If you haven't or can't afford to read both of Obama's books, check out this NYT article to get a glimpse of her extraordinary life
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/us/politics/14obama.html?ex=1363233600&en=59b18ce891d6c067&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
It's a must-read piece.
The Obama I know--------------------Terrific listener goes wherever reason takes himBy Cass R. SunsteinMarch 14 2008Not so long ago, the phone rang in my office. It was Barack Obama. For more than a decade, Obama was my colleague at the University of Chicago Law School.The complete article can be viewed at:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0314obamamar14,0,7185898.story
Looks like Hillary Xeroxed Bill Clinton's lines to get to some sympathy votes.
Video of the Hillary Clinton use the same basic line Bill Clinton Used in 2000 and 1992.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ7Cs3QvT3U
Clinton said last night "You know, the hits I've taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country. And I resolved at a very young age that I'd been blessed and that I was called by my faith and by my upbringing to do what I could to give others the same opportunities and blessings that I took for granted. That's what gets me up in the morning. That's what motivates me in this campaign."Bill Clinton said in 2000: "When the history of this campaign is written, they may say, well, Bill Clinton took a lot of hits in this campaign. The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits that the people in this state and this country are taking every day of their lives under this administration."
The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of New Hampshire are taking every day."
Bill ClintonFeb 1992Harvard Crimson
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=231808
"The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time."
Bill ClintonNovember 1992New York Times.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DF1E3CF937A35752C1A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
Fact Check: Clinton denies driving Obama plagiarism charge ...Fact Check: Clinton denies driving Obama plagiarism charge, CLEVELAND.www.examiner.com/a-1229949~Fact_Check__Clinton_denies_driving_Obama_plagiarism_charge.html -
As author Carl Bernstein stated, "Hillary Clinton has a difficult relationship with the truth"
BUT THE POINT OF THIS BLOG IS TO CALL OUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HER HYPOCRISY. However, we are not in the business of "silly season."
Why I support Obama.
I always have an interest in the political process but never really believe that there is a place for someone like me since I do not have the connection nor the money. This is true until Senator Obama came along.
He inspires me to volunteer, to organize, and to encourage others to do the same. Within the last 3 months, I have called at least 5000 strangers, knock on hundreds of doors in my own precinct as a precinct captain, city as a volunteer leader for my neighborhood, and neighboring state when I travel to Nevada. My husband and I put off on purchasing a new set of television since our current one is at least 15 years old so we could channel that fund toward Senator Obama's campaign.
I have never volunteered nor donated a cent nor a minute of my time in the past for any candidate. Senator Obama changed that because I know I am not doing it for him, I am doing it for myself, and my country. It is because he will be able to unite our country so together we can tackle some of the biggest problems that we (as a country) have not seen in generations.
Looking back at my complacency, I realize that I should be ashamed that how could a government that is supposed to be by the people and for the people when the people stay out of the process. I also realize that I stayed out of the process because most politicans like to tell you that all you have to do is vote for them and they will take care of the rest. Senator Obama has asked me to be involved, and I answered his call to action and will remain so as long as he is our leader.
He leads by example, and I am following his lead. Who else in this race can make that claim?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/TracyandJohn
By John Richter
As a precinct captain and volunteer coordinator in San Francisco for Barack Obama's campaign, I wanted to report some of the shocking things I have witnessed going on inside the Obama camp in California. These are things you won't read about in the paper. As a concerned citizen, I feel it is my duty to report these things, regardless of whom it might harm or impact. Ready? Here goes:
People are smiling, they are actually excited about America, they are reaching out and knocking on doors in their neighborhoods, talking to people they never bothered to get to know before. Young and old, black, white, Asian, Latino, Native Americans, men and women, are reconciling, galvanizing, and organizing. They are talking enthusiastically about our government, with genuine hope for the future. They have an energy that is electrifying, with an optimism that is mystifying. I know this because I have seen it with my own eyes, and I am willing to testify to anyone that will listen. I know it, because I am one of them.
Obama's secret political strategy is simple: tell your story. Well, here is mine: I have never been politically active in my life (beyond voting). In the past, I would not even go to the effort to reach out and take a flyer or brochure from a campaign volunteer's hand (too much effort, waste of trees!) My wife and I almost broke up when we were dating because I voted for George Bush. Think of us as the Hatfields and McCoys of familial politics, a true attraction of opposites that James Carville and Mary Matalin would be proud of. I am Caucasian, my wife is Asian. I grew up in the conservative South; my wife is a true blue Bay Area woman. Except, there is something different this time, something neither of us sought out, or could have predicted. We have both found a candidate of such credibility and authenticity, that we were drawn, without persuasion (and without threats of divorce!), to the same conclusion: Hillary Clinton is a great politician, but we need a leader – and his name is Barack Obama.
Since then, I have gone from political neophyte to community organizer, recruiting people, organizing events, making calls, coaching volunteers, building databases. I have spent more hours than I ever knew I had, doing things I never thought I would do, all for the purpose of serving an idea that Bill Clinton refers to as "a fairy tale." Well, I agree with him, it is a fairy tale. It is called the American Dream. Barack Obama is living it, and unlike his opponent who only needs her husband to take on the whole world, Obama is inviting all of us to challenge our own self doubts, and stand up and take control of our destiny as Americans. Clinton has political prowess, Obama has political power - the kind of power that can only come from the people. How do I know? Because I am willing to do more than vote for him, I am willing to serve him, in any capacity, whatever is asked of me, and thereby serve my country. If Obama says it, I am ready to do it. Period. That is real power, my friends.
Experience seems to be the operative word in Hillary's campaign. And there is no shortage of ads and news stories that remind us that she is ready to lead from day one. Richard Nixon had more experience than John F. Kennedy in 1960. Now, I would not be so bold as to compare Obama to John F. Kennedy. Besides, Kennedy's own daughter, Caroline, has already done that for me. A simple Google search will direct you to her words. I ask Hillary supporters all the time, if experience is so important to you, why were you not voting for Joe Biden, or Chris Dodd, or even Bill Richardson, who actually served in Bill Clinton's administration? The question of experience vs. change is a false choice. Apparently it is a false choice for Hillary as well, as she would like you to think she owns both of those values, when in fact she owns neither.
As a teenager growing up in the South, I watched when Ronald Reagan swept 49 states in 1984. I was taught that the real enemy was Ted Kennedy and his liberal buddies (second only to communism, of course). Since then I never really questioned that conventional conservative wisdom. . .until Monday. Since then I got an email from Ted Kennedy asking me to donate a specific amount of money to Obama's campaign on his behalf. I doubled it. I'm sorry it took me so long to come around, Ted.
The question is not what do you believe about the candidates, but what do you believe about yourself? Where do you put your faith? Some put it in Hillary, believing that with her political acumen she can tweak a policy here or there that will put us back on the right track so we can go back to our Tivo's and iPods, and our corrosive culture of consumption. Obama is putting his faith in the American people, because he knows that great personal sacrifice is going to be needed for many years to come to dig ourselves out of the problems we have created. And therein lies the difference for me: Hillary is polarizing individuals to win today; Obama is mobilizing the masses to succeed tomorrow.
You want to talk issues? OK, let's talk. Campaign finance reform - Hillary has a plan to do something about it. That's great. Barack is doing something about it right now, by reforming his own campaign, by not taking PAC money, by refusing to indulge corporate interests that are begging to get in, or refusing to dole out "consulting" fees to black ministers or salon owners in the South to get out the vote. War in Iraq – Hillary voted to authorize the war, but now pledges to do something about ending it when she gets into office. Obama was doing something about it years ago, defying the conventional wisdom at the time and opposing the Iraq war from the beginning. What about changing the tone of politics in Washington? Hillary has a plan to do something about that if she ever gets to Washington. Obama is already changing the tone by starting in Iowa, in New Hampshire, in Nevada, in South Carolina, before he ever sets one foot into Washington, D.C. What about women's issues, healthcare, education, or children's rights? Why don't you ask Oprah Winfrey or Caroline Kennedy who is the best person to take on those challenges? Hillary is ready to lead from day one if we could somehow manufacture a narrow margin of victory for her over the evil Republicans. Obama is leading today, on both sides of the aisle, whether we elect him or not.
Clinton supporters ask me, "How can you be so confident that Obama can produce these fantastic changes he talks about?" It is simple, because he has already changed me. He's changing the discourse, he's changing the tone, he's changing the conventional campaign wisdom, he's changing hearts, he's changing minds, he's changing attitudes, not in January 2009, but right now. The only change I feel with Hillary Clinton, is the feeling to change the channel.
California made the decision to move its primary up in the schedule to February 5th to have more influence in presidential elections. Well, here we are California – on the brink of making political history. How much courage do you have now? What do you truly believe about yourself, and about this country? I know where I stand. Do you?
One more thing to add to my list of "never done that before's". I have never written a letter to the editor, of any paper, anywhere, for any reason, ever. But Barack has changed me, my friends. It's time for me to get back to making more calls. . .
See link below for the latest Gallup poll: http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/01/new-gallup-poll.html.
Senator Obama is closing in on you know who! WE can do this. YES, WE CAN!
It is ONE week away for our Election Day. There will be a lot of work in a short amount of time. Here are a few things that you can do between now and Feb 5th:
- Go to the San Francisco Office to help out with Phone Bank. Their Address is 1874 Market St
- Talk to your friends/family/ coworkers/neighbors on why you are voting for Obama and why they should join you to support him
- Remind people to go and vote. As we have seen in the first 4 states, people can support Obama but if they don't go to the polling stations or mail in their ballots if they are absentee voters (vote by mail), Senator Obama can't win without everyone as the race is tight.
- Keep your eyes out for this weekend canvassing events. If you can spare a few hours on Saturday 2/2, please please let me know.
Yes, We Can!
Tracy (sanfrancisco4obama@gmail.com)
My husand has a friend who live in TN. His friend knew about our involvement with the Hope & Change movement so he forwarded something disturbing but not suprising to him. The email claims that Barack's church in Chicago is racist and unpatriotic because it only cares about Africa and not America. Complete bogus and nonsense to those who knows better.
However, what this says to us is that the dirty tricks and lies are starting to come out from all angles, and this is just an example. The whole Muslim lie still circulates and now Karl Rove and the Republican party also launch their propaganda machine today against Barack. See link here: http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB119992615845679531.html (an op-ed by Rove). My fellow Team Coordinator Marc in CD8 sent me this link.
I am writing this blog to say that the battle ahead won't be easy but we can do it and do so with dignity. Just take a look at the life of our future President Obama. We need to refute the lies and ensure his positive message drown out the other.
Yes, WE CAN.
The story that get lost in the media and the result coverage of the NH Primary is that both Barack and HRC received the same number of delegates: 9 for each of them. No one won tonight.
What this also means that California matters so much more now. To those who sit on the sideline and think that your vote and donation will be enough should realize now that we, those who believe in the changes that Barack will bring, will have to do more. We have to do more for ourselves, for a chance to move this country toward a different direction. The machine that the other candidates have won't hand this election to us. We will have to fight for it!
Are you Ready to Go? Are you Fired Up? If you are, it's time to become a volunteer. One hour a week or a day will make a difference between us taking back our government versus the same old politics.
A volunteer for Hope and Change.
