ObamaPhenomena!

Fact Checks

Janice — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:38:45 EDT

http://www.sefermpost.com/

Please see link above about fact checks on Obama's birth certificate, his home purchase and clarification of controversial issues in the presidential campaign. Good source to have to refer voters to who have distorted ideas about Obama. Factcheck.org is another source.

Sarah Palin is NOT Hillary Clinton

Janice — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:44:42 EDT

Women's Rights: Obama-Biden; Opposed: McCain-Palin

We must circulate information to as many former Hillary Supporters as possible that McCain-Palin do NOT support women's reproductive rights. Sarah Palin is far right in opposing women's reproductive rights. Let's not allow Hillary's former Supporters to be in the dark on this fact.

Also, Sarah Palin is attempting to ride on the wave of breakthroughs in the rise of presidential candidates in the Democratic Party, namely that of Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton. Just think, a Republican VP pick, with only 2 months of campaigning, expecting to lock up the vice presidency of the United States on the years' worth of hard-earned reputations of Ferraro and Clinton! We can't let this lady or the McCain campaign think Obama-Biden Supporters are pushovers and will stand by and let that happen!

Let's work hard to bring Hillary's former Supporters back into the fold. We need them to know Obama-Biden has the interests of Women's Rights among their top priorities! Many Hillary Supporters are already honoring her lengthy, hard-fought presidential campaign by casting their vote for Obama-Biden, whom Hillary, herself, is supporting. It's up to us to reach out and encourage all of Hillary's former Supporters to do so.

The Democratic Party paved the way for women presidential candidates. We must see to it that any breaking of glass ceilings in the White House will be only with the Democratic nomination and election of the First Woman President in 2016!

Barack Obama-Joseph Biden/President & Vice President of the United States of America, Jan '09

Tim Wise

Janice — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:00:22 EDT

Here's a great video about Tim Wise on unity across racial lines, according to a practical perspective about solving the problems in New Orleans after Katrina. Please pass it along. Thanks.

http://www.redroom.com/video/tim-wise-creation-whiteness-clip

Michael Moore

Janice — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:21:41 EDT

Monday, April 21st, 2008
My Vote's for Obama (if I could vote) ...by Michael MooreFriends, I don't get to vote for President this primary season. I live in Michigan. The party leaders (both here and in D.C.) couldn't get their act together, and thus our votes will not be counted. So, if you live in Pennsylvania, can you do me a favor? Will you please cast my vote -- and yours -- on Tuesday for Senator Barack Obama? I haven't spoken publicly 'til now as to who I would vote for, primarily for two reasons: 1) Who cares?; and 2) I (and most people I know) don't give a rat's ass whose name is on the ballot in November, as long as there's a picture of JFK and FDR riding a donkey at the top of the ballot, and the word "Democratic" next to the candidate's name. Seriously, I know so many people who don't care if the name under the Big "D" is Dancer, Prancer, Clinton or Blitzen. It can be Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Barry Obama or the Dalai Lama. Well, that sounded good last year, but over the past two months, the actions and words of Hillary Clinton have gone from being merely disappointing to downright disgusting. I guess the debate last week was the final straw. I've watched Senator Clinton and her husband play this game of appealing to the worst side of white people, but last Wednesday, when she hurled the name "Farrakhan" out of nowhere, well that's when the silly season came to an early end for me. She said the "F" word to scare white people, pure and simple. Of course, Obama has no connection to Farrakhan. But, according to Senator Clinton, Obama's pastor does -- AND the "church bulletin" once included a Los Angeles Times op-ed from some guy with Hamas! No, not the church bulletin! This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER! Yes, Senator Clinton, that's how you sounded. Like you were nuts. Like you were a bigot stoking the fires of stupidity. How sad that I would ever have to write those words about you. You have devoted your life to good causes and good deeds. And now to throw it all away for an office you can't win unless you smear the black man so much that the superdelegates cry "Uncle (Tom)" and give it all to you. But that can't happen. You cast your die when you voted to start this bloody war. When you did that you were like Moses who lost it for a moment and, because of that, was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. How sad for a country that wanted to see the first woman elected to the White House. That day will come -- but it won't be you. We'll have to wait for the current Democratic governor of Kansas to run in 2016 (you read it here first!). There are those who say Obama isn't ready, or he's voted wrong on this or that. But that's looking at the trees and not the forest. What we are witnessing is not just a candidate but a profound, massive public movement for change. My endorsement is more for Obama The Movement than it is for Obama the candidate. That is not to take anything away from this exceptional man. But what's going on is bigger than him at this point, and that's a good thing for the country. Because, when he wins in November, that Obama Movement is going to have to stay alert and active. Corporate America is not going to give up their hold on our government just because we say so. President Obama is going to need a nation of millions to stand behind him. I know some of you will say, 'Mike, what have the Democrats done to deserve our vote?' That's a damn good question. In November of '06, the country loudly sent a message that we wanted the war to end. Yet the Democrats have done nothing. So why should we be so eager to line up happily behind them? I'll tell you why. Because I can't stand one more friggin' minute of this administration and the permanent, irreversible damage it has done to our people and to this world. I'm almost at the point where I don't care if the Democrats don't have a backbone or a kneebone or a thought in their dizzy little heads. Just as long as their name ain't "Bush" and the word "Republican" is not beside theirs on the ballot, then that's good enough for me. I, like the majority of Americans, have been pummeled senseless for 8 long years. That's why I will join millions of citizens and stagger into the voting booth come November, like a boxer in the 12th round, all bloodied and bruised with one eye swollen shut, looking for the only thing that matters -- that big "D" on the ballot. Don't get me wrong. I lost my rose-colored glasses a long time ago. It's foolish to see the Democrats as anything but a nicer version of a party that exists to do the bidding of the corporate elite in this country. Any endorsement of a Democrat must be done with this acknowledgement and a hope that one day we will have a party that'll represent the people first, and laws that allow that party an equal voice. Finally, I want to say a word about the basic decency I have seen in Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton continues to throw the Rev. Wright up in his face as part of her mission to keep stoking the fears of White America. Every time she does this I shout at the TV, "Say it, Obama! Say that when she and her husband were having marital difficulties regarding Monica Lewinsky, who did she and Bill bring to the White House for 'spiritual counseling?' THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT!" But no, Obama won't throw that at her. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be decent. She's been through enough hurt. And so he remains silent and takes the mud she throws in his face. That's why the crowds who come to see him are so large. That's why he'll take us down a more decent path. That's why I would vote for him if Michigan were allowed to have an election. But the question I keep hearing is... 'can he win? Can he win in November?' In the distance we hear the siren of the death train called the Straight Talk Express. We know it's possible to hear the words "President McCain" on January 20th. We know there are still many Americans who will never vote for a black man. Hillary knows it, too. She's counting on it. Pennsylvania, the state that gave birth to this great country, has a chance to set things right. It has not had a moment to shine like this since 1787 when our Constitution was written there. In that Constitution, they wrote that a black man or woman was only "three fifths" human. On Tuesday, the good people of Pennsylvania have a chance for redemption. Yours,
Michael Moore
MichaelMoore.com
MMFlint@aol.com

Reverend Wright &Trinity Church

Janice — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:25:57 EDT

The Truth About Trinity United Church of Christ Monday, April 21, 2008Rev. Wright to be interviewed by Bill Moyers

Written by J. Bennett Guess
April 19, 2008

In what will be his first interview since snippets of his preaching became a central issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. will speak publicly to veteran journalist and fellow UCC member Bill Moyers.

The interview will be broadcast on Friday evening, April 25, on Bill Moyers Journal, a PBS news series that airs nationally. Check local listings at www.pbs.org/moyers.

Wright retired in March after 36 years as senior pastor of the 8,000-member Trinity UCC in Chicago, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has been a member for more than 20 years. Trinity UCC is the largest congregation among the UCC's 5,700 churches.

Moyers, a member of Riverside Church (UCC/American Baptist) in New York City, is a critically-acclaimed public affairs journalist who is known for his thoughtful attention to the intersection of politics, religion and the media. Last June, Moyers and Obama were among the presenters at the UCC's 50th anniversary General Synod in Hartford, Conn.

Following his appearance on Bill Moyers Journal, Wright is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the NAACP Detroit Branch on Sunday, April 27. He is also slated to speak on Monday, April 28, to a breakfast gathering at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., followed by a teach-in at Howard University School of Divinity and Shiloh Baptist Church, which also will host an ecumenical prayer service.

"A sound bite cannot capture … a whole sermon,"

We Are The Ones: Obama For a New Generation

Janice — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:25:31 EDT

"We Are The Ones" Video:

http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/

PLEASE CIRCULATE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE!! Pennsylvania: We Need You to Give Obama a VICTORY on Tuesday, April 22nd. Please, PA, we are counting on YOU!! Thank You!!

I Was There: What Obama Really Said About Pennsylvania

Janice — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:21:14 EDT

PLEASE CIRCULATE EVERYWHERE AND FAST!! THANK YOU!!

BY David Coleman From the Huffington Post

I Was There: What Obama Really Said About Pennsylvania

Posted April 14, 2008 | 11:54 AM (EST)

Last Sunday evening I attended the San Francisco fundraiser that has been the center of recent political jousting. The next day, when asked about the talk Obama delivered, I too commented about his answer to a question he was asked about Pennsylvania. Over the past week, though, I have had a Rashomon-like experience concerning those remarks.

Clinton, McCain, and media pundits have parsed a blogger's audio tape of Obama's remarks and criticized a sentence or two characterizing some parts of Pennsylvania and the attitudes of some Pennsylvanians. In context and in person, Senator Obama's remarks about Pennsylvania voters left an impression diametrically opposed to that being trumpeted by his competitor's campaigns.

At the end of Obama's remarks standing between two rooms of guests -- the fourth appearance in California after traveling earlier in the day from Montana -- a questioner asked, "some of us are going to Pennsylvania to campaign for you. What should we be telling the voters we encounter?"

Obama's response to the questioner was that there are many, many different sections in Pennsylvania comprised of a range of racial, geographic, class, and economic groupings from Appalachia to Philadelphia. So there was not one thing to say to such diverse constituencies in Pennsylvania. But having said that, Obama went on say that his campaign staff in Pennsylvania could provide the questioner (an imminent Pennsylvania volunteer) with all the talking points he needed. But Obama cautioned that such talking points were really not what should be stressed with Pennsylvania voters.

Instead he urged the volunteer to tell Pennsylvania voters he encountered that Obama's campaign is about something more than programs and talking points. It was at this point that Obama began to talk about addressing the bitter feelings that many in some rural communities in Pennsylvania have about being brushed aside in the wake of the global economy. Senator Obama appeared to theorize, perhaps improvidently given the coverage this week, that some of the people in those communities take refuge in political concerns about guns, religion and immigration. But what has not so far been reported is that those statements preceded and were joined with additional observations that black youth in urban areas are told they are no longer "relevant" in the global economy and, feeling marginalized, they engage in destructive behavior. Unlike the week's commentators who have seized upon the remarks about "bitter feelings" in some depressed communities in Pennsylvania, I gleaned a different meaning from the entire answer.

First, I noted immediately how dismissive his answer had been about "talking points" and ten point programs and how he used the question to urge the future volunteer to put forward a larger message central to his campaign. That pivot, I thought, was remarkable and unique. Rather than his seizing the opportunity to recite stump-worn talking points at that time to the audience -- as I believe Senator Clinton, Senator McCain and most other more conventional (or more disciplined) politicians at such an appearance might do -- Senator Obama took a different political course in that moment, one that symbolizes important differences about his candidacy.

The response that followed sounded unscripted, in the moment, as if he were really trying to answer a question with intelligent conversation that explained more about what was going on in the Pennsylvania communities than what was germane to his political agenda. I had never heard him or any politician ever give such insightful, analytical responses. The statements were neither didactic nor contrived to convince. They were simply hypotheses (not unlike the kind made by de Tocqueville three centuries ago ) offered by an observer familiar with American communities. And that kind of thoughtfulness was quite unexpected in the middle of a political event. In my view, the way he answered the question was more important than the sociological accuracy or the cause and effect hypotheses contained in the answer. It was a moment of authenticity demonstrating informed intelligence, and the speaker's desire to have the audience join him in a deeper understanding of American politics.

There has been little or no reaction to the part of the answer that was addressed to the hopelessness of inner city youth who have been rendered "irrelevant" to the global economy. No one has seized upon those words as "talking down" to the inner city youth whose plight he was addressing. If extracted from an audio tape HuffPost Blogger Fowler, those remarks could (and may yet) be taken out of context as "Obama excuses alienation and violence by urban youth." But in context, Senator Obama's response sounded like empathetic conclusions and opinions of a keen observer: more like Margaret Mead than Machiavelli.

As the week's firestorm evolved over these remarks at which I was an accidental observer, I have reflected upon the regrettable irony that has emerged from Senator Obama's response to a friendly question: no good effort at intelligent analysis, candor -- and what I heard as an attempt to convey a profound understanding of both what people feel and why they feel it - goes unpunished. Such insights by a political candidate might otherwise be valued. In a national campaign subject to opposition research, his analytical musing has instead created an immense amount of political flak.

Now and "in this time," to invoke one of the candidate's favorite riffs, such observations and remarks shared among supporters are just a push of a record button on a tape recorder away from being spread across the internet to be dissected by political nabobs. What struck me immediately after the fundraiser as so refreshing turned out to be a moment Senator Obama is forced to regret. Today we marvel at de Tocqueville insights about American communities. Apparently, such commentary is valued as long as it is three centuries old and doesn't come from the mouth of a contemporary observer who might be elected president.

So much for the political ironies. But there is one more personal observation that was missed.

I happened to be on the balcony when Senator Obama's vehicles arrived and he emerged from the Secret Service SUV. Obama shouted the friendly greeting "How are you guys up there doing?" to the group of us looking down from the balcony and then said, "You have to excuse me, I need to call my kids in Chicago now." All of us stood and watched the leading candidate for the Democratic party nomination for president have a short conversation with his kids before he entered a fundraiser to make his remarks.

No tape of that conversation has emerged as yet. Who knows how casual remarks of a father to his children or his wife on a cell phone could be spun to support the argument that as a father speaking to his kids two time zones away before they go to bed, his comments sounded as if he "looked down" upon them. Given his relative height and the age of his kids, he probably does. But that would be precisely as relevant to his capacity to unite and lead this country as were the remarks at the fundraiser that have been so deconstructed over this past week.

Obama Keeps Rolling

Janice — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:53:54 EDT

RSS ARCHIVE |Forward Page | E-mail Us
Obama Keeps Rolling, Increases National Poll Lead
Friday, April 18, 2008 11:07 PM

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After a tough six-week stretch of campaign gaffes, roaring controversies and heightened scrutiny, Barack Obama's presidential bid appears as strong as ever - and rival Hillary Clinton is running out of time to change the script.

Obama has expanded his lead on Clinton in many national polls and gained ground on her in the next battleground of Pennsylvania ahead of Tuesday's vote, despite furors over his remarks on small-town residents and inflammatory comments by his former pastor.

Clinton's image appeared to take a heavier hit after wrongly claiming she faced sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996. A Washington Post poll this week found more Americans have an unfavorable impression of her than at any time since she entered the national limelight in 1992.

"It hasn't been a bed of roses for Obama. He's had some problems. But she is the one whose negatives are going up," said Phil Noble, head of the South Carolina New Democrats group and an Obama supporter.

Obama has a nearly unassailable lead on the New York senator in delegates to the August nominating convention and in popular votes won in the first three months of the primary battle.

Clinton hopes a big Pennsylvania win ignites a strong run through the final nine contests, fundamentally reordering the race and giving her fresh evidence to argue she is the strongest candidate to face Republican John McCain in November's presidential election.

But polls show Obama has whittled her once substantial double-digit lead in Pennsylvania to single digits. A Zogby poll on Friday put her lead at 4 points, a Rasmussen poll showed it at 3 points and a Los Angeles Times poll earlier this week had it at 5 points.

A narrow Clinton win probably would be enough to keep her in the race, but would not stem another round of calls among Democrats for her to step aside and let Obama concentrate on the race with McCain.

OBAMA LEAD GROWS

Obama has expanded his national lead in several polls. A Reuters/Zogby poll released earlier this week put it at 13 points, and a daily Gallup tracking poll had it at 7 points, down from his high of 11 earlier in the week.

Obama continues to steadily win endorsements from superdelegates, the nearly 800 Democratic Party insiders who are free to back any candidate and who hold the key to winning the nomination.

"It doesn't seem like she has the power to alter the dynamic of the race anymore," said Simon Rosenberg, head of the Democratic advocacy group NDN.

Rosenberg said Clinton's scenario for winning the Democratic nomination was no longer believable.

"In every way you can measure it, he's won more delegates, he's won more states, he's raised more money, he has a better organization -- all the metrics one has of how to evaluate the race indicate he is winning and she is losing," he said.

Obama, an Illinois senator who would be the first black U.S. president, weathered a flap in March about the controversial comments of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, by giving a widely praised speech on race.

He ignited another firestorm last weekend when his comments about small-town residents at a private San Francisco fundraiser became public. He said small-town residents were clinging to religion and guns out of bitterness about their economic struggles.

In the six-week lull between the last contest in Mississippi, which Obama won, and Tuesday's vote in Pennsylvania, those flaps and Clinton's Bosnia controversy dominated the campaign debate.

But so far, none of the controversies appears to have the strength to derail Obama.

"Voters in the end may not be that agitated about these kinds of things," said Linda Fowler, a political analyst at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. "They really are more concerned about the war and the economy and which candidate is more effective."

© 2008 Reuters. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

Article about John McCain's Position on Key Issues

Janice — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:44:27 EDT

As John McCain heads to Memphis on the anniversary of Dr. King’s death, it’s worth noting his record on the issue of a holiday in King’s honor. When he was a Congressman in 1983, McCain voted against creating a federal Martin Luther King Holiday and his home state rescinded recognition of the holiday in 1987. While he has claimed his position has ‘evolved’ and that his original vote was ‘wrong’ his record of support for racist individuals, and his consistent votes against civil rights legislation belie that claim. And he has employed controversial individuals on his own campaign whose own nasty comments about Martin Luther King undermine McCain’s claims of inclusivity and evolution.

McCain’s Contorted Position on Federal King Holiday
McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]

McCain Said His Position Has ‘Evolved.’ During a 2000 interview, McCain compared his evolution on this issue to former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater. "I believe that Barry Goldwater, to start with, regretted his vote on the 1964 Civil Rights Act," McCain said. "I think that Barry grew, like all of us grow and evolve. In 1983, when I was brand-new in the Congress, I voted against the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King. That was a mistake, OK? And later I had the chance to ... help fight for ... the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King as a holiday in my state." [ www.salon.com 4/18/00; Accessed 4/2/08]

Arizona Governor Rescinded Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In 1987, One of newly elected Governor Evan Mecham’s first acts in office was to rescind Arizona’s recognition of the Martin Luther King Holiday. “Mecham strikes many voters as a simpleminded ideologue who is giving a bad name to the nation's second-fastest-growing state. After rescinding the Jan. 19 holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Mecham defended the use of the term "pickaninnies" for blacks.” [Time 11/9/87]
McCain Said He Thought Governor Was Correct in His Decision According to the Huffington Post, “In 1983, McCain voted against passing a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of King. Four years later, then-Arizona Governor Evan Mecham rescinded Martin Luther King Day as a state holiday, saying it had been established through an illegal executive order by his Democratic predecessor. McCain said he thought Mecham was correct in his decision.” [Sam Stein, Huffington Post, 4/1/08]
McCain: Wrong on Key Issues for People of Color
McCain Consistently Voted Against The Civil Rights Act Of 1990. In 1990, McCain voted against a bill designed to address employer discrimination at least 4 times. According to the Washington Post, the “Civil Rights Act of 1990 is designed to overturn several recent Supreme Court rulings that made it much more difficult for individual employees to prove discrimination. The legislation, being fought by business, also would impose new penalties on employers convicted of job discrimination.” [S 2104, Vote #304, 10/24/90; Vote #276, Vote #275, 10/16/90; Vote #161, 7/18/90; Washington Post, 7/9/90]

McCain Avoided Directly Answering Question on Affirmative Action, Finally Said He Opposed Quotas. While appearing on Hardball, McCain was asked about his views on affirmative action. After criticizing teachers’ unions, McCain said, “I want to test voucher programs. Cindy and I have chosen to send our 15-year-old daughter to a Catholic school, because we think that's the best.” He added that he’d ensure that, “Every school and library in America is being wired to the Internet… But, no, I do not support quotas, and have seen the results of it.” [NBC, “Hardball,” 2/9/00]
McCain Would Not Support Affirmative Action for College Admissions. In a 2004 questionnaire, Senator McCain indicated he would not support affirmative action policies in public college admissions. [2004 National Political Awareness Test- Senator McCain]

McCain Voted Against Addressing The Disproportionate Number Of Minority Children In Prison. In 1999, McCain voted to table an amendment that required States to address juvenile delinquency prevention efforts and system improvement efforts designed to reduce, without numerical standards or quotas, disproportionate number of juvenile members of 'racial minority groups' who come in contact with juvenile justice system. The motion to table passed 52-48. [S 254, Vote #130, 5/19/99]

McCain Strategist Opposed King Holiday
McCain Defended Controversial Spokesman Richard Quinn, McCain's who called the MLK Holiday "Vitriolic and Profane." Richard Quinn, was a South Carolina "strategist" for McCain in the 2000 campaign. In a Partisan View column, Richard Quinn wrote, "King Day should have been rejected because its purpose is vitriolic and profane. By celebrating King as the incarnation of all they admire, they [black leaders] have chosen to glorify the histrionic rather than the heroic and by inference they spurned the brightest and the best among their own race. Ignoring the real heroes in our nation's life, the blacks have chosen a man who represents not their emancipation, not their sacrifices and bravery in service to their country; rather, they have chosen a man whose role in history was to lead his people into a perpetual dependence on the welfare state, a terrible bondage of body and soul.” Quinn has also advocated electing David Duke, and sold T-Shirts through his magazine celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. [Partisan View, Southern Partisan, Fall, 1983; Partisan View, Southern Partisan, Winter, 1989, PFAW Release, 2/17/00] [Spartanburg Herald-Journal, 12/23/05; Vanity Fair, 11/04]

McCain Defended Quinn as ‘Respected’ and a ‘Fine Man.” Despite Mr. Quinn’s writings and history of racial insensitivity, McCain defended him as a ‘respected’ and ‘fine man’ and refused to fire him. [Associated Press, 2/18/00; New York Times, 2/8/00]

McCain Is the Same As Bush: Wrong on Key Progressive IssuesMcCain on Iraq: “I Don’t Think Americans Are Concerned If We’re There For 100 Years or 1,000 Years or 10,000 Years.” In an interview on “Face the Nation,” host Bob Scieffer asked McCain about staying in Iraq for 100 year. McCain responded, “We’ve got to get Americans off the front line, have the Iraqis as part of the strategy, take over more and more of the responsibilities. And then I don’t think Americans are concerned if we’re there for 100 years or 1,000 years or 10,000 years. [CBS, “Face the Nation,” 1/06/08]

McCain Housing Speech Blamed Americans Who “Bought Homes They Couldn’t Afford” and Argued Against Vigorous Federal Intervention. On March 25th, John McCain delivered a speech on the housing crisis. According to the New York Times, “McCain appeared to be trying to confront questions about his dexterity in dealing with the economy, a subject that he has admitted is not his strongest suit.” During the speech, McCain said, “Some Americans bought homes they couldn'’t afford, betting that rising prices would make it easier to refinance later at more affordable rates.” The New York Times reported, “Mr. McCain argued this week against a vigorous federal intervention to address the crisis, saying Washington should not bail out banks and homeowners who in his view had knowingly taken on risky mortgages.” [New York Times, 3/26/08; 3/28/08]

McCain’s Plan: Tax Cuts To For Businesses. According to the Associated Press, John McCain proposed a long-term economic plan that would lower the corporate income tax rate and provide several other tax breaks for businesses. McCain proposed cutting the corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent. McCain said that his plan was “pro growth, less taxes and less spending” versus “the Democrats’ tired ideas of tax and spend.” [Associated Press, 1/17/08]

McCain Repeatedly Voted Against Raising The Minimum Wage. In the senate, John McCain voted at least eight times against measure to increase the minimum wage. [HR 2, Vote #23, 1/24/07; S.Amdt. 44 to S. 256, Vote #26, 3/07/05; S.Amdt. 128 to S. 256, Vote #27, 3/07/05; S.Amdt. 3079 to S.Amdt. 2951 to S.Con.Res. 101, Vote #76, 4/07/00; S.Amdt. 1383 to S. 1429, Vote #239, 7/30/99; S. 96, Vote #94, 4/28/99; S .Amdt. 3540 to S.Amdt. 3559 to S. 1301, Vote S.Amdt. 4272 to H.R. 3448, Vote #183, 7/06/96]

NOW: In A “Breathtaking Turnabout” McCain “Embraced” the Bush Tax Cuts. The New York Times reported, “But an equally breathtaking turnabout occurred earlier in the year, when Mr. McCain embraced the Bush tax cuts he had once denounced as an unaffordable giveaway to the rich. In an interview with National Review, Mr. McCain justified his reversal by saying, ‘Tax cuts, starting with Kennedy, as we all know, increase revenues.’” [New York Times, 10/9/07]

THEN: McCain Voted Against the Bush Tax Cut Citing Benefits For The Wealthy. In 2001, John McCain voted against final passage of the Bush tax cut. McCain said, “I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief.” [H.R. 1836, Roll Call Vote #170, 5/26/01; Los Angeles Times, 5/27/01]

Chicago Mayor Scoffs at Ayers Accusation

Janice — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:36:05 EDT

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley Scoffs At Ayers AccusationPosted on April 17th, 2008 by PaddyWhat Daley says too-

The mayor released the following statement:
There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama’s opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don’t condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles.

But Hillary’s campaign just can’t let it go-

But the Clinton campaign was not about to drop Ayers connection to Obama. Ayers hosted a neighborhood coffee for Obama’s initial 1996 Illinois state Senate run and gave Obama a $200 donation for his state Senate re-election campaign in 2001.
In a conference call with reporters today, Clinton spokesmen Howard Wolfson and Phil Singer sought to maintain that Obama’s political relationship with Ayers was more important than the decision by Clinton’s husband, President Bill Clinton, to commute the sentences of two of Ayers’ former Weather Underground members, Susan Rosenberg and Linda Evans on terrorist related weapons charges.

Fox News Left Speechless on Rev. Wright!!

Janice — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:05:41 EDT

A highly respected Catholic Priest, Father Michael Pleger of St. Sabina in Chicago, sets Fox News straight on the Reverend Wright issue. Finally, Fox News is left speechless.

Please circulate far and wide as we enter the "11th hour" before the PA primary. Go Obama!! PA we need YOU! to give Obama a BIG WIN on Tuesday, April 22nd!! We are counting on YOU! to help Obama and all America bring change in Washington!! GOTV for Obama!! YES WE CAN, WE WILL & WE MUST!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0wvQMqSzTM

Clinton Friend Backs Obama

Janice — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:52:24 EDT

April 18, 2008Clinton friend Reich backs ObamaPosted: 07:10 PM ET Reich is a former Clinton administration member.

(CNN) — Robert Reich, a former Clinton cabinet member and longtime friend of the former president, has formally endorsed Barack Obama's White House bid, saying Friday that "my conscience won't let me be silent any longer."

"Although Hillary Clinton has offered solid and sensible policy proposals, Obama's strike me as even more so," Reich wrote on his blog. He served as the Secretary of Labor from 1993-1997 and is currently a professor at UC Berkeley.

"His plans for reforming Social Security and health care have a better chance of succeeding," Reich continued. "His approaches to the housing crisis and the failures of our financial markets are sounder than hers. His ideas for improving our public schools and confronting the problems of poverty and inequality are more coherent and compelling. He has put forward the more enlightened foreign policy and the more thoughtful plan for controlling global warming."

Reich, whose relationship with the Clintons dates back to their law school days at Yale, has long been a critic of the New York senator's White House bid. Shortly before the Iowa caucuses in January, he wrote that voters would have a choice "between someone who talks the talk, and somebody who's walked the walk."

Read the rest of this entry »

From: CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney, CNN's Peter Hamby
Filed under: Hillary Clinton • Robert Reich

488 Comments | Permalink

Calling All Primary Voters: Say No to Racial Pollsters & Politics

Janice — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:08:18 EDT

By VC Today at 9:56 am EDT TO ALL VOTERS IN PENNSYLVANIA, INDIANA, AND NORTH CAROLINA.

Remember we are trying to stop the media all out attacks on Barack. Remember when you go to the polls, and you are asked to complete exit poll questions, please don't answer any questions regarding your racial identity or any questions about Rev. Wright. They will try to use it to say Barack is not electable. if the pollster is asking and recording the answers for you, do not answer because they will complete race information for you. if you stop answering this question, they will stop asking the question, and they will have to stop talking about it. don't give Hillary or the media any more fuel for the fire.

--------------

Isn't this a great idea to control the race-bating in this election. Of course, pollsters will do it by judging voters' race on their own, but we don't have to help them. Besides, it takes away from their credibility if voters do not indicate their race themselves. Let's get beyond racial politics and change this country for the better!! Obama '08 YES WE CAN, WE WILL AND WE MUST!!

Elitism Charges: "Silly"

Janice — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:04:20 EDT

Obama Leans on Poor Upbringing to Dismiss Elitism Charges as ‘Silly’by FOXNews.comTuesday, April 15, 2008

Tuesday: Barack Obama speaks at a town hall-style meeting with veterans at Washington Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. (AP Photo)

Barack Obama, under attack for his “condescending” remarks about small-town America, told Pennsylvania voters on Tuesday that it’s just “silly” to call someone who was raised by a single mother and who was on food stamps an elitist.

Both Hillary Clinton and John McCain have assailed Obama for saying that small-town voters are clinging to guns and religion because they are frustrated with Washington. Clinton, who has repeatedly broached the issue with voters, launched an ad in Pennsylvania Tuesday featuring five residents criticizing Obama’s remarks.

Asked about the flak he’s been taking, Obama said the charges make little sense to him.

“I am amused about this notion of elitist, given that when you’re raised by a single mom, when you’re on food stamps for a while when you were growing up, you went to school on scholarship….” he said, also talking about his wife Michelle’s money troubles.

“So when somebody makes that argument, particularly given that I spent my entire life working with workers, low-income communities to try to make people’s lives a little bit better, then that’s when you know we’re in political silly season,” he told a veterans forum in Washington, Pa.

“Hopefully it’ll come to an end fairly soon and we can start focusing on the issues that the people of Pennsylvania and the American people care about.”

The individual who asked about the comments suggested the charges of elitism had racial overtones.

“As a white person, this term, the way it is being used against you, it isn’t far from ‘uppity,’ OK?” the man told Obama angrily. “And I think the Clintons are getting away with something that they must be called on. They will continue to do it until somebody states, ‘Mrs Clinton, you’re really close to prejudice here. This is wrong.’”

Obama said it was “nice to say that,” but he didn’t think racial overtones were shading the debate.

“I think that, you know, it’s politics,” he said. “When we start getting behind in races, then we start going on the attack.”

In a counter to Clinton’s ad, Obama’s campaign release an ad Tuesday that showed footage of Clinton being jeered for bringing up Obama’s “bitter” comments at a Pittsburgh event the day before.

“There’s a reason people are rejecting Hillary Clinton’s attacks,” the narrator says. “Because the same old Washington politics won’t lower the price of gas or help our struggling economy. Barack Obama will represent all Americans. He offers a new approach”

Obama made the controversial remarks at a San Francisco fund-raiser a week ago, saying voters facing economic hard times in rural Pennsylvania and elsewhere “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

His opponents, and his opponents’ surrogates, say that Obama’s words showed his true disdain for small-town voters, expressed in an unguarded moment among friends.

But with just one week remaining until the April 22 Pennsylvania primary, and with little movement in the polls as a result of the flap, Obama has said that voters are justifiably angry over high gas prices, the loss of manufacturing jobs and other examples of economic insecurity, but can still appreciate a message of hope.

“Just because you’re mad, just because it seems like nobody is listening to ordinary Americans, that’s not a reason to give up hope,” Obama told the Building Trades National Legislative Conference.

“You get mad and then you decide you’re going to change it. If you’re not angry about something you’re going to sit back and let it happen to you. If you’re only angry, you don’t feel hopeful.”

FOX News’ Aaron Bruns contributed to this report.

Lea

Where Have All the Leaders Gone? By Lee Iacocca

Janice — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:04:50 EDT

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book,

'Where Have All The Leaders Gone?' and here are some excerpts

Lee Iacocca says:
'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis!

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes.

A Hell of a Mess

So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed
that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we
going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope, I believe in America . I n my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm r aising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work.Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Excerpted from 'Where Have All the Leaders Gone?'.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.

OBAMA '08 YES WE CAN!! AND WE MUST!!

Yes, Obama's So Right!! Bitter R Many of Us!

Janice — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:31:03 EDT

Check out video below from the movie, Network. Sound familiar?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=90ELleCQvew

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/4/11/222036/551

Obama's Counter Punch About Attack on His Recent Comments

Janice — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:16:36 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow

Gallup Daily -- April 8, 2008

Janice — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:00:21 EDT

Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Gallup Daily: Obama Maintains Lead in Democratic Race

Barack Obama continues to hold a significant lead over Hillary Clinton, 51% to 43%, in Democratic voters' presidential nomination preferences.

Posted by EmpowerTube on Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Factor Military Duty Into Criticism: Chicago Tribune

Janice — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:59:28 EDT

Factor military duty into criticismBy Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss April 3, 2008 In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him.

We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.

Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.

How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many.

While words do count, so do actions.

Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0404wrightapr03,0,92000.story

Pride in America from One Black Perspective

Janice — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:14:27 EDT

Received this "Letter to the Editor" in my personal email. Please circulate far and wide. Thanks.

As a 78 year old American of African descent, I feel compelled to respond to all this "much ado about nothing" when it comes to the statement that Michelle Obama made about the fact that this is the first time in her adult life that she has been proud to be an American. The country needs to hear this from the Black perspective. Long before I was born, my grandfather Joseph Burleson, owned a considerable amount of land in oil rich Texas. Because during that era, Blacks could not vote, nor could they contest anything in the courts of the United States...Do you think I am proud of that? ...In 1943 my parents attempted to buy the 2 flat at 5338 South Kenwood, in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL we were told that we could not buy it because there was a restrictive covenant that said that the property was never to be sold to "Negroes." Do you think I am PROUD OF THAT? ...My cousin's barbershop was bombed in Mississippi in the 50's because he was encouraging Black people to register to vote. ..Is that something I should be PROUD OF? Now we get to Rev. Jeremiah Wright,... Would any of the talking heads who are so alarmed by Rev. Wright's thoughts and speeches suggest that Catholics should abandon their faith or denounce and reject the Pope because so many priests have molested children? ... Should Governor Romney denounce and
reject the Mormon Church because some of their members practice polygamy? ...Like, Michelle Obama, after living in this country all of my 78 years, loving my country and not understanding why my country has not loved me, I now for the first time in my adult life feel PROUD OF MY COUNTRY because I sense a maturing, a recognition of talent and character, and not color, and a field of candidates aspiring to l ead this nation coming from very diverse backgrounds of gender, religious beliefs, national origin, ethnicity, age and experiences. This to me is the HOPE that America is coming into her own and will begin to CHANGE and will embrace the philosophy upon which this country was founded, where all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Now I truly believe, YES WE CAN!

For further information: Contact: Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration
(708) 747-0919

The Very Best Thing About Barack Obama!

Janice — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:06:33 EDT

The very best thing about Barack ObamaNo, not that. Or that or that or that. It's that other thing, deeper, crazier, intuitive

By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

Friday, April 4, 2008

Nope, it's not what you might think. The best thing about Barack Obama has almost nothing to do with him as a person or as a leader or even as Oh My God The First Black President Who Could Really Change Everything I Mean Wow. It's not even the wondrous oratory power or the charisma or the sweet sense of deeper change overlaid with all kinds of sparkly utopian futuriffic goodness.

There is, I think, something more. Something richer. And it's rather startling.

See, I've read the profiles and the liberal fawnings and the intelligent analysis, the attempted takedowns and the right-wing smears, all the valiant attempts to dig up something dirty or problematic or frightening about Obama and his family, his past, his middle name, his beliefs and his pastor and his favorite flavor of ice cream — attempts that, rather amusingly, have all failed.

I've read, too, the glut of wonderment, how Obama is this generation's JFK, how he makes Hillary Clinton's brand of retro cronyist politics feel like the equivalent of rubbing salt on a paper cut. He is, they say, that once-in-a-lifetime candidate, a fantastically rare mix of intelligence, consistency, inspiration, hope, charisma, humanity, articulation, and an almost shocking lack of manipulation and sheen (well, relatively speaking), all packaged in a strikingly handsome unit in whose closet apparently live almost no skeletons at all.

I also nodded in agreement when snark-master Jon Stewart appeared slightly stunned and taken aback and very nearly jokeless as he pointed out, following Obama's remarkable speech on race in America, that at long last, here was a top-tier politician who dared to speak to us like we were adults. It wasn't just refreshing; after seven-plus years of humiliating, monosyllabic dumb-guy Bushisms, it was downright jarring.

And I even enjoyed the overall assessment that the fact that Obama is untested and inexperienced in the higher and more dire realms of government is actually a good thing, just the kind of wild card we crave and need, given how he shows absolutely zero signs that he'd screw it up, not to mention how the last thing anyone really wants is more of the same old-school, inbred crap we've had for decades.

Still, this wasn't what riveted me the most about Obama, still not what's most fascinating about this moment in political history. It was still something more.

Initially I thought the most impressive aspect of Obama's run was, well, how the guy made it this far at all. That someone of his caliber and obvious intelligence could survive what has become a truly caustic, brutal political system and still emerge into the international spotlight as, well, not deeply f—ed-up and insane, not possessing that creepy demonic gleam shared by so many politicos (hi, Sen. McCain!) that suggests they've had souls eaten whole by the same scabrous trolls of greed and war and corruption that birthed two Bushes and gave Bill Clinton that nearly intolerable aura of ego and slickness.

See, I've long believed that, if nearly eight years of the World's Worst President has taught us anything, it's that the American political system has moved well beyond merely deeply flawed and broken and sad, and is now wholly rotted, ruined from the inside out, a true moral wasteland barely suitable even for cockroaches and leeches and Rick Santorum. I thought George W. Bush had actually managed to do the impossible: make an already defective system truly unbearable, turning something already gray and murky to turgid and pathetic, toxic to all decent human life.

And I'm happy to report that the fact that Obama exists at this stage of the game is proving me very wrong indeed.

But I'll even take it a step further. Because the greatest thing about Obama isn't really about Obama at all, per se. It's actually about, well, us.

This is the great revelation: We still got it. The collective unconscious, the deep sense of inner wisdom, that intuitive knowing that borders on a kind of mystical proficiency, where millions of people can actually look beyond rhetoric and media spin and merely feel the presence of something great in the room? Yep, still there. Who knew?

See, this is what I hear most from relatives and readers and friends and newborn activists who were never activists before: Obama speaks to the intuition. It's about the sixth sense. It's not just what he says or how he behaves in the debates or the policy wonking or the "Change" banners or any of the typical, tangible factors — although those have proven to be remarkably positive, too.

It's this: People feel it. They hear an Obama speech or read the articles or talk to like-minded folk, and they squint their eyes and weigh everything and then dismiss all that surface crap and get that look on their face that says, you know what? This guy gets it. He feels right. It's not a trick of light. It's not complete bulls—. It's not the usual spin and manipulation and fakery. There is actual meat on this bone. What a thing.

Of course, I've plenty of readers who are die-hard cynics and jaded anarchists who say: What the f— is wrong with you? Can't you see it's just another vicious ploy? All candidates at this level are essentially the same, interchangeable, all abhorrent simply by default because when you reach that stage of the game there is simply no way to avoid deep corruption and rampant lies. They tell me that even just to write a column like this is akin to merely washing the windows in your little pod in "The Matrix." Sure, the world may seem shinier, but you're still just buying into the same old revolting corporate/military machine.

After all, once the vipers of big money and big oil and military spending and corporate cronyism get their fangs sunk in, it's pretty much "game over" for any candidate's remaining integrity. Has Mr. Perfect Obama spoken out against the insidious Patriot Act or taken on the absurd farm subsidies or talked up issues of global warming? No he has not. As nice and smart as he may be, strip away all the fawning and the oratory tricks and give him a year in office and boom, just another corrupted, compromised former visionary. Right?

Whatever. I'm not buying it. At least, not yet. For the moment, I trust the collective intuition. I trust the shockingly widespread sense, not merely of hope and change, but of collective wisdom swimming though the air like an electrical surge between every smart, creative person on the planet right now, a bolt of energy that says: Hey, we're still together. We still got it. Smart, intuitive people are still a force. There is life in the revolution yet.

And Obama? He gets it, too. Hell, he may have kindled it anew, all by himself. Either way, it's back. And it's powerful. And that, to me, is the most hopeful thing of all.

Thoughts about this column? E-mail Mark.

Mark Morford's Notes & Errata column appears every Wednesday and Friday on SFGate and in the Datebook section of the San Francisco Chronicle. To get on the e-mail list for this column, please click here and remove one article of clothing.

Mark's column also has an RSS feed and an archive of past columns, which includes another small photo of Mark potentially sufficient for you to recognize him in the street and give him gifts. He also has a raw Facebook page, but has little idea why.

My Fellow Clintonites, It's Time for Obama!

Janice — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:43:41 EDT

From the Boston Globe

My fellow Clintonites, it's time for Obama

By Tripp Jones April 5, 2008

FOR SUPPORTERS of Senator Hillary Clinton, like me, it's time to get behind her rival, Senator Barack Obama.

The exposure of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.'s outrageous and divisive remarks has injected the raw emotions associated with race relations into the presidential campaign. This new dynamic raises the stakes in an already high-stakes race. Our responsibility as progressive-minded voters is to show Americans a positive alternative to the toxic politics of race. Rallying around Obama now increases our chances of doing just that. Obama has run a positive and inspiring campaign, and has attracted a majority of pledged delegates. It is hard to envision a scenario in which Democratic superdelegates override the will of millions of primary voters and caucus participants. Obama will be the nominee.

Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Wright presents Republicans with a polarizing wedge issue to exploit with general election voters. This approach not only risks an Obama loss in November - denying us a fresh, capable leader - but it would set the country back in its racial reconciliation process. Americain 2008 should be better than that.

As we have done at many key junctures in our nation's history, Democrats and other progressive-minded voters must lead the way. The current firestorm is an opportunity to move beyond the anger and resentment that have characterized our nation's dialogue on race. By throwing our enthusiastic support behind Obama now, voters of all political stripes can echo the candidate's refrain, "Not this time."

There have been many moments in our history when we failed to heed that call. Twenty years ago, as a staffer of Governor Michael Dukakis's presidential campaign, I observed the use of the now-famous "Willie Horton" ad to undermine a good man's character, fan the flames of racial division and distract voters from the most important issues of the time.

Not this time. We have an opportunity to show that we have learned from our mistakes. The first step, which Obama took in his recent speech on race, was to condemn Wright's offensive rhetoric.

The second step is in our hands: Strengthen Obama as the Democratic nominee by uniting behind him now. Amplify his postpartisan message to American voters. Families in Pennsylvania, like those across America, are feeling insecure about their jobs, healthcare, their children's education, and the safety of the nation. They want leaders to be bold and practical in addressing our most serious challenges, and to work across party lines to achieve results. Obama promises to do that.

Those of us who have supported Clinton and continue to believe that she would be an excellent president can play an important part in moving our nation forward by supporting Obama. We can spread the word that he offers the right leadership for these challenging times.

Our support would send a powerful message that the United States is headed in a new direction - on race relations, certainly, but perhaps most importantly, on what it means to be an American.

Tripp Jones is cofounder of MassINC.

Fox News On Notice!

Janice — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:00:01 EDT

So glad to have spotted the letter below in a BarackObama.com blog!! We need more of them to get the word out that Fox "News'" shows, that is, The Factor, Hannity and Colmes and On The Record, only engage in "seek and destroy missons" against Barack Obama. Their "news" is political propaganda and not objective reporting of the news at all.By Phil from Canada 29 minutes ago I read here that Mercedes-Benz is a sponsor of FOX News. I wrote the following letter, and will email it tomorrow:

4 April 2008

Mercedes-Benz Ltd.
*, Mercedes-Benz Ltd.
*, DCFS Canada Corp.
2680 Matheson Blvd. E. Suite 500
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 0A5

Dear Mr. * and Ms. *,

As you are aware, since 2005, I have purchased two Mercedes-Benz automobiles with a total value exceeding $200,000. Mr. * is also familiar with my continued interest in acquiring a C65 AMG when this vehicle becomes generally available. With regret, I must at this time postpone my purchase.

Although the vehicle remains highly attractive, I have been made aware that Mercedes-Benz is a sponsor of FOX News, which has launched a campaign of almost-daily attacks on US Presidential Candidate, Senator Barack Obama that serve no purpose but to denigrate his character. FOX News features programs such as "The Sean Hannity Show" that broadcast content that I find disturbing, sensationalistic, and unprofessional.

As their conduct is a direct violation of my personal ethics, and I cannot support Mercedes-Benz until such time that either Mercedes-Benz ceases its sponsorship of FOX News, or that FOX News ceases its bias in coverage.

I have not yet considered vehicles by other manufacturers. As I have told Mr. *, I am pleased with both the quality of your vehicles and by your exceptional service. I hope that Mercedes-Benz will consider my concerns seriously and take action.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Respectfully,

*

The Obamas: A Captivating First Family

Janice — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:41:07 EDT

Obama's African Connection Is A Plus, Not A Negative!

Janice — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:39:39 EDT

9/11 occurred in 2001 and as far as it's known there was the 1 sermon about it. The same is possibly the case with the other sermons that were aired on cable news and YouTube. So we're talking maybe 3 or 4 sermons, possibly, that were the source of the exaggerated media attention to Rev. Wright. And what is the timeframe for these sermons -- were they scattered over a few years or were they presented together within a couple of weeks or months?

I raise this point because many blogs suggest Rev. Wright has been preaching sermons of this nature for his entire ministry of 30 years -- or the 20 years Barack Obama attended anyway. There is no such evidence of that. And it is unknown how often the Obamas attended the church. Many people attend church occasionally (once or twice a month) rather than every week.

But I do not want to sound as if I find fault with the sermons by any means. Yes, the rhetoric was condemnatory from a spiritual point of view, but if you listen to all of the 9/11 sermon you will understand why Rev. Wright spoke so forcefully about violence begetting violence. His sermons were not anti-America or anti-any person, per se. Anyone drawing that conclusion is reading something in that is not there and seeks to discredit Wright and Obama and nothing more, likely because of their own personal biases or desire to play up their choice of presidential candidate at Obama's expense. (The sermon endorsing Obama as a presidential candidate did, indeed, strongly advocate against his parishoners' support of Hillary Clinton. And Rev. Wright's reference to the Italian people in a 2007 article is in need of a prompt correction.)

Another point is with the African-oriented focus of the church. Why is it surprising that Obama would attend there? He likely found it to be a bridge to a spiritual connection with his Father and his Father's native country of Kenya, which is, of course, in Africa. Because Obama grew up without his Father, and longed for a relationship with him, why is it so difficult to understand his connection with an African-oriented Christian Church?

Many African-Americans have sought an understanding of their full identity by exploring African culture and traditions. It doesn't mean a denial or anti-American thinking. Rather, it means a desire to seek a fuller understanding of their heritage. This search may be through their professional affiliations, such as national associations of Black professionals in law, psychology, sociology, criminal justice, etc, and through a study and enjoyment of Africa or African-American literature, entertainment, cuisine, music and dance. And very importantly, American culture has benefitted greatly from this exploration by the integration within it of various African-oriented traditions, such as the Alvin Ailey Dancers, Roots and genealogy's popularity and the highly successful Motown sound of the '60's, to give just a few examples. It's important to be aware that being "for" one thing does not mean being "against" something else.

Men 4 Obama Video!

Janice — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:24:58 EDT

Received from my personal email. Great video! I've seen videos made for and by Women for Obama. Check out this awesome video for the Men for Obama. Pass it on.http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=NPjXqkZXbQ4 --
Julia Milazzo

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."

Letter from the Clintons' Pastor about Rev. Wright

Janice — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:45:56 EDT

Letter of the day: Clinton, her pastor disagree about Wright

Last update: March 27, 2008 - 6:14 PM

Hillary Clinton attends the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington. So does Bill Clinton. Hillary suggests she would not have the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's controversial former minister, as her pastor.

But the senior pastor of her church has a very different take on how Americans should react to Wright. The Rev. Dean Snyder wrote, "The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism, and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream.

"To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church, which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear.

"Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth. "

JACK BEAIRD, GOLDEN VALLEY

High School Students Inspired by Obama!

Janice — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 08:16:10 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9IldaegAB0&eurl=http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/partc

This video is a "must watch" about Bronx students' inspiration received from Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

TX Senate Conventions -- SD 13/Precinct 140

Janice — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:44:06 EDT

The Burnt Orange Report (BOR) is tracking the senate conventions throughout TX today. The conventions decide the state delegate caucus tally for Clinton and Obama. The BOR has them at a virtual tie at 5:25 pm CST today: 50-50. I attended the SD 14 convention at TSU. When I left, one resolution aimed to consolidate the primary/caucus delegate process into the primary vote, was voted down. Hopefully, the other conventions will eliminate the caucus. It was exhaustive attending the lengthy caucaus throughout Harris County (mine lasted 2 1/2 hours, from 7-9:30pm on election night, but I heard others continued until 2 or 3am!).

My precinct, 140, which heavily favored Obama in the primary, gave all 4 caucus delegates to the state convention to Obama. 3 alternate delegates also went to Obama and 1 went to Hillary.

Precinct 140 Obama delegates got the last laugh with one very vocal Hillary delegate. It turned out that her nephew, an Obama delegate, was nominated to go to the state convention. His aunt, the Hillary delegate, had to break rank with the Hillary camp and vote for her nephew. When it was all said and done, I chided her some about how hard it must have been to yield to her nephew and vote for an Obama delegate vs a Hillary delegate rather than sticking with the Hillary group (we could only vote once for a convention delegate). She said blood was thicker than Hillary or Obama, but clearly didn't like having to compromise her valued delegate vote for Obama. Such is this funny thing called politics.

Sheila Jackson Lee received a loud chorus of "boos" and chants of "O-ba-ma!" throughout her speech at the convention.

Texas Senate Convention This Saturday!!

Janice — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:35:09 EDT

Below is a message I received in my personal email to give an idea about the uproar about Texas delegates from the March 4th caucus. This Saturday is a big day in Texas as we attend the Senate convention to count Obama and Clinton delegates. Give us your prayers that all will go well, especially with the onslaught of Clinton supporters trying to pull Obama delegates to their side. Thanks. Janice

"Hey everyone! This is regarding the emails and calls we have been getting from Hillary people about urging us delegates to support HER in the Senate Convention on Saturday instead of Obama--essentially hoping we will flip. It has gotten out of hand and harassing. Pathetic and dirty to say the least. You're right, we should report it to someone but I don't know to whom. It's important because the effort is organized enough that it can't just be random idiots doing it. It must come from higher up in her campaign. I think some people in Pennsylvania are currently active in flooding the media with various info. but I've never done it. If someone can get an official statement together maybe one of them can forward it to--whoever. Any other ideas?"

Gallup Poll: Obama Retakes National Lead

Janice — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:29:27 EDT

Gallup: Obama Retakes Lead Over Hillary
By Eric Kleefeld - March 22, 2008, 5:12PM
Today's Gallup tracking poll shows Barack Obama retaking the national lead over Hillary Clinton, after the Jeremiah Wright scandal had badly damaged his numbers and put him behind for nearly a week. Here are today's numbers, compared to yesterday:

Obama 48% (+3)
Clinton 45% (-2)
It would appear that Obama's big speech on Tuesday, combined with the Bill Richardson endorsement, have gone a long way in fixing his poll numbers for now. But he still has yet to fully recover the six-point lead he had in Gallup a little over a week ago.

Roland Martin On Race, Faith and Politics

Janice — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:35:33 EDT

CNN) -- The revelation of controversial comments made by the longtime pastor of Sen. Barack Obama, and the equally hot aftermath from the general public that led to the junior senator from Illinois delivering a strong speech/sermon on race in America, has opened anew the explosive connection between three of the most volatile issues today.

Roland S. Martin says race, faith and politics are the most emotional, passionate and divisive topics in America.

If a poll were taken, there is no doubt that race, faith and politics would be the most emotional, passionate and divisive topics. Why? Because all three are so deeply personal. What one person sees as a negative, another would determine as a strength.

Republicans strongly believe that they are superior and right on the direction of the nation compared to Democrats. African Americans are protective of their culture and ways of living, while whites routinely ask why we can't just be one nation with no labels. Catholics contend they are the one and only true church, while Baptists will say that being dipped in the water after making a personal decision to give your life to Christ is the true way of salvation for the believer.

As a Christian, I've seen church members go toe-to-toe when discussing either one of these issues, and can remember some late night debates in college that would have made the toes of Lincoln and Douglas curl.

So why did the comments of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright strike such a core, and how did it lead to Obama to give a speech on race? That was the question posed to me in a number of e-mails, and like Obama stated in his speech, it's really America's lack of understanding -- no, refusal to accept -- how the different races live and act.

The Kerner Commission stated in 1968 that we were living in two Americas -- one black and one white. When we examine the TV shows we all watch, those in the top 10 for whites are vastly different than those for blacks. Musical tastes vary, so do cultural norms. We all kid ourselves that during March Madness, the courts are loaded with mostly African American ballplayers, yet when the College World Series tips off in May, you will see mostly whites on the baseball diamond.

But we are also separate when it comes to worship. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said the most segregated hour of the week is 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. And it still is. For Christians, we may celebrate the same Jesus, but how we do so and with whom is very different.

I fundamentally believe that whites, blacks -- and yes, Hispanics and Asians -- reacted differently when hearing the snippets of Wright's preaching. Not solely because of content, but also style. For African Americans and a lot of Southern whites who are accustomed to a certain style of preaching, the thundering voice that drops to a whisper, the weaving of social issues with the theological, is common.

Even former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- while not embracing Wright -- agreed with that point.

Yet our view of America is also different. Justified? No. Just different.

While many white Americans will look at Memorial or Veterans Day as an opportunity to celebrate our armed forces, African Americans do the same, but also will think historically about black troops hung from trees, still in their uniforms. They will think of black soldiers returning home to America during World War II forced to sit in the back of the train, while German Nazis got to sit up front.

When Wright was castigated for being anti-American for saying "God damn America!" -- which was not delivered in his speech about September 11, 2001 -- I couldn't help but think about that famous speech Dr. King gave at Riverside Church on April 4, 1967, when he blasted America's involvement in the Vietnam War.

King was disowned by many of his supporters, was denounced as a traitor to the nation and his speaking fees dried up.

See, even the man who many conservatives quote today with fervor, was treated as an outcast in his own country.

Our shared experiences today may not be so raw and overt as America's racial past, but we can't forget how our past defines us today.

Are these excuses? Nope. Just a dose of reality.

I watched Joe Scarborough on MSNBC say, while qualifying that these weren't his views, that a blue-collar man in Youngstown, Ohio, didn't want to hear about race from a black man who went to Harvard and his black wife who went to Princeton.

He's probably right. But what Scarborough failed to mention is that same black man came from a single-parent home where the mom had to go on welfare just to feed her family. That same black woman lived in a two-bedroom home and saw her parents bust their butts to make ends meet, and scrape together every penny to send their children to the nation's finest schools.

Isn't that the dream of every white, blue-collar parent, and every black, blue-collar parent? So why should such success be seen as anger towards someone else?

When we sit down, break bread together and truly listen and learn from one another, our world view changes.

For the last few months I've seen that experience up close and personal at my church in Chicago, Illinois.

The Rev. James Meeks, founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church, a predominantly black congregation, has been engaged in worship with another predominantly white mega-church, Willow Creek, led by its founder and senior pastor, Bill Hybels.

The pastors of the Illinois' two largest churches have been engaged in the swapping of youth members and choirs, have preached at each other's church, and have made it their mission to break down the racial and economic walls that exist between Christians.

It has been rocky at times. Watching the faces of African Americans at the at a Willow Creek worship service, it is clear they find it a bit jarring -- from the style of preaching to the music. But the common denominator is the same: Jesus.

There is no doubt that a lot of Americans are angry and confused by Obama staying at Trinity United Church of Christ and not disowning his pastor.

Folks, that's just not what church folks do. I don't recall folks asking members of the Rev. Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson to leave their churches in droves. They knew their leaders are fallible and make mistakes. Should they be criticized for hateful and divisive comments? Absolutely. Disowned?

I would never say that.

This is an opportunity for us. Those of us in the media, as Obama said, can continue to run the same clips, but is that providing healing to America?

No.

What we can do is begin to show where communities are coming together, talking openly and honestly about their hurts, frustrations and pain. Will we get angry and upset because of the other person isn't fully getting what we are trying to say? Of course! But until we decide to look in that mirror, and confront our deep-seated fears of the other because of their race, religion and political affiliation, we'll remain a fractured nation.

The Bible says don't put new wine in old wine skins. So let's stop using the resentments and anger of the past against the people of today and the future.

So, what are YOU prepared to do?

Meet the (White) Man Who Inspired Wright's Controversial Sermon

Janice — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:03:06 EDT

Sam SteinThe Huffington Post

Meet The (White) Man Who Inspired Wright's Controversial Sermon

March 21, 2008 02:00 PM

Meet the man who inspired Reverend Jeremiah Wright's now famous tirade about America's foreign policy inciting the terrorist attacks of September 11.

His name is Ambassador Edward Peck. And he is a retired, white, career U.S. diplomat who served 32-years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was chief of the U.S. mission to Iraq under Jimmy Carter -- hardly the black-rage image with which Wright has been stigmatized.

In fact, when Wright took the pulpit to give his post-9/11 address -- which has since become boiled down to a five second sound bite about "America's chickens coming home to roost" -- he prefaced his remarks as a "faith footnote," an indication that he was deviating from his sermon.

"I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday," Wright declared. "He was on Fox News. This is a white man and he was upsetting the Fox News commentators to no end. He pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, that what Malcolm X said when he got silenced by Elijah Muhammad was in fact true: America's chickens are coming home to roost."

Wright then went on to list more than a few U.S. foreign policy endeavors that, by the tone of his voice and manner of his expression, he viewed as more or less deplorable. This included, as has been demonstrated in the endless loop of clips from his sermon, bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuking "far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye."

"Violence begets violence," Wright said, "hatred begets hatred, and terrorism begets terrorism."

And then he concluded by putting the comments on Peck's shoulders: "A white ambassador said that yall, not a black militant, not a reverend who preaches about racism, an ambassador whose eyes are wide open and is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice... the ambassador said that the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have, but they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them... let me stop my faith footnote right there."

Watch the video (the relevant material starts around the 3:00 mark):

So it seems that while Wright did believe American held some responsibility for 9/11, his views, which have been described as radically outside the political mainstream, were actually influenced by a career foreign policy official.

Who is Peck? The ambassador, who has offered controversial criticism of Israeli policy in the West Bank but also warned against the Iraq War, was lecturing on a cruise ship and was unavailable for comment. But officials at Peck's former organization, the Council for the National Interest, a non-profit group that advocates reducing Israel's influence on U.S. Middle East policy, offered descriptions of the man.

"Peck is very outspoken," said Eugene Bird, who now heads CNI. "He is also very good at making phrases that have a resonance with the American people. When he came off of that Fox News, a few days later he said they would never invite me back again."

And what, exactly, did Peck say in that Fox News interview that inspired Wright's words?

Here are some quotes from an appearance the Ambassador made on the network on October 11, 2001, which may or may not have been the segment Wright was referring to. On the show, Peck said he thought it was illogical to tie Saddam Hussein to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and that while the then-Iraqi leader had "some very sound and logical reasons not to like [the United States]," he and Osama bin Laden had no other ties.

From there, Peck went on to ascribe motives for what prompted the 9/11 attacks. "Stopping the economic embargo and bombings of Iraq," he said, "things to which Osama bin Laden has alluded as the kinds of things he doesn't like. He doesn't think it's appropriate for the United States to be doing, from his perspective, all the terrible things that he sees us as having been doing, the same way Saddam Hussein feels. So from that perspective, they have a commonality of interests. But they also have a deeply divergent view of the role of Islam in government, which would be a problem."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/meet-the-white-man-who-_n_92793.html

Please Boycott Fox News Propaganda and Spread the Word!!

Janice — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:41:19 EDT

BOYCOTT FOX NEWS SPONSORS: USE "MESSAGED" BOYCOTT Save The World From Corpruption

Here's a list of Fox News Sponsors to boycott until support for dishonest "news" (propaganda disguised as news) is no more. Write/email letters to these and local sponsors letting them know of your disinclination to buy from them while the shows they sponsor continue dishonest practices.

As a possible example, you could copy and paste the following into the email message after clicking on the particular sponsor link below:

This message is to let you know that until Fox News discontinues unfair practices of blurring partisan political opinion with news and calling it "Fair And Balanced", I will avoid buying products from sponsors of its shows. I have noticed your products advertised on this network. Please let me know if your company plans to continue this controversial support of this unethical practice through advertisements on this network or if I could consider to purchase your products again. Sincerely,

Crest Whitestrips
Delphi
Mercedes Benz
Comcast
Subaru
GMC Suv's
Best Buy
Travelocity
Capzasin
New Phase
Orbitz
Ditech.com
eloan.com
Dawn
Toyota
Centrum
Nextel
Vehix.com
Gold Bond
Aspercreme
webmd.com via email or webmd.com via other
American Express
Holiday Inn Express
M Professional
priceline.com

Democrats in Black and White

Janice — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:54:01 EDT

March 20, 2008, 5:08 pm Democrats in Black and White

By Matt Bai

Let’s put aside, just for the moment, all the punditry about whether Barack Obama has suitably distanced himself from his own pastor, Jeremiah Wright, or whether his speech on race will help him or hurt him in the tracking polls. Let’s think, instead, about the recent history of black and white inside the Democratic Party.

For years now, African American activists and politicians have made the case, convincingly, that their voices and their roles have been marginalized in Democratic politics. While far more diverse, clearly, than the Republican party, Democrats have generally categorized African Americans as “black leaders,” rather than as leaders who happened to also be black, and that had the effect of making them less influential. No less an agent for racial equality than Bill Clinton, whose administration lifted more African Americans out of poverty than any that came before, hinted at this mindset when he compared Barack Obama, after his win in South Carolina, to Jesse Jackson in 1984. The implication was clear: Mr. Jackson was always seen as a “black candidate” rather than a guy who could reasonably lead the ticket, and now Mr. Obama is following in his footsteps.

Democratic leaders are keenly aware of the racial disparity inside a party that is completely reliant on black voters to remain competitive nationally. (According to exit polls, Al Gore won about 92 percent of the African American vote in 2000, and John Kerry won 88 percent four years ago.) Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, has quietly begun his own intensive campaign to diversify the party’s overwhelmingly white senior staff in the Senate. Since Howard Dean took over as the party’s chairman in 2005, he has repeatedly talked about integrating the highest echelons of the national party and recruiting more black candidates. “We don’t just want African Americans to have a seat at the table,” I’ve heard Mr. Dean say several times. “We want them to have a place on the ticket.”

One of Mr. Dean’s advisers, Donna Brazile, puts it more bluntly. “Look at the number of black statewide officials — you can count them on one hand,” Ms. Brazile told me when we talked this week. “Call up the D.S.C.C. , or the D.C.C.C., or call up the D.N.C.” — the abbreviations for the party and its powerful campaign committees — “and say, ‘I want to talk to your leading black consultants — your ad people, your pollsters, your fund-raisers.’ Call up the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and ask them the same thing. And I guarantee you, there will be pandemonium.

“That’s the internal contradiction of the Democratic Party. I know people don’t want to put it out there or talk about it. They’re only comfortable talking about race when it’s about the other party.”

The question, of course, is why this contradiction exists. Ms. Brazile and other black leaders see in it some measure of simple racism, or what she calls a kind of “benign neglect.” But it may just be that the Democrats’ discomfort with race isn’t really a function of their own racism, but of their assumptions about racism in the rest of the country.

The realignment that began with the civil rights movement in the early 1960s saw legions of white men defect from the Democratic Party of their fathers to the modern G.O.P. It happened because these voters thought Democrats cared more about poor African Americans in the cities than it did about them, at a time when economic life in rural and industrial America was growing increasingly less secure — a perception shrewdly abetted by conservative activists and politicians. This experience seared a generation of Democratic leaders, who came away from the marches and rallies of their youth convinced (with good reason) that much of white America, especially in the rural South and Plains, harbored an intractable kind of prejudice.

That perception has almost certainly informed the Democrats’ strategies for winning back white voters and rebuilding the Democratic Party. However progressive they may be, their suspicion is that the more the party appears to white voters to be led by African American politicians and thinkers, the less chance they will have to control state houses, Congress and the Oval Office. So they have tried over the years to gain power on the strength of black voters without appearing to cater to black Americans. This was, after all, the point of Mr. Clinton’s “Sister Souljah moment” — not just to make an important statement about civil culture, but also to signal to the rest of America that he would not be captive to his party’s black constituency.

All of which brings us to the speech Mr. Obama delivered Tuesday, which may be dissected in grade-school classrooms and graduate seminars for many years to come. A lot of top Democrats have for months expressed their fears that Mr. Obama would lose handily in November if he were the nominee, and the implication in this is that he is too much the candidate of black voters. What was remarkable about Mr. Obama’s speech, though, was the way that this black son of a white mother took issue with the notion that America, outside of Washington, remains defined by its racial bias. He didn’t suggest that somehow he alone had the ability to break down old racial barriers, but rather that those barriers have already begun to tumble and that the political establishment just hasn’t caught up. Indeed, his central criticism of Mr. Wright was not that he was too outspoken or too enraged at white Americans, but that he was too rooted in the past — that he lacked “a belief that society can change.”

The same might be said of the Democratic Party itself. And this is why the success of Mr. Obama’s argument has serious implications not just for his candidacy, but also for a party that has too often feared the worst about white America. If you’re a Democrat and a pessimist about the basic nature of the American voter, you might reject what Mr. Obama is saying as just more wishful rhetoric, a call for the kind of racial unity that has never been visited upon the country. If you’re more of an idealist, though, you might see in his vision the possibility of a country less obsessed than its aging leaders with racial division—and of a party that might one day be led by those who have for so long sustained it.

Matt Bai, who covers politics for the Sunday Times Magazine, is the author of “The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics.”

THANK YOU OBAMA AND OBAMA SUPPORTERS

Janice — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:34:18 EST

THANK YOU OBAMA SUPPORTERS IN OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND TEXAS!!! And "Special Thanks!" to Vermont voters for putting Obama over the top and giving us all a great victory!!! And, Texas, "Special Thanks!" to you for the very strong vote for Obama -- just 3 percentage points from a tie with Clinton in the popular vote!!! Considering the super size of the state of TX, 3% from a tie with his opponent -- who touted making TX a "firewall" to stop his momentum --is a super achievement!! Obama should come away with a very handsome prize of delegates in TX, because of the huge TX support!! Obama's delegate allocation in Ohio and Rhode Island should be very strong as well.

Keep the faith Obama Supporters!! Remember we had many victories in Super Tuesday, followed by 11 straight wins!! We win some, we lose some. But the real prize is the delegate count. The popular vote, though helpful to momentum, is more about the "blue ribbon," whereas the delegate count is about the "winnings." And Obama is still the leader with the winnings -- the delegate count!!

A BIG "THANK YOU!" to Barack for great campaigns in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont!!

YES WE CAN!!

OBAMA STATEMENT ON WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Janice — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:32:06 EST

OBAMA STATEMENT ON WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

"Women's History Month isn't just a chance to celebrate women's history; it's a chance to honor the extraordinary role women have played in shaping American history. From midnight journeys on the Underground Railroad to marches for women's suffrage and civil rights, from the bomber assembly lines of World War II to the boardrooms of today, women have always shown us what we can achieve when we refuse to settle for the world as it is and choose to remake the world as it should be.

"But despite the achievements we honor this month, we know we still have challenges to overcome. We need to build an America where women earn the same pay as men for the same work, and have time off to care for a loved one who's sick; where women have control over the health care decisions that affect their lives, and don't have to choose between their kids and their careers. It's not enough to have a holiday that honors women if we don't also make sure our laws value women.

"This holiday is particularly meaningful to me because I would not be the person I am without the women in my life. I was raised by a single mother across two continents, and by a grandmother who instilled in me her own Midwestern values. And my wife Michelle - a woman who's overcome a number of challenges as a lawyer and hospital executive - continues to make me a better man.

"Every night I'm home, Michelle and I tuck two little girls into bed. And we want to make sure that they have the same opportunities as every little boy in this country. That's the dream that women have fought for throughout our nation's history, and that's the dream I'll fight to make real as President of the United States."

KEEP THE PHONE BANKS GOING THRU TOMORROW NIGHT!

OHIO CALLS - click on this link: http://my.barackobama.com/callohwomen

Una Voz! One Voice! Viva Obama! Come on TX, OH, VT and RI !!

Janice — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:28:41 EST

Check out this great mashup video a supporter just sent to us...

Barack Hussein Obama

Janice — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:13:29 EST

i did my phonebanking over the past 2 days and ran into someone who was very argumentative about voting for a democratic candidate. Among other things, he brought up Barack's middle name. When I mentioned no concern with his middled name, Hussein, the caller told me he wished to discontinue the conversation and hung up. Here's a comment (below) that I received through email. Maybe we can pass it on to others who suggest something negative about Obama's middle name:

"I think we should not hesitate to use the full name Barack Hussein Obama. Let
everyone get used to the name and not jump up as if it's a snake out of the bag.
What is so wrong with the "Hussein" name. Isn't King Hussein of Jordon a great
friend of the United States? As we hear it more, we will know the true meaning
of the name - beautiful."

Food for thought...

Clinton Stumping for Obama?

Janice — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:39:54 EST

Looks like Bill Clinton is doing his own stumping for Barack. Check out the video link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe0BPwWAxnk

(If you don't know about this video, I better keep you sane: The video is an excerpt of a speech of Bill Clinton, prior to the current campaign.)

Viva Obama!! Si Se Puede!!

Janice — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:04:35 EST

Received via personal email: Gratifying video about Latino support for Obama. See site below.

"... I for one am so happy to see our community coming out to support Senator Obama, I've never seen so much unity in my lifetime and I am so hopeful for the next 4 years. I respect Senator Clinton and I think I will even after the elections, I don't agree with her tactics and obviously many of us aren't falling for the "experience" speech, though I respect her career I can hardly call call her experienced enough to run our country when she is having so many issues running her own campaign. I received this Youtube link on a myspace bulletin I must say that this song touched my heart, I know the Will. I. Am video is wonderful but this video by Mr. Andres Useche is not only excellent is the truth embodied in the lyrics of a song that represents what Senator Obama is all about and it evokes our hopes, our dreams and our commitment to fight for our country and the future of our children. I invite all of you who have not seen it to take a look at it, it does not matter if you all don't understand the lyrics (in Spanish) the message is very visual as well."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ky8Hvq-F0U

Viva Obama! Si se puede!

Early Voting

Janice — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:00:13 EST

Early voting in TX has launched full blast and then some!! In the first days of early voting '08, it is already up to 8 times what it was during the entire period of early voting in '04 and '06!!! I early voted on Friday, Feb 22nd, and stood in a short line. I hear most early voting locations have short lines and we still have 5 more days until early voting ends. Imagine how busy the polls will be on TX's Super Tuesday, March 4th!!

Remember to keep the voting ID ticket for caucusing. A friend overlooked doing so, but he will return to his voting place to see if he can get a replacement. Nevertheless, he can still caucus as he has voted in the primary. The precinct secretary will have to verify he voted once the caucus ends.

It feels great to have voted and now I can turn my full attention back to canvassing and phonebanking. As I canvass and phonebank my neighbors, the seniors and elders are asking for yard signs to proudly publicize their support for Obama. They're also campaigning for Obama among family and friends. So don't think the 60+ crowd is not being amply represented among Obama's supporters. They're voting, caucusing and making it know that Obama is their candidate!

YES WE CAN!! SI SE PUEDE!!

An Afternoon in the Life of a TX Obama Supporter

Janice — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:36:45 EST

Here in Houston, it's a very warm and lightly breezy 86 degrees, on a brightly sunny Sunday afternoon. A perfect day to mix an outing to a restaurant and an errand with a little canvassing. I stopped by Pappa's bar b-que for lunch and a truck with several Latino gentlemen pulled up to park alongside my car. I approached them to ask if they had made up their mind about a presidential candidate. They looked a little befuddled at first, but easily received my handouts, one in spanish only and the other in english and spanish, and showed genuine interest as I spoke about Obama's position on immigration. As I said good-bye and headed into the restaurant, I was so pleased. I felt as if I had hooked the biggest fish, given that there were 5 gentlemen I spoke with and all were receptive to my brief talk and handouts.

Upon exiting the restaurant, a few Latino customers were entering and others were sitting outside. I approached them with handouts and gave another short talk. They listened and acknowledged they would consider voting for Obama. If that weren't enough, another Latino gentleman and I met in the parking lot as he left his car to head inside the restaurant. Upon approaching him with the question of his presidential candidate, he didn't hesitate. He said, "Sure, Obama!"

I chatted with a Latino lady at CVS pharmacy while she waited on me. She, too, was receptive to handouts and information about Obama's platform.

Hopefully, these exchanges will translate into votes for Obama. Nevertheless, flyers are circulating and Latinos, who I have approached, are open to Obama as their presidential candidate.

A Letter from Primetime Women

Janice — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:07:36 EST

From Primetime Women:

Please cut and paste the letter below and send through personal email or print and handout to family, friends and others.

We are writing to tell you why we support Barack Obama with both
our heads and our hearts.

     Early in this campaign, Barack Obama assembled hundreds of experts
on different issues. He asked for their best thinking on the economy,
education, health care, the environment, foreign affairs, etc. The
people on these task forces were among the top names in their fields
and their contributions were impressive.   Senator Obama carefully
considered their recommendations and then used his own great
intelligence, experience and judgment to develop the policies he would
support. You can find his policy statements both in brief and in great
detail on his web site (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/).

    What we know, however, is that no matter how good his or any other
candidates' policy positions are, getting things done in Washington is
a huge challenge. Many good ideas about health care and other major
issues have been floating around for years, but the political
polarization and the influence peddling of lobbyists have made it
impossible for them to become law.   Barack Obama's ability to talk to
everyone and bring people together to develop consensus will break
through this impasse. People like him. People trust him. He is
incredibly smart and he is also realistic. He can get things done.

    On women's issues, Barack has never wavered.   His rating with
Planned Parenthood and other organizations that support a woman's right
to choose is 100%. Watch this moving video for more
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs).

    An area of great concern to all of us is national security. There
is agreement around the world that the war in Iraq has increased the
number of terrorists and made us less safe here at home. Barack
opposed this war from the beginning and also opposes branding the Iran
National Guard as a terrorist organization. Hillary Clinton was the
only Democratic presidential candidate to support George Bush on this
measure, once again giving him authority to use force in Iran despite
his reckless actions in the past.    Again, Senator Obama's judgment is
sound and his instincts are right on.

    Our hearts and our heads tell us that Barack is a very special man
who has the potential to be a great president at a critical time in our
history.   This kind of person comes along rarely. WE must seize this
opportunity and this challenge to make a real difference.

   Please join us in supporting Barack Obama and talk to your friends
too. Available to you are a couple of ways of making your voice heard
and multiplying your impact. Women for Obama
(http://women.barackobama.com/page/content/WFOhome) is actively
involved in contacting undecided women in primary states to talk to
them about the campaign. This can be done from your home. If you are
50 or older, like us, please join Prime Time Women
(http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/PrimeTimeWomenforObama) which is
mobilizing to reach out to women like us to help us make the right
choice in this election.

    Again thank you for your help,

Ann Alvarez
Susan Axelrod
Grace Barry
Barbara Burrell
Carol Coletta
Ginger Fann Hall
Joan Hall
Julie Hamos
Valerie Jarrett
Marilyn Katz
Dawn Clark Netsch
Barbara Phillips
Rebecca Riley
Jane Nicholl Sahlins
Lucy Salenger
Bettlu Saltzman
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Adele Simmons
Sheila Smith
Tina Tchen
Patsy Trujillo
Judy Wise

Obama on the Radio: Magic 102.1 FM

Janice — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:00:38 EST

This Sunday there will be a taped radio interview with
Barack Obama on Magic 102.1 FM. I've been told that
the Clinton campaign, after being informed of this,
has requested that Bill be on the same show. I
believe he will also be on Sunday but more
importantly, SHEILA JACKSON LEE will be on the show.
I'm asking everyone to tune in and CALL IN to ask Ms.
Lee why she, as a superdelegate, is supporting for her
friend Hillary, rather than waiting and voting for her
constituents' choice. She needs to know that she was
elected to represent the people who put her there and
they could just as easily put her out! Please tell
everyone you know and pass it on to other Obama groups
you're in. If we all call in one of us is sure to get
through. I've been assured that they will NOT be
screening the calls and if you get through you are
free to ask her about this. Here are the details;

Sunday Morning Live
Majic 102.1 FM
713.390.5102
Sheila Jackson Lee will be on sometime between 9 and
11 a.m.

Please remember to be polite and just ask her simply
why is she campaigning in Fort Worth with Hillary
while there are people without jobs and healthcare in
her district. Why is she jumping onto a candidate
after only a 2 hour conversation? Why is she trying
to influence an election rather than allow it to take
its own course? Will she vote for Obama as a Super
Delegate if her district elects an Obama Majority of
Pledged Delegates?

Obama on Patriotism

Janice — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:11:17 EST

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Asked about it Wednesday in an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Illinois senator said he stopped wearing the pin shortly after the attacks and instead hoped to show his patriotism by explaining his ideas to citizens.

"The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.

"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he said in the interview. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism."

On Thursday, his campaign issued a statement: "We all revere the flag, but Senator Obama believes that being a patriot is about more than a symbol. It's about fighting for our veterans when they get home and speaking honestly with the American people about this disastrous war."

Obama was campaigning in Iowa Thursday, the second day of a four-day trip to the early voting state.

At one stop, he called for new restrictions on deployment of National Guard and Reserve troops along with an expansion of benefits for them and their families.

"I will not be a president who extends tours for our Guard units overseas while Americans are stranded on rooftops right here at home," Obama said.

He said he would require "a period of rest and standard of readiness" before troops could be redeployed. He called for the head of the National Guard to be elevated to four-star rank and given a seat among the Joint Chiefs of Staff to reflect the heavy reliance on Guard soldiers and reservists during the Iraq war.

Since 2001, Obama said, more than 580,000 reservists have been activated, a level not seen since World War II.

In making his case, Obama pointed to an Iowa unit in which members learned from family and friends back home that their deployment had been extended. That unit—the 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry—recently returned after a 22-month deployment in Iraq.

"When we've got service members who have to find out that their tour has been extended in a phone call home, we're not keeping that trust and we're not keeping this country safe," Obama said.

He also called for increased mental health services, including screening and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. He said nearly half of the National Guard troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from psychological problems, yet little emphasis is put on treating those disorders.

"We're not providing adequate treatment, screening and benefits," said Obama. "We need more mental health professionals and more training to recognize the signs."

Obama's Senate Record vis a vis H. Clinton

Janice — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:37:40 EST

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

Link on Obama's extensive legislative record w/ comparisons to H. Clinton.

Getting the Vote Out In Texas!

Janice — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:17:34 EST

From my email: Hi, sounds like Texas is fired up! So, this message may not be needed, but I'll share anyways... I live in MA... I joined your group to share some lessons learned from falling short in MA on Super Tuesday... PLEASE don't underestimate the power you all have when you join together... DON'T wait until an Obama HQ opens in your area to get Barack's message out! Start TODAY!!! There are so many things you can do. Organize yourselves NOW and delegate jobs to do. Don't reinvent the wheel - ask other groups/states what they're doing that was successful... you have a great resource for connecting with mybarackobama.com.

Put someone in your group in charge of making a list of volunteers (phone #, availability, email address)
Gather & hold signs at busy intersections or prime commuting hours at bus/train stations (make a large sign that says, "Ask Me Why I'm Voting Obama" - I actually swayed votes as people were walking into the polling stations! Too bad I didn't do it sooner at bus/train stations...
Make your own signs with sayings that matter to people - i.e. Character Counts, Honesty Matters, etc (listen to his speeches - plenty of inspiring phrases!) We had a hard time getting signs from HQ (back ordered)
We looked for a big name to draw in a crowd for an Obama Rally - MA Governor Deval Patrick agreed (after receiving numerous calls/emails) to do it - we had 1+ day to organize and had over 400+ people show up & all the local media channels (mind you this started with 1 grad student, 1 stay at home Mom, and 1 business woman who had only met days prior - we truly adopted the YES WE CAN attitude - and we pulled it off with great success!!!)
Get a list of local polling stations & assign people to shifts to hold signs outside (hard to believe, but people do head in still undecided)
Educate yourself - it's easier to talk to people... MANY people do not know what lobby money is - and it is a BIG deal that Barack doesn't take any!!! He's also already passed legislation to make our government more transparent & accountable to the people... those are both BIG arguments for Obama!

Obama Accomplishments: Don't Get Caught w/o the Facts!

Janice — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:45:35 EST

Obamaians, Here's your homework (received from my email):

Obama Accomplishments - Don't Get Caught without the FACTS!!!

We all know that the world is unfair, but sometimes you just have to deal with it. Barack Obama supporters have been, and will be hit with a barrage of questions regarding his accomplishments. The clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZTo0iGc_Dw) shows State Senator Kirk Watson of Texas caught without an answer to the question, "What legislative experience does Barack Obama have?" It is quite funny that other candidates don't have to come under the amount of scrutiny that Barack has been under for accomplishments (even though he has more legislative experience than Hillary Clinton). If you are a Barack Obama supporter, I encourage you to become familiar with both his legislative and general accomplishments to date. If you are not, I hope this answers some questions for you.

I have compiled an OBAMA TOP TEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS list that should help Obama supporters address this issue. I encourage you all to memorize at least FIVE of these accomplishments. Even if Obama wins the Democratic nomination, this tactic will be used aggressively by the Republican party during the general. I would even encourage those who dedicated supporters of the Obama campaign to print this list out and keep it with you.

Lastly, after you answer with at least three accomplishments of Barack Obama, turn the tables and politely ask who they are supporting and what accomplishments their candidate has achieved.

Knowledge is Power!!!

-Anthony Perdue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BARACK OBAMA'S TOP TEN ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ONE - TEN YEARS OF SENATORIAL EXPERIENCE - Senator Obama has ten years of senate experience: Eight years in Springfield, and two years in Washington, D.C. He has a longer record in elected office than Hillary Clinton. For those who denounce that being a Senator as a non-accomplishment, need a reality check. 15 presidents were senators - they were: James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Benjamin Harrison, Warren G. Harding, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon

TWO - CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE - Named Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in January 2003 (2003-2004). During those two years, he sponsored 780 bills, and 280 of those were signed into law.

THREE - "COBURN - OBAMA TRANSPARENCY ACT" - The Transparency Act created a website managed by Office of Management and Budget, for ensuring transparency of funds allocated to government agencies. It tracks all federal spending, and allows Google-type searches based on agency, types of funding, etc. This law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent.

FOUR - OBAMA-LUGAR BILL - The Lugar-Obama Bill will help Keep Weapons Out of Terrorists' Hands. The Bipartisan Effort Focuses on Antiaircraft Missiles, Stolen WMDs and Conventional Weapons used in Improvised Roadside Bomb. This bill was passed on May 23, 2006. The Lugar-Obama bill will help the US and other nations find and eliminate conventional weapons that have been used against our own soldiers in Iraq and sought by terrorists all over the world. Lugar-Obama would expand the detection and interdiction of weapons and materials of mass destruction

FIVE - LED EXPANSION OF CHILD HEALTH CARE - Barack Obama pushed through a bill that expanded healthcare to an addition 20,000 Illinois children as a state senator. While a state senator, he also lead welfare reform (a bipartisan bill passed in Republican controlled senate, generating major headlines); earned income tax credit (tax relief for working poor families); and death penalty reform. (He supports the death penalty in exceptional circumstances, but wanted all interrogations to be videotaped. Initially viewed as a highly controversial proposal, Senator Obama listened to all sides of the debate, incorporated ideas from many individuals, and the result was a bill that passed the Senate 58-0, and was signed into law by a governor who originally opposed Senator Obama's bill.)

SIX - TWO TIME BEST SELLING AUTHOR - Obama has written two bestselling books. The first, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, was published before he first ran for public office. In it he recalls his childhood in Honolulu and Jakarta, college years in Los Angeles and New York City, and his employment as a community organizer in Chicago in the 1980s. His second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, was published in October 2006, three weeks before the 2006 midterm election. It was an immediate bestseller and rose to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list by early November 2006

SEVEN - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR - He was a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1993 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

EIGHT - PRESIDENT OF HARVARD LAW REVIEW - he was elected President of Harvard Law Review: his grades (graduating magna cum laude); his writing ability; and his friendships with many of the conservatives on the Law Review who felt he would always consider their opinions.

NINE - OPPOSITION TO THE IRAQ WAR - The clearest example of Senator Obama's political courage, was his vocal opposition to war in Iraq in 2002. At the time, many Democrats with national ambition were supporting George W Bush's posture on Iraq. He showed exceptional judgement and character, choosing the unpopular position at the time.

TEN - RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL CAMPAIGN - As of 2/20/2008, Obama and his staff has run a successful, organized campaign that has captured nearly half of all States at 24, compared to 11 for Hillary Clinton. He has 1141 total pledge delegates to Hillary Clinton's 1003.

Obama Supporter: Derrick

Janice — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:31:46 EST

Please view this video and be heartened with a different angle on the Obama candidacy and the great opportunity to vote!!! You'll be enriched!! Janice

http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/video-obama-supporter-derrick-responds-to-his-video/

Stand Up America!

Janice — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:00:12 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXuiPLx3mX0&NR=1

STAND UP AMERICA!!

Legendary novelist and editor Toni Morrison's endorsement of Barack Obama

Janice — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:47:47 EST

Legendary novelist and editor Toni Morrison's endorsement of Barack Obama is obviously not significant for her ability to move voters at the polls, which is not proven and probably not likely to be proven. But given her perceived attachment to the Clintons—Bill, she famously once called America's first black president; and Hillary she has been close to in the past—we thought it worth printing in full the letter of endorsement she sent to the Illinois senator, as released by the Obama campaign:

Dear Senator Obama,This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.May I describe to you my thoughts?I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me "proud."In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it. Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.Good luck to you and to us.Toni Morrison

Vamos Obama!! Go Obama!!

Janice — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:49:41 EST

Very good news is coming in about Obama's support among Latinos in Texas. I know first hand that, in a few cases of my personal experience, this is true. I spoke with two hotel clerks, who are Latino, in Bay City and both are enthusiastic supporters of Obama. They both are struggling with understanding why some of their fellow Latinos are not yet supporting Obama. In another case, just today as I was leaving Luby's, a gentleman who is Latino, asked me for directions. After giving them to him, I asked him whether he'd made up his mind about a primary candidate. He told me he is voting for Obama and his wife is as well. He agreed to take copies of my Obama handouts in spanish and english to distribute among Latinos. Just wanted to let you know that we're "on it" in Texas to get out the Latino vote for Obama. Si Se Puede!! Vamos Obama!!

PS My high school spanish is really coming in handy -- surprisingly enough as I finished high school about 4 decades ago. Having a great time conversing with Latinos and others about Obama. Now, learning a little Chinese to converse with Asians may be another matter, as I've never studied Chinese. But it's worth a try. Great opportunity to get to know the folks in Houston outside of my usual "stomping ground."

The New American Revolution: Response to Question about Obama's Change Message

Janice — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:03:48 EST

Obama's meaning of change is comprehensive political change in Washington. Meaning, the way the US government fundamentally operates. Our govt allows lobbyists and political action committees to wield enormous power via money that they put in the hands of legislators, who then skew legislative decisions in the favor of these individuals, that is, lobbyists and PACs.
When this happens, Americans suffer because our lawmakers are beholden to lobbyists and PACs and not us.

That is why Obama's campaign for president only takes money from private citizens and why he is not using his own money. In other words, he is pushing for a govt that is not bought by big money lobbyists and PACs who often represent wealthy corporations and private interests in general. Certainly, some PACs are about social policy, like mental health legislation to better help everyday Americans, but often they are simply helping big corporations and other private interests.

Also, Obama wants to change the partisan paralysis in Washington. Often the Democrats and Republicans just support their own party's legislation rather than legislation that is in the best interest of all Americans. In such a situation, our politicians act more like their constituents are those of their party rather than the people who voted them into office. Obama believes in working with all politicians not only those who are Democrat. He has exemplified his bipartisanship in legislation in Washington that he as orchestrated.

Finally, Obama wants a government that is all-inclusive and unites all Americans rather than one that is divisive. Rather than think of ourselves only according to our different ethnicities or political leanings, like red and blue states, he seeks for us to think of ourselves as Americans who are united in one common purpose for the benefit of all. For example, he wants all children to get a quality education, no matter their socioeconomic background or whether they live in rural, suburban or urban areas. He wants to help everyone who wants a college education to get one. He desires to help all Americans get affordable health care, and Seniors who receive low-moderate income to be released from paying income taxes.

One last comment: Obama's change message is essentially about changing the mentality of Washington politics such that rather than serve themselves with their free health insurance and hefty retirement pay that is independent of social security that Americans are subjected to, he wants a govt that serves the American people, a govt that is genuinely by, for and of the people. No more wasting our hard earned tax dollars and fattening the paychecks of lawmakers, while we are left with housing costs that have gone through the roof, high interest credit card debt, exorbitant college tuition and unaffordable health care.

It's time for Americans to wake up, rise up and take back their country!! That is ultimately the change Barack Obama is talking about.

Obama '08 -- The New American Revolution!!!

Janice G.

How Barack Obama Can Win Texas

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:49:47 EST

How Barack Obama Can Win Texas by: Phillip MartinWed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:45 AM CST
Ed. note: Earlier this morning, we at Burnt Orange Report endorsed Senator Barack Obama. Read our endorsement here, or on Senator Obama's home page (check the latest news section). Part of our reasons for our endorsement stems from the analysis below.

Key Point: Senator Obama can win Texas if he can hold his own on March 4 with the 126 Delegates that will be allocated based on the votes in Texas' 31 Senate Districts, and then do well (as he has in the past) with the 67 delegates in the caucus-system that will fully be realized at the Texas Democratic Party Convention in June.

My analysis is based on the distribution of delegates in the Texas primary system. If you aren't familiar with how the Texas primary works, here are two posts I've done to tell you everything you need:

Everything You Need to Know About the Texas Delegate Process, Part 1 - This explains how Texas' 228 delegates are allocated.
Everything You Need to Know About the Texas Delegate Process, Part 2 - This explains how Texas' 31 Senate Districts break down in terms of delegate strength.

The first thing that should be understood is that while Senator Clinton does have strong support in the Latino community, Latinos will not decide the Texas primary alone. In order for Senator Clinton to win in Texas, she will need a dramatic majority in the South Texas Senate Districts in order to actually gain a delegate advantage in that region -- and doing that is harder than it looks.

As I briefly discussed in my original analysis, there are 6 Senate Districts that are in South Texas and/or on the Mexican border. The key to remember, though, is that 4 of those 6 Senate Districts -- including the Laredo and San Antonio districts, the two cities with the largest bloc of Hispanic voters -- only have 4 delegates apiece. If a District only has 4 delegates, a candidate must win enough of a vote so that "rounding up" will get them 75% of the delegates.

Imagine there's a Senate District with 4 delegates. Here's how many delegates a candidate would get, based on voting percentages:

Voting % -- # of Delegates
0.00 - 14.99% -- 0 delegates
15.0% - 37.5% -- 1 delegate
37.51% - 62.5% -- 2 delegates
62.51% - 87.5% -- 3 delegates
87.51% - 100% -- 4 delegates

Key Point: Unless Senator Clinton can gain 62.51% of the vote in the four biggest South Texas Districts, she and Senator Obama will split most of the South Texas (largely Latino) vote.

Considering that the Latino vote in Arizona split 55%-45% for Senator Clinton, and taking into account that Senator Obama has much, much more time and resources to dedicate to Texas for the March 4 primary than he did for Super Tuesday (when 22 states were in play, including California, New Mexico, and Arizona), Senator Obama has an opportunity to keep Senator Clinton's margin of victory under the 62.51% threshold that would be required for her to do anything more than tie in most of South Texas.

That's the numbers -- but Senator Obama must get it done. He's off to got a good start.

Senator Obama has the endorsement of Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, a popular San Antonio Congressman who has an active base. His Texas Field Director, Adrian Saenz, has served as Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager for Congressman Ciro Rodriguez. There's one other factor of interest: Latinos normally vote in high turnout in the primary race. There's a question right now as to how much (and for which candidate) beyond normally high Democratic-primary turnout there will be in this area of the state. Are Clinton's voters going to be those that normally vote all the time in the Democratic primary in South Texas (which is consistent with her supporter's argument that she has strong name ID), so that a vast majority of "new voters" may, in fact, be Latinos for Obama? We can't be sure. All we know is that these factors combined should make pundits think twice about Senator Clinton's alleged "lock" on the Latino vote.

Key Point: Playing strong in South Texas will only prevent Senator Obama from defeat. In order to win, he must perform exceedingly well across the three major TX markets: Austin, Houston, and Dallas.

Voter turnout is expected to be off-the-charts throughout most of Texas, which could play very well for Obama. There are many, many districts that can go different ways on March 4. But the three largest districts -- one each in Houston, Austin, and Dallas -- each have one of the largest delegate blocks the primary. A quick note on those 3 districts:

Austin (SD 14) - With 8 delegates all its own, it's the biggest district. The University of Texas at Austin's precincts recorded 99.58% turnout in 2004, and they registered 2,600 voters in a single day on the last day to register to vote. It's extremely likely that Senator Obama wins this 5-3, and not beyond the realm of possibility that he finishes 6-2 here.
Houston (SD 13) - With 7 delegates, one campaign will win this district, and it will probably be Senator Obama. All of the local elected officials -- almost all of whom are African-American -- have endorsed Obama, and their campaign has opened up a campaign headquarters that is in the heart of the district. Additionally, there is a very large LGBT community in this district that is very active politically. A 4-3 split for Senator Obama is very likely, and I wouldn't be surprised if it went 5-2, Obama.
Dallas (SD 23) - With 6 delegates, this is the same story as the Houston district. In 2006, Democrats swept over local 40 Dallas County races that were on the ballot. Turnout will be incredibly high, which could favor a 4-2 Obama split.

Of course, this discussion has only focused on the "primary" portion of Texas' primary/caucus system. Texas' caucuses begin at 7:15 PM after the polls close on Election Day, March 4th. Texas caucuses are an entirely separate election process for determining an entirely separate portion of national delegates. A candidate could win the primary but lose the caucuses to a better organized opponent.

Key Point: The Texas caucus system awards the candidate with the most active voters who return to vote a second time at 7:15 PM on Election Day, and there's absolutely no question that Senator Obama is absolutely dominating the caucuses.

Senator Obama could come close to Senator Clinton in the "primary" portion and dominate the "caucus" portion --- the only catch is that those 67 votes that come from the "caucus" system won't be known until June and the Texas Democratic Party Convention.

If the expectations are that Senator Clinton will win and perhaps even dominate in Texas, then even Senator Obama finishing close on Election Day -- with an understanding that he will do well in the future caucuses -- could be enough to count as a win for Senator Obama.

NY Primary Votes Under Examination

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:05:26 EST

Feb. 15, 2008, 11:55PM
NOTEBOOK
Top Dems not picking a candidate yet

No votes for Obama in New York districtBlack voters are heavily represented in the 94th Election District in Harlem's 70th Assembly District. Yet according to the unofficial results from the New York Democratic primary last week, not a single vote in the district was cast for Obama.

That anomaly was not unique. A review by The New York Times of unofficial results on primary night found about 80 election districts among the city's 6,106 where Obama supposedly did not receive even one vote, including cases where he ran a respectable race in a nearby district.

City election officials this week said that their formal review of the results, which will not be completed for weeks, has confirmed some major discrepancies. A swing of even a couple of hundred votes might help Obama gain a few additional delegates.

City election officials said they were convinced that there was nothing sinister to account for the inaccurate initial counts, and The New York Times' review found a handful of election districts in the city where Clinton received zero votes in the initial results.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

A Message from an Ex-Hillary Supporter

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:52:50 EST

A friend, a woman, sent this message to me. Yes We Can...change our mind!

Gotta tell ya…..I was an ardent Hillary supporter for, I think, all of the right reasons….even wrote out a contribution check with a “,” in it! So you know I was committed.But as of late, the spirit, the thoughtfulness, the forthrightness, the sheer guts, and grace under fire displayed by Senator Obama has made me re-think my position. And I don’t think I’m the only one. Quite frankly, I was disturbed by the events, comments, et al. leading up to the SC primaries. Like a lot of you, I didn’t want to turn tail in the middle of a fight. But the something in my soul rebelled and I began to back up to neutral. And yes, I do understand the “heat of the moment” taking over…and yes…I know that you can’t “control” all of the campaign operatives…..and yes…I further understand that as a Democrat we must push forward the most “winnable” candidate. But, I can’t ignore the growing feeling deep down in my core, that Mr. Obama’s “time has come.” Whether he wins….which I would much prefer….or whether he stands up for the good fight and loses….I’m comfortable in my decision that I will stand with my candidate of choice….all for the right reasons…..his vision….his energy…..his positions on issues…..his backbone……his willingness to be inclusive…the challenge he brings to the nation….and his belief that he can win. I, for one, am confidently VOTING FOR A MUCH-NEEDED CHANGE!The Honorable Douglas Wilder’s endorsement ... makes me know that something special is happening in America….at least among thinking people. Mr. Obama is right for this time in history and I for one am ready to give him that opportunity. We can only make this happen if you vote and keep voting. And….if you truly believe in your candidate…..spend some money to support the message. JLW

DemocratsForTexas Poll: Obama the Winner!

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:47:21 EST

Janice,

We asked, you answered. Loud and clear. The winner of our presidential poll is Senator Barack Obama, with 73.2% of the 2,760 votes cast.

As much as the margin of victory, we were impressed by the passion of Obama voters and their excitement about the future. In a world where cynicism about politics has become the norm, it is refreshing to see optimism, hope, and the belief that each of us can make a difference. Or, to paraphrase Senator Obama's comments last week: "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

It's a particular joy to watch the young people who are engaged in this campaign, many of whom cut their political teeth in Howard Dean's campaign. They're not just talking, they're assuming a leadership role. We couldn't be prouder.

But it's not just young people. One slightly older Obama supporter told us:

"I'm a 73-year-old Yellow Dog Democrat and this is the first time I have been truly excited with a candidate for president since 1960."

We understand. We're "fired up and ready to go" ourselves, and looking forward to working with everyone - regardless of your preference in the poll - to elect a Democrat in November.

Your DFT Steering Committee - Erik Azulay, Glen Maxey, Mark McCulloch,
Karl-Thomas Musselman, and Fran Vincent

email: info@democracyfortexas.org web: http://www.democracyfortexas.org

GreenbayPressGazette: Clinton & Obama Records

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:44:35 EST

Please print and distribute to undecided voters or cut/paste and email widely. Thanks.

From: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?ID=/20080216/GPG0101/802160578/1978

Clinton vs Obama records Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:18 pm

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov

========
Clinton
========

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.

=============
Obama
=============

During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

NY TImes Obama's record in the Illinois Senate
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded:

1. The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law,
2. The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law,
3. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
4. The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law,
5. The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.

In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.

An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.

Motherhood is Not for Wimps

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:42:08 EST

VOTE

For the past few weeks I have been considering whether to endorse a candidate on this blog.

It isn’t something that would have occured to me to do in the past: 1) because this is not a political blog; 2) most importantly, because there was no one I particularly wanted to endorse; 3) because an unsolicited political opinion is a gigantic pain in the ass.

However, I am finding it increasingly difficult to separate my politics from my motherhood. I am a Republican, an offical former Party Operative, with strong libretarian views and faith in capitalism.

I am horrified by my president, by his war rhetoric and his lack of attention to domestic problems: New Orleans and surrounds remain unrepaired while we spend our resources wrecking more destruction in the Middle East. As a Republican I believe in small government, low taxation, low spending, minimal intervention in the private affairs of citizens and the public affairs of other nations. As a Republican, there hasn’t been much for me to like in this president.

I believe in universal civil rights, and the legal protection of all life-partnerships, whether they are like mine or not. I am horrified by the very un-Republican idea of giving the government the power to determine which marriages — which loves — are legitmate.

As the mother of two young girls I want to offer them leadership they can believe in — not perfect, not mythical or inerrant. Just full of hope and integrity. Or at least grounded in the idea that it serves the people and not its own arrogance.

Many people argue that Barack Obama is too young, too inexperienced. He is. He sits comfortably at a desk with John Stewart at the Daily Show, sipping coffee and laughing at his gaffes of the recent week and how much the media has made of them. As a former press secretary, I can tell you, you’re not supposed to do that. The more hardened candidates wouldn’t. But Senator Obama is self-effacing, genuine, refreshingly un-laminated.

He does not bring with him a cadre of experienced policymakers, a ready-made administration that already knows what he’s all about. He’ll have to start from scratch. He’ll have to work his way along, ask a lot of questions, humble himself, and make some mistakes.

And it’s just about time we got someone in there who was ready to do that.

Maybe my party will find its way better if they have someone like Senator Obama to contend with: a thinker, a fighter, a guy who got there on the love of his people rather than the spit-and-polish of his arsenal.

In thinking about all of these ideas I concluded that I could not sit back and remain silent about a candidate in whom I so strongly believe. I think Senator Obama has the potential to change the world, to unite America, to be a beloved president and an honorable one. I believe it enough to feel dishonest and cowardly in not enunciating it here.

As a registered Republican, I can’t vote for Senator Obama in the primary. If I am to have the thrill of finally casting a vote for a candidate I am excited about, it will be because Democrats go to the polls today and vote for him in their primaries.

That’s what I am asking registered Democrats to do — consider going to your polling place and casting your vote for this remarkable man, and for the hope of idealism returning to American politics. We’re counting on you.

From: http://damomma.com/2008/02/05/vote/

Obama '08

Obama Pictorial Video The Courage to Face Fear, Pt 1

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:38:01 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8zvxoz9gg

A must see video about the impact of the Iraq war.

Motherhood is Not for Wimps

Janice — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:17:58 EST

VOTE

For the past few weeks I have been considering whether to endorse a candidate on this blog.

And it’s just about time we got someone in there who was ready to do that.

From: http://damomma.com/2008/02/05/vote/

Obama '08

A Heartfelt Video on Obama's Message

Janice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:29:59 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky_mjTDj9UU

Wonderful video about Obama's campaign. Really moving about his campaign's essence.

Janice G.

HRC's Gameplaying

Janice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST

"We don't need somebody who can play the game better. We need somebody who can put an end to the game playing." Barack Obama

Barack Obama's response to Hillary Clinton's charge that she's the more experienced of the two with Washington politics.

Obama '08

Clinton and Obama Legislation: Grist for the Undecided's Mill

Janice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:09:33 EST

Please print and distribute to undecided voters or cut/paste and email widely. Thanks.

From: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?ID=/20080216/GPG0101/802160578/1978

Clinton vs Obama records Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:18 pm

DemocratsForTexas Poll: Obama the Winner!

Janice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:00:30 EST

Janice,

We asked, you answered. Loud and clear. The winner of our presidential poll is Senator Barack Obama, with 73.2% of the 2,760 votes cast.

But it's not just young people. One slightly older Obama supporter told us:

"I'm a 73-year-old Yellow Dog Democrat and this is the first time I have been truly excited with a candidate for president since 1960."

We understand. We're "fired up and ready to go" ourselves, and looking forward to working with everyone - regardless of your preference in the poll - to elect a Democrat in November.

Your DFT Steering Committee - Erik Azulay, Glen Maxey, Mark McCulloch,
Karl-Thomas Musselman, and Fran Vincent

email: info@democracyfortexas.org web: http://www.democracyfortexas.org

George Lopez, Comedian & TV Star, to endorse Obama!!

Janice — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:23:06 EST

Good Evening!

We're trying to gather a crowd to receive George
Lopez's endorsement of Barack Obama tomorrow in
Houston Texas at the HQ office of Travis and Alabama.
George is a TV and
Film Star and Comedian, very famous Latino celebrity.

3710 TRAVIS STREET
HOUSTON, TX 77002

Please come out and try to arrive around 1pm. George
will discuss his support of Barack and encourage us to fan
out and canvas our neighborhoods. If you have friends or family in the
area, please let them know they can come down around
1pm and meet George. We hope to have a strong diverse
crowd well represented with Latino friends of Houston.

Thanks!
Steven Romero

A Message from An Ex-Hillary Supporter

Janice — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:18:11 EST

Gotta tell ya…..I was an ardent Hillary supporter for, I think, all of the right reasons….even wrote out a contribution check with a “,” in it! So you know I was committed.But as of late, the spirit, the thoughtfulness, the forthrightness, the sheer guts, and grace under fire displayed by Senator Obama has made me re-think my position. And I don’t think I’m the only one. Quite frankly, I was disturbed by the events, comments, et al. leading up to the SC primaries. Like a lot of you, I didn’t want to turn tail in the middle of a fight. But the something in my soul rebelled and I began to back up to neutral. And yes, I do understand the “heat of the moment” taking over…and yes…I know that you can’t “control” all of the campaign operatives…..and yes…I further understand that as a Democrat we must push forward the most “winnable” candidate. But, I can’t ignore the growing feeling deep down in my core, that Mr. Obama’s “time has come.” Whether he wins….which I would much prefer….or whether he stands up for the good fight and loses….I’m comfortable in my decision that I will stand with my candidate of choice….all for the right reasons…..his vision….his energy…..his positions on issues…..his backbone……his willingness to be inclusive…the challenge he brings to the nation….and his belief that he can win. I, for one, am confidently VOTING FOR A MUCH-NEEDED CHANGE!The Honorable Douglas Wilder’s endorsement below makes me know that something special is happening in America….at least among thinking people. Mr. Obama is right for this time in history and I for one am ready to give him that opportunity. We can only make this happen if you vote and keep voting. And….if you truly believe in your candidate…..spend some money to support the message. JLW

Republicans 4 Obama!

Janice — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:07:32 EST

I live in NYC but my family is in Houston. I was SHOCKED to hear that they all want to vote for Obama in the primary. They are all life-long Republicans! I don't know if Texas is a closed primary though. Can registered Republicans vote for a democrat on March 4? Please let me know! And let this story be inspiration to all of you trying to GOTV there in TX. There ARE Republicans who want Obama- reach out to them. Thanks, Aliza

Latino Votes

Janice — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:02:16 EST

From the Daily Kos Blogs - Something we can learn to reach Latinos in Texas. Please pass on.

One thing that was really interesting, which I have not heard the media mention, is that Obama won the Hispanic vote in Connecticut. Hispanics were only 6% of the primary electorate there, but they were large enough to sample, and Obama's victory among Hispanics in Connecticut was surprising given how narrowly he won the state. I wonder if perhaps it is because they are a smaller percentage of the population in Connecticut, and perhaps less condensed into Latino neighborhoods as in states where they are a larger percentage of the population, that he was able to do better. I read somewhere that endorsements from local Latino politicians are very influential in the Latino community, so perhaps that helped Clinton more in states with bigger Latino populations.

I also heard somewhere that Obama does better among Latinos who watch and read English-language news than those who read Spanish-language news. So perhaps Latinos in Connecticut fall primarily in the first category.

http://www.austinforobama.com/

Website for Obama handouts in Spanish.

"There's not a liberal America and a conservative America; THERE'S THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." OBAMA '08

A Latino Woman Advocate 4 Obama!

Janice — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:57:59 EST

Please check out this video about a Latino advocate for Obama and send on to other Latinos. Our "YES WE CAN!" campaign must concentrate attention, in part, in Latino communities because we have yet to attrack a sizeable number of Latino voters. Latino and Asian voters could be the decisive voters in the TX March 4th primary.

Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDoUOvqatEk&feature=related

As Women, YES WE WILL!

Janice — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:10:45 EST

I'll join in the chorus of "Women 4 Obama" as I am voting for Obama. Also, I talked with two women at work (both Anglo) who said they were not voting for Billary (though they were not saying they were voting for Obama) but I think they are. Another woman, a Latino hotel desk clerk, told me she "loved Obama" and an Anglo woman I struck up a conversation with at Starbucks about Obama, told me she would not vote for Hillary and asked for info on Obama.

I agree that we need to share our opinions openly with other women about why we are voting for Obama. As we know, Obama has a huge number of women supporting him. And alot of women are undecided and need guidance about information on Obama to make up their minds. Please approach and discuss your interest in Obama with all women. I, for one, am voting for Obama because I want integrity, decency and dignity returned to the White House and to US Government. I want a president without the SLEAZE FACTOR. And I want a president who believes in govt by, for and of the people and not by, for and of the wealthy only. Also, I want a president who has a heart for humanity -- all of humanity, such as the vets, the disabled, the poor, the unemployed, the uninsured, children, seniors, elders, the homeless, college students, etc. And I want a president who wants to keep jobs in the US and keep us employed and earning a good wage to properly take care of ourselves and families. Finally, I want a president who will be all inclusive and enable our country to breakthrough all the isms, such as racism, sexism, ageism, etc. I want a president who truly will unite the United States of America. My confidence is not in a gender to make this happen but in character and capability. That character and capability is represented in the person who is Barack Obama!

Obama is the General Election Candidate!!

Janice — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:12:23 EST

Clinton once campaigned as her party's inevitable nominee. But despite polls that show Obama a stronger general-election candidate against McCain, Clinton's surrogates have begun arguing that she is the Democrats' best hope to win the Nov. 4 election.

GO OBAMA!! YES WE CAN!! SI SE PUEDE!!

From:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-02-04-super-tuesday-surprises_N.htm?csp=34&src=campaign:reprise_bnfeed_google_election

Obama the choice of Democrats in Indonesia

Janice — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:09:25 EST

Obama the choice of Democrats in Indonesia

Story Highlights
Seventy-five of nearly 100 Americans living in Indonesia choose Barack Obama
Vote counts are preliminary, require verification, election official says
Voting at Jakarta hotel was first in-person casting of ballots in U.S. races

From Saeed Ahmed
CNN

(CNN) -- Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won the first battle of the Super Tuesday showdown when Democratic Party voters in Indonesia -- where Obama spent four years of his childhood -- picked him over Sen. Hillary Clinton.

A girl walks past the school in Jakarta, Inodnesia, where Barack Obama attended as a boy.

Seventy five percent of the nearly 100 votes cast by expatriate Americans a minute after midnight Indonesia time (12 p.m. Monday EST) went to Obama. The rest were cast in favor of Clinton, said Arian Ardie, country committee chair for Democrats Abroad.

Ardie said he was not permitted to disclose the exact number of votes cast, and added that the results were preliminary and still need formal verification.

Ardie said that Obama's time in Indonesia was part of his appeal among expatriate voters in the southeast Asian country.

"I think it factored in to the extent they saw someone with strong international experience," he said. "But I don't think it was the primary factor."

The voting at a hotel in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta was the first in-person casting of ballots in a coast-to-coast contest for Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls Tuesday. Voters will go to the polls in 24 states and American Samoa.

Some 6 million Americans living abroad are eligible to vote in U.S. elections, The Associated Press reported, but only a fraction have done so in the past.

Ardie said Democrats in Indonesia wanted to create the same kind of buzz that the New Hampshire hamlet of Dixville Notch generated when it kicked off the presidential primaries on January 8.

Super TuesdayLive from the CNN Election Center, the best political team covers every race 40 hours nonstop.
Tuesday, beginning 6 a.m. ET see full schedule »

The midnight voting in the hamlet of about 75 people near the Canadian border was closely watched by the media and the campaigns.

There too, Obama won -- garnering seven of 10 votes cast. Clinton won none.

More than four-fifths of the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination are at stake Tuesday in what amounts to a national primary.

The delegates will in turn choose the party's presidential candidate at their August convention.

For the millions of Americans living around the world, Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization. It is recognized as a "state" party by the Democratic National Committee. It will send 22 delegates to the convention at which time they will have a combined 11 votes. Watch Americans living abroad uniting for party politics »

Ardie said the excitement for the presidential elections this go-round was tremendous. The country committee tripled its membership in the last six months and doubled it in the last two, he said. He would not say how many party members are registered but placed the number in the hundreds.

"We have people who are first-time voters. We have people who were out of the voting process for many years," he said. . Prior to the vote, Democrats who had gathered at the central Jakarta hotel heard from both campaigns.

Gen. Wesley Clark spoke on behalf of Clinton. "He had a very comprehensive and strong message in support of Hillary Clinton based upon his time he first met her in Arkansas," Ardie said.

Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng "had a more personal description of her brother," Ardie said.

She talked about why he would make a great president and "tied it back to some of his multi-cultural experiences while growing up in Indonesia."

Obama lived in Indonesia as a child with his mother and step-father. In his two books -- "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" -- Obama noted that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10, starting in 1967.

At a campaign stop in November, Obama told an Iowa audience that "probably the strongest experience I have in foreign relations is the fact that I spent four years living overseas when I was a child in Southeast Asia."

Obama said his time there, and the fact that his father was from Kenya, gave him the knowledge "of how ordinary people in these other countries live."

Later, Obama said the point he was trying to make in Iowa is that his time overseas "gives me some judgment and perspective around what other people think about America and how they might react or respond when we make some of the decisions that we make." E-mail to a friend

All About Indonesia • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • U.S. Politics

Great Photos from the Campaign and Chat w/Barack Video

Janice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:05:08 EST

These are Must See pictures from the campaign, including the foreign press and a cafe chat w/ Barack and NH voters. Barack talks about himself and his family in the chat video at the end of the sequence of pictures. A real treat.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/3/23238/48095/261/449255

Tragic Event in Iraq - Pray for Innocent Civilians and Soldiers

Janice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:53:18 EST

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-02-04-civilians-killed_N.htm?csp=34

During this intense primary campaign that has us captivated by its day to day developments, tragic events continue to occur in Iraq. Although we are far away, we are still deeply touched by the loss of life in Iraq -- the lives of innocent Iraqis and the lives of our soldiers.

Please see the link above for still another tragic story from Iraq. Pray for the innocent civilians killed in this attack and in all attacks during the Iraq War and pray for their families and communities as well. And let us remember that our soldiers need our utmost support and prayer. Also, we often forget that those willfully and mercilessly inflicting violence and death on others are deeply in need of prayer and deliverance from their madness. Ultimately, may we pray that our next president and military officials use their best judgement and ability to bring a swift but peaceful conclusion to this war. Senator Barack Obama had the foresight to oppose the war and spoke out against going to war from the beginning. He has the compassion, earnest desire, determination and capability to bring an end to the Iraq War at the earliest opportunity.

Obama '08

Great Obama Print!

Janice — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:05:23 EST

OBAMA

UPDATE: Thanks for all those who bought the print in support of OBEY and OBAMA. Unfortunately, the print is sold out and we do not plan on producing another edition. The edition was released earlier today with great response. The PROGRESS screenprint was exclusively available through OBEY and the HOPE offset print will be distributed by the OBAMA Camp as an awareness campaign.

I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself www.barackobama.com. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a large statewide poster campaign.

Thanks.

-Shepard

Those of you who emails us, thank you. But we don’t have anymore! This screenprint is 24 X 36, edition of 350. Available next Wednesday, January 30th.

posted January 25, 2008

From:

http://obeygiant.com/post/obama

Houston Obama Vide

Janice — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:57:59 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCrc02HR3tM

Houston for Obama Volunteer's Video

Houston Obama Office

2520 Southmore Blvd (2 blocks from 288)

Houston, TX 77004

713 522-5111

Barack the Vote!!

Janice — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 09:50:51 EST

New Obama Lexicon:

Barack the Vote -- To bring forth revolutionary political change; to shake up conventional politics
Barack and Roll -- To get active with a special momentum or movement; to usher in something new
Barack the Boat -- To shake up convention, tradition, the status quo
Obamathon -- To Spend excessive time on a cause or conviction for a special purpose or intent
Obamaniac -- A person who is obsessive about a cause or conviction, especially with zeal to persuade others
Obamaphenomena -- A sudden, swift occurrence that generates widespread attention and excitement
for a good cause

-----------
Remember the '70's song, "Rock the Boat?"
Now to get the refrain recorded for the Obama campaign is the deal.

Sing in tune to Rock the Boat, but replace "Rock" with "Barack," "boat" with "vote" and drop "don't." This is what makes campaigns really come alive --songs and creativity in general. Have fun (it may take a little practice but you'll get the hang of it)!

Barack the Vote!!

So I'd like to know where, you got the notion
said I'd like to know where, you got the notion

to rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat, don't tip the boat over
rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat-t-t-t-t

So I'd like to know where, you got the notion
said I'd like to know where, you got the notion

To rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat, don't tip the boat over
rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
rock the boat-t-t-t-t

Janice Gloster
Obama '08
Houston Obama Leadership Team
2520 Southmore St @ Live Oak
Houston, Texas
Last day to register to vote in the
Texas March 4th primary is Monday,
February 4th. Register at 2520 Southmore
or 5300 Griggs Road, Tax Assessor/Collector
Office.

Obama Organizational Videos

Janice — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:25:47 EST

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/organizing

Pull out the stops and let's get it red hot fired up to campaign, canvass and otherwise talk, think and act to elect Obama!! See the above link for Obama's organizational videos and circulate far and wide. Thanks!!

Obama total more than top two GOP finishers

Janice — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 01:13:04 EST

Obama total more than top two GOP finishers Posted: 08:45 PM ET (CNN) – Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in South Carolina. But in the state’s Democratic primary Saturday, presidential contender Barack Obama has 294,799 votes, with 99 percent of precincts reporting — more than the top two finishers in last week’s GOP primary combined. Last Saturday, winner John McCain pulled in 147,283 votes. Runner-up Mike Huckabee captured 132,440. –CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand Filed under: Barack Obama • South Carolina 1 Comment | Add a comment | Permalink

Great Day -- Third Ward Cavassing!!

Janice — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:57:53 EST

The Houston for Obama/Third Ward had a great day canvassing today! We met at 9 am at the headquarters and headed out about 10:30 in a motorcade -- with horns blaring and cars adorned with "Obama '08" signs!! We canvassed for more than 2 hours, registering folks to vote and talking with them about why Barack Obama is the very best candidate for president. We gave handouts, reminded them to vote in the March '04 primary and encouraged them to network among family, friends and colleagues to get out the vote for Obama!!! We returned to headquarters, 2520 Southmore at Live Oak (a couple blocks off 288) for a lunch "on the house" of wings, salad, seasoned rice and spice cake.

Before heading home, we had much fun on the street in front of headquarters waving signs of "Honk 4 Obama!!" Many folks honked their horns letting us know they, too, are behind Obama!!!

Thank you one and all who came out and made it a great day!! Thank you Wanda and Maria for your fine leadership that made it happen.

We will canvass every Saturday so come on out and join the fun!!

Janice Gloster, HOLT, Obama '08

New Obama Music Video!

Janice — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:38:05 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo4QoNfaBoU

New Obama music Video! Check it out and circulate!! Thanks.

Third Ward Canvassing This Saturday!

Janice — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:52:42 EST

Houston for Obama, Third Ward (TSU/UH/MacGregor Areas) will be canvassing on Saturday, January 26, 2008. Organizational Meeting is Thursday, January 24th, 7pm, at the Third Ward Office, 2520 Southmore (at Live Oak). Wanda Cunningham is the Coordinator. Please Come and Participate! Everyone is Invited!

Barack Gives Away Questionable Funds

Janice — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:45:16 EST

See this website about Barack giving away questionable funds to charity:

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/obama_rezko_return/2008/01/20/65999.html

Bob Johnson apologizes to Obama

Janice — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:59:29 EST

Bob Johnson apologizes to Obama
MSNBC
Four days after he made an unmistakable allusion to Obama's teenage drug use and even referred to him as Sidney Poitier, Clinton supporter Bob Johnson apologized to Obama for those remarks.
"I'm writing to apologize to you and your family personally for the un-called-for comments I made at a recent Clinton event," Johnson said in a statement. "In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail."

Barack's Senate Website

Janice — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:13:25 EST

http://obama.senate.gov/

This website is useful for voters to see Barack's work in the US Senate on major issues. It also gives information about his work in the Illinois Senate and as a community organizer.

A President of Character and Vision: Barack Obama!

Janice — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:08:08 EST

Addae,

Your comment brings out a serious issue, and the sooner it's addressed in this campaign the better. My take on the subject of Obama's
"not being black enough" is a euphemism for Obama's lack of association with segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. It is assumed, therefore, that he will not truly empathize and work hard for African Americans. Certainly, the issue of Civil Rights, equality and freedom for all Americans, including African Americans, needs to be one of the issues Obama addresses in his campaign for the presidency. Needless to say, it is a legitimate issue for African Americans, if not a central issue for this constituency. However, the other matter of this issue of "black enough" needs attention in and of itself. Those associated with the Civil Rights Movement, that is, those who lived through segregation as well as those who participated in the Civil Rights Movement, must come to terms with the passage of time. The generation born during and after the Civil Rights Movement, one such member being Barack Obama, were not part of this era. Obama was born in '61. He was only 7 years old when MLK,Jr, was assassinated. Obama's generation cannot be expected to fully identify with the generation of MLK,Jr, and expecting him/them to do so is unreasonable. Obama's the post-Civil Rights Movement (CRM) generation. They must be well educated about the CRM and its history yet take us to a higher plane of human experience in America, and in so doing, take all Americans to a higher life experience. Personally, I think Andrew Young, Robert Johnson (BET), Joseph Lowery and other older/CRM African Americans who feel beholden to Bill Clinton as the "first black president" and for this reason are supporting Hillary Clinton's candidacy grossly (and ironically) have missed the entire point of the CRM of which they participated. They are supporting Bill/Hillary because of the, as they say, blackness of Bill Clinton's presidency, rather than because of the content of character of Hillary Clinton -- as MLK, Jr, encouraged us to do. Obama is our step beyond a concentration on race as the deciding factor in the politics and life in America. To rise above race, to achieve a higher quality of life for all Americans, we need a president of character and one with a vision that is representative of all Americans. That President is Barack Obama!!

Excellent Article On What We Can Learn from the Dean Campaign

Janice — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:31:21 EST

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=49525274-a82e-43ef-800b-eb5ba79d1404&k=34485&p=4

Please see link to read very informative article about what the Obama campaign can learn from the Howard Dean campaign. It also speaks to the strong weight personal relationships carry with seeking votes for one's chosen candidate. This is our clarion call to get started talking with family, friends, coworkers and others to enlist their support for Obama and if we've done so to continue the rally of our personal network. Pretty interesting aspect of article in that an Iowa teen convinced his parents to vote for Obama, who then convinced their friends to support Obama...and so on and so on. That's real networking!

Reuters/Zogby Poll Released Wed, 1.1608

Janice — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:50:50 EST

See Link. Obama in virtual tie w/ Hillary.

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/obama-clinton-tied-in-2008-democratic/n20080116085909990092?cid=435

Hand Count in NH Favors Obama

Janice — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:36:02 EST

See Link for hand count stats from NH

http://presscue.com/node/38034

Statement by Barack's Minister about Trinity Church

Janice — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:02:04 EST

Dear Friends in Faith:

Printed below is a message from the Rev. John Thomas, General Minister and President of the UCC regarding Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago . Trinity is the home church (for the past 20 years) of Senator Barack Obama, who is a candidate for President. Apparently, there is quite an active smear campaign that is being conducted against Trinity, and consequently, I guess, Senator Obama.

As John states clearly in the article, his statements are certainly not about endorsing Obama, rather they are about celebrating and honoring the vital ministry and strong presence of Trinity UCC in our denomination.

Blessings and Shalom,

Lark

Thomas denounces smear campaign against UCC’s largest congregation

Written by J. Bennett Guess
January 11, 2008

A ramped-up smear campaign against the UCC's largest congregation and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's home church — Trinity UCC in Chicago — has raised the ire of the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, who called the e-mail-driven claims "absurd, mean-spirited and politically motivated."

"Our national offices in Cleveland , as well as other settings of the UCC, have been forwarded countless e-mails that obviously derive from a similar source," Thomas said. "They contain misleading statements obviously meant to undermine the integrity of one of our most vibrant, mission-driven congregations."

Thomas said, while it's not his intent to come to the aid of Obama or any presidential candidate, he does feel it's imperative that "absurd, mean-spirited and politically-motivated attacks against one of our UCC churches be challenged forthrightly."

Obama, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has been a member of Trinity UCC for 20 years.

Since Obama won the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, a flurry of e-mail messages with identical language and sentiment began circulating across the internet, claiming that Trinity UCC was a "racist" congregation because of its long-stated church motto: "Unashamedly Black, Unapologetically Christian."

"Trinity UCC is rooted in and proud of its Afrocentric heritage," Thomas said. "This is no different than the hundreds of UCC churches from the German Evangelical and Reformed stream that continue to own and celebrate their German heritage, insisting on annual sausage and sauerkraut dinners and singing Stille Nacht on Christmas Eve. Recognizing and celebrating our distinctive racial-ethnic heritages, cultures, languages and customs are what make us unique as a united and uniting denomination."

While Trinity UCC is predominately African American, it does include and welcome non-Black members. The Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, who is white, has been a member of the congregation for years.

"Trinity is a destination church for many members of the UCC, a multi-racial, multi-cultural denomination that is largely Caucasian," Thomas pointed out. "When in Chicago , many UCC members flock to Trinity to share in and learn from its vibrant ministries, dynamic worship and justice-minded membership. Contrary to the claims made in these hateful emails, UCC members know Trinity to be one of the most welcoming, hospitable and generous congregations in our denomination."

Trinity UCC was founded in 1961. Ten years later, when the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright became its pastor, the church had 87 families. Today, Trinity UCC has more than 8,000 members, 70 ministries and three Sunday worship services.

Trinity UCC is also the largest congregational contributor to Our Church's Wider Mission, the UCC's common purse for regional, national and international ministries.

The circulating e-mails are written to appear as if they are coming from a groundswell of persons, with different names and e-mail addresses. But each uses nearly identical language, makes similar claims and even manages to make the same mistakes. For example, each makes introductory reference to "Trinity Church of Christ" instead of "Trinity United Church of Christ."

"It's clear that someone is using the internet to give the appearance of widespread concern and, thus, to hopefully create traction for this absurd story," Thomas said.

About the UCC

Formed by name in 1957 by the union of the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the [German] Evangelical and Reformed Church, the UCC's roots in American history are deep. Eleven signers of the Declaration of Independence were from UCC traditions, and a full 10 percent of present-day UCC congregations were formed prior to 1776.

Many UCC churches trace their founding to the early 1600s, when the Pilgrims and Puritans first came to America . These Congregationalists, as they became known, sought religious independence from persecuting political authorities in Europe . They believed firmly in local church autonomy, covenantal church life, personal piety and the priesthood of all believers.

Today, the UCC holds firmly to these early religious tenets. Often recognized for its historical and contemporary social justice commitments, its present-day approach to worship, however, might be considered traditional by most standards.

Interestingly, the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, published in 2002, found that UCC members, slightly more than members of other mainline denominations, listed traditional hymns and biblically-sound preaching as being essential to good worship. Surprising to some, the same study also found that slightly more UCC members self-identified as conservative rather than liberal a tidbit that President Calvin Coolidge, a conservative Republican and the nation's only Congregationalist president (1923-1929), might have found interesting.

Although each congregation's liturgical style is influenced by its heritage and members preferences, as is true in most mainline denominations, the UCC, as one pastor aptly put it, is known for its "beautiful, heady and exasperating" mix.

Known for arriving early on social justice issues, the church's history includes being the first to practice democracy in church governance (1630), the first to ordain an African-American pastor (1785), the first to ordain a woman (1853), the first to ordain an openly gay man (1972), and the first to support same-gender marriage equality (2005).

In 1773, Old South UCC in Boston helped inspire the Boston Tea Party and, in 1777, Old Zion Reformed UCC in Allentown , Pa. , hid the Liberty Bell from occupying British forces.

Hundreds of schools including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth , Howard, Fisk, Wellesley , Smith and Oberlin owe their beginnings to the UCC. The UCC's publishing company, The Pilgrim Press, is the oldest publisher of books in North America .

Obama and his family live in Chicago 's Hyde Park neighborhood, which is home to Chicago Theological Seminary, one of the UCC's seven seminaries and the city's oldest institution of higher education.

Largely regarded as a northern church, about 80 percent of UCC members are clustered in the Northeast and industrial Midwest . The UCC is the largest Protestant church in New England, the birthplace of Congregationalism, and it has more than 700 churches in Pennsylvania , the heart of the German Reformed tradition. The UCC is also strong in New York , Missouri , Florida , Hawaii and the Pacific West Coast.

In Iowa and New Hampshire , two states with early Presidential contests, the UCC has 188 and 138 congregations respectively.

In recent years, the UCC has posted growth in the South. The denominations second largest church, the 5,500-member Victory UCC near Atlanta , affiliated with the UCC in 2002. The UCC's fourth-largest, the 4,300-member Cathedral of Hope UCC in Dallas, Texas, joined in 2006, as did churches in Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Columbia, S.C., among other places.

Last year, the UCC launched its national Nehemiah Project with plans to start or welcome at least 250 new southern churches within five years.

While Obama is the only UCC candidate in the 2008 presidential election, the 2004 campaign included two UCC members, both Democrats. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, now chair of the Democratic Party, is a member of First Congregational UCC in Burlington , Vt. , and then U.S. Senator Bob Graham is a member of Miami Lakes Congregational UCC in Florida .

The current U.S. Congress includes 10 UCC members -- five Republicans and five Democrats.

Five U.S. Senators are UCC: Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Obama.

Five House seats are occupied by UCC members: Thelma Drake (R-Va.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.).

Other notable UCC members include New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D); former U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.); actress Lynn Redgrave; current U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall; Pulitzer-prize-winning newspaper columnists Connie Schultz (and wife of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio) and Leonard Pitts Jr.; and Marilynne Robinson, the Pulitzer-prize-winning author of Gilead.

The Rev. Andrew Young former congressman, U.N. ambassador and Atlanta mayor is an ordained UCC minister, who began his Civil Rights activism working for the UCC.

The late Rev. William Sloane Coffin, the legendary social activist who became immortalized as the pastor in Gary Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip, had ministerial standing in the UCC and served as pastor of the UCC's Riverside Church in New York.

The Rev. Reinhold Niebuhr, a UCC minister considered to be one of greatest Christian theologians of the 20th century, authored the now-famous Serenity Prayer.

Clinton, Obama Clash Over Race Issue -Associated Press - January 13, 2008

Janice — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:16:56 EST

Clinton, Obama Clash Over Race Issue
Associated Press - January 13, 2008
NEW YORK - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested Sunday that Barack Obama's campaign had injected racial tension into the presidential contest, saying he had distorted for political gain her comments about Martin Luther King's role in the civil rights movement.

"This is an unfortunate story line the Obama campaign has pushed very successfully," the former first lady said in a spirited appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." "I don't think this campaign is about gender, and I sure hope it's not about race."

Clinton taped the show before appearances in South Carolina, whose Jan. 26 primary will be the first to include a significant representation of black voters. Blacks were 50 percent of primary voters in the state in 2004 and the number is expected to swell this time.

Both New York Sen. Clinton and her husband, the former president, have engaged in damage control this week after black leaders criticized their comments shortly before the New Hampshire primary last Tuesday.

The senator was quoted as saying King's dream of racial equality was realized only when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, while Bill Clinton said Illinois Sen. Obama was telling a "fairy tale" about his opposition to the Iraq war.

Former President Clinton has since appeared on several black radio programs to say he was referring to Obama's record on the Iraq war, not on his effort to become the nation's first black president.

As evidence the Obama campaign had pushed the story, Clinton advisers pointed to a memo written by an Obama staffer compiling examples of comments by Clinton and her surrogates that could be construed as racially insensitive. The memo later surfaced on a handful of political Web sites.

Obama later called Clinton's accusations "ludicrous," and said he found Clinton's comments about King to be ill-advised and unfortunate.

"If Senator Clinton wants to be distracted by the sorts of political point-scoring that was evident today then that is going to be her prerogative," Obama said.

Another rival, John Edwards, added his voice to the chorus of criticism of Clinton's comments about King.

"I must say I was troubled recently to see a suggestion that real change that came not through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King but through a Washington politician. I fundamentally disagree with that," Edwards told more than 200 people gathered at a predominantly black Baptist church in Sumter, S.C.

Later Sunday, the Clinton campaign scrambled to explain comments by one of its top black supporters, BET founder Bob Johnson, that seemed to raise the issue of Obama's admitted teenage drug use.

"I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues - when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book - when they have been involved," Johnson said at an event with Clinton in Columbia, S.C.

In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," Obama described using marijuana and occasionally sampling cocaine as a youth.

The Clinton campaign later released a statement in which Johnson said his comments referred to Obama's years as a community organizer in Chicago.

During the televised interview, Hillary Clinton praised King as one of the people she "admired most in the world," and suggested his record of activism stood in stark contrast to Obama's.

"Dr. King didn't just give speeches. He marched, he organized, he protested, he was gassed, he was beaten, he was jailed," she said, noting King had campaigned for Johnson because he recognized the need to elect a president who could enact civil rights into law.

While Clinton praised Obama's eloquence, she also stepped up her contention that his record did not match his rhetoric.

She noted that while he had spoken out eloquently against the war in 2002 before coming to the Senate, he voted repeatedly to fund the war once in office.

"If you are part of American political history, you know that speeches are essential to frame an issue, to inspire, and lift up," Clinton said. "But when the cameras are gone and when the lights are out, what happens next?"

Obama scoffed at her suggestion of an inconsistent record on the war. Campaigning in Las Vegas, he said he voted for war funding out of an obligation to support the troops, and noted other prominent Democrats, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and Barbara Boxer, who voted the same way.

"Once we had our troops in, two years into a war, it was important that we do the best job of it," Obama said before speaking at a Pentecostal church. "They have decided to run a relentlessly negative campaign. I don't think anyone who is paying attention can deny that."

Clinton ended her day in South Carolina by speaking to more than 100 women at an invitation-only event at a Columbia bistro.

"We still have too many women who are not being treated fairly in the work place," she said. "This is not a woman's issue. This is a fairness and quality issue."

---

Associated Press writers Philip Elliott and Seanna Adcox contributed to this report from Columbia, S.C., and AP Writer Kathleen Hennessy contributed from Las Vegas.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or

New York Times Blog on Harlem Clinton vs Obama

Janice — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:30:25 EST

You may wish to check out this blog for information's sake. It is an extensive array of perspectives about both candidates from people in Harlem, NYC and elsewhere. It reveals many issues that have arisen for Black voters in New York and beyond and is a rich resource for discussions of the Obama choice with those who are undecided or those in the HRC camp.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/in-harlem-a-tough-choice-between-clinton-and-obama/

Don't Get Down, Get Active!!

Janice — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:14:34 EST

Hi Everyone!!!!

Exciting times these are for all of us!! This campaign has nearly taken on a political lightning strike!! After reading about some of your discouragement about the NH outcome and the pundits' headlines that "Clinton Upset Obama," I want to tell you to be ENCOURAGED!! NH is over and besides Clinton only edged Obama by a couple of percentage points. I think her eeny, weeny "win" may have been helpful to Obama. Now we won't take polls for granted and slack up until Obama is in the White House!! And let the pundits use any rhetoric they want to use. Keep in mind, they have a favorite candidate they're backing and are shamelessly subjective when reporting news on the campaign, so expect them to show bias. We need to put our energy into getting support for Obama. So come what may in the days, weeks and months ahead: BE ENCOURAGED!! We have much to do to keep us focused and steadfast as we push forward in this great campaign!!

Get active in the campaign! Challenge your family, friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers, churchmembers, the post man/woman, the store clerk, your cleaners' staff, bank staff, whomever you regularly associate with to support Obama. If you have friends, relatives, classmates in states that are having an upcoming primary, by all means CALL THEM and CAMPAIGN FOR OBAMA!! If you are within a short drive or can plan a flight to visit them, arrange to do so and tell them to invite their friends, coworkers etc over to their home for an Obama primary support party. If you provide all the food and drinks, you know you'll be welcome. Organize a neighborhood party, church party or work party for Obama. Bring t-shirts to sell and ask for contributions.

As you can see, there's so much to do!! So don't get down if there is negative news or a less than favorable outcome here and there -- which we expect will be few and far between. Stay focused and busy!!

So Glad that You are ONBOARD for OBAMA!!!

Welcome to ObamaRays Blog!!

Janice — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:48:33 EST

Hi, Glad you stopped by!!

"Hope" as Barack Obama has said is bold and it is powerful!! I have reflected on the

boldness and power of hope while listening to Barack speak. It takes courage to hope;

it takes optimism to hope; and it takes vision to hope. We can lose sight of the power

within ourselves to change our own lives and impact the lives of others in an uplifting and

meaningful way. I was truly inspired to hear Barack speak of hope and change for Americans

one and all in his quest for President of Our Great Country!! He has put on the mantle of

courage and conviction to take us to a greater life experience as American citizens. But his

success must be by , as Barack put it, riding the wave of our support. I indeed hope and believe

you will catch the vision of Barack Obama and get onboard. If you are onboard already, let

me hear from you!

All the Best,

Janice Gloster