K's Blog

Canvassing for Barack Obama

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 07:54:58 EST

I spent most of the day yesterday going door to door in my town. It was the first time I've ever done canvassing, and I was nervous and uncertain. I never imagined I'd be one of those people who interrupts neighbors going about their daily lives to say, "Please vote for this guy!" I've been on the receiving end of political preaching before, and I've never liked it.

So, I have some sympathy for all those people who are tempted to say "Go away!" "I'm not interested!" "Leave me alone!"

A funny thing happened though as I knocked on door after door. I realized the commitment and passion it takes to keep going when you know you won't be received warmly by every house you visit. If I didn't believe Barack Obama was the very best candidate for President of the United States, I wouldn't be willing to do this. If I wasn't convinced he has what it takes to lead our country in a new direction and restore our sense of common purpose domestically and abroad, I'd be tempted to give up after the first rude response I received.

I'm taking the time and going to the trouble to canvass because this isn't an ordinary election. This is a pivotal moment in history when we have an opportunity to get involved and make a difference. If we don't want to continue along the same path our country has been on for the past decade or more, I firmly believe we need to elect Barack Obama as our next President.

One other thing I've learned - it doesn't take alot of effort to be kind to canvassers. "No, thank you," is so much nicer to hear than a harsh "Not interested" or worse. The people who are coming to our doors are actively engaged in the political process - which I think we'd all agree is a good thing - and all they're asking for is a few seconds of our time. Yes, it's terribly annoying and frustrating to hear the doorbell ring if you're sick and trying to rest or if you've just put your baby down for a nap, but it's worth remembering why you're being visited.

Everyone's vote matters. We are all being asked to consider a decision that could have a big impact on our individual futures and the future of our country as a whole. Isn't it worth taking a few moments to find out why your neighbors, like me, are tromping through miles of ice and snow to support Barack Obama?

A New Way of Doing Business

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:02:44 EST

Oprah was right when she said, "You know, I am so tired. I'm tired of politics as usual. What we need is, we need a new way of doing business in Washington, D.C., and in the world."

I couldn’t agree more.

I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of feeling helpless, unable to stop our government from wasting our resources, waging an unnecessary war, trashing our Constitution, and destroying our environment. What kind of country suspends habeus corpus, tortures prisoners, and pardons corrupt politicians? Not my country. Not the United States of America.

As the saying goes: If you aren’t angry, you aren’t paying attention.

We can’t afford to keep doing the same thing in the same way because we have too much to lose. I actually sat down and cried when I heard our country was invading Iraq – I had never felt so ashamed to be an American and so powerless. My friends and I had written letters and attended protests, but our government responded by calling us unpatriotic and un-American. Our pleas fell on deaf ears. Even the most intelligent and articulate among us were ignored, so how could ordinary citizens expect to be taken seriously?

It’s no wonder we’re tempted to resign ourselves to inaction and apathy. “There’s nothing we can do.” “That’s just the way it is.” “Nobody cares.” “No one will listen.” “Corporations have all the power; they control everything, so what can we do?” Our government has encouraged us to think and feel this way. We have been inspired to fear and hate…and resign ourselves to the status quo.

If we have no faith in ourselves or our country, how can we expect to accomplish anything? What would it take to restore our confidence?

The Courage to Vote for Change

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:16:08 EST

As I was listening to Hardball with Chris Matthews on Monday night, I was disappointed to hear Matthews saying that the “dream candidates” – those brave souls who inspire people with hope, who promise us change and a new direction for our country – are never able to win the primary election. It’s always the insiders, the status quo pragmatists, who come out ahead in the end. When people get into that voting booth, fear takes over and people are reluctant to “take a chance” with real change. They vote for the most familiar candidate, the one they think is least likely to actually do anything differently.

Well, I refuse to believe we are a country full of cowards. This country was founded by people who dared to stand up to the establishment and fight for what they thought was right. It was shaped and improved by those who refused to back down when they saw an injustice: fighting slavery, fighting for the right to vote, fighting for equality. When we’re told “it can’t be done,” we rise to the challenge and prove the cynics wrong. Anyone who takes the time to study U.S. history knows we are a nation capable of doing things that others said were impossible to do.

I believe history vindicates the dreamers who have courage. As Barack Obama said to a crowd of over 8000 people in the Verizon Arena in Manchester, NH:

"We're here because somebody stood up when it was risky, stood up when it was hard, when it wasn't popular, so women could have the right to vote, unions could have the right to organize, African-Americans could have a seat at the table," he said. "They stood up in the face of fire hoses. They stood up in the face of prison. They stood up in the face of threats. . . . That's what we need to do, to stand up for America, for equality, for justice for children. That's why I'm running for president."

Barack Obama has the courage to fight special interests. He stood up for what he knew was right when he spoke out against the war in Iraq. He knows how our government is meant to work: for the people and by the people. If Barack Obama has the courage to lead with honesty and integrity, then the least I can do is to have the courage to vote for him.

We Don't Need Experience With Politics As Usual

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:11:08 EST

When Oprah addressed the crowd of over 8,000 people in Manchester, NH last weekend, she said, "Experience in the hallways of government isn't as important to me as experience on the pathway of life….I challenge you to see through those people who try and convince you that experience with politics as usual is more valuable than wisdom won from years of serving people outside the walls of Washington, D.C."

She then added, "We recognize that the amount of time that you've spent in Washington means nothing unless you're accountable for the judgments you made with the time you had. We need good judgment. We need Barack Obama."

We've already had Clintons in the White House, and we haven't seen any significant changes in the way government works. Closed door meetings, partisan bickering, deals with powerful lobbyists, and stalemates are not what our country needs right now. We need someone who can bring people together and restore our sense of common purpose. We need someone who is willing and able to work with all kinds of people, Democrats and Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals, men and women, black and white. We need a President who appreciates and values our country's diversity.

We need Barack Obama.

"Disappointment doesn't have to be normal."

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:30:13 EST

Ignore the Fame and Fortune: Oprah Knows What She’s Talking About

My husband and I attended the Obama rally in Manchester, NH on December 9, 2007. The crowd was impressively huge and enthusiastic. Although people were curious to hear what Oprah would say and we all gave her a very warm welcome, the audience was clearly there to cheer for Obama. Spirits were high and Barack didn’t disappoint us. He gave a great speech.

We captured some of the highlights of Obama’s speech on our little digital camera, and my husband used the clips to create a YouTube video for those who might like to see it. (Thanks to Matchbox Twenty for their song "Let's See How Far We've Come." Check out their music video.)

I’ve never watched Oprah and didn’t expect to have anything in common with her. So, I was surprised when I heard Oprah expressing my own thoughts and feelings about the state of our country and the hope offered by Barack Obama.

I believe she was able to articulate the truth of Obama’s campaign: it’s all about empowerment. The only way we are going to be able to turn things around in our country is if every citizen feels empowered to contribute to the positive changes we want to see. We have to know our voices will be heard by our government, our concerns about the environment and the war in Iraq will be taken seriously, and our needs for good schools and medical care will be met. We have to feel like we matter and are able to make a difference.

As Oprah so aptly expressed, "Apathy is believing that disappointment is normal. What Barack Obama has taught me is that disappointment doesn't have to be normal.

Rep. Beth Arsenault (Laconia) Endorses Obama

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:12:45 EST

The following letter appeared in the Concord Monitor (December 12. 2007)

Uniquely Qualified

More than at any other time in history, the choice we make in this year's election is crucial. It will decide what kind of a country and what kind of a future we bequeath to our children and our grandchildren.

I have watched our country become divided and distracted by the issues that separate us. We all struggle with questions concerning the war, our economy, civil rights, reproductive freedom and global climate change, trying to come to a moral position that we can live with and which sometimes puts us at odds with our neighbors.

Barack Obama is uniquely qualified to deal with these issues. He understands that the place to start is not where we are divided, but where we can all agree.

Obama's biography uniquely qualifies him to bridge the gap in our partisan divide. From his Midwestern-born mother and his African-born father, his early years in Indonesia and high school years in Hawaii, his Ivy League education, coupled with his community organizing in the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago, he straddles the line between races, cultures and socio-economic positions with a poise and a grace that transcends the differences that define us all. Barack Obama is the man to lead us past our differences into a more hopeful future.

Rep. BETH ARSENAULT

Laconia

Educators for Obama event in Warner, NH

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:28:54 EDT

Join a group of “Educators for Obama”

at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH, this Sunday (October 28, 2007) from 2 pm to 4 pm.
They will be featuring author and speaker
Robert L. Fried, professor of education at Northeastern University.
He is the author of The Passionate Teacher, The Passionate Learner,
and his newest book The Game of School

16 East Main Street Warner, NH 603-456-2700
www.mainstreetbookends.com ~ info@mainstreetbookends.com

Senate Bills on Zimbabwe and the DRC

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:07:34 EDT

One of the ways in which I do research on the presidential candidates is by checking their voting record and, in the case of Senators such as Obama, reading the bills they have sponsored or cosponsored. I also find it interesting to note whether or not the bills they have sponsored have been passed, because that gives me some indication of how well they do when it comes to generating support on a given issue.

Barack Obama has sponsored two important foreign policy bills which have been passed by the Senate: S. 2125 is a bill to promote relief, security and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (this not only passed the Senate but was signed into law); S.CON.RES.25 is a concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society. Both bills can be viewed in their entirety at the Thomas (Library of Congress) website.

Take Back Our Country

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:08:44 EDT

I think we would all like to see the war in Iraq end. It's a stupid war and it's costing our country more than we can possibly afford to keep paying in lives and money. We would all like affordable health care, more money for college and education in general, and a cleaner envirnoment. We want to be safe and prosperous. The question comes to this, though: can we really expect our elected officials to solve all of our problems for us? Do people really believe that someone like Hillary Clinton can wave a magic wand and make things all better with some sort of elite task force? If not, then what type of leader do you think is most likely to rally the public support and enthusiasm we need to get the job done for ourselves?

If you want to feel like your vote matters, like you can make a difference and have an impact on what is happening in our country and the world, then you need a President who is willing to include you and show you how to get involved.

Barack Obama is the only candidate who is committed to ending the excessive power of lobbyists. He is the only one promising us transparency and accountability at all levels of the government. Look at his record, read his speeches, and notice his dedication to the constitution and the checks and balances that are supposed to be the foundation of our government.

All the backroom deals and secrecy that have characterized the past Bush-Clinton-Bush administrations must come to an end if we are going to reclaim our government and bring about the changes that can only happen if people start taking a serious interest and start getting involved.

Obama is the best chance we have of taking our country back and restoring it to the democracy it is meant to be.

Obama has the right kind of experience

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:05:18 EDT

Am I wrong to believe that people in America want real change? If not, then how can so many people support Hillary Clinton's candidacy? She seeks to continue the "business as usual" practice of relying on powerful lobbyists and a well-oiled (dare I say "slick"?) political machine. She benefits from it, so why change the system? Although there may be some positive changes in policy under a(nother) Clinton administration, there won't be any significant changes in the way our government is being run. So, while I admire Clinton's advocacy for children and her stand on many other issues, I don't believe she represents the kind of change our country needs. She doesn't have the right kind of experience.

Obama offers real change because he wants to give the power back to the people. That may be a tired, old phrase, but think about what it really means. Do you want to have a voice in your own government? Do you want to go beyond complaining about problems and writing an occasional letter? Under an Obama administration, every one of us can be an agent for change, one of the people who is actually involved in the day-to-day business of making things better. Obama promises to lead the way, and he knows how to do it. All of the experiences he has had during his last 20 years of public service have involved motivating people and showing them how to work together. That's the kind of leadership and experience our next president needs to have.

Homeschoolers for Obama

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:15:00 EDT

I have homeschooled my three children for the past 10 years and, as a representative for the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition (www.nhhomeschooling.org), I have offered support to many other homeschoolers.

I know I am not the only one seeking a presidential candidate who speaks for progressive homeschoolers. We may not be the largest constituency in the country, but we exist and our numbers are growing. Many of our children are reaching voting age (my oldest child will vote in the 2008 election), and we need someone who will speak for us.

I trust in Barack Obama’s intelligence and open-mindedness and am confident he will consider homeschooling as a reasonable educational alternative. He has already indicated that his educational policies would not discourage homeschooling. On page 344 of The Audacity of Hope, he writes: “none of these policies need discourage families from deciding to keep a parent at home…For some families, that may mean doing without certain material comforts. For others it may mean home schooling….Whatever the case may be, such decisions should be honored.” As a husband and father of two young children, Barack Obama understands “the extraordinary emotional and financial contributions – the sacrifices and just plain hard work – of the stay-at-home mom.”

Getting to Yes: Obama's Effective Negotiation Skills

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:06:42 EDT

I support Barack Obama because I believe he is the one candidate who can get people from different backgrounds and perspectives to come together and work towards a common solution. What makes him different?

1. He knows how to really listen. Instead of being closed-minded and unwilling to consider any ideas other than his own, he is able to respectfully consider a problem from all sides. This does not mean he lacks discernment or goals; it simply means he possesses the humility required to recognize the value of unconventional and even contradictory ideas. Solutions to longstanding problems often come from unexpected places or people, so a wise negotiator will always begin by gathering as much information as possible from all the parties involved.

2. He believes in focusing on a common purpose rather than getting locked into a specific ideology or morality. He gives wonderful examples of this in his book, The Audacity of Hope (see page 59 in the chapter on Values). By working to help us identify our common values (and for all our diversity, we have much in common - our desire for a clean environment, good schools for our children, affordable health care, renewable energy, and more), he can move us out of our fixed Republican vs. Democrat positions and toward a better future.

3. He inspires people with his honesty and integrity. By being a man of good character, Barack Obama creates an atmosphere of good will and positive feelings which enables people to work together even when they wouldn't ordinarily have anything to do with each other. He recognizes the injustice of a system that would seek to coerce the weak into accepting the will of the strong. Thus, he is a champion of true democracy, in which people are given the power to control their own destinies without being bullied or thwarted by those who seek to exploit a social or economic advantage.