humans in the Bible, and the way God deals with us, as a growing child. We are born into the garden of eden where we are protected from all danger for quite some time like a baby must be. Then we get to a point where we are able to explore the gift of free will that God has given us and to explore the rest of the world. As we explore, like a toddler, we have a lot of questions and need to be given a lot of guidelines still. But as we grow up into adulthood we are able to be left completely to our own devices and be able to respect and love all of God's creations, our other fellow travellers no matter the path they are taking.

I feel I am getting off track here a bit but I am just trying to explain my point of view and infuse my argument into this blog for any naysayers that may be arguing with me in their head as they read this. My point is that as we evolve God evolves the way in which he deals with us and his message for what we should be able to handle. (I do also have a problem with the church and church goers who believe that the Bible is done being written. I believe that God is still trying to write through us but the church has closed the book already.)

And just so you don't think that I am only coming down on Republicans or the "religious right" know that I'm not too happy with the Democrats on this issue either. Civil unions are all fine and dandy but I really believe it is time for them to stop pussy-footing around this issue. It is time we had a public voice, a leader who will, for once, just come out with it already. Some one to stand up and say, "Hey! Where do you get off? There is nothing written in the Bible, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence that says one type of people deserve more human rights than another. Get over yourselves! Let's cut out the negativity and oppression! Put your energy into something good. Put your energy into lifting others up instead of beating them down. Know that you have the capacity for so much good and that you can stop living in fear and give others their freedom." I don't know why that is such a hard thing to say. If you look down into your soul you know that is the truth and the only thing keeping it down and hidden is fear.

Will someone stand up? Will someone speak up? Will someone be a force for good? Perhaps then the rest will be able to let go of their fear, admit where they have been wrong, be forgiven by all and all will have one less thing to burden their lives.

And just to put this all in context for you: this was written by a heterosexual single 29 year old white male who grew up in the suburbs of Ohio as a Methodist and still believes in God and Jesus but does not go to church anymore except on Christmas and now lives in Los Angeles.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.

Lots of love,

Jeff Passino

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Why I Support Barack Obama for President

By Jeff Passino - Dec 4th, 2007 at 2:13 am EST

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Now in here I could write down a bunch of policies of Barack's that I agree with or tell you what I don't like about every other candidate. But to do so wouldn't necessarily tell you anything you couldn't easily find out about the man himself, nor would it be in keeping with the spirit of Obama and his campaign nor would it be the REAL reason that I support him to be our next President of the United States. So with that in mind I'm going to take you back a ways and tell you my story, to hopefully give you a little better understanding about where my support really comes from.

When I was a kid growing up in the predominantly rich, white suburb of Perrysburg Ohio I was really more concerned with when the next episode of The Greatest American Hero was going to be on or getting to run around my backyard pretending to be the Greatest American Hero than anything having to do with politics. There was one political moment in my very young life that I remember and had a pretty profound effect on me. October 12, 1984 7:40pm, I was 6 years old. My parents took my sister and I downtown. As we grew closer there seemed to be a LOT of people gathered around the train tracks. And when I say a LOT I'm talking about nearly the entire town. We ended up somewhere in the middle of a gigantic sea of people as a train started coming down the tracks blowing its whistle. The train stopped so that the caboose was right in front of us and out came a man who I had seen before, a man one of my favorite television characters, Alex P. Keaton, admired very much. Out stepped the President of the United States Ronald Reagan. Reagan was making his way through Ohio on a Whistle Stop Tour to bash his opponent Walter Mondale one last time before the elections the following month. Being only 6 years old I had no idea of the motivations for his visit nor did I understand a word of what he said. What I did understand was the feeling and electricity in the air. It was a cool crisp autumn evening. My dad had hoisted me up on his shoulders (my favorite place to be as a child) and I was looking over the largest crowd I had ever seen at the time at the President of the United States. The crowd was chanting "4 more years, 4 more years" over and over. They would BOO when he told them something upsetting and CHEER when he spoke of something they liked. The crowd was chanting his name and was in total agreement and admiration of him. A wave of warmth washed over me. I found it to be an incredibly magical event, that one man could inspire so many people to come together and create the same reaction in all of them. It was that moment that I think instilled that sense of purpose in me, that someday I wanted to be a person who could unite people in a way where they could feel warmth and magic together.

I didn't walk away from the experience dying to find out anything about politics...I mean I was 6 years old, but over the years I would start to pay attention a little bit. I would come to realize that my dad was a republican and my mother was a democrat. As a boy growing into a young man you start to want to be less like your mom and more like your dad so I would start to associate myself with things he associated himself with, one of those things was the Republican Party. Also as I got more into comedy I started to like the first President Bush mainly because I thought Dana Carvey's impression of him was funny on Saturday Night Live (and I did a pretty funny impression as well). My freshman year of high school I joined the Young Republicans Club for 3 reasons. 1) a few of my friends were in the club. 2) There was no Young Democrats Club to compare it too. 3) The meetings consisted of one of the guys bringing in a porno video and us watching it as we stuffed envelopes for the Republican candidate for Mayor (who happened to be a friend of my family). I dropped out of the young Republicans after my freshman year of high school and though I started getting into politics myself by becoming class president my sophomore year I didn't really pay much attention to politics on a national level. By the time I started my freshman year of college I was a registered voter and was able to vote in the Presidential Election. I voted for Bob Dole. I still wasn't clear on what effect a person could have in the office of president so I based my choice on something else. Even though I couldn't really relate to anything about Bob Dole I felt like Clinton was smug and a bit shady with the rumors of escapades with women. Faithfulness, especially to your wife, is something I have always and will always value. In retrospect I'm glad how everything worked out. I knew that Clinton would win no matter how I voted but at least with my vote I got to stand up for something I believed in, plus I think Clinton's administration was good for the country. When comparing how it felt to live through that period and how it felt to live in the years before and after Clinton I think his administration brought prosperity and a more relaxed environment. Through out my few years at college I started to develop more of a sense of who I was and what was going on in the world. I started to ignore my film and acting classes in favor of philosophy and various religious classes. By the time I left college and moved to Los Angeles I had a much better idea of the role of politics in the world and a thirst to keep learning more about it and how it can work better. When I got my California drivers license and registered to vote I marked the box that I was a Democrat.

By the time 2000 rolled around I was living in LA and had moved around so much that my voter registration was not current in time to vote for Al Gore. The way that whole election played out I was really upset that I hadn't gotten to participate, but Gore had won the popular vote and I doubt 1 more vote was going to get him the office and my vote couldn't get him anymore of California's electoral votes. What I took away from that election, besides on how the electoral process REALLY works and what can possibly be done about it (which I would study a few years later and Santa Monica College in a couple of political philosophy classes), is to really look closer at the people we are electing. Al Gore was not my favorite candidate at the time. He seemed very stiff and removed from the american people. If he were to have presented himself then the way he has presented himself in the years following there is no doubt in my mind that he would have won not only the popular vote but the electoral college as well). But Bush seemed far worse. There didn't seem to be one redeeming quality or anything in him that you could trust (and he has certainly proven that). The more I looked at the people in politics it seemed that lately all we had to choose from was the lesser of two evils. Where were the real leaders at? Where were the FDRs the JFKs the Abe Lincolns? Where were the leaders that felt, as I did, that there were definite problems not just with certain policies but also our system itself? Since my first foray in college I had started to pay more attention to the policies that were being made and how they were effecting me and the rest of the country as well as the rest of the world. I also started to watch The Daily Show for feelings on politics and NPR for facts. My biggest wish is that a figure would come along that still believed in real change and honesty and would go about it in a positive way leading this country and the world to unite in true warmth and magic.

Then along came a man I was sure would do it...Howard Dean. The way he spoke was from the heart and completely and unabashedly honest. He took his campaign to the people and lead the way in how the public could be more in control via reaching out through the internet. For the first time there was someone I actually wanted to be in charge. He was an underdog and quickly came to the head of the pack. But somewhere along the way for some reason people started to second guess. As the primaries started happening John Kerry kept winning state after state. When the primaries rolled in to California Kerry had such a substantial lead he had all put won the nomination. As I was about to walk into the voting booth I thought, "well maybe its not so bad. Maybe Dean is ahead of his time and maybe Kerry really does have a better chance of defeating Bush." So that primary I voted for Kerry. As soon as I did I regretted it. More than any other vote I have ever cast or will cast I am ashamed I didn't vote for what I knew in my heart was the best choice. Though my 1 vote would not have had any sort of impact on the race between Kerry and Dean at least I would have known I had stuck to what I believed in. Never again do I want to make that mistake. Of course in the general election I again voted for Kerry even though it was again a choice of the lesser of two evils. The one good thing I took out of that election was that leading up to it I believe my mother and I were finally able to turn my father from his habitual republican voting ways to a more conscious democratic vote. My hope is to keep him on that path.

During that election there was a man who came out of nowhere. He gave a speech at the Democratic Convention that really touched me and blew me away. A very close friend of mine who I was spending a lot of time with at the time was from Chicago and seemed to know all about him. Every time his name would come up (which after that speech started to come up a LOT) she would tell me he is going to be the first black President of the United States. That man was Barack Obama. Though I didn't know much about his politics and even though his speech had spoke to and inspired something in me I told my friend not to hold her breath. Not in a prejudice sort of way, though I thought it would be a considerable amount of more time before America would elect a black man, but that aside he had something else going against him. Every President has had a few things in common. Not only were they all rich white christian (Kennedy being the only Catholic) men, but all of them had Anglo Saxon names. His biggest challenge, it seemed to me, would be his name (not to mention that it was very close to America's biggest enemy Osama...which would be something not lost on the republican side...as they have proved with Fox news occasionally "mistakenly" calling him Osama and Mitt Romney rhyming the two in his campaign signs). As time passed and this election came closer and candidates started throwing their hats in the ring I found myself hoping Barack would join the race. When he finally did I really started to find out the facts about him and what he stood for. I picked up his book and after reading it bought another copy to give to my parents hoping they would become inspired and start passing the book around Ohio. I love the fact that he believes in the good that lies in all of us. That he is a true uniter. That he doesn't want to just throw more laws and policies on top of existing problems but that he wants to get to the root of what the problem is and find the common ground between us all, democrats republicans and other affiliates, to resolve the problems in socially charged issues like immigration, abortion, health care, marriage and so on. Now of course I don't agree with every one of his ideas 100% but even where we don't see eye to eye I can see his view point as being a good compromise and a starting off point to get us to a better place down the line. The part of his campaign I am totally on board with is how he is running his campaign. He is totally about and for the people. He truly cares about what the concerns of voters are and in his town hall meetings he will ask for the opinion of the person who asked the question (after he has given his own opinion so as not to seem like he is just coming back with an agreement to win their vote or support). He doesn't want backers of lobbyists or corporations but of the average American citizen so that his decisions are made with the American people's best interest first and foremost. He has been completely honest and upfront about his faults and mistakes in the past and how they have helped him to learn more about who he really is and what he really believes in. This is the campaign I have been dreaming about for years. That is why I have signed up to volunteer in his campaign. After what happened with Howard Dean I wanted to make sure I do more than just give my one vote for Barack Obama, I also want to be sure that I get the word out about him, to help build momentum for him through my vote and beliefs. Luckily he has made it easy to get involved with his continued inspiration and hope. So far the most negative thing anyone can say about him is that he is new to politics and lacks experience. But I don't see that as a negative thing at all, in fact I see it as the most positive part about him. He is someone who has not become jaded by the political system. He is still willing to be honest and true to who he is instead of just saying things to get elected. He is still willing to dream for the American people and show us that it is still okay to dream. He won't be drawn into the current belief of limitations. He knows no bounds and that will allow him to actually bring about change. The personality, confidence, compassion and inspiration I have discovered in Senator Barack Obama leads me to believe that he can overcome the odds and patterns in history in regards to his name and race to become our president. To become a president who will finally allow us as a nation to breath a sigh of relief and sleep peacefully again.

As I write this I have learned that Obama's campaign has surpassed its goal of 500,000 donations from more than 350,000 people and has pulled ahead in the polls in Iowa where the primaries will begin and start the momentum to win the Democratic nomination. This is an amazing accomplishment and instills so much hope in me as I'm sure it does to all the other people who have taken the time to discover and be inspired by Senator Obama.

I hope this does a little to explain where my passion is coming from. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your story that has lead you to support the candidate you have chosen. Please feel free to share those stories with me as well as those around you and encourage those you know to register and vote for whoever they want to vote for, just get out there and vote!

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