the World Stands for Barack

FEB2 - THE WORLD STANDS FOR HOPE

Eric from Cambodia — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:51:59 EST

(Photos of each event will be published soon)
" We, citizens from across the World, are strongly inspired by Barack Obama's vision of a renewed leadership for America in the World. Because unlike his opponents he stood with conviction and courage against the devastating war in Iraq, and because with judgment, moral integrity and leadership, he clearly embodies a unique chance for the World to reunite and tackle the most daunting global challenges this planet is facing: global warming, nuclear proliferation, war, terrorism, genocide and disease.

On February 2, we gathered in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Berlin, Blackpool, Bochum, Brussels, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Geneva, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Lyon, Madrid, Melbourne, Milano, Montreal, Paris, Phnom Penh, Sylt Island, Vienna and Wellington to say that WE TOO ARE FIRED UP!!!

GOOD LUCK FOR TUESDAY!!!

Contact us
If you are using Facebook, please also join our Facebook group.

Note: Please note that this is an INFORMAL MOVEMENT of individual, enthusiatic supporters around the world, not affiliated nor coordinated by the official Obama campaign. It gathers all nationalities together with Americans expats.

MAP OF EVENTS (update Jan 20)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Frank

Barcelona, Spain
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Joan Maria

Belfast, Northern Ireland
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Allan

Berlin, Germany
March for Obama, meeting point: Zoologischer Garten, Keiser Wilhelm Gedächnis Kirche
Time: Feb 2, 3:00pm
Contact: Stephen

Blackpool, United Kingdom
Venue: The Dickens Inn, 6 Princess Road, Thornton Cleveleys
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Jon

Bochum, Germany
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: Feb 2, 7:00pm
Contact: Odin

Brussels, Belgium
Venue: James Joyce Pub, Rue Archimede (European institutions' area)
Time: Feb 2, 7:00pm
Contact: Pierre

Cambridge, United Kingdom
Venue: All Bar one, 36 Andrew's Street
Time: Feb 2, 8:00pm
Contact: Julianne

Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Venue: The Castle Arms, 6 Johnston Terrace (right off Lawnmarket on the Royal Mile)
Time: Feb 2, 2:00pm
Contact: Kristin

Frankfurt, Germany
Venue: Dachcafe, in the highest floor of the Zeilgalerie (Hauptwache, next to Kaufhof)
Time: Feb 2, 4:00pm
Contact: Martha

Geneva, Switzerland
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Karen

Helsinki, Finland
Venue: Annankatu 22D
Time: Feb 2, 6:00pm
Contact: Aleksi

Hong Kong, China
Venue: Dublin Jack's, 1/F, 17 Lan Kwai Fong
Time: Feb 5, 6:00pm (postponed)
Contact: Marc

Istanbul, Turkey
Venue: Bar Acuda, Rihtim Cd. No: 90, Kadikoy
Time: Feb 2, 3:00pm
Contact: Murat

London, United Kingdom
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: (more details to come)

Lyon, France
Venue: Café Paulaner, Place Bellecour
Time: Feb 2, 4:00pm
Contact: Chahin

Madrid, Spain
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Gloria

Melbourne, Australia
Venue: Jimmy Watson's, 333 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Time: Feb 2, 2:00pm
Contact: Maloti

Milano, Italy
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Enrico

Montreal, Canada
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Renée / Mohit

Paris, France
Venue: Findi Restaurant, 24 Avenue Georges V (in front of the American Church)
Time: Feb 2, 4:00pm
Contact: Arash

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Venue: FCC, Foreign Correspondent Club, Sisowath Blvd
Time: Feb 2, 6:00pm
Contact: Lis

Sylt Island, Germany
Venue: (more details to come)
Time: (more details to come)
Contact: Lars

Vienna, Austria
Venue: Pickwick's International Café-Bar, Marc-Aurel Straße 10-12, 1010
Time: Feb 2, 6:30pm
Contact: Faika

Wellington, New Zealand
Venue: Butlers Chocolate Café, 103 Willis Street (between Manners Street and Bond Street)
Time: Feb 2, 3:00pm
Contact: Michele

POLLS CAN HURT. BUT FOOL ME ONCE...

Eric from Cambodia — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:37:24 EST

On the eve of the NH primary, Barack delivered a message: “Do not take this race for granted.” It was a prescient warning. Polls might have indeed demotivated numerous NH voters, a number of independent voters telling themselves "it's already an Obama landslide, I'd better focus on McCain", or some democrats thinking "it's already an Obama landslide, no need to kneecap Hillary..."

To a certain extent, NH is a chance, cause it gives us a crucial warning: overconfidence kills. Better now than on Super Tuesday!!! When mentionning overconfidence, I am certainly NOT pointing at the fabulous energy that NH volunteers have shown and we should THANK THEM SO MUCH FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE!!! I'm only refering to the individual voters confidence thinking the game is already played and their vote is not crucially needed.

IOWA was a FANTASTIC VICTORY because POLLS ANNOUNCED A TIGHT RACE!
NH was lost because POLLS SAID IT'S ALREADY DONE.
Lucky we are that this happens now, BEFORE TSUNAMI TUESDAY!!!

Let's be more determined than ever!!! YES WE CAN!!! AND YES WE WILL!!!

Let's STAY POSITIVE!!! And let's FIGHT!!!
and don't allow smear campaign directed at our candidate to go unanswered! Like Barack said, let's "RESPOND DIRECTLY AND FORCEFULLY WITH THE TRUTH!".
JOIN US HERE

AND DONATE TONIGHT!!!
NOT TOMORROW, TONIGHT!!!
SEND THIS POWERFUL MESSAGE TO THE CAMPAIGN: WE'RE MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER!!!
DONATE NOW!!!

FOR A FACT-CHECK BUTTON ON THE FRONT PAGE!

Eric from Cambodia — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:02:07 EST

UPDATE January 23: HOURRRAAYYYY!!!! WE HAVE IT!!!! WE HAVE OUR BUTTON!!!"

______________________

UPDATE January 09: WE NOW HAVE A LINK! THANK YOU WEBSITE TEAM!!!

If anyone you happen to come across someone puzzled by one of the numerous unfair attacks and smear campaign intensifying, you've got all ammunition to re-establish the TRUTH there:

Click LEARN in the main menu, then select [ FactCheck ]

______________________

"I want to campaign the same way I govern, which is to respond directly and forcefully with the truth"
Barack OBAMA

A VOTER: "Please please please put a fact check button on the main page....I as an Independent would have took my vote elsewhere if I did not read the Fact Check for the Patriot Act."
( Femi from Baltimore, MD )

A COLLEAGUE: "I was able to use the fact checker page to convince a colleague (...) that the email on the 'Pledge of Allegiance' was a smear."
( Kathleen from West Roxbury, MA )

A VOLUNTEER: "I just returned from canvassing for a couple of days (...) and met many independents and even democrats who still believe that Barack does not say the Pledge of Allegiance, and that he wants to force kindergartens to teach sex education."
( Julio Bats )

Dear Website team,

Again, thank you so much for the wonderful job you are doing for all of us!!!
I'd like to convey a request, if I may: as Barack has became the obvious front-runner, a unprecedented number of unjust attacks and smear campaign are unleashed against our candidate. Numerous undecided voters now increasingly leaning towards Barack are legitimately puzzled when they receive these messages. Some of them would then naturally pop up on www.barackobama.com to look for clarification. But from the front page, there is no way to access the excellent FACT-CHECK page that you have developped.

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE FACT-CHECK SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FRONT-PAGE.

It appears to us of utmost importance, not only for undecided voters who might quickly visit the website for some information, but also for all supporters, bloggers, canvassers, and even precinct captains (see below) who are trying to make their cases when confronted to rumors and smear about Barack. Barack said "I want to campaign the same way I govern, which is to respond directly and forcefully with the truth". And when he doesn't have the opportunity to respond to all of the attacks, the FACT-CHECK is here to complement.

And the FACT-CHECK page is so well done that it is a shame it remains accessible only to long time bloggers who by chance learnt about its existing.

1) OBAMA'S CONSISTENT POSITION ON IRAQ FUNDING

2) OBAMA'S CONSISTENT POSITION ON THE PATRIOT ACT

3) OBAMA'S CONSISTENT POSITION ON SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE

and many other issues: http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/category/

Although many of us are hard-core passionate Barack bloggers, many others might just pop-up here in search of a quick clarification on some particular attacks and issues. These are the ones we are targeting.

WE URGENTLY NEED A 'FACT-CHECK' BUTTON ON THE FRONTPAGE.

This is just a suggestion. We are so amazed by what Barack and his campaign have and are achieving for us all that we are willing to contribute the way we can! Barack' the vote!!!

More than 140 of you (and still counting...) are already supporting the initiative. Some said that they were able to confirm their vote for Barack only after having gone to the fact-check page (read that below!!!):

A from Holyoke, MA
Adrienne, Porthmouth, VA
Ali Alavi
AMIGO
Andre
Andrew F
Attuned
Aunt Becky
Bien-Aime
Bluecat
Bonnie
Candace
Candy from Ojai, CA
Carol from Petersburg, IL
Chuck Tellechea from Leesburg, VA
Citizenforbarackobama
CK
Cole from Republic, MO
Daisy from Oakland, CA
Danton from FPO, AP
Dave
David D
DB from Charlottesville, VA
Deborah
Diamond *IrishAmericansForObama*
DianaKay
Donna of MD
Drew from Tacoma, WA
Edgar
Edmund Dantes
Elaine
Eric
Eric from Cambodia
Erin Leigh
Ethel
Femi
Femi from Baltimore, MD
Fred from Tacoma, WA
Genene
Hannah Banks
Heartfohio
Hyacinth from Brooklin, NH
IA for Obama
Idaho Tom
ImanOBAMAmama
Jackson in Minnesota
James from Maryville, MO
Jamie from Mineapolis
Jasiyah A
Jean
JediMasterMatt
Jeremy Aldridge
Jimmie from Dayton
Joel from Oakland, CA
Jon
JonnieRae
JoshB
Julia from Chicago
Julio Bats
Kathleen from West Roxbury, MA
Katie from Oakland, CA
KB
Kendy from The Netherlands
Kenya4Love
Kerri from PA
Kerry
Kevin Curran
Kkbmom
Laura from Rochester
Laura Michelle Marcy-Ringhiser
Laurie & Theresa
Linda
Lori in WI
Lucia, Team Coordinator for OBAMAWOOD
Lucy
Luevonia from Anderson, SC
Luis
Lydia
M4me08
M4rk0 from Chicago
Margot
Maria
Marie from Gaithersbourg, MD
Mary Lou
Matt Schmidt
Matthew from California
Maurice from Larchmont, NY
Meghan
Michele B
Michelle from Cincy
Mike Telesky
Mom2lnb
Mr. Bill
Mr. PC
MsCiara
Muriema
Nicole
Noah from Ithaca, NY
Noah Santorello
Obamasupporter
Oluwafemi from Baltimore, MD
Patricia Langhurst
Patty
Pete
Peter from Switzerland
Phillip in OK
POR
Reggie
Rita R. from Florida
Roland from Atlanta, GA
Roxanne from Bowie
RyanFromRichmond
Sally
Sheridan from Hearne, TX
Slavica
Speechteach in IL
Stacy M. in AZ
SteveAZ
Susan - WA State
Susan in Denver
SWZR
Tairea
Tamara from Denton, TX
Tammy
TCP (Tim Prudhel)
Tenaya from Fairfax for Obama
Tess Murray
The Rev. Austin K. Rios
Tim from Iowa
Tolerance
Tom from Eastlake, OH
TRUTH AND HOPE
UgandanJoe_UK
Vanessa from GA
Wazolangu
Whit
William from Chicago IL
Yao from Chicago, IL
Yesterday gone
YoungforObama

...and many more coming!

Note: If you wish to support this suggestion, leave a comment.

***

Some of your earlier comments:

[Diamond *IrishAmericansForObama*] - I support this initiative 300%. As it is, the factcheck page is a leper. There are things I found there, weeks after the issue had passed.

[UgandanJoe_UK] - That's an brilliant idea, Eric! I too, support the initiative. It's imperative that it gets (the button) incorporated into the front-page and I believe the sooner, the better. Joe.

[tolerance] - I support it 500%. Fact check button on the front page.

[Aunt Becky] - I'm with the kids! Sounds like a good idea. As soon as you've got the fact sheet up and running, c'mon back and have some fresh-baked cookies. (They're still warm!) Love and hugs, Auntie B.

[Bonnie] - Thank you for posting the link to the factcheck page. I have been on this website many times and have never come across this page. My husband and I were talking after the debate last night about these issues that Mr. Obama was not able to respond to during the debate. We desperately wanted to see him respond. We cannot allow Hillary to continue to attack Barack on issues that are not true. The American people need to have quick access to this page so they can know the truth about where Mr. Obama stands on these issues. Thank you all for your hard work and support.

[Drew from Tacoma, WA] - I support this 650%.

[Muriema] - I totally agree,with Eric! I never even knew that such a page existed until I tried the link he gave...and I still have not been able to find a link in the site. PLEASE effect the necessary changes on the home page as he suggests!! Even die-hard supporters need access to these facts in order to dialogue with others truthfully. Thank you!

[Lucia, Team Coordinator for OBAMAWOOD] - Great idea! I was equally dismayed by her unjust attacks on Obama. Her desperation made her flat-out lie about things he'd said ("Edwards is 'unelectable') and done ("voted for the Patriot Act"). It's just like Jeffrey Toobin's lie on Anderson Cooper 360, saying that Obama had "flip-flopped" on Iraq. All these vicious attacks should be clearly and widely refuted. A fact check button on the website is one way to help that. Also, someone from the campaign, if not Obama himself, should disprove these untrue accusations, one by one, to the people who haven't been on board long enough to know just how consistent Obama has been.

[Joel from Oakland, CA] - Thanks for referring to the fact check page... Being a new volunteer I wasn't aware of it till now. I will use this page with voters when calling.

[Margot] - Thank you Eric from Cambodia for helping me find the Fact Check page. I have been going on this site for months watching every video, reading every speach, and listening to all the bloggers. I am so thrilled to be enlightened to the site. I agree that it should be easier to find the facts. I am already converted, but for new people coming to the site, it would nice to make it easy for them to be informed. I was so glad that you posted this news that I spent 45 minutes printing every fact and I am going to study up and get all my friends copies. You proved that you can help the cause, even from across the globe. You are helping us be better diplomats for Barack Obama.

[obamasupporter] - I vote YEA to this proposal. I found the fact-check through a link provided by an ardent Obama supporter on the MSNBC First Read blog who responded to a debate recap that reprinted Clinton's accusations without setting the record straight. Thank goodness for that supporter's diligence. This information, the point-by-point refutation, should be up front and center to cut this drumbeat of misinformation off at the pass.
[JonnieRae] - Me, too. I wrote to HQ about it this am. I suggest everyone does.

[Laura Michelle Marcy-Ringhiser] - I just read over "Eric from Cambodia's" comment regarding the FACT CHECK page. He's right!! Many people do not know it exists, and until about 15 minutes ago, neither did I!! Can we get a more centralized location on the website for the "FACT CHECK" page? Hillary isn't going to be the only one attempting to distort Obama's political history. The Rebublicans have obviously taken note of his success, and they've shifted their focus from attacking HRC. Which in a way, is nice, because it's just one more piece of evidence that Hillary is on her way out(hee-hee!), but then again, I suspect Hillary is nothing compared to some in the wolf pack of Republicans (not you, Huckabee; you're beautiful!). Like Eric says, all of those undecided voters need somewhere to click immediately to check the actuality of Barack's history in the Senate, so they don't actually start believing the hype from HRC and the mounting attacks from the Republicans, which WILL come, especially after Tuesday.

[m4me08] - I agree ...sometimes people dont look around the sites too long.

[AMIGO] - I fully agree with 'Eric from Cambodia' - "I think Barack did great during the debate. But I am still frustrated some of the very unjust attacks Hillary made went unanswered, either because Barack was interrupted or not given the floor at the right time. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE FACT-CHECK SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FRONT-PAGE. IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE - not for us, well informed supporters, but - FOR UNDECIDED"

[Wazolangu] - I agree that the button should be easly accessed from the front page.

[Femi from Baltimore, MD] - HEY GUYS IM NEW HERE!!!! IM AN INDEPENDENT WHO SUPPORTS BARACK OBAMA AND WE NEED TO START A MOVEMENT TO PUT THE FACT CHECK ON THE MAIN PAGE IN A BIG BOLD BUTTON!! After last nights debate I had to look up Barack's Patriot Act vote and luckily I found it in time...but WE need to make sure that we get in touch with head quarters to put a HUGE fact check button on the homepage to make sure that the most frequent attacks and attacks that our future president dont get to answer (such as a responce to Hillary's Patriot attack) are easily rebutted and verifyable....ESPECIALLY FOR US INDEPENDENT VOTERS!!!! WE NEED TO START THE MOVEMENT!!! WHAT CAN WE DO!!!?? WE NEEEEEED THAT BUTTON!!! WE SHOULD ALL CALL OR SEND EMAILS!!!

[Lydia] - I couldn't agree more about the access to the Fact Check page. I was a little nervous about the Patriot Act issue and I could not find the needed information to squash Hillary's claims until I found your post. The Fact Check page should definitely be accessible on the homepage.

[kkbmom] - Absolutely agree! This needs to be on front page so I can direct all my friends to it immediately when a smear attack is made.

[Michele B] - What if they come here looking for facts, can't find what they're looking for, don't post asking one of us to point them in the direction, and go away without the correct information?
[DianaKay] - Putting the button on the home page makes it easily accessibly to newcomers, who are the ones most likely to need it. And not all of them come to this site through one of us (who can point them towards the facts); many come here on their own. We don't need to make a big fuss of it, just put it where it's easily found.

[bluecat] - Not to mention the severe chronic cases of spinaphobia, they reign on. The "truth" always is the light and when it's readily available, the liars will be found out and we know we don't want another dishonest candidate that will lie to the American People. Same stuff on a different day by a different party and all that. One thing We Americans are not is hypocrits, regardless of how the past leaders have portrayed us.

[Laura from Rochester] - I want to add my name to the pile of names requesting the FACT CHECK be referenced on the main page. I too was dismayed at the attacks on Obama's positions last night. The only way to fight such ridiculous rhetoric and ignorance is with education. As supporters, the better armed we are with knowledge as spokespeople in our communities, the stronger a front we will present to the opposition. Additionally, for undecided voters who come to the site wishing for clarification, what a positive message to share - that Obama has nothing to hide, that his positions are clear, and that the facts speak for themselves. I hope this change to the site occurs. I've been referring people to this site in droves in order for them to learn more about Obama, and I think the ability to see the FACTS right up front will be crucial to winning over any votes waivering due to misinformation or ignorance.

[Luevonia from Anderson, SC] - I want to add my name to the list of names requesting that the FACT CHECK BUTTON be put on the front page in full view for anyone new coming to see!!!

[Mr. Bill] - I agree. I posted the same concern when the web site was redesigned. It's beautiful, but this link needs to be easily accessed by first-time visitors who really wonder about certain rumors. I go the site every day, and I still don't know how to get there. What does that tell you?

[Lori in WI] - I fully agree. The other thing I'm looking for is information on the claim that the NH chair of the campaign is a lobbyist. During the debate, Barack shook it off but didn't have the chance to respond.

[Kerri from PA] - Add me too!

[Tammy] - I made the suggestion shortly after "FACT CHECK" came on line. As I said then, I know the primary purpose of the FACT CHECK site is for the media to get the correct information. However, the campaign has to remember that ordinary voters come to this site looking for answers and correct information. If I didn't have FACT CHECK bookmarked I would never find it. I bookmarked it after someone posted the link in their comment. It shouldn't be so difficult for voters to find the truth. IT SHOULD BE LOCATED ON THE FRONT PAGE.Count me in the movement.

[Michele B] - I support that notion as well. If I hadn't bookmarked it when someone on the blogs mentioned it, I'd have never found it again. It needs to be very visible on the front page.

[Tamara from Denton, TX] - I think that is a wonderful Idea from the user that suggested the "FACT-PAGE" available to those on hand about Barack issues. Thanks. "Barack the Vote"

[Nicole] - Who knew this link existed? . . . I think it is an invaluable tool, especially for the undecided voter looking for a quick answers, and should be highlighted on the home page, or at least under the "issues" tab ASAP!!!! (...)

[JimmieFromDayton] - Eric, I would like to weigh in on this issue by saying that if there is a reason for the fact check link not being on the front page then I would request the HQ let us know (...)

[Jasiyah A] - I sent an email reposting Eric's comments this morning and want to reiterate my support for a FACT-CHECK button on the front page. One suggestion though is that we explictly bring attention to the button as a response to the attacks on Obama. It may not be enough to just have a button called fact-check because people may assume it is a run-down of his basic policies. I think people need to have the expectation that clicking on that button will send them to Obama's direct response to misleading information.

[Laura Michelle Marcy-Ringhiser] - Eric from Cambodia has launched a movement within a movement! After I got done putting in my blog, I clicked on the "contact us" button and sent an email pretty much saying what I said earlier. I did get one of those instant "thank you for your response" emails, that also indicated they have been overwhelmed with emails (in general, not necessarily the FACT CHECK BUTTON movement). I don't know where to begin a request by phone, but I'll bet if a bunch of us sent emails with our request, and included FACT CHECK BUTTON in the title, that would eventually get the email answerers wondering, "What's up?" and they'd investigate.
[Slavica] - I agree with everyone, so here is To the Campaign Managers: Put the Fact-Check Button on the front page! (also, please someone reply to the claim that Obama's NH managers is a lobbyist. It was not pleasant to hear that without rebuttal and I don't know what to think of it)

[citizenforbarackobama] - I "believe" the fact check page had been on the old design of the website and the new design failed to incorporate it. HQ: With new people signing up on the website and/or coming here for the REAL facts, they NEED this fact check page. Also those of us in the trenches in our states with our activities NEED to be able to print out the actual FACTS to refute Sen. Clinton's attacks and media's most especially if the attacks are brought up to us when we are talking to voters. I spent 30 minutes and finally convinced one family that Sen. Clinton was misleading everyone on Sen. Obama's health care plan, but not until I had provided them with the FACTS did they realized they had been mislead. This was the ONLY thing that was holding them back from supporting Sen. Obama. Now they do and will vote for him. This is just one example of why we need it. The same goes for Sen. Obama's ACTUAL record on The Patriot Act. WE know the facts but people need to be able to have access to it. PLEASE provide a link so we can access it. Thanks and thanks to everyone for bringing to the attention of the website staff.

[Tom from Eastlake, OH] - ABSOLUTELY! Get that fact check button up ASAP! It is VITAL we do this as part of our rapid response program for as sharp as the knives Hillary Clinton has, you can bet the Republican's knives are even sharper.

[Whit] - Absolutely, it makes sense for a web site so chock full of features to put the quick, succinct counters up front and let people naturally explore into the deeper policies and issues. This proposal has my vote!

[Attuned] - Also, the Fact-Check page should be constantly updated.
For example how do we answer questions about Hillary's charge that Jim Demers, Barack's New Hampshire co-chair, is a registered lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry? Barck denied this in the debate, but Time magazine says it is true.

[Fred from Tacoma, WA] - Please put the Fact Check page link on the front page. I am new to the Obama campaign and would have loved to go there immediately to verify what I believe but do not know.Fred.

etc...

PLEASE COMMENT: