Organizing for America | Rockingbeat's blog

Why wait? Sneak ending "Don't ask, don't tell" into the stimulus bill. The Religious Right won't even notice

By Me - Jan 26th, 2009 at 5:21 pm EST

Also listed in: allGLBT for OBAMA = gay lesbian bisexual transgender

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/14/obama.gays.military/

You said on the campaign that people told you to wait until you were "experienced" to be president, but wisely knew that our time is now. Nothing you can do will end the recession quickly, so while everyone is distracted by the economy, use this opportunity to keep campaign promises to the LGBT community, environmental activists, and the various groups that got you elected. If you get this kind of work done, you will be reelected in 2012 and given a wide berth on the economy.

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Conditons for reelecting Obama

By Me - Jan 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 am EST

Also listed in: Action Gay, Lesbian, BiSexual, Transgendered, and Allies: The GLBTA Committee for Barack Obama | Legalize Marijuana

If Obama wants my vote in 2012, he will need to have:

Ended "don't ask don't tell" and instead expanded Clinton's Executive Order 13087 to include active military service

Decriminalized marijuana at the federal level

Made progress on reducing the National Debt

Not started any new wars

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Getting back the energy

By Me - Sep 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm EDT

Also listed in: America 4 Obama | Bush Retirement Party | End the Iraq War

A slew of articles on the New York Times opinion page and the Huffington Post have been bemoaning a percieved lack of enthusiasm. Rather than getting people excited about Obama, and outlining what he means by "Change," the race has become a back and forth of negative ads and outright lies by the McCain side, with Obama reacting to them. It's time to take control of the narrative and get people in the middle excited about a candidate that actually stands for what he believes in and will make the country better. If you live in a state that's red on www.electoral-vote.com Obama needs your efforts to be doubled. Of course, those of us in blue states can't get complacent. After 8 years of Bush, no state on that map should be any shade of red, but it's up to us to paint the map BLUE this November!

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Ease up on NAFTA and businesses

By Me - Jun 17th, 2008 at 7:12 pm EDT

Also listed in: Barack the Youth Vote | Republicans for Obama

NAFTA alone did not cause jobs to leave America. It's a combination of increased production and policies that discourage businesses from hiring in America if they have the option of outsourcing. Rather than further hitting big businesses with regulations, Obama should focus on how certain of his policies can help keep jobs here and encourage growth. Ending the war in Iraq and cutting down wasteful Pentagon spending, while letting the Bush tax cuts expire and bringing back the estate tax, Washington will have a surplus that can be used to pay down the national debt and fully fund Univeral Health Care (which would ease American businesses of the burden of paying for their employees' health plans). Also, to encourage work, maybe set a minimum income before taking out federal payroll taxes, including Social Security and Medicare. Young people just entering the workforce need that money more than old retirees, and grow to hate the government every week when they see what the government took out of their paycheck, while not seeing benefits in return. By the end of the 1990s Bill Clinton and Congress had achieved a truly balanced budget and were paying down the national debt, which Bush promptly squandered. If Obama focuses more on cutting wasteful spending and his plans to provide bills online for public scrutiny, rather than raising taxes, he can quiet the voices on the Right that say Obama is bad for business and just wants to raise taxes.

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Work on House and Senate races!

By Me - Jun 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am EDT

Also listed in: Pennsylvanians for Obama | Yes We Can For Obama

Now that we know that Barack Obama is the nominee, we need to help win this year's House and Senate races for Democrats. Campaigning for the Democrat in your House district (and Senate election if it is up this year) will have a synergistic effect on the Presidential race. If, for example, you live in Minnesota and get your friends excited about voting for Al Franken for Senate, they will also get out and vote for Obama at the top of the ticket. Or, if for example you get your friends in PA-4 excited about voting for Obama (even if they were a Hillary supporter), that will help Jason Altmire keep his vulnerable seat. With all the energy on the Obama campaign, and especially the core of supporters that caucused overwhelmingly for Obama in "Red" states out west, we can have 60 Senate seats and an overwhelming majority in the House so Obama's ideas get passed right thorough.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/ Hopefully these maps will turn more blue as more of McCain's sordid past and rotten present come out. He should lose "family values" voters when people compare him divorcing his wife who waited for him through Vietnam after she got in an accident, to marry a beer baroness. Plus, why aren't we hearing about the Keating Five? And I can't wait to see Obama's oratorical skills up against McCain's old man whistle in the first debates :)

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Why I'm Supporting Obama

By Me - Apr 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm EDT

My dad is a Republican and instilled in me the values of self reliance and a small government. Unfortunately, the Republican party has been taken over by the religious right an neo-cons. Obama is the candidate who knew that the war in Iraq was a bad idea before I did. He would focus on helping Americans live better lives, and I hope he would withdraw Americans from around the world to improve the lives of our troops and improve our image worldwide. On issues like the death penalty, universal health care and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, America needs to join the rest of the civilized world and become the leader in human rights, concern for the environment, and quality of life. It seems that throughou our history the "oppostion" party to the President tends to become the party of hope and reason. Right now, that's the Democrats, and it is up to them to bear the torch of responsibility when it is passed to them. I think Barack Obama can lead America in the right direction.

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Thank you Jon Stewart/The Daily Show

By Me - Apr 14th, 2008 at 11:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: America 4 Obama | Democrats for Obama

I like the direction he took with the "elitist" label, saying "don't we want an elite president." I'm also reminded of the quote: "A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth." I considered myself a Republican but have become disgusted by the Bush presidency and watching shows like The Daily Show has tilted my thinking more leftward.

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Raise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol

By Me - Apr 13th, 2008 at 6:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: 0bama Worldwide | 20 Somethings for Obama '08 | People Who Generally Don't Join Groups For Obama

Barack Obama says he does not listen to lobbyists. Some of the most damaging lobbies are the drug and alcohol lobbies. Much better than prohibiting these health hazards would be to prohibitively tax them. Drug and alcohol taxes could offset any new spending programs, and avoid the need to raise income or property taxes. If cigarettes were $10 a pack and beer starting at $3 a can, it would be too expensive for most people to buy these things very often.

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On Hardball now

By Me - Apr 2nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm EDT

Big support at Westchester college! He's taking Chris' hardball well :)

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We can win Pennsylvania

By Me - Mar 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

I was down in New Castle this morning to help canvass. For today we were sharing the local Progressive Democrats office with Hillary supporters, and we outnumbered them. My canvassing team got an overwhelmingly positive reception, with people that were home split between already supporting or undecided, with only one Hillary supporter. One advantage of this campaign dragging on is that each state has a chance to rally support not just for Obama but for the Democratic party. If Hillary had lost New Hampshire and dropped out, Obama would have probably clinched the nomination early and all the remaining states would have essentially meaningless primaries with little activism or campaigning going along with them. Sure it would have been nice to wrap up the nomination, but Hillary is just doing what John McCain would have been doing, and honestly the attacks against Obama are really feeble. They question Michelle's patriotism because she is proud of an America where Obama's message of hope is gaining hold? Obama used some of his friend's speech, and that's plagiarism? Obama should be accountable for what his pastor said? That's the best Hillary has to attack Obama with, and the Republicans see that they really have nothing. That's why they really wanted Hillary to get the nomination, because of all the things in her past they could bring up against her. The key thing for Obama supporters to do now is spread the word get the vote out in Pennsylvania, and the other upcoming states (NC, OR, etc.), and bring in Hillary supporters. We don't want to turn off Hillary supporters to Obama out of spite, instead we need to attract them to our campaign of Hope that rises above cheap shots and dirty campaigning tricks. Remember, both Hillary and Obama want mostly the same things on their platforms, and the real differences are in who can grow the Democratic party and bring both parties together, and who has the fresh ideas of Change to bring to Washington and move away from both the Bush administration and the 1990s. We are almost entering the second decade of this millennium, and with Barack Obama, Americans will be better off and better regarded in the rest of the world. The true way to spread freedom in the world is by respecting the sovereignty of other countries and strengthen our freedom at home, to be a beacon of hope and a model of a free, open society that is envied and imitated the world over. It is not by invading other countries and setting up permanent bases for 100 years or more. The best measure of the soul of a country is how it treats those the worst off, and the Democrats have been a champion of those people. All of America will be better off with a president that advocates for the middle and lowest classes. Let's win Pennsylvania, Guam, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana, South Dakota and then go all the way to the White House. HOOOAAAAA!

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Senator Casey endorses Obama

By Me - Mar 28th, 2008 at 8:34 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

I for one called his office a few weeks ago to encourage him to endorse Obama. I sent this e-mail to thank Senator Casey:

Thank you for endorsing Senator Obama for president. I think that Barack Obama can grow the Democratic party and bring this country together, and help us rise above the politics as usual in Washington. I was registered as a Republican but I changed to Democratic to vote for Obama on April 22nd. Hopefully your endorsement will lead to more Superdelegates showing the guts to support Obama and moving on to win the White House.

Tomorrow I will be canvassing in New Castle. Let's win Pennsylvania and wrap up this nomination process, and go on to beat McCain in November!

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On Countdown- Clinton Donor Letter might lead Superdelegates to back Obama

By Me - Mar 27th, 2008 at 10:28 pm EDT

Also listed in: Against the Mud Slinging | Beat Hillary

Let's hope they are right. Clinton's campiagn is getting dirtier and dirtier. Superdelegates can rise above this by getting off the fence and supporting Obama, or even better, change from Hillary. More superdelegates joining Obama coupled with increasing donations and poll numbers in upcoming states could have a compouning effect, especially as Clinton's campaign digs itself deeper, whereas Obama rose above his controversies and came out better than when he went in (hopefully). Come on Superdelegates, let's finish this up and Move On to the general election.

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Stubborn Superdelegates

By Me - Mar 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm EDT

Also listed in: Against the Mud Slinging

IF the Superdelegates really cared about the Democratic party and it's growth and ability to win the general election, they would get off the fence and support Barack Obama right now. They are mystified by Hillary and her now razor thin chance at the nomination, which really depends on THEM reversing the primary results. If more undecideds endorsed Obama, or Hillary superdelegates switch sides, then Obama would have the popular vote, more delegates, more states won, and more superdelegates, maybe even enough to clinch the nomination. For the sake of the Democratic party and the real policy positions that Hillary and Barack mostly share, they need to see that dragging this out isn't helping. Sure, let the people of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oregon and the rest of the contests have their say, but the Superdelegates need to show that they want to change how Washington works, and not just want more of the same by endorsing Hillary. What really should have been unforgivable for Hillary was when she said she or John McCain would be better presidents. That really shows that she cares more about winning than about her own party.

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Now winning even if Michigan and Florida are counted

By Me - Mar 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm EDT

Also listed in: Beat Hillary | Students for Barack Obama

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

Thanks to Bill Richardson's endorsement, Barack Obama is winning the delegate race even if Michigan and Florida are counted. So either way, Hillary wouldn't gain anything from changing these votes. Of course, the lead is only by one delegate, but it's nice to know that counting these states now wouldn't affect Obama's lead. A WIN in Pennsylvania would really give Obama the boost he needs going into the convention, but even a close loss can be overcome with some of the other upcoming states. And if Michigan or Florida do hold a revote, we know we can get a good showing in those states. Especially as Hillary starts to look more and more like a sore loser. We have a whole month to change the minds of Hillary supporters in Pennsylvania-let's get to it!

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Keith Olbermann's Special Comment

By Me - Mar 12th, 2008 at 9:01 pm EDT

Also listed in: Beat Hillary | Optimists For Obama

Great special comment tonight. Hopefully Geraldine Ferraro can sink Clinton where the voters of New Hampshire, New York, California and Ohio failed. Voters need to know why Hillary is bad for the country. I'm starting to really like MSNBC and their vigilance on the Clinton campaign.

www.msnbc.com

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Oil Company Profits

By Me - Mar 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pm EDT

Also listed in: End the Iraq War | People Who Generally Don't Join Groups For Obama | Yes Barack | No Iraq

Since oil companies made record profits due to rising oil prices, some Democratic candidates (Obama included) have called for a windfall tax, or some way to take away these profits. Like them or not, oil companies are businesses, and their motivation is to make profits. Instead of calling for a windfall tax or something of the like, the next president needs to ELIMINATE subsidies to oil companies. This would have the same effect of having the government keep more money that would otherwise go to the oil companies. Also, the price of gas has remained constant with the price of gold. If we were on the gold standard oil prices would be stable. The war in Iraq is fueling inflation, which is making everything, including gasoline, more expensive. By the way, oil companies are publicly traded, so anyone can buy stock in them and share in their profits.

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The People's President

By Me - Mar 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm EST

Also listed in: Beat Hillary

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080324/vonhoffman

Von Hoffman writes about how Obama would govern with bottom-up politics based on grassroots organizations. Hillary would do nothing to change how politics works, and she wouldn't be able to work with Republicans to get anything accomplished. If America is truly to be a democracy, we need a president with the people's common interests in mind, like Barack Obama

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BarackObamaGraphs.com ?

By Me - Mar 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm EST

Also listed in: $5 Friday for Obama | Geeks For Obama | YouTube for Obama

One of the fun parts of following the Ron Paul campaign was following www.ronpaulgraphs.com They had many real time graphs of donations and number of donors, updated from the official site. It would be nice if Barack Obama had something like this. If there already is, let me know.

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Barack can't win big states?

By Me - Mar 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm EST

Also listed in: Beat Hillary

Some Hillary supporters say that since Barack can't win states like New York and California in the primaries, he shouldn't be the democratic nominee. While it would have been nice to win thoses states, the fact that the states Obama IS winning tend to be Republican strongholds in the general election would be an argument that Obama is a much better nominee. While many hardcore Democrats love Hillary, many moderates and most Republicans hate her. Barack Obama is able to attract swing voters to his message of hope, and could in the general election carry most of the 70% of the country that disapproves of Bush. With Barack Obama on the ticket in November, I know I can vote for the best candidate running now, and not have to pick the lesser of two evils or go to a third party.

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Robert Reich supports Obama

By Me - Mar 5th, 2008 at 11:42 pm EST

Also listed in: Beat Hillary | Pennsylvanians for Obama

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2008/02/is-america-turning-left.html

He was labor secretary under Bill Clinton. On the Colbert Report he subtly indicated that he prefers Obama (chocolate bunny or marshmallow chick). He argues that we need Obama's idealism bleneded with realism that inspires the country to come together.

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