Fred White's Blog

McCain Copying Obama Events

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:00:01 EDT

Well, they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, look no further:

Maybe McCain will come up with his own good ideas at some point...but for now it sure seems like he's stealing anything resembling a good idea.

McCain and "Losing" in Iraq

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:00:39 EDT

Ok, I just heard an unedited, complete replay of McCain's recent speech in Warren, MI, on XM's POTUS 08. During the Q/A at the end, a woman asked a very pointed question about "winning wars" and quoting McCain recently saying, "I know how to win wars." But, the crux of her question was what McCain's stance is about Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and what other military engagements he thought the US might need to be involved in soon.

In that response, McCain said (and this is a direct quote) that in his analysis we were "losing, losing badly" in Iraq before the surge...and that he said so at the time.

So, that has possibly multiple implications --

1) Where did McCain come down on Harry Reid's position, saying the exact same thing at the exact same time? Clearly, McCain's spokespeople and advisers were condemning Reid for it as recently as a few days ago. Seems like McCain needs to clearly and publicly disagree with his advisers (again), and probably apologize to Reid for his campaign officially condemning Reid for something McCain is now saying he agrees with, and agreed with at the time.

2) Did McCain ever actually say we were "losing" at the time? I haven't been able to find a quote or anything like that. He was certainly critical, but I can't find him saying anything like "losing" let alone "losing badly."

3) This at least makes McCain consistent on his whole "losing" campaign of late...clearly he has no qualms (as I do) about sending a message to the soldiers in the field that they are "losing" the fight.

As soon as I can get audio or a transcript of the speech, I'll post it.

Barack Buddy Update

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:35:50 EDT

To find out more about being a Barack Buddy, go here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/fredwhite/gGxffY

To join the movement, go here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g4qr

So, for my first update on being a Barack Buddy, I've decided to give an example using one of the two people I've decided to buddy with -- my mom...

John McLaughlin = Out of Touch

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:08:59 EDT

And that's putting it nicely! McLaughlin's comment on Sunday was way, way out of line. Luckily there were a couple panelists on the show to set him straight.

And, while I almost get tired of asking this: where is the "mainstream media" on reporting this?

Nevermind...I know the answer. :(

McCain Gets Another Free Pass from the Media

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:33:56 EDT

I never thought that John McCain could turn any aspect of his POW experience into a negative, but it appears he has done just that...

Be a Barack Buddy

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:01:47 EDT

I've started an ongoing "event" called Be a Barack Buddy at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g4qr. Already close to 50 people are participating, so I wanted to spread the word and explain a little bit more about what it means to be a Barack Buddy.

Obama Event at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:18:28 EDT

I just returned from Barack's speech at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA. This was my first opportunity to see Barack speak live, and I have to say it was everything I thought it'd be and then some. The atmosphere was electric, the attendance was overwhelming, and the town hall format was all it was cracked up to be -- Senator Obama was on the stage for over an hour, most of that time in a Q&A session with people chosen at random (well, not totally random as Barack insisted on doing it "boy/girl, boy/girl") right out of the stands, and not from the VIP section.

I took some photos and video, so read on to see all that...

Barack and Michelle Get Friendly Media Treatment?

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:50:46 EDT

If it were true that Barack and Michelle get such friendly treatment from the media -- and evidently that claim has to be made relative to John and Cindy McCain -- then why is it that we're hearing so much about Michelle Obama's past and yet this -- http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/ -- isn't getting much play at all.

Is it really the Obamas who "get a pass" from the media?

Why is it that Michelle Obama's Master's Thesis from decades ago is so interesting but Cindy McCain's drug abuse/addiction/theft and cover-up from 14 years ago isn't interesting?

It's even weirder still that the only time I think it ever did come up was when other Republicans were attacking John McCain.

Weird, huh?

If Barack said this...

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:49:43 EDT

...he'd be called an "extremist" or "unpatriotic" --

The Founding Fathers would be disappointed with the way America has turned out overall.

Too bad it's what most Americans are thinking these days according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll.

McCain Continues to Show True Colors

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:34:51 EDT

Need more proof that John McCain has become exactly the kind of politician he despised (or at least claimed to despise) back in 2000? Below is a screenshot of his current campaign website as of right now.

Not only is Clark not a part of the Obama campaign...not only has Barack rejected Clark's statement...but here the McCain campaign put two images together purposely trying to make it look like Barack and Clark may have even been sitting right next to each other or talking about it when Clark said it and/or that Barack somehow agrees with or supports what Clark said...AND completely mischaracterize what Clark actually said.

This is as slimey and as "negative politics" as you get. It just shows that a desperate John McCain is no different than the campaign that totally destroyed him personally back in 2000.

Also, this points out just a fundamental difference between McCain and Obama's approaches. The fact that McCain takes up the prime real estate on his website with an unfair and untrue attack against Obama shows he's as focused (or more focused) on being negative against the other candidate as he is about being positive about himself. Obama's entire homepage is dedicated to news about himself, campaign events, his stance on issues, and positive news stories...responses to attacks from the other campaign or anyone else are a completely separate and dedicated sub-section of the site

Wesley Clark and Another Double Standard

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:57:33 EDT

Ok, so whether or not you agree with Wesley Clark's position that McCain's specific military service (because of the nature of the roles he was in) doesn't necessarily qualify him to be a good Commander in Chief -- I honestly don't know if I agree with Clark or not -- you have to acknowledge that Clark has repeatedly said that he is not questioning the quality of McCain's service, and has repeatedly said that McCain is a hero (even referring to him as "a hero of mine") and that his service was honorable.

Even with all of those caveats the reaction from "the right" has been that Clark is "questioning" or "criticizing" McCain's "service." Which, btw, is the one thing Clark has decidedly not done, IMO.

Ok, ok, so let's even say that despite all of Clark's caveats, disclaimers, and explanations, that somehow someone really did still see what he was saying as some sort of insult to McCain's service...and they criticized him for that. Let's just go with that...

How Effective Are the Smears?

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:57:21 EDT

In this article on MSNBC.com, it's clear -- and scary -- just how effective the back-channel, hate-mongering smear campaign has been. These are "Everytown, USA" people...heck, their town was officially dubbed "Flag City" because they put so many American flags up.

The whisper campaign has been so effective that someone whose natural inclination is to vote Democrat and who isn't online every day and who isn't getting tainted directly by the hate mongers is still being affected. Scary, scary stuff.

The only way Barack wins this battle is for all of us continually to have the courage and the consistency to stand up and say, "That's simply not true," and be ready to give the facts. And, if you're not the kind of person who wants to memorize things or have to argue with someone, there are great tools available for you. Just check out this link to find great one-page issues sheets. I'm actually carrying around copies of several of these everywhere I go.

This problem isn't going to go away unless and until enough people stand up and say, "Those rumors are BS!" And, we have to be willing to do that with the very people we often find it the most difficult to do so -- friends, family members, neighbors. But, until we do, people are still going to believe the most outrageous -- and the worst -- things about our candidate.

Unite for Change Success

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:27:28 EDT

I don't know how many of you were able to host or attend a Unite for Change event this past weekend -- if you did, I'm sure you had as much fun and shared in as much energy and passion as we did at ours...and if you didn't don't worry about missing out, because it's just the beginning!

Our house meeting was very well attended with a couple Organizing Fellows, a representative from one of our local, critical downballot races, and lots of energized and ready-to-work volunteers. We learned a lot, we shared a lot, and as a result we are setting up a semi-formal team to carry our energy forward to, through, and beyond the election.

If you're not already in touch with a Fellow or a Team Liaison in your area, find them and reach out. There's lots to do and lots of people all around you ready to work with you to make this dream a reality.

YES WE CAN!

Fundraising Push

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:23:23 EDT

You've all probably seen the latest news from the Obama campaign that we're trying to beat the June deadline to post some great fundraising numbers. And, like all of you, I wanted to lend a helping hand.

To that end, my wife and I have decided to match the first $200 donated today through our fundraising page at http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/SmyrnaVinings. Hopefully we'll get past that $200, but for at least those donations, they'll get doubled on their way in to the campaign.

So, for all of you who have thought that whatever small amount you might give wouldn't matter, please take advantage of this offer and know that your $5 just became $10 or your $10 became $20, etc., and be proud that you helped MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Together, we can do it: YES WE CAN!!

Thanks,
Fred

Can You Feel it Happening?

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:26:35 EDT

I just received this automated notice from the myBO.com website: "Your event, Smyrna-Vinings House Meeting for Change, has reached the capacity limit of 20 attendees."

How cool is that? There are people all over the country coming together in just a few days to "officially" be a part of something that we all feel is going to be groundbreaking, historical, and momentous. I've actually received well over 20 responses for my "Unite for Change" event because not only are the 20+ folks who will be there committed, but others wanted to let me know that while they'd be traveling or otherwise indisposed, that they wanted to stay in touch in the future and be a part of other Obama events.

It's really happening, folks. For the first time in decades in this country, people are actually excited about being a part of the political process for positive reasons. No more "best of the worst options" voters. No more "holding your nose" while you vote. At least not on the Obama side of the equation. It's about being "on fire" and about supporting someone and something you can truly believe in.

Thanks to everyone already hosting or attending a "Unite for Change" event! And for anyone who isn't yet, go to http://my.barackobama.com/democratsunited and find an event near you.

Yeah, Barack Gets Friendly Treatment...Riiiiiight

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:22:23 EDT

In this article over at Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington really brings the hammer down on the MYTH that Barack gets special or friendly treatment from the media. No other politician in the modern era has gotten more of a pass than has John McCain.

Maybe it's because he was so severely trashed by the Bush campaign in 2000, and they feel sorry for him. Maybe it's because he's made a concerted effort to buddy up to the media, so they feel like he's their "pal" or that they owe him. But, for whatever reason, John McCain simply has not come under anything like the microscope that any other major candidate has.

While this is frustrating and disappointing, I do think it has one silver lining: the idea that the electorate already knows McCain and therefore there's no "skeletons in the closet," is bunk. And, I believe that as the Obama movement swells, and as the media sees that they simply cannot hide McCain under their collective skirts, more and more baggage will come out, and people will learn that the McCain they think they know is not the McCain of reality. That time is coming.

Downballot, Local Support, and Coat Tails

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:33:40 EDT

As we move toward November 4th, let's not forget that not only will electing Barack Obama be one of the most historically significant things we can do -- and absolutely needed at this particular time in history -- but, that fundamental change in the makeup of our Senate, House, state legislatures, and local governments is certainly within our reach this time around as well.

Barack certainly intends to change things at the top, but his entire campaign has been built upon the bottom-up approach to politics. That WE, the people, can affect change -- and there's no better way to do that then to do it at every level of government this time around.

Too much about the way our country is run starts at the local and state levels for us not to remember that Barack is bringing some massive coat tails with him. We are expecting higher turnout than ever in history. We are expecting more new voters than ever in history. We are expecting people who have too often felt like their vote wouldn't count -- so they stayed home -- to come out and actually vote this time around. And, most importantly, we are expecting all of these things to be true in cities, counties, and states that far too often in the past were "written off" as unwinnable, but not this time. So, we need to make sure that all those people who are coming because of Barack are also going to vote for people who stand for the same things Barack does.

Just pulling the lever, or touching the screen, or punching the card for Obama at the top isn't enough. We need to make sure that we're thinking all the way down the ballot about whether or not the candidate in question stands for what Barack stands for, and whether or not they'll get into office and stand for change or stand for the status quo.

So, this is our chance -- WE can fundamentally change government at every single level this fall. Let's make the most of it!

"Bush Officials Committed War Crimes"

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:50:25 EDT

McClatchy Newspapers reports that former investigator accuses Bush administration of war crimes.

Get ready folks. These kinds of investigations and resulting statements are what give me hope that the day the Bush Administration vacates DC, that it doesn't automatically equate to "they're off the hook."

While I personally don't think it's ever too late to pursue impeachment proceedings (even if it's the week before they leave office), I will say that the likelihood of that goes down by the day. So, to hear former military officials -- and especially those who were tasked with investigating abuse -- use phrases like "there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes" and "held to account" is very heartening. If he's serious about that -- and he certainly sounds like he is -- and if the next Congress has the intestinal fortitude to do something about it, it could mean that even after the Bush Gang leaves office, that they will be investigated and prosecuted where warranted.

For the sake of our Democracy -- and so that history doesn't record this as evidence that all you have to do is make it through your term(s) in office and then everyone will leave you alone -- I certainly hope this continues down the path that Major General Taguba is indicating.

More Proof Offshore Drilling is Simply Pandering

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:28:21 EDT

As if we needed more proof that the suggestion to open more offshore drilling areas (let's not forget there are plenty of offshore drilling areas not being used by oil companies because they're "too expensive" to work...poor oil companies wouldn't make quite the same profits on those areas) is simply pandering to both the oil companies and right-wingers who don't know anything other than to clap when they hear we're going to go after more oil, we got more proof anyway.

In California, even Governor Schwarzenegger couldn't be swayed to come along for the ride. In Florida, where Governor Crist is nothing more than a Bush/McCain puppet, he not-at-all-surprisingly jumped right on board. But, guess who didn't? The state's CFO, Alex Cink -- you know, the woman most directly responsible for the state's FINANCIAL well-being, and the person arguably most informed of the impacts of all this.

In this article at Forbes.com, Cink and others point out that Crist has repeatedly -- and as recently as a couple weeks ago -- adamantly opposed offshore drilling. But, lo and behold, when the puppetmasters say, "Time to pander, Charlie," he hops to it.

So, as McCain and Bush and the Republican "strategists" out there push this oh-so-novel idea, be glad that there are some people refusing to go along with it.

Hey, Kids, Obama is Better for the Economy!!

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:13:08 EDT

So, on my morning commute I was listening to POTUS 08 on XM (my usual routine) and heard an interesting poll result from Zogby. It said that despite McCain's own statements about not being solid on economic issues, that in general he's seen by likely voters as "more likely to handle economic issues better" than Barack -- by about 5%.

The staggering sub-fact here was that McCain's lead on that measure was at its largest with a specific demographic: people under 30. Amongst young voters, his lead jumped to almost 30 points. In other words, his entire 5% margin in this measure was attributable to young people saying they think he's "more likely to handle economic issues better" than Barack. And, this is a group, that on the whole, Barack totally owns.

So, here's a little mini-campaign we can all engage in: make it clear to young voters that "old" doesn't equal "smart with money," which is probably something that's been pounded into all our heads in our youth. John McCain will be terrible for the economy, and we need to make sure that young voters get that message loud and clear.

"Maverick" Not Top of Mind?

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:23:59 EDT

According to this article by Cliff Schecter over at Firedoglake, the attempts by "the right," the McCain campaign, and to a certain extent the "mainstream" media to brand John McCain as a "maverick" might not be sticking anymore.

A recent survey done by Pew Research found that the most common single-word descriptor for McCain is "old." He does get some positive words in the dozen or so most common ones (like "honest" and "experienced") but some of the ones he and his supports would most like to see used about him (like "independent" "change" or "reformer") are not top of mind these days.

I find it very, very interesting that "independent" wasn't in the top words, but "conservative" was. That says a LOT to me about how McCain's actions and statements since he ran back in 2000 have fundamentally changed the way real people think of him. Back in 2000, I think "maverick" and "independent" and "different" all would have been at the top of the list for most people because it at least seemed true back then. But, McCain has destroyed that notion since then.

It's also very interesting to note that the "mainstream" media still acts as if it's a given that people still think that way about McCain...and maybe even push that branding themselves. Maybe it's time for the "mainstream" media to find out what people are really thinking these days.

McCain = XXXX

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:31:39 EDT

There's lots of comparisons between McCain and Bush out there theses days -- and for good reason due to the fact that McCain has completely rolled over and embraced so many of Bush's policies and disastrous ideological stances that it's hard to tell them apart at times. But, there may be another interesting and eerily McSame comparison to be made: McCain = Bob Dole.

Take a look at this article by Arianna Huffington which shows all the interesting parallels. It's an interesting read.

And, here's to hoping that the result of the McCain campaign is very much like that of Dole.

MoveOn's "Not Alex" Ad

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:24:05 EDT

MoveOn's latest ad, titled "Not Alex" is another take on McCain's "stay in Iraq 100+ years" comments. While I think some versions of criticism of McCain for these comments miss the mark and overplay the hand, I think this latest ad is an interesting angle to take -- though it may not be direct enough. It's a heart-string-puller, to be sure, but the core of it is the real problem with McCain's stance, which is "With what military?!"

McCain is trying to squirrel out of his "100+ years" comments by drawing comparisons (variously) to post-war Germany, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, etc. But, what that "answer" misses out on is that our military is at its lowest enlistment and morale levels in modern history -- and maybe of all time -- and is already spread too thin by things like worldwide presence in the very places McCain is trying to say, "Hey, we did it there, so why not one more place?" What MoveOn is responding with is a nuanced answer to that: you'd have to be counting on "Alex" and others for generations to come, and at this point you cannot count on families to support yet another long-term foreign presence on top of all the other ones we've already got, and especially for a purpose in which we do not collectively believe.

So, I'd say it's a pretty good ad, but I do wish it could be a little more direct. I know the confines of a 30-second clip restrict the amount of details you can give, but I think a nice change would be some direct response. Just come out and say it: "McCain's belief that our military can support yet another long-term foreign presence is based on old-school thinking, is out of touch with the majority of Americans, and assumes that generations of Americans are going to volunteer for military service at levels they simply may not be willing to do -- in large part because of the mistaken policies that McCain wants to prolong." I'm pretty sure you can say that in under 30 seconds.

Oh yeah, they had that scandal, too!

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:38:49 EDT

Recently, I was at an America concert and around the middle of the performance, Gerry Beckley -- one of the band founders and lead singers -- joked that "we've now arrived at the 'oh yeah, they did that one' portion of the show." Unfortunately, that's what it's like with the Bush Administration's scandals.

There have been so many scandals throughout the 7 and a half years of Bush's "leadership," that I think we all have problems keeping track of them and even remembering them from time to time -- even the big ones. That's why when I saw David Iglesias on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night, I felt compelled to talk about that scandal today...

The Ol' Bait and Switch

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:47:39 EDT

Well, it should be coming as less and less of a surprise these days that McCain is learning from the "Republican" machine, and showing more and more of their tactics. The latest evidence of this is in the supposed "open dialogue" that McCain offered to Barack in a series of Town Hall meetings. According to the McCain campaign, these were to be open, fair, and honest discussions in front of audiences made up of folks representing the entire political spectrum. But, of course, the reality is that just like with Bush's appearances, the deck was stacked, the attendees chosen in advance, and would've been an absolute ambush for Barack had he participated.

It's interesting to note, that even Fox News has chosen to lay bare the bait and switch move, which may indicate some interesting undercurrents (a topic for another -- or many other -- posts), but for now it's enough to say that this was so egregious and obvious that even the folks at Fox couldn't spin it for McCain.

Huffington Post has a good summary so I won't reiterate it all here. I will include Howard Dean's summation:

Once again John McCain's campaign is trying to mislead the American people. Senator McCain should understand that after seven years of a President who has divided Americans and pursued a scorched earth policy full of misleading propaganda campaigns, we need a leader who understands he is the President for all Americans not just his supporters. Copying the Bush campaign model of stacking events with his prescreened supporters is not the transparency Americans are looking for. If that is Senator McCain's idea of straight talk, the American people are in for a long and disappointing campaign season.

Obama "Brand" Too Strong?

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:46:46 EDT

I was just listening to POTUS '08 on XM, and heard an analyst posing the question of whether or not Obama's "brand" might be too strong. His theory was that since Barack has been doing such a great job of raising money and tapping into everyone's excitement, that the other places for them to focus their money and energy might be suffering. The specific example he used was MoveOn, saying that perhaps Obama was siphoning off excitement and funds.

I have to say, my first reaction to this is, "Fine with me." While I think MoveOn and other progressive-minded organizations can do some good in the general election, I much prefer the idea of Barack and his campaign directing money and activity more than any other organization. In fact, I think this actually better fits with Barack's overall approach to campaigning, candidate responsibility for messaging, etc. If he and his trusted advisors/associates are in direct control of what's being said and done, so much the better.

I do think that as individuals max out their contributions to the general election fund that MoveOn and groups like them will be the beneficiaries of whatever is left. And, that might be great, too, because of the official Obama campaign can get in front of the 527s who want to support it, then Barack can set the tone, define himself, and define McCain in the ways HE prefers and then the 527s can follow his lead instead of blazing their own trails -- ones with which Barack might not personally agree nor think are optimal.

Happy Father's Day

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:24:45 EDT

Barack said it very well:

"Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation. They are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it."

So, I'll just add to that with a hearty, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there who have already and are in the process of making their children's lives better!

McCain - Not Such a Nice Guy

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:06:13 EDT

Yikes...as I have heard more and more news about how McCain is trying to appeal to the supposedly large number of "disaffected Clinton supporters" out there, specifically women, I'm also hearing more and more about some of McCain's history as it relates to women. I'm still looking for a good one-stop-shop with facts/figures/quotes about McCain's history with regard to women's issues and women in general, but there are definitely plenty of doozies out there to find.

If I find a nice, tidy list (or make one of my own), I'll post a link. Until then, here are some of the highlights, or truly in this case, low-lights:

Getting Into It

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:35:40 EDT

It's weird...I've been tangentially involved in politics my whole life. From student government in high school and college to being active with NAGPS (the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students) when I was in grad school, to being very informed and talkative about politics my entire adult life. But, I've never REALLY been involved.

Well, now I am -- and I'm loving it. Barack Obama is the first truly inspirational national politician I can point to in my lifetime (I'm 37). And, he's inspired me finally to get off my butt.

Keep an eye on my blog and on my profile page, as I plan to take this to the next level. I've just created a group for my community (the Smyrna-Vinings area of Atlanta -- pending approval by the Obama admin team), a fundraising project for that same community, and already signed up to host a Unite for Change house meeting on 6/28. I can't wait!

Just Getting the Facts Straight

Fred - Team Liaison - Smyrna-Vinings — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:04:15 EDT

One of the most frustrating things for me, of late, is that people simply aren't understanding "the facts" of whatever topic might be the focus of a given discussion -- even more frustrating when it's my friends and family members. I see this happening more and more often these days as the punditry and mainstream media collectively present an ambiguous (at best) or purposely confusing/misleading picture of a given topic.

This was abundantly clear to me the other night when a very good friend of mine and I were talking about Saddam Hussein and his supposed ties to Al Qaeda and/or to Zarqawi. I ended up walking away from the discussion because in the moment I couldn't even convince my friend that not only was he factually incorrect, but that it was no longer even a dabatable topic -- that every group who has looked into this has come to the same conclusions: no ties, no support, and if anything there was animosity, suspicion, etc.

The next morning I was able to sit down and put together a simple primer for my friend, which I'll include below. I think it's worth sharing, and I think it illustrates just how far each of us may need to go if we expect people to start approaching politics rationally and reasonably again, instead of in the almost faith-based and definitely emotionally-driven way they are doing far too often today.

With that, here's what I wrote to my friend...