I recently started a fundraising page for the first time. I want to raise $529 by my 22nd birthday on May 29th. Please consider helping me reach this goal!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/JK529
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N3mOyuJvX8U
This video always makes me tear up a little bit, then gets me inspired to go volunteer. Try e-mailing it to your undecided friends.
Also, I had a great time volunteering in Charlottesville today. I spent some time on the Corner, then went on the UVA grounds and had a lot of great conversations with some UVA students. The Charlottesville rally should be amazing!
I just got this e-mail from the America4Obama group and I wanted to spread the word. I love to cook, so I'll definitely be sending in some recipes!
Hello, Friends!We here at Families for Obama are in the midst of a national fundraiser, and we NEED your help! We are publishing an electronic version of a cookbook, featuring recipes from supporters, along with their state, their testimonial about WHY they support Senator Obama, and, if possible a photo (even better if they are sporting Obama gear!) We are also REALLY looking for patriotic drawings by your kids to include in the book. The entire project will be published electronically as a PDF file and will be distributed via a download link in exchange for campaign donations from supporters, who may then choose to burn it to cd, print it out, have it bound - or just keep it handy on their computer! This project has campaign approval, and stands to raise quite a bit of money, if lots of supporters participate! Please do not assume that others from your state will do it - take a moment to send us your recipe(s), photos, drawings, testimonials, etc. to ensure your state is proudly represented! All submissions should go to familiesforobama@gmail.com. Thanks everyone! This project is going to be great!
It's so exciting to watch the numbers creep up on the main page. Right now we only need about 500 new people and 1000 donations! I hope we can reach the goal by the time I go to bed tonight (and I go to bed about 4:00am, so I bet we can!)
I went to dinner with some friends tonight and told them I had been volunteering and why I supported Barack. I ended up getting two of them to fill out a supporter card and gave another one a bumper sticker! If any of you have any extra campaign materials lying around the house, carry them around with you! You never know when they'll come in handy.
I sent this letter to a few family members yesterday, and got a great response. My grandparents, who previously supported John Edwards, both donated and said they had no idea about any of this information -- and now that they did, they would consider voting for him.
I also got a friend of mine to donate. She's still in college, so I emphasized that you didn't have give $100, or even $50! When she realized she could just give $5, she donated.
Reach out to your family members & friends, you never know whose mind you'll be able to change! The letter I sent is below:
Dear [Family Member/Friend], I know reading a request for monetary donations if probably low on your list of things you want to do, but please give it a chance! You may have heard I've been volunteering for Barack Obama's presidential campaign by doing signature gatherings in Richmond, hosting a "Countdown to Change" House Party, and various other ways. Obama has a little over 48 hours to reach his goal of 500,000 donations from 350,000 people. Right now he's at 492,285 donations from 346,226 people. But if you donate now, your donation will be matched by someone else (if you've given before, it'll be matched by a first-timer; if it's your first time, it'll be matched by someone who's given before) so you're really doubling your impact. And, if you're poor like me, or not sure how much you want to support his campaign yet, you can give as little as $5. And really, you can hardly eat dinner for less than $5, so it's not that much. So why do I support Obama?1. He has the experience Washington needs right nowCritics say he has no experience. False. What they really mean is that he hasn't been in Washington long enough. But A) experience doesn't just happen in Washington (if it did, then Bill Clinton would have had no experience before arriving in '93), B) experience does not automatically equal good judgement, and C) Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld have the longest resumes in the Bush administration....and you can see where that got us. Obama has over 20 years of public service, ranging from community organizer (he worked in the streets of Chicago doing civil rights and voting rights organizing instead of accepting one of his 600 job offers from high-priced corporate law firms upon graduation from law school), civil rights lawyer, Constitutional law professor (which means he actually knows what the constitution says, unlike some other presidents we could mention), and State Senator, where he sponsored and co-sponsored important legislation that reformed Illinois' death penalty system and ethics in the Senate. I personally think it's refreshing that most of his experience comes from outside Washington. Instead of schmoozing with special interest groups over steaks and cigars (he doesn't accept donations from lobbyists or special interest groups), he's been out interacting with real people from all walks of life. He knows what the American people want and need, not just those on Capital Hill. Also, just as a sidenote: he actually has three more years of direct legislative experience than Hillary.2. He tells the truth, even when it's not what we want to hear. Obama came out against the war in 2002, at a time when it was not popular to do so because it seemed "soft" on terrorism. We now know that Iraq has been the biggest foreign policy blunder in American history. Yet Barack, despite his so-called "inexperience", had the judgement to foresee this, unlike other Democratic candidates who go on and on about their wisdom and experience but still voted for the war. Like I said, experience =/= judgement3. He's a uniterThe country has been divided into red state/blue state, democrat/republic, etc. etc. for so long now. Barack is the one candidate able to erase those lines and unite the country. If you look at the attendance at his rallies, you'll see black people, white people, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, old people, young people, Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans. In the Illinois state senate, he co-sponsored a bill with Republicans to increase health care coverage for children (and this is just one of many bill examples). 4. He represents a real changeAs he's said in his speeches, it won't be enough to just change political parties in the White House. The other candidates still play the Washington game. It will take someone like Obama to truly change the way politics are done, and let's be honest, it needs to be changed. You can watch a video compilation of his NYC rally, which drew almost 25,000 people, here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/e_GQcWSGpXw/QyCocy and see almost the full speech here: http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_270202407.htmland read the Times article about it here http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/us/politics/28obama.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin and read a copy of a similar speech here, if you don't want to watch the video: http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/03/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_22.php You can also read more about his position on various issue at http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/I've been volunteering for his campaign while job-searching, and I never thought I would become this involved or invested in a political campaign. I usually just show up to the polls and vote, not doing anything before November. But if he can cure the apathy of me and thousands of other young people, he must be doing something right. I hope you're doing well!Love,Julia
I had a somewhat Obama-productive day. In the interest of helping Barack meeting the 350k/500k goals, I not only donated again (ok, it was only $5, but I'm poor thanks to student loans), but I sent out a letter to some family members as well. I started out with my grandparents and uncle, as I knew they were my best bets. The letter just explained the 350/500 challenge, and gave some reasons as to why I supported Obama. My grandmother wrote back and said that she was actually a John Edwards supporter, but she would not only contribute, but she would ensure my grandfather did separately as well, making it two new donations! She also said that she was unaware of many of the things listed in my letter, and promised to read up more on the issues and consider voting for him.
I sent the same letter to my uncle who, cynically, wrote back and asked if I had actually written it or if it was a form letter Obama's campaign had sent out. When I told him that no, I had actually written it and believed every word, he said he was impressed that a 21y/o was so interested in a political figure and would donate.
I also convinced a friend, who loves Obama but prefers H.C. for some unknown reason, to donate. She's still in college, so what convinced her was me saying that you could donate as little as $5 -- less than a case of High Life!
Finally, my grandmother also gave me a list of email addresses of her friends and other family members who might be interested. I just sent out about 5 more letters.
So, moral of the blog: reach out! You never know who might be interested in donating, even if they haven't decided who they support 100%. If you're talking to students or recent graduates like myself, stress that they don't have to give $100 -- every little bit helps!
If anyone is interested, the letter I sent is below.
I can't wait to see the turnout at today's rally. I told everyone I know who lives in NYC and also made some calls with the phonebank tool. I really hope a ton of people show up and Obama can prove to everyone that Hillary doesn't own New York.
It's times like this when I wish I still lived in NYC!
How does everyone feel like Obama did answering the experience/why are you running question?
His reasons (paraphrasing)
1. America needs someone who can unite the country, like he did when he was able to bring together Republican and Democrats to pass his legislation regarding healthcare and death row in Illinois.
2. He eliminates special interest groups and unethical behavior (something like that, my dog was barking while he was answering).
3. He tells the truth, even when it's not popular, like he did in 2002 by opposing the war when that was an extremely unpopular opinion.
Go here to rate the candidates before the debate tonight
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20873667/
As of right now (8:16pm), Barack has the highest positive rating, with 36percent. Here are the ratings for a few of the candidates:
Barack Obama:
Negative: 34%
Neutral: 30%
Positive: 36%
Hillary Clinton:
Negative: 49%
Neutral: 21%
Positive: 30%
John Edwards:
Negative: 38%
Neutral: 32%
You can go back after the debates and rate again.
From the Cedar Rapids Gazette
Citing electability and strength as a "change agent,'' former Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Gordon Fischer endorsed Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign. "Like all Democrats,'' Fischer said in a conference call, "I'm desperate to win the White House.''And it won't be enough for the Democratic nominee to win Democratic votes, said Fischer, a Des Moines attorney. In competitive states, like Iowa, the candidate has to win independents' votes and some Republican votes. Fischer cited a University of Iowa poll showing Obama finishing third in a poll of Iowa Republicans. "That's a pretty incredible indication of his crossover support,'' Fischer said.Obama also brings a "freshness'' and a ""new perspective'' to the race that other candidates don't, Fischer said.It's not a matter of trading the current White House resident for a new occupant, Fischer said, but replacing President Bush with someone who will change the way politics is done.
I had an interesting (and frustrating) conversation with someone this weekend. An article about the Hillary Clinton Advocate interview was posted in another forum I'm a part of. This, of course, brought out all the Hillary vs. Obama supporters. It was pretty tame, with most people being respectful of everyone else's view. I did have to step in, though, when I saw this:
"I don't trust Obama. He has no real record to go on and has little experience. Anyone can say idealistic bullshit if they have no record to be judged on.Hilary isn't perfect but she has experience, I like what she's had to say so far and has been in office with her husband so she understands what it takes.She's the best for the job IMO."
Now, if you support Hillary because you honestly agree more with her politics and whatnot, more power to you. I don't agree with you, but whatever. But one of my biggest pet peeves is when people automatically feed into the media/HC hype that Barack has no experience. Do a little research, people. So I responded:
"Just so you know, Barack actually has more legislative experience than Hillary."
By legislative experience I meant his years in the State Senate + US Senate because I, unlike so many Hillary supporters, realize that experience does not just come from Washington. Someone else responded saying that couldn't possibly be right, given that Hillary was elected Senator in 2000 and Barack didn't get there til 2004. When I explained Barack had been a State Senator before being elected to the US Senate, she fired back:
"because being a state attorney and child advocate for 19 years, as well as serving in the white house where she held many roles in policymaking both in the executive and legislative branch for 8 years is totally ignorable right?"
Now, ignoring the fact that I never said Hillary had no experience, or that anything she had done was ignorable, how does it make sense that this person is counting Hillary's 19 years of child advocacy and being a state attorney as experience while completely disregarding everything Barack did before he came to Washington?
It drives me nuts when people use his three years in the U.S. Senate to justify his "inexperience." EXPERIENCE DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON!! If it did, Bill Clinton would have had NO experience at all, given that he was in Arkansas until 1993.
Also, sidenote, I don't get how being married to the President counts as experience.
Now this is not to say Hillary has no experience or anything like that. But one of the main things I like about Barack is that a majority of his experience has come from OUTSIDE of Washington. He hasn't been schmoozing with lobbyists over steaks and cigars. He's been interacting with the people, in the community and the classroom. He knows what the American people need and want, because he knows the American people -- not just the people on Capital Hill.
P.S. I'd rather hear Barack's "idealistic bullshit" than anymore REAL bullshit about "mission accomplished."
"Today I stand with those who stand for justice in Jena. The thousands of Americans from every race and region who have descended on this small Louisiana town carry forth the legacy of all those who sat at lunch counters and took freedom rides to strike a blow against injustice wherever it may exist. When a noose hangs from a schoolyard tree in the 21st century and young men are treated in a way that is not equal nor just, it is not just an offense to the people of Jena or to the African-American community, it is an offense to the ideals we hold as Americans. I renew my call for the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges filed in this case, and I will continue my decades-long fight against injustice and division as President."
Is this a "black enough" statement for Jesse Jackson?
I don't know how to embed video in here (just C&Ping the youtube embed code doesn't work), so here are some links to my YouTube videos from the rally on Tuesday.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-1ws1JOP4
Barack thanking D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty for his introduction and endorsement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei4_0oDaO4s
Short clip of his speech, mentions Katrina and the war, plus a brief crack at Scooter Libby - "even Paris Hilton got some jail time!"
I hosted a Countdown to Change house party at my house on the 15th, and could not be more glad that I did. It was a great way to meet and connect with other Richmond-area Obama supporters - and even some out-of-towners! Just another example of Barack's campaign bringing different people together for the same purpose - to help Barack create positive change.
And as an added bonus, we raised $204, way above our goal of $136!
(I'll post pictures of the event as soon as I figure out how to do it on here!)
