The Must-Reid – Friday, October 19
Barack returns to New Hampshire on Monday. He’ll continue to show voters the strength and character we need to bring about real change—by taking on the tough issues and offering straightforward, honest answers about how to tackle them.
During his visit, Barack will file with the Secretary of State to appear on the ballot in the first-in-the-nation primary. The Union Leader yesterday had this to say on the Granite State’s primary tradition.
Michelle Obama will return to New Hampshire on Saturday. Her day includes a stop at our Children’s Fair in Londonderry—accompanied by daughters Sasha and Malia—where she will discuss Barack’s commitment as a father and husband, and his track record of fighting for children and families.
Barack continued that fight yesterday, issuing an indictment of Congress’s failure to override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP:
Four million American children were denied basic health coverage today because Washington politicians failed to stand up to this President’s disgraceful veto. At a time when we’re spending billions of dollars on a war that never should’ve been authorized and giving billions in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, Washington’s failure shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans.
When I am President, I will sign a universal health care bill into law by the end of my first term that will cover every American and cut costs more dramatically than any other plan offered by a candidate in this race. And I’ll do it by bringing Republicans and Democrats together, like I did when I expanded health care for an additional 150,000 children and their parents as an Illinois state Senator.”
You can read Barack’s plan to cover every American here.
Wednesday night, Barack appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He drew especially big applause when he said:
What this campaign has always been about is change…We can’t provide healthcare to everybody, we can’t solve global warming, we can’t solve these big problems unless we don’t just change political parties, we also change our politics. Because the special interests and the lobbyists are too dug in.
You can watch video clips from that appearance here, or watch the full video here.
We continue profiling members of our Child Advocacy Task Force today with Ellen Shemitz of Concord. Ellen was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
Policy, not politics, has been the driving force of Ellen Shemitz’s career. Ellen has served as an advocate for children for two decades, building public support for strategic investments in the children of her state and ensuring that the needs of children and families are not ignored. Having recently completed her term as President of the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire, Ellen is now putting her skills as leader to work for the Obama campaign as a member of our New Hampshire Child Advocacy Task Force.
“Barack Obama is a committed advocate for children. He embraces the essence of the American Dream—that every child should have the chance to reach his or her full potential,” she said…
After nine years, she left her firm to become president of the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire. She founded and led the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, a partnership of over 200 child-serving organizations which has been held up as a model for advocacy across the country…
“Ensuring economic and educational opportunities for children and families today is an investment in the continued global leadership of the United States,” she said.
Rebuilding our social and educational infrastructure so that all children are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, Ellen believes, requires a president with vision, integrity and the ability to unite disparate voices.
Ellen believes that Barack possesses those traits, citing his early work as a community organizer and his ongoing commitment to civic engagement.
“I have confidence that Barack can engage citizens in a movement grounded in the American Dream, restoring hope and opportunity to our children and our nation.”
The Must-Reid – Thursday, October 18
Michelle Obama will return to New Hampshire on Saturday, and Barack will be back in the state early next week for a multi-day trip. Watch for an advisory shortly.
Grassroots supporters across the country continue to respond to Barack’s call to match the funds that PACs and federal lobbyists are funneling to other candidates. CNN reports:
Sen. Barack Obama raised nearly $1 million in just over one day, his campaign announced Wednesday.
The Illinois Democrat sent an e-mail to supporters Tuesday asking for contributions to "close the gap" between him and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York. Third quarter fundraising numbers showed Obama to be $2.1 million behind Clinton in primary funds.
Obama’s campaign claims it had received $950,000 in donations between Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.
Since that piece was filed, the total has increased to $1,405,000.
Reacting to news yesterday that members of the National Guard are being denied their full benefits, Barack reiterated his commitment to keep the sacred trust with our veterans. The Des Moines Register reports:
Presidential candidate Barack Obama and the entire Iowa congressional delegation are demanding answers from Defense Secretary Robert
Gates and President Bush as to why hundreds of Iowa National Guard members were shortchanged on their GI Bill benefits…
The Guard members "have done everything we have asked of them," Obama…wrote Gates in a letter sent today. "And at a minimum, we owe them educational benefits that are accessible and commensurate with their noble service."
Barack laid out his full plan to keep that sacred trust in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention. You can read the speech here, and you can find a New Hampshire-specific fact sheet on the plan here.
We continue profiling members of our Child Advocacy Task Force today with Chairman Jack Lightfoot of Portsmouth. Jack was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
Barack’s call to be our brother’s keeper and sister’s keeper appeals to Jack and has inspired him to serve as the chair of our Child Advocacy Task Force here in New Hampshire.
Jack has worked for the non-profit organization Child and Family Services since leaving law school…
Jack has also worked as an entrepreneur for child advocacy entrepreneur, helping to found organizations like Early Learning, Plus Time, the Parent Information Center, and the Child Advocacy Network. His goal has been to create a web of supportive organizations capable of reaching out to even the most isolated families who need assistance. Jack hopes to put his strong connections in the child advocacy community in New Hampshire to work and to convince his colleagues that Barack’s life experience makes him the candidate best suited to work on behalf of children in the state and across the country.
“His work as a community organizer convinces me that he understands the importance of getting these services to the right people to create opportunities for their children,” Jack said…
“His campaign has diligently sought out the views of members of our community, which I believe reflects his own commitment to listening to people in order to understand social problems. This is the kind of president we need right now in order to narrow this widening gulf between rich and poor.”
The Must-Reid – Wednesday, September 17
Today we’ll be unveiling the latest list of key New Hampshire activists supporting Barack. Watch for a release shortly.
Barack’s grassroots fundraising approach is striking a chord with contributors eager to match the donations that other candidates are receiving from federal lobbyists and PACs. Marc Ambinder reports:
Obama Raises $431,000 In Hours
He asked his supporters to close the gap between himself and Sen. Clinton, and his 365,000-strong movement has responded.
You can read Barack’s appeal here or watch the video of it here.
And Campaigns & Elections notes that Barack’s movement has received by far the most support from contributors here in New Hampshire:
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., may be in second place in most New Hampshire polls, but he was far and away the fundraising winner in New Hampshire. His campaign brought in $125,538, which is more than any other candidate on either side of the aisle. It is also four times more than the $28,170 U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., raised within the state.
Our National Women for Obama Chair Betsy Myers issued a memo this morning about the role that women are playing in the campaign:
Like all Americans, women desperately want change they can believe in. They want an end to the divisive politics in Washington. They want someone who had the judgment to say no to an unnecessary war and who can stand up to the special interests that have shut out the voices of average Americans for too long. These are all the reasons why women have been at the forefront of the grassroots movement that is the Obama campaign.
We continue profiling members of our Child Advocacy Task Force today with Dr. Bruce Mallory of Portsmouth. Dr. Mallory was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
Bruce is a member of our New Hampshire Child Advocacy Task Force, and he is convinced that Barack will work harder for economic justice than any other candidate because of his experiences as a community organizer.
“As someone who has worked as a community organizer myself,” Bruce said, “I know how much that experience informs your values for the rest of your life.”
From his first job as a teacher at a public school in the inner city of Cleveland to the decades of community organizing and advocacy in New Hampshire that followed, Bruce was constantly exposed to the obstacles faced by so much of the population…
Bruce believes that a nationwide commitment to early education and intervention is an essential step towards bridging the growing gulf between rich and poor in this country. He believes that Barack has the life experience to lead this effort from the White House.
“Obama understands with his heart and in his head the sheer injustice of having children doomed to fail at birth in this country,” Bruce said. “As president, the people living in the slums blocks away from the heart of government would never be far from his mind.”
The Must-Reid – Tuesday, October 16
Today we begin airing our most recent television ad, “Quiet,” on Boston television stations. In the thirty-second ad, Barack stresses his record of telling the American people not just what they want to hear, but what they need to know. You can watch the ad here.
Yesterday, Barack reiterated his commitment to governing based on principle, not polling. The AP writes:
…Obama said that he had spoken out against going to war in Iraq in 2002, even as advisers told him it would be a mistake to challenge a popular president, George W. Bush.
Then an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama said he did so because he did not want to “enter the United States Senate already having compromised on core principles.”
“We've had enough of ... triangulation and poll-driven politics,'' he said. “That's not what we need right now.''
Also yesterday, Barack won the endorsement of the Illinois and Indiana SEIU. TIME reports:
Democratic hopeful Barack Obama picked up the endorsement Monday of the 170,000-member Illinois Service Employees International Union, a boost to the candidate's prospects in neighboring Iowa, whose caucuses kickoff the presidential nomination contest…
Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois State Council, cited Obama's commitment to expanding access to affordable health care and to protecting workers' rights as among the biggest reasons for his union's early endorsement.
Balanoff also cited Obama's early opposition to the Iraq War.
And Barack’s commitment to children and families is resonating with top child advocates in New Hampshire, many of whom have signed on to our Child Advocacy Task Force. Paula Ferenc, a middle school Special Education Teacher and advocate from Rumney was featured yesterday on NH.BarackObama.com:
Nine years ago, Paula Ferenc was fed up with the services provided to her daughter by the local school system. Paula believed that her daughter, as a child with learning disabilities, was too low a priority for the school board. She decided to get off of the side lines and become a change agent. She ran for and won a seat on the Rumney school board, where she remains to this day.
Paula recognizes a fellow change agent in Barack, and this has drawn her into joining the campaign as a member of our New Hampshire Child Advocacy Task Force…
Fifteen years ago, she became the Program Director for the Circle Program, an initiative to help girls from low income families in the Plymouth, Laconia, Lebanon and Concord areas through a summer camp and a year-round mentoring program.
The Circle Program’s mission reflects the most important lesson that Paula has learned in her years as an educator and parent: kids perform at their best when surrounded by a strong support network. As Program Director, Paula works with school counselors to seek out girls struggling to fit in or stay motivated in their studies.
One major reason she supports Barack Obama is because she sees that he shares her belief in the importance of community. Paula was particularly compelled by Barack’s years as a community organizer, a civil rights attorney, and an elected official. She believes that he has the unique ability to inspire a new generation to play an active role in strengthening their communities and reclaiming their government.
“I can see from his life’s work that he cares about the weakest members of our society,” she said, “and knows that the way to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to make something of their lives is to make them feel part of a community that cares about them.”
The Must-Reid – Monday, October 15
Today we will announce the membership of our Child Advocacy Task Force. The group, which includes some of the state’s leading child advocates, will coordinate outreach and advise the campaign on issues affecting children and families. Watch for a full release later today. Watch for a full release later today.
Our new offices in Berlin, Dover, and Littleton will be fully operational today, bringing our total number of offices to fourteen. The campaign’s regional offices support the grassroots organization that Obama has built in every corner of New Hampshire. The new office locations and phone numbers are available here.
On Saturday, hundreds of Obama supporters went door-to-door in 47 New Hampshire towns to share Senator Obama’s plan to turn the page in Iraq as part of our nationwide Canvass for Change. NH.BarackObama.com reports:
Mike, a financial advisor from Manchester, was inspired to canvass for the first time. He believes that this is the most important election of his lifetime, and Barack is the most genuine candidate. “This is the time to get involved and really turn things around. I want to help out anyway I can.”…
[After the event] we also checked in again with Michael, our first-time canvasser. The Manchester resident and financial advisor said, “You may talk to ten people and if you get that one who is a supporter – it makes it all worthwhile. I really enjoyed hearing about what issues mattered most to people – looking forward to following up with them.”
After a day of knocking on doors and talking to voters, Michael was ready to take the next step, and volunteered to serve as a ward captain.
More coverage from the day is available here.
Today we finish profiling our New Hampshire Environmentalists for Barack Obama Steering Committee today with New Hampshire co-chair and state senator Harold Janeway. Senator Janeway was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
Harold has served as chair of the Forest Society and the Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire, and also led the renowned New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for a decade. But his involvement doesn’t end there. He has sought to set an example in his own life as well. His Webster farm is eco-friendly, and its photovoltaic panels both power his home and help feed the public electrical grid…
Riding the electoral wave that swept away years of Republican dominance in New Hampshire state politics, Harold successfully claimed his senate seat and now serves as part of a movement of grassroots activists dedicated to a new brand of progressive politics. A member of four committees in the state senate, Harold believes that he is in a position to bring about progress on many important issues.
He believes his support for Barack will ensure progress on the causes he’s spent his whole life supporting.
“Among all of the candidates, Obama has the capacity to connect with individuals across the political spectrum,” Harold says. “This ability will enable him to move the nation towards real progress on the issues, including the environment, that have been deadlocked for decades.”
The Must-Reid – Friday, October 12
Yesterday marked the five year anniversary of Congress’s vote to go to war in Iraq—and the focus on Congress’s recent vote on Iran intensified.
Today’s top 5
Top five headlines on Iraq and Iran:
5. Clinton says she would negotiate with Iran's leaders without conditions (AP)
4. Iraq and Iran: Obama Stepping it Up? (MSNBC)
3. Obama marks fifth anniversary of war vote (Boston Globe)
2. Obama: Clinton vote on Iran shows 'flawed' judgment (CNN)
1. That Iraq war vote (Drew Cline’s blog)
Today is the 5th anniversary of the Senate vote authorizing the Iraq war. Here’s a recap of some of the arguments from five years ago, which are directly relevant to the Democratic presidential nomination this fall.
Here is a link to Obama’s Oct. 2, 2002 speech opposing the Iraq war, which he called a “dumb war.”
Here are the best lines:
“Now let me be clear - I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He’s a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.
“But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.”
Now see if you can identify the senators making these statements the day before the vote:
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001.
“It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.”
And:
“Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely, and therefore, war less likely, and because a good faith effort by the United States, even if it fails, will bring more allies and legitimacy to our cause, I have concluded, after careful and serious consideration, that a vote for the resolution best serves the security of our nation. If we were to defeat this resolution or pass it with only a few Democrats, I am concerned that those who want to pretend this problem will go way with delay will oppose any UN resolution calling for unrestricted inspections.”
“it is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein - this is your last chance - disarm or be disarmed.”
If you guessed Sen. Hillary Clinton to all three, you’re right.
In her Oct 10, 2002 speech announcing her support of the resolution, she simultaneously claimed that she was voting to authorize war and was voting to avoid war.
But no one else, as far as I’ve seen, thought or indicated that voting for the resolution was anything other than a vote to authorize war against Iraq. Here is how The Washington Post reported Bush’s war resolution on Sept. 20, 2002:
“President Bush asked Congress yesterday for unlimited authority to take whatever action he sees fit against Iraq, including the use of military force, without any further congressional consultation or approval.”
There simply is no way she did not understand that approving the resolution made war more likely. No way.
The resolution stated very clearly: “The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate.”
And yet there she was on the floor of the Senate saying that she was both authorizing war and making it less likely to happen. Amazing. Even more amazing: few people have called her on it.
Tomorrow, hundreds of Obama supporters in New Hampshire will go door to door to talk to their neighbors about Barack’s opposition to the war as part of our nationwide Canvass for Change.
And as Granite Staters organize for real change, the New Hampshire primary continues to be challenged by certain candidates' activities in other states seeking to move their contests up. Today's Union Leader has more.
We continue profiling members of our New Hampshire Environmentalists for Barack Obama Steering Committee today with New Castle farmer and State Representative David Borden. Rep. Borden was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com
“Barack doesn’t have decades of Washington baggage to impede him from making the tough decisions we’re going to need to really turn things around,” [Rep. Borden] said…
As a member of the Science, Technology and Energy committee, David introduced a bill which takes the first step in creating a statewide initiative to replace 20 percent of the state's fossil fuels used in diesel and home heating oils with biodiesel produced from vegetable oils and animal waste. He believes that action now is critical because New Hampshire will be more heavily affected by climate change than most states. As Barack cited in his speech Monday in Portsmouth, the effects of climate change are already negatively affecting New Hampshire’s tourist industry.
According to David, the primary obstacle to achieving energy independence and reversing climate change is not technical. The challenge we face is one of political will. He believes that Barack has the toughness and the heart to confront this challenge head-on.
“We’ve been talking about this problem for years now,” he said, “but Barack is the only candidate tough enough to really make the push for real reform.”
The Must-Reid – Thursday, October 11
Five years ago today, Congress voted to authorize the war in Iraq, a war that should never have been waged. Barack opposed the war from the start, and in today’s Union Leader he writes about the judgment and leadership he showed five years ago—and that he continues to show on foreign policy questions today.
I felt strongly that a war in Iraq would lead to an open-ended and destructive occupation of Iraq, and weaken us in the fight against al-Qaida in Afghanistan. And I felt a responsibility to say so.
Now, the Senate has once again voted for an amendment that goes out of its way to draw connections between distinct threats, and that replaces judicious policy-making with unnecessary saber-rattling. And once again, we hear that it is not really a vote for more war, it is a vote for more diplomacy.
Today’s Top 5
Five questions that voters should ask the Washington establishment about Iraq and Iran:
5. Why didn’t Congress examine the evidence and ask the tough questions before rushing to war in Iraq?
4. Why was Congress so quick to accept a phony link between Al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein?
3. Knowing what they know now about the disastrous buildup to the war in Iraq, why did certain members of Congress recently vote for a troubling resolution staking our troop presence in Iraq to the actions of Iran?
2. Why is the Washington establishment now giving George Bush another blank check—this time for Iran?
1. Who better to end this disastrous war—and prevent another—than the only major candidate who showed judgment and leadership from the start?
Today we posted a new online ad discussing the choice Barack made to oppose the war at a time when others were lining up to give the President a blank check. Watch the video here.
In New Hampshire this morning, Obama supporters are holding visibility events around the state to mark the fifth anniversary of the war vote and remind voters that Barack offers the judgment, vision, and leadership we need to turn the page in Iraq.
And as New Hampshire voters take a hard look at which candidate had the right judgment on Iraq, the first-in-the-nation primary remains under threat from other states eager to move into the early weeks of the nominating process. The Union Leader has more.
Don’t miss the Concord Monitor’s editorial on Barack’s approach to politics and the substance he brings to the table.
The Must-Reid – Wednesday, October 10
Barack Obama had the judgment to oppose this war from the start and he’s been leading the fight to end it.
Five statements Barack Obama has made opposing this war from the start:
5. “I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.” [10/2/02]
4. “Most of you know I opposed this war from the start. I thought it was a tragic mistake… It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war.” [2/10/07]
3. “Because of a war in Iraq that should never have been authorized and should never have been waged, we are now less safe than we were before 9/11… The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” [8/1/07]
2. “The American people have had enough of the shifting spin. We've had enough of extended deadlines for benchmarks that go unmet. We've had enough of mounting costs in Iraq and missed opportunities around the world. We've had enough of a war that should never have been authorized and should never have been waged. I opposed this war from the beginning. I opposed the war in 2002. I opposed it in 2003. I opposed it in 2004. I opposed it in 2005. I opposed it in 2006. I introduced a plan in January to remove all of our combat brigades by next March. And I am here to say that we have to begin to end this war now.” [9/12/07]
1. “The first thing we have to do is end this war. And the right person to end it is someone who had the judgment to oppose it from the beginning.” [10/2/07]
You can read Barack’s recent remarks on his plan to turn the page in Iraq here.
Yesterday Barack reiterated his commitment to the New Hampshire primary and withdrew his name from the Michigan ballot as part of his pledge to protect the traditional role of New Hampshire and the other early states.
Barack continued his dialogue with New Hampshire voters at town halls yesterday in Londonderry and Plymouth. Campaigns & Elections reports from the event at Mack’s Apples:
"While New Hampshire has been a model of innovation, Washington has failed to act," said Obama. He blamed this failure on not only President George W. Bush, but on the political culture in Washington that allows leaders to make promises but never doing anything about the problem…
His message of unity seemed to resonate with those in the crowd, a fair number of whom were seen signing up to volunteer for the campaign after the event.
And the Laconia Citizen reports from Plymouth State:
"Stand up for what you believe in," said Obama. "That's what America needs right now. We need to stop supporting the president's failed policies and begin sending troops home. This is the first thing I will do when I am sworn in as president."
In January, Obama introduced legislation to end the war in Iraq with a phased withdrawal of the troops engaged in combat operations. Obama said he has a plan to immediately begin withdrawing U.S. troops engaged in combat operations at a pace of one or two brigades every month, to be completed by the end of next year…
The rally ended with applause and students commenting on how they believed that Obama would be the best choice for the next president.
We continue profiling members of our New Hampshire Environmentalists for Barack Obama Steering Committee with Co-Chair Robin Read. Robin was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
After a full career spent serving communities in need and advocating for a cleaner environment, Robin serves as Co-Chair of the New Hampshire Environmentalists for Obama Steering Committee. Barack’s years as a community organizer and the insight and judgment he demonstrated in his two books convince Robin that Barack possesses the listening and negotiation skills to overcome the polarized politics of the past two decades…
Robin’s interest in environmental issues was sparked by his time with the Clamshell Alliance, where he worked to prevent the construction of the Seabrook nuclear power plant. Drawn into the controversy through his concern about the impact on the energy bills of low-income Seacoast residents, Robin learned through this experience about the extent of the damage sustained by the environment over the course of the 20th century.
“How can a sensible politics allow, even abet, the destruction of fragile ecosystems across the planet?” Robin remembers asking himself at the time.
The environment remained Robin’s passion, even as he navigated his career through the Rockingham County Public Defender Program and on to the public arena of elected politics. He worked on local and presidential campaigns during the 80s and 90s. Two terms in the state legislature gave him a first-hand view of the life of public officials. These experiences encouraged him to become an organizer and researcher for Governor Jeanne Shaheen’s local and statewide races…
“The [Obama] campaign’s environmental forums around the state give people a stake in the success of the campaign,” he said, “and showed me that Barack has not strayed from the grassroots approach he learned as an organizer.”
As a former organizer, Robin believes that Barack’s approach can draw newcomers to politics and transform the system from the bottom up.
The Must-Reid – Tuesday, October 9
Barack continues his dialogue with New Hampshire voters today with town hall events at Mack’s Apples in Londonderry at 10:30 am and at Plymouth State University at 6:30 pm. Please email nh-media@barackobama.com for credentials.
Top 5 reasons Barack can bring about real change:
5. History of standing up to special interests and making government work for people. Barack has passed tough ethics reforms in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, and has pledged to sign the most sweeping ethics reform package in history on his first day as President.
4. Willingness to tell the tough truths we need to hear. Barack believes that being a strong president doesn’t mean doing what’s easy—it means doing what's hard. That’s why he went straight Wall Street to talk about economic fairness and to Detroit to talk about raising fuel standards.
3. New leadership to move past our old politics. Barack is determined to move beyond the partisan bickering and divisive battles that have dominated our politics over the last decades. Barack is a leader with a proven track record of bringing people together to make progress on tough issues.
2. The experience America needs. When conventional Washington talks about experience, they mean the number of years you’ve spent inside the Beltway. Barack’s experience as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, and state senator taught him that change starts from the bottom up.
1. Judgment, vision, and courage. As other politicians made a calculated political decision to line up in support of the greatest foreign policy disaster of a generation, Barack got it right from the start. He had the judgment to oppose the war, the vision to predict its tragic consequences, and the courage to stand against the political winds and speak out.
Yesterday in Portsmouth, Barack laid out a bold energy policy that will allow America to lead the world in combating global warming. The Concord Monitor reports that local environmentalists embraced the plan—and that Washington lobbyists were less enthusiastic:
Portsmouth City Councilor Ned Raynolds, who works on climate advocacy for the Union of Concerned Scientists and successfully advocated for the Portsmouth Public Library's design as a “green building,” said Obama's speech persuaded him to support the candidate. “His plan is a long-overdue convergence of energy, economy, environmental and security policy that we've needed for a long time,” Raynolds said. “This is the speech I've been waiting to hear from a presidential candidate for 10 years.”
Raynolds said he was impressed with the way the plan would make using carbon energy more expensive while simultaneously investing in new technology.
University of New Hampshire Professor Burt Cohen, who teaches a course on sustainable living, said he too was swayed to support Obama by the overall vision set out in the new policy. “It's realistic and sets specific goals,” Cohen said.
Washington energy lobbyist Frank Maisano was less enthusiastic. Maisano criticized the idea of a cap-and-trade program.
And the popular environmental website Grist says:
Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised—even shocked—at its quality. It's a deft mix of good politics and strong, substantive policy.
The League of Conservation praises Barack’s plan:
Senator Barack Obama has put forward an aggressive plan that would point America in the right direction toward a clean, renewable energy future, reduce greenhouse gas pollution and reverse the disastrous policies of the current Administration… With the Obama plan in place, America would boldly regain its footing as a world leader in environmental protection and clean, renewable energy production.
You can read the full plan here.
Yesterday, we announced the membership of the New Hampshire Environmentalists for Obama Steering Committee. Steering Committee member Dorn Cox, an organic farmer and biofuels researcher from Lee, was featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
Welcoming a new baby into the world filled Dorn Cox with a renewed sense of urgency in his life’s work: creating more efficient forms of biodiesel fuel. He develops and refines them on his family farm, doing his part to help wean the country off of fossil fuels. Dorn believes that the political system is failing the country when our economy is still vulnerable to turmoil in the petroleum-rich nations of Africa and the Middle East.
In a video interview, Dorn says:
There hasn’t been the guts in Washington to look deeper than the traditional agricultural lobbies and energy lobbies to look at our long-term strategic interests and our vulnerabilities. I believe Senator Obama has the leadership skills and has the ability to bring the nation together around a strategic objective and make our country energy independent. I think he would be the perfect candidate for inspiring the nation to this cause.
The Must-Reid – Monday, October 8
Barack returns to the Granite State today for two days of events. At the Portsmouth Library this afternoon, he’ll offer a bold energy plan that will allow America to lead the world in combating global climate change. Media access for Barack’s speech begins at 1:50 PM. For credentials, please email nh-media@barackobama.com.
Top 5 steps Barack Obama will take to lead on global warming:
5. Dramatically improve energy efficiency to reduce energy intensity of our
economy by 50 percent by 2030.
4. Invite the nations of the world back to Washington to let it be known that America is ready to lead on energy, and create a Global Energy Forum to lay the foundation for the next generation of climate protocols.
3. Set a hard cap on all carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to curb global warming: an 80-percent reduction by 2050 with interim targets toward this goal in 2020, 2030, and 2040.
2. Create a Next Generation Clean Energy Fund that will invest $150 billion over the next decade to develop and deploy clean energy supplies.
1. Stand up to the special interests and build a working consensus for real change in our energy policy. For decades, politicians in Washington have promised to tackle our energy problems—but they’ve always failed to deliver.
You can read Barack’s full plan here.
Later today, we’ll announce the membership of the New Hampshire Environmentalists for Obama Steering Committee, a group of experts will that advise the campaign on energy and environmental issues and lead outreach across the state. Several members of the Steering Committee will attend Barack’s energy speech in Portsmouth this afternoon.
The embargoed full text of the speech will be available later today. The campaign released the following excerpts this morning:
“We have heard promises about energy independence from every single U.S. President since Richard Nixon – Republicans and Democrats."
“The truth is, our energy problem has become an energy crisis because no matter how well-intentioned the promise – no matter how bold the proposal – they all fall victim to the same Washington politics that has only become more divided and dishonest; more timid and calculating; more beholden to the powerful interests that have the biggest stake in the status quo.”
“There are some in this race who actually make the argument that the more time you spend immersed in the broken politics of Washington, the more likely you are to change it. I always find this a little amusing. I know that change makes for good campaign rhetoric, but when these same people had the chance to actually make it happen, they didn’t lead. When they had the chance to stand up and require automakers to raise their fuel standards, they refused. When they had multiple chances to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by investing in renewable fuels that we can literally grow right here in America, they said no.”
The Portsmouth Herald reports:
In a major speech today, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama won't be naming names, but he will lay responsibility for past energy policy failures on leading Washington insiders.
And the Los Angeles Times previews some of the policy components:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today plans to propose spending $150 billion over 10 years on new clean-energy programs, including proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop new energy sources, according to senior campaign advisors.
The energy package, which Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) is expected to outline in a speech at a library in Portsmouth, N.H., centers on a requirement that polluters pay for every ton of carbon emissions they release, as opposed to having rights to release some or all of the carbon dioxide they already send into the atmosphere.
The Must-Reid – Friday, October 5
Barack will return to New Hampshire on Monday for two days of events. He'll hold a town hall at Mack's Apples in Londonderry at 10:30 on Tuesday morning, and a town hall at Plymouth State University at 6:30 on Tuesday evening. We’ll have a full advisory later today.
Michelle Obama visits the state today. She’ll speak with voters at a roundtable in Manchester at noon and a house party in Nashua at 1:45. A full advisory is available here.
Yesterday, Barack condemned the Bush administration’s secret authorization of brutal interrogation techniques. The Chicago Tribune reports:
Presidential candidate Barack Obama this morning called a secret Justice Department authorization for expansive use of the harshest interrogation techniques ever used by the Central Intelligence Agency "an outrageous betrayal of our core values, and a grave danger to our security.”
According to an article in today's New York Times, the U.S. Justice Department issued the authorization under Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales just months after publicly declaring torture "abhorent" in December 2004….
"When I am president America will once again be the country that stands up to these deplorable tactics. When I am president we won't work in secret to avoid honoring our laws and Constitution, we will be straight with the American people and true to our values," said Obama.
Barack’s full statement is available here.
Also yesterday, Barack announced a plan to honor the sacrifices of our National Guard and Reserve members as President:
It’s time to use the Guard and Reserves responsibly. No more unpredictable deployments. No more extended tours. No more failures to plan, to communicate down the chain of command, or to reset the equipment that we’ve left in Iraq. When we’ve got service-members who have to find out that their tour has been extended in a phone call home, we’re not keeping that trust, and we’re not keeping this country safe…
I will not be a President who sends our Guard off to fight in a misguided war, while telling America’s governors to hope that a big snowstorm won’t hit next winter, or that a tornado won’t come through town. I will not be a President who extends tours for our Guard units overseas, while Americans are stranded on rooftops right here at home. We need to turn the page.
Click here for a fact sheet on Senator Obama’s plan.
Tomorrow, Congressman Paul Hodes will hold official office opening events at three Obama for America offices: Lebanon, Peterborough, and Derry. The events will be open press. Watch for more details later today.
We continue profiling our New Hampshire Women for Obama leadership with Grafton County Chair Bonnie Parker. Bonnie was featured along with her daughter Kat on NH.BarackObama.com:
Health care reform would have life-changing meaning for the Hanover residents, because today no insurance company will cover Kat due to her muscular dystrophy. Looking for a candidate that can surmount the hurdles placed in the way of real change by lobbyists and interest groups, the Parker women support Barack Obama for President.
In a video interview, Bonnie said:
Probably what can be done now maybe won’t even serve her because it will be years down the line before something actually comes of it. But I think what we would like to see is maybe it could help somebody else.
I believe more than anyone out there in that field right now that [Obama] has the capacity to do that. He has the empathy; he has the kindness; he has the brilliance. He can speak. He seems to think, and seriously, if you say something listen, listen to ideas different from his own.
Be sure to catch the full video here.
The Must-Reid – Thursday, October 4
Michelle Obama will visit New Hampshire tomorrow to continue the dialogue that the campaign has maintained with New Hampshire voters. Michelle will attend a roundtable with women in Manchester and a house party in Nashua. A full advisory is available here.
Yesterday, Barack addressed the issue of unaccountable security contractors in Iraq, announcing his plan to force contractors to follow federal law and creating a permanent FBI unit to investigate abuses. The Chicago Tribune reports:
"Most contractors act as if the law doesn't apply to them," [Obama] said. "Under my plan, if contractors break the law, they will be prosecuted."
In announcing his "Security Contractor Accountability Plan," Obama said he would like to see greater transparency on contractor hiring and costs.
"I've proposed tougher government reforms than any other candidate in this race – reforms that would eliminate the kind of no-bid contracts that this administration has given to Blackwater," he said.
Yesterday, Major General Scott Gration (USAF Ret.) spoke with voters in Manchester and Rochester about Barack’s foreign policy vision, his ability to restore America’s standing in the world, and his plan to end the war in Iraq. General Gration told voters:
My experience serving with [Barack] convinced me that he is absolutely the best person to be president and Commander in Chief right now…
He has the judgment, courage, and experience that counts. And most importantly, he has a vision for America that will not only bring our country together but lead again in the world.
Gration first met Barack while visiting Washington to brief members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
[Obama] was a quick study who understood the issues… He has a deep sense of history, and with his background as a constitutional law professor, he understands the values the framers were talking about…
Barack understands that international problems require international solutions. Just like he will bring Americans together, he will bring nations together to solve problems.
You can read more about General Gration’s visit here.
We continue profiling members of New Hampshire Women for Obama today with State Steering Committee member Joan Reische. Joan was featured yesterday on NH.BarackObama.com:
Joan is a member of the New Hampshire Women for Obama leadership because she believes that Barack truly understands the value of strong communities…
Over the decades to follow, the mother of two served on the boards of organizations ranging from the League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood of New England, and a family planning organization called Health Options. She also taught English as a second language at a nearby grammar school.
Joan served as president and board member of Families in Transition (FIT), an organization that provides safe and affordable housing to homeless families with children. She believes that her work with FIT best exemplifies how supportive communities allow individuals to take control of their own lives.
“I believe that everyone has the potential to make something out of their lives if they are given the chance,” Joan says.
She is inspired by Barack’s call for all Americans to view themselves as their brother’s and sister’s keeper. His constant demonstration of this core value and his ability to connect his policy towards a central concept that “we’re all in this together” gives Joan confidence that Barack will lead the country towards progress in reducing the gap between rich and poor, revitalizing America’s cities, and expanding equal opportunity for all Americans.
“From his work as a community organizer to his more recent speeches, I can see that he understands that a big part of lifting people out of tough situations,” she said, “is connecting them to a larger, supportive community.”
The Must-Reid – October 3, 2007
Yesterday, on the five-year anniversary of his 2002 speech opposing the war in Iraq, Barack issued a major address at Depaul University in Chicago. The New York Times reports:
Senator Barack Obama castigated political leaders of both parties for failing to vigorously challenge the administration’s Iraq policy in 2002, declaring: “The American people weren’t just failed by a president, they were failed by much of Washington.”…
“This is not just a matter of debating the past,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s about who has the best judgment to make the critical decisions of the future.” Because you might think that Washington would learn from Iraq, but we’ve seen in this campaign just how bent out of shape Washington gets when you challenge its assumptions.”
And the Monitor writes:
Five years ago yesterday, Obama spoke at an anti-war rally in Chicago, where he opposed the impending war in Iraq as a "dumb war" and a "rash war" based "not on principle but on politics." He stated that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein "poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States," and said, "Even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences."
Obama's campaign released a DVD, shown yesterday across the state, that included several clips of Obama opposing the war, including one of a November 2002 talk show appearance in which Obama called rushing into war a mistake, saying there needed to be a debate over the cost of the war, a plan for rebuilding the country, and a way to ensure Iraq does not split into factions.
You can watch excerpts from yesterday speech on NH.BarackObama.com.
And BarackObama.com has a new video of supporters from across the country recreating Barack’s 2002 speech.
Major General Scott Gration (USAF Ret.), will be in New Hampshire today to discuss Barack’s judgment and foreign policy vision. Gration praised yesterday’s speech, saying:
Senator Obama outlined his ideas for trading Washington's conventional wisdom for a bold new approach for the use of American power across the globe. He was right when he opposed the war in Iraq five years ago. He is right when he says there is no military solution to Iraq's Civil War. He is right when he stands up to conventional thinking and says that while we have to use every tool at our disposal to fight terrorists, it doesn't make any strategic sense to threaten to use nuclear weapons on terrorist camps. Barack Obama's vision of American foreign policy will restore American leadership across the globe and make us a nation of influence once again. This speech demonstrated that Barack Obama has the sound judgment, the right experience, and the requisite leadership skills our country needs right now.
You can read reactions to the speech from other foreign policy experts here. A full advisory of Major General Gration’s trip is available here.
Today we continue profiling members of our New Hampshire Women for Obama leadership team with Belknap County Chair Kate Miller. Kate was featured recently on NH.BarackObama.com:
Since leaving Illinois, Kate has dedicated her life to public service. A decade in Washington as a Capitol Hill staffer soured her on Beltway politics-as-usual. She decided to redirect her energies towards more local paths to service, seeking to produce more immediate results in her community. Kate still believes that big change can come from Washington, but only if the next president is determined to transform not only our policies but the way business is done…
“We did some good things on behalf of average people, but so many important initiatives went nowhere because of the ‘good old boys’ system of favor trading between insiders,” she said…
Politics remains an important part of Kate’s life. An active volunteer on presidential campaigns for the past few cycles, she is supporting Barack Obama because she sees him as the best candidate to transform our deadlocked political system.
“He talks about bringing new people into the political system and helping them find their voice,” she said, “this is the right message for our times. I want my children and their friends to know that an individual can make a difference in our world!”
Kate’s work at the grassroots level to improve her community draws her to Barack. She sees something of herself in Barack’s experiences as a community organizer in Chicago, and as a civil rights lawyer working on voting rights issues. Their life choices reflect a commitment to hearing voices that frequently go unheard.
The Must-Reid – Tuesday, October 2
Five years ago today, Barack spoke out against going to war with Iraq—nine days before the Senate voted to authorize the war. Today, he will speak at DePaul University in Chicago about the critical judgment that went in politicians’ decisions on the war, and the need to move past the conventional Washington thinking on foreign policy issues.
In New Hampshire this morning, supporters are holding roadside visibility events around the state. Later today, voters will gather in 14 towns to watch a specially prepared DVD with clips of Barack’s 2002 speech, his speech outlining his plan to end the war, and a new video featuring New Hampshire veterans of the Iraq war discussing their experiences and their support for Barack.
Take a moment to check out the contents of the DVD here.
Yesterday, Obama for America announced that over the first nine months of the year, more than 350,000 Americans contributed to Barack’s grassroots campaign. The Washington Post reports:
[Obama] appeared to maintain his dominance as the candidate most capable of drawing funds from small-dollar donors, many of whom sent contributions through the Internet. His campaign said he had received money from 352,000 people. About $19 million of Obama's total came in funds that can be used in his primary campaign.
"Many in Washington have spent the last weeks declaring the outcome of this race to be preordained and the primary process a mere formality," said David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager. "Yet, in this quarter alone, 93,000 more Americans joined our campaign, because they desire real change and believe Barack Obama is the one candidate who can deliver it."
Major General Scott Gration (USAF Ret.), a commander in Iraq and one of Barack’s foreign policy advisors, will visit New Hampshire tomorrow and Thursday to share why he believes that Barack has the judgment to be our next Commander in Chief. General Gration said recently:
Senator Obama showed that he has the best judgment and courage to be Commander in Chief. He outlined a comprehensive and detailed set of policies to turn the page in Iraq, to protect American interests, and to advance stability in Iraq and the region. He understands that the choices we are making in Iraq are bigger than the debate in Washington--they are about the future of our military and the future of our global leadership. Barack Obama is uniquely suited to restore our military and our leadership.
Watch for an advisory later today.
Yesterday, we announced the leadership of New Hampshire Women for Obama. State Rep. Carla Skinder of Cornish, our Sullivan County Women for Obama Chair, was profiled yesterday on NH.BarackObama.com:
The world beyond her borders has always beckoned to State Representative Carla Skinder. Since the days of her troubled upbringing, when her home life was disrupted by alcoholism and abuse, she looked abroad at a world filled with possibilities and hope. During those chaotic years, daydreaming about a life overseas provided her with escape.
Today, Carla frequently travels the world that she once only imagined. She believes that America has much work to do to make the world a gentler place. She supports Barack as a county chair of New Hampshire Women for Obama because of his international perspective derived from his years in Indonesia and his time in Kenya…
In 1999, Carla moved to a farm in Cornish. She works as an administrator for Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont. Politics is not something that Carla ever expected to be involved in, but she ran for the State House in 2006 at the urging of friends. She was elected after a contested primary and now represents Cornish, Plainfield and Grantham at the State House in Concord.
First-hand participation in electoral politics has spurred her to get involved in the presidential primary as well.
Carla supports Barack Obama because she believes that the next president, in order to repair America’s international standing, needs to know the world from the perspective of first-hand experience.
You can read more about Rep. Skinder here.
The Must-Reid – Monday, October 1
The financial quarter ended last night at midnight, and Obama for America reached a total of more than 350,000 contributors so far this year, and more than 500,000 individual contributions. Total primary fundraising numbers will be released shortly.
Later today we’ll announce the leadership of New Hampshire Women for Obama. This group of women from across the state will advise the campaign on women’s and family issues and organize women in their home communities.
Tomorrow marks the five-year anniversary of Barack’s 2002 speech opposing the war inIraq before it began. Addressing an antiwar rally in Chicago, Barack said:
I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars.
Obama supporters across the country will be holding events tomorrow to commemorate the anniversary and show their support for Barack’s stand against the war. Here in New Hampshire, supporters are planning activities throughout the day. We’ll be announcing details shortly.
Barack had another successful visit to New Hampshire Saturday, meeting voters in Concord and Portsmouth. In Concord, Barack reminded the crowd that he’s not the first candidate to run for President without years of Washington experience on his resume:
I remember what was said years ago by a candidate running for President. He said, “The same old experience is not relevant. You can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience.” Well that candidate was Bill Clinton. And I think he was absolutely right.
(Video of Clinton’s 1992 remarks is here.) The Concord Monitor reported from the event:
Supporters said Obama's lack of Washington experience was a plus. They also sensed a candidate who spoke from the heart and who could lead during a troubled period in history…
"He reminded me of Lincoln," said English teacher Edie Butler of Henniker. "He had very little Washington experience, but he had the capability to guide the country through a civil war. He knew how to think, to deal with issues, to handle people. I feel Obama gives me that sense."
And Beth Allen, a health-care worker in psychiatric nursing, added, "I have a strong sense that he will bring people together, and not just in our own country, but on a global perspective. It's needed at this time in our development as a humanity. Once we stop talking to people, that's when our problems begin."
Later in the day, Barack dropped by our Portsmouth office to offer encouragement to volunteers heading out to knock on doors. Foster’s Daily Democrat wrote:
About 50 people ranging from high school students to retirees crammed into the small office space, plastered with "Obama '08" posters, learning how to correctly fill out canvassing sheets and getting advice from Obama, who started his career in community organizing in Chicago.
"Sometimes it could be a little discouraging, but sometimes people would be excited, almost as if they had been waiting for me to show up," Obama said to cheers and laughter from the group.
He said the entire campaign is about going out and talking to people at a grassroots level.
The Must-Reid – Friday, September 28
Barack will hold a Meet the Candidate event at Rollins Park in Concord tomorrow. Gates open at 9:00 am. The advisory is available here. For credentials please email nh-media@barackobama.com. Watch for more details later today.
The Concord visit follows on the heels of a thousand-person rally in Peterborough before Wednesday’s debate. As the Union Leader reported:
At least a thousand spectators and supporters of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama crowded onto the Old Jaffrey Road property of Terry Reeves and David Baum yesterday to hear the Democratic Presidential candidate.
But Obama warned that it is not enough for voters to simply cast their ballots against the current administration.
"We need to fundamentally change how we do our politics," Obama said. "Instead of sending someone to Washington who plays a good game, we need to put an end to the game playing in politics."
The Keene Sentinel captured response from the crowd:
“I came just as a curiosity seeker, but all this support really makes me think he has a chance,” Mark Reynolds of Antrim said after the event.
Some of the crowd walked through the field with the help of canes, and others skipped their lunch at high school…
Obama emphasized his outsider standing in Washington several times, noting twice that he opposed the war in Iraq in 2002, when he was not yet in the U.S. Senate…
“A long resume does not guarantee good judgement,” Obama said, to one of the louder rounds of applause of the day.
Today we’re profiling Healthcare Community for Obama member Jennifer Kinsey, a public health educator from Stratham. Jennifer was recently featured on NH.BarackObama.com:
After a career in Washington D.C. tackling quality of life and health issues for working families, Jennifer moved to New Hampshire and wrote a grant to establish an organization called Healthy Communities, a community-based coalition targeting prevention of substance abuse in adolescents in the Exeter Region Cooperative School District. Working for the school district, she acted as coordinator for the $350,000 grant. Inspired by the lively civic culture in her community, she also joined local initiatives to protect the environment in her new home town of Stratham…
Barack’s theme of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things resonated for Jennifer. “He’s in touch with regular people,” she says, “and you can see it from his career choices in becoming an organizer, civil rights attorney, and state senator.”
Jennifer told NH.BarackObama.com that she believes Barack has the ability to bring people together for change:
“Barack is about the future whereas everyone else is about the past. He can talk to both sides of the partisan divide.”
The Must-Reid – Thursday, September 27
At lat night’s debate, Barack repeated one of the core themes of his candidacy: when it comes to solving the problems that we face, the deciding factor won’t be who has what plan, but who can bring the country together in an open dialogue about change:
The issue is not going to be who has these particular plans. It has to do with who can inspire and mobilize the American people to get it done and open up the process.
And he made it clear that while he may not have the experience Washington likes, he has the experience America needs:
Number one it needs somebody that can bring the country together, and that’s the kind of experience that I bring to this office. When I was in the state legislature, I was able to get people that were polar opposites—police officers and law enforcement working with civil rights advocates to reform a death penalty system that was broken. Bringing people together, Republicans and Democrats, to provide health insurance to people who didn’t have it. That’s number one.
Number two, we need someone who can take on special interests and win. I have consistently done that. On money and politics in the state legislature I passed landmark ethics legislation against not just Republicans, but also some of the leaders in my own party. I did the same thing working with Russ Feingold with the ethics reform package that we passed last year.
And the third thing is telling the truth to the American people even when it's tough, which I did in 2002, standing up against this war at a time when it was very unpopular. And I was risking my political career because I was in the middle of U.S. Senate race.
Now, those are, I think, the kinds of experiences that people are looking for right now in this country and that's the kind of experience I bring to bear to this race.
You can watch the video of that answer here.
Barack’s performance resonated with voters. Following last night’s debate, MSNBC.com asked viewers to weigh in on six categories. Barack won all 4 positive categories as the candidate who:
· “Stood out from the pack”
· “Showed the most leadership qualities”
· “Was the most convincing candidate”
· “Had the best one-liner”
Today we continue to spotlight members of the New Hampshire Health Care Community for Obama. State Representative Cindy Rosenwald was profiled recently NH.BarackObama.com. Rep. Rosenwald is Chairman of the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee.
“Health care is something so basic to people’s lives that my work can really have an effect on the lives of people across the state…As a New Hampshire state representative, I work closely enough with my constituents to see the impact our legislation has on their daily lives…”
Cindy has experience wrestling with the major health care challenges facing the state: slowing down the rise in health care costs, fighting the increase in childhood obesity rates, expanding mental health coverage, and increasing access to dental care. She made national news in 2006 when she passed a bill on behalf of patients and doctors that protected prescription confidentiality. She sponsored the bill after learning from her husband Peter Klementowicz—a cardiologist—that pharmaceutical companies were obtaining doctor’s prescription records and using them to target doctors for advertising.
“Beyond the privacy issues involved, this practice raises the cost of drugs and leads to pressures for doctors to use the brand name pill, which won’t always be the most effective one…
[Obama’s] brilliant and persuasive and has the good sense to propose an achievable plan while running the sort of campaign that will ensure that, once he gets to the White House, he can overcome the opposition of the drug and insurance lobbies.”
You can read more about Rep. Rosenwald here.
The Must-Reid – Wednesday, September 26
Barack will host a Harvest for Change event in Peterborough TODAY before heading to the debate at Dartmouth College. Media access begins at 10:30 am, and gates open to the public at 11:00 am. The advisory is here. For credentials, please email nh-media@barackobama.com.
Yesterday, we announced the winners of two grassroots contests: our My.BarackObama.com Points Challenge and our New Hampshire to New York City contest.
The five Granite Staters who earned the most My.BarackObama.com points through a combination of online activities—like blogging, joining groups, and adding friends—and offline activities—like canvassing, phone-banking, and hosting events—will get to meet Barack after tonight’s debate. The winners are:
· Nathan Gair, a student from Lancaster
· Marion Noble, a stay-at-home mom from Antrim
· William Dismukes, an airline pilot and Air Force Reservist
· Megan Williams, a student from Dover
· Jennifer Randolph, who owns a neuropsychology practice with her husband in Hanover
In addition, two volunteers who canvassed this past weekend have been selected to represent New Hampshire at our rally in New York City on Thursday.
Katie Gehling of Londonderry and Keith McCrea of Manchester will be flown to New York City to join Barack at the grassroots rally in Washington Square Park.
Read more about these seven outstanding New Hampshire volunteers here.
Yesterday, we launched New Hampshire Healthcare Community for Barack Obama, a diverse group of health care professionals and policy specialists from across the state. The Portsmouth Herald report is here: Locals aid Obama's health care campaign.
Nurse practitioner Kelly Nordstrom of New Boston shared her support for Barack in a blog post at Blue Hampshire yesterday:
I've been following Senator Barack Obama since I first saw him speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. At that very moment, like many other Obama supporters, I knew that this man was a born leader, and that he would someday be our president. It is not often, especially in this age of cynicism, that political speech gives you goose bumps and makes you feel hopeful that tomorrow can indeed be better than today.
Senator Obama understands that solving the health care crisis in this country isn't just about putting forward a detailed plan (which he did very early in the campaign) -- it's also about bringing people together to make progress. After all, candidates have been talking about universal health care for years-but there hasn't been the political will to get anything done.
On Thursday, the New Hampshire Health Care Community for Obama will launch a statewide series of policy nights to discuss Obama’s plan to provide health care for all Americans. Policy nights will be held in Keene, Dover, Derry, Nashua, Manchester, Laconia, and Concord. Details can be found here.
Barack continued his fight to expand health care for working families yesterday, issuing a statement in response to President Bush’s veto threat of children’s health care:
Today's announcement by President Bush that he will veto children's health care is unacceptable and serves as an urgent reminder that we must change the way Washington works and finally put the people's interest ahead of the special interests.
In the richest nation on Earth we must no longer stand by while 9 million children live without health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have the right to affordable health care.
The Must-Reid – Tuesday, September 25
The campaign’s first television ad, BELIEVE, begins running today. In the ad, Barack continues his dialogue with voters, calling on them to believe in their own ability to bring about real change. The AP report is here. Here’s the full script:
Every time I speak about my hope for America, the cynics in Washington roll their eyes.
You see, they don't believe we can actually change politics and bring an end to decades of division and deadlock. They don't believe we can limit the power of lobbyists who block our progress, or that we can trust the American people with the truth.
And that’s why we face the same problems and hear the same promises every four years.
My experience tells me something very different.
In twenty years of public service, I've brought Democrats and Republicans together to solve problems that touch the lives of everyday people.
I've taken on the drug and insurance companies and won. I defied the politics of the moment, and opposed the war in Iraq before it began.
This is Barack Obama. I approve this message to ask you to believe—not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I'm asking you to believe in yours.
On Wednesday, before heading the debate at Dartmouth College, Barack will hold a HARVEST FOR CHANGE event in Peterborough at 11:00 AM. The advisory is here. For credentials, please email nh-media@barackobama.com.
Later this morning we’ll launch the New Hampshire Health Care Community for Obama. This diverse group of health care professionals and policy specialists from across the state will advise the campaign on health issues and serve as spokespeople for Barack’s vision for solving the health care crisis in America.
Yesterday, General Tony McPeak spoke with New Hampshire voters about why he believes that Barack has the judgment and courage to be a great commander in chief. The Concord Monitor reports:
McPeak praised Obama's ability to inspire and his toughness. He painted a grim picture of the war in Iraq and said, "Heading off a worst-case scenario requires imagination, hard work, someone without an ideology he wants to peddle to the world and someone who will be seen as an honest broker. Barack Obama is the only one who has those qualities."
Although McPeak believes top military officials still favor the Republican Party, he said they have been turned off by the current administration and would welcome a president like Obama.
Retired Laconia voter Edwin Allard said that after hearing the general, he could see himself supporting Obama. "Who's had experience the last seven years? Rumsfeld and Cheney. Look how that turned out," Allard said. "What's important is judgment. Can you make the right calls?"
Obama in Peterborough Before Dartmouth Debate
Debate watch party to be held at Everything but Anchovies in Hanover
MANCHESTER, NH— Senator Barack Obama’s New Hampshire campaign announced today that Obama will visit Peterborough on Wednesday before heading to Hanover for the Dartmouth Debate.
Obama supporters from across New Hampshire will watch the debate together at the campaign’s official debate watch party at Everything but Anchovies in Hanover. Obama will stop by immediately after the debate.
Wednesday, September 26
Peterborough
HARVEST FOR CHANGE WITH BARACK OBAMA
Home of David Baum and Terry Reeves
53 Old Jaffrey Rd
Peterborough, NH
Media Pre-Set: 9:30 AM (Equipment will need to be dropped at the site by 9:00 AM; media will not have access to the site from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
Media Access: 10:30 AM
Gates Open: 11:00 AM
Throw: 65ft
Cable Run: 500ft
Live Truck Parking: Directed on site
Free wireless internet will not be available
Event is free and open to the public. To RSVP please contact Mathew Riemer at 603-924-0808.
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials please email
Nh-media@barackobama.com.
For logistical and planning purposes only please contact: Katie Lillie 312-533-9005.
Hanover
DNC DEBATE AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Spaulding Auditorium
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
Debate begins: 9:00 PM EST
**This event is being sponsored by NBC, New England Cable News, New Hampshire Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee.**
Media Coverage: For credentials please contact Genevieve.Hass@Dartmough.Edu.
NEW HAMPSHIRE DEBATE WATCH PARTY
Everything but Anchovies
5 Allen St.
Debate watch party begins: 9:00 PM
Event is free and open to the public. To RSVP please contact Lauren Watts at 603-448-1188.
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials please email Nh-media@barackobama.com.
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2007
Contact: Reid Cherlin, (603) 668-2008
