Thoughts from an ObamaMama

Ama Inspires Us to "Spring for Obama!"

Olivia M. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:18:06 EDT

Across the country, women are taking this election into their own hands…and their own homes. In giving their all to change our country for the better, they remind us that meaningful change only happens from the bottom up; if we want a President we can believe in, we each need to take ownership of the electoral process.

Last weekend Ama and two other women for Obama hosted a fundraiser -- which they called "Spring for Obama" -- at Ama’s house in Maryland. The inspired event raised $1,000 – and was another example of the Obama grassroots community building that has brought him so close to the winning the Democratic nomination and will, in November, earn him the presidency.

Spring for Obama hosts Jennifer, Cori and Ama

Here’s how Ama describes the event as part of her own on-going Obama campaign:

I met the party co-hosts Cori and Jennifer at my home on separate occasions when I hosted phone banking parties to call women voters in Wisconsin, and a few other states. At each phone banking party I had anywhere from 5-10 women, most of whom found out about it through mass e-mails sent by Young Lawyers for Obama or Women For Obama.
Cori, Jennifer and I kept in touch and Cori and Jennifer made a trip to register voters in Pennsylvania a couple weekends ago. We all decided that we wanted to host a fundraiser by inviting as many of our friends as possible and asking them to contribute $20 per person, $30 per pair - kids free.

The event was a great success - we raffled a couple door prizes (Obama bumper stickers, two copies of "Dreams of my Father" and an Obama '08 t-shirt). We served salads, ordered special "O" cookies -- and Obamaritas and Obamatinis were among our drink specialties. About 30 people came, plus children, and friends who couldn't make it contributed on line. Everyone had a great time and we raised just over $1,000.

Thank you Ama, for your efforts and your reminder that we each can try to spend a little less time watching Barack earn the nomination on TV and a little more time making it happen ourselves!

Now let's get Barackupied hosting our own Spring for Obama events!

Delaware Dispatch

Olivia M. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:55:44 EST

A year ago, Nicole was a community organizer in San Francisco. For six years, she worked at the grassroots level to help people improve their neighborhoods and communities. She didn’t get involved in national politics – something about the process just turned her off.

Two days ago, Nicole stood on a stage in Wilmington, DE and rallied a crowd of 20,000 to vote for Barack. She had them take out their cell phones and call undecided voters. She told them the same thing she has been saying on the streets of San Francisco for half a decade: you have the power to change your world.

Today Nicole is back on the streets, urging voters to get to the polls.

Michelle at Delaware State University

It has been a big week for politics in Delaware. Last Thursday Michelle came and drew the biggest crowds she has ever drawn on the campaign trail. Nearly 3,000 people came out to hear her speak at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington and at Delaware State University in Dover.

Women for (Michelle) Obama

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Listening to Michelle in Wilmington

And Sunday Barack made history, when his speech in downtown Wilmington drew the largest crowd – over 20,000 people – in recent Delaware memory. People crowded in for blocks around Rodney Square to listen to his message of hope and change.

Barack was welcomed to the stage (after Nicole had made her pitch) by Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell and Lieutenant Governor John Carney, who are currently running hard against each other for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. They showed grace and unity in raising their hands, together, for Barack.

Kayla, Ben and Reina arrive early to help organize the crowd

Delaware is known as the First State because it was the first to ratify the Constitution. Today, Nicole is doing everything she can to ensure that Delaware continues to embrace real change, and says to the world, “Yes We Can!”

Obama volunteers on election day in Wilmington, DE

The Anatomy of Victory: Joyce Describes Her South Carolina Experience

Olivia M. — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:48:58 EST

“Everyone has a role as a deciding factor in this country’s future. You can stay silent or you can speak up."

Joyce wrote us from South Carolina to offer her experience of Saturday’s primary, and as a committed supporter of Barack Obama.

Joyce (left) at work earlier in the campaign

Saturday, January 26, 2008 started for me at 4:00am. I awoke with one thing on my mind and that was to help Senator Barack Obama win the South Carolina Democratic Primary.

The Obama SC Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign had led to GOTV day. All the late nights in the campaign office after leaving my paid job and all the weekends of training had led to this moment. There were a few wrinkles in the process but those were smoothed out with quick on the spot thinking. The seven people that I was responsible for were in place to do their various tasks. I glanced at my car clock and said a prayer when the clock changed to 7:00am; the polls were open.

Back at mini Obama HQ, it was quiet for approximately seven minutes. And then my cell phone began to vibrate and sing with the Obama ring tone.

Volunteers came to make phone calls to remind our supporters to go and vote and gave them a telephone number to call if they encountered problems. There were a number of canvassers that went out to knock on doors and check that supporters had gotten out to vote and gave them their polling locations. We were fed and given snacks by volunteers responsible for food.

There were three children that came in with their moms who were making phone calls. Two beautiful little girls played and made a picture for Senator Obama. One cute little boy played and watched his Chipmunks DVD. The children reminded me why I was up so early and working so hard, they are our future. And I want their future to be bright.

With less than an hour to go and after my last crisis for the day, I headed out to one of the polls to watch the shut down process. The first results I heard were for that precinct, Obama 755 out of total 997 votes. As it turned out that was the common message across the state. There are 46 counties in South Carolina and Senator Obama won 44 of those counties. There were 295,214 out of 532,468 votes cast across the state for Senator Obama. Senator Obama's votes surpassed total votes cast during the last 2004 Presidential Democratic Primary with 184,288 votes cast for the whole election.

After wrapping up with GOTV activities and getting the final tallies for the day, I zoomed downtown to the Convention Center. There were people everywhere. We yelled and screamed jumped up and down as the results were announced.

And then Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama entered the stage. The crowd went crazy. At that moment, I forgot about the hours of volunteering, the long day, and my aching feet. The victory speech was amazing and yet there was still a humble spirit that we have a long way to go.

This experience has been amazing. It began with me researching the candidates early in April before the first debate in Orangeburg, SC; then to my decision to support Senator Obama on April 27th. Ultimately, I decided to actively volunteer in May of 2007.

I initially volunteered because I wanted to be part of the solution and not merely complain about the problems. I never expected that I would read a poem during celebration of filing the paperwork to add Senator Obama's name to the South Carolina ballot. Nor did I expect to have the opportunity to assist National Staff, meet Secret Service agents, get a hug from Senator Obama in the South Carolina Statehouse as well as see and meet the other candidates.

Everyone has a role as a deciding factor in this country’s future. You can stay silent or you can speak up. Decide what is important to you and pursue it with all the passion in your being. Don't just exist, live like life is worth living. Become engaged in the world of events. There now is a short road to Super Tuesday, February 5th and a lot of work to be done. And yes, this country is ready for a man different than the status quo.

Still Fired Up and Ready to Go!

Why Christine in California supports Barack

Olivia M. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:30:51 EST

Christine is a two-career professional in San Diego: a former architect, she now runs her own business consulation, branding and marketing company. She is actively involved in her community in San Diego.

Christine is analytical; a practical thinker. She has this to say about her decision to support Barack:

Countless of us hit our head on the proverbial glass ceiling, and all of us have entertained dreams of electing The First Woman President in our lifetime -- believing that we are not as bellicose as men and would be less prone to sending our young to war, that we might be less linear in our approach to solving problems -- and some of us, with less altruistic motives, just wanting to balance or reverse the male dominance in political affairs. We dreamed of a woman who, standing alone, would do us proud -- all of us.

Those of us who have endorsed Obama (or Edwards, for that matter) have done so after thoughtful soul searching, guilt tugging at our feminist dreams and edicts, and at our longing for equal rights.

We now need a President who can rally more than us, women Democrats. We need all of us plus Independents and Republicans -- someone who will deliver the Presidency in November. We can't afford to nominate the candidate Republicans dream to oppose in the general election. We need someone who can win. Better, someone who can win with some cross-party mandate.

Electability is key. Another four years -- let alone eight years -- of Republican ruling would certainly allow for two or three new Supreme Court Judges to be elected and for every level of our judicial system to be equally and adversely affected. This alone should unite all women to vote for Barack.

Honoring Roe v Wade, and its supporters

Olivia M. — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:16:12 EST

As Barack said in today's statement marking the 35th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, we are again at a critical time in the defense of women's reproductive rights. The choice movement has too many battles ahead to be able to afford the kind of politics that pits supporters against one another.

Because of divisive and dishonest tactics, some women now question Sen. Obama's commitment to choice. Below are examples of how women have reacted to these distortions. Please make sure your own friends and networks are armed with facts.

Former New Hampshire State Senator and Clinton supporter Katie Wheeler asks Clinton Campaign to stop divisive attacks

The Washington Post reported, “One of the three Clinton supporters went even further, saying in an interview Thursday that signing the letter attacking Obama was a ‘mistake.’ Katie Wheeler, a former state senator, said the Clinton campaign had not given her background information about Obama's record on abortion rights when it asked her to sign the letter calling him weak on the issue, and said that, as a result, she did not understand the context of the votes that the letter was attacking him over.

‘It should never have gotten to the point where anyone thought Obama was not pro-choice,’ said Wheeler, a founder of the New Hampshire chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America. ‘I don't think the Clinton campaign should have done that. It was divisive and unnecessary...I think it was a mistake and I've spoken to the national [Clinton campaign] and told them it caused problems in New Hampshire, and am hoping they won't do it again.’” (Washington Post, 1/19/08)

Gloria Steinem called the Clinton Campaign to ask them to stop distorting Obama’s record on choice

Gloria Steinem said, “I think we just have to be able to call each other up. You know, I mean, my friends who are working in the Obama campaign called me up and said someone, not Hillary Clinton, but someone for Hillary Clinton, an organization, was saying that Obama – was distorting Obama’s record on safe and legal abortion. And so, if we can, backstage. And so I called up and tried to do my best to eliminate that distortion, to make sure it wasn’t happening.” (Jack And Jill Politics, YouTube, 4th Segment, 5:00, 1/15/08)
Former Chicago NOW President, former Clinton Supporter Lorna Brett bemoans the toll dishonest attacks take on the choice movement
“There's never been a problem with Sen. Obama. It's really a shame,’ said Lorna Brett, a Clinton supporter and former president of Chicago NOW. Brett and other women's rights and abortion rights advocates say they often asked lawmakers to vote present as part of a larger legislative strategy. ‘In this case, I think both candidates are committed to choice and I hate to see the pro-choice community cannibalize itself on this issue,’ said Brett. ‘If either candidate wins, the pro-choice community is in good hands.’” (Chicago Tribune, 12/4/07)

What it takes

Olivia M. — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:23:19 EST

Something extraordinary happened in Iowa on January 3rd. A movement came together and made itself heard. The world may not have changed – yet – but we took a step in the right direction.

Tamara, also known on line as Mid America Mom, is one of the thousands of women who have stood up for change and taken ownership of a piece of this campaign. Her diary from volunteering in Iowa offers a glimpse of the dedication that was behind that victory – and reminds us that together we have what it takes to send Barack to the White House.

Meanwhile, Tamara has already moved on to volunteer in another neighboring, early-voting state.

Tamara (right) in Iowa

Tamara wrote from Iowa:

Though I am not from this state, rural Iowa is the land of my father. It is like coming home.

Volunteering here means spending time in a town where I have a 70-year-young aunt and uncle, a cousin with a family of 6, and over in the next town is another aunt and uncle. My family is all Republican and, yes, I am a Republican. But this year I am the black sheep of the family, supporting a Democrat, and my senator, Barack Obama.

In a way they are supporting the effort - by housing and feeding me for a whole week. My husband and two small children have joined me out here on the trail. With family babysitting assistance my husband has hit the campaign trail with me. It is a first for both of us, being involved in a campaign, giving money, making phone calls...

Today I stopped by a local coffee shop. One of the patrons came over from where she lives, in a local nursing home. She says "Oh from the Obama campaign?" when she sees me walk in with my full winter gear; three layers of pants, three layers of shirts (last one on of course is an Obama sweatshirt), and my knit hat with an Obama button hanging right on my forehead -- I must be quite a sight!

We make small talk about the TV ads she saw last night and I share that I am a Republican. I learn that she is a lifelong Republican too! And this year, she will be going to her very first Democratic caucus. For Barack Obama.

My husband and I canvassed a mobile home in Ainesworth, IA on the Wednesday before the caucus. The youngest son who was 8 or 9 is a Sponge Bob fan and I told him that was Obama's favorite show, since he watches it with his daughters.

They were undecided and not sure how it all worked, since they had never caucused. We brought up some Obama talking points and told them about being able to register as Democrats that night. We also joked that they could not blame bad weather for not showing up since they live 50 feet from the caucus site.

On caucus night they walked in and I introduced them to the Obama precinct captain. She chatted with them, gave them a sticker, and they checked in. Afterwards they all came over to the OBAMA group and STAYED :)

Barack's unwavering commitment to reproductive rights

Olivia M. — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:56:49 EST

False attacks to the contrary, women who are committed to Barack's candidacy can be confident that he is equally committed to our reproductive rights.

Days before the New Hampshire primary the Clinton campaign put out a piece of mail questioning Barack's record on choice in the Illinois state senate. Though leaders in the choice community have repeatedly asserted that he has been a loyal ally and partner in protecting women's health, the Clinton campaign continues with its spurious charges.

One Clinton supporter was so offended by the dishonesty of these attacks that she is now supporting Senator Obama. A mail piece explains her decision to withdraw her support.

Yesterday, leaders from Planned Parenthood in Illinois and grateful advocates from other states held a call with press to once again commend Barack's true record. Several news outlets covered the call: the Boston Globe, Time magazine's blog, and the Chicago Tribune, excerpted below.

The Swamp – Chicago Tribune
By Mike Dorning
Apparently sharing the conclusion of several analysts that Barack Obama was wounded in New Hampshire in part by direct-mail literature questioning his commitment to abortion rights, the Illinois senator’s presidential campaign launched a new effort shore up his abortion-rights bona fides with a conference call a few minutes ago.
The literature against Obama has focused on a series of “present” votes Obama cast as a state legislator on controversial measures to restrict abortion rights. A present vote allows a legislator to avoid a public stand for or against a measure. The Clinton campaign and two pro-abortion rights groups supportive of her candidacy—EMILY’s List and National Organization for Women—have used those votes to question Obama’s commitment to abortion rights...
Pam Sutherland, president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, vouched again in the conference call that Obama’s present votes were made a the request of Illinois abortion-rights advocates.
“It was our strategy from Planned Parenthood,” Sutherland said.
“Sen. Obama was key to that present-vote strategy,” She continued. “He was always gong to be no votes on all of these bills. But we specifically asked him to vote present because he was so respected among his fellow Democrats that, if he did the present vote, they would follow suit. And that ended up being the case. They did follow suit. And not only did many of the Democrats follow suit. So did a couple of Republicans follow suit."
“It actually worked, because the then-Senate President was no longer able to use these votes against candidates in their races,” Sutherland added.
Jan Nicolay, co-chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, also vouched for Obama’s pro-abortion-rights commitment, saying he was the only one of the presidential candidates to send money to aide with a ballot initiative to overturn a nearly complete ban on abortion that the South Dakota legislature passed.

Transcending identity politics

Olivia M. — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:57:21 EST

Women have had strong and thoughtful reactions to an opinion piece in last week's New York Times making the "feminist" case for Senator Clinton's presidential campaign.

Since Barack launched his campaign we have heard from women - feminists - of all generations explaining why they believe a vote for Barack is a vote to improve the lives of all Americans, including women of all ages, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups.

Interesting posts on the topic on other sites include HERE and HERE. Please add your voice to the comments, on those sites or right here.

Voters deserve an honest choice

Olivia M. — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:48:36 EST

When the going gets tough we often get our best insight into who we are.

After Barack won the Iowa caucuses by 8 points, and started making gains on Clinton's double-digit lead in New Hampshire, the Clinton campaign went on the attack. They sent a piece of mail to New Hampshire women implying Barack could not be counted on to protect women's reproductive rights.

Barack has a 100% pro-choice voting record, and has utter respect for a woman's right to choose. The response in the pro-choice community from women who have worked with Barack to protect reproductive rights to the Clinton camp's amazing distortions was outrage and condemnation.

One woman, Lorna Brett, who worked with Barack on women's rights when she was the president of Chicago's National Organization for Women, was not just furious, she was heartbroken.

Lorna had been a Hillary supporter.

Now she supports Barack.

Lorna, who now sits on the board of a major pro-choice organization in New York, writes:

When to break off an engagement? When someone isn't being straight with you and others!

I am no longer committed to Hillary Clinton. She broke my heart by not being honest about Barack Obama's commitment to protecting a woman's right to choose. I, a former Hillary supporter, am now supporting Barack and encouraging my friends to do so as well.

If we are to have faith again in government we must expect more from the people we elect to office; we must hold them accountable. Not simply to the issues they've promised to fight for, but accountable to the truth.
Yes, the truth does have a place in Washington. We must demand it or we fail as active citizens.

Here is the truth: Barack Obama is unequivocally, 100 percent pro-choice. His votes in the Illinois senate were part of a legislative strategy devised for and by the pro-choice community. I know because I was the President of the Chicago chapter of NOW and he stood by the choice community and was one of our biggest champions.

Since leaving the IL State Senate, Senator Obama's commitment has not wavered.
He was the only U.S. Senator who helped the choice community raise money to defeat legislation passed in South Dakota that criminalized abortion. Many were asked to help, including Hillary Clinton.

He was also the only presidential contender to speak out when abortion foes tried to prevent Planned Parenthood's newest clinic from opening this fall.
He doesn't just talk about providing access to reproductive care for all women - he has a long record of doing something about it.

Someone who isn't being straight with voters about a defender of choice cannot strengthen our movement.

My broken heart will heal quickly - I am ready for a long-term commitment to Barack.

Please pass this on to all your pro-choice friends who may have been misinformed, and urge them to vote for and contribute to Barack Obama.

The beginning of something big

Olivia M. — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:25:19 EST

Thursday night Barack supporters in Des Moines gathered to wait for results from the caucuses. The crowd grew over the evening, as people arrived from their caucus locations. As NBC called the night for Barack, cheers, tears, and general euphoria fill the room. "The world just changed" one woman said, in tears.

The crowd rolled in, jubilant, waiting to hear from Barack.

The speech he gave matched the significance of the evening. It was a glorious night.

Iowa dispatch

Olivia M. — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:50:52 EST

Women on the ground in Iowa are doing all they can to boost Barack's support at the caucuses tomorrow night. Wendy shared with us the letter she has been handing out to supporters in her precinct (stapled to a bag of nuts).

WE all MUST BE NUTS!

To go out in the cold

To go out in the dark

To dodge the drifts

After all, what do small, rural townships like pilot, troy, and york matter?

Maybe we should ask the people around the world who wait in lines for days to vote, who die trying to force elections, who have one dictator to choose from.

Or the people in Georgia, South Dakota, and Arizona who wonder why Iowans get so much say. (They also wonder where Iowa is!)

We have a privilege here. We earn it by paying attention better than people in any other state. We earn it by listening to endless phone callers and reporters. We earn it because we believe that we get the government we deserve, and we don’t turn our voting rights over to someone else.

So, when we get home from work this Thursday with tired feet, when the kids are hollering, when chores are waiting, when we’re heading out to work third shift and need to sleep, we’d have to be nuts to go out to the caucus, right?

But, we do it anyway. We do it to celebrate the amazing privilege we have. And, because it’s interesting and fun. Most of all, we do it because this time, the entire world is watching Iowa, including iowa county: Will it be more of the same or will real Americans take America back?

One person can easily change the results in a small precinct. It has happened. We must have 15% of those attending to have just one delegate for Sen. Obama.

A good excuse to visit Glamour on line

Olivia M. — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:38:31 EST

Even if you just resolved yesterday to spend your spare time working out or reading the business section, here's a perfectly good reason to be surfing Glamour's web site: Barack's guest post. Check it out HERE (and be sure to comment!).

Why the Director of the NH Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence Supports Barack

Olivia M. — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:49:55 EST

Grace has worked at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence since 1981; she now serves as its Executive Director. She says she has been interested in organizing for social change since high school, and her organizing work eventually led her to work on issues surrounding violence against women.

She has stuck with the work because she sees abuse and trauma across the lifespan as underlying many social problems; plus, she says, she gets to work with incredibly smart, fun, creative and dynamic women.

Grace is also a writer, a poet, and a mother to two adult children. She became interested in Barack's candidacy this summer, and, based on his continued attention to the issue of violence againt women, decided a month ago to do what she could to elect him.

For more on Barack's positions on violence against women check out an op ed and policy paper HERE, and his answers to a questionnaire below.

Grace writes:

Having spent my entire professional career working to end violence against women, I was looking for a candidate who understands the connection between abuse and trauma across the lifespan and basically every social issue facing this country – healthcare, addiction, poverty, education. The negative consequences that pile up in a life marked by violence have been documented over and over, including in the New Hampshire Violence Against Women Survey, which found that one in five women in New Hampshire have been sexually assaulted, and that women who had been assaulted were more likely to have poor health or a chronic health condition.

Barack Obama understands these issues – I know because he and Michelle have called to talk to me about violence against women. And because Obama has a vision to change how we are governed, with compassion and justice contributing to his decision making, rather than greed and arrogance, I believe his Presidency could mark a fundamental shift in the social safety net that is so critical for our most vulnerable citizens, who are generally female and young and poor. And abused, because they all go together.

Battered women and rape survivors need a President who understands that affordable housing, living wage jobs, healthcare, daycare and transportation are basics of a successful life, and the government has a role in shifting the balance of power in our country so that everyone really does have a fair chance. And those whose chances have been compromised will be taken care of.

Obama has called for a White House level staff person assigned to oversee all government funding programs and efforts that address violence against women. As the Executive Director of a organization that manages multiple federal grants, I know well the need for more coordination of efforts at the federal level. These is a vast web of knowledge about how to best protect women and children, and challenge the remaining statutory and cultural underpinnings of men’s entitlement to control women, but that web is among the local programs and state coalitions and national organizations leading this work. That knowledge needs to exist within the federal government, so the limited funding for domestic and sexual violence services and programs can be spent as efficiently as possible.

Barack Obama can make this happen. He’s the real thing – a decent man, driven to use his considerable talents and intellect as a call to service. He really does want to make our country a stronger, more compassionate and unified country. He’s not the same old, same old. So I’m voting for him in the Democratic primary on January 8, and urging everyone I know to join me.

Iowa dispatch

Olivia M. — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:13:45 EST

Megan, an Obama supporter who traveled with her family to Iowa to canvass, sent us this report from the ground:

"This is our moment, this is our Time!"

Again tonight in Iowa, Barack Obama brought down the house. Roads barely plowed, well over five hundred people turned out at Ottumwa High School. It was the picture of Iowa: families, working people, some young people but most baby boomers and older. To the person they were on their feet as Barack made his closing argument promising" to work for you every single day. "

Rachel sat with her ten-year-old daughter Bailey, feeling a bit out of place. It was the first time she had registered to vote, much less participated in a rally or a caucus. She saw Barack Obama on Oprah years ago before he announced, and just liked what she saw. "He seemed so real -- not like other politicians." On Thursday, Rachel will caucus for the first time.

After three days of door knocking in Ottumwa, I actually knew quite a few of the people in the seats. At two thirty my husband and I had trudged through the snow to Joyce's home to get her signature on an Obama caucus participant form. She read Dreams From My Father after she saw his speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004 and claimed not to have washed her hand for a week after finally meeting him in 2006. Joyce was one of the first at the rally finding a good seat for herself and her friend Rosalie, one of the many uncommitted caucus goers here.

That's how it goes with committed caucus participants in this last leg of the caucus season. With four days to go, Barack supporters bring out their friends and relatives to convince them to caucus for Senator Obama. 39-year-old Jennifer came with her sister. Over many months, she had taken her time time to decide on Obama. She carefully evaluated the three top tier candidates; what finally made the difference was that "Barack Obama just makes me feel more engaged and inspired with his message than any of the other candidates." Now she is urging her sister to hurry up and choose.

There were two other sisters at the rally. My daughters, Clara, 15, and Grace, 12. They elected to trade their usual holiday ski escapades for a week calling and door knocking to help elect Barack Obama President of the United States.

Clara and Grace are not old enough to even remember the whirlwind of parades, picnics and coffees they attended at the tender ages of five and two. After 8 years as Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, their father was running for Governor and all they know was that it was a lot of hurry and too much dressing up. His loss was their gain, as my daughter Clara (age five) put it, "We get Daddy back!"

In the years that have passed, we have watched their political understanding grow. Children of nine-eleven, global warming, and war, they are all too clear on how political leadership factors into their future. Little Grace handed out signs tonight and directed people to their seats, while Clara took photographs of the event.

The evening was a treat. Barack's one-hour stemwinder and the huge response from the crowd have us ready to face the days ahead. We will make more calls, knock on more doors and do all we can to give him this critical first step in attaining the Democratic nomination. A critical first step to making this our moment, our time.

Three generations of NH Women for Barack

Olivia M. — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:38:04 EST

Thousands of women gathered in Manchester, NH earlier this month for a rally with Barack and Oprah. Among them were Leyla, Kathy, and Kristen, three generations of support.

Barack and Michelle say hello to the youngest generation

Why Devon is Fired Up!

Olivia M. — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:54:34 EST

Devon writes us from Lynnwood, Washington:

I am a 23 year old wife and mother of a three year old. I have worked in the healthcare system since I graduated high school in 2002; first as a physical therapy assistant, and then in the billing office for two major hospitals in the Seattle area.

I have not only witnessed other people struggle with the high costs of healthcare, but have been on the receiving end of medical bills I can't afford. I was fortunate enough to have a very good private school education, I come from a middle class family, I have an amazing adoption story and wonderful relationships with both my adopted and my birth families.

Devon with her son

I have been fortunate enough to find jobs that I love and that pay double minimum wage. Yet up until July of this year, I was stuck on welfare and state Medicaid.

The moment I got pregnant with our son, I knew there was no way I could AFFORD being pregnant and delivering a baby. I realized that my medical insurance was just not enough to allow my husband and I to have a baby on our own. We were forced into the Medicaid system simply because we wanted the most natural of things: to have a baby.

It took us over three years to finally get on our feet and off government assistance. We are not lazy people. We are not abusing the system to get a free ride. We are hard working people who believe in family, faith, and dedication.

I know I am raising my son to be strong. To make good life decisions, and to be an honorable man. I do not want my son to grow up ashamed because his family has to rely on the state and federal governments in order to make ends meet. We are barely making it financially now, due to both my husband and myself having chronic conditions that require constant medication and medical care.

However at this time, we make just a little too much every month to qualify for assistance. We both have healthcare through our jobs, yet we still can't afford our care at this time. How can someone WORK in the healthcare industry and still not afford their own healthcare costs?

This is why my family strongly supports Barack Obama. He is a real person with real plans to help our country rebuild. He is not afraid to stand up for what is right, even when it's unpopular. He is not blind when it comes to how the greed of the pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies is crippling the American people. It's time someone stood up and said ENOUGH!!!

So, Mr Obama, I want you to know that the L. family in Lynnwood, Washington is FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!!!!

Why Kelley supports Barack

Olivia M. — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:25:48 EST

I met Kelley in the fall of 2005. Like Americans across the country, Kelley was horrified by what happened to people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Kelley is not the type of person to just feel bad about something and not work to change it, so she sent an e-letter, a call to action, to thousands of her neighbors and launched a community-based effort to do something for the Katrina families that had been evacuated to our city.

Inspired by Kelley and with her guidance, a group of strangers became a close-knit organization that fundraised and partner-shipped its way to providing free housing and a support network for three displaced families for a full year.

Kelley is a compassionate, pragmatic woman who doesn’t let the busyness of raising four children, or the media’s tendency to numb us into complacency, keep her from acting on her convictions. So I was very happy, but not surprised, to learn that she is an enthusiastic Barack supporter.

This is how Kelley explains why she backs Barack:

Kelley with her family

As a woman, a wife, a daughter and a mother, I support Barack Obama for President because I think he is the only candidate who will improve the circumstances for all women.

I have been a life-long feminist, but not in the narrow sense of the word. To be a feminist means not just wanting one kind of woman's life to improve, but wanting a better life for all women: rich or poor, black or white, young or old, healthy or sick, powerful or powerless.

Barack Obama understands this in a way that the other candidates do not. He has an extraordinary ability to look at the whole picture, and the wisdom to chart the proper course that will improve the circumstances for all of us.

I have spent my adult life working to improve the lives of those Americans who have been disenfranchised. I worked as a community organizer, a union organizer, a filmmaker, and a foundation director. I worked with "welfare mothers" who are just trying to be the best parents they can be. I worked with janitors working hard to make ends meet. I have interviewed people for films who are working to preserve our natural resources, to prevent the spread of AIDS, and to improve job options for women. As a funder, I have visited dozens of organizations working to end homelessness, to care for the sick, to improve education and to provide opportunities in the low-income community.

The way to improve our country for ALL women is to look at the big picture. Women want health insurance and improved health care for their families. Women want a minimum wage that is a living wage. Women want their husbands, sons and brothers home from Iraq. Women want improved education for their children. Women want peace and fairness in the world.

We need to stop bullying other nations and paving the way for corporate profit and start making friendships around the world and building community here at home. This is why I support Barack Obama.

Rose in Rochester shares her story

Olivia M. — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:08:04 EST

Rose wirtes from Rochester:

I am a retired educator and the daughter of Greek immigrants who revered the United States because of what it had allowed them to accomplish through hard work. They had the audacity to hope and dream and live with honesty and integrity, and they taught me to value these fundamental truths.

Growing up, I would come home from school to find my father and mother dressed in their Sunday best, and when I asked where they were going, they simply and proudly would respond, "We go to vote." They never took for granted what this country had allowed them to achieve.

I was born in Potsdam, NY, a vibrant college town where everyone knew my mom and dad because they owned The Vernon Restaurant, a place where families could gather and college kids could hang out.

Our family was surrounded by Greek relatives and friends who lived and loved with gusto, but treated each other with caring and respect.

Like my dad, many of the relatives had come through Ellis Island prepared to embrace this new country and forge a new life. And what did they want for their children? I never heard the words, "Make money." I never heard "Did you do your homework?" I did hear "Work hard, respect your teachers, and bring home all A's." My sister and I never questioned that mandate.

Neither of my parents was schooled past the eighth grade, but they listened when I read my papers to them, nodding in approval and always cheering, "That was beautiful, darling." (In later years I realized they probably didn't understand everything I had written, but they were wise enough to know what praise can do for a child.)

I attended Ithaca College, but left after two years to marry, live in Pennsylvania, and eventually raise a son and daughter. After eighteen years, single again, I realized I needed to complete my education in order to get a job. I sold my home and belongings, and trekked back home to enroll in The State University of New York at Potsdam. Talk about culture shock! I hadn't written a paper or taken an exam in eighteen years and I was enrolled as a junior! I was terrified, but determined to succeed.

Guided by my parents' credo, I graduated with honors, and went on to get my master's degree in English education. I taught in four rural schools for a total of twenty-two years, teaching junior high and high school English and directing at least two or three shows a year.

Teachers who love their work find great satisfaction watching the faces of their students light up when that special moment of understanding occurs. So many children are undervalued at home and in schools. I believe that Senator Obama understands that we, as educators, should not be afraid to raise the bar because if expectations are within a student's grasp, he or she will reach for it.

Good teachers know how to think fearlessly "on their feet" so if something doesn't work, they know to try a different tactic. Utilize master teachers to mentor new teachers. Bring in community members, speakers, performers to enhance programs. Show parents you care about their kids by calling or visiting to tell them the good things their children have accomplished, no matter how small. Find something to praise. Use retired teachers who will give some time as volunteers on a one-to-one basis.

Talk to book companies and negotiate for affordable materials. Send teachers who have been in the trenches to speak to state representatives with creative ideas that don't need to cost an arm and a leg. Allow kids to create projects using everything from technology to film. Encourage the bright students to assist the child who is having difficulty. They both will benefit. Have exchange programs between schools so that kids can see what positive things other kids are doing. Hire administrators with vision, and who reward excellence.

I loved teaching, and even with the long hours, piles of paperwork, and late nights, each day had its bright moments and I couldn't wait to get to work. An Obama administration would place a high priority on the kind of educational system that gets kids excited, and allows real learning, not just teaching to standardized tests!

I moved to Rochester, NY over a year ago to be closer to my daughter. I've never really been involved with politics, but I feel the time is now for the average citizen to speak out. So...I talk...to my friends, my hairdresser, my neighbors, and my family.

I have finished Senator Obama's book Dreams From My Father and am deep into The Audacity of Hope. After reading the literature and listening to him speak, I feel the Senator possesses not only intelligence, but the common sense and inspirational voice to lead this nation. Senator Obama's instincts for what is right for all people, here or abroad, make him the candidate that I will support.

Three Iowa women explain their support for Barack

Olivia M. — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:14:46 EST

Deb, Grainne and Jeri first met the way a lot of mothers do: their daughters were friends in high school. Those daughters have since gone on to college, but the three women bumped into eachother again at Obama for America events.

Jeri is a professional calligrapher, who free lances from her home. Deb teaches at the University of Iowa, where Grainne is an attorney. Here's how they explain their strong support for Barack:

For three women like us—politically active baby boomers with three college-student daughters--you'd think our choice for the Democratic presidential nomination would be obvious. After all, we've waited forever for a woman to run and each of us has a lot in common with the woman who's running--we've all managed to get where we wanted to go, married men who support our ambitions, and raised smart, strong daughters to have the same unlimited expectations.
As it turns out, though, the obvious choice for us is not Hillary Clinton--it's Barack Obama. And what do you know? Our daughters agree with their mothers on something: they will also support Senator Obama, in what for them will be their first caucus experience.
Don't get us wrong. We're proud that a woman is running for president and grateful for the changes in our society that have made her candidacy possible. It would mean a lot to us to be able to support that candidacy and each of us has struggled with this decision. But we have joined with a growing number of Iowa women--of our own generation and others--who have looked past sisterhood to what really matters in this election.
What really matters is that we nominate a candidate who can move our country beyond the divisiveness and polarization that has characterized our public life since the 60s and can lead us forward as a united country. We need a candidate who stands with us rather than with those whose money and power speak for them. We need a candidate who not only appreciates the diversity of the world, but who intuitively understands it, who is born of and able to speak from that very diversity.
We need a candidate who looks to restore this country by moving us into the world as it is rather than the world as it was. We need a candidate who is willing to admit his or her mistakes and to acknowledge his or her humanity, and a candidate who values moral clarity over political expediency. We need, most desperately, a candidate who has the judgment and conviction to say and do what is right from the beginning.
That candidate is clearly--and uniquely--Barack Obama.
Raised by an open-minded and open-hearted single mother, he has demonstrated a relentless commitment to women and their issues. Raised in this country and in the larger world, he is the bridge we need to heal the divisions within our borders and to repair our relationships abroad.
So yes, there is an obvious choice for women like us on caucus night, and it's not limited by sisterhood. We hope for, and will caucus for, something much more.

Barack's Q & A with Women's Voices for Change

Olivia M. — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:54:31 EST

Barack participated in a Q & A with Women's Voices for Change, focused on health care. Check it out HERE.

Women for Obama: Why Sandra supports Barack

Olivia M. — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:00:45 EST

Sandra is a native Southern Californian, with family roots in Erie, PA. She says her upbringing was “average -- middle class in a very small town surrounded by citrus groves and vineyards."

Sandra explains her decisions to support Barack:

Sandra (middle) and her family

After listening carefully to both sides I find Barack to be the only candidate who is consistent, reasonable, well informed, willing to learn, and not afraid to stand up for what he believes is right...even if it's not popular.

I believe most of the other candidates are intent on winning at any cost. Far too many of our current crop of politicians are more concerned with maintaining their position than doing their job. We don't need more of them.

I first became aware of Barack Obama when he appeared on the Oprah show a couple years back. I was intrigued and picked up a copy of Audacity of Hope to find out more about him. I was impressed with his quiet, honest, intelligent manner, his ability to thoughtfully answer tough questions, and his confident handling of unexpected situations. Later I gave a copy of the book to a friend who was bemoaning the lack of such qualities in our current politicians.

In June of 1968 I listened to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy on the radio from my Hollywood apartment and felt the hope drain out of me. My birthday fell a week after the election, so I missed the opportunity to cast a vote against Richard Nixon. With that election, I believe, began our slide into the current state. I’ve often wondered how different the outcome would have been if more of us “Boomers” could have voted back then.

I was pleased to see that Barack made the decision to run in the current campaign and that he has not “given up his soul” in the process. I think that the very aspects of the presidential campaign process which we hate so much actually give us a very good idea of how the individuals will behave under the pressure of the nation’s top manager.

We need someone like Barack. He has seen “us” from both sides and learned to be an effective, well-adjusted individual, husband and father, before deciding that there was more that he could do for those around him.

I find those who complain about his perceived “lack of experience” need to look at their criteria for experience. Has Bush learned to govern better since his first term?
Did this country benefit from the political experience of Cheney and Rumsfeld?

Over the years I’ve worked for many companies and individuals, run my own graphic design business, and taught at a couple community colleges. I’ve come to believe that the most striking determinant for success is good management…be it of an individual, a household or a country, bad management can destroy the most promising endeavors.

We need someone who will put our best people in the right jobs, facilitate their success and start setting an example of what it looks like for a country to behave as group of intelligent adults, not as the world’s biggest bully. No one is perfect, but I believe Barack Obama is the best person we have for the job at this time.

Women for Obama in Arizona

Olivia M. — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 22:09:36 EST

This post comes to us from a member of the WFO team in Arizona:

As a woman, a mother, and wife, I realize that there are challenges in life beyond my control. It wasn't until recently, however, that I realized the impact politicians have in our lives. The policies they make have an often staggering affect on our lives, and I hadn't ever paid attention.
When Barack Obama declared his candidacy for President of the United States, I had already started paying attention. I knew our standing in the world was in shambles. I knew my family was struggling with the rising cost of energy and health care coupled with stagnant wages. I knew I was desperate for new leadership in this country. I knew women like me could make the difference between more-of-the-same and real change. I knew I was going to support Barack Obama.
There aren't many things that would draw me away from time with my family, but I spend hours a week reaching out to voters to share why I believe in Barack. And in this campaign, support given is also support received. The Women for Obama group hosts Thursday night phone banking in our Phoenix office to reach out to each other as much as voters in a social event where you actually get work done!
And for the hard work you put in - a reward! On Tuesday, December 18, there will be a house party, just for women, and sponsored by the co-chair of Women for Obama in Phoenix. These events are full of lively political talk and social networking. If you are interested, you can RSVP here: LINK
It is my privilege to volunteer for Barack Obama because it is not a question of whether or not I can help make this world a better place for my son; it is because I can and I must!

Genevieve V.

Women for Obama Town Hall in Dubuque, IA

Olivia M. — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:56:48 EST

Guests arriving at the site of the Gayle King and Barack Obama town hall in Dubuque, Iowa last night were greeted by tables of Debuquers cheerily signing folks in with a smiling “We’re so excited you came out today!”

Kathleen, Jessica and Janet

Kathleen says she supports Barack because she has “hope he can bring this country together. The extreme partisanship is deadly to our democracy.”

Kathleen is a retired nurse and is excited about the upcoming arrival of her fourth grandchild. She reassures the Flannigan family, first time caucus-goers, that caucusing is actually pretty simple.

Loretta, Nicole and Joni

Loretta, a precinct captain, is firm but friendly as she goes about getting supporter cards filled out.

Joni tells me her son brought Barack to her attention after he read The Audacity of Hope, which she duly read herself. Later she seeks me out to add that she was amazed by Barack's speech at the 2004 Democratic convention too.

“I was real impressed with [Audacity] because it was obvious he’d be a good listener. He totally supports education and, as a retired teacher, that’s very important to me. I’m 65 and social security is very important too. “

Joni is comfortable with his experience level. She says he’s “very smart and doesn’t come from much, worked his way up the hard way.”

Joni has always been interested in politics and regularly attends the caucuses, but she has never been this motivated before. “Nobody has moved me like he has” she says.

And with three children and five grandchildren, she is adamant that “we have to undo this mess now, not leave it to our grandkids. He’s the one to do it.”

Colleen and Anne

Colleen and Anne, a mother-daughter team, help guests find seats. Colleen, in her 80’s, is a “life time Democrat” who says she supports Barack because “with him there is hope for real change. We need to bring more ethical ways to the White House and Obama is the man to do it. I feel it in my heart.”

Colleen had assumed she would be a Clinton supporter, but her daughter encouraged her to read “Dreams from My Father” and “that’s what did it”.

On stage with Gayle, Barack talks about his own life experience, raised by a single mother and bread-winning grandmother, and his support for policies that help working parents.

“Women shouldn’t have to choose between careers and family” he says. He would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act and after school care, would pursue a 50 state strategy to adopt paid parental leave, and calls for giving parents 24 hours of annual leave to attend their children’s school activities.

Barack has made a strong case for his candidacy and his team makes the most of it. The Obama team in Iowa has made sure that the town hall doubles as an organizing event; at its conclusion, supporters are organized by precinct to meet with their precinct captains.

A Woman for Obama in NH tells the Nashua Telegraph why

Olivia M. — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:06:35 EST

This letter to the editor ran in a NH supporter's local paper. Let it inspire you to tell us, tell your friends, family members, colleagues, tell your own local paper why you support Barack Obama for president.

Woman explains why she's supporting Obama
Sunday, December 9, 2007
As a woman who supports Barack Obama for president, I am often asked why I am not supporting the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.

I look forward to the day that our first woman president is sworn into office, but I do not believe that gender should be the deciding factor when considering which candidate for whom to cast my vote.

As women, we do ourselves no favors by limiting our choices to only those candidates who happen to share our gender. As a country, we should strive for the day that the best candidate wins our presidential elections regardless of gender.

In this case, I believe the best candidate is Barack Obama. With his background as a community organizer and his deep understanding of world affairs, I believe that he has the desire and ability to reach out to and to respect people throughout our global community.

To move forward, we need to work together.
Susan G.
Londonderry

Barack's leadership earns support in New Hampshire

Olivia M. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:04:31 EST

A new Washington Post/ABC News poll of likely primary voters shows Obama within striking distance of Senator Clinton in New Hampshire. The race is the closest it’s ever been in the Granite State, with Obama just 6 points behind Clinton in a state where Clinton previously held a 10-15 point advantage.

Yesterday, more than 2,000 New Hampshire women announced their support for Senator Barack Obama. Women from across the state cited Obama’s career fighting for women and families—and his unique ability to bring people together for change.

The endorsements come on the heels of a two-day New Hampshire visit from Senator Obama’s wife Michelle, during which she discussed balancing career and family responsibilities with working women at roundtables in Concord and Portsmouth. Last month, Senator Obama hosted a roundtable discussion with working women in Walpole.

Betsy Myers, COO of the Obama for America campaign and Chair of Women for Obama, is a native of the region, and has been making frequent visits to the state to meet with voters. Betsy was the Director of the Clinton Administration’s Office of Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, and later served as Executive Director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Betsy reports in from the campaign trail:

The energy and enthusiasm on the ground here is incredible; you just can’t get a sense of it from media reports. Yesterday in Nashua I met with a group of about 60 women business owners, most of them undecided on whom to support for president.

I shared with them what running the women’s office in the White House, which was a tremendous privilege, and managing the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard, have taught me about leadership. Authenticity, trust, principles, listening, judgment, collaboration – these are the skills that make a successful leader.

All the Democrats running this year are great candidates with good ideas. What makes Barack special is his leadership skills and ability to bring people together. He listens, he collaborates, he unites. Barack has been fighting for his entire career – as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, state and US senator – for women, families, children and the voiceless.

I tell people that the values we care about are an integrated part of him – they are not something he needs to be “briefed” on, this is just who he is.

What I hear from women in particular is that they are tired of the politics of fear; they want hope.

Earlier this week, in a small group discussion with women in various leadership roles in central New Hampshire, I learned how many first-timers are working hard for Barack. Women who have spent their lives leading their school boards, their state legislatures, and their classrooms have found a leader in Barack that they want to follow.

As one woman told me, “As a mother, I know that the key is to keep the conversation going. And I know that Barack will always keep the conversation going!”

Betsy speaks at a house party

At a house party later in the day, I was asked specifics about women’s roles in an Obama administration. I answered that my experience has been that Barack doesn’t think in terms of women, minorities, red states or blue states. Women will naturally have a place at the table, based on our talents and the skills we possess. We are all a part of the conversation.

Seeing hope -- and peace -- in an Obama presidency

Olivia M. — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:30:02 EST

Mpho Tutu is the executive director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage in Virginia. Drawing on her background as a South African, a peace-seeker, and a mother to two children growing up American, Mpho shared her thoughts with us on what a President Obama could offer the country and the world.

Mpho and her children*

Mpho writes:

After many years of living in this country as a resident alien (i.e. one with a green card) Barack's candidacy has made me examine my decision to remain a non-citizen. I am married to an American and our children are American but I have remained proudly South African.

Barack does not seem like the regulation politician; that politician whose opinions come out of the box fully assembled, generic, and passionless. I think that a president Obama might make me proud to be an American.

WFO asked: When did you first hear or read about Sen. Obama and what struck you? What made you believe he could be a different kind of leader?

Tutu: I first heard about Senator Obama at the DNC and all the buzz around his speech. Of course it was his Iraq war opposition that really got my attention. It took a great deal of courage to call for cooler heads to prevail when all around the drums of war were beating loud. Marching to the beat of a different drummer matters when lives are at stake. And history has proven him right.

WFO: Your homeland has had several transformational leaders, including your father, Desmond Tutu. What has this history taught you about change, about leadership, and about humanity?

Tutu: I have learned from my homeland that it takes real courage to be a peace builder. It takes real leadership to pause and reason out your choices when the clamor of the crowd is loud. Polls are a terrible way to govern; the wisdom of the mob is no wisdom at all. For true peace to prevail we have to speak to our enemies; and it really takes to courage to speak our enemies.

WFO: What issues do you hope the next American president will address? How do they tie into your work at the Tutu Institute?

Tutu: I hope the next president will address all the 'standard fare' issues: health care, joblessness and a living wage for the working poor, education....but because of the US profile on the world stage I have more of a concern with international affairs. I hope the next president will abandon the current arrogance of America's presence in the world and be more willing to use the tools of diplomacy and 'making friends' through organizations like the Peace Corps and less willing to exert US military muscle as a first resort.

In my work at the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage I invite people to explore the world as pilgrims. As pilgrims we stop seeing ourselves as on the supply-side of our encounters and make space for the grace of God in human interactions across the boundaries of race, nationality, economic status, gender, education and all the other things that can divide us. We don't travel as tourists, paving our way with our wealth; or as mission workers where our skills, gifts, and knowledge assure us a welcome, but rather as recipients of God's grace ready to receive the gifts that God gives in human encounters.

*thanks to Katherine Stiles for the photo

Seeing hope -- and peace -- in a President Barack

Olivia M. — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:34:32 EST

Mpho writes:

WFO asked: When did you first hear or read about Sen. Obama and what struck you? What made you believe he could be a different kind of leader?

Tutu: I first heard about Senator Obama at the DNC and all the buzz around his speech. Of course it was his Iraq war vote that really got my attention. It took a great deal of courage to call for cooler heads to prevail when all around the drums of war were beating loud. Marching to the beat of a different drummer matters when lives are at stake. And history has proven him right.

WFO: Your homeland has had several transformational leaders, including your father, Desmond Tutu. What has this history taught you about change, about leadership, and about humanity?

New poll shows Barack leading in Iowa -- and among women

Olivia M. — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:00:11 EST

The Des Moines Register has just released a new poll that shows Barack taking the lead in the state -- up six points since last month. Much of the movement is among women -- who are now supporting him more than any other candidate. Barack has a five point lead among women in this poll; 31% support him, 26% say they support Senator Clinton. This is a meaningful change among women; in the Register's last poll, in October, Sen. Clinton had a 13 point lead with women.

Key excerpts from the Register's write up on the poll (Full story):

Obama leads for the first time in the Register's poll as the choice of 28 percent of likely caucusgoers, up from 22 percent in October. Clinton was the preferred candidate of 25 percent, down from 29 percent in the previous poll.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who led in the Register's May poll, held steady with 23 percent, in third place, but part of the three-way battle.

Iowa City Democrat Katharyn Browne said she abandoned her support for Clinton in the past month and now supports Obama in light of the Iran issue.

Obama spent weeks in October and November attacking Clinton's support for a measure that allowed President Bush to declare the Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization, a move Obama said was a step toward war. Clinton said the measure enhanced U.S. negotiating strength with Iran.

"An Iran war terrifies me," said Browne, a 30-year-old University of Iowa student.

Browne said she feels Obama is a more inspirational candidate than Clinton, despite the intensifying crossfire between them.

"I just think that Obama is more of a positive candidate overall," she said. "Aside from the Clinton-Obama interaction lately, it's nice to hear a candidate with a positive outlook. I think our country needs that right now."

Browne, who supported Clinton early partly out of gender loyalty, represents a shift among some women caucusgoers from Clinton to Obama.

In the new poll, Obama leads with support from 31 percent of women likely attend the caucuses, compared to 26 percent for Clinton. In October, Clinton was the preferred candidate of 34 percent of women caucusgoers, compared to 21 percent for Obama.

Women represent roughly six in 10 Democratic caucusgoers, according to the new poll.

Obama also dominates among younger caucusgoers, with support from 48 percent from those younger than 35. Clinton was the choice of 19 percent in that group and Edwards of 17 percent.

The under-35 bloc represents 14 percent of Democratic caucusgoers, up from 9 percent in the October poll.

Obama has an advantage among first-time caucusgoers. He also leads among people who say they definitely will attend the caucuses.

Nine "Feb. 5" states launch Women for Obama leadership committees

Olivia M. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:47:33 EST

“What I am hearing from women across the country is that they are looking for a leader who will put them first, who will remember that balancing work and family is a challenge for millions. When our leaders forget that fact we lose focus on what is important. The values I learned as the son of a single mother, as the grandson of a strong Midwestern woman and from my wife and two daughters are a not only a part of who I am, but a part of what keeps me fighting for change in this country.”

~ Barack Obama

Last night, over 700 women leaders from across the country participated in a conference call with Michelle Obama, part of the day’s launch of Women for Obama leadership committees in nine states holding primaries on February 5th. The state committees join similar structures in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina set up to lead a national network of 20,000 women who are organizing on behalf of Barack Obama.

Michelle described the energy she's been feeling on the ground in Iowa (she was on her way to her 6th Iowa campaign event of the day, in Indianola), and how excited people are about Barack’s candidacy once they have a chance to hear him speak and get a sense of what he stands for.

“People aren’t asking for much,” she told women on the call. "They want to know that if they work hard they’ll earn a decent living, that their kids can get an education and opportunities, and that if they get sick they won’t be bankrupted."

"People want change," Michelle said, and are drawn to Barack because he is, “the kind of man who never takes the easy road or tells the easy truth.”

Women for Obama efforts have been going strong for months in the crucial early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Yesterday new efforts were kicked off in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and New Jersey. And the California Women for Obama group just launched its third organization in San Diego, adding to existing efforts in Los Angeles and Oakland.

(Women mingle at the Idaho Women for Obama kick off)

And all these efforts aren't going unnoticed: the launch led the evening news in California's Bay Area, the Aurora Sun Sentinel described the Colorado kick off (“Obama mamas kick off efforts in Aurora”), a local TV station covered the launch in Phoenix, and the Columbia Tribune posted news of the Missouri kick off on their web site.

On the conference call, Michelle emphasized the importance of the Women for Obama organizations to Barack’s nomination. “February 5th states are going to be key,” she said, “And women’s support is going to be key.” From Boise to Birmingham, women from all of these crucial states gathered yesterday to strategize and organize. Inspiration included viewing a new video focused on women put out by the campaign.

Since the launch of Women for Obama in April, the group has played a key role in Barack Obama’s campaign for President. By focusing on fundraising, grassroots and online organizing, Women for Obama has built a network of women who will play an instrumental role in sending Barack Obama to the White House.

California Assembly Leader shares why she supports Barack

Olivia M. — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:17:26 EST

“As an elected official, community leader and a social activist, I did not hesitate to endorse Senator Barack Obama.”

Karen Bass has spent her entire life living and working in Southern California. She has served her community as a health care worker, a community activist, and a legislator, while raising a daughter. She tells us why she is proud to be a Woman for Obama:

I have spent the last 30 years working to improve the quality of life for people throughout California. As a social justice activist, I’ve worked to bridge disparity gaps by developing and implementing solutions to make a difference. Over the years, one of my main goals was to ensure that every voice is heard, especially those from the most vulnerable communities.
When I was just a teenager, I got involved in community organizing and from then it became a major part of my personal and professional life. As a physician assistant at the nation’s largest trauma center I witnessed first-hand the despair and violence unleashed by the crack cocaine epidemic. I used my organizing experience to found the Community Coalition, a direct response to the devastation of the drug epidemic . Today, the organization is recognized as a national model for grassroots organizing and a center for training the next generation of social justice activists and leaders.

After 13 years of leading the Community Coalition, I took state office representing the 47th Assembly District. Last year, I was appointed the Majority Leader for the California State Assembly during the 2007-2008 legislative session, making me the first African American and the first woman to hold this leadership position.

As an elected official, community leader and a social activist, I did not hesitate to endorse Senator Barack Obama. As a community activist, he helped build coalitions to empower residents to fight for change. As a state legislator, he worked with law enforcement to pass a law that required interrogations and confessions in all capital cases to be video tapped after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent. He has a proven commitment to education and working families.

As a Senator, he has shown true leadership while dealing with our country’s domestic and foreign policy concerns. He has consistently opposed the war in Iraq. He is the candidate who will end the war as well as ensure that the country uses those wasted funds to address poverty issues throughout the nation.

I am confident that he will inspire thousands of new voters to go to the polls because we are all ready for change. Senator Obama reminds all of us that hope can move us forward. I am proud to serve on the Obama for America National Diversity Advisory Council and as the chair of the California African Americans for Obama Campaign. And I am thrilled to be a part of the Women for Obama Campaign.

Majority Leader Karen Bass
California State Assembly

A new approach to foreign policy leadership

Olivia M. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:31:12 EST

Earlier this year, Susan Rice visited the Obama for America campaign headquarters in Chicago and talked to the campaign staff about some of the critical decisions and choices that will likely confront the next President.

Rice briefs headquarters staff

Rice explained why her experience, including as assistant secretary of state for African Affairs in the Clinton Administration, and now at the Brookings Institute, where her work focuses on “U.S. foreign policy, weak and failing states, the implications of global poverty and transnational security threats”, has led her to believe Barack Obama is the person best suited and equipped to face those challenges.

Check out Rice's post in today's Huffington Post: LINK

Yesterday Rice joined Senator Obama in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as he discussed his foreign policy vision with voters and some of his top advisors in an open, participatory format. Other senior Clinton Administration officials, such as former national security adviser Tony Lake, and navy secretary Richard Danzig, joined the forum in support of Senator Obama.

Barack laid out a program that included withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, talking with enemies such as Iran, working closer with developing nations and boosting America's energy independence. Making the case for his approach of engagement, Obama said "Iraq is a classic example; Iran now being another example of where we are entirely isolated from these countries, have no idea what is going on, we don't have good intelligence on the ground, and then making a series of decisions, basically in the blind."

Many of you write in to say how much you appreciate this mentality, and Barack’s willingness to talk openly and honestly with voters about how he will lead.

As Sandra in Monterey, CA said in explaining why she supports Barack, “After listening carefully to both sides I find Barack to be the only candidate who is consistent, reasonable, well informed, willing to learn, and not afraid to politely stand up for what he believes is right... even if it's not popular.”

Virginia, from Huntington, WV writes, “I am wife of a US Soldier, a mother of a special needs child, and I believe Barack stands for and believes in people like me. He shows sincerity and support for everyday people. I feel when he is president he will look out for families like my own. He will be a president who tells it like it is. He hasn’t been a candidate who will just tell us what we want to hear. He has just given us truth.”

A day on the trail with Barack

Olivia M. — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:28:39 EST

Nightline's Terry Moran spent time with Barack in Iowa for a segment that aired last night. The day is largely spent campaigning in rural Iowa, and the piece shows how he connects with people across the ideological spectrum. Barack is polished and confident, but without artifice.

Please share with your friends -- especially those still deciding on a candidate! LINK

Chicago Tribune's The Swamp on Women for Obama's growth

Olivia M. — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:50:59 EST

Women at the Obama for America headquarters and across the country are hard at work preparing to launch Women for Obama chapters in states that hold their primaries on February 5th. The Chicago Tribune's political blog writes:

'Women for Obama' added to several Feb. 5 states

by John McCormick

DES MOINES -- Just hours after announcing that Oprah Winfrey will appear on the campaign trail with him, Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign announced that it has formed "Women for Obama" leadership committees in more early primary and caucus states.

On Wednesday, the campaign said, hundreds of women in several Feb. 5 states will gather for events to kick off their organizing efforts. Michelle Obama will also lead a conference call and give a campaign update on the state of the national race for participating women.

Since the launch of Women for Obama in April, the group has focused on fundraising and grassroots/online organizing.

"The state-by-state committees in key February 5th states will join similar structures in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina set up to lead a national grassroots network of 20,000 women who are organizing on behalf of Barack Obama," the campaign said. "February 5th state WFO launches and organizing events will include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Minnesota and New Jersey."

"Mid America Mom" and why she supports Barack

Olivia M. — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:00:09 EST

Tamara is busy. In addition to raising two young children, she is the treasurer for her local sorority alumnae group and for her local women’s club; she helps the local alumni group for Illinois State University to plan events and she serves as the vice president of the Newcomers Club of Greater Peoria; she's involved with a local moms group; and recently, she chaired her community’s annual St. Jude charity auction.

Then there is everything she does as a volunteer to support the Obama campaign. She has been active since Barack’s announcement in February, making phone calls, contributing to her state’s campaign web site, and spreading the word by blogging on www.my.barackobama.com, where she helps run a few groups, including Moms for Obama (where you may know her as "Mid America Mom").

Phew. On top of that, Tamara goes to town halls, fundraisers, BBQ’s for Barack, debate watching parties, and she travels to Iowa to canvass. She has even hosted her own events, like an "Obama playdate".

She may seem like a political pro, but this is the first time Tamara has ever campaigned for or contributed to a candidate.

Why would someone with so much on her plate take on so much more? Tamara explains:

My family's roots are Republican. Being from Illinois I of course knew about the Senator. With the publication of Obama's recent book and the frenzy in the fall surrounding him I decided to look at him some more. I sat down and thought what our present President had done for the party - meaning what went wrong.

I did not support the war though all my friends and family did. Not because of peace advocacy but on the grounds of diplomacy. We lacked the backing of the UN and most of our greatest allies in NATO. I thought it a poor move from the start.

Then we had No Child Left Behind - a federal mandate on our state-run schools with no money. And the greatest expansion of Medicare since LBJ - a prescription drug program that is confusing even to me (someone who worked in benefits).

Then I see this man, Barack Obama, talking about how we need to work on a diplomatic solution in Iraq. How we should empower citizens in their community. Healthcare is a right and we can provide it. We need to be more active with our children in their schooling and supportive of teachers.

Some say his experience is not enough but I think we need to see more like his! Civil rights lawyer, community activist, constitutional law professor, state legislator, and now senator all in one. He is not from a well connected family -- he is here by his own being -- how much more American can you get than that?

I do not look at him as Democrat or Republican but as a leader. Most important he has respect from others and for others, a great “can do” attitude, and the skill that America needs at this juncture.

So with all of this in mind I decided Barack Obama has my vote. I am so excited at the prospect of his being our President, I am betting the “trifecta” -- I am giving him my money, my time, and pulling a Democratic primary ballot for the first time in my life.

Barack all the way baby!

Olivia M. — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:48:33 EST

Michelle’s story is not unusual, but it’s not told often enough. She is a single mother in Skokie, Illinois. She is struggling -- not to give her children a better life than she had, but just to maintain the status quo. She lives “check to check” and feels the pinch of making too much to get help with school fees, but not enough to breathe easy.

Michelle is a mother to five children – her four children and a step son whose biological mother is lost to drugs and whose father is not actively involved in his life. Michelle is heartsick for him, but says she is raising him “to accept the obstacles life has placed before him and use them as a stepping stone to success.”

Michelle has volunteered for Barack since he ran for the Senate, when she took her children down to one of his local offices to make phone calls. Despite her struggles, she manages to donate to Barack’s presidential campaign; has his bumper stickers on her minivan. She e-mails all of her friends and “potential friends”, and even got her boss, a Republican, pay some attention to Barack.

Michelle writes,

I support Barack because I feel that he holds the key to healing in our nation. In the past seven years our nation has forgotten what it is like to be an average American. Somehow we forgot that most Americans are not rich, they are hardworking men, women, students, retirees, handicapped, veterans, single mothers, single fathers , teachers and hard working individuals like me. It is amazing to me that we can afford a war but we can't afford health care for every American.
I think the American government has lost touch with the ordinary person. They have lost touch with the fact that AIDS is running rampant in the US, the fact that drugs are being sold near school grounds, the fact that our children are being recruited to gangs on the play grounds, the fact that gas prices were at one point almost the same as the minimum wage, the fact that there are men in jail and women who are due child support.
Since this administration took office, I have really felt its pinch on my family. I have to pay school fees at three different schools and my older son who is a gifted writer had to drop out of Columbia University because we could not afford it and assistance said that I make too much money and would not give help (if they only knew that we went without heat for an entire year because I could not afford a new furnace).
Barack has not been tainted by government, he is proud to be an American. He embraces both of his ethnicities and he is a BEARS FAN! Just like on Monday night football -- "Barack all the way baby!!"
When people ask me what is the main reason I support Barack, I say that he is not tainted nor will he allow government to define him or dictate what his beliefs should be. We need him NOW. We -- the middle and lower class -- have suffered enough under this administration.

Laura shares her story

Olivia M. — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:29:15 EST

“This is one of the mostly powerful things I love about the US - the ability to be what and who you want if you are willing to work for it.”

Laura writes from Los Angeles, where she is a purchase manager for a construction company, a job she has loved for the past decade and would do, she says, even if she had the other options that might have come with a college degree. She is also a mother to four children – all of them currently in college.

She raised them all with what Laura says might be considered “old values -- like if you have something, share, help those less fortunate; treat others with dignity; and education is the key to most things desired in life”.

Laura with a friend she has won over to the Obama campaign

Laura shared her story with us at www.women.barackobama.com. Laura writes:

As a single mother of four children - three of them daughters - foremost I support Barak for his stance on equality for women in the United States and around the globe.
Never having received child support, working for my living and raising four intelligent, beautiful children I know about the challenges for medical insurance and child care and the facts concerning my lack of retirement. I want my son and daughters to have more positive choices than I had.
I cannot expect to have a world in which my grandchildren have more representation and choices if I am not involved in this process somehow. I have not placed a vote in my life but after reading Barak Obama's stance on the issues I am registering this year and encouraging my son and daughters of age to review his policies. We need to be able change the course we are set on as a nation.
I am a supporter of Obama for many reasons and am doing what I can to speak about this to everyone I know. I have managed to make several people take a closer look at what he has to offer - and even converted a Republican to his cause.
I believe American politicians are so far off base in regards to what the people want from their leaders because they are not led by the people for the people but led by the special interests and big business. I have always watched the antics around elections but never voted before because there was no one I felt would be different enough - strong enough - to make the changes needed.

A full family canvass in New Hampshire

Olivia M. — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:33:11 EST

Jaime writes in from New Hampshire, where she has made campaigning for Barack a family activity:

"My 3 1/2 year old son asks the same questions nearly every morning: "Mom - is it a preschool day? A music class day? An Obama day?"

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I became an Obama supporter immediately following the Senator's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and have since taken my children to hear him speak whenever the opportunity has presented itself.

When we drive by the New Hampshire State House, my son will exclaim, "remember the rally?" Similar statements are made when we pass the numerous parks and other venues where we have seen the Obamas. My son has been known to roam our neighborhood chanting, "Fired Up! Ready to Go!" and "Obama- 08! Obama-08!"

Both of the kids love their Obama t-shirts and my daughter has been toted to every event we have attended in a custom "Obama Mama" baby carrier.

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Without fail, my son asked this morning if it was an Obama Day and a huge smile came across his face when I told him that it was an extra special Obama Day - I explained that we wouldn't be seeing Senator Obama, but that we would be spreading his message.

We visited our campaign local office, where we were greeted by some of my son's favorite staffers on the campaign, (they always indulge his love of Obama stickers), and were rallied by our Congressman, Paul Hodes, before we set off to canvass- my daughter riding on my back and my son riding in his stroller, wearing no fewer than three Obama stickers and one pin.

Needless to say, the Obama campaign has become a significant family priority in our home. Both Michelle and Barack Obama have inspired us to believe in the power of hope; to believe that real change is possible; and to believe that such change starts with us. We truly believe that Barack Obama will make this country a better place for our children, but know that we have to do our part.

It is my hope that one day I will be able to tell my children how change began with them, and fondly recall this morning where they learned that one person, no matter how young, can make a difference."

Thanks for sharing Jaime!

JJ Dinner recap -- "Obama Shines"

Olivia M. — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:43:29 EST

Last night's Jefferson Jackson dinner -- a Democratic party fundraiser -- in Des Moines was packed with 9,000 Iowans and addressed by six of the Democratic presidential hopefuls.

Even for those of us watching on C-Span, the energy was palpable. Comments on the Obama HQ blog showed supporters watching from living rooms all over the country, and they were FIRED UP.

The evening ran long and Barack was last to speak, but the crowd's energy was undiminished when he took the stage. And as soon as he started speaking, time fell away. He was impassioned, inspiring, and downright Presidential.

It was an important night for the campaign, one with potentially high stakes for the Iowa caucuses, and Barack brought his A game. Barack showed that, when the heat is on, he just gets cooking.

Check out YouTube videos of the evening HERE.

Here's how David Yepsen, of the Des Moines Register, chronicled the evening on his blog:

The leading Democratic presidential candidates showed up for the Iowa Democratic Party’s big Jefferson Jackson Dinner Saturday night.

Five of them gave really good speeches.

Barack Obama’s was excellent.

It was one of the best of his campaign. The passion he showed should help him close the gap on Hillary Clinton by tipping some undecided caucus-goers his way. His oratory was moving and he successfully contrasted himself with the others - especially Clinton - without being snide or nasty about it.

Historically, the iowa party’s “JJ” dinner is a landmark event in Democratic presidential caucus campaigns. All the key party activists, donors and players from the state are present. This year, about 9,000 of them showed up, most were from Iowa though there was some grumbling that Obama packed the place with people from Illinois. The charge was denied by the Obama people, who were clearly pleased they beat the other candidates in the noise war inside Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

A candidate who does well at a JJ is quickly in the political buzz around Iowa. A candidate who does poorly can be quickly written off by some important players in the party. Candidates also know the event provides them with an opportunity to sound new themes, launch new attacks or mount a defense of their weaknesses. Local and national observers show up to chronicle the changes.

Obama was particularly impressive Saturday night. Should he win the Iowa caucuses, Saturday’s dinner will be remembered as one of the turning points in his campaign in here, a point where he laid down the marker and began closing on Clinton, the national frontrunner. For example:

*He said the Iraq war “should have never been authorized and should have never been waged,” a shot at the votes Clinton and most of the others cast in favor of it.

*He said the nation has a “moment of great opportunity” and “we have a chance to bring the country together to tackle problems that George Bush made far worse and that festered long before George Bush took office.” Translation: Clinton is divisive and there were problems the Clinton era didn’t solve.

*He said “the same old Washington textbook campaigns just won’t do it in this election.” Translation: Democrats can’t win running a Bill Clinton campaign again.

*He said “Not answering questions because we’re afraid our answers just won’t be popular just won’t do it.” Translation: Clinton doesn’t take questions at some of her events. Now she’s bogged down in a flap over staffers planting questions for her when she does and this was neat way to remind Democrats of it without tweaking Clinton directly.”

*He said “telling Americans what they think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear just won’t do it.” Translation: Obama is often inclined to say things party interest groups don’t want to hear - like the need for school reform, merit pay, more efficient cars or money to rebuild the military. She panders or is mushy.

*He said “triangulating and poll-driven positions because we’re worried what Mitt or Rudy might say about us just won’t do it.” He said he offers “change that is not just a slogan” and “change we can believe in.” Polls were a hallmark of the Clinton era.

*He said he wanted to “stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without health care and start actually doing something about it.” That was a smooth way to remind the audience how Clinton’s effort at national health care failed.

*There were also references to not taking money from lobbyists. And he said “I am running for president because I am sick and tired of Democrats thinking the only way to look tough on national security it talking and acting and voting like George Bush Republicans.” Ouch.

His coup de grace came with this: “When I am the nominee of this party, the Republican nominee will not be able to say I voted for the war in Iraq, or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran, or that I support Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don’t like.”

“I don’t want to spend the next year or the next four years refighting the same fights that we had in the 1990s,” a reference to the polarization of the Clinton years. “I don’t want to pit red America against blue America.”

The speech was also noteworthy because of the hour it was given. He was the last one to speak and didn’t start until after 11 p.m. That’s because the Iowa party loaded up the program with a bunch of Iowa politicians, who, well, just aren’t in the same league with their presidential candidates but whose egos just couldn’t keep them off the big stage.

It was a little like listening to a long Beethoven symphony while having some kid play a Tonette between movements.

And Obama can sometimes be flat or tired when speaks late at night. He can meander or sound wonkish and hesitant. Not Saturday night. (He came fired up and ready to go, to borrow a phrase.) At one point, he invoked Martin Luther King and his cadence even included the uplifting touches and quavering voice of a traditional black preacher’s sermon.

While the Democratic candidates all had a good night, Obama clearly had the best. Now we’ll have to see if he’s got anything left for Tim Russert this morning. Obama faces one of the toughest questioners in the business on NBCs Meet the Press at 8 a.m. Iowa time after only a few hours of sleep.

Michael Crowley of The New Republic also gave the night to Barack:

Obama Shines in Iowa

Barack Obama's speech at tonight's Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Iowa took him back to the roots of his stardom. Crucially, the setting was similar to that of the 2004 Democratic national convention, where Obama's keynote speech changed his destiny: Obama appeared onstage alone, before a roaring auditorium crowd, delivering an oratorically ambitious speech. It was a far cry from the candidate debates, with their silly questions and Mike Gravels, which have diminished Obama--or his sometimes lackluster town hall meetings with voters. Instead, Obama showed off his star power again and, for me at least, refreshed the logic of his call for "change that we can believe in."

Obama was all the more dramatic because he offered one of his sharpest critiques of Hillary Clinton to date. He went on something of a tear against Clintonism and the too-clever-by-half politics of what he called "Washington textbook campaigns." "Not answering questions because we're afraid our answers won't be popular just won't do it," Obama said--obviously referring to Hillary's debate performance last week. Without naming Hillary, he also ripped the practice of "telling the American people what we think they want to hear instead of telling the American people what they need to hear" and relying on "triangulating and poll driven positions because we're worried about what Mitt or Rudy might say about us. If we are really serious about winning this election, then we can't live in fear of losing." The Democratic Party, he said, has been best "when we led not by polls, but by principle; not by calculation, but by conviction." One can take some issue here (isn't it reasonable to worry about saying things that give "Mitt or Rudy" easy avenues for attack?). But to see Obama in his grandiose element, looking poised and confident, feeding off the energy of the surging crowd, was an important reminder of why he's made it so far so fast. (Full posting HERE)

Barack at work for working families

Olivia M. — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:04:16 EST

Barack spent time in Iowa today meeting with working mothers to discuss the "work-family balance", something he and Michelle have long raised as an area that needs attention. In The Audacity of Hope Barack wrote:

"If we're serious about family values, then we can put policies in place that make the juggling of work and parenting a little bit easier."

This week, in a speech entitled "Reclaiming the American Dream", Barack outlined some proposals to alleviate some of the many stresses on today's working families. (Full plan HERE).

AP - Obama Wants More Help for Families

By AMY LORENTZEN Associated Press Writer DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Pledging help for struggling families, Barack Obama said Friday that he and his wife, Michelle, have had their own difficulties balancing careers and family time, including shuttling kids to doctors, daycare and other activities. "And we had a lot more resources than most people," said Obama, who talked about his plan at a round-table with eight working women.

The women shared their thoughts on trying to pay for daycare, having no paid sick days and trying to save for retirement. Obama, a Democratic presidential contender, said his proposals would expand the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, encourage states to develop programs for paid time off and would double funding for after-school programs. They also would expand the Child and Development Care Tax Credit to help families afford child care expenses.

Obama said he wants more people to be able to take advantage of the law that now allows workers at businesses with at least 50 employees to take unpaid leave to care for ill family members or a new child. He proposes expanding that to businesses with at least 25 people. He also wants the law to allow for parents to attend their children's academic activities, for employees to address issues of domestic violence or sexual assault in their families or to take care of elderly relatives.

Obama said he would institute a program that would help businesses create flexible work opportunities, and would increase federal incentives for telecommuting. Those things would allow more families time at home together. He also wants to require employers to provide their workers with at least seven paid sick days per year.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has proposed similar plans, including dropping the family and medical leave threshold to 25 employees, getting states to experiment with paid leave and encouraging businesses to allow their workers to spend more time at home on flextime schedules and telecommuting.

Obama said his proposals would help people like his mother. "I was raised by a single mother and for most of my childhood she was juggling work with also still trying to get her education and raising two kids, and it was tough," he said. "And there were times where she was really feeling as if she didn't have much support."

Local NH leader becomes another key "Woman for Obama"

Olivia M. — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:44:35 EST

As reported in the New York Observer, an important NH woman just gave her support to Barack, citing his leadership in opposing the Iraq war, his ability to improve America's standing abroad, and his respect for the constitution.

Obama Picks Up a Coveted Endorsement in N.H.

by Steve Kornacki Published: November 9, 2007

Barack Obama has just picked up a fairly important endorsement in New Hampshire.Lenore Patton is the chairwoman of the Rockingham County Democrats and-- like every other party leader in NH -- had been relentlessly courted by the Clinton campaign.

Rockingham is one of the largest and most Democratic of NH's 10 counties -- it has a population of over 200,000, accounting for about 1 in 6 NH residents. The Clinton strategy in NH relies very heavily on endorsements, key (they believe) to projecting inevitability; they have pursued them much more doggedly than Obama and have had much success.

But this endorsement comes at a very good time for Obama, on the heels of Hillary's shaky debate performance and two days after a poll showed Obama cutting her lead to 10 points. This endorsement, as all endorsements, isn't going to change a ton of voters' minds about who to support, but it does feed into the newly fashionable storyline that doubt about Hillary is growing in NH and her that inevitability is finally being questioned. (Lenore Patton's husband Gary, mentioned in her endorsement letter, is the Democratic municipal chairman in the town of Hampton, about 10 miles south of Portsmouth.)

Here's the letter, which Patton is sending to local papers:

"As chair of the Rockingham County Democratic Committee, I am fortunate to have had the ability to see and hear all of the Democratic presidential candidates numerous times. I am proud that we have such an excellent group of people vying for the Democratic nomination. I can easily support any one of them in the general election. In fact, I will vigorously support and work for whichever of them is nominated at the end of the primary season.

As county party chair, I have encouraged our committee members to attend as many candidate functions as they can and to support the candidate of their choice. The county committee does not endorse a candidate in a primary election. However, as an individual, and speaking only for myself and no one else (including my husband), I have decided to endorse Senator Barack Obama.

The moment Senator Obama is elected, a new image of America will be presented to the world. Instead of undermining America’s reputation for reasonable and prudent behavior by constantly threatening war as the present administration has done, Senator Obama will turn first to diplomacy and negotiation to reach rational solutions to the world’s problems. Only as a very last resort would he turn to the use of military force

Senator Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq in 2002, when many others had not yet realized what a terrible mistake it was to invade that country. He continues to oppose a reckless foreign policy. Most recently, on November 1, 2008, Senator Obama introduced S.J.RES.23, a joint resolution stating that the use of force against Iran has not been authorized by Congress.

In addition, Senator Obama will undo the damage to the Constitution of the United States caused by the Bush administration, and restore this document to its rightful place as a protection of the individual rights of all citizens. Taking away our civil liberties does not guarantee our safety. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

By electing Barack Obama, America can show its best face to the world - respect for individual differences, compassion for those in need, and a desire to work in harmony with other nations."

Gail works her heart out for Barack

Olivia M. — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:32:42 EST

Gail, a mother and grandmother from Peoria, IL, realized how badly her country needed new leadership and knew the time had come for her to roll up her shirt sleeves and make something happen. She was part of the draftobama.org movement and you can imagine how excited she was, standing with her husband and her youngest daughter on a cold morning in Springfield last February, as Barack announced he was running for President.

Gail channeled that excitement into action right away: a few days after Barack’s announcement she started her first group on www.mybarackobama.com called “Obama in the Heart, Peoria, IL”. There she met Tamara, or "Mid-America Mom" as she's known on the blog. Tamara had started Moms for Obama, a national on-line group, and together, they decided to do whatever it took to elect Barack, and they got creative.

Gail (right) and Mid-America Mom, aka Tamara, at the Sox game

Gail and Tamara have initiated dozens of events, and participated in many more. In June they traveled to Chicago with five fellow supporters to canvass at the US Cellular Field, decorating their motor home with paint and signs for Obama. They drove to Chicago and had lunch at MacArthur’s (because Barack had said on Late Night with Conan O’Brien that it was his favorite restaurant), then on to the stadium to watch the White Sox, his favorite team, play the Houston Astros.

Alicia wants a president who cares about the middle class

Olivia M. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:04:27 EST

“As a mother what I am most looking forward to see from the Obama administration is a realignment of values from our government. There needs to be a focus on education, health care, social security etc... the things that impact most people. It’s been difficult to see the middle class continuously being cast aside in order to pursue the interests of big business.”

Alicia lives in Merced, CA with her husband, Kris, and their two kids, ages six and two. She has spent most of her life in Merced, and describes their life as typical for a young family “just starting out”.

Alicia is in college, pursuing a degree in physical therapy. In the meantime, she works at a clothing store, while Kris awaits placement with a local law enforcement agency. They spend most of their time at home – they like to cook, and are in the middle of reading the Harry Potter series as a family. They are active in their congregation and “do their part” contributing to the local community.

When asked what sort out outreach she has done for the Obama campaign Alicia responds, “I have at this point talked about the Presidential election and Barack’s platform with everyone from the checker at the grocery store to people within my congregation. I give them some info they may not have had the opportunity to read for themselves yet.”

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Alicia and her kids, after a Fall Harvest Festival.

Alicia writes:

I look forward to seeing a person in office that has a true stance on pulling out of Iraq and wants to make some attempts to win back our international reputation and integrity. With the current global political climate we need to make wise choices on how we flex our military strength and be certain that we are going into certain areas for the right reasons.
Obama has been a continuous voice on issues of injustice whether here at home or overseas such as in Darfur. I am excited that a person with a passion for humanity is going to be leading us. We need this change now more than ever.
Every day I make sure my two children are dressed properly, eat well balanced meals, I monitor what shows they watch. I spend all my efforts making sure I keep them safe, secure, happy, and healthy. Yet all the efforts we make in our home are being contradicted by the world we live in.
We teach kindness, tolerance and the importance of honesty yet we live in a country crawling with corporate corruption. We tell our children to not litter because it’s bad for the environment yet there had been more degradation to environmental laws in their lifetimes. We tell our kids to study hard in school but we have teachers afraid for their jobs and teaching under the constraints of the No Child Left Behind act that leaves more kids in the dust then helping them.
If I truly want to make an impact on the lives of my children it needs to go beyond my home. Barack stands for what is decent and good in America. His words have been more then inspiring, sparking hope that we have the opportunity to make this a better country to live in.
We have gone too long with big business and war mongering at the top of the government’s agenda. It’s time to have change in America and the person to lead us in that is Barack Obama.

Wendy in Iowa explains why she will caucus for Barack

Olivia M. — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:30:46 EST

"My main concern is restoring the integrity of our Constitution because without that, nothing else will survive and with that, all else falls into place."

Wendy is a retired hospice nurse in rural Iowa who is is helping orgainze three townships for the Obama campaign. She has to know her stuff to convince others to caucus for Obama, and she has studied his positions well.

Before she signed on to share her convictions with her neighbors, and host informational meetings, and send letters, and distribute buttons and yard signs, and open her home to thoughtful Iowans carefully weighing an important decision, I imagine she spent a good long time listening to what Barack had to say and determining whether he was up to the job of President -- and was the best Democrat for the job.

Wendy shared with us some of what she has shared with her neighbors. She writes:

In this election, I know I won’t find any one candidate who reflects my opinion on every single issue lock, stock, and barrel. For this reason, I am looking at the way each candidate thinks, how respectfully he or she works with people who might disagree, and for someone who has lived his or her values, not just thrown the word around because it’s popular.

I’m tired of small-minded people who use public office and our taxes to enrich their friends, who talk about family values, then behave like playground bullies. I shudder to think about what they have cost us in the world and only hope we can retrieve the goodwill we once enjoyed.

I believe the dignity and wisdom of Barack Obama can recover some of the respect and reputation we once enjoyed. Additionally, as one of our nation’s top constitutional scholars, I believe he will honor that document as our founders intended–to protect each of us, including the poorest and even the least admirable among us.

As editor of the Harvard Law Review, Barack Obama could have named his price and position anywhere in the world. Instead, he went back to the south side of Chicago and represented the disadvantaged and powerless, bringing them together with their elected officials to improve conditions. He has a solid 20 years of experience negotiating, teaching, and taking action every single day, working with both powerful and disempowered people, demonstrating solid judgment.

Spending time in Washington DC for many years is not my definition of experience, though some candidates play this “experience” game in their ads. Consultants and spin doctors have told candidates to keep hitting us in the face with the word “experience” until we believe it is our own concern. Longevity is not experience; being stuck in the past is not experience.

I have listened to Barack Obama and studied his positions. I’m especially impressed with his belief that various kinds of religious and secular groups can participate in government together without strident voices, protecting the freedoms we all care about while respecting our differences. This gives me hope that we don’t have to be so fractured and our government doesn’t have to be so mean-spirited.

I whole-heartedly support Obama’s commitment to talk with anyone who will talk with us, working to find some common ground. Stubborn silence does not ever, ever solve problems. It is just plain arrogant. This man is compassionate and tough, a combination we have been missing; he works from a position of hope.

Can Obama be elected? I recall my first election–there was not one person in my small hometown who thought John Kennedy, a Catholic, could be elected. Seems silly now, doesn’t it? In a few years, I believe similar questions about Barack Obama’s electability will seem silly, too.

So, I do not agree with Barack Obama (or anyone else!) on every issue, but I believe he’s a man of action, and vision who’s in it for the right reasons. He has my vote.

You go Roberta!

Olivia M. — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:45:32 EDT

“I became actively involved so that America could have the honor of this awesome, inspiring, intelligent, man as their next President.”

This is Roberta’s first venture into politics. Barack is her home state Senator, and when he announced he was running for president she got right on board.

Since March, she has actively volunteered in Iowa and Illinois. I get tired just reading everything Roberta has done to elect Barack. Scratch that – I get FIRED UP thinking about her energy and commitment.

Roberta reminds us that “even the smallest amount of time volunteering can help the campaign. Displaying a bumper sticker, sign, or pin also shows others that you are a supporter of Barack. All of these contributions have an impact.”

Roberta shares why she wants to see a President Obama – and what she is doing to make it happen.

Roberta writes:

I support Barack Obama because he uses fresh and honest language when he speaks. Mr. Obama’s recent statement regarding speaking to our enemies caught my attention and prompted me to voice my support for him. Any leader with any success in resolving issues knows that you have to bring everyone to the table in order to resolve an issue.
Will this be enforceable when he enters the White House? Let me say this: we will not know unless we try. We all know the saying doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is stupid!
I have made phone calls, sent emails, entered voter information into the computer system, hosted 2 house parties, worked at three rallies where Barack came to speak, drove to Peoria, Illinois to assist the downstate Illinois staff with a Women for Obama fundraiser with Michelle, worked a Women for Obama Debate Party where Michelle came to speak with the group prior to watching the debate.
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Roberta at work at a Town Hall in Davenport, IA
I have brought food items in to the office where the Field Organizers are busily working, attended two house parties, a luncheon for Women for Obama of Scott County, attended many meetings for various topics of discussion, such as education, health care for the elderly, and more.
I am active on the MyBarackObama.com site daily reaching out to others across the country with invitations to be my friend and a personal note for each one. I drove to Des Moines, Iowa to participate in a Women for Obama training to learn more about the caucus and again was able to see Barack.
I have marched in parades with my Toy Manchester Terrier who dons a "Barack Obama 08" or "My mama says vote Obama" t-shirt, raised money for and contributed to the campaign, found supporters and had them sign supporter cards, canvassed for Barack in Iowa where I even had the unfortunate mishap of a dog peeing on my foot (anything for Barack).
I have purchased and worn many Obama clothing items and shared with others that if you purchase from the website store the money goes to the campaign. I have bumper stickers on my car so others can see where my support is and at least three different pins on my purse!

Joyce shares her story

Olivia M. — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:48:08 EDT

Joyce writes from South Carolina, where she works in the property and casualty insurance industry. She is also involved in the arts, as a poet and active participant in writing and poetry organizations and events. She says she was raised “in the tough streets of Chicago”, and that she does not “feel the same compassion from other candidates that I do from Senator Obama.”

Joyce shared her story at www.women.barackobama.com. Take a minute to tell us your story, and how it shaped your decision to support Barack for president.

Joyce writes:

It took me a few months to ultimately decide to fully support Senator Obama. As a woman, I felt the initial need to support Senator Clinton

The main reason that I support Senator Obama is his grassroots upbringing in Chicago neighborhoods. I was born and raised in one of the poorest Chicago neighborhoods and I understand and admire what it takes to visit such neighborhoods.

My admiration for Senator Obama comes from his compassion for people; he chose to receive a law degree and bring it back to the people. He moved to Chicago to help and returned after receiving a Harvard Law degree to continue helping. For him, political aspirations came after he realized that he had the ability to help in a higher capacity. His background is not filled with wealth but with hard work and determination.

I am the one wearing the white campaign t-shirt. And the other beautiful lady is Mrs. Annie B. aged 85. She canvassed her neighborhood during Walk for Change II.

I now live in Columbia, SC where I am a Campaign Volunteer Leader. I assisted in the office with the initial Walk for a Change in June and the Walk for Change in September as well as the Rally in Charleston for the You Tube debate. I work with another group of volunteers from my neighborhood. I am recovering from surgery but that has not stopped me from working for a change. We must work to insure that Barack Obama is elected as the next President of the United States.

I also support his stand on the War in Iraq as well as his stance on education and other issues. Most importantly my belief is that he has the ability to bring parties together for intelligent discussions. He is willing to truly listen and possibly change his agenda if needed - not because he is undecided but because he is willing to see another side other than his own

In Obama, I see a man that desires to affect our nation in a positive way. I also see someone who is willing to change the current tide and help improve the country’s current economic state. I see someone who wakes up and goes to bed with the same humility each day. I see the next Democratic President.

Meet Ama

Olivia M. — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:00:22 EDT

"I like his message, I like his style, and I really like his grassroots appeal. So many people are engaged. Any little bit that I can do, I will."

The warmth in Ama’s voice when she talks about her support for Barack is tempered by a steely-cool resolve. But when she voices her frustration with media coverage of the campaign, you can feel the heat.

Her background is a similar mix of temperatures: born in Canada, raised in Trinidad, she's now a true-blue American living in Maryland.

When Barack spoke at the 2004 Democratic convention, Ama and her husband were in the midst of an 18 month stay in Trinidad, and as Ama puts it, "craving all things American." When they watched the convention on TV, they were "blown away" by Barack.

To Ama's surprise, when she went to work the next day, all her Trinidadian co-workers were also talking about the speech. People who, "normally don't even talk about politics in their own country," were inspired by something that happened on a stage in Boston.

When Barack announced he would seek the presidency, Ama got right on board. She hosted a house party in March, the first time the campaign asked people to do so. She has attended one fundraiser and one rally with her two children. Her six-year-old daughter threw all her energy into the rally, and afterwards wore her t-shirt to school and talked about it at show-and-tell.

Now Ama's voice is warm again, as she shares that Barack's candidacy has brought her enormous joy on her children's behalf. "It's special to me to see my daughter so invested in seeing someone who looks like her who can do anything," she says.

She loves Barack's writing, and has read both of his books. What stands out to her is how much he traveled as a child, which she knows can be hard. She thinks the benefits once you're an adult outweigh the hardships; that living in different parts of the world forces you to be more "embracing and empathetic."

Ama has never been involved in politics before. "I'm giving what money I can," she says, and then adds, with a laugh, "And I'm making my husband give too. And if I win the lottery he’ll get more."

Ama's top priority for President Barack? She wants the schools fixed. "There has to be a better way," she says. "If anyone can fix them it’s Barack."

Ama writes:

I am a mother, wife, working professional and I also happen to be an immigrant. My children are young and each day I try to make decisions that will ensure my children share my values. I appreciate the fact that America is a lifeline to many families and I believe in the American dream, but I also recognize that for many Americans, that dream is deferred.
I am drawn to Senator Obama because his audacity and his family's support reflect the values that I would like my children to grow up with. By virtue of the fact that the Senator has taken on this mission, we are one step closer to making America a place where all people can believe in a country and a world of limitless possibilities. I support this campaign because I believe that the greatest gift I can give to my children is to teach them that they can do anything if they have the audacity to just try.

Ellee shares her thoughts on Tuesday's debate

Olivia M. — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:42:14 EDT

Ellee is a professor in Northern California. She strives to bring out the best in her students. She believes Barack can do that for our country. Ellee shared her thoughts on last night’s debate:

Ellee and her husband, Oscar (also an Obama fan)

I watched the debate through the lens of the leadership qualities displayed by the candidates. Our country and the planet are at a fundamental crossroads and for us to move forward in a positive way we need a leader of integrity who can heal and unite. To me the kind of person, the kind of leader we elect is of paramount importance to the solutions they put forth.

I found the initial conversation about Iran and diplomacy fascinating. Barack Obama’s position on diplomacy is consistently distinct from the other candidates, especially that of Hillary. Barack’s approach of extending an invitation to talk, to meet, to work together is the only approach that can systematically ratchet down the heightened fear and tension that exists today.

Throughout the debate, Senator Obama exemplified the qualities we need in the next President of the US. He simultaneously embodied strength and serenity. You never got the sense that he was about to melt down as some of the other candidates were.

When Obama disagreed it was with a reassuring certainty and calm – very matter of fact – his answers were not forced. The term ‘grace under fire’ comes to mind. This characteristic will enable the Senator to prevail against any of the potential GOP candidates. Other candidates will be eaten alive by the Republicans - especially Hillary with her 50% negatives.

While everyone talked about the need for change, Obama embodied it. By consistently elevating the conversation, or the questions posed, to the root of the specific problem, Barack demonstrated how he can and will facilitate the hard and necessary conversations to solve the challenges facing our country. His innate ability to bring diverse people together – not to divide them, not to pit them against each other – is something we desperately need. Not only is it effective, this trait reflects a strength of character that many of us only aspire to and only periodically experience.

As we move forward, we cannot afford to get it wrong. Our country and our planet cannot afford another mistake – the consequences are too dire. With this in mind I wholeheartedly agree with MSBNC’s texting poll (Obama 29%, Clinton 21%) that Barack Obama came out ahead in the debate. He is the ONLY candidate that can move this country forward.

Molly assesses last night's debate

Olivia M. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:42:25 EDT

Molly is a student at Stanford Law School, originally from Ashland, Oregon. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Gender Studies and News Media and Society. The issues that she cares about most are civil liberties, reproductive rights, voting rights, and the environment.

Molly says she supports Barack Obama because the U.S. needs some fresh voices in Washington, and Barack “brings a new, different perspective and will address the concerns of the up-and-coming younger generation.”

She brought this background and perspective to her assessment of last night’s debate. Molly writes:

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Obama had some reoccurring, consistent themes throughout the night: restore faith in government; relieve the burden on the middle class; expand health care and education, and diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy.

To that end, he started strong with one of his best points of the night. Moderator Brian Williams tossed out a question about the war in Iraq and Obama quickly shot back an answer calling for a focus on diplomacy and even insisting on a meeting of Muslim leaders to discuss future relations. (He already gets an extra point on this one for being one of the few on stage who was against the war from the beginning.) I was glad to hear Obama didn’t back down from his controversial stance a few months ago when he said that as president, he would be willing to talk to the leaders of Iran and Syria. (Big points for consistency here!)

I also liked Obama’s answer on Social Security, where he was forceful about acting now rather than leave it to the younger generations (as someone who will be paying into Social Security for the next 40 years, I appreciated that one) and wasn’t afraid to say that the wealthiest Americans might have to pay a little more.

The other students watching the debate with me all had one concern: education. We wanted to hear more about it, and better solutions. Obama did score some big points in that category by addressing the issue of student debt, proposing a plan where students’ debt would be reduced in exchange for national public service. I like the national service idea, but am still waiting to hear the Democrats propose a greater tax deduction for higher education tuition. College is expensive, and no one is addressing the middle class parents who are paying the bill.

By the end of the night, I think the moderators ran out of questions. Dennis Kucinich confirmed a UFO sighting he had a few years ago, and Obama fielded a question about life beyond Earth. (He’s not sure about ET, but pledges to attend to the people of Earth first either way).

Ultimately, it was a proud night for Obama fans. The Senator performed confidently, elegantly, with strong stances that were not always the most popular positions and often verged on controversial. But that’s why we’re Obama fans -- because it’s important to back a candidate who is not about saying the right thing, but doing the right thing.

Restoring America's relationships overseas

Olivia M. — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:39:21 EDT

An inspired report from an Obama supporter living in London reminds us of the good an Obama presidency would do in restoring our image abroad. Candace writes in after meeting Michelle on her trip earlier this month:

I was born in Boston, raised in Connecticut and spent many years in Los Angeles working in the film industry, but for the past thirteen years I’ve been living in London. Since I firmly believe that if you don’t participate in the process you have no right to complain I’ve always voted in our Presidential elections, but I haven’t actually worked in any election since 1970, when after the student deaths at Kent and Jackson State many of us left our campuses early to work in elections around the country. I went to Atlanta and worked for Andrew Young, who had been a right-hand man of Martin Luther King. Andy lost that year, but I learned a lot and had a wonderful time as well. However, that was the end of me and electoral politics, until now.

On February 10th of this year there was a portrait of Barack Obama on the cover of weekend magazine section here in the UK in anticipation of his announcement to run for President later that afternoon. I’d read his memoir, Dreams from My Father, and thought Barack Obama a most extraordinary man, and when I read The Audacity of Hope, for the first time since I don’t know when I was reminded of the intrinsic goodness of the American character and of the principles of our government.

When you live overseas, you’re right up against what people think of our country in this world, and I know you can imagine that with Iraq War and Abu Grahib, with the Bush stubbornness about global warming and just all around belligerent nastiness, we’ve had a lot to contend with. But my living here doesn’t keep me from being personally affected by the day-to-day life issues affecting folks in the States.

So looking at Barack Obama’s picture I knew that I had to work this time. It was not going to be enough to just cheer from the sidelines. This election was just too important, and for the first time ever, here was a candidate in whom I believed, body and soul. I got in touch with Democrats Abroad and got to work. Last Monday, October 15th, Americans Abroad for Obama London hosted its biggest event thus far, An Evening with Michelle Obama.

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Since Michelle has made it clear that her first priority in this campaign is maintaining a balanced life for their daughters Malia and Sasha ,which includes reading them bedtime stories every evening, we were stunned and thrilled that she was willing to travel so far.. She couldn’t have been here more than 26 hours all together, but what a memorable, inspirational time.

I’d heard her introduce Barack four months ago when I was visiting family in Los Angeles, but it’s difficult to describe how moved I was, how moved everyone was to hear her on her own talking about the states of our country at home and in the world, how her father had been able to raise three children on one blue-collar salary in Chicago in a time when there was there was so much less fear and stress for ordinary American families.

How she and Barack and all their team knew, when the decision was made to run just ten months ago, how long and hard that this race was going to be, that it was never going to be supported by the powers that be in Washington, by the national press, but by getting to the American people, by meeting and interacting with us, listening to and discussing our true hopes and fears, change could be made.

Because this can only be a movement from the bottom up, not the top down and because the situation we all face is so critical that only real change can amend our course, not a new set of hands holding the same road map, a whole new map, a whole new approach. We were all of us spell-bound, by her down-to-earth humanity, her willingness to speak the truth, her intelligence, her beauty and her grace.

After answering a few questions she mingled with the crowd, posing for snapshots, just being available, and many folk came up to me asking to become involved. What a night!

Cheri shares her story

Olivia M. — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:48:01 EDT

Cheri is devoting her time, energy and enthusiasm to ensuring Nevada caucuses for Barack. She shared her story with us at www.women.barackobama.com.

Cheri writes:

I live with my husband in Tucson and am part of Arizonans for Obama. Recently I have become the coordinator for our Legislative District and am the County Resource Coordinator. I’m not into job titles – I’m into getting the job done! I am getting “on the job training” and want to do the very best for Senator Obama.
My first Obama event that I held was a Kick-off House Party back in March of this year. Around 15 people came and since that time I’ve run into several who attended at different meetings and events. I have invited people into our home to watch the debates when they’ve been televised and plan to continue this for future debates. I’ve been involved in local events in Tucson and attended Camp Obama in July in Tempe.

It’s very exciting to hear life-long Republicans changing their party affiliation to become Democrats! I personally have re-registered several and hear about many others doing the same. My neighbor who is in her middle 80’s has been a registered Republican all her voting life and now has changed after I spent time with her explaining why Barack Obama has gotten me so excited about this campaign. She told me that my enthusiasm is catching!
This is my first campaign I have ever been involved in and the first I have ever donated money to. I believe that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States and will put the “United” back into the States. He has said that he will not only talk with our friends but he will talk with our enemies. This is something that I haven’t heard from any other candidate and it is extremely important for getting back on the right track with international relations.
My husband has Parkinson’s disease and was forced to retire before he was ready to quit working. He has been on disability for 3 years and now is on Medicare that does not meet all his prescription needs financially. I have to pay my own insurance premium monthly so our medical expenses are quite high. As we know our health care system doesn’t work and I believe Barack Obama will be the one to fix that. Also, we need stem cell research so one day diseases like Parkinson’s can be cured. Watching my husband slowly lose abilities we all take for granted grieves me. He has a good outlook mentally and that keeps me on track.
Barack Obama has not only a vision for our country but hope. His straight talk is what we need and deserve from all of our elected officials. He can make a huge difference from the top down. His grassroots approach to campaign fund raising gives me a sense of ownership because I’m investing in a small way to get him elected. I feel part of a movement that I believe is going to turn this country around and give us back a sense of pride that I personally have lost.
I'm smack dab in the middle of the front row and Barack Obama has his hand on my shoulder!
My support for Barack Obama increases every time I hear him speak. Most recently was at the rally held at Arizona State University, October 19, 2007. A good number of volunteers from Tucson car-pooled, took a van ride or drove up themselves to help with this very successful event. This was and event that had an extra exciting part to it. I got to meet Barack Obama and be part of a group picture taken of a group of us volunteers! Guess what’s going on my Christmas cards this year?!
His message continues to be right on target and he has never wavered from his stand on issues from the beginning especially his opposition to the war in Iraq. I stand in agreement with Barack Obama about this dumb war. War isn’t the answer. America needs Barack Obama and he’s the one that will get the job done!

Lindsey shares her story

Olivia M. — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:16:53 EDT

Lindsey shared her story by writing to us through the Women for Obama web page's "Tell Us Why You're a Woman for Obama". Read her story, share it with your friends, and share your story with us.

Lindsey writes:
I am a 3rd year law student in Minneapolis, but I had to go through a lot to get to law school.
My father was an alcoholic, and my parents divorced when I was 7. As a single mother without a college degree, my Mom struggled to raise us on her own until she met my step-father. She re-married when I was 10. My father went on to be homeless on the streets of St. Paul until he sought help for his addiction; he is now sober and works for minimum-wage in food service at the VA hospital. My mother went on to work her way up to vice president of an international software company.
With these life experiences I have really seen 2 sides of America. It is my belief that with a President like Barack Obama, the American dream that my Mom experienced can be more achievable for every women in our country. It is also my belief that Barack could help people like my father who work hard every day, but can barely make ends meet on minimum wage.

I first read Barack's books and was so inspired and moved by his message of hope that it really felt as if he was sharing it just for me. Since then I take every opportunity possible to share his story with people. Whether it be at school, work, or with my mostly conservative family, I talk to people about his message and try to relate it to them.
Even though I am a poor law student, I have also donated 4 times to his campaign, and will continue to so until he is elected!

Beating breast cancer

Olivia M. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:51:49 EDT

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Barack believes that every American has the right to quality, affordable health care, and he is committed to implementing a universal health care plan by the end of his first term as President. A critical component of Barack’s plan is the requirement for individuals to have mandatory coverage of essential clinical preventive services, such as cancer screenings. Barack also calls for greater funding for breast cancer research.

For more on Barack’s position on eradicating breast cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s web site.

Rebekah tells us how breast cancer has shaped her life, and caused her to work in women's health and as an advocate for breast cancer awareness. She shares how these priorities have led her to support Barack Obama for President.

Allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Rebekah Gee and I am an Obstetrician/Gynecologist at the University of Pennsylvania and have been working on the Obama campaign. I want to talk about why Barack Obama will be an advocate for women with breast cancer, and will help us take research and treatment for breast cancer to a new level. I also want to tell you why I volunteered for the Obama campaign and why I think he is great for women. First, let me explain what breast cancer means to me.

When I was sixteen years old, my mother died of breast cancer after a long battle with the disease. She was an amazing woman, incredibly courageous, but also an advocate for others with breast cancer. She wrote a book called The Light Around the Dark about her experience with cancer, and wrote letters to me for my birthdays that I opened each year after she died until last year. She taught me to fight for what I believe in.

This past week, my husband Alan ran the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon in her honor, and we are raising money for a center for breast cancer survivorship that we are hoping to name after my mother, Elizabeth.

Breast cancer has touched my life in a very personal way and that experience is what drove me to become a physician and a woman’s doctor and what drives my advocacy work. My mother taught me that the most rewarding part of being touched by cancer is to try and effect change on the lives of others. She always stood by her values and was good for her word.

Just like my mother Elizabeth, Barack Obama is an honest, straightforward person who means what he says. He has been a force of light in a government that in the past few years has been shrouded by the darkness of deception. He has stood by his word and delivers on his promises.

Obama believes that we need to change the way that government runs, and bring back the science into medicine. He believes that government should be accountable to the people, not work for its own partisan interests. With Obama as president, we will see a renewed commitment to research on women’s health and through that commitment, come closer to a cure.

Breast cancer will always be part of my life. But through devoting my life to advocating for women and promoting their health I can help fight the disease. Barack Obama is my candidate because I believe he is willing to stand up for what he believes in and will stand up for women’s rights consistently and honestly, every hour of every minute of every day.

Beating breast cancer

Olivia M. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:07:45 EDT

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For more on Barack’s position on eradicating breast cancer, visit the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s web site.

Allow me to introduce myself:

My name is Rebekah Gee and I am an Obstetrician/Gynecologist at the University of Pennsylvania and have been working on the Obama campaign. I want to talk about why Barack Obama will be an advocate for women with breast cancer, and will help us take research and treatment for breast cancer to a new level. I also want to tell you why I volunteered for the Obama campaign and why I think he is great for women. First, let me explain what breast cancer means to me.

When I was sixteen years old, my mother died of breast cancer after a long battle with the disease. She was an amazing woman, incredibly courageous, but also an advocate for others with breast cancer. She wrote a book called The Light Around the Dark about her experience with cancer, and wrote letters to me for my birthdays that I opened each year after she died until last year. She taught me to fight for what I believe in.

This past week, my husband Alan ran the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon in her honor, and we are raising money for a center for breast cancer survivorship that we are hoping to name after my mother, Elizabeth.

Breast cancer has touched my life in a very personal way and that experience is what drove me to become a physician and a woman’s doctor and what drives my advocacy work. My mother taught me that the most rewarding part of being touched by cancer is to try and effect change on the lives of others. She always stood by her values and was good for her word.

Just like my mother Elizabeth, Barack Obama is an honest, straightforward person who means what he says. He has been a force of light in a government that in the past few years has been shrouded by the darkness of deception. He has stood by his word and delivers on his promises.

Obama believes that we need to change the way that government runs, and bring back the science into medicine. He believes that government should be accountable to the people, not work for its own partisan interests. With Obama as president, we will see a renewed commitment to research on women’s health and through that commitment, come closer to a cure.

Breast cancer will always be part of my life. But through devoting my life to advocating for women and promoting their health I can help fight the disease. Barack Obama is my candidate because I believe he is willing to stand up for what he believes in and will stand up for women’s rights consistently and honestly, every hour of every minute of every day.

Meet Amanda, another Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:46:28 EDT

Amanda grew up in Milford, IA, a town of 3,000 which is, as she puts it, “still growing.” She first got involved in politics when her former high school teacher ran for the state House of Representative. She switched from Independent to Democrat to vote for him.

She has two jobs, both working with young children, and says her family and her niece in particular are her life. She has a lot of veterans in her family – including a cousin who returned from Iraq last month -- and wants a President who will make sure they are treated well by the country they served. Like a lot of Iowans, she has worked on presidential campaigns in the past. She gives it her all. She says she has never experienced anything like Barack’s campaign.

Amanda writes:

“I hate war and always will. War isn’t the answer to everything.… This is a war we shouldn’t be fighting in the first place because Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11, but Osama Bin Laden did. So if you are going to go to war, at least go after the right person. Innocent Iraqi citizens are dying every day because of this war that makes no sense. That is one of the reasons I support Barack Obama: because he has been against the war since the start and I believe, had he been in the US Senate when time came for the vote, he would have voted no.

My name is Amanda. I am 29 years old. This is my third presidential campaign and the most involved I have ever been. I saw Barack Obama in Feburary of 2007 and I filled out a supporter card and have been hooked ever since. I was glued to the TV the day he announced he was running for president.

I met up with Sam, my local field organizer, after he called me and asked me to come in. He wanted to discuss what issues were important to me and any issues that concerned me at the moment and what I could do to help Barack Obama. I was like, “Really, nobody has ever asked what I thought before.” Well Sam said Barack Obama’s campaign was different.

I have been to two organizational meetings and have been working close with Sam my field organizer. I love coming in and everybody knows who I am. The interns come up to me and introduce themselves. It is different from other campaigns. I don’t have all the time in the world to volunteer but I do what I can and it doesn’t matter what days I come in.

I work at a daycare in Des Moines and I work at St. John's Lutheran Church in their nursery, so when I choose a candidate for President I see what they can do for children and Early Childhood Education. Every time there is a debate on TV Barack is the only one that mentions Early Childhood Education.

I support Barack because he started out in the community making less than I do at both of my jobs combined. He could have taken the high-paying road and gone on to be a lawyer or work on Wall Street but he didn’t. He is a man who truly cares about the United States of America and what is going on in the world. He truly cares about people in the community and that is why I think he is going to make a great president.”

Rural policy that goes beyond farming

Olivia M. — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:17:14 EDT

Speaking in Iowa, Sen. Obama pledged to host a rural policy summit in his first 100 days in the White House. On the agenda: sensible, sustainable farm policy, renewable energy, health care, education and addressing methamphetamine abuse, which is particularly impacting mothers and their children.

A recent survey of 500 county law enforcement officials in 44 states found that 61% of counties saw an increase during the last three years in the number of women abusing meth. Yet, when mothers in America’s heartland seek out treatment to heal from their addiction, they are often forced to make a choice between treatment and their children. Barack believes we need to expand family-based treatment programs where mothers and their children are treated together, as a whole family. For other parts of his plan LINK

CR Gazette: Obama will host rural policy summit if elected By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

james.lynch@gazettecommunications.com

FAIRFAX - Barack Obama called for capping federal farm program payments, regulating large livestock operations and encouraging investment in organic food production and renewable energy during a visit to a rural Linn County farm this morning.

The Illinois senator brought his campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination to the Sally Williams farm east of Fairfax. There he promised as president he would host a rural policy summit meeting in Iowa and offer a proposal in Congress during his first 100 days in office. He offered a plan focused on meeting the challenges facing rural communities and capitalizing on the economic opportunity that exists in rural America particularly in the renewable energy sector.

“Real leadership for rural America starts with one simple principle: listening,'' Obama said. “You know, when you do get out and talk to folks, you are reminded that there is a lot that all of America can learn from rural America. Because rural values are quintessential American values: hard work and innovation. Rugged independence joined with a belief in community that says that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper.”

Obama stressed his commitment to providing incentives to farmers to promote conservation and sustainability, including making protecting land and water resources a part of his energy plan.

In addition to farm policy, Obama talked about his previously released proposals to lower health care costs, protect pensions, strengthen schools and expand economic opportunity would benefit American families in rural communities. He also spoke of a need to confront a ``creeping national epidemic of methamphetamine abuse has taken an especially tragic toll on mothers and children here in Iowa.''

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Olivia M. — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:00:23 EDT

October 15th is the last day of Hispanic Heritage month. California Senator Gloria Romero writes in recognition of the achievements of Latinos – and the hope that an Obama Presidency would pave the way for many more.

Senator Romero and her daughter in the CA State Capitol

Senator Romero writes:

As the highest ranking woman -- and Latina! -- in the California State Legislature, I am proud to join Senator Obama in celebrating October as both Hispanic Heritage Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Latinas have come far in this country; we need a President who will keep us moving forward.
It is time to turn the page of history and to bring to fruition the dreams of our mothers. My Mother had a 6th grade education. I have a PhD. I understand the value of education in transforming lives, and share the great American hunger for equal opportunity and justice throughout our nation.
Senator Obama has never wavered from his commitment to finding opportunity for young people, and I am proud that he strongly supported the Dream Act, removing barriers to immigrant children on the path to college.
Senator Obama has never wavered from his opposition to a war that has taken the lives of too many of our young.
I grew up during Vietnam. My generation witnessed the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. I remember the tears shed at their loss. My generation — filled with the hope we had back then for a new America -- was robbed of what should have been our future.
In Senator Obama, we win that back: our generation -- and the generations that follow -- get back the audacity to hope again, and to fight for justice. I remember hope. It's alive, and it's in us. Senator Obama is a unifying voice for a new America -- one that embraces our faith, gives wings to our dreams, and propels us forward to a new destiny.
I proudly join Senator Obama in collectively turning the great American page of history so that the dreams of my mother, along with the dreams of his father, come alive.

Why Pauline is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:27:24 EDT

Pauline has spent her entire life in Northern California. She’d like to stay there, because her family is there, and her daughter is settled, but it’s an expensive area, and she is a single mom. She works in financial services, as a loan consultant, and especially liked Barack’s recent speech to Wall Street, when he asked the leaders of our financial sector to work toward our common prosperity. Like millions of homeowners and mortgage industry employees, Pauline’s life is directly impacted by the dishonest and irresponsible practices of a few lenders.

Pauline doesn’t have a digital camera, but she sent a picture a co-worker took with her cell phone. After Pauline sent her story to Women for Obama, we started an email correspondence. Her honest, determined voice encourages us to be smart and steadfast in our efforts to elect Barack.

Pauline explains why she is a Woman for Obama:

It began when my mother called me one day, and asked me if I had heard about Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention. I answered, "who and what?" I had never heard of this Barack guy before. I brushed her off, and went on with my day. After that, though, I began to see little things here and there about Barack, and I finally decided to buy his book.
I began to read about Barack, and his background and upbringing were similar to my own. I had been raised by a Single-Mother, and grown-up not knowing my Biological Father, just as Barack had. His mother married an Indonesian man, my mother married a Jewish man. He went to Catholic and Muslim school, I went to French and Jewish Parochial school. Both of us are from a Bi-Racial background, black and white.
It is difficult growing-up like that, but as you get older, you begin to know and understand the dichotomy between black and white. I can better understand whites, blacks, Jews and Christians, and appreciate all nationalities and all of our humanity. I, like Barack, have a better knowledge of many social and cultural spectrums.
I think his community organizing background is very honorable. When I read that he took the bottom of the barrel jobs, instead of choosing what could have been a very promising and financially rewarding position within a much larger organization, I knew that this was a candidate that I would like to see run for President.
So far, I've volunteered twice for Barack, I've financially donated to him, on his website, and I've attended a Women for Barack fundraiser. I usually wear a shirt or a pin to work that has some sort of Barack logo on it. When I wear it outside of work, I generally get stopped, and people begin to talk positively about him.
The other reasons I support Barack are his policies on ending the war. I knew that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction when this war began, and I never supported the invasion of Iraq. I did, however support the invasion of Afghanistan - the Taliban and Al Quaeda in specific. It was important to me to back a President that wasn't fooled by the current Administration.
I believe that Barack will take a stand against the big oil business, and re-focus our attention on alternative energy. It's better for the environment and our safety. I truly believe that he is the only candidate running that will bring Democrats, Republicans and others together. He is the only candidate that has a true understanding of the world outside of the United States, and will finally bring a positive image to us from abroad. Let's join together, and re-invent our America, and re-integrate hope and promise back into our lives!

OBAMA O8!

Message from a Military Mom

Olivia M. — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:32:29 EDT

Peg knows what was does to families. In 1970, her family felt the effects of an escalation of a failed war policy when her sister lost her husband in the first push into Cambodia.

Peg is a single mom to two sons - Curtis, age 22 and Derek, age 20. Derek is serving in the Middle East..

Peg loves baseball and scrapbooking and describes herself as "a bit of a political and news junkie". Last week, Peg got in front of a microphone and did her part to transform politics in America.

Alone among the leading candidates for the Presidency, Barack Obama understood from the outset that an invasion of Iraq was a mistake and had the courage to speak out against it.

On the 5th anniversary of Barack's speech in opposition to the war in Iraq, Peg told Coloradans why that judgement was so important.

Peg speaks to a Colorado crowd on the 5th anniversary of Barack's speech

This is from Peg:

There are two primary reasons I support Barack for the next president. First, he was smart enough to look at the facts and determine that the "justification" laid out to go to war in Iraq was flawed and the result would be a disaster.

I cried for months prior to the first invasion because I could see the catastrophe waiting to happen and I felt helpless to stop it. Now, I have three family members, including my 20 year old son, and another 8 friends and neighbors (all but one of them under the age of 22) who are serving in this war in either the Navy, Marines, or Army. Many are entering their second deployments between now and February.

I want a president with the brains and common sense to get us out of this war and bring my kids home and who will not get us into another mess like this. Second, Barack is not truly a part of Washington yet. He has fresh ideas and he has an ability to bring people together to find common ground.

I'm so disgusted with Democrat this and Republican that. I want coalition building. I want diplomatic efforts and solutions to problems. I want to see competent people in Cabinet positions...not party cronies that are inept and incompetent and simply spew the party line without thinking about the consequences. I WANT CHANGE!

For me, high intelligence, good judgment and the courage to take risks outside the "Washington box" to make real, positive change in Washington is much more important than so-called "experience". And I believe Barack is the man to bring that change to America. I hope you agree and will support Barack in any way you can.

Peg, Westminster, Colorado

Meet Sarah, Another Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:55:22 EDT

Thanks to Barack’s books, speeches and policies, people often feel like they know him well, even though most of us have never met him. It’s great to hear our hopes confirmed by someone who has known him most of his adult life.

This week a law school classmate of Barack’s tells us why she is a Woman for Obama. Sarah lives in Dover, Massachusetts with her husband and three sons (ages 6, 4 and 2), where she works in marketing for a large company. Like many of Barack’s supporters, this is her first time getting active in politics. As busy as she is, she knew no one would ever inspire her more than Barack, and she signed up to help out.

Sarah says peace, the environment, health and the economy are the issues she cares about most. I asked her to speak from personal experience and tell us what type of person he is, what we need to know as we head into the election season. Her answer: He is for real! I can vouch that he was the same man almost 20 years ago when I worked with him on a daily basis.

Sarah shares more on why she is a Woman for Obama below. Don’t forget to visit www.women.barackobama.com and tell us why YOU are a Woman for Obama, by sharing a little about your life and what has brought you here.

Sarah writes:
When I worked side by side with Barack from 1989 to 1991, putting out issues of the Harvard Law Review, he was exactly the same man that he is today - brilliant, inspiring, unifying and naturally charismatic. His campaign to become the first African American president of the Review was not dissimilar from his campaign to become the first African American president of the United States - he focused on bringing people from divergent parts of the political spectrum together to work together in a positive way.
I support Barack Obama for president because I believe that he is the candidate who best represents hope for change in this country -- hope that we can completely transform the game of politics once and for all. In many ways, our country is more divided at this time than it has been since the Civil War. We desperately need a leader who can unite the country in a new and unique way.
The fact that he went from Harvard Law school not to the Supreme court or some white-shoe law firm, but rather to the inner city of Chicago to help improve the lives of its residents only increased my respect for my former classmate. Barack has spent virtually his entire career in local, then state and finally national politics, demonstrating the experience and judgment that we need in a President.

Military Mom speaks out for Barack

Olivia M. — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:51:23 EDT

Peg knows what was does to families. In 1970, her family felt the effects of an escalation of a failed war policy when her sister lost her husband in the first push into Cambodia.

Peg is a single mom to two sons - Curtis, age 22 and Derek, age 20. Derek is serving in Iraq.

Peg loves baseball and scrapbooking and describes herself as "a bit of a political and news junkie". Last week, Peg got in front of a microphone and did her part to transform politics in America.

Alone among the leading candidates for the Presidency, Barack Obama understood from the outset that an invasion of Iraq was a mistake and had the courage to speak out against it.

On the 5th anniversary of Barack's speech in opposition to the war in Iraq, Peg told Coloradans why that judgement was so important.

Peg speaks to a Colorado crowd on the 5th anniversary of Barack's speech

This is from Peg:

There are two primary reasons I support Barack for the next president. First, he was smart enough to look at the facts and determine that the "justification" laid out to go to war in Iraq was flawed and the result would be a disaster.

I cried for months prior to the first invasion because I could see the catastrophe waiting to happen and I felt helpless to stop it. Now, I have three family members, including my 20 year old son, and another 8 friends and neighbors (all but one of them under the age of 21) who are serving in this war in either the Navy, Marines, or Army. Many are entering their second deployments between now and February.

I want a president with the brains and common sense to get us out of this war and bring my kids home and who will not get us into another mess like this. Second, Barack is not truly a part of Washington yet. He has fresh ideas and he has an ability to bring people together to find common ground.

I'm so disgusted with Democrat this and Republican that. I want coalition building. I want diplomatic efforts and solutions to problems. I want to see competent people in Cabinet positions...not party cronies that are inept and incompetent and simply spew the party line without thinking about the consequences. I WANT CHANGE!

For me, high intelligence, good judgment and the courage to take risks outside the "Washington box" to make real, positive change in Washington is much more important than so-called "experience". And I believe Barack is the man to bring that change to America. I hope you agree and will support Barack in any way you can.

Peg, Westminster, Colorado

Assuring access to women's reproductive health care

Olivia M. — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:26:13 EDT

Women's reproductive rights are under regular assault at all levels of government, from the Robert's Supreme Court to local jurisdictions across the country. Recently a new Planned Parenthood facility in Aurora, IL had a battle just to open its doors.

Senator Obama has always been a stalwart champion of women's reproductive rights, and quickly weighed in support of the new center (LINK), assuring women's access to reproductive health care.

Carrie, a representative from Planned Parenthood of the Chicago Area, explains the recent battles the Aurora center went through:
"Early this fall, Aurora, IL became the latest battleground in the fight over choice and access to reproductive health care. While Aurora is one of the fastest growing communities in Illinois, the availability of health care has not increased at the same pace. Our new Aurora health center was built to provide for the reproductive health care needs of a rapidly growing, but medically underserved area. Planned Parenthood’s goal was to ensure that women and families in the community have access to Pap tests, breast exams, birth control and other reproductive health services, including abortion services.

In order to protect the safety of our employees and contractors, we took a low visibility approach to building this health center and developed it through an LLC – which is a common practice in property development. When news of the center went public, anti-abortion activists went into a frenzy. They organized some of the largest anti-abortion protests we’ve seen in years. They were also able to politicize this issue with the Aurora City Council. Under pressure from anti-abortion activists, the city of Aurora launched a review of our permitting process (hiring three separate lawyers!) and forced us to delay the opening our health center.

In the meantime, hundreds of Aurora residents came to our aid - they posted “This family supports Planned Parenthood” yard signs, wrote letters to their alderman, called their neighbors, gave donations, and rallied at city hall. Senator Barack Obama issued a strong statement in support of our Aurora center and we received an outpouring of support from pro-choice people throughout the country. This incredible support played an invaluable role in changing the tone of the debate over our Aurora health center.

On Monday (Oct. 1) the city of Aurora released the reviews of our permitting process and found absolutely no criminal activity on our part. We were thrilled to open our health center to Aurora residents the very next day. Not only is this a great victory for women and families in the Aurora area, but it’s a tremendous victory for choice as well."
News coverage:LINK

Why Stephanie is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:00:48 EDT

“I love the movement and spirit of this campaign," says Stephanie in California. "I may not want to work campaigns for the rest of my life, I know this is a campaign I want to put every last possible ounce of effort into -- and I'm doing just that.”

We keep hearing that Barack’s candidacy is getting a big boost from younger voters, but will that support actually translate into action when it counts?

The Obama campaign has put together an unprecedented organizing effort to make sure Obama supporters of all ages get out to vote or caucus, and this week’s Woman for Obama reminds us that youthful enthusiasm (and energy!) is already making an impact.

Meet Stephanie (center), an English major at UC Berkeley. She says it took a friend’s “forceful suggestion” that she read Barack’s first book to get her interested in politics. Since then she has started the first Students for Barack Obama (SFBO) chapter at Berkeley and taken on the role of state communications coordinator for SFBO.

Stephanie has set an ambitious goal: by February 5th everyone in CA will know what SFBO stands for.

To reach her goal, she's going to do what all the communications coordinators do: go make contacts with local and campus media outlets ensuring that press releases are received, events are covered, op-eds are printed, and articles submitted.

"Campus chapters are out there, articles are being printed, and the campuses are taking notice!” she says.

Below, Stephanie shares what made her a Woman for Obama:

About a year ago if you had asked me to tell you about anything even remotely related to the field of politics you would have gotten a blank stare in response. I honestly could have cared less. It was complicated, messy and of absolutely no interest to me.
This changed in the beginning of 2007, when a friend of mine more or less shoved Dreams of My Father down my throat, ordered me to read it then give him my thoughts on it. I had nothing better to do that weekend so I opened it up, and turned over the last page 3 hours later.
I fell in love his principles, his ideology and message. I saw him speak at the San Diego Democratic Convention later on; that further solidified my support. I have been a steadfast volunteer and staunch supporter ever since and I wouldn't ever think of going back.

Tell us your story at www.women.barackobama.com.

A better world: Obama's foreign policy vision

Olivia M. — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:27:24 EDT

Yesterday Barack spoke at DePaul University to mark the 5th anniversary of his speech opposing the impending war in Iraq. After asserting the need to end the war – and the significance of Congress’s vote to authorize it - the Senator turned to the future: what foreign policy would look like in an Obama Administration.

Senator Obama laid out a vision that includes:

Ending the war in Iraq
Ensuring there is no safe haven for Al Qaeda
Securing loose nuclear material and renewing our efforts towards eliminating nuclear weapons and stopping the threat of nuclear terrorism
Talking directly to friend and foe
Strengthening the State Department to make diplomacy a priority
Reversing Washington's reliance on secrecy by establishing a National Declassification Center
Getting politics out of intelligence by giving the Director of National Intelligence a fixed term
Uniting America behind a non-partisan foreign policy

One of the women in the audience during his speech, Rev. Willie Barrow, Chair of the Board emeritus of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, had this to say afterwards:

"I see Obama as a man. As a Christian man, as a husband man, as a father man, as a community man, as a man for THIS time. I see Obama as the man with the judgment not only to take us out of this menacing time but to ensure we stay out of it for years upon end. I see the torch being passed to him. I see him nurturing the flame. I see him being a leader rekindling the fire in America’s youth. I see him creating a new generation. A generation worthy of him passing the torch to, along with his judgment and ideals.

I see Obama as the man who is ready to reestablish our diplomatic ties with the world. Obama is a man of culture. He is a smart, resourceful, adaptable man. A man capable of promoting and maintaining peace inside and outside of the United States. A man with a realistic solution not just a political one.

Obama is a man with a vision. He is a man who wants his vision to be seen and shared with his community and the world. He is a man who will unequivocally fight for us with his wit and his candor. I see him as the one to reconnect us all. “We are not so much divided as we are disconnected.”"

Rev. Barrow

New Hampshire Women for Obama are Ready to Go!

Olivia M. — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:26:50 EDT

We got these terrific pictures and note from Jaime, a New Hampshire Woman for Obama

"I wanted to share two pictures from Saturday's town hall meeting in Concord. My parents were visiting from New York and came with me - they left with a new understanding of NH politics and huge appreciation for Senator Obama.

I have shared the first picture with *lots* of mothers and all of them have commented on how his love for children is obvious and it's no wonder he is passionate about fighting for women and families. (You'd laugh if I told you how many of them analyzed it, i.e. "look at the way he is gently touching her head"- ahh, mothers:) Anyway, I thought you would enjoy them...Jaime"

Here's an exciting update from the New Hampshire Team:

Senator Barack Obama's New Hampshire campaign today announced the leadership of New Hampshire Women for Obama. The state co-chairs, steering committee, and county co-chairs—comprising State Representatives, activists, and local community leaders—will advise the campaign on women's and family issues, host events across the state, and lead organizing efforts among the thousands of women supporting Obama in New Hampshire.

"New Hampshire women are so excited about Obama because he understands the challenges that today's women face," State Co-Chair Ann McLane Kuster said. "As a community organizer working with families, as the son of a single mother, and now as the father of two young daughters, he knows from personal experience that it's not enough to encourage women to dream big—we have to give women the resources they need to achieve those dreams."

State Co-Chairs

Ann McLane Kuster – Director of Rath, Young, & Pignatelli's Education and Non-Profit Law Practice Group

Peggo Horstmann Hodes – renowned vocalist and educator

State Steering Committee

Joan Reische – Board member of Women in Transition and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Wendy Frosh – Board Chair of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
Babette Rittmeyer – Political activist
Rebecca Hutchinson – Policy Staff for New Hampshire House Majority Office
Alison Dickey – Director of the Art Reference Library
Betsey Neville – Founder and past chair of NARAL-NH
Tracy Hahn-Burkett – Author of parenting blog, www.UnchartedParent.com
Sen. Martha Fuller-Clark – State Senator
Brenda MacLellan – Special education teacher
Carol Moore – Mental health therapist
Ellie Gordon – N.H. Legal Assistance attorney
Gerri King, Ph.D. – Social psychologist
Mary Rauh – Member of Planned Parenthood Federation of America national task force
Patricia Ayers – Board member and former Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire
Ronni Wise – Attorney at the firm of Sulloway and Hollis
Sally Helms – Political activist
Rita Bowlby – Vice President-Corporate Affairs at the United Illuminating Company
Christy Day – English teacher
Kate Hanna – Partner at the law firm of Sheehan, Phinney, Bass, & Green
Rep. Cindy Rosenwald – State Representative
Dianne Duncan – Law student
Beth Moore – Elementary and middle school social worker and mental health therapist
Beth Rodd – Child advocate and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer
Bradford, NH

Tomorrow's Anniversary

Olivia M. — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:30:24 EDT

Today, most Americans will tell you invading Iraq was a mistake. Five years ago, though, the situation was very different, and few people in the public arena were questioning George Bush’s case for war.

Barack was one of the few who had the judgment and integrity to oppose the war from the start. On October 2, 2002, he addressed a rally and explained why, in his judgment, the invasion was wrong.

Marilyn K. and Bettylu S. initiated that rally, put on by Chicagoans Against War and Injustice (a group they organized and which today continues to organize for an end to the war). On the eve of the five year anniversary of Barack’s high-profile stand against the war, Marilyn shares with us a personal perspective on that rally, Barack’s speech, and the significance of both.

The lesson of Marilyn’s story? Barack will speak honestly and lead forcefully; but it will take a movement of committed citizens to effect real change.

Marilyn writes:

On October 2, 2002 Barack Obama came out against the impending invasion of Iraq. Came out against the impending war at a moment when it was virtually unheard of for any political leader to come out against any policy of the then-popular president. Came out against the war, calling it unfounded, rash and dumb, at a time when virtually all politicians, including Senators Clinton and Edwards, all media outlets, including the venerable New York Times, were marching lock-step with Bush towards the abyss of war.

Barack’s words were prescient and memorable:

“I don’t oppose all wars...What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war....You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn’t simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil. Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair. The consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable. We may have occasion in our lifetime to once again rise up in defense of our freedom, and pay the wages of war. But we ought not – we will not – travel down that hellish path blindly.”  (LINK to speech).
Barack’s presence as the most senior elected official at a large, public rally against the war made him a hero to what was to become a massive anti-war movement, In Barack’s words and presence, people saw a leader willing to speak truth to power, to speak from his convictions, not political convenience. A leader they could believe.
But October 2nd 2002 is also about something else -- the power of ordinary American citizens.   The rally in Chicago five years ago was not organized by a politician or a recognized political force. It was organized by a loose group of friends – veterans of the women’s movement, the student movement, the civil rights movement -- who were alarmed by the prospect of what we considered an unwise and unfounded march to war.
We had no assurance that anyone would come but we agreed that: “ If we were five, we would be five. If we were without any elected officials, we would be an involved citizenry. But we would take a stand.”
We were not alone. Instead of five, nearly 3,000 people assembled in Chicago's Federal Plaza on October 2nd 2002. People of all races and ages; long time activists and those who’d never demonstrated before, united in their willingness to stop the drive to war and reclaim the right of dissent.
Our rally on October 2nd didn’t stop the war. But it asserted the public right to dissent -- and helped pave the way for the taking back of our nation by the American people.   By January of 2003 hundreds of thousands of Americans felt the freedom to demonstrate against Bush’s war. By March of that year 195 cities representing 23 million Americans had come out in opposition to the war and, while their sentiment did not prevail, and sitting senators, like Clinton and Edwards, continued to support Bush’s folly, the truth put forth on October 2nd by citizen activists and Barack Obama steadily gained credence.
Yes, October 2nd 2002 is the day Barack Obama took a stand against a terrible war. But equally important, to Barack, to the future of the nation, it is the day – like many days that constitute the history of this nation – when Americans asserted their determination and right to speak truth to power and act to return the nation to the course of justice and fairness wherein its past and future greatness must lie.

Barack speaks about justice

Olivia M. — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:26:21 EDT

Barack spoke to law students just starting at Howard University today, and discussed what changes he would make as President to the U.S. justice system.

First, Barack will rid the Justice Department of ideologues and political cronies, and for the first time in eight years, the Civil Rights Division will actually be staffed with civil rights lawyers who prosecute civil rights violations, and employment discrimination, and hate crimes.

Second, he will work every day to ensure that this country has a criminal justice system that inspires trust in every American, regardless of age, or race, or background. There’s no reason that every single person accused of a crime shouldn’t have a qualified public attorney to defend them. We’ll recruit more public defenders to the profession by forgiving college and law school loans.

Third, he will make sure we have a crime policy that’s both tough and smart.

Liz W. in Washington attended the event and shared this:

The toughest ticket to get in town today was to the Howard University Opening Convocation at Cramton Auditorium. Scores of students, faculty and friends of the Obama Campaign lined up to see and hear the featured speaker, Sen. Barack Obama. The enthusiasm of these young people was palpable as they waited in line. Most impressive were the line of black-suited young women who arrived for the speech en masse.

Before a packed house that included actor Lou Gosset, U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings and San Francisco District Attorney and Howard graduate (and Chair of California Women for Obama) Kamala Harris, the president of Howard University bestowed a honorary juris doctorate upon Sen. Obama, who joked “if he knew it was this easy, he would have gotten his doctorate this way the first time.”

Meet the newest Doctor of Law from Howard University

When a speaker and his audience understand each other you can feel and hear a connection and a response. Sen. Obama had this today with a very vocal and enthusiastic crowd. He spoke of Dr. King, Birmingham and Little Rock. He brought them from there straight to Katrina, New Orleans and Jena. These students knew their history, they know their present and they clearly want to be a important part of the future.

Sen. Obama spoke to them about how he with their help will address the inequities in the justice system, work to end black on black violence, build community and support teachers.

Howard University sent many students down to Jena, LA last week to protest the inequalities many African Americans, especially young African Americans face in the American justice system. So when the Senator spoke of how he believes that America needs to face this problem by reforming sentencing and banning racial profiling, the audience responded with heartfelt applause.

As a former law professor, Sen. Obama understands how crucial the most basic right of voting is for not only black Americans, but all Americans. He spoke of how revitalizing the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department can bring a new focus and drive to that Department's efforts to prosecute social wrongs, especially voting fraud.

Obama ended his appearance to a standing ovation and cheers.

Meet Antrelle, a graduate student at the Howard University School of Social Work

Antrelle, a Georgia native, was admittedly wavering between Sen.

Clinton and Sen. Obama. After today, she is a Woman for Obama.

Antrelle said she is impressed with the Senator's point of view and compelling outlook. She said that Sen. Obama's visit to the University and speaking directly to the students meant a lot to her.

Antrelle was impressed by the Senator's views on justice, family and the role of young people in America. Furthermore, Antrelle is proud of the example Sen. Obama sets as a strong black leader.

Why Alfre Woodard is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:31:09 EDT

“We have a chance to be more American than we have ever been.”

Alfre Woodard is an extraordinary woman. That is the first thing that hits you when she starts talking about why she is a Woman for Obama. She is thoughtful, eloquent, passionate, idealistic, realistic, sensitive and Hell-bent on seeing this man elected president.

Alfre spent an afternoon in Chicago yesterday getting women fired up for the Obama campaign. She spent some time planning outreach opportunities with campaign staff, encouraging the team to work their hearts out for “someone who respects, honors and understands us”.

It is just plain comfortable to be in Alfre’s presence. At first you might think she feels so familiar because you have seen her in movies and television, from St. Elsewhere to Grand Canyon to Beauty Shop to Desperate Housewives. Later you realize it’s because, like our sisters and closest girlfriends, she is interested in honest conversation, and anything that gets in its way seems to fall by the wayside.

Alfre describes herself as a child of the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements, a beneficiary of the change they wrought; as she puts it, “I got to walk through the doors they opened.”

She grew up in a strong, vibrant African American community in Tulsa, OK. Her parents were from a rural part of the country and were rooted in the lessons of subsistence farming: “the land is a great equalizer”. While their pragmatism instilled a sense of practicality in her, it didn’t dim her idealistic view of America and our founding. She says of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and Bill of Rights, “I believed all the stuff you were taught…that great men wrote these inspired documents and we have been trying to live up to them ever since.”

Alfre describes herself as a Yellow Dog Democrat who is “tired of the yellow dog. Now we have a visionary, a real leader.” She touts Barack’s experience as a grassroots organizer and his ability to see people, to “get” them.

“I’m doing this because it is possible,” Alfre says. And because she knows we each have an obligation to do what it takes to realize that possibility. “He stands up and speaks the truth; that’s all he can do. It is up to us to stand with him.”

Referring back to the “inspired documents” that laid the foundation of our nation she says, “We can jump further into what those documents are about with this candidate. We can manifest the promise of this country. We have a chance to be more American than we have ever been.”

Why Nicole LeFavour is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:18:18 EDT

Nicole LeFavour serves in the Idaho state legislature. This week she took some time to tell us what matters to her, and why she supports Barack. Please take a few minutes to tell us why YOU are a woman for Obama at www.women.barackobama.com.

Nicole at her home in Boise with her partner Carol

Nicole writes:

Every week people ask me why I support Barack Obama.

Like many, I first saw Barack on television at the Democratic convention. Democracy for America endorsed both of us the same week in our races, his for U.S. Senate and me in my successful run for Idaho State Legislature. I remember how deeply honored I was to be in his company.

As a woman from a rural state, I know many of us worry about family farms, about growth and development in the West and the loss of farm lands and the quiet places we’ve visited since we were kids. Small farms and other small businesses face some tough obstacles.

Western economies suffer as small businesses struggle to offer health insurance and families without it long for the security of knowing they can go to a doctor when they need it. Even those of us who are insured worry at the uncertainty of whether our insurance company will pay when we get cancer or have a serious accident. As a woman from the West I long for a president like Barack Obama who is not tied monetarily to insurers and drug companies. Senator Obama is better positioned to assert himself to end this era where families fight for coverage of illnesses and treatments exempted somewhere in tiny print. Our nation will never prosper under the uncertainty of our current health system. We need strong leadership and someone who can build consensus and move policy to solve this problem.

Energy independence weighs heavy on my mind. Heating costs are breaking families. My family is lucky enough to have a wood stove which we use to supplement our gas heat when air quality is not an issue. One role of a President is leadership to end our unnecessary dependence on fossil fuels. A president should be independent of oil companies and not tied by campaign contributions to those same companies which have conspired and gouged our nation into debt and war.

Senator Obama has pledged to work hard to end our dependence on fossil fuels and invest in the kind of research which can lead our nation out of our current energy quagmire. We have made great progress in wind, wave and solar generation but still lack the investment to test some of these advances on a large scale. Unlike other candidates, Senator Obama is not relying on oil companies to fund his campaign. Because he has no ties to these industries and because he is so persuasive and intelligent, I trust him to lead our nation away from the foolish greed which has cut research into alternative energy in favor of more spending on oil, gas and coal. We have waited too long for real energy security.

Why Alfre Woodard is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:25:43 EDT

“We have a chance to be more American than we have ever been.”

Alfre describes herself as a child of the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements, a beneficiary of the change they wrought; as she puts it, “I got to walk through the doors they opened.”

Listening to women on foreign policy

Olivia M. — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:23:10 EDT

"As I continue to flesh out my policy agenda to change America, I want my senior advisers to get advice and insight from people in the Heartland - not Washington special interests. Our campaign is building a grassroots movement for change, and I don't just want Iowans' support - I want their ideas." Barack Obama

The Obama campaign has been holding policy roundtables on various subjects (we posted previously about meetings Judy Gold, Chairwoman for the Women for Obama Policy Advisory Group, held with Iowans earlier this month). Foreign policy guru Samantha Power (a Pulitzer prize winner and top Barack top advisor on foreign policy) recently travelled to Iowa for a listening tour on Barack’s behalf.

As reported, Samantha told people, "When it comes to foreign policy, Obama likes unlike minded people in the room, who are willing to spar over foreign policy. This is how he figures out where he is. He doesn't listen for the political winds to tell him what to do. It's incredibly refreshing to see somebody who welcomes that interrogation of his own ideas without feeling paralyzed, opposed to like-minded people who make bad decisions, because they've opted out contrary view points."

Read more about Samantha's meetings in Iowa HERE and HERE.

Barack’s reasoned approach to foreign policy will bring an enormous change to our country – and the world. He had the judgment and integrity to oppose the war in Iraq before it was waged. Here are the reasons some of you have given for your own opposition to the war in Iraq:

Maggie W, Westfield, MA:

I have a brother and nearly a dozen friends who have become veterans of the Iraq war, all of them under 25. Most of these people joined for many reasons, but foremost on the list is the fact that they needed to pay for school somehow. Nearly all of these people went to Vocational High School, where students are less likely to attend college after graduating. My generation is stuck between the impossibly high cost of (even public) college education and the lower middle class status that either forces them to dig themselves decades into debt with school loans or join the armed forces. Desperation should not be the primary reason for joining the military.

Krista C, Austin, TX:

As a former conservative voter, I remember the good ole' days when I used to vote a straight Republican ticket…I now have to admit that I simply was not making informed decisions, even though I had the best intentions. After more than four years of a disastrous War in Iraq, that has only spawned more extremism, due to our own inept government's irresponsibly linking Iraq with 9/11, it has become clearer to me that I must seek out a candidate for President that already had some clue why going into Iraq was wrong for America BEFORE she invaded.

I'm sure it was difficult for him to go against the status quo in time of being attacked, and I know he must have taken heat for that stance. It simply took a person who could see beyond the borders of this country, and Obama did this with clarity and an understanding of what really is in the best interest of America. The future of our nation depends on a leader such as him, and I do not think there is a single credible candidate on the platform excepting him.

Stephanie B, Pooler, GA:

I know what it feels like to be an American soldier and to miss home with such a great force that it is in your every waking thought and breath. All day you fantasize about what you are going to eat, what you are going to do, and most of all who you are going to hold in your arms.

When I got back from Iraq, my husband and I were soon expecting our first child. When I was 7 months pregnant he left for Iraq. August makes it a year the he has been fighting this war. I miss him terribly and our son will be a year old before he comes home. Eighteen months in a long time to be apart. The worst thing is that our soldiers are dying in this “war” every day. These are our brothers, husbands, fathers, friends, sisters, wives, mothers and everything in-between.

Why Naomi is another Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:29:04 EDT

Hundreds of women have shared with us their personal stories and how their life experiences have shaped their reasons for being a “Woman for Obama”. To add your voice, and to meet more women for Obama, visit www.women.barackobama.com and “Tell Us Why You’re a Woman for Obama”.

This week we hear from Naomi, a community organizer in North Texas who chairs the board of her local Planned Parenthood affiliate. This summer Naomi was part of a team of women who put together policy ideas for a speech Barack gave on reproductive rights. She was proud of the strong thinking produced by the policy team, and impressed by the way Barack took their information and perspectives into consideration and put his own stamp on it. She was also proud of the results: Planned Parenthood Federation of America posted his speech, along with the other candidates', on their website, and held an online straw poll. Barack won.

Naomi has two sons, one in 4th one in 5th grade. "The most important reason I am supporting Barack Obama is that I still believe that one person can change the world," she says. "I want my boys to understand that too – I know that when Barack Obama is President, we will all see how one person can make the world a much better place. I would be so proud to be a tiny part of that."

Naomi has never worked on a presidential campaign before, and wasn't planning to this time. She explains, "I can only work for a candidate I believe in. I need to feel inspired and I certainly feel inspired by Senator Obama. I cannot believe that we finally have a candidate who makes sense – who is smart, practical and has compassion and empathy for people. Having the right ideas is not enough – our next president must be able to inspire people to work to change. He must call on our sense of duty and our sense of responsibility for the common good. I know that Barack can do that."

We asked Naomi to write about why she was a Woman for Obama; this is what she shared with us:

"I have been asked this question too many times to count – Why would you, someone to whom women's issues are clearly very important, support Barack Obama? Why, when we finally have the chance to elect a woman President, are you supporting Barack Obama? I am supporting Barack Obama because this election isn't just about me. This election is about the future of our country and maybe even the world. The United States has lost its way so profoundly that I was unsure we would ever find our way back.
Senator Obama gives me hope that we can find our way again. Senator Obama has the vision, the leadership, intelligence, wisdom and the ability to unify our country – to pull us back together so we can all go forward. Most importantly, he has the empathy needed to properly address the enormous problems we are facing. Our country needs someone who can inspire all of us. Senator Obama is that leader."

Why Naomi is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:35:45 EDT

We asked Naomi to write about why she was a Woman for Obama; this is what she shared with us:

"I have been asked this question too many times to count – Why would you, someone to whom women's issues are clearly very important, support Barack Obama? Why, when we finally have the chance to elect a woman President, are you supporting Barack Obama? I am supporting Barack Obama because this election isn't just about me. This election is about the future of our country and maybe even the world. The United States has lost its way so profoundly that I was unsure we would ever find our way back. Senator Obama gives me hope that we can find our way again. Senator Obama has the vision, the leadership, intelligence, wisdom and the ability to unify our country – to pull us back together so we can all go forward. Most importantly, he has the empathy needed to properly address the enormous problems we are facing. Our country needs someone who can inspire all of us. Senator Obama is that leader."

Why Annie is a Woman for Obama

Olivia M. — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:23:14 EDT

Annie lives in Hopkinton, a small town in New Hampshire, and works in Concord. She is a lawyer and mom to two boys, the older of whom is starting college this fall. On top of that she finds time to co-chair NH Women for Obama. She makes time for WFO because it’s important, in her words, “for all our futures”. She says, laughing, that she has a busy life.

Annie describes NH WFO as “fired up!” They have co-chairs in every county. When they gather in homes, in groups of 10 or 20, they start their meetings by talking about how they made the decision to support Barack. She keeps coming back to this point: how compelling it is to hear women, many of whom have waited all their lives for a woman president, talk clearly, rationally and passionately about their support for Barack.

Annie has been involved in politics in NH for nearly 40 years, and says this is the most energy she has seen around a candidate…well, ever. She tells me, “What I love about this campaign is it is very substantive. Childcare advocates, domestic violence advocates, they are all so enthusiastic when they come on board because there is a huge distinction between the Obama campaign and the other campaigns – the Obama campaign wants real input.”

Here’s what Annie says when it’s her turn to share why she is a Woman for Obama:

I support Barack Obama for President because I am inspired by his life experience and by his vision for our future. I first heard Barack speak when I was in the New Hampshire delegation to the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. I knew, right then and there, that he would inspire the next generation of political leadership in America and I wanted to be part of his campaign for President when the time came.
Last fall, I read both of his books, starting with his extraordinary biography, "Dreams of my Father," and then his new book, "The Audacity of Hope." When I met Barack in Manchester in December, I felt as though I had known him for years. Honestly, I have never met anyone more comfortable in his own skin. He is relaxed, gracious, bright and engaging.
In January, I had the amazing opportunity to campaign with Barack for two hours on Main Street in Concord. Barack talked one-on-one with over 100 hundred New Hampshire voters and he connected with each and every one of them. He listened and engaged with them about literally dozens of issues, from peace in Iraq, alternative energy, cleaning up the environment, to reproductive rights, access to health care, AIDS in Africa, and the conflict in Darfur.
I was impressed with the depth and breadth of his knowledge and the careful reasoning of his responses. But most of all, I was impressed by his energy, enthusiasm and engagement with every voter, not just the elected officials, but the teachers, waitresses and even the "man on the street." He spent five minutes of his busy day talking with one fellow who was down on his luck about finding a job and moving out of the homeless shelter. I am convinced that Barack Obama is the right leader to bring about peace in the world and to restore the image of America around the globe.

Add your voice to the Women for Obama site

Olivia M. — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:46:58 EDT

The official Women for Obama web site (www.women.barackobama.com) is adding new content daily, including profiles of supporters, essays from women who have written in to explain what made them decide to be a “woman for Obama”, coverage of events (like the fantastic San Francisco kick off of California Women for Obama last week) and a weekly column from syndicated humorist Lisa Earle McLeod. When you visit the site, be sure to comment on the blog posts, let us know what else you’d like to see there, and take a few minutes to share why you’re a woman for Obama (it won’t be used for a public profile without your permission). Spread the word!

Thanks, Olivia M.

Listening to Women in Iowa

Olivia M. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:31:12 EDT

Judy Gold, who served as chief of policy for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and chairwoman of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women, and is now the Chairwoman for the Women for Obama Policy Advisory Group, went on a "listening tour" in Iowa last week, meeting with groups of local women to discuss Barack's record and policy positions and to take their interests, ideas and concerns back to Chicago campaign headquarters. Read HERE for more, and comment below to be part of a virtual listening tour.

Judy says of her trip to Iowa:

There is so much at stake in this election and I feel that Barack is the best candidate to unite the country. My visit to Iowa reinforced this belief because I heard from supporters who were seemingly very different but were brought together by their common concerns and beliefs - I heard from Republican women and college-aged women and retired women and professional women and I heard a common refrain: "we need to win", "we need to end this war" and "we believe in Barack".

Barack on NPR to discuss Iraq plan

Olivia M. — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:30:19 EDT

This evening the Senator will talk with Michele Norris of NPR’s All Things Considered about his Iraq plan. The interview will air on the show at 5:00pm CST. Also, the interview will be available to listen to online at 6:00pm CST, on the show’s website:LINK

CA Women for Obama: Ready to Go!

Olivia M. — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:06:40 EDT

By all accounts, yesterday's Women for Obama California kick-off was energetic and inspiring - just what our California team needs to fire them up for the work ahead.

Here are some glimpses into the event, and the women who were part of it:

"My Facebook is already all about Barack," bragged supporter Ellen. "I've been an enthusiastic supporter for years and years. I'm always looking for ways to get more people involved."

Beverly F. brought with her two ministers from Stockton, who were on their feet cheering throughout the event.

"Why Barack Obama?" asked Pauline, a campaign volunteer and event attendee. "The biggest thing is his position against the war in Iraq."

An Orinda mother from a military family (with a son just back from Afghanistan) said she thought she'd be with the woman candidate, but Iraq, and Obama's unique ability to bring the country together, inspired her to arrive at the 12 noon event at 9 am .. now she plans to organize women in Contra Costa county.

Another attendee reported, "It seemed there were a million standing ovations…and on the walk back to BART [Bay Area Rapid Transit], everyone was high-fiving for Obama, and on the BART platform women were waving their Obama 08 signs."

Lauren Paige shared her experience this way:

Barack Obama: "FIRED UP"
California Women for Obama: "READY TO GO!"

San Francisco's Phil Graham Auditorium came alive Friday as Barack Obama brought thousands of Californians to their feet again and again with his message of hope, unity and change.

Hearing from Barack and the women who shared the stage with him - a stage so rich with diversity that it is a true testament to the incredibly broad-based appeal of this campaign -- I couldn't help but be inspired again by what Women for Obama is all about.

Kim Mack brought us all to tears telling the story of her 23-year old son, a medic in Iraq, and how she has dedicated countless hours to leading Sacramento for Obama because "Senator Obama understands and will protect our most precious resource - our children -- he will not send them into an unjust war."

Julie Lythcott-Haims said "Barack is who we've been waiting for" before leading the audience in a rousing cheer of "Obama 0-8" (complete with hand movements and rounds of chanting between the floor and balcony sections like in chorus class).

SEIU organizer Rosa Cabrera, the daughter of farmworkers, said that "hoping Barack gets elected is not enough -- we have to get involved."

And then there was Barack, "the face of Women for Obama" as he was introduced when he came on stage, telling the story of his candidacy. How his experience tells him that real change comes by working together to get things done. How we're not just here to win an election - we're here to transform a nation. How it's not "who we are as Americans" when there's a health care system so broken that when his mother died from ovarian cancer in the prime of her life he had to watch her be more concerned with her finances than her health. How even though the pundits call him a "hope-monger" and a "hope-peddler," that he's "guilty as charged" and is unabashedly hopeful about this country.

Standing in a room surrounded by thousands of my fellow California Women for Obama on their feet yelling back as loud as they could "READY TO GO!" to Barack's prompt of "Are you fired up? Are you ready to take back our country?" -- I couldn't help but feel that hope too.

California Report: Women for Obama, Women for Change

Olivia M. — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:01:34 EDT

In San Francisco right now thousands of community activists, grassroots organizers, and women from every walk of life have gathered to hear Barack talk about the challenges our country faces, its enormous potential for greatness, and what we can do to transform political hopes into reality.

Reports from the event tell of a room "packed" with a "riveted audience", "high energy" and a stage filled with "amazing women". (the campaign press release on the kick off, including comments from Barack and the California Women for Obama Co-Chairs, is in the extended post below)

Carla Marinucci writes about the campaign's outreach to women in today's San Francisco Chronicle. Some of the highlights:

"But with five months to go before the Feb. 5 California primary, Obama's backers say he is not conceding the women's vote to Clinton - in California or elsewhere - and intends to fight aggressively to make the case that he is the best candidate to represent women's issues.

In California, the 46-year-old first-term senator has chosen two formidable women who are local elected officials to head up his effort to female voters - San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, the city's first female lead prosecutor, and Los Angeles city Controller Laura Chick, the only female elected to citywide office in the state's biggest urban area.

Harris said Obama has shown "a proven commitment to women and women's issues. ... He's pro-choice, pro-public education and pro-immigrant."

Chick said she carefully - sometimes painfully - weighed whether she should support Clinton as another step in the longtime advocacy for women's rights.

"As a woman, I certainly went through that contemplation - in terms of looking at what impact it would have on young women for generations. ... I can't argue with that," Chick said. "It's huge, and it certainly pulls at my heart and my soul."

But while Clinton is "an outstanding candidate for president," being a woman isn't the only factor female voters must consider, Chick said. "I am hungry for a hero and someone to inspire me at the very core of my being, as a woman and as a human being. And that's what Barack Obama has done for me."

Chick, the Los Angeles controller, said many women are "tired of hearing about women's issues - because I believe our issues are human issues, universal issues."

"Half of the kids we bear are boys," she said. "Women's issues are everybody's issues - and I believe that Barack, as a candidate, speaks to all of these issues equally as well as Hillary."

Tomorrow night Oprah Winfrey hosts a dinner for Barack in southern California. According to the Washington Post, she may also be helping the campaign in other ways this fall. Explaining on Gayle King's radio show her decision to come out strongly for Barack she said, "it's no small thing for me. . . . I'm really not a political person. I believe that he offers a fresh opportunity of hope for America. So that's why I'm in it. I probably won't ever be in it again."

Kim in California tells us why she is rallying for Barack

Olivia M. — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 11:05:04 EDT

Tomorrow California Women for Obama will kick off their activities in a big way. Community leaders, grassroots activists, and other women from across the state will come together in San Francisco to hear Barack speak, cheer him on, and raise money for the campaign.

One of the women who will welcome Barack in San Francisco tomorrow is Kimberly Mack, who has spent the spring and summer tirelessly recruiting and organizing supporters in Sacramento. Kim first got involved in politics 15 years ago, when a local family planning clinic was burned down three times and she knew she had to make a stand.

Kim feels that Barack is "like the neighbor you know you can count on to help when things are bad" and shares with us her reasons for working to elect Barack President:

I am a feminist, daughter, sister, wife, woman and, most importantly, a mother. I believe that it is my responsibility to leave behind a world in which my son has more opportunities and more advantages than I have had, and that my future grandchildren have the hopes and dreams of an even better life.

My son is a 23-year-old medic in the US Army and has been stationed in Balad, Iraq since October 2006. When I met Senator Obama on Saint Patrick's Day in Oakland, he shook my hand and thanked me for volunteering at the rally. I responded, "Thank you for working so hard to bring my son home from Iraq." When it registered what I had said the look in his eyes caught my attention - there was sympathy and understanding in his eyes, and there was pain.

That touched me to the point that I knew, as a woman and as a mother, Senator Obama identified with what was more important than anything in the world to me and that he will protect our most valuable resource - our children. That he will never send our children into an unjust war. It was at that moment that I committed to do everything I could to get Barack Obama elected as the next President of the United States.

Yes, I love the Senator's position on choice, his position on keeping the environment clean and safe. I love that it is a priority for him that all of us have health care - that we don't have to fear getting sick or make choices between food and medication under an Obama health care plan. I love that Barack Obama knows that education of our children is a huge key to the success of our country and will work hard to give them all the advantages possible. I am always impressed by the Senator's strong sense of family - his commitment to promoting parent involvement and keeping the father involved.

The Senator's positions on promoting pay equity for women, investing in women-owned small businesses, protecting Title IX, and strengthening domestic violence laws are all strong positions and all positions that I stand behind 100%. But, at the end of the day, it is all about my son - my wonderful boy. I want him home and I want him safe and I never want another mother to go through what I and thousands have gone through by having our children in harm's way in an unjust situation.

Senator Barack Obama is the candidate for President who has always been against sending my child into an unjust war, into harm's way, and he has stood by that from beginning to end and that is why I am standing by him.

Equality

Olivia M. — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:14:43 EDT

Earlier today Barack sent an e-mail urging us to recognize Women's Equality Day this Sunday -- the 87th anniversary of women's gaining the right to vote -- by taking our country's political future into our own hands and asking our friends and sisters to become a part of this movement for change.

He encouraged supporters to join Women for Obama, to participate in an effort to mobilize women across the country. Now we'd like to ask you to help us make this site an effective tool for reaching women and helping them come to know who Barack is and how he would lead the country. After reading Barack's message, please take a minute to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section -- and invite another woman to do the same.

From Barack:

When real change happens in this country, it always comes from the bottom up.

This Sunday we celebrate the anniversary of a time when women came together and made America live up to its promise of equality. Women's Equality Day marks 87 years since the Constitution was amended to ensure that women have the sacred right to vote.

I'm proud that our campaign has been powered by the activism and passion of so many women.

It's time to usher in a new era of sweeping change in this country, and your efforts are essential in building a movement to support it. Take this campaign into your own hands and ask a woman you know to join our cause:

http://women.barackobama.com/wfoequality

Like all hard-won freedoms, the victories of the women's suffrage movement deserve to be celebrated. But they also call upon us for something more.

Bound together with the right to vote is a responsibility to participate fully in our system of government.

Women for Obama is reaching out to communities of women who do not vote -- women who have grown cynical about our politics; women who have lost faith in the ability of our elected leaders to address their concerns; and women who are tired of the deceptive practices and other obstacles that have prevented far too many from exercising their right to vote.

We are organizing voter registration, education, and mobilization efforts across the country to help women protect their rights and make sure their voices are heard.

Please join us in these efforts, and take a minute to invite the women you know to be a part of Women for Obama:

http://women.barackobama.com/wfoequality

When I think about the strength of the women in my life, it's hard to imagine that our society ever considered them less than equal.

These amazing women raised me, educated me, and taught me what it means to be an American. Their generosity and passion for helping others is what inspired me to enter public service.

But the fact is, women are still fighting for equality -- women are still fighting for equal pay for an equal day's work. Women are still fighting for the support they need to be good workers and good parents at the same time. It's up to all of us to continue that fight and to honor the achievements of those who fought before us.

Make sure your friends know that this Sunday is Women's Equality Day.

Ask them to honor the efforts and sacrifices of generation after generation of strong women. And invite them to join you in working with Women for Obama:

http://women.barackobama.com/wfocequality

Thank you for your support,

Barack Obama

Barack Keeps Working to Keep Kids Safe from Lead

Olivia M. — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:15:00 EDT

Everyone from NPR to CNN to FOX has been reporting lately on the danger posed to children by lead, spurred by the recall of toys from China made with lead. It’s a topic worth paying attention to: elevated blood lead levels can cause irreversible damage to children’s developing brains, and needlessly affects hundreds of thousands of children.

Barack has been pushing the federal government for improvements on lead safety since he first came to Washington. In 2005 he called on Congress to pass legislation that would ban the sale of children's toys containing lead in time for the holiday season. In 2006 he introduced a bill to require all child care facilities that are outside of the home to be certified lead safe in five years. Through legislative amendment and a hold on the confirmation of a Bush appointee, he has repeatedly (and successfully) pressured the EPA to move on regulations relating to the dispersal of lead paint by contractors during home remodeling (In 1992 Congress directed EPA to issue these regulations by 1996; when Barack arrived in Washington over a decade later it still hadn’t been done).

Yesterday Barack sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to do everything possible to protect our children from toys contaminated with lead and to immediately nominate a chairman to the Consumer Product Safety Commission who will be a forceful advocate for the interests of American parents. Barack also sent a letter U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Susan Schwab, urging her to take aggressive action to protect America’s children from toys containing harmful levels of lead that are imported from China. Barack writes:

If we have an opportunity to protect our nation’s most vulnerable population – our children – from harmful toxins, we should do so, and a good place to start is safeguarding their toys. Since the U.S. Trade Representative is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policy and overseeing negotiations with other countries, I am interested in the following:

Given the large number of toys imported from China with high lead levels, has USTR raised concerns about this issue with the Chinese government? If so, what is the response of the Chinese government to these concerns?

If these concerns have not been raised with the Chinese government, does USTR intend to raid this issue in the near future?

Throughout his career Barack has always been a strong advocate for protecting our nation’s children. Maybe because of his experience organizing for safe housing on Chicago’s South Side, he has been a smart and committed advocate of lead safety for years – long before it was headline news.

Michelle Tells Chicago Women “We need you to lift us up”

Olivia M. — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:05:35 EDT

“People young and old are ready to see how good we can be,” Maye, Chicago

Michelle enlisted women on Chicago’s South Side in the Women for Obama campaign effort yesterday, telling hundreds of enthusiastic listeners, “We need you to hold us up, lift us up. I need you rooting for me sisters!”

The crowd was responsive, drinking in everything she said. She talked about the primaries and caucuses and what women who don’t live in Iowa or other “early states” can do to help Barack win:

“You all have 20 friends who aren’t registered to vote…Pick up the phone. If it’s a dollar or a vote you need to do it.”

Her words resonated. Sandra told us afterward, “I was overwhelmed with Michelle. I want to volunteer and do whatever I can.”

And Maye explained what she thought was most significant about about Barack’s campaign by saying, “People young and old are ready to see how good we can be."

”

Michelle was forceful, direct and honest. As she wound down she assured the crowd that the Obama’s are not just trying to win the presidency, they are trying to transform the country for the better, and they will always remember who they are working for – and why.

“If we can’t do this without effecting fundamental change, it is not worth it. If we can’t do this and be who we are, it is not worth it.”

The women thronging in front of the stage yesterday knew Michelle meant it.

Barack rallies Nevada

Olivia M. — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:45:26 EDT

Ertharin Cousin, a member of the Obama for American team, sends us this report from community events Barack attended at a high school in Nevada yesterday:

Barack's motorcade drove unto the grounds of Rancho High School met only by silence. The 100 degree Las Vegas heat meant no one was standing around outside. School here doesn't begin until August 27, when this picturesque campus -- built to teach 2,400, with windowless classroom trailers scattered everywhere -- will again enroll 3,700 students.

Inside the building, though, the excitement was palpable. The Assistant Principal told us that 80% percent of her students come from Spanish speaking homes and in fact last year 800 of her students spoke no English at the start of school year. The overcrowding in her school resulted in not only many of the students being taught in windowless trailers but left 12 teachers without home classrooms, carrying all their materials in rolling carts from class to class. She also proudly noted that one of her students received a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT.

Barack then walked into a small conference room crowded with over 150 screaming and cheering Las Vegas area precinct workers. Wow! He spoke to the group about the importance of their work. He told them that, because this is the first time Nevada will hold a caucus this large, they must educate their neighbors and their communities about the difference between participating in the caucus and casting a ballot. He told these workers that they must help educate people about the caucus day process. In response the enthusiastic crowd shouted back "We can do it!", "We will do it!" Heads nodded and every hand clapped when he thanked them for their commitment and promised to bring the change to America that they all wanted and needed. As Barack spoke Michelle quietly entered the room. When Barack turned and acknowledged her presence pandemonium broke out! Michelle didn't have to speak because her presence alone brought excitement to this crowd of ready workers.

State Rep. Nicole LeFavour Liked What She Saw at the HRC Forum

Olivia M. — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:23:15 EDT

Idaho's state House of Representatives has 51 Republicans and 19 Democrats; 52 of the Representatives are men, 18 are women. Nicole LeFavour (D-Boise) knows what it's like to stand true to your beliefs in the face of opposition.

Yesterday Nicole traveled to Los Angeles to join Barack at the Human Rights Campaign's candidates forum. She emailed us her thoughts:

"Sitting in the audience at the forum I could not help but feel first of all how delightful it was that we as a nation have reached that seemingly impossible day when candidates for president are trying to prove they will make the best president for LGBT Americans. Indeed we vote, we give, we organize and we are a segment of the American population on the brink of possibly achieving full personhood under the law.

Senator Obama I think understands something fundamental we have lost in the Presidency: leadership -- the task of inspiring a nation, moving us from our mire of fear to be great, generous, kind & strong. That sense cannot be imposed on, it must be kindled in a nation.

I came away from the forum very much believing I can trust Senator Obama with the very difficult task of leading our nation to equality. If full marriage rights -- including social security, hospital visitation and all -- under the title of civil unions are where he would have us start, I'll take that. I trust the Senator will labor quickly to end job discrimination, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS discrimination, don't ask don't tell and inequality in adoption for LGBT families. I'll take how very close to perfect Senator Obama is on the most divisive of issues facing our nation.

It is hard to miss the genuine spark in the Senator's eye. If anyone can persuade independent and Republican voters, he can. Watching him, I feel Senator Obama is the President who can rebuild the soul our nation lost and lead American hearts, minds and public policy to a new level of respect, equality and justice for those who have waited so long."

What's it like to walk in YOUR shoes?

Olivia M. — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:16:46 EDT

Sam posts below about Barack's experience today walking in the shoes of a homecare worker. A recent U.S. General Accounting Office study found that over 90% of all homecare workers in the nation are women, and many of those women earn wages that put them below the federal poverty line.

Barack understands and respects the contributions these workers make and today took the time to help one out. We'd like to hear from those of you who walk this walk every day. Whatever work you do, please use the comments section to share what you think the next President should know about what it takes to make ends meet and what a day on the job means in your house.

Barack and YOU: Opposed to the War in Iraq

Olivia M. — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:25:22 EDT

Yesterday Barack spoke in Iowa about his opposition to the war in Iraq from the outset, and the need to end it quickly and responsibly. Scores of women opposed to the war in Iraq have shared their stories with the Obama campaign. We have been honored to read them, and moved and inspired by their contents. Parts of a few of your notes are below.

"As I talk to other women at football practice, school and church there seems to be a general consensus. Nobody really seems to know or understand why we are REALLY in the war in Iraq. Some speculate that it is because of control of oil, terrorism, peacekeeping, a vendetta and the list goes on. It seems that the general population has no understanding of the cause. This war has hit home for us. In two weeks I will accompany my (19 yr old) daughter to watch her best friend, boyfriend, the man she loves being shipped off to a war that we have no clue why we are fighting."
Dee in Casselberry, FL

"I have a son who is a Marine. We are extremely proud of our wonderful young man…At his graduation ceremony from boot camp, I looked across the sea of young faces, Serious, Eager, Fit, Handsome young men all of them, I looked at all the parents there to support their young men. And I wondered. How many graduating today will live through the next two years? How many parents out here are parents of a foot soldier, sniper, bomb technician? How many of these young men will come back with only one leg? How many will come back mentally traumatized? I knew the answer was "too many." I know we can't keep our children from danger all the time. But how can we as a nation watch this ongoing slaughter? How can we continue to let these old gray men send our sons and daughters off to war spouting patriotic diatribe and not wonder...why do we keep letting them go? The finest show of support for our troops is bringing them home, walking, well, and ever as brave and strong and true."
Merrilee in Hutchinson, KS

"My husband was in Iraq from Feb 22nd until July 17th 2004. We were not married at the time; I was a senior in college, and we met just 3 months before he left…as the 2004 Presidential election grew closer, I became very concerned about George Bush's chance for re-election. I cried when he won, cried during Kerry's concession speech... and knew that I needed to start speaking up for my beliefs, spreading my views, listening to others, and that I couldn't sit back any longer. Unfortunately, I was still working 2 jobs, so that did not leave much time for *action*. I went to my first rally in September of 2005. I was surprised to see how many people who "were like me." I'm not sure what I expected, but as I looked around I felt some comfort in the large crowd, the words spoken and the march through the streets. I am very excited to continue participating in this process. I have the utmost respect for Barack, his wife and his entire campaign. Thank you for listening to my story."
Lisa in Sudlersville, MD

"As the mother of an Iraq War Veteran and as a patriot, I want you to know that our family has always been patriotic. My father, stepfather and husband have all served our nation.

The burden of this war has fallen on too few. We see on the news that one more, ten more, twenty more soldiers have been killed. We don't stop often enough to think that each of these lives is precious and each of these deaths has devastated yet another family. I know that sense of isolation a parent feels when their child is serving in Iraq. When my son was in Iraq, I feel like I sleep walked through my life. Unless you have felt that pain, you cannot understand what it does to you. American people as a whole have not felt the sacrifice of the few who are serving.

And the sacrifice does not end with their discharge. PTSD is real, it is widespread and it is not being addressed.

I do not ever want my son to feel that his service was in vain. I asked him if he felt people wanting to end this war and bring our troops home is demoralizing. He answered, "hell no, it makes me feel good that people want this to end." Everything I do, I do for him and for others like him. I am passionate about ending this war and bring our children home safely.

I am also passionate about caring for our returning veterans. We have 18, 19, 20 year olds who are ill-prepared and ill-equipped fighting for their very lives in Iraq. When they return to the United States, they are expected to carry on as if life is "normal". Someone needs to fight for their mental health, in effect, for their souls.

Please continue to fight for our soldiers and their families."

Sue in Huxley, IA

Barack's Best Surrogate, on NPR

Olivia M. — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:09:54 EDT

This campaign season has been particularly demanding on candidates' schedules, with so many state primaries (and caucuses) crowded at the beginning of the 2008 calendar, and the whole election cycle starting in early 2007. Barack has been able to cover an amazing amount of territory in a few short months -- both literally and figuratively. His speeches and his books have given people great access to his voice and his mind -- and the results have been historic measures of support.

Increasingly, people are recognizing Michelle Obama as a valuable campaign asset as well, who can offer another perspective on how Barack would lead the country. For people who like what they hear about Barack, but can't quite believe it's all true, she provides powerful testimony that he is, in fact, the real deal. Barack can't be everywhere, but we couldn't have a stronger surrogate.

Recently Michelle made her second solo trip to South Carolina - where she spoke last week to a women's luncheon at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, followed by a tour of an after school program for young people in a neighborhood near Greenville. Between these campaign stops, she interviewed with Michele Norris of NPR's All Things Considered.

During this interview, Michelle discussed the significance of having such an astounding number of individual donors - over 250,000 across the country - and that a check for $20 dollars and a check for $2300 are both crucial to this campaign because they each represent one vote - and at the end of the road, we'll only bring great change to this country if people vote.

Michelle discussed the life experience shared by so many American women across the country - balancing work, family, and personal life. She also conveyed her campaign focus - ensuring life is normal and fun for the Obamas' daughters, Malia and Sasha, who are 9 and 6.

The audio and accompanying article can be found here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11831859. For those who would rather read than listen, the text of the story is below.

Michelle -- a powerful messenger

Olivia M. — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:15:45 EDT

See below for an example of how inspired women are when they hear Michelle talk about the campaign and how she knows Barack can move our country forward. She will be speaking via conference call to homes across the country on Sunday. Don't forget to sign up to host or attend a house party!

This is in Diane Bell's column in today's San Diego Union Tribune:

"Canadian-born Jennifer Luce, a San Diego architect who designed the Nissan Design America headquarters in Michigan and projects throughout San Diego County, was impressed by the sincerity and intelligence of Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, who spoke here last week. So much so, in fact, that she decided to become a U.S. citizen so she could vote for Obama.

“I've had the paperwork on my desk for two years,” Luce says. “I pulled it out the next morning, had pictures taken and sent it in. . . . I just needed the impetus.” "

Ring tones and a free bumper sticker -- Obama Campaign goes mobile

Olivia M. — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:30:46 EDT

We are excited to announce that we just launched TXT to OBAMA (62262). This is a great and easy way for everyone on the go to stay connected with our movement.

Anyone can simply Text “Go” to OBAMA (62262) to sign up for text messaging.

If you text “GO” to OBAMA (62262) between now and June 30th, you will also receive a free bumper sticker.

Visit www.barackobama.com/go

There is no charge from the campaign for text messaging—participants will only have to pay their standard text messaging rates from their own providers.

More information is available at www.barackobama.com/mobile

We will periodically update everyone with campaign news, local information, public appearances, and other info. We will also use text messaging to ask for your opinions and advice and give you the ability to request information from the campaign.

Obama supporters have made a bunch of great free ringtones and wallpaper designs to personalize your mobile phones and show your support.

Visit www.barackobama.com/mobile to hear these creative ringtones that remix Barack's quotes about Healthcare, the War, and even his 2004 speech. Special thanks to musicians Jin, Pete Misner, Brent Messenger & Don Lisy for the great set of first free ringtones.

Selma, matching contributions, designer tees

Olivia M. — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:14:49 EST

Wow, I was so moved by his speech in Selma last weekend. David was home and we watched it together and he would glance over from time to time to see what I thought...I think the quivering lip and occasional tear were probably affirming. And that those words came from him unrehearsed, without a text in front of him -- you could see him from time to time just glance down to see a note or something -- my goodness.

Perfect timing that they're now trying this matching contributions thing, because I was totally primed to make my first donation! It was very cool, I got "matched" with someone in California, and then I thought it would be fun to be the matcher (matchee?) so I gave again...Very clever, Team Obama!

Re: "designer tees", ok, so Kami, Nancy, Bruce and I are actually the designers...but Kami had 150 shirts made from our two designs (ObamaMama and OBAMARAMA) and they sold out right away at the Obama rally in Cleveland. If you're interested in one let me know!

Rolling Stone Interview

Olivia M. — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:56:40 EST

This is worth a read.

What do you think?

Dreams from My Father, Helping the Campaign

Olivia M. — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:20:52 EST

Last night I finished reading Obama's first book, Dreams from My Father. I stayed up late reading it and had that feeling of sweet sorrow I always get at the end of a good book, when I am sad to say good bye to characters who have become regular companions. I am so pleased that this time I get to keep following the adventure, now in real time. Has anyone else read Dreams From My Father; care to comment? We could have a virtual book group...

A friend who has worked for a (very moderate) Republican senator for many years told me he was hopeful about Obama, that he seemed to have centrist tendencies. I think he is a centrist is the sensible way -- that he approaches policy challenges by actually trying to figure out what will bring about the desired outcome. Reading his book and his speeches and watching him on TV I keep being reminded of my 6th grade teacher, Mr. Martin, who told us that we should always tell the truth, not only because lying was wrong, but because once you started you would get so caught up in protecting your lie that you would forget what was really so. It seems to me that Barack and Michelle are first and foremost attached to the truth, which makes real dialogue - by which I mean an exchange of ideas and opinions that can actually lead somewhere new - possible.

Kami and I have ordered t-shirts! One for the Mamas among us, an "obama mama" design courtesy of my oldest friend in the world, Nancy, who may actually remember Mr. Martin...And one for everyone, a very colorful "obamarama", designed by Kami's husband. Kami's event in Kent, OH on Sunday has gotten so many RSVP's that our first batch of tee's may already be spoken for, but let me know if you're interested in one form a second batch. They cost about $12-15 each to make.

So many of you have asked me what you can do to help the campaign (xxxxoooo to you all). Per David: host a party! Read about Barack and get people together to talk about how you think and hope he can help us transform the country. Get creative and go wherever that takes you -- write a letter to the editor, call your radio station, email your friends..."if it's to be, it's up to me".

February 13th

Olivia M. — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:39:38 EST

Hi fellow ObamaMamas! I'm hoping to head to Chicago tomorrow morning, weather permitting, to check out apartments and plan a move. Meanwhile my sister-in-law Kami and I are busy designing "obamamama" t-shirts (with help from other creative mamas) in time for an Obama event that she is hosting in Ohio on Sunday...

David feels great about how things are going. The announcement speech inspired a ton of support -- people buying t-shirts, joining the web site, making contirbutions.

If you haven't seen Barack and Michelle's 60 Minutes interview you have to check it out, the smoking part killed me. If people really do vote based on who they'd most like to have a beer with, Obama's a lock.