Saturday, June 28, 2008, I invited my 150+ neighbors to join me for a Women's Roundtable.
I live in a very heavily Republican stronghold. I'm not from here, so I'm still viewed as an outsider.
None of my neighbors showed up, however, my friend Linda, plus a new friend, Paula, did show up. We discussed ways to reach out to people in Mandeville and surrounding areas, to try to get them interested in and excited about Obama.
We will likely meet again, soon, with other like minded people, to continue to brainstorm ways to bring others into the fold.
One important thing I should mention is, in placing invites on mailboxes, I added "Know The Facts" fliers on the back of invites, because there is so much misinformation floating around, one of my goals is to dispel myths and rumors about Obama.
In that respect, my Unite for Change invent was a success. Linda, Paula and I will continue to work to build support, while I will continue efforts to ensure my neighbors know the facts.
Further, Linda suggested a women's night out, because so many moms in the area are busy with their kids' sports events on Saturday afternoons, so next time, we'll try something different, to attract Republicans, Clintonites who haven't come around just yet, Independents, and anyone who wants to discuss political issues and the importance of the upcoming election!
This past Saturday night, Michael and I went to dinner with some friends. My chiropractor's brother, Scott, and his wife Pam, invited us over. My chiropractor was there with his girlfriend, along with another chiropractor and his wife. Pam's sister Kim was there as well., with a couple of her friends.
Michael warned me to steer clear of politics. I tried. It didn't work. My enthusiasm for Barack, this movement and what Team Obama has accomplished and continues to accomplish, had me bubbling over!
Someone asked and I exploded, saying I support Barack Obama and my commitment to this campaign is "unshakable." I went on to describe how this campaign intends to change politics as usual and how we will bring about 'change' in the United States and ultimately, the world.
The consensus in the room was, "I know nothing about him."
I was in a Republican crowd, along with some suburban women who were still hurting over the Hillary loss. By the time the evening ended, I had addressed many email smear rumors and convinced the crowd that Barack, his supporters and his intent was to protect the United States of America! The country we all love!
I began to ask Scott, who has cancer, about his health care plan for the business/personal care, and what he thought of "universal health care." Scott called it "socialized medicine." I asked him if he thought a plan that would ensure everyone "affordable health care" would benefit him and his business. He acknowledged that he is enrolled in some kind of state plan that subsidizes his business/personal health care plan.
By the end of the evening, I felt a bit embarrassed that I had politicized the dinner party. It was not my intent, but overwhelmingly, people wanted to learn more about Barack Obama and this movement. It was a wonderful thing to experience.
The next couple of days, I called my hostess, Pam, and she asked if I would come over soon, for lunch, to answer questions she, her mom, dad and others, have about Obama! I told her I would be honored to come over and discuss this campaign and any other issues she and her family and friends have about Barack.
I have sent out know the facts information, web site information and I'm planning a women's roundtable on Unite For Change Saturday. It is extremely rewarding for me to educate people about Barack and this movement, in a very conservative district where people claimed to know nothing about him, yet held the views of the smear campaign emails that are circulating. I got to dispel some of those myths. All and all, it wasn't so bad bringing up politics!
Rep. Donald Payne (D-10th Dist.), a New Jersey superdelegate who had been supporting Hillary Clinton for president, has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama.
"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," Payne told The Star-Ledger for today's editions. It was "one of the most difficult decisions I have made," Payne said. "I've really been mulling it over for quite a while."
With Payne's switch Obama has the backing of five of New Jersey's 20 superdelegates. Clinton has 11, including Gov. Jon Corzine; three are uncommitted and one who has backed Clinton is wavering.
By announcing his support for Obama now, Payne said he hopes to help unite the party so it can focus on defeating Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, in November.
"At this particular time we need to really unite behind one candidate," Payne said. "It's time now for us to pull our party together. The quicker it's over, the better we'll be able to bring all of our forces together."
Payne said he endorsed Clinton "early on," at a time when he did not know whether Obama's candidacy "was just a trial balloon." As Obama secured one victory after another, "I did certainly have a great deal of pride in the fact that an African-American would do so well," said Payne, who is African-American.
Payne called Clinton "a good friend" whom he holds "in high regard." He said he had "worked closely" with both Hillary Clinton and President Clinton, "especially with international activities in Africa and Haiti." He said Hillary Clinton "ran a very aggressive campaign" but he did not blame her -- as some have -- for injecting race into the campaign.
I am fundraising for Barack Obama for President and hope that you will donate to my personal goal.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/dashboard/main/
Kee
