Chris' Blog

Minnesota AIDS Walk

Chris — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:13:29 EDT

I started a team with my school (University of Minnesota-Addiction Studies Program) for the 2009 Minnesota AIDS Walk. I would like to encourage anyone who reads this to consider making a donation to support me in walking to help fight HIV/AIDS. My walker website is http://community.mnaidsproject.org/UofMLADC. Any donation would be hugely appreciated!

MN Ballot Rejected

Chris — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:29:38 EST

Early this afternoon, I received a phone call from the Al Franken Campaign telling me that my ballot had been rejected for mailing reasons. I voted three weeks early because I was going to be out of my precinct volunteering for the Obama and Franken campaigns. As a student, I believed and still believe that this was the most important election of my lifetime and that I had a personal stake in its outcome. I voted at New Brighton, MN City Hall, filled out my ballot as I was instructed and turned it over to them in trust that they would see that it gets counted. Now I find out that they did not get it sent in correctly and that my vote has not been counted. I'm being punished for being involved in the political process because of New Brighton City Hall's ineptitude. Knowing several people who voted absentee in advance for the same reason, I can only wonder how many people this happened to.

Just Voted For Barack Obama in Minnesota

Chris — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:35:15 EDT

I just got home from voting for Barack Obama & Joe Biden here in St. Paul. We can 'vote early in-person' here in Minnesota. I will be on the University of Minnesota campus on November 4th making sure as I did during the caucus that this state helps elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States. I've never felt so inspired by a political candidate before. And as I look around at other people my age (college/grad. school), I have never seen so much excitement and energy in my peers. There are all kinds of us going to vote early for Barack because we know we can't wait. We know that we need Barack Obama to be our President. We feel the urgency and for the first time, we can't rush fast enough to get involved and make it happen. I look forward to telling my future children that I voted for that great man back in 2008 and helped to change the course of history.

Union-Busting Companies

Chris — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:17:01 EDT

Something needs to be done about 'union-busting' companies. Companies like Starbucks and Wal Mart try to intimidate employees who try to create unions up to and including firing them. These companies need to treat their employees better, give them living wages and allow them to organize, to stand up and make sure they are getting a fair shake in the workplace. These kinds of practices are grossly unAmerican. We need a President who will stand up to these companies and make them follow the rules. This is just another reason why we need Barack Obama.

So Excited

Chris — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:54:43 EDT

I was in St. Paul at the Xcel Center on Tuesday night. There were miles of lines of people outside the arena! It was great! People just wanted to be there. They didn't care that they may not get in. They didn't care they were in a line that wrapped all through downtown St. Paul. Instead people were all talking and getting to know each other and talking about what it was that we see in Barack Obama. There were people watching the speech Obama made outside on the jumbo tron. You could hear Barack's speech blaring from bars downtown. Helicopters were circlng overhead. It was really exciting to be a part of history and to be able to say that I was there when Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination for President! I think it showed the Republicans and John McCain who Minnesota really wants. It shows them that later this summer, they are coming into Barack Country to hold their convention. Not to mention, Barack gave an incredible, powerful and inspiring speech. The man is brilliant & I can't wait for him to be President!

Let's finish this up!

Chris — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:25:07 EDT

I think after the DNC decision which I have mixed feelings about, we're going to wrap this up this week. I can't wait to get started on the general election. This primary has been a very fun experience. I really enjoyed my work in Iowa & Minnesota. I can't wait to hear Michelle & Barack here in St. Paul on Tuesday night! I want to be in the building when he makes what political analysts think will be his victory speech! All of our hard work and hope has brought us from a longshot at the beginning of this to a victory this week! Let's go win South Dakota & Montana & the nomination!

John Edwards

Chris — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:06:03 EDT

I was very happy to see John Edwards giving an amazing and inspiring speech in Grand Rapids and endorsing Barack. John is a man for whom I have tremendous respect. His tireless efforts and his never-ending fight for the working men and women of this country made him my second choice candidate for President and my choice for Vice President should Obama get the nomination. I know that his endorsement makes this movement that much stronger. Today was a good day as a first step toward uniting the two Americas into one we can be proud of, a step toward a better and stronger America that we will see under President Barack Obama.

I Love Michelle Obama

Chris — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:15:35 EDT

Michelle Obama was on the Colbert Report tonight. She was very funny and charming. She played right along with him. She was even able to fit in some good points during the interview. I don't normally like to go negative, but it was nice to see a woman with a personality, dignity and class in this campaign. Michelle is going to make a great First Lady.

Same-Sex Adoptions

Chris — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:46:16 EDT

I was just wondering what Barack's stance was on same-sex adoptions. I know from the research done that same-sex couples are just as good of parents than heterosexual couples, despite what the right wing might say. As a gay man who hopes to adopt a child one day, i wanted to know what Baracks position was.

It Is Our Business

Chris — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:54:42 EDT

When Chelsea Clinton has been asked twice on college campuses about her father's relationship with Monica Lewinsky and how it affected her mother, she has snidely responded, "None of your business." Her father's scandals and scandals her mother was involved in costed this country millions of dollars and too much valuable time. This money and time could have been used to fix healthcare, Hillary's pet cause at the time. So it is our business that her family put this nation through that, especially when we are deciding whether or not to potentially give them another chance in the White House. Like it or not, it is an important issue and it is our business.

An Agent of Hope

Chris — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:55:20 EDT

I watched that speech Barack gave on Tuesday. I think he showed his true colors and looked very presidential. We saw a man who stepped into the fire and kept himself collected and through the smoke demonstrated clarity. Here is a man, not just a black man, but a man who is where he is because of what Dr. King called ''the content of [his] character.'' This content Dr. King speaks of is of a man of great wisdom and courage, strength and leadership. He showed his ability to step back and look at the greater cause and bring people together in a way conducive to the attainment of that goal. I was able to turn to the people I was with and say, "This is why I support Barack. This is why I put in the 80-hour weeks working for his campaign." I need Barack Obama to be President. This country needs Barack Obama to be President.

Mississippi

Chris — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:35:26 EDT

Another night, another win. We won big in Mississippi, tonight! Again, this was an expected win, but every delegate counts. This 20 point win exceeded the 14 or so point lead he had in pre-primary polls. He's looking good headed into 6 weeks of campaigning in Pennsylvania!

Sad News

Chris — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:58:18 EDT

I sadly had to turn down the offer to go to Pennsylvania to work with Students For Barack Obama. I was involved in Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin. Let's wrap up this nomination so I can get to work on the general election!

Another Win

Chris — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:05:48 EST

It was good to see another win for Barack tonight. It was an expected win, but I was still excited to come home from work to see the results! Every state he wins, I think back to the people in the beginning that said Barack didn't have a shot at this. He keeps on proving them wrong. Let's make sure he keeps on proving them wrong by winning in Mississippi on Tuesday!

Pennsylvania in March?

Chris — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 05:37:02 EST

I may be going to Pennsylvania in March with Students for Barack Obama. I was involved with SFBO in Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin. We're 3-0 in those states; I want to go 4-0! Spring Break for Obama! Sunshine & beaches are for the uninspired!

Excited

Chris — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:10:46 EST

I was a little worried going into Texas and Ohio with Hillary having huge leads. But, Barack Obama seems to have this amazing wave of momentum and energy that seems to bring about a flood of support everywhere he goes. Her lead is gone in Texas and is narrow in Ohio! This guy is amazing!

My Experience Seeing Obama In Minneapolis

Chris — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:08:44 EST

Today, I was at the Target Center for 7 1/2 hours. Yes, I am getting paid to work for his campaign; and yes, I was being paid to be at the Target Center today. But, I took the job because I was inspired. I was inspired by a well-spoken, intelligent man of principle.

He is the first candidate since John F. Kennedy in the 60s to speak to, for & with young people when an opponent was fighting not to let college students vote on campuses they lived, worked and sought an education on. I've spent the past couple weeks on campus & in surrounding neighborhoods and I have witnessed excitement among young people. I saw young people get excited when Barack came into the volunteer room. He seems to get energized off of us & we get energized off him. This energy & excitement is contagious.

Barack Obama could have made hundreds of thousands of dollars as a corparate lawyer, but he worked for $18,000 a year as a community organizer. He worked to find jobs for people laid off from steel factories. He actually knows how real people live and work. He's not a career politician who stretches laws and takes money from lobbyists like others. He has seen the people who suffer from a government that is failing them. He may not have been in the U.S. Senate as long as his opponents, but he has a different experience, an experience in actually working for & with the people.

I looked around the Target Center today & saw old & young, straight & gay, black & white, wealthy & working-class. I saw the many differences of the 20,000 people, but I saw these diverse people come together for a common goal: Change. Barack Obama has this amazing ability to understand people and bring them together. We need to come together again after George W. Bush has divided and scapegoated different groups of people. We need to come together if we want to create real change and stand up to take on the issues we face. I feel that the best person to accomplish this task is Barack Obama.

Today, as I was listening to Barack speak & as I met him this afternoon, I was inspired. I am inspired by the challenge he sets forth & by the chance at true history & change that is at our hands.

Turning Anger Into Hope

Chris — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:02:07 EST

I spent all day today fighting with and dealing with the financial aid people at the U.S. Department of Education. The financial aid process is overly complicated, slow & too time consuming. It is set up as a difficult & undependable process that makes affording college more difficult than it already is. This system is a complete disaster & MUST be changed.

Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year's tax data to deliver the credit when tuition is due.

Obama will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.

This education plan is a major reason that I support Barack Obama. I can't wait for this man to be President, so we can start implementing his ideas.

Youth Organizer

Chris — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:59:53 EST

I worked as a Youth Organizer here in Minnesota for Obama's campaign. I spent a lot of time on the University of Minnesota campus talking to students and helping with special events with Senator Daschle, Dule Hill, Kal Penn & Scarlett Johanson & Barack Obama himself. I got to actually meet Barack when he visited Minneapolis a couple days before the Super Tuesday primaries. It was a hectic but very inspiring experience. I can't wait to do it again for the general election!