Tomorrow is our chance to make history. From day one, small business owners and employees have been an important part of this grassroots movement for change.
Tomorrow, we're urging you all to take a break from your busy workdays to give Barack Obama and Joe Biden your vote -- to contribute to this campaign in the final, most important way that you can.
At some point during the day, close up shop -- put up a sign in your storefront saying "Out Voting for Change," and bring your employees with you. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the candidates that will fight for small businesses and use them to grow our economy from the bottom up. Make sure to find the time to give them your vote tomorrow.
National Field Director Jon Carson sent the following email last week urging supporters to make whatever sacrifices they need to in order to volunteer and vote tomorrow:
Lauren -- Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor. Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history. Watch this video and sign up to help get out the vote on Tuesday, November 4th: This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day. We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls. No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th: http://my.barackobama.com/takethedayoff Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Lauren -- Ask your Boss. Ask your Professor. Take Election Day off and volunteer to make history.
Watch this video and sign up to help get out the vote on Tuesday, November 4th: This election will be decided by what this grassroots movement can accomplish on Election Day. We have volunteer shifts to fill throughout the day -- make calls, knock on doors, and make sure your fellow voters get to the polls. No previous experience is required. Sign up now to take the day off and make history on November 4th:
http://my.barackobama.com/takethedayoff Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Enough about Joe the Plumber and the false statements from the McCain campaign about what an Obama administration will mean for America's small businesses! Here, "Edna the Entrepreneur," aka LeeAnn from Springfield, Virginia, responds about why she is supporting Barack for president. LeeAnn owns Kindest Cut, a hair salon with over 20 employees. She has been in business for 26 years.
Hello. I’m Edna the entrepreneur and I want to tell you why Joe the plumber is FLAT-OUT WRONG about Barack Obama’s support for small business.My real name is not Edna. It’s LeeAnn. I own a hair salon in Springfield, VA. I provide jobs for 20 people here in Virginia – and I want to tell you why Barack is the best hope for small business in America.My company is like 98.7% of small businesses - with NET PROFIT under $250,000 – which means our taxes will NOT increase with Obama’s tax plan.Obama understands who we are. He understands that our issues and challenges have been ignored for the last eight years. We do not benefit from the current tax policies that support only the very largest of companies.I don’t understand how John McCain can suggest its socialism for hard working small businesses like mine to want a tax policy that supports our growth. John McCain clearly doesn’t get it, if he thinks that keeping the same tax policy we’ve had for the last eight years has anything to do with helping small firms prosper and grow. John McCain has proposed $200 billion in tax cuts for large C-Corporations and no concrete small business tax proposals whatsoever. John McCain wants to cut taxes for the largest and most profitable large corporations, but do nothing to encourage investment in entrepreneurial small firms.In fact, Obama is the only candidate with specific tax cuts targeted at small business. Did you know that Obama has a REAL PLAN for small business? John McCain does not. Obama’s plan is robust and covers many areas that we’ve been concerned about over the last eight years. For example, he gets the heavy weight that rising health care costs place on us. Obama’s plan includes a Small Business Health Tax Credit that provides a refundable credit of up to 50% on premiums paid by small businesses on behalf of their employees. If you are a small business like mine, who provides health care to your employees, you are overwhelmingly likely to get a net tax cut under the Obama plan.Obama’s plan will also foster our ability to grow:If hiring new full time employees is a constant worry – Obama’s plan would offer a $3,000 refundable tax credit (A new American Jobs Tax Credit) for each additional full-time employee hired in 2009/2010 to offset the payroll tax costs of additional employees.If you, like me have been investing your own resources into your business and are reaching the point where you’d like to start thinking about giving your employees the opportunity to buy your business – so it can continue to grow - You will pay 0% capital gains tax when you sell the business. Under McCain’s plan you will continue to pay a 15% rate.
Hello. I’m Edna the entrepreneur and I want to tell you why Joe the plumber is FLAT-OUT WRONG about Barack Obama’s support for small business.
My real name is not Edna. It’s LeeAnn. I own a hair salon in Springfield, VA. I provide jobs for 20 people here in Virginia – and I want to tell you why Barack is the best hope for small business in America.
My company is like 98.7% of small businesses - with NET PROFIT under $250,000 – which means our taxes will NOT increase with Obama’s tax plan.
Obama understands who we are. He understands that our issues and challenges have been ignored for the last eight years. We do not benefit from the current tax policies that support only the very largest of companies.
I don’t understand how John McCain can suggest its socialism for hard working small businesses like mine to want a tax policy that supports our growth. John McCain clearly doesn’t get it, if he thinks that keeping the same tax policy we’ve had for the last eight years has anything to do with helping small firms prosper and grow.
John McCain has proposed $200 billion in tax cuts for large C-Corporations and no concrete small business tax proposals whatsoever. John McCain wants to cut taxes for the largest and most profitable large corporations, but do nothing to encourage investment in entrepreneurial small firms.
In fact, Obama is the only candidate with specific tax cuts targeted at small business. Did you know that Obama has a REAL PLAN for small business? John McCain does not. Obama’s plan is robust and covers many areas that we’ve been concerned about over the last eight years. For example, he gets the heavy weight that rising health care costs place on us. Obama’s plan includes a Small Business Health Tax Credit that provides a refundable credit of up to 50% on premiums paid by small businesses on behalf of their employees. If you are a small business like mine, who provides health care to your employees, you are overwhelmingly likely to get a net tax cut under the Obama plan.
Obama’s plan will also foster our ability to grow:
The Main Street Diaries profile small business owners and employees across the country who are supporting Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Featured small business supporters come from diverse backgrounds and industries, with a variety of reasons for supporting the Obama-Biden ticket this fall. However, they all agree on one thing -- that they know where the candidates stand on small business issues, and that they know that Barack is the candidate that stands with them.
The phrase “from Wall Street to Main Street” has been one of the most commonly invoked slogans of the campaign, highlighting the ways in which the financial crisis has very real implications for small business owners. For Margaret B., it’s no metaphor – her small business lies squarely on Main Street in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she’s been for six years now. Her store is small, only 1,000 square feet, and is a short walk from her home a few blocks away.
Margaret has always been a good corporate citizen, taking part in the local Downtown Merchants Association and local community activist events. This election is just another example of her involvement in the community, and she’s been doing her part to get Barack Obama elected through local canvassing drives, putting a sign in her storefront window, and by talking to her customers, many of whom are students at nearby Virginia Tech University.
She says she’s been “very fortunate, always managing to do a little bit better.” However, with health insurance costs rising and her customers feeling the economic squeeze, she’s worried that her good fortune may not continue much longer.
However, she’s energized by the thought that under an Obama tax plan, 99% of small business owners will see their taxes cut or frozen. She thinks that Obama’s plan to eliminate capital gains taxes will also be a great incentive for encouraging investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
I support Barack Obama because I want to see a change in this country. I want greener, more sustainable communities, I want support for small businesses which add so much to the quality of life to their communities, I want fresh answers to the economic challenges we face. Barack Obama is the only candidate who can deliver.
To get the facts on small business taxes and to learn the truth about Barack Obama’s tax cuts for both business and household income, go to TaxCutFacts.org. With just a few clicks, the calculator shows you how you’d fare under the two candidates’ tax plans. In just one week, more than 1.5 million people have tried it -- join them in finding out for yourself what an Obama administration will mean for your business and your family.
Beyond taxes, you can use the Small Business for Obama website to learn more about Obama's other policies for supporting small business, including the newly-released Small Business Rescue Plan to unfreeze credit and get our economy moving again.
Despite some rather stiff competition in the form of an appearance by Senator Obama in Northern Virginia, elected officials and members of the Small Business Leaders for Virginia group turned out in large numbers last night to hear from two economic policy surrogates as well as their local business owner peers as part of a Small Business Town Hall held at the McLean Community Center. All of the participants expressed their excitement at being able to support a Democratic ticket from their home state of Virginia -- a state that, despite not having voted for a Democratic president in 44 years, is very much in play this time around.
Debbie Matz, a member of Senator Obama's Urban and Metropolitan Policy Advisory Committee, acted as the moderator for a panel that included surrogates Jason Bordoff and Christian Johansson. Three local small business owners also participated, sharing with the audience their personal reasons for supporting the Obama-Biden ticket.
The evening began with a review of Senator Obama's major policies for small businesses, including the Small Business Rescue Plan. The economic policy experts also cited Senator Obama's economic stimulus plan and his plans for health care and infrastructure as major reasons for which small business owners should be voting for Barack and urging their friends and family to do so as well.
Ira Hamburg, who owns a small computer support firm, told the audience that:
Two hours before leaving to attend this event, a longtime customer called me in distress. He always pays me with a credit card, but had recently learned that his credit line had been cut off -- not for failing to pay, but merely for paying late. In my 25 years in business, this is the first time this has happened... and it makes me think that there are worrisome times ahead. When the Republicans talk about small business, they're not talking about us...
LaJuanna Russell owns a consulting firm, and described how much hard work and sacrifice it took to get to where she is today:
Small business owners know that we always have to work harder, faster, and stronger. What began as an idea at my kitchen table became a business plan and finally became a growing business. But at a certain point, you need credit, and a bank to say 'Yes, I believe in you too.'
Getting access to credit is getting harder than ever in today's economic environment. That's why Senator Obama unveiled his Small Business Rescue Plan to unfreeze credit for America's small businesses -- because like large financial institutions, they deserve a bailout too.
Finally, Aziz Safi spoke about how he had followed his passions and dreams to open a restaurant. One restaurant turned into two, and now he has 60 employees.
Providing health care to my employees is so important to me... but I just can't afford to do it. That's why I'm supporting Obama and talking to everyone I know about him.
He told the story of his young cousin, who just finished college and finds himself unemployed and unable to find health insurance:
I told him, read Obama's policies, and if you like them, donate $20. Just $20. He told me that he didn't have money to spare and that he had never donated to a political campaign. Three months later, he told me that it was no longer just $20 -- it was $20 a month, and he was volunteering at his local office. This is how we're empowering regular people, and this is how we're going to win on November 4th.
Virginia Small Business Leaders will continue to work hard leading up to Election Day, participating in targeted business owner phone bank efforts, hosting volunteers before canvassing shifts, donating food to local offices, and pounding the pavement to turn Virginia blue.
Dear Friends, Never in my voting history have I been more thrilled at the opportunity to elect a person president of our great nation. Thank you so much for your effort to share our enthusiasm with other Hungarian-Americans! My son, Tomicah, who speaks much more correct Hungarian than I, has worked for Senators Obama and Biden for the last three years. He is a great lover of Hungary and a deeply committed supporter of these two exceptional leaders. My Dad, the late Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and proud Hungarian-American, Tom Lantos, has been a friend of Senator Biden's for many decades. He even took Senator Biden and his then new wife Jill, on a honeymoon trip to Hungary with me and my mother over thirty years ago. It sounds crazy but it actually happened! So, we know Senator Biden was introduced to Magyarorszag by a true devotee! General Colin Powell eloquently expressed the deeply felt admiration and confidence of so many of us with his wise and thorough endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket. This election has become the clearest choice for positive, paradigm shifting change our nation....and I would venture to say --- the world--- has had in a long, long time. My father was a great admirer of Kossuth Lajos and other visionary Hungarians. He loved these brilliant freedom loving leaders for lifting the eyes of men and women to the ideals that unite is as children of God, for being lovers of our nations and lovers of liberty but not bound by narrowness and parochialism. My dad Was also an ardent admirer of Hillary Clinton --- I know his admiration of this amazing woman would only have been enhanced by the profound endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket she offered after the last debate. Let us join together and do this great thing for our nation and the wo rld. Let us, as the spiritual descendents of Kossuth and George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, do something magnificent by voting for this wise, balanced ticket. And may God bless them to have the inspiration and commitment to lead our nation and our world to be in harmony with His will. Thanks again for your effort to organize this endorsement Most sincerely, Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick
The Columbus Dispatch featured the following article last week about how the Obama campaign is engaging Americans of all ethnicities in record numbers. Here, they profile Hungarian American Peter Ujvagi, a member of the Hungarian American National Leadership Committee, as he canvasses and gets out the vote in Toledo.
When he canvasses his boyhood neighborhoods on the east side of Toledo, Peter Ujvagi doesn't lug along printouts of micro-targeted research to find voters he needs to persuade to support Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Ujvagi, a state representative, not only knows which houses to hit, he knows which lapel sticker to give to whoever answers the door. He carries three kinds: Polish Americans for Obama, Hungarian Americans for Obama, and Ukrainian Americans for Obama... So, with his stickers, Ujvagi has tried to make voting for Obama a matter of ethnic pride......Obama has opened 89 offices and has more than 300 paid staffers in Ohio, more than any other state except Florida, said Steve Hildebrand, deputy campaign manager. "You will see voter turnout in this state and other states beyond record numbers, and that benefits us," Hildebrand said....The Obama campaign has a national e-mail list of 5 million people, just the beginning of what is being called one of the most comprehensive political databases ever assembled. Last week, the Obama campaign said about 6,500 volunteers made 443,386 phone calls to Ohio voters and visited 391,743 homes.Gov. Ted Strickland, an Obama supporter, concedes that Republicans once had an advantage over Democrats in generating turnout in Ohio. But he argues that Obama and the Democrats are better-positioned this year."I think the winning difference in Ohio is going to be the incredible organization that has been established here for Barack Obama," Strickland said last week. "I've never seen anything like it."
When he canvasses his boyhood neighborhoods on the east side of Toledo, Peter Ujvagi doesn't lug along printouts of micro-targeted research to find voters he needs to persuade to support Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Ujvagi, a state representative, not only knows which houses to hit, he knows which lapel sticker to give to whoever answers the door. He carries three kinds: Polish Americans for Obama, Hungarian Americans for Obama, and Ukrainian Americans for Obama...
So, with his stickers, Ujvagi has tried to make voting for Obama a matter of ethnic pride......Obama has opened 89 offices and has more than 300 paid staffers in Ohio, more than any other state except Florida, said Steve Hildebrand, deputy campaign manager. "You will see voter turnout in this state and other states beyond record numbers, and that benefits us," Hildebrand said....The Obama campaign has a national e-mail list of 5 million people, just the beginning of what is being called one of the most comprehensive political databases ever assembled. Last week, the Obama campaign said about 6,500 volunteers made 443,386 phone calls to Ohio voters and visited 391,743 homes.Gov. Ted Strickland, an Obama supporter, concedes that Republicans once had an advantage over Democrats in generating turnout in Ohio. But he argues that Obama and the Democrats are better-positioned this year."I think the winning difference in Ohio is going to be the incredible organization that has been established here for Barack Obama," Strickland said last week. "I've never seen anything like it."
Making calls to your ethnic "brothers and sisters" just got EVEN easier -- by clicking on the links below, you can IMMEDIATELY access a list of voters to call, read a sample call script, and enter data you receive directly into the database of a battleground field program.
Irish-to-Irish Callshttp://my.barackobama.com/callIrishOH http://my.barackobama.com/callIrishPA
Irish-to-Irish Calls
http://my.barackobama.com/callIrishOH
http://my.barackobama.com/callIrishPA
Italian-to-Italian Callshttp://my.barackobama.com/callItalianPA
Italian-to-Italian Calls
http://my.barackobama.com/callItalianPA
Greek-to-Greek Callshttp://my.barackobama.com/callGreekPA
Greek-to-Greek Calls
http://my.barackobama.com/callGreekPA
Phone banking is an easy way to make a huge difference in these battleground states. Pick up a phone, log in, and start today!
** UPDATE: In the 12 hours since this email went out, Small Business for Obama members sent an astounding 2,300 letters to the editors of local, regional, and national newspaper. Keep up the great work -- with your continued support, Barack's message of support for small business will be heard loud and clear! **
The campaign sent out the following email this afternoon:
Share Your Small Business Story
Barack Obama knows that small businesses are the key to creating jobs and rebuilding our economy from the bottom up. That's why he put forward a plan to cut or freeze taxes on 99% of small businesses, and provide relief for rapidly rising health care and energy costs. It's why he'll cut taxes on 95% of middle-class families -- because when they do better, you do better. But John McCain is using lies and attacks to mislead voters about Barack's plans to bring the change we need. With only 16 days until Election Day, we need supporters like you to make sure that people know the truth. Use our Letter to the Editor tool to write a letter to your local paper. We've made it easy. We provide you with a list of local papers, and some important background on the issues to help you get started. We'll even send the letters to the papers for you. Eight years of Bush-McCain policies have thrown us into the most profound economic crisis since the Great Depression. Middle-class families are fighting harder than ever to fulfill the American promise. It's essential that your voice is heard in this election. And it's as simple as telling your own story. You can spread the word about Barack's message for rebuilding our economy from the bottom up, and remind everyone that this is about change versus four more years of the same. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper today: http://my.barackobama.com/SBletter With your help, we can rebuild our economy, and change America for the better. Thanks, Small Business for Obama
The northern Virginia small business community was abuzz with activity last week, as political leaders, business leaders and small business owners alike lined up behind the Obama-Biden ticket, recognizing that they are the only candidates in this race who are, and have always been, squarely aligned with the interests of the small business community.
Northern VA Democratic Business Council Meeting
On Friday, October 10, Obama campaign surrogate Jason Bordoff spoke about economic policy to roughly 45 members of the Northern Virginia Democratic Business Council, a group of local business and political leaders in Northern Virginia.
Jason spoke about Senator Obama’s plans for the economy, focusing much of his remarks on the current economic crisis and describing Senator Obama’s plan to stabilize our financial markets, protect homeowners and taxpayers, rebuild the middle class, and help businesses across America. He contrasted Senator Obama’s approach with that of Senator McCain, noting for example that McCain’s $300 billion plan to buy distressed mortgages directly from homeowners would in essence be a large taxpayer gift to some of the largest and most irresponsible lenders.
Small businesses don’t operate in a vacuum – they demand a larger economic climate that is conducive to entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, and a shared economic security. To that end, Bordoff also spoke about the broader economic challenges the U.S. faces—in such areas as education, health care, climate and energy, infrastructure, rising inequality, and the long-term fiscal challenges posed by our entitlement programs. He contrasted Senator Obama’s tax plan—which would give a tax cut to 95 percent of working families and help small businesses by giving them a zero percent capital gains tax rate, a tax credit to help them pay health insurance premiums, and access to capital—with that of Senator McCain, who would double down on the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration by giving large tax cuts to those at the very top of the income distribution.
His presentation included a special focus on Senator Obama’s health care plan, which would reduce costs and expand access to coverage for individuals and small businesses, with that of Senator McCain, who would tax health insurance benefits for the first time, leading roughly 20 million Americans to lose their health insurance according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs. Finally, Bordoff contrasted the two candidates’ energy policies and spoke about how Senator Obama wants to drive innovation and high tech job creation, which is a large concern in Northern Virginia.
Small Business Leaders Events
Volunteer leaders from the small business community participated in a “Colleague Canvass” at the Greater Washington Government Contractors Annual Awards Dinner in McLean, VA. Here, they spoke to their colleagues about Senator Obama’s small business plans and why they felt strongly that he is the best for Virginia’s and America’s small businesses.
Lisa P., who owns a consulting company, says that:
The Obama small business plan relieves the tax burden, makes health care more affordable, and is part of an overall economic package designed to encourage job growth and a greener economy.
Barbara G. spoke to fellow small business owners about the current credit crunch, an issue that hits close to home for many:
The financing solutions for very young businesses are very expensive right now and often difficult to obtain. I believe from everything that I have read that Senator Obama will address solutions to provide more affordable and available financing to support the small business community, and in so doing will support innovation, quality of delivery, and help create more jobs that will stay in the United States.
Later in the week, Virginia Small Business Leaders met for a debate-watch party, where they were excited to see Senator Obama performing so strongly on small business issues, highlighting his recently-announced Small Business Rescue Plan to provide emergency relief for small businesses by providing them with expanded access to capital.
Ana R., a local small business owner, explained that:
The majority of small businesses are really hurting because of the lack of business; therefore many more are losing their jobs and consequently their houses. The Rescue Plan that Senator Obama has to help small businesses will be a great boost to restore the economy of the entire country. On the other hand, tax-cuts for the majority of the people will help restore the economy, and businesses will have a greater chance of increasing--if not doubling--their profits.
Lillian Salerno, Director of Small Business Outreach for the VA Obama campaign, was on hand to discuss ways that small business owners can get involved in get-out-the-vote efforts during the final weeks of the campaign. Business owners across the state are using their business resources in creative ways to contribute by connecting with their local field offices and finding out what they need in terms of phone bank locations, literature distribution, staging locations, and other business-based contributions.
The Obama-Biden campaign today welcomed the formation of a dozen European and Mediterranean American National Leadership Committees. These committees, comprised of prominent leaders from across the country -- Governors, Senators, Members of Congress, diplomats, labor leaders and others -- showcase the continued and growing support for Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
But this isn't where the real leadership is. The real leadership is with the millions of individual Americans of all stripes who have been working hard in their communities and who collectively make up a grassroots movement that is unprecedented.
The election is less than 3 weeks away. Our campaign has proven that change comes from the bottom up. Here are 3 easy ways that you can get involved in our "Ethnic American Week of Action"
We've come so far since the beginning of our campaign a long 20 months ago.... but the campaign is far from over. Join us in the final days to make sure we get the change we need on November 4th.
The Obama campaign was proud to announce today the rollout of 12 European and Mediterranean American Leadership Committees. Leaders from across the country joined Jim Messina, Obama for America Chief of Staff, and Senator Tom Daschle, Campaign Chair, Obama for America and former Majority Leader of the US Senate, to confer their official endorsement of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
The members of the Ukrainian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Ukrainian American National Leadership Committee
· David Bonior, Former Member, US House of Representatives
· Ihor Gawdiak, President of the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council
· Representative Maurice Hinchey (NY)
· Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH)
· Julian Kulas, Activist
· Representative James Langevin (RI)
The members of the Serbian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Serbian American National Leadership Committee
· Representative Melissa Bean (IL)
· Vlade Divac, NBA Player
· Zoran Golubovich, Serbian Unity Congress, Board Member
· Tina Tomasevic Hone, Fairfax, Virginia School Board
· Steven Katich, Serbian Unity Congress, Board Member
· Obrad Kesich, TSM Global Consultants
· Danica Oparnica, Mental Health Associates
· Mirjana Samardzija, President, Serbian Unity Congress
· Marco Trbovich, Senior Vice President for Strategic Communications, Tricom Associates
· Peter Tumbas, Financial Planner
· Mayor Olga Galic Velasques, Portage, Indiana
The members of the Polish American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Polish American National Leadership Committee
· Christine Baranski, Actress
· David Bonior, Former US House Rep, MI
· Mark Brzezinski, Former Director for Russia and Eurasia Group, National Security Council
· Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Secretary of State
· Representative John Dingell (MI)
· Barbara Easterling, Secretary-Treasurer, Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO
· Nancy Kaszak, Corlands
· Governor Ted Kulongowski
· Representative Daniel Lipinski (IL)
· Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD)
· Marilyn Piurek, Vice Chair, National Polish Center
· Ambassador Nicholas Rey, Former Ambassador to Poland
· Richard Trumka Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
· Joseph Zazyczny, American Polish Advisory Council
The members of the Italian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Italian American National Leadership Committee
• Representative Michael Arcuri (NY)
• Governor John Baldacci, Maine
• Tony Bennett, Singer
• Bob Blancato, President of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
• John Boccieri, Candidate for US House of Representatives, OH-16
• Representative Robert Brady (PA)
• George Bruno, Former Ambassador to Belize
• William Candelori, General Vice President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
• Representative Michael Capuano (MA)
• Former Governor Richard Celeste, Ohio
• Former Governor Mario Cuomo, New York
• Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General
• Matilda Cuomo
• Representative Peter DeFazio (OR)
• Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT)
• Representative Michael Doyle (PA)
• Lt. Governor John Garamendi, California
• Debbie Halvorson, Candidate for US House, IL-11
• Philip Lader, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom
• Representative Nick Lampson (TX)
• Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
• Harry Lombardo, International Executive Vice President, Transport Workers Union
• Dan Maffei, Candidate for US House, NY-25
• Governor Joe Manchin III, West Virginia
• Eric Massa, Candidate for US House, NY-29
• Mayor Tom Mennino, Boston
• Representative George Miller (CA)
• Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo, Kentucky
• Governor Janet Napolitano, Arizona
• Representative Frank Pallone (NJ)
• Leon Panetta, Former White House Chief of Staff
• Joseph Paolino, Former Ambassador to Malta
• Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ)
• Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (CA)
• Tom Perriello, Candidate for US House, VA-5
• John Podesta, Former White House Chief of Staff
• Bob Roggio, Candidate for US House, PA-6
• Fred Rotondaro, Former Executive Director, National Italian American Foundation
• Representative Tim Ryan (OH)
• Gerard Scarano, Executive Vice President, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen
• Aileen Sirey, PhD., National Organization of Italian American Women
• Dan Tarullo, Former Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy
• Representative Michael Thompson (CA)
• Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
• Laura D'Andrea Tyson, Former Chair, White House Council of Economic Advisers
• Peter Tufo, Former Ambassador to Hungary
The members of the Irish American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Irish American National Leadership Committee
· Ambassador Elizabeth Bagley
· Representative Bob Brady (PA)
· Representative Michael Capuano (MA)
· Former Governor Hugh Carey, New York
· Representative Russ Carnahan (MO)
· Representative Christopher Carney (PA)
· Senator Bob Casey (PA)
· Representative Joe Crowley (NY)
· Representative Bill Delahunt (MA)
· Senator Chris Dodd (CT)
· Representative Joe Donnelly (IN)
· Senator Byron Dorgan (ND)
· Governor James Doyle, Wisconsin
· Representative Mike Doyle (PA)
· Martin J. Dunleavy, DNC Committee Member
· Senator Dick Durbin (IL)
· Mayor Michael Fahey, Omaha, Nebraska
· John Flynn President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
· Michael Goodwin, President of the Office and Professional Employees International Union
· Representative Brian Higgins (NY)
· Ed Hill, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
· Representative Tim Holden (PA)
· Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia
· Kerry Kennedy
· Representative Patrick Kennedy (RI)
· Senator Ted Kennedy (MA)
· Senator John Kerry (MA)
· Representative Dale Kildee (MI)
· Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
· Representative Steve Lynch (MA)
· Representative Ed Markey (MA)
· Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY)
· Senator Claire McCaskill (MO)
· Representative Betty McCollum (MN)
· Ed McElroy, President Emeritus, AFT
· Gerald W. McEntee, President, AFSCME
· Representative Jim McGovern (MA)
· Ambassador Gerald McGowan
· Former US Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (ME)
· Representative Alan Mollohan (WV)
· Representative Jim Moran (VA)
· Representative Patrick Murphy (PA)
· Representative John Murtha (PA)
· Representative Richard Neal (MA)
· Representative David Obey (WI)
· Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland
· Terrence O'Sullivan, President, Laborers' International Union of North America
· Senator Jack Reed (RI)
· Richard Riley, Former Secretary of Education
· Representative Tim Ryan (OH)
· Governor Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius, Kansas
· Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith
· Ambassador Michael Sullivan
· Michael Sullivan, President, Sheet Metal Workers Union
· Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Former Lt. Governor of Maryland
· Mr. John Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO
The members of the Hungarian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Hungarian American National Leadership Committee
· Reverend Imre Bertalan, President, Bethlen Homes
· Bela Bognar, Member, Hungarian Communion of Friends
· Mayor Jim Cahill, New Brunswick, New Jersey
· Endre Csoman, National Coordinator for Fraternal Affairs, William Penn Fraternal Association
· George Dozsa, Former President, Hungarian Reform Federation
· Louis Elteto, Founding Member, Hungarian Communion of Friends
· Agnes Fulop, Minnesota Hungarians
· Csilla Grauzer, President, Minnesota Hungarians
· Nadia Gorman, Activist
· Laszlo Hamos, President, Hungarian Human Rights Foundation
· Istvan Hargitai, Member, Hungarian Communion of Friends
· Annette Lantos, Co-Founder, Congressional Human Rights Caucus
· Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, Board Member, Lantos Family Foundation
· Katrina Lantos Swett, Executive Director of Lantos Family Foundation
· Tomicah Lantos Tillemann, Senior Aide to Senator Joe Biden
· Andrew Ludanyi, Founding Member, Hungarian Communion of Friends
· Csilla Ludanyi, Hungarian Activist
· Laszlo Megyeri, CFO, Hungarian Reform Federation
· Margaret Nicholas, Branch Manager, Hungarian Reform Federation
· Laszlo Papp, Board member, Hungarian Communion of Friends
· George Pogan, Former Board Member, Hungarian American Coalition
· Maximillian Teleki, Chairman, Hungarian American Coalition
· Krisztina Ujvagi-Roder, Hungarian Activist
· Peter Ujvagi, Ohio State Representative
The members of the Greek American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Greek American National Leadership Committee
· Andreas Akaras, Political Advisor to Representative Sarbanes
· Phil Angelides, Former California State Treasurer
· John Brademas, Former Representative (IN)
· Zenon Christodoulou, Vice Chair, Somerset County Democratic Party
· Michael Dukakis, Former Massachusetts Governor
· Demetrios Giannaros, Connecticut Deputy Speaker of the House
· Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois State Treasurer
· Peter Papanicolaou, Supreme President, Cyprus Federation of America
· Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer
· Eleni Tsakopoulous-Kounalakis, President, AKT Development
· Representative John Sarbanes (MD)
· Paul Sarbanes, Former Senator
· Dina Titus, Assistant Nevada State Senate Majority Leader
· Representative Niki Tsongas (MA)
· Endy Zemenides, Chief of Staff to Alexi Giannoulias
The members of the Croatian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Croatian American National Leadership Committee
· Nenad Bach, Founder, Croatian World Net, croatia.org
· Tony Butala, Singer with The Lettermen
· Frank Chopp, Washington State Speaker of the House
· John Didovic, President of the Croatian American Association
· Tony Dizdar Board Member of the National Federation of Croatian Americans
· Hilda Foley, Activist
· Nick Hazdovac, Former President of the Croatian National Association
· Kathy Karpan, Former Wyoming Secretary of State
· Josip Knezevic, Former President of the Croatian Council of New York
· John Kraljic, Past President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans
· Representative Dennis Kucinich (OH)
· Tom Kuzmanovic, Co-Founder of the Croatian American Association
· Bernard Luketich, President, Croatian Fraternal Union
· Marta Karpan Mattox, Advocate for Women and Children's Causes
· Martin Puljic, Former President of the American Croatian Business Association
· Mijo Radocaj, Former President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans
· Steve Rukavina, Former President of the National Federation of Croatian Americans
· Joseph T. Rukavina, Former President of the Minnesota Croatian Cultural Society
· Tom Rukavina, Minnesota State Representative
· Darko Sicel, President of the American Bosnian Association
· Representative Peter Visclosky (IN)
The members of the Armenian American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Armenian American National Leadership Committee
· Representative Anna Eshoo (CA)
· Richard Harpootlian, Former Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party
· California State Representative Paul Krekorian
· Representative Adam Schiff (CA)
· Representative Jackie Speier (CA)
The members of the Arab American National Leadership Committee are as follows:
Arab American National Leadership Committee
· Ismael Ahmed, Director, Michigan Department of Human Services
· Mary Jane Akel, Arkansas State Democratic Executive Committee
· Steve Baddour, Massachusetts State Senator
· Governor John Baldacci, Maine
· Benjamin Baroody, New Hampshire State Representative
· John Barr, Former Rhode Island General Assembly Deputy Majority Leader
· Fay Baydoun, Former Supervisor, Flint Township, Michigan
· Jo Ann Byrnes, Member, New Jersey State Democratic Party
· Helen Abdallah Donohue, Former Massachusetts State Representative
· Barbara Farrah, Michigan State Representative
· Ambassador Edward Gabriel, Former Ambassador to Morocco
· William George, President, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
· Mayor Al Haidous, Wayne, Michigan
· John Hanna, Member, DNC Rules Committee
· Daniel Issa, Rhode Island State Senator
· Juliette Kayyem, Undersecretary, Massachusetts Department of Homeland Security
· Vicki Kennedy
· Mayor Mohammed Khairullah, Prospect Park, New Jersey
· Samer Khalaf, Co-Chair, New Jersey for Obama
· Awais Khalil, Member, Democratic National Committee
· George Mitchell, Former United States Senate Majority Leader
· Rima Nashashibi, Orange County, California Democratic Party Co-Chair
· David Pollak, State Director, Obama for America
· Nick Rahall, U.S. Representative (WV)
· Taleb Salhab, Delegate, DNCC
· Jimetta Samaha, Secretary, Connecticut Democratic Central Committee
· Saba Shami, Deputy Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture
· Rashida Tlaib, Michigan State Representative-elect
· Brian Wahby, Chair, St. Louis Democratic Party, Missouri
· George Zainyeh, Former Rhode Island State Representative
· Dr. James Zogby, Chair & Founder, National Democratic Ethnic Coordinated Council
