T. Neil Sroka's Blog

There's still time left...

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:55:37 EST

Ohio, there's still time remaining to make a huge difference in this election. If you've already voted, reach out to friends, family members, and neighbors down the street and make sure they've made it out to the polls today.

If someone needs a ride to their polling place and you can provide one for them, feel free to take them down to vote yourself. If you can't give them a ride for whatever reason, no problem: Give us a call at 1-866-275-2008 and we'll arrange a ride for them.

When you or the person your taking make it out to the polls tonight, remember the following:

If you're in line by 7:30 P.M. you have the right to vote.
All registered voters can vote in the Democratic Primary, even Republicans and Independents.
When you vote, bring ID: Ohio driver's license or state-issued ID, or any one of the following with your name and current address -- utility bill (including cell phone bills), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document.

Ohio, Our Moment is Now!

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:57:57 EST

Ohio State Director Paul Tewes just sent out this email to folks here in the Buckeye State...

Dear T. Neil,

Right now is when we need you the most.

The polls are only open for a few more hours, and we need your help to be sure as many people as possible make it out to vote in these closing hours.

If you have an hour to spare and are able, it's absolutely crucial that you join us at one of our staging locations across the state and help out.

Volunteers are needed to go door-to-door to turn out votes at this critical moment.

Find the staging location most convenient for you right now. No need to sign up -- just join us as soon as possible and stay for as long as you can:

We've come a long way in Ohio thanks to you -- now help us finish strong.

Thank you,

Paul

Paul Tewes
Ohio State Director
Obama for America

Ohio, are you fired up? Are you ready to go? Signup to help Barack now!

Polls are OPEN in Ohio

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:49:57 EST

Polls just opened up a few minutes ago and, even though its a little early, one thing is very certain: the Buckeye State is fired up and ready to go!

Before you head out to vote, do yourself a favor by double checking where you need to go using our online polling place locator tool and think about offering a ride to a friend or neighbor who might have difficulty going to vote themselves?

Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are in line at 7:30 p.m. you have the right to vote. All registered voters can vote in the Democratic Primary, even Republicans and Independents. When you vote, bring ID: Ohio driver's license or state-issued ID, or any one of the following with your name and current address -- utility bill (including cell phone bills), bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document.

Any other questions or concerns about your vote? Need a ride to the polls? Just give us a call at 1-866-675-2008 and press 4.

Our moment is now, Ohio! If we're going to make this happen today, Barack needs our support today.

Get Out the Vote Rally in Cleveland Tonight with Members of Arcade Fire

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:50:20 EST

Last night, members of the Arcade Fire, Win and William Butler, Regine Chassagne, Jeremy Gara, and Sara Neufield played two amazing shows at Stuart's Operahouse in Nelsonville, OH.

Tonight, the group will be playing at two, similar Get-Out-the-Vote rallies at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH.

The first show will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis, while the second show requires tickets that must be up before 4:30 PM today from the SEIU's Cleveland Office (1771 East 30th Street, Cleveland, OH).

Check out the details below.

Arcade Fire at Beachland Ballroom

Beachland Ballroom
15711 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH
(View on a Map)

Show #1
Monday, March 3, 2008
Doors open: 7:00 p.m.
Program begins: 8:00 p.m.

Seating at the first show will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. RSVP for this performance at:

http://oh.barackobama.com/arcadefire

Show #2
Monday, March 3, 2008
Doors open: 10:00 p.m.
Program begins: 11:00 p.m.

Tickets are required for the second show. You can pick up tickets at:

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Offices
1771 East 30th street
Cleveland, OH
(View on a Map)

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Enquirer Endorses Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:57:53 EST

This morning the Cincinnati Enquirer joined a chorus of other Ohio papers in endorsing Barack Obama.

Enquirer endorses Obama on Democratic side
Illinois senator offers energy, rich experiences, fresh ideas

Despite all of the jokes and misplaced campaign rhetoric, it is the experiences of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that have set them apart - set them above - the crowded Democratic field that started the race for their party's nomination so many months ago.

Clinton's experience as first lady often is derided as "secondhand," or somehow invalid. Actually, it gave her a perspective on the possibilities and limitations of the presidency that no other candidate for the office ever has had.

Beyond that, she has been a senator for the past eight years, carving out her own political niche on the national scene. Her service on the Senate Armed Services Committee has involved her intimately in the details of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, subjects the next commander in chief will need to come to terms with immediately.

Obama was born to an American mother and Kenyan father, raised in a multicultural environment, graduated with an Ivy League education and worked as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago before becoming a civil rights lawyer. His life and experiences reflect the diversity of America in ways no other presidential candidate has experienced.

He points to the richness of these experiences as the reason he has earned a reputation of uniting people around what he describes on his Web site as the "politics of purpose" - getting people to work beyond their partisan differences to achieve common goals.

These are both extraordinarily talented candidates, but it is Obama's ability to reach beyond the partisan divide and gather in support that prompts The Enquirer to give him our endorsement for the Democratic nomination.

The true differences on policy between Obama and Clinton - on Iraq, on trade and a host of other issues, are narrow.

On health care, we prefer his approach of lowering costs rather than mandating participation.

Obama and Clinton both say ending the war in Iraq, while preserving U.S. security, would be their top priority upon taking office. Both say they would consult with the military experts and withdraw American forces and quickly as prudently possible. This will be a clear point of debate in the general election with John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Clinton has shown herself to be an able senator, with an impressive grasp of details. But she remains for many in this country a polarizing figure.

Much of that dislike undoubtedly is residual disapproval of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his policies and performance in office. That may be unfair to her, but it remains a fact of political life.

But her own style has opened her to criticism as well. Her major public policy involvement during her husband's administration was the failed attempt to come up with a universal health care policy.

Critics remember her closed-door, high-handed and uncompromising approach, which drew opposition from many Democrats as well as Republicans and doomed the initiative.

She says she has learned from those mistakes, yet her style often seems abrasive and superior when criticized.

A president must be able to make hard decisions but must also be able to face - even welcome - dissenting views and understand that there can be validity in the opposition.

Obama has been on the national stage for a relatively short time, but in that time he has demonstrated an ability and a willingness to work with others. He does not waste time demonizing those with different views.

One obvious example is his work with Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., on a new non-proliferation effort with Russia designed to keep nuclear weapons from falling into terrorist hands. He also lists the need for coming up with a workable, bipartisan national energy policy as one of the first things he would tackle in office.

But perhaps Obama's most impressive achievement so far is the excitement he has engendered in the political process itself.

He is a gifted public speaker, and the energy he brings to his campaign seems to have brought many people, including many young people, into the political process for the first time.

Obama has an undeniable appeal that is attracting people of divergent backgrounds. He seems able to find ways to work even with people who don't share his views.

We believe that of the two, he has the better chance at quickly creating the working coalitions that would allow for the progress a new administration will need in dealing with the issues at hand.

Video: Barack on Early Voting in Ohio

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:30:39 EST

Earlier this week, during a stop in Dayton, Barack had a chance to explain just how easy it is to early vote here in Ohio. Take a look...

If Barack sold you on early voting, you can find your local early voting location and cast your vote for Barack today, tomorrow, or, in most counties, this Saturday at your county's Board of Elections office.

Video: Barack's Blockbuster in Akron

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:21:10 EST

All across Ohio, Barack has been greeted by huge crowds of supporters -- 7,000 folks Saturday night in Cleveland; 15,000 yesterday in Toledo.

Saturday, over 5,000 people in Akron waited out in the cold, in a line that wrapped around the John S. Knight Center, because they wanted to be a part of something bigger than themselves and hope again...

If your hope in a brighter future has motivated you to support Barack, have you voted early yet? If not, find your early voting location now and, once you've cast your vote for Barack, consider signing up to help the movement's Ohio supporters Get-Out-the-Vote on Election Day.

Barack en Latina Lista

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:20:05 EST

Latina Lista, que se considera una página web con "un punto de vista de todo y sobre todo de una perspectiva Latina," esta trabajando para conectar las mujeres Latinas a cada uno de los candidatos para Presidente.

Ayer, Barack tuvo la oportunidad de escribir un blog en la página y hablar sobre sus planes para el país. Aquí esta lo que escribió.

Quiero darle las gracias a Latina Lista por haberme dado la oportunidad de contribuir a este blog y hablar del cambio en esta gran nación con la comunidad Latina.

Desde el día que yo nací, he estado rodeado de mujeres fuertes. Yo fui criado por una madre soltera, estoy casado con una mujer fuerte y independiente que me ha bendecido con dos niña preciosas y ahora estoy tratando de criarlas para que ellas persigan sus sueños no importa que grandes y que se puedan convertir en lideres del futuro.

Como hijo, esposo y padre, estoy consciente de que las mujeres son el núcleo de la familia. Madres, esposas y hermanas son las que nos protegen, nos cuidan, nos enseñan y nos motivan. Yo también se que mujeres de todos orígenes, mantener la familia junta es una prioridad. No es un secreto que los Latinos están siendo separados de sus familias todos los días en este país por las redadas y la política de deportación que no toma en cuenta las familias y la humanidad al enforzar la ley.

Para leer el resto del texto que Barack escribio en Latina Lista, presiona el titulo de este este artículo.

Adam Rodriguez on Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:22:24 EST

Adam Rodriguez of CSI: Miami spent much of this past Tuesday talking about why he supports Barack Obama on radio shows throughout the Southwest.

He did a great job and is passionate about getting out the Latino vote for Obama, so we wanted to share one of his interviews with you.

Hear Adam on Power 98.3 in Phoenix, AZ, using the player below:

Adam Rodriquez: "Si, Se Puede!"

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:08:45 EST

Adam Rodriguez, a quien deben reconocer por su papel en el programa CSI: Miami, ha estado ayudando a la campaña de Barack Obama, communicándose con la comunidad Latina y pidiendoles que voten por Barack y representen a sus comunidades con su voto.

Mientras que las posiciónes de Obama en los temas de la inmigración, la guerra en Irak y la educación fueron importantes para Adam en decidir apoyar a Barack, el hizo su decisión después de haberlo visto hablar en los debates con convicción y gracia.

"El posee simultáneamente un aire presidencial y humanidad…..[El] es el lider del pueblo…..y por eso lo estoy apoyando."

Adam estuvo llamando a varias estaciones de radio en Arizona y Nuevo México para hablar de la importancia de votar por Barack Obama, por el cambio que necesita este pais.

Por ahora, pueden ver a Adam y otros artistas que apoyan a Obama como Enrique Murciano de Without a Trace en el video "Yes We Can (Si Se Puede)"

Barack on Latina Lista

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:02:03 EST

Latina Lista, which bills itself as a site with "a viewpoint on anything and everything from a Latina perspective," is working to connect Latina women to each of the candidates running for president.

This morning, Barack had the chance to guest blog on the site and discuss his plan for the country. Here's what he wrote...

I want to thank Latina Lista for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the blog and to talk about change in this great country with the Latina community.

Since the day I was born, I have been surrounded by strong women. I was raised by a single mother, have married a strong independent woman who has blessed me with two beautiful girls and now I'm trying to raise them to pursue their dreams no matter how big, and become future leaders.

As a son, husband and parent I am well aware that women are the core of family. Mothers, wives and sisters are the ones who protect us, care for us, teach us and encourage us.

I also know that for women of all backgrounds, keeping their families together is a top priority. It is no secret that Latino families are being separated from their families every day in this country because of raids and deportation policies that do not take family and humanity into account when trying to enforce laws...

Read the rest of what Barack wrote at Latina Lista by clicking on the title of this post.

BarackObama.com en Español

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:56:21 EST

Did you know that each and every page on BarackObama.com includes a helpful link in the upper right-hand corner to our spanish-language site, BarackObama.com en Español?

If you haven't already, take a look at the relaunched site, which includes a new Spanish-language blog as well as information about Barack's policy positions and personal background in Spanish.

Where Obama Stands: On Service

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:10:06 EST

Where Obama Stands: On Service "Where Obama Stands" is a series of posts highlighting Obama's innovative approaches to challenge the status quo and get results on the issues that matter most to Americans. For a full list of Senator Obama's detailed policy positions, check out BarackObama.com/issues and/or download Obama's complete booklet of policy positions, "The Blueprint for Change." We are also looking for your feedback and suggestions on the issues; if you want to share your ideas, please submit your thoughts through our MyPolicy page.

Barack Obama's Plan for Universal Voluntary Service

“Your own story and the American story are not separate — they are shared. And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century … I won't just ask for your vote as a candidate; I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency.” — Barack Obama, Speech in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, December 5, 2007

The Problem

Americans Not Asked to Serve After 9/11: President Bush squandered an opportunity to mobilize the American people following 9/11 when he asked Americans only to go shopping.

Insufficient Federal Support for Service: While more than 500,000 people have served in AmeriCorps, the program turns away tens of thousands of applicants a year because of limited funding.

Need for More R&D in Nonprofit Sector: Research and development in the nonprofit sector is limited and there is a disconnect between charitable foundations that can fund innovation and the organizations on the ground that can test new concepts and bring them to scale.

Barack Obama's Plan

Enable All Americans to Serve to Meet the Nation's Challenges

Expand Corporation for National and Community Service: Obama will expand AmeriCorps from 75,000 slots today to 250,000 and he will focus this expansion on addressing the great challenges facing the nation. He will establish a Classroom Corps to help teachers and students, with a priority placed on underserved schools; a Health Corps to improve public health outreach; a Clean Energy Corps to conduct weatherization and renewable energy projects; a Veterans Corps to assist veterans at hospitals, nursing homes and homeless shelters; and a Homeland Security Corps to help communities plan, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Engage Retiring Americans in Service on a Large Scale: Older Americans have a wide range of skills and knowledge to contribute. Obama will expand and improve programs that connect individuals over the age of 55 to quality volunteer opportunities.
Expand the Peace Corps: Obama will double the Peace Corps to 16,000 by 2011. He will work with the leaders of other countries to build an international network of overseas volunteers so that Americans work side-by-side with volunteers from other countries.
Show the World the Best Face of America: Obama will set up an America's Voice Initiative to send Americans who are fluent speakers of local languages to expand our public diplomacy. He also will extend opportunities for older individuals such as teachers, engineers, and doctors to serve overseas.

Integrate Service into Learning

Expand Service-Learning in Our Nation's Schools: Obama will set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year. He will develop national guidelines for service- learning and will give schools better tools both to develop programs and to document student experience. Green Job Corps: Obama will create an energy-focused youth jobs program to provide disadvantaged youth with service opportunities weatherizing buildings and getting practical experience in fast-growing career fields.
Expand YouthBuild Program: Obama will expand the YouthBuild program, which gives disadvantaged young people the chance to complete their high school education, learn valuable skills and build affordable housing in their communities. He will grow the program so that 50,000 low-income young people a year a chance to learn construction job skills and complete high school.
Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
Promote College Serve-Study: Obama will ensure that at least 25 percent of College Work-Study funds are used to support public service opportunities instead of jobs in dining halls and libraries.

Invest in the Nonprofit Sector

Social Investment Fund Network: Obama will create a Social Investment Fund Network to use federal seed money to leverage private sector funding to improve local innovation, test the impact of new ideas and expand successful programs to scale.
Social Entrepreneurship Agency for Nonprofits: Barack Obama will a create an agency within the Corporation for National and Community Service dedicated to building the capacity and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector.

Barack Obama's Record

A Lifetime of Service

Obama began his career by moving to the South Side of Chicago to direct the Developing Communities Project. Together with a coalition of ministers, Obama set out to improve living conditions in poor neigh- borhoods plagued by crime and high unemployment. After graduating from law school, Obama passed up lucrative law firm jobs to head Project Vote, which helped register 150,000 new African American voters in Chicago, the highest number ever registered in a single local effort. Michelle Obama was founding executive director of Public Allies Chicago, a leadership development program that identifies and prepares talented young adults for careers serving the public good.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Speech

Watch Excerpts of the Speech

Read the Plan

The Polls in CT, DE, IL, MA, MO, NJ, OK & TN Just Closed

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:08:38 EST

The polls in Connecticut, Deleware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee just closed.

Obama supporters in MA were working until the very last minute... and you can too!

Help Barack continue to win votes in Western states where polls remain open by logging into our online calling tool and reminding other voters to get to the polls now.

Our moment is now -- but we still need your help!

Where Obama Stands: On Veterans Affairs

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:30:59 EST

"Where Obama Stands" is a series of posts highlighting Obama's innovative approaches to challenge the status quo and get results on the issues that matter most to Americans. For a full list of Senator Obama's detailed policy positions, check out BarackObama.com/issues and/or download Obama's complete booklet of policy positions, "The Blueprint for Change." We are also looking for your feedback and suggestions on the issues; if you want to share your ideas, please submit your thoughts through our MyPolicy page.

"Keeping faith with those who serve must always be a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism. Because America's commitment to its servicemen and women begins at enlistment, and it must never end."

-- Barack Obama, Speech in Kansas City, MO, August 21, 2007

The Problem

Wounded Troops Suffer: The Walter Reed scandal showed that we don't always provide returning service members with the care they deserve.

Veterans Budget Shortfalls: In 2005, a multi-billion dollar VA funding shortfall required Congress to step in and bail out the system.

Benefits Bureaucracy is Broken: There are currently more than 400,000 claims pending with the Veterans Benefits Administration. VA error rates have grown to more than 100,000 cases a year.

There is Shortage of Care for PTSD: Veterans are coming home with record levels of combat stress, but we are not adequately providing for them.

Barack Obama's Plan

A Sacred Trust

Barack Obama believes America has a sacred trust with our veterans. He is committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve.

Allow All Veterans Back into the VA: One of Obama's first acts will be reversing the 2003 ban on enrolling modest-income veterans, which has denied care to a million veterans.
Strengthen VA Care: Obama will make the VA a leader of national health care reform so that veterans get the best care possible. He will improve care for polytrauma vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women's health.
Combat Homelessness among Our Nation's Veterans: Obama will establish a national "zero tolerance" policy for veterans falling into homelessness by expanding proven programs and launching innovative services to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness.
Fight Veterans Employment Discrimination: Obama will crack down on employers who commit job discrimination against guardsmen and reservists.

Help for Returning Service Members

Obama will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA's broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans.

Ensure a Seamless Transition: Obama will demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life.
Fully Fund VA Medical Care: Barack Obama will fully fund the VA so it has all the resources it needs to serve the veterans who need it, when they need it. Obama will establish a world-class VA Planning Division to avoid future budget shortfalls.
Fix the Benefits Bureaucracy: Obama will hire additional claims workers, and improve training and accountability so that VA benefit decisions are rated fairly and consistently. He also will transform the paper benefit claims process to an electronic one to reduce errors and improve timeliness.

Improved Mental Health Treatment

Obama will improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries.

Improve Mental Health Treatment: Obama will improve mental health care at every stage of military service. He will recruit more health professionals, improve screening, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer.
Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury: Obama will establish standards of care for Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature injury of the Iraq war.
Expand Vet Centers: Obama will expand and strengthen Vet Centers to provide more counseling for vets and their families.

Barack Obama's Record

Record of Advocacy: As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama passed legislation to improve care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors recovering at places like Walter Reed. He passed laws to help homeless veterans and offered an innovative solution to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into homelessness. Obama led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to halt the military's unfair practice of discharging service members for having a service-connected psychological injury. He fought for fair treatment of Illinois veterans' claims and forced the VA to conduct an unprecedented outreach campaign to disabled veterans with lower than-average benefits. Obama passed legislation to stop a VA review of closed PTSD cases that could have led to a reduction in veterans' benefits. He passed an amendment to ensure that all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for traumatic brain injuries. He introduced legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix disjointed records systems and improve outreach to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Read the Speech

Read the Speech

Read the Plan

Join Veterans for Obama

Where Obama Stands: On Civil Rights

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:16:12 EST

Plan to Strengthen Civil Rights

“The teenagers and college students who left their homes to march in the streets of Birmingham and Montgomery; the mothers who walked instead of taking the bus after a long day of doing somebody else's laundry and cleaning somebody else's kitchen — they didn't brave fire hoses and Billy clubs so that their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren would still wonder at the beginning of the 21st century whether their vote would be counted; whether their civil rights would be protected by their government; whether justice would be equal and opportunity would be theirs. . . . We have more work to do.”
— Barack Obama, Speech at Howard University, September 28, 2007

The Problem

Pay Inequity Continues: For every $1.00 earned by a man, the average woman receives only 77 cents, while African American women only get 67 cents and Latinas receive only 57 cents.

Hate Crimes on the Rise: The number of hate crimes increased nearly 8 percent to 7,700 incidents in 2006.

Efforts Continue to Suppress the Vote: A recent study discovered numerous organized efforts to intimidate, mislead and suppress minority voters.

Disparities Continue to Plague Criminal Justice System: African Americans and Hispanics are more than twice as likely as whites to be searched, arrested, or subdued with force when stopped by police. Disparities in drug sentencing laws, like the differential treatment of crack as opposed to powder cocaine, are unfair.

Barack Obama's Plan

Obama will reverse the politicization that has occurred in the Bush Administration's Department of Justice. He will put an end to the ideological litmus tests used to fill positions within the Civil Rights Division.

Combat Employment Discrimination

Obama will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination. Obama will also pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes

Obama will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.

End Deceptive Voting Practices

Obama will sign into law his legislation that establishes harsh penalties for those who have engaged in voter fraud and provides voters who have been misinformed with accurate and full information so they can vote.

End Racial Profiling

Obama will ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies and provide federal incentives to state and local police departments to prohibit the practice.

Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Support

Obama will provide job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling to ex-offenders, so that they are successfully re-integrated into society. Obama will also create a prison-to-work incentive program to improve ex-offender employment and job retention rates.

Eliminate Sentencing Disparities

Obama believes the disparity between sentencing crack and powder-based cocaine is wrong and should be completely eliminated.

Expand Use of Drug Courts

Obama will give first-time, non-violent offenders a chance to serve their sentence, where appropriate, in the type of drug rehabilitation programs that have proven to work better than a prison term in changing bad behavior.

Barack Obama's Record

Record of Advocacy: Obama has worked to promote civil rights and fairness in the criminal justice system throughout his career. As a community organizer, Obama helped 150,000 African Americans register to vote. As a civil rights lawyer, Obama litigated employment discrimination, housing discrimination, and voting rights cases. As a State Senator, Obama passed one of the country's first racial profiling law and helped reform a broken death penalty system. And in the U.S. Senate, Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers to voting.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Plan

Speech at the Howard University Convocation

A Movement in Action

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:50:09 EST

Earlier this morning, we asked what you are doing to help Barack Get-Out-the-Vote in your community today and more than a few of you replied.

LangstonHughesFan is calling fellow Kansans to help get folks out to the Sunflower State caucuses later this eveing (doors open @ 6:00 PM CST). She says that, even though most of the people she's talked to know where they're caucusing, the calls are important.

It's a new process for most people, since KS has never been "in play" before... But people are fired up! I talked to one older woman who said she couldn't wait to show up "with bells on" even though we've got very crummy weather today... the ground team in KS is working very hard to deliver to Barack his mother's home state!!!

Meanwhile, in Minneosota, Jane is using some of her time between now and tonight's caucus (doors open in MN @ 6:30 PM CST) to reach out to folks -- using our online calling tool -- voting across the country in New York. Earlier this morning, she:

...spoke with a Barack voter who is in Syracuse. She wants to vote but it's slippery out and she doesn't have a ride. The campaign is getting her to the polls today! If everybody makes 20 calls to voters in these crucial states, we can make a difference.

For Emily in Texas, even though she's not voting until March 4, today is still pretty special. While she's the only Democrat in her family, her whole Republican family in New York cast their vote for Barack this morning.

...I am SO proud...This was a huge step for my mother....who didn't even know she could vote for a Democrat being a registered Republican!

Over in California, Angela in Hawthorne, who is getting ready to go out and knock on doors for Barack in Los Angeles, had an emotinal experience earlier today when she realized she finally had her chance to cast her vote for Barack.

...this campaign has restored my faith in my country. I have volunteered here in California and Nevada and I have met the most AWESOME people ever, from all walks of life, ages, races... As an African American/Puerto Rican mixed child...I experience a lot of racism, a lot of bullying, a lot of grief. Finally, I can say to my sons (I HAVE 5) and my daughter (only 1) that they can really be whatever they want, even the President of the United States.

Isn't it incredible what a movement like this is capable of?

Get involved and help boost the turn out for Barack around the country right now by using our online calling tool. Our moment is now and, with your help, we can make this a day each of us will never forget.

Open Thread: Stories from the Field?

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:40:01 EST

Have you made it out to the polls already? What are you doing in your community to help Get-Out-the-Vote for Barack? Talked to anyone interesting while you were phonebanking or canvassing?

No matter how long the polls in your neck of the woods have been open, what stories of hope in action have you seen this morning?

Still need to cast your ballot or prepare for your caucus? Find your voting location online now.

Where Obama Stands: On Faith

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:51:54 EST

"(Obama's speech on faith) may be the most important pronouncement by a Democrat on faith and politics since John F. Kennedy's Houston speech in 1960 declaring his independence from the Vatican...Obama offers the first faith testimony I have heard from any politician that speaks honestly about the uncertainties of belief."

-- E.J. Dionne, Op-Ed., Washington Post, June 30, 2006

Barack Obama is a committed Chrisitan who has been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's Southside for the past twenty years.

In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life.

See the speech:

Senator Obama also laid down principles for how to discuss faith in a pluralistic society, including the need for religious people to translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values during public debate. In December, 2006, Senator Obama discussed the importance of faith in the global battle against AIDS.

Watch Barack's more recent speech on faith and justice at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA:

Adam Rodriguez: "Si, Se Puede!"

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:17:37 EST

Adam Rodriquez, who you might recognize from CSI: Miami, has been helping out Barack by encourage Latinos to get out the vote for Barack and represent their communities by voting for change.

While Obama's position on immigration reform, the war in Iraq, and education played an important role in helping Adam get behind him, he ultimately decided to support Barack after seeing him hold his ground in debates with conviction and grace.

He simultaneously possesses an air of presidentially and
commonality... [He's] the people's leader... and that's why I support him.

Later this morning, Adam will be on the radio in Phoenix, AZ (Power 98.3 FM) and Tucson, AZ (Hot 98.3) between 8 and 9am Mountain Time, urge other Latinos to vote for change all of us can believe in.

In the meantime, check out Adam (just before the two minute mark) and a host of other celebrities in the supporter-created "Yes We Can" video.

Where Obama Stands: On Foreign Policy

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:15:30 EST

Barack Obama's Plan to Secure America and Restore Our Standing

“When I am this party's nominee, my opponent will not be able to say that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don't like. And he will not be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture — because it is never ok… I will end the war in Iraq… I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”

— Barack Obama, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007

Watch a Roundtable Discussion with Barack and his Foreign Policy Advisors:

Ending the War in Iraq

Judgment You Can Trust: As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.” Obama has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in Iraq:

In 2003 and 2004, he spoke out against the war on the campaign trail;
In 2005, he called for a phased withdrawal of our troops;
In 2006, he called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq's neighbors;
In January 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to remove all of our combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.
In September 2007, he laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president.

Bring Our Troops Home: Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.
Press Iraq's leaders to reconcile: The best way to press Iraq's leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq's Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing.
Regional Diplomacy: Obama will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq's neighbors – including Iran and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq's borders; keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq's sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq's reconstruction.
Humanitarian Initiative: Obama believes that America has a moral and security responsibility to confront Iraq's humanitarian crisis – two million Iraqis are refugees; two million more are displaced inside their own country. Obama will form an international working group to address this crisis. He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.

Iran

The Problem: Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That's why Obama stood up to the Bush administration's warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq.
Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling: Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which says we should use our military presence in Iraq to counter the threat from Iran. Obama believes that it was reckless for Congress to give George Bush any justification to extend the Iraq War or to attack Iran. Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization to attack Iran.
Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.

Renewing American Diplomacy

The Problem: The United States is trapped by the Bush-Cheney approach to diplomacy that refuses to talk to leaders we don't like. Not talking doesn't make us look tough – it makes us look arrogant, it denies us opportunities to make progress, and it makes it harder for America to rally international support for our leadership. On challenges ranging from terrorism to disease, nuclear weapons to climate change, we cannot make progress unless we can draw on strong international support.
Talk to our Foes and Friends: Obama is willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe. He will do the careful preparation necessary, but will signal that America is ready to come to the table, and that he is willing to lead. And if America is willing to come to the table, the world will be more willing to rally behind American leadership to deal with challenges like terrorism, and Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Obama will make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a key diplomatic priority. He will make a sustained push – working with Israelis and Palestinians – to achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.
Expand our Diplomatic Presence: To make diplomacy a priority, Obama will stop shuttering consulates and start opening them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world – particularly in Africa. He will expand our foreign service, and develop the capacity of our civilian aid workers to work alongside the military.
Fight Global Poverty: Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal. He will help the world's weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth.
Strengthen NATO: Obama will rally NATO members to contribute troops to collective security operations, urging them to invest more in reconstruction and stabilization operations, streamlining the decision-making processes, and giving NATO commanders in the field more flexibility.
Seek New Partnerships in Asia: Obama will forge a more effective framework in Asia that goes beyond bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, such as the six-party talks on North Korea. He will maintain strong ties with allies like Japan, South Korea and Australia; work to build an infrastructure with countries in East Asia that can promote stability and prosperity; and work to ensure that China plays by international rules.

Click on the title of the post to read about Barack's foreign policy plan.

Where Obama Stands: On Ethics

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:47:00 EST

Plan to Change Washington

"I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists — and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not get a job in my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president."
- Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007

The Problem

Lobbyists Write National Policies: For example, Vice President Dick Cheney's Energy Task Force of oil and gas lobbyists met secretly to develop national energy policy.

Secrecy Dominates Government Actions: The Bush administration has ignored public disclosure rules and has invoked a legal tool known as the "state secrets" privilege more than any other previous administration to get cases thrown out of civil court.

Wasteful Spending is Out of Control: The current administration has abused its power by handing out contracts without competition to its politically connected friends and supporters. These abuses cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.

Barack Obama's Plan

Shine the Light on Washington Lobbying

Centralize Ethics and Lobbying Information for Voters: Obama will create a centralized Internet database of lobbying reports, ethics records, and campaign finance filings in a searchable, sortable and downloadable format.
Require Independent Monitoring of Lobbying Laws and Ethics Rules: Obama will use the power of the presidency to fight for an independent watchdog agency to oversee the investigation of congressional ethics violations so that the public can be assured that ethics complaints will be investigated.
Support Campaign Finance Reform: Obama supports public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. Obama introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and is the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) tough bill to reform the presidential public financing system.

Shine the Light on Federal Contracts, Tax Breaks and Earmarks

Create a Public “Contracts and Influence” Database: As president, Obama will create a "contracts and influence" database that will disclose how much federal contractors spend on lobbying, and what contracts they are getting and how well they complete them.
Expose Special Interest Tax Breaks to Public Scrutiny: Barack Obama will ensure that any tax breaks for corporate recipients — or tax earmarks — are also publicly available on the Internet in an easily searchable format.
End Abuse of No-Bid Contracts: Barack Obama will end abuse of no-bid contracts by requiring that nearly all contract orders over $25,000 be competitively awarded.
Sunlight Before Signing: Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.
Shine Light on Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending: Obama's Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act will shed light on all earmarks by disclosing the name of the legislator who asked for each earmark, along with a written justification, 72 hours before they can be approved by the full Senate.

Bring Americans Back into their Government

Hold 21st Century Fireside Chats: Obama will bring democracy and policy directly to the people by requiring his Cabinet officials to have periodic national broadband townhall meetings to discuss issues before their agencies.
Make White House Communications Public: Obama will amend executive orders to ensure that communications about regulatory policymaking between persons outside government and all White House staff are disclosed to the public.
Conduct Regulatory Agency Business in Public: Obama will require his appointees who lead the executive branch departments and rulemaking agencies to conduct the significant business of the agency in public, so that any citizen can see in person or watch on the Internet these debates.
Release Presidential Records: Obama will nullify the Bush attempts to make the timely release of presidential records more difficult.

Free the Executive Branch from Special Interest Influence

Close the Revolving Door on Former and Future Employers: No political appointees in an Obama administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years. And no political appointee will be able to lobby the executive branch after leaving government service during the remainder of the administration.
Free Career Officials from the Influence of Politics: Obama will issue an executive order asking all new hires at the agencies to sign a form affirming that no political appointee offered them the job solely on the basis of political affiliation or contribution.
Reform the Political Appointee Process: FEMA Director Michael Brown was not qualified to head the agency, and the result was a disaster for the people of the Gulf Coast. But in an Obama administration, every official will have to rise to the standard of proven excellence in the agency's mission.

Barack Obama's Record:

Federal Ethics Reform: Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the "gold standard" for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists' bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law. The Washington Post wrote in an editorial, "The final package is the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress yet."
Google for Government: Americans have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent, but that information has been hidden from public view for too long. That's why Barack Obama and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) passed a law to create a Google-like search engine to allow regular people to approximately track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans online. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "It would enable the public to see where federal money goes and how it is spent. It's a brilliant idea."
Illinois Reform: In 1998, Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and banned most gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among 50 states for its campaign finance regulations.
A High Standard: Unlike other candidates Obama's campaign refuses to accept contributions from Washington lobbyists and political action committees.

Read the Plan

Read and Watch the Speech

Lawrence Lessig: "Why I am 4Barack"

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:37:10 EST

Lawrence Lessig, world-renowned copyright & technology policy scholar and founder of Creative Commons, just put up this incredibly interesting, twenty-minute video about why he'll be supporting Barack tomorrow.

While Barack's strong technology policy, which Lessig called "important and importantly balanced" when it was first announced back in November, played a role in his decision, it was hardly the only factor behind his decision to support Obama.

See the video for the whole story...

Why are you supporting Barack? How have you shared your personal endorsement with your friends and family?

Where Obama Stands: On Poverty

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:12:57 EST

Plan to Combat Poverty

“I'm in this race for the same reason that I fought for jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless on the streets of Chicago; for the same reason I fought for justice and equality as a civil rights lawyer; for the same reason that I fought for Illinois families for over a decade… That's why I'm running, Democrats — to keep the American Dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity, who still thirst for equality.”
— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007

The Problem

Poverty Rising: There are nearly 37 million poor Americans. Most Americans living in poverty work, but still cannot afford to make ends meet.

Minimum Wage is Not Enough: Even when a parent works full-time earning minimum wage and EITC and food stamps are factored into their income, families are still $1,550 below the federal poverty line because of the flat-lined minimum wage.

Barack Obama's Plan

Expand Access to Jobs

Help Americans Grab a Hold of and Climb the Job Ladder: Obama will invest $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs that implement proven methods of helping low-income Americans succeed in the workforce.
Create a Green Jobs Corps: Obama will create a program to directly engage disadvantaged youth in energy efficiency opportunities to strengthen their communities, while also providing them with practical skills in this important high-growth career field.
Improve Transportation Access to Jobs: As president, Obama will work to ensure that low-income Americans have transportation access to jobs. Obama will double the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program to ensure that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities and that urban planning initiatives take this aspect of transportation policy into account.
Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Supports: Obama will work to ensure that ex-offenders have access to job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling, and employment opportunities. Obama will also create a prison-to-work incentive program and reduce barriers to employment.

Make Work Pay for All Americans

Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit: Obama will increase the number of working parents eligible for EITC benefits, increase the benefits available to parents who support their children through child support payments, increase benefits for families with three or more children, and reduce the EITC marriage penalty, which hurts low-income families.
Create a Living Wage: Obama will raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation to make sure that full-time workers can earn a living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic needs such as food, transportation, and housing.
Provide Tax Relief: Obama will provide all low and middle-income workers a $500 Making Work Pay tax credit to offset the payroll tax those workers pay in every paycheck. Obama will also eliminate taxes for seniors making under $50,000 per year.

Strengthen Families

Promote Responsible Fatherhood: Obama will sign into law his Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act to remove some of the government penalties on married families, crack down on men avoiding child support payments, and ensure that payments go to families instead of state bureaucracies.
Support Parents with Young Children: Obama will expand the highly-successful Nurse-Family Partnership to all 570,000 low-income, first-time mothers each year. The Nurse-Family Partnership provides home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families.
Expand Paid Sick Days: Today, three-out-of-four low-wage workers have no paid sick days. Obama supports guaranteeing workers seven paid sick days per year.

Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing

Create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Obama will create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop affordable housing in mixed-income neighborhoods.
Fully Fund the Community Development Block Grant: Obama will fully fund the Community Development Block Grant program and engage with urban leaders across the country to increase resources to the highest-need Americans.

Tackle Concentrated Poverty

Establish 20 Promise Neighborhoods: Obama will create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in areas that have high levels of poverty and crime and low levels of student academic achievement in cities across the nation. The Promise Neighborhoods will be modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone, which provides a full network of services, including early childhood education, youth violence prevention efforts and after-school activities, to an entire neighborhood from birth to college.
Ensure Community-Based Investment Resources in Every Urban Community: Obama will work with community and business leaders to identify and address the unique economic development barriers of every major metropolitan area. Obama will provide additional resources to the federal Community Development Financial Institution Fund, the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies, especially to their local branch offices, to address community needs.
Invest in Rural Areas: Obama will invest in rural small businesses and fight to expand high-speed Internet access. He will improve rural schools and attract more doctors to rural areas.

Barack Obama's Record

Tax Relief for Low-Income Working Families: Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and successfully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax relief over three years.
Housing: In the Illinois State Senate, Obama championed multiple pieces of legislation to help low-income families find adequate affordable housing.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Plan

Read the Urban Poverty Speech

Watch the video:

Barack Obama en el Programa de Pistolero

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:53:46 EST

El viernes, Barack estuvo en el show de El Pistolero y Memin es el programa mas escuchado por radioescuchas de 18-34 anos, donde tuvo la oportunidad de hablar sobre una serie de temas de importancia a la comunidad Latina.

El Pistolero le pregunto a Barack que quiere decir cuando habla sobre el cambio. Aquí esta su respuesta:

Pues, yo creo que nuestra economía se esta debilitando, y que trabajadores común y corrientes están teniendo dificultad; ellos no tienen cuidado de salud. Nuestras escuelas no están haciendo lo que necesitan hacer en términos de proveer oportunidades educativas a nuestros hijos. Es mas difícil pagar la Universidad. Existen una serie de temas que nos muestran que nosotros necesitamos invertir en nuestra gente.

A continuación, Barack comenta sobre como su plan de luchar y pasar la legislación del DREAM Act y reformar el cuidado de salud jugará un papel importante en actualizar un cambio real en este país.

Have You Endorsed Barack?

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:38:16 EST

If you've visited this blog over the past couple of days, you've seen a range of individuals -- from Garrison Keillor to Ethel Kennedy -- and newspapers -- from La Opinión to the Boston Herald formally declare their support for Barack Obama ahead of tomorrow's historic Super Tuesday Primary.

While each of these endorsements sends an important message about the broad support Barack has behind him all across the country, no endorsement is more important than the one our movement receives each time you talk to a friend, neighbor, or family member about your decision to support Barack Obama.

This afternoon, Ben, 28, with the help of his brother Jon, 24, sent an email to their mother, Emily, "formally announcing" their personal endorsement of Barack Obama.

Mom,
As all children do, Jon and I learned about how to operate as adults by watching and mimicking our parents. We learned from you and Dad about how to treat people, we learned culture, we learned right from wrong. We also learned our politics...

Jon and I are both voting for Obama and we can't wait to do it. He is the first candidate in our lifetimes who actually personifies what we were raised by you and Dad to believe. We both love Hillary. She knows policy inside and out and she'd have a pretty clear agenda for a first term. I personally would be thrilled to vote for her in a general election, but I just don't think those qualities are enough. Obama embodies something no seasoned, experienced politician/policy wonk could ever achieve: a sense of newness and possibility. Jon and I were raised to believe that true patriotism is loving your country not just for what it has been, but even more importantly for what it has the potential of becoming. The election of Barack Obama would prove to us and the world that the US is still capable of bold evolution and innovation. It would prove that we have the ability to heal ourselves from a generation of failed policy, partisan rancor and imperialism. It would prove that our narrative as a country is still being written. I know these statements all sound sappy and high-falutin', but, frankly, if the achievement of these ideals is impossible, then, well: I give up. But I do believe these things are possible. I have to...

Obama for who he is and for what he believes is the only candidate I've ever seen who is capable of truly accomplishing these things. We love Hillary, but we desperately need more than just policy right now. We need societal inspiration and growth, and I think Hillary is incapable of delivering that.

That said, Mom, I [won't] tell you who to vote for. I understand your desire to vote for a woman of your generation. If I was in your shoes, I would do that proudly. But, I'll leave you with this: in the same spirit that Jon and I learned from you and Dad how to love politics, learn now from your children. It's time for a new generation to inherit the country and we need your help. So do your grandkids.

Your loving sonny boy,
Ben

Although Ben and Jon were clearly raised in a house where politics was part of everyday conversation (Jon told me that he was first introduced to politics on the shoulders of his father at a rally for Michael Dukakis at the age of four), it doesn't really matter whether or not politics is a regular topic of conversation among those closest to you -- each of us knows this election is far too important to not have our voices heard.

So, with less than twelve hours remaining before the first polling sites open for tomorrow's twenty-two state contest, take some time to let your friends, neighbors, and family members know that you'll be supporting Barack Obama in tomorrow's caucus or primary.

After all, you never know when your endorsement might be just the encouragement they need to caucus or cast their vote for Barack -- it worked for Ben and Jon. After getting the message above from her two sons, Emily told them that she'd be voting for Barack tomorrow, too.

Where Obama Stands: On Healthcare

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:57:57 EST

Plan for a Healthy America

“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates… My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.” — Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007

The Problem

Millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured because of rising medical costs: 47 million Americans — including nearly 9 million children — lack health insurance with no signs of this trend slowing down.

Health care costs are skyrocketing: Health insurance premiums have risen 4 times faster than wages over the past 6 years.

Too little is spent on prevention and public health: The nation faces epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases as well as new threats of pandemic flu and bioterrorism. Yet despite all of this less than 4 cents of every health care dollar is spent on prevention and public health.

Barack Obama's Plan

Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All

Obama's Plan to Cover Uninsured Americans: Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The Obama plan will have the following features:

Guaranteed eligibility. No American will be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditions.
Comprehensive benefits. The benefit package will be similar to that offered through Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the plan members of Congress have. The plan will cover all essential medical services, including preventive, maternity and mental health care.
Affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need financial assistance will receive an income-related federal subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan.
Simplified paperwork and reined in health costs.
Easy enrollment. The new public plan will be simple to enroll in and provide ready access to coverage.
Portability and choice. Participants in the new public plan and the National Health Insurance Exchange (see below) will be able to move from job to job without changing or jeopardizing their health care coverage.
Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.

National Health Insurance Exchange: The Obama plan will create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help individuals who wish to purchase a private insurance plan. The Exchange will act as a watchdog group and help reform the private insurance market by creating rules and standards for participating insurance plans to ensure fairness and to make individual coverage more affordable and accessible. Insurers would have to issue every applicant a policy, and charge fair and stable premiums that will not depend upon health status. The Exchange will require that all the plans offered are at least as generous as the new public plan and have the same standards for quality and efficiency. The Exchange would evaluate plans and make the differences among the plans, including cost of services, public.
Employer Contribution: Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan. Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt. * Mandatory Coverage of Children: Obama will require that all children have health care coverage. Obama will expand the number of options for young adults to get coverage, including allowing young people up to age 25 to continue coverage through their parents' plans.
Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP: Obama will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function. * Flexibility for State Plans: Due to federal inaction, some states have taken the lead in health care reform. The Obama plan builds on these efforts and does not replace what states are doing. States can continue to experiment, provided they meet the minimum standards of the national plan.

Lower Costs by Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System

Reducing Costs of Catastrophic Illnesses for Employers and Their Employees: Catastrophic health expenditures account for a high percentage of medical expenses for private insurers. The Obama plan would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers' premiums.

Helping Patients:

Support disease management programs. Seventy five percent of total health care dollars are spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Obama will require that providers that participate in the new public plan, Medicare or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) utilize proven disease management programs. This will improve quality of care, give doctors better information and lower costs.
Coordinate and integrate care. Over 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease and these chronic conditions cost a staggering $1.7 trillion yearly. Obama will support implementation of programs and encourage team care that will improve coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions.
Require full transparency about quality and costs. Obama will require hospitals and providers to collect and publicly report measures of health care costs and quality, including data on preventable medical errors, nurse staffing ratios, hospital-acquired infections, and disparities in care. Health plans will also be required to disclose the percentage of premiums that go to patient care as opposed to administrative costs.

Click on the title of the post to read about Barack's healthcare plan.

Hoy (Chicago) Endorses Barack Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:15:31 EST

This past Saturday, Hoy, the most widely circulated Spanish-language newspaper in Chicago, announced its endorsement of Barack Obama (en espanol). This is the first time that Hoy has felt the urgency to a endorse a candidate for President.

At the age of 46, and with three years experience in Washington D.C., Senator Barack Obama represents a generational change in the broken power structure.

The son of an immigrant father and an American mother, Obama knows the challenges facing those deprived of privileges, when facing the uphill climb to success.

The Senator is capable of compromising with those who think differently, and has the strength to renew the hopes of those who have come to this country in search of a better life.

We admit that Senator Hillary Clinton has political experience, however, we think that it is important to remember that she is also a polarizing figure for whom it would be difficult to reach bipartisan compromises. We also believe that it is relevant to assure citizens that they will actually be governed by the person they voted for.

Obama promised, like Clinton, to work for immigration reform. That, without any doubt, is a sign of hope.

Although we disagree with both of them for voting in favor of building a wall along the southern border, we know that legal reforms can be achieved by someone who builds bridges. Someone like Obama.

We, the Latinos, are a mostly young population, with great dreams and hunger for success. For that reason we consider that Barack Obama is the Democratic Party's best option, to give back to the country a national unity that includes Hispanic talent.

Where Obama Stands: On Education

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:00:40 EST

A World class education

“I don't want to send another generation of American children to failing schools. I don't want that future for my daughters. I don't want that future for your sons. I do not want that future for America.”
— Barack Obama, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007

Watch the video:

No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind: The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support and pay those teachers.

Students Left Behind: Six million middle and high school students read significantly below their grade level. A full third of high school graduates do not immediately go on to college. American 15 year olds rank 28th out of 40 countries in mathematics and 19th out of 40 countries in science. Almost 30 percent of students in their first year of college are forced to take remedial science and math classes because they are not prepared.

High Dropout Rate: America has one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world. Only 70 percent of U.S. high school students graduate with a diploma. African American and Latino students are significantly less likely to graduate than white students.

Teacher Retention is a Problem: Thirty percent of new teachers leave within their first five years in the profession.

Soaring College Costs: College costs have grown nearly 40 percent in the past five years. The average graduate leaves college with over $19,000 in debt. And between 2001 and 2010, 2 million academically qualified students will not go to college because they cannot afford it. Finally, our complicated maze of tax credits and applications leaves too many students unaware of financial aid available to them.

Click on the title of the post to read about Barack's education plan.

Hoy (Chicago) Apoya a Barack Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:56:17 EST

Hoy, el periódico de mas circulación en Español de Chicago, a anunciado su apoyo a Barack Obama. Es la primera vez que este periódico ha sentido la necesidad de anunciar su apoyo a un candidato para Presidente.

Con 46 años de edad y tres años de experiencia en Washington D.C., el senador Barack Obama representa un cambio generacional en las descompuestas estructuras del poder.

Como hijo de un padre inmigrante y una madre estadounidense, Obama conoce los retos que encaran aquellos exentos de privilegios cuando caminan el sendero cuesta arriba hacia el éxito.

El senador es capaz de llegar a acuerdos con quienes piensan distinto y posee la fuerza para renovar la esperanza de quienes han venido a este país en busca de una vida mejor.

Reconocemos que la senadora Hillary Clinton tiene experiencia en la política, sin embargo, pensamos que es importante recordar que también es una figura polarizadora a quien le serán difíciles los acuerdos bipartidistas. También creemos que es relevante que los ciudadanos estén seguros de que serán gobernados, en efecto, por la persona por la que emitieron su voto. Obama prometió, como Clinton, trabajar por una reforma migratoria. Sin duda, es un signo de esperanza.

A pesar de que estamos en desacuerdo con el voto de ambos a favor de la construcción de un muro en la frontera sur, sabemos que las reformas legales podrán ser logradas por alguien que tienda puentes. Alguien como Obama.

Los latinos somos una población mayoritariamente joven con grandes sueños y hambre de triunfo. Por eso, consideramos que en el Partido Demócrata Barack Obama es la mejor opción para devolver al país la unidad nacional que incluya el reconocimiento del talento de los hispanos.

Where Obama Stands: On Energy and the Environment

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:15:16 EST

Plan for a Clean Energy Future

"Well, I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That's why I've fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels. That's why I reached across the aisle to come up with a plan to raise our fuel standards… And I didn't just give a speech about it in front of some environmental audience in California. I went to Detroit, I stood in front of a group of automakers, and I told them that when I am president, there will be no more excuses -- we will help them retool their factories, but they will have to make cars that use less oil." -- Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, October 14, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

Cap and Trade: Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama's cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition.
Confront Deforestation and Promote Carbon Sequestration: Obama will develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers, and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands, or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Invest in a Clean Energy Future

Invest $150 Billion over 10 Years in Clean Energy: Obama will invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial-scale renewable energy, invest in low-emissions coal plants, and begin the transition to a new digital electricity grid. A principal focus of this fund will be devoted to ensuring that technologies that are developed in the U.S. are rapidly commercialized in the U.S. and deployed around the globe.
Double Energy Research and Development Funding: Obama will double science and research funding for clean energy projects including those that make use of our biomass, solar and wind resources.
Invest in a Skilled Clean Technologies Workforce: Obama will use proceeds from the cap-and-trade auction program to invest in job training and transition programs to help workers and industries adapt to clean technology development and production. Obama will also create an energy-focused Green Jobs Corps to connect disconnected and disadvantaged youth with job skills for a high-growth industry.
Convert our Manufacturing Centers into Clean Technology Leaders: Obama will establish a federal investment program to help manufacturing centers modernize and Americans learn the new skills they need to produce green products.
Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund: Obama will create a Clean Technologies Venture Capital Fund to fill a critical gap in U.S. technology development. Obama will invest $10 billion per year into this fund for five years. The fund will partner with existing investment funds and our National Laboratories to ensure that promising technologies move beyond the lab and are commercialized in the U.S
Require 25 Percent of Renewable Electricity by 2025: Obama will establish a 25 percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources, like solar, wind and geothermal by 2025.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology: Obama will significantly increase the resources devoted to the commercialization and deployment of low-carbon coal technologies. Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.

Support Next Generation Biofuels

Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013.
Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Barack Obama will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuels suppliers to reduce the carbon their fuel emits by ten percent by 2020.
Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030.

Set America on Path to Oil Independence

Obama's plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations in 2030.

Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.

Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030

Set National Building Efficiency Goals: Barack Obama will establish a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral, or produce zero emissions, by 2030. He'll also establish a national goal of improving new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade to help us meet the 2030 goal.
Establish a Grant Program for Early Adopters: Obama will create a competitive grant program to award those states and localities that take the first steps to implement new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency.
Invest in a Digital Smart Grid: Obama will pursue a major investment in our utility grid to enable a tremendous increase in renewable generation and accommodate modern energy requirements, such as reliability, smart metering, and distributed storage

Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change

Create New Forum of Largest Greenhouse Gas Emitters: Obama will create a Global Energy Forum -- that includes all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa -the largest energy consuming nations from both the developed and developing world. The forum would focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
Re-Engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change: The UNFCCC process is the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem and an Obama administration will work constructively within it.

Barack Obama's Record

Renewable Fuels: Obama has worked on numerous efforts in the Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels. Obama passed legislation with Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend. Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.
CAFE: Obama introduced a bold new plan that brought Republicans and Democrats, CAFE supporters and long-time opponents together in support of legislation that will gradually increase fuel economy standards and offer what the New York Times editorial page called "real as opposed to hypothetical results."

Whose supporting Barack's plan? See the list of over 150 environmental leaders supporting Barack's Plan for Energy and the Environment.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Energy Plan

Read the Environment Plan

Read the Speech

Where Obama Stands: On Iraq

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:00:29 EST

Plan for Ending the War in Iraq

“But conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war. The pundits judged the political winds to be blowing in the direction of the President. Despite - or perhaps because of how much experience they had in Washington, too many politicians feared looking weak and failed to ask hard questions. Too many took the President at his word instead of reading the intelligence for themselves. Congress gave the President the authority to go to war. Our only opportunity to stop the war was lost.

I made a different judgment. I thought our priority had to be finishing the fight in Afghanistan. I spoke out against what I called "a rash war' in Iraq. I worried about, ‘an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.’ The full accounting of those costs and consequences will only be known to history. But the picture is beginning to come into focus.”

—Barack Obama, Clinton, Iowa, September 12, 2007

The Problem

The Surge: The goal of the surge was to create space for Iraq's political leaders to reach an agreement to end Iraq's civil war. At great cost, our troops have helped reduce violence in some areas of Iraq, but even those reductions do not get us below the unsustainable levels of violence of mid-2006. Moreover, Iraq's political leaders have made no progress in resolving the political differences at the heart of their civil war.

Military Strain: The military is being severely strained by repeated and lengthy deployments. The Army and Marine Corps are facing a crisis as 40 percent of their equipment is either in Iraq or being repaired. This crisis has led many of our generals to conclude that current demands make our forces unable to rapidly respond to the contingencies we may face in the future.

Barack Obama's Plan

Judgment You Can Trust

As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.” Obama has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in Iraq.

In 2003 and 2004, he spoke out against the war on the campaign trail;
In 2005, he called for a phased withdrawal of our troops;
In 2006, he called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq’s neighbors;
In January 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to remove all of our combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.
In September 2007, he laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president.

Bringing Our Troops Home

Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.

Press Iraq’s Leaders to Reconcile

The best way to press Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving. As we remove our troops, Obama will engage representatives from all levels of Iraqi society – in and out of government – to seek a new accord on Iraq’s Constitution and governance. The United Nations will play a central role in this convention, which should not adjourn until a new national accord is reached addressing tough questions like federalism and oil revenue-sharing.

Regional Diplomacy

Obama will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq’s neighbors — including Iran and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq’s borders; keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq; isolate al Qaeda; support reconciliation among Iraq’s sectarian groups; and provide financial support for Iraq’s reconstruction.

Humanitarian Initiative

Obama believes that America has a moral and security responsibility to confront Iraq’s humanitarian crisis — two million Iraqis are refugees; two million more are displaced inside their own country. Obama will form an international working group to address this crisis. He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe-haven.

Barack Obama's Record

Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. In 2002, as the conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war, Obama had the judgment and courage to speak out against the war. He said the war would lead to "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences." In January 2007, Obama introduced legislation to responsibly end the war in Iraq, with a phased withdrawal of troops engaged in combat operations.
Obama has a plan to immediately begin withdrawing our troops engaged in combat operations at a pace of one or two brigades every month, to be completed by the end of next year. He would call for a new constitutional convention in Iraq, convened with the United Nations, which would not adjourn until Iraq's leaders reach a new accord on reconciliation. He would use presidential leadership to surge our diplomacy with all of the nations of the region on behalf of a new regional security compact. And he would take immediate steps to confront the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Iraq.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Plan

Read the Speech

Barack Obama on El Pistolero

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:55:01 EST

On Friday, Barack was on El Show del Pistolero y Memin, the nation's #1 Latino radio show for listeners 18-34, where he had the opportunity to talk about a range of issues facing the Latino community around the country.

At one point in the discussion, Pistolero asked Barack what he meant when he talks about change. Here's how he responded:

Well I think that our economy has been getting weaker, that ordinary working people are having difficulty; they don't have health care. Our schools are not doing what they need to do in terms of providing the educational opportunities for our children. It is harder to afford college. There are just a whole set of issues in which we have to invest in our people.

In the clip from the program below (full english/spanish transcript after the jump), Barack discuses how his plans to pass the DREAM act and healthcare reform play in to that vision.

Where Obama Stands: On Immigration

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:45:46 EST

"The time to fix our broken immigration system is now… We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace… But for reform to work, we also must respond to what pulls people to America… Where we can reunite families, we should. Where we can bring in more foreign-born workers with the skills our economy needs, we should"

-- Barack Obama, Statement on U.S. Senate Floor, May 23, 2007

The Problem

Undocumented population is exploding: The number of undocumented immigrants in the country has increased more than 40 percent since 2000. Every year, more than a half-million people come illegally or illegally overstay their visas.

Immigration bureaucracy is broken: The immigration bureaucracy is broken and overwhelmed, forcing legal immigrants to wait years for applications.

Immigration raids are ineffective: Despite a sevenfold increase in recent years, immigration raids only netted 3,600 arrests in 2006 and have placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families.

Barack Obama's Plan

Create Secure Borders
Obama wants to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.

Improve Our Immigration System
Obama believes we must fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants to keep families together and meet the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally
Obama will remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

Bring People Out of the Shadows
Obama supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

Work with Mexico
Obama believes we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration.

Barack Obama's Record

Crack Down on Employers: Obama championed a proposal to create a system so employers can verify that their employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Fix the Bureaucracy: Obama joined Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to introduce the Citizenship Promotion Act to ensure that immigration application fees are both reasonable and fair. Obama also introduced legislation that passed the Senate to improve the speed and accuracy of FBI background checks.
Respect Families: Obama introduced amendments to put greater emphasis on keeping immigrant families together.

For More Information about Barack's Plan

Read the Plan

Senator Obama also spoke on the issue of Immigration (and a number of issues that impact the Latino community) during a speech at the National Council of La Raza this past July. You can see that full speech below:

Where Obama Stands: On the Economy

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:36:26 EST

Plan to Strengthen the Economy

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”

— Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Barack Obama's Plan

As president, Barack Obama will implement a 21st century economic agenda to help ensure that America can compete in a global economy, and ensure the middle class is thriving and growing. He will increase investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, and research and development; modernize and simplify our tax code so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans; and implement trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods.

Tax Fairness for the Middle Class

Provide a “Making Work Pay” Tax Cut for America's Working Families: The American people work longer and harder than those in any other wealthy nation in the world. But their hours are getting longer and their wages aren't getting any higher. In addition they are being squeezed by rising health care, education and energy costs. Rather than relieving the burden on working families, the current administration has provided tax cut after tax cut to the wealthiest Americans and enacted tax breaks for the most well-connected corporations. Barack Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they deserve. Obama will create a new “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. This refundable income tax credit will provide direct relief to American families who face the regressive payroll tax system. It will offset the payroll tax on the first $8,100 of their earnings while still preserving the important principle of a dedicated revenue source for Social Security. The “Making Work Pay” tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans. The tax credit will also provide relief to self-employed small business owners who struggle to pay both the employee and employer portion of the payroll tax. The “Making Work Pay” tax credit offsets some of this self-employment tax as well.

Create a Universal Mortgage Credit: Owning a home is the culmination of the American dream for so many Americans. The tax code is supposed to encourage home ownership with a mortgage interest deduction, but it goes only to people who itemize their tax deductions. Like so much in our tax code, this tilts the scales toward the well-off. The current mortgage interest deduction excludes nearly two-thirds of Americans who do not itemize their taxes. Barack Obama will ensure that anyone with a mortgage, not just the well-off, can take advantage of this tax incentive for homeownership by creating a universal mortgage credit. This 10 percent credit will benefit an additional 10 million homeowners, the majority of whom earn less than $50,000 per year. Non-itemizers will be eligible for this refundable credit, which will provide the average recipient with approximately $500 per year in tax savings. This tax credit will also help homeowners deal with the uncertain state of the housing market today.

Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit: In the Illinois State Senate, Obama led the successful effort to create the $100 million Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). As president, Obama will reward work by increasing the number of working parents eligible for EITC benefits, increasing the benefit available to parents who support their children through child support payments, increasing the benefit for families with three or more children and reducing the EITC marriage penalty which hurts low-income families. Under the Obama plan, full-time workers making minimum wage would get an EITC benefit up to $555, more than three times greater than the $175 benefit they get today. If the workers are responsibly supporting their children on child support, the Obama plan would give those workers a benefit of $1,110. The Obama plan would also increase the EITC benefit for those families that are most likely to be in poverty &endash; families with three or more children.

Eliminate Income Taxes for Seniors Making Less Than $50,000:
Since the New Deal we’ve had a basic understanding in America: If you work hard and pay into the system, you’ve earned the right to a secure retirement. But too many seniors aren’t getting that security, even though they’ve held up their end of the bargain. Lower and middle income seniors are struggling as their expenses on health and energy skyrocket while their incomes do not keep pace. This strain has been greater since 1993, when taxes on social security benefits were raised. Millions of seniors saw their net benefits go down.

Seniors also had to take on the added strain – and sometimes cost – of filing a complicated tax return. And after going through all of these complicated calculations, many seniors find that they owe little or no tax, meaning that all of the hassle was for naught.

Barack Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year. This will eliminate any income tax for nearly seven million seniors at a savings of roughly $1,400 each year. For many seniors, this will eliminate the need to hire a tax preparer, resulting in even larger savings.
Enable Millions of Americans to Complete Tax Returns in 5 Minutes: The tax code has become too complicated. Too many Americans have to pay for expert advice to fill out long forms and comply with complex requirements. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimated in 2004 that it took more than 28 hours for an individual to complete his/her tax filing, and that half of the taxpayers filing the “easy” forms ended up paying a tax preparer to do it for them. Barack Obama will dramatically simplify tax filings so that millions of Americans will be able to do their taxes in less than 5 minutes. Currently, the IRS receives Americans’ financial information directly from employers and banks. Obama will ensure that the IRS uses this information to give taxpayers the option of a pre-filled tax forms to verify, sign and return to the IRS or online. This will eliminate the need for Americans to hire expensive tax preparers and to gather information that the federal government already has on file. Experts estimate that the Obama proposal will save Americans up to 200 million total hours of work and aggravation and up to $2 billion in tax preparer fees.

Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Barack Obama will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university. And by making the tax credit fully refundable, Obama’s credit will help low-income families that need it the most. Obama will also ensure that the tax credit is available to families at the time of enrollment by using prior year’s tax data to deliver the credit at the time that tuition is due, rather than a year or more later when tax returns are filed.

Expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit provides too little relief to families that struggle to afford child care expenses. Currently the credit only covers up to 35 percent of the first $3,000 of child care expenses a family incurs for one child and the first $6,000 for a family with two or more children. And the credit is not refundable, which means that upper-income families disproportionately benefit while families who make under $50,000 a year receive less than a third of the tax credit. Barack Obama will reform the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit by making it refundable and allowing low-income families to receive up to a 50 percent credit for their child care expenses. Coupled with Obama’s “Making Work Pay” tax credit, this proposal will help put more money directly in the pockets of hardworking low and middle-income parents.

Click on the title of this post for the rest of Obama's plan to strengthen our economy.

La Opinion Apoya a Barack Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:44:52 EST

La Opinión, el periódico en Español de mas circulación en el país, ha anunciado su apoyo a Barack Obama para Presidente...

La opción demócrata es Barack Obama

El Partido Demócrata llega a la primaria de California con una oferta histórica entre dos candidatos extraordinarios. Creemos que entre ellos el senador Barack Obama representa realmente el cambio en una campaña en que "el cambio" es el tema central. Los puntos sobre inmigración del legislador de Illinois y su visión inspiradora es lo que necesita el país para salir del sentimiento actual de agotamiento político.

No hay duda de que la senadora Hillary Clinton sería una presidenta excelente si fuera electa. Es una mujer capaz, competente, disciplinada y trabajadora que ha demostrado talento como legisladora y que tiene la posición correcta en la mayoría de los temas. Su plan para un seguro de salud universal es un ejemplo de las valiosas iniciativas que ha propuesto la candidata. Sería grandioso poder elegir a la primera mujer presidente de esta nación.

La senadora ha obtenido un respaldo significativo de influyentes y reconocidos líderes nacionales latinos como Raúl Yzaguirre, Henry Cisneros y el alcalde Antonio Villaraigosa. Ella trabajó arduamente durante muchos años representando el mejor interés de los latinos y su compromiso personal esta documentado a lo largo de esta campaña.

Sin embargo, este es un momento histórico donde la gran capacidad y experiencia de la senadora es insuficiente para brindar al país el sentido de renovación que necesita después de ocho años de George W. Bush.

Nos ha desilusionado también la calculada oposición de Clinton a las licencias de conducir para los indocumentados, que contrasta con la contundencia de los argumentos de Obama a favor de las mismas. Sabemos que eso es muy controversial, pero hay una sola posición correcta y es la del legislador de Illinois. Ambos senadores respaldan una reforma integral de inmigración, pero Obama es el único que se comprometió a presentar de nuevo el proyecto de ley durante su primer año de gobierno.

Ese mismo compromiso con el tema migratorio llevó a Obama a condenar en un debate las mentiras que se dicen maliciosamente sobre ellos; a comprender la necesidad de las licencias y a defender a los estudiantes indocumentados con la coautoría del DREAM Act en la Legislatura. El senador ha mostrado carácter, manteniendo su línea pese al antagonismo del clima político.

Al mismo tiempo, no existe una gran diferencia entre los dos demócratas en la mayoría de los temas más importantes; por eso la visión marca la diferencia. Obama tiene un mensaje inclusivo y de esperanza, necesario para los momentos que vive el país. Él reúne las condiciones conciliadoras para revertir el círculo vicioso de rencor que desde hace décadas predomina en Washing-ton y paraliza las grandes decisiones necesarias.

Necesitamos un presidente que de nuevo inspire y una a los ciudadanos alrededor de las grandes posibilidades que nos brinda el futuro. Obama es el líder adecuado para este momento. Sabemos que no es muy conocido en nuestra comunidad y si bien tiene el respaldo de María Elena Durazo, del senador Gil Cedillo y de otros. No obstante, es quien hoy merece el respaldo de la comunidad latina.

Los demócratas ya están haciendo historia al tener que decidir su candidato a presidente entre una mujer y un afroamericano.

Barak Obama tiene la sensibilidad de un origen humilde, de un hogar multicultural y es la mejor opción para un cambio visionario.

Nearly 20,000 Stand Up for Change in Minneapolis

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:14:57 EST

Barack just finished up at a huge, incredibly fired up rally in Minneapolis, MN.

Take a look at these photos...

Ethel Kennedy Anuncia su Apoyo a Barack Obama para Presidente

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:06:47 EST

Chicago, IL - Hoy, la campana de Obama anuncio el apoyo de Ethel Kennedy. En su comunicado de apoyo, la Sra. Kennedy comparo al Senador Obama con su esposo, el fallecido Robert F. Kennedy, y cito la habilidad de Obama de unificar el país y guiar a los Estados Unidos hacia un futuro mas optimista.

"Me he sentido muy honrado al enterarme de las palabras de la Señora Kennedy." dijo el Senador Obama. "Pocas personas ocupan un lugar tan querido en el corazón del pueblo Americano; y es un honor extraordinario tener su apoyo."

A continuación, el texto completo del comunicado de la Sra. Kennedy:

"Durante los últimos años, he visto al Senador Obama inspirar a Americanos de todas las clases sociales, razas e ideologías a creer en un cambio real y ha tener un nuevo sentido de esperanza y de oportunidades. El es una fuerza magnética, que une a la nación para el bien común y despierta en todos nosotros el deseo de ayudar a formar el futuro de nuestro país.

Barack se me parece tanto a Bobby, quien lucho por los derechos de los pobres en el Delta de Mississippi y Appalachia, viajando a California para luchar en solidaridad con Cesar Chavez y los trabajadores agrícolas, y peleo para darle fin a otra guerra que costo tantas vidas.

Hoy, nosotros ansiamos un líder con visión, que nos pueda ayudar recuperar nuestra humanidad y encender la llama de generosidad que siempre hemos tenido. Con coraje, corazón y carisma, el Senador Obama nos esta guiando hacia un mundo mas generoso.

La candidatura del Senador Obama emana 'olas de esperanza' que puedan formar 'una corriente, que pueda derribar los muros mas fuertes de opresión y resistencia.' Yo estoy muy orgullosa de brindarle mi apoyo a Barack Obama y ansió ver el día en que el este guiando nuestro país hacia un futuro mucho mas brillante y optimista."

Senator Kennedy on El Piolin

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:50:44 EST

Yesterday, Senator Ted Kennedy was on Piolin por la Mañana, the number one morning radio show in the country, and took some time to talk about Barack's commitment to Latinos, families, and comprehensive immigration reform.

Barack, Senator Kennedy pointed out, has been consistently willing to stand up for the rights of immigrants even when others wouldn't.

Only two senators marched for immigrant rights on May 1, 2006, one in Washington and the other in Chicago. I marched in Washington and Barack Obama marched in Chicago. He was not afraid to stand up when others wouldn't... I'm committed to coming back on the immigration bill and Barack Obama will be with me. He is the one candidate who has said that he can do this in his first term. There's too many people that are living in the shadows. Men and women of dignity who love their families who love their faith. I'm on their side and Barack Obama is on their side.

Here's the full recording of the visit (complete English & Spanish transcript here)...

Last August, Barack had the chance to discuss similar issues with Piolin in person.

You can listen to a full recording of that discussion in the audio player below, but you can hear Barack speak a little bit about his role in the May Day marches in 2006 about eight minutes and twenty seconds in.

Find out more about what how Barack will work to secure our borders, fix our broken immigration system, and respect famlies by reading his full plan for comprehensive immigration reform.

Senador Kennedy Estuvo en el Programa de Piolin en la Mañana

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:27:13 EST

Ayer, el Senador Ted Kennedy estuvo en "Piolin por la Mañana," el programa de radio mas escuchado de todo el país, y se tomó el tiempo de hablar sobre el compromiso que tiene Barack con los Latinos, las familias y la reforma migratoria integral.

El Senador Kennedy mencionó que Barack ha continuado luchando por los derechos de inmigrantes, cuando otros no han querido hacerlo.

Solo dos senadores marcharon el 1 de Mayo, 2006 en solidaridad con inmigrantes, uno en Washington y el otro en Chicago. Yo marche en Washington y Barack Obama marcho en Chicago. El no hesito en asistir las marchas y continuo a ser vocal en asuntos de derechos de inmigrantes cuando otros no lo quisieron hacer….Yo prometo regresar a la legislación de inmigración y Barack Obama lo hará conmigo. El es el primer candidato que ha dicho que lo va lograr en su primer termino.

Aquí esta la grabación de la entrevista (texto completo en Español e Ingles aquí)

En Agosto del año pasado, Barack tuvo la oportunidad de tocar estos temas con Piolin en persona.

A continuación, se puede escuchar la grabación bilingüe (Ingles/Español) y a los 8 minutos y 20 segundos, se puede escuchar los comentarios de Obama sobre su papel en las marchas del 1 de Mayo de 2006.

Fresno Bee Endorses Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:44:31 EST

Yesterday, the Fresno Bee endorsed Barack for President.

[Obama] has the integrity and persuasive skills to address the nation's many challenges, and move America forward.

The agenda facing the next president is long and contentious: reforming immigration and Social Security, extricating the U.S. from Iraq, fighting terrorism, fixing an ailing economy, finding a way to offer decent health care to all, improving the environment.

We think Obama would take on these tough issues, even if senior members of his own party would rather duck them. On some issues important to the San Joaquin Valley, he holds moderate views and the potential to work with representatives from both parties to get them accomplished. He is a co-sponsor of an agriculture guest-worker bill that would help assure that Valley farms get the workers they need to harvest crops. He supports California's effort to impose stiffer greenhouse gas regulations...

Critics say Obama's lack of experience at the highest levels of government might lead to mistakes. But that risk is smaller, in our view, than the benefit of moving on from the current generation of politicians who have dominated presidential politics longer than some young voters have been alive.

Obama is the best choice for the Democratic nomination on Tuesday.

Read the full endorsement below.

O-Mentum Continues to Build in Feb. 5 States

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:45:11 EST

All across the country, Obama supporters in each of the twenty-two states voting or caucusing on February 5 have been building their organizations on the tremendous momentum that was generated by this past Saturday's huge win in South Carolina and the number of major endorsements Barack has received since.

In New Mexico, in addition to helping Barack win the Sandoval County straw poll, supporters are working hard to let potential supporters know that Barack is the best candidate for President in a variety of languages.

Meanwhile, in Delaware, Greg Craig, a former advisor to Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Assistant and Special Counsel to President Clinton, spoke to student supporters and staffers about Barack's foreign policy proposals and positions.

Down in Arkansas, over 100 Obama supporters met up at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff attended an information session to find out more about the movement behind Barack in their state.

While folks in Pine Bluff found out how they could help on Monday, the Arkansas team is holding similar meetings throughout the state in the days ahead.

The fact is, wherever you are in the country, one thing is for certain: Folks supporting Barack Obama in each and every one of the February 5 states are fired up and working hard to make sure he wins across the country next Tuesday.

LIVE from South Carolina Victory Rally

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:14:52 EST

This room is just starting to fill and the electricity and excitement is almost unbearable.

The line outside the convention center stretched the length of the convention center and then some. The mood out in the cold? Nothing short of elation!

We didn't just win tonight, we changed the way the game can be won by almost every measure. South Carolina will never be the same again.

And the best part? We did it because people said, "Yes, we can!"

This is our night and in a few short minutes we'll hear from the man who help us do it.

Here's some video from the victory party...

Barack Stops By Bethlehem Baptist Church in Columbia, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:50:29 EST

Earlier this morning, Barack stopped by Bethlehem Baptist Church in Columbia, SC to speak and pray with a group of congregates.

Barack also thanked the group for their support and encouraged them to get their friends, family, and fellow church members out to the polls. "Every vote counts," he said. "That's why it so crucial that we turn out every voter we can."

Do you know someone who might not have made it out to the polls just yet? Give them a call and ask them to come vote with you. Even if you can't take them to the polls yourself, sometimes it just takes one call to turn friend or family member into an agent of change.

Whatever you do, make sure you double check your polling place before you head out the door and call the SC voter assistance hotline at 877-622-6228 if you or the person you're bringing out to hte polls has any questions about voting.

Video: Barack Fires Up Florence, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:30:26 EST

Immediately prior to last night's amazing pre-primary rally in Columbia, Barack was in Florence, SC, getting the Pee Dee fired up and ready to vote today.

Take a look at the crowd and the energy...

Did you fight off fear and doubt and already vote for hope and change in South Carolina this morning? If so, make check in on friends, family, and neighbors and make sure they've gone out and cast their vote for Barack. They can find their polling place online here.

Know someone who might need a ride to their polling place? Tell them to call our toll-free, voter assistance hotline at 877-622-6228 and a campaign volunteer will answer any questions they might have about voting and arrange a ride to the polls if they need it.

Video: South Carolina's Time to Stand for Change

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:13:17 EST

Take a look at this unbelievable video from last night's rally in Columbia and you'll see just how fired up South Carolina is to work hard for every vote today and make sure that the Palmetto State pushes this nationwide movement forward.

Are you ready to stand up with Barack, too? Make sure you have the right polling place online before you head out the door and, if you need a ride to the polls or have any questions about voting, please don't hesitate to call our toll-free voter assistance hotline, 877-622-6228.

7:00 AM EST: Polls Just Opened in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:02:34 EST

South Carolina, our moment is now! Fired Up! Ready to go!

Double check your polling place before you head out the door. Some polling locations may have been changed for this election.

Capacity Crowd at Stand Up for Change Rally in Columbia, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:37:12 EST

Just hours before South Carolinians begin casting their vote in the Democratic Primary, Barack rallied a capacity crowd at the Koger Center in downtown Columbia, SC.

The theater was massive and filled to the brim with screaming supporters when Michelle Obama hit the stage to introduce Barack and former SC Governor and Obama supporter, Jim Hodges.

Former Gov. Hodges really fired up the crowd by joking that, "Clemson was louder earlier today." The crowd, filled with SC Gamecocks, roared with disapproval and got even louder.

Already fired up, when Barack finally took to the stage, the crowd was probably one of the loudest I've ever heard. The Koger Center almost shook with the cheering.

Without a doubt, it was one of the best rallies this campaign has ever seen and a perfect way to kick-off the day all of us have been waiting for -- Primary Day!

Today is our day, South Carolina. This is our time.

With polls open in less than five hours, the time for action is now. Find your polling location online now and, in the morning, make sure you reach out to younger and older friends and neighbors and make sure that they're able to get to the polls, too.

Take a look at some of the other pictures from tonight's rally.

Stand for Change Rally in Columbia is Filling Up

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:35:26 EST

With just 20 minutes to go before Barack hits the stage for his final rally before tomorrow's South Carolina Democratic Primary, this place is really starting to fill up.

Take a look at some of the photos I took 30 minutes ago...

This is going to be one amazing rally. Are you ready, South Carolina?

We'll check back with you at the end of the rally, but, in the meantime, if you're here in South Carolina, take the time to double check your polling place online while you wait.

Barack Fires Up Over 5,000 in Clemson

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:15:36 EST

Barack fired up a huge, outdoor rally at Clemson University earlier this afternoon.

In fact, the crowd of students and supporters was so large that some had to join in from the balconies of surrounding buildings.

The best part of the rally was that everyone was feeding off the energy in the crowd, even Barack.

Clearly the Upstate is fired up and ready to vote for Barack tomorrow.

Check out the complete set of pictures below and check back for video from the event later this evening.

Are you ready to vote tomorrow? Double check your polling place online and remember that polls open from 7:00 AM through 7:00pm.

Doing Something "Different" in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:51:19 EST

This morning's Charleston Post & Courier had this amazing story about the grassroots movement supporters all throughout the Palmetto State have created behind Barack Obama.

Obama, Clinton take different paths to win voters

Before Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama appeared to talk to a few thousand people earlier this month at the College of Charleston, a student asked those in the audience to send a text message to his campaign if they wanted a shot at a free T-shirt or better seats.

Dozens and dozens of students and others instantly whipped out their cell phones and began tapping the buttons.

This was no ordinary raffle.

In those few minutes, the campaign got a very long list of cell numbers of potential supporters, so it could text them back and make sure they get out to vote.

Political observers say that's just one of the innovative tactics the Illinois senator has used during the past year, tactics that have helped him catch and surpass Sen. Hillary Clinton in the polls here.

"His grass-roots movement here in South Carolina is unlike anything I've ever seen," said former state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, an Obama supporter.

...

Steve Hildebrand, who has coordinated Obama's campaign strategy for early-voting states said the grass-roots approach used here is similar to the campaign's work in earlier states.

"The South Carolina twist was one of the most innovative. Jeremy Bird, our field director, came up with it," he said. "We would get a volunteer supporter to hold a house meeting and invite friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers. About 15 to 20 people. We would get together and talk about Barack and educate people more about who he is. We would show a short video. At the end, we would ask, 'Are you ready to commit to Barack?' "

Those who said yes would be asked to hold their own house meetings.

"We held over 2,000 of those across South Carolina," Hildebrand said. "That's really where we built our volunteer base and our initial supporters."

The Obama campaign will be relying on this team Saturday.

See the full story here.

Barack will be relying on amazing team of volunteers tomorrow to get out the vote here in South Carolina, but can he rely on you for your vote? Find your polling place online now to make sure your a part of the wave of change that will sweep across the Palmetto State tomorrow.

Planning on being a part of that amazing team of volunteers tomorrow? Find your County Election Commission here and make sure you cast your absentee in-person vote today, so you can turn out even more voters tomorrow.

SC Black News Endorses Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:40:45 EST

The SC Black News, the largest African American paper in South Carolina, joined The State, the Rock Hill Hearld, and the Greenville News in endorsing Barack for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

SC Black News endorses Barack Obama

South Carolina's largest African American newspaper announces their endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Senator Obama's message has remained consistent throughout this arduous process and throughout his career. His intent to hold the office of President appears to be genuinely selfless and not ego-driven, but driven by the need to bring this country, and the world together. We find him to be the most qualified to lift this country out of the despair and his approach to the political process refreshing and inspiring. Race has little to do with our endorsement. It is the content of the message and the character of the candidates that has moved us in this direction. Senator Clinton and Senator Edwards bring many fresh ideas to the table and we respect their candidacies, but neither brings the kind of hope and vision we feel necessary to navigate our country successfully through the perilous challenges that lie ahead.

While the differences in the democratic candidates' positions are really quite small, the tactics in which they have been delivered have undeniably influenced popular opinion. It may be impossible to negate the fact that when spokespeople are speaking off the cuff on your behalf, some less than diplomatic statements and responses may occur. However, Senator Clinton's camp has repeatedly employed questionable attacks on Senator Obama's character that have no place in the new political millennium as it relates to the racial divide.

In her eagerness to point out how white presidents can get things done, she in effect relegated Dr. King's sacrifice for racial equality to nothing more than a supportive role. And that came directly out of her mouth, not her husband's, a politico supporter's or a celebrity hired gun designed to reach out to the African American population. If indeed the barrage of attacks are unscripted and not part of a larger strategy to undermine Senator Obama, then they are at best indicative of a much larger problem. If she is unable to control and steer her campaign clear of divisive political disparages, how can she be expected to effectively run a country amid great partisan divide on varying critical issues? Senator Edwards has not availed himself to Black News after repeated attempts to establish a report. His message is strong in that he is for worker's rights, the less privileged, the unemployed and the underemployed, but his lack of effort to reach out to our readership has greatly influenced our position with his overall campaign.

Obama has proven himself to be unaffected by insider political maneuvering. He politically strives to bring constructive dialogue to a problem and is truly a man of vision and embodies the spirit of cooperation that has eluded us for the past seven years. In a speech given last fall, Obama said, "What we cannot continue to do is operate as if we are the weakest nation in the world instead of the strongest one, because that's not who we are and that's not what the US has been about, historically. It is starting to warp our domestic policies, as well. We haven't even talked about civil liberties and the impact of that politics of fear--what that has done to us, in terms of undermining basic civil liberties in this country, what it has done in terms of our reputation around the world." He has proven that through hard work, commitment and sound reason, we can come together as a nation to correct the evils that plague us, both domestically and abroad.

We feel his ability to work with both sides of the aisle far eclipses the other candidates' ability to effectively run a bi-partisan government and bring our country out of the darkness that now surrounds it. We believe Obama has the integrity and clarity needed to steer clear of such harmful digression and he will be able to affect change that can enrich us all. He has worked for civil rights, human rights and women's rights throughout his career in activism, law and politics. It is his commitment to equality for all Americans that resonates with us - and the country.

Senator Obama's record as a person who will work for change, champion those who need it most while maintaining an integral, innate sense of justice speaks for itself. Experience has been one of the most debated topics among the democrats. As a civil rights attorney and professor of constitutional law, Obama has a keen understanding and deep appreciation of our nation's core values and guiding principles. Obama will be a fierce defender of the fundamental American values of freedom and equality under law. He has very strong support in the African American community and speaks forthrightly about racial issues and has a great deal of history and experience in civil rights-oriented struggles. In many ways, he breaks that mold of the politician who softens his message in order to appeal to a wide range of voters.

Let's level the economic field for everyone, not just the rich and the privileged. Let's withdraw our troops from Iraq and begin the healing process we so desperately need. Let's make health care and medicines available to everyone who needs them, make housing affordable and keep our jobs in America. Let's educate our children and take care of our veterans and seniors. Despite decades of progress, women still make only 77 cents for every dollar men make. Obama believes the government needs to better enforce the Equal Pay Act, fight job discrimination, and improve child care options and family medical leave to give women equal footing in the workplace.

And last but not least, we have to consider electability in November. Clinton does not automatically enjoy the position as the most popular candidate. We feel she will be unable to sway the considerable number of moderate voters needed for a Democratic victory. In contrast, Obama is able to inspire all walks of people from different social-economic backgrounds and has single handedly rejuvenated the country's belief in a democracy that has the people's best interests at heart, not multi-nationals, defense contractors and special interest groups. He has awakened a cadre of young Americans to the philosophies of elective politics and inspired many to register for the first time in their lives. Obama is clearly the choice if we are to change the direction of this country from a selfish, greed-driven nation to one of peace and justice for all.

Barack Discusses Commitment to Veterans in Kingstree, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:53:28 EST

One of the reasons Barack ran for Senate back in 2003 was to work for Veterans in his home state of Illinois. Today, with less than three days remaining before the South Carolina Democratic primary this Saturday, Barack talked with crowds throughout the Low Country about his plan to renew our trust with those who've served their country as President.

During a rally this morning in Kingstree, SC, when a Vietnam Veteran in the audience asked him a question about his plan to improve Veteran services, Barack had the opportunity to discuss his commitment to creating a twenty-first century Veterans Association that can work hand-in-hand with twenty-first century military.

Following the speech, that same Kingstree Vietnam Veteran explained why he decided to support Barack.

Ready to declare your support and vote for Barack this Saturday, too? Get ready by finding your polling location online right now.

Video: Building a Movement and Getting Out the Vote in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:28:23 EST

This Saturday, January, 26, 2008, after a nearly a year of preparation, the grassroots movement South Carolinians have been building behind Barack Obama will spring into action, stand up for change, and help get out the vote all across Palmetto State.

Take a look at the video below to see how this movement has grown and, most importantly, how we're going to win South Carolina for Barack Obama this Saturday, January 26.

Inspired? There's still time to play an active role in the movement that's going Get-Out-the-Vote and win South Carolina for Barack this Saturday, but you need to sign-up online now.

Friday: Stand Up for Change in Columbia with Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:40:36 EST

Just hours before the polls open for the South Carolina Democratic Primary, hundreds of supporters will be standing up and rallying behind Barack.

You will not want to miss this! Here are the details:

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
Friday, January 25, 2008

Doors open at 8:45 PM
Program starts at 10:45pm

Koger Center for the Arts
University of South Carolina
1051 Greene St
Columbia, SC 29201
(Map It!)

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/columbia

It's going to be great way to kick off a world changing day. I can't wait to see everyone there.

Video: Kerry Washington, Usher, and Barack at SC State University

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:16:03 EST

Last night, Barack was joined by actress Kerry Washington and at a rally at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC.

Everyone who was there said the event was pretty incredible. Check it out below...

Video: Getting Fired Up in Greenwood, SC with Barack Obama & Ms. Edith Childs

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:34:26 EST

Yesterday, Barack fired up a crowd in Greenwood, SC, the home of the now famous "Fired Up! Ready to Go!" chant.

Below, Barack tells the story of his last trip to Greenwood and leads the charge with the rallying cry's originator, Ms. Edith Childs.

Greenwood, SC is Fired Up and Ready to Vote

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:44:50 EST

This afternoon Barack returned to Greenwood, SC, the home of Ms. Edith Childs and the "Fired Up! Ready to Go!" cheer that Barack's taken around the country.

Even before Barack arrived, Lander University's gymnasium was exploding with energy, enthusiasm, excitement.

When Barack hit the stage, the crowd was clearly fired-up.

After telling the now famous story of his last trip to Greenwood, Barack finished his speech by bringing Ms. Childs up on stage and having her lead the crowd in the chant that's inspired a movement by "changing a room" almost a year ago.

Take a look:

Video: Barack Rallies at the Dome in Columbia, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:43:14 EST

We promised you some video earlier today from Barack's speech at the South Carolina State House, so here it is.

Check it out...

Marching for Change in SC: Barack Joins March to the MLK Rally at the State House

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:32:24 EST

This morning, along with a crowd of thousands, Barack marched from Mt. Zion Baptist church in downtown Columbia to the steps of the State House for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Rally at the Dome.

The temperatures were pretty frigid here in Columbia, but the crowd was definitely fired up and ready to go.

Throughout the rally, prior to the Presidential candidates taking the stage, one of Barack's supporters in the audience would periodically begin cheering "Obama! Obama!" inspiring the rest of the frozen crowd to join in and a surge of electricity flow the somewhat frozen.

It really was an incredible event.

Video from the event is coming soon.

Video: Stand Together Rally in Columbia, SC with Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:02:17 EST

Barack fired up a huge crowd in Columbia tonight at the same downtown venue that he launched his South Carolina campaign from over ten months ago.

Check it out...

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick & Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus Visit Charleston

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:28:41 EST

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus joined former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges, who announced his support for Barack earlier this month, at a town hall meeting with supporters and undecided voters in downtown Charleston earlier this afternoon.

For former Gov. Mabus, who visited Greenville, SC last month, just having the town hall meeting said a lot about the kind of campaign Barack is running across the country.

You don't need me to tell you that Barack Obama brings people together... just look at us on this stage -- you've got the governor of a Northern, "blue" state like Massachusetts supporting the same candidate as two former Governor's of two of the "reddest" states in the country."

Because of that demonstrated ability to gain support from folks across the ideological spectrum, Mabus said, Barack would force Republicans to compete for every vote in all 50 states, rather than assuming that they already had traditionally conservative states like South Carolina or Mississippi locked up and only really competing in eight or nine so-called "swing states." "If they are made to do that," Mabus quipped, "We will win!"

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick also tied his support to Barack's ability to unite a country that all too often is made to feel divided by its leaders.I

I want leadership that's going to help us see the stake we all have in each other again... I'm tired and you're tired of being told that the interests of the north are different from the interests of the south, that the interests of whites are different from the interests of blacks, that the poor and the rich have vastly different perspectives on what's in our national interest... The great moments [we've had] moving forward in this country have come when our leaders were able to invite us to come together, to articulate a vision and motivate us all to move forward.

Barack Obama is that kind of leader, Gov. Patrick said, because he's already built a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents behind him that's centered on helping us achieve our own aspirations. And, he added, "If we vote our aspirations, Barack Obama will win and so will we."

Are you ready to get involved in this movement and help others here in South Carolina vote their aspirations too? If so, sign-up now to help us Get-Out-the-Vote in the Palmetto State over the next six days.

Fmr. Charirman of the SC Democratic Party Dick Harpootlian on MSNBC for Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:12:00 EST

Dick Harpootlian, Former Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party & one of Barack's long-time supporters in the state, was on MSNBC's Morning Joe earlier today talking about the election.

Take a look:

Kal Penn & Tatyana Ali Rally Students & Young Supporters Throughout SC

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:57:19 EST

All throughout the Palmetto State, high school, college, graduate, and law students have spent countless hours making phone calls, knocking on doors, and talking to their friends about the grassroots movement they're helping build behind Barack in South Carolina.

On January 26th, those same young people are going to play a crucial role in helping us Get-Out-the-Vote in their schools and neighborhoods and ensuring Barack's success in South Carolina's Democratic Primary.

Yesterday, Actors and young Obama supporters Kal Penn & Tatyana Ali met up with hundreds of students at South Carolina State, Benedict College, USC, Columbia College, USC Aiken, and Lander University (they'll be at Presbyterian, Furman, and Clemson today) to talk about how the youth vote is changing the course of this election.

Speaking to the group at USC, Ali, who is probably best known for her role as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, noted that her decision to support Barack stems from his unique approach to solving problems as much as it does from her appreciation of his comprehensive plan for improving education, an issue she's particularly passionate about.

He's not about putting a policy in place over us, but brining us into the the process of developing solutions to the problems that plague our education system. He wants to develop a continuing conversation with parents, teachers, and communities, so we can all take part and have a say in what our education system looks like and values... and that commitment to a conversation, a dialogue, is very different from what we've seen in the past.

Penn, who starred in the hit Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and now plays the role of Ahmed Amar on the television series House, told the same group, that while he feels passionately about Barack's plan for the environment ("It's one that I've heard a lot of my Republican and Independent friends say they could get behind."), what really made him a dedicated volunteer was the movement of students and young people that Barack has behind him.

In fact, inspired by kids who had taken time off of school or passed up lucrative post-collegiate jobs to volunteer for Barack, Penn turned a two-day trip to Iowa into a month long tour throughout the state to help students and young people Get-Out-the-Vote for Barack in December.

In the end, Penn said, students played a tremendous role in securing a win for Barack in Iowa.

All the cynics said students, young people just like us, wouldn't turn out. But we did and we proved the cynics wrong. Those same cynics are hopeful that you won't come out, that you won't make your voices heard, but on January 26th, you can prove them wrong once again.

And, if the numbers at the meetings Penn, Ali, and other young supporters are holding throughout the state are right -- 50 at USC, 90 at USC Aiken, nearly 200 at Lander University, and over 250 at Furman this afternoon -- young people and students in South Carolina are poised to surprise the skeptics once again on January 26.

As the video below shows, youth have been energizing this campaign across the country from the very beginning and, next Saturday, we'll show any doubters that South Carolina is no exception to that rule.

Sunday: Stand Together for Change with Barack in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:12:01 EST

This Sunday, Barack returns to the Palmetto State to kick off the week leading up to the South Carolina Democratic Primary on Saturday, January 26 with a special event at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in downtown Columbia, SC -- the same spot where he launched his SC campaign last February.

Here are the details:

Stand Together for Change with Barack Obama
Sunday, January 20th
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street
Columbia, SC
(Map it!)

RSVP now @ http://sc.barackobama.com/columbiarally

For security reasons, bags are not allowed inside the event. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners are permitted.

The event is free and open to the public and. However, tickets are required, so make sure you RSVP right now.

We can't wait to see you there!

Less than Ten Days

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:56:20 EST

South Carolina's Democratic Primary on January 26 is right around the corner and, as the eyes of the country turn towards the Palmetto State, the movement behind Barack is picking up speed and trying to speak to as many potential supporters as possible.

To aid in this effort, dozens of Barack's friends and supporters will be coming to South Carolina from now until Primary Day to help Get-Out-the-Vote and reach out to folks who haven't made the decision to support Barack just yet.

Here's who is coming tomorrow:

Kal Penn & Tatyana Ali College Tour
Columbia, SC; Aiken, SC; Greenwood, SC
Check Events for Times

A Conversation with Shelia Johnson
Orangeburg, SC
11:00am

And, that's just tomorrow!

Stay tuned to this site, SC.BarackObama.com, for the most up-to-date information about campaign connected events in the days ahead.

Obama Advisor Samantha Power Visits Rock Hill, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:25:11 EST

It's not every day that a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and chief foreign policy advisor for the next President of the United Sates walks into your local coffee shop and starts talking world politics.

Nonetheless, that's exactly what happened this afternoon when one of Barack's closest advisors, Samantha Power, visited Cupps Cafe in Rock Hill to talk to supporters and patrons about Barack's plan to secure America and restore our standing in the world.

Having been in the Sudan when he gave his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Power said she didn't know too much about Barack when he first asked to meet with her almost immediately following his inauguration to the Senate in January 2005.

When Power finally had her one-hour meeting with the Senator a couple of months later, she was shocked.

"I was supposed to meet with him for an hour and it ended up being four hours and I don't think, in my life, I've ever been subjected to as intense of a policy discussion [as I was that night]. I was literally bled dry. I had nothing left by the end of the evening... And as the third hour gave rise to the fourth hour, perhaps because I had run out of steam, I heard myself saying, "How would you feel if I left my job at Harvard and came down to work as an intern in your office, or whatever, for a year?" ... It's just the combination of [talents he has], they just don't come in one person and I felt like I had to get involved."

The next morning, Power made good on her offer, asked the Dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government if she could take a leave of absence from her postion as the Anna Lindh Professor of Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy and spent the next year, from early 2005 to 2006, advising Barack in the U.S. Senate.

The audience at Cupps asked Power a variety of questions ranging from Barack's stance on decreasing our dependence on foreign oil to his plan to fight global poverty.

Towards the end of the discussion, Power noted that it is Barack's unique ability to work with those who disagree with him and inspire individuals to action that makes him the candidate best equipped to help us confront global challenges, like climate change or the AIDS Pandemic, and return America to a place of prominence on the world stage.

"Only a leader who can pull the country together and inspire people to action is going to be able to confront the challenges ahead of us. We don't have time to waste -- with proliferating terrorists, with the rotten school and health care systems, with polar ice caps melting... People are ready to make sacrifices, they want to make sacrifices, but idea of sacrificing is often easier to adjust to than the reality of sacrificing... and that's why having a leader, like Barack, who doesn't polarize the country and that people respect and actually want to listen to is so important."

Michelle Obama Reunites with her Family in Georgetown, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:13:49 EST

Michelle Obama (center), her brother Craig (left), and the extended Robinson family in Georgetown, SC this afternoon.

While she grew up on the South Side of Chicago, Michelle Obama's trip this afternoon to Georgetown, SC was really a homecoming. Michelle's grandfather, Fraser Robinson Sr., was originally from Georgetown and, while she was growing up, Michelle and her family regularly spent part of their summers visiting their extended relatives in the Low Country town.

Joined by her brother Craig, Michelle's afternoon in Georgetown started with a reunion and some sweet tea with her cousins Connie Jones, Dorthy Robinson, and Harolyn Siau at the Robinson family home near downtown Georgetown.

The meeting also provided Michelle and Craig with an opportunity to take a look at family photos Cousin Dorothy keeps on top of her piano.

After meeting with her cousins, Michelle went down the street to her grandfather's old church, Bethel A.M.E., in historic Georgetown, where she spoke to a packed house of South Carolina Obama supporters that included over thirty-one of her own family members from the area.

While he may not have the long Washington resume of other candidates, Michelle noted, with Barack's background as a community organizer in Chicago -- working right along side the people he sought to help -- and eight years as a State Senator (more years in the kind of government that's closest to each of us than anyone else in the race) in the rough and tumble world of Illinois politics, he clearly has the kind of experience that the country needs right now.

It's not that Barack isn't ready, Michelle said,

The challenge for us is to ask, "What are we ready for?" This one is on us -- see, we like to talk about change, but we don't really like change. We want easy change, we want change that will make us feel comfortable, but that's not how change happens, it's not something that's just going to come to you passively.

Things aren't gong to get better when you wish for it or you hope for it: Things get better when regular folks take action to make change happen from the bottom up. Every major, historical moment in our time it has been made by folks who said "Enough," and they banded together to move this country forward -- and now is one of those times.

How about you? Are you ready to answer Michelle's call to action and help Barack Obama win Palmetto State on Saturday, January 26? If so, sign-up right now to help Get-Out-the-Vote for Barack in the South Carolina and an organizer from the campaign will contact you shortly.

Monday: Michelle Obama in Florence & Georgetown

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:28:17 EST

Barack's wife, Michelle Obama, will be in Florence, SC and Georgetown, SC tomorrow discussing why her husband is the one candidate who can bring Democrats, Independents and Republicans together to solve the critical problems facing our nation.

Her trip to Georgetown should be particularly poignant, because Michelle's grandfather hails from Georgetown, and as a child, Michelle and her family spent parts of their summers there. Michelle's brother and Brown University Basketball coach, Craig Robinson, who visited the Low Country last summer, will also be joining her.

Interested in meeting Michelle tomorrow? Here are the details for the two community gatherings:

Florence Community Gathering with Michelle Obama
Francis Marion University
Smith Center Gym
4822 E. Palmetto
Florence, SC

Program begins 10:00AM
RSVP: http://sc.barackobama.com/moflorence

Georgetown Community Gathering with Michelle Obama
Bethel AME Church
417 Broad St.
Georgetown, SC

Doors open at 2:00 PM
Program begins at 3:00pm
RSVP: http://sc.barackobama.com/mogeorgetown

Whether you've heard Michelle speak before or not, these are definitely events you don't want to miss.

Actresses Tour South Carolina to Discuss Barack's Message of Change

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:34:26 EST

Actresses Jasmine Guy, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Tracee Ellis Ross and Alfre Woodard made their way through the Palmetto State today to talk to South Carolinians about why they believe Barack Obama is the one candidate capable of delivering change we can believe in.

During a breakfast with Seniors at the Greenview Community Center in Columbia this morning, Jasmine Guy, who visited the Low County this past summer and is best known for her role as Whitley Gilbert on A Different World, said she was behind Barack because:

He moves us closer to fulfilling the promise of what we want to be. He makes each of us want to be more... and that's especially powerful in a community that hasn't been truly engaged in a very long time.

Megalyn Echikunwoke, who currently stars in the sci-fi series 4400 and was making her first trip to South Carolina for Barack, noted during that same breakfast that the movement that has grown behind Barack has inspired her and many of her friends to get involved with politics for the very first time.

My friends and I wanted to get involved in this campaign because we wanted to be able to say, "I was a part of that movement. I played a role in making Barack Obama our President" and... for the first time we're realizing that just because we're young doesn't mean we can't be involved and taken seriously in this political process.

It is that message of empowerment, Alfre Woodard told to the audience, that makes the message of Barack's campaign particularly powerful in South Carolina.

Here in the Palmetto state, Woodard, who visited Beauty Salons in the Midlands for Barack back in October and has won four Emmy Awards for her performances in Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, The Practice, and the television movie Miss Evers' Boys, reminded the crowd,

You have the chance to show off and show the rest of the country which way to go. [With your Primary on January 26], you have the power in your hands to set the country on a new course.

Tracee Ellis Ross, who is the daughter of legendary singer and actress Diana Ross and star of the hit CW show Girlfriends, decided to come back to South Carolina afterher visit to the Midlands and Pee Dee back in October for exactly that reason.

As Ross said to another group at an event later this evening in Hopkins, SC,

I'm back because I'm excited. I'm back because of Barack. But, most of all, I'm back because I want to cheer you on here in South Carolina... You have the chance to fundamentally change this country and, from what I can tell, you're on the cusp of doing just that.

More pictures from today's tour are in the slideshow below.

Video: John Kerry Endorses Barack in Charleston, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:50:31 EST

Yesterday's rally in Charleston with John Kerry and Barack was pretty amazing. In fact, the Charleston Post & Courier said, with over 4,500 supporters present, it was "the largest political rally in Charleston in recent memory."

Check out the video of the historic rally below:

Barack & Sen. John Kerry Rally for Change in Charleston, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:38:05 EST

Senator John Kerry joined and endorsed Barack this afternoon at a jam packed rally here in Charleston, SC.

Senator Kerry announced his endorsement of Barack noting that change has often been won by young Presidents and leaders with experience defined by more than years in Washington or terms in office.

"Today we still draw on the "truths" that we believe to be "self-evident"--but how easy it is to forget that Thomas Jefferson was just 33 when he wrote them into our Declaration of Independence. How easy it is to forget that Martin Luther King was just 26 when he led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, just 34 when he inspired America with a powerful dream.

My friends, when we choose a President, we are electing judgment and character, not years on this earth -- and it is the moral compass I see in Barack Obama that gives me confidence he will steer our country in the right direction. He was, after all, right about the war in Iraq from the very beginning!"

Following Senator Kerry's endorsement, Barack took the stage to huge cheers and thanked the former Democratic Presidential Nominee for his service and support.

"This is a man who knows how much people who love their country can change it... John Kerry is a man of courage; a man of conviction; and a man whose life story has given him an intimate understanding of the kind of change we need right now."

We need that kind of change, Barack said, to unite our country, heal partisan divisions, and discover hope again. But, as he reminded the diverse crowd of students, teachers, parents, and professionals,

"...we have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we've been told that we're not ready, or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people.

Yes we can."

Fired Up in Charleston

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:53:39 EST

Are you fired up and ready to go to tomorrow's rally in Charleston with Barack? If so, you might want to make sure you get your online ticket now.

Earlier this morning, one of Barack's supporters sent in this photo of the line for tickets outside the College of Charleston's Stern Center.

Now that's fired up!

Former SC State Rep. & Candidate for Lt. Governor Robert Barber Endorses Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:58:28 EST

This afternoon, Robert Barber, South Carolina's Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor and the top Democratic vote-getter in 2006, endorsed Barack Obama and the historic grassroots campaign he's building across South Carolina.

In a press conference in the campaign's Low Country Field office in Charleston, Barber said that he supported Barack because,

"He has shown, as a leader, the ability and the willingness to work with people, whether of another political persuasion or not, on issues that are critical to the security and well-being of people all across our country...and there's not a lot of that that goes in the Senate ... [In Barack,] we've got someone who is exciting people across party lines and instilling confidence in people about the political process and, ultimately, that's something that will make our country stronger."

At the end of his announcement, a reporter asked Barber, what he planned to do for Barack over the next few weeks leading up to South Carolina Democratic Primary on January 26. His reply?

"I'll do some campaigning, sure, but I'm going to do whatever it takes to get Barack elected... I'm going to be a vigorous and enthusiastic volunteer."

Now that's the spirit! If you want to get involved like Mr. Barber and help us make South Carolina history on January 26, sign-up here to join our historic Get-Out-the-Vote effort.

Thursday: Rally for Change with Barack Obama in Charleston

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:14:35 EST

Dear T. Neil,

Join Barack Obama at a rally in Charleston this Thursday, January 10:

http://sc.barackobama.com/charlestonrally

Here are the details:

Rally with Barack Obama in Charleston
The Cistern
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC

Thursday, January 10, 2008
Gates open at 11:00 a.m.

RSVP now:
http://sc.barackobama.com/charlestonrally

For security reasons, do not bring bags. No signs or banners permitted.

Iowa was a great start, and with the South Carolina primary only weeks away, now's the time to build on the momentum of that victory.

Come join Barack and fellow supporters and show that our movement is generating support and excitement all across the country.

Sign up now:

http://sc.barackobama.com/charlestonrally

Hope to see you there!

Obama for America

Members of Congress & Performers Visit South Carolina to Support Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:34:13 EST

With less than twenty days to go until the South Carolina Democratic Primary on January 26, supporters from all across the country are coming to the Palmetto State to talk to South Carolinians about Barack Obama.

On Thursday and Friday, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D - Maryland) spoke with a number of voters at meetings in Edgefield and Denmark, SC. In Edgefield, Rep. Cummings spoke about Barack's commitment to children & education.

"No child should be left behind, but it's not enough to say that, you have to believe it. I know that Barack Obama knows how to get there. He has the brilliance and the moral sense. He has been able to synchronize his conscience with his conduct."

On Saturday, Rep. Melissa Bean (D - Illinois) was in Florence at a Women's Empowerment Forum where, among other things, she talked about how having Barack Obama on the ticket would help Democrats facing difficult races in November.

The following day in Florence, Four-time Grammy award-winner Yolanda Adams graced a sold out crowd with songs of praise and spoke about her support of Barack Obama's historic campaign. As the Pee Dee's Channel 15 News described the event:

While it was [Adams'] fame that brought them there, it was the presidential candidate she's stumping for that had everybody fired up...

The auditorium was filled with energy and an overwhelming support for the senator and White House hopeful.

Early today, actor Boris Kodjoe visited Charleston, Orangeburg, and Columbia and talked to beauticians, barbers, and students about how Barack would change the way the world looks at the United States.

Born in Austria to a German psychologist and Ghanian physican, the multi-lingual Kodjoe knows, first hand, that Barack's election would tell rest of the world that America is back.

I recently spoke to my mother in Germany the other day and she told me just how excited everyone she talks to is about the prospect of working with Senator Obama... Whether it's the way he talks or the change in perspective he would represent, he excites people in the rest of the world in a way I could've never imagined.

Switching to Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:59:50 EST

After the impressive showing in Iowa, lots of folks all across the country are giving some more thought to the idea of President Obama.

Take a look at this story that was in the New York Times and the State earlier today.

For Sadou Brown in a Los Angeles suburb, the decisive victory of Senator Barack Obama in Iowa was a moment to show his 14-year-old son what is possible.

For Mike Duncan in Maryland, it was a sign that Americans were moving beyond rigid thinking about race.

For Milton Washington in Harlem, it looked like the beginning of something he never thought that he would see. "It was like, 'Oh, my God, we're on the cusp of something big about to happen,' " Mr. Washington said...

"My goodness, has it ever happened before, a black man, in our life, in our country?" asked Edith Lambert, 60, a graduate student in theology who was having lunch at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.

"It makes me feel proud that at a time when so many things are going wrong in the world that people can rise above past errors," added Ms. Lambert, who said she had not decided whom to vote for. "It shows that people aren't thinking small. They're thinking large, outside the box."

How about you? Did you or anyone you know switch your vote to Barack after seeing him win this past Thursday in Iowa?

Tell us about your decision at sc@barackobama.com or in the comments below.

SC Newspapers: Obama Movement Makes History in Iowa

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:54:23 EST

Not only is Barack's historic win in Iowa last night making news all around the country, it has made headlines all throughout South Carolina.

Take a look...

Iowa made history last night and, on Jan 26th, South Carolina will do the same. Sign up now to help Barack Get-Out-the-Vote for the SC Democratic Primary on January 26.

Scenes from a Victory

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:32:39 EST

In campaign offices all across the state tonight, South Carolinians watched Barack Obama defy the critics and win the Iowa caucuses.

Check out some of the photos from our caucus watching parties in the slideshow below:

While tonight was a huge step foward for our movement, it also means that, here in South Carolina, the work has just begun: Just twenty-two days remain until our own primary on January 26 and, if we're going to win this state for Barack, we need your help. Sign up now to get involved in our unprecedented Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) effort and become a part of this historic movement.

"Mother"

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:38:48 EST

Barack is up with a new ad here in South Carolina touting his plan to create a healthcare system that works for all Americans, one that will cut health care costs by $2,500 for a typical family, cover the uninsured, and take on the special interests that have stood in the way of health care reform.

You can see the ad on television stations throughout South Carolina and in the video player below.

South Carolina: Vote with Iowa TODAY!

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:15:42 EST

You might have gotten it yesterday, but today our State Director Stacey Brayboy sent out this email asking all of Barack's supporters here in South Carolina to stand with Iowa and vote for Barack Obama today at their local county election commission office.

Dear Neil,

This campaign has been an amazing adventure so far, but the action really starts tomorrow when Iowans head to their local precincts and caucus for Barack in the first contest of the 2008 Democratic nomination.

Here in South Carolina, we can feel the energy. And one of the great things about South Carolina is that you can vote with Iowa tomorrow by casting your in-person absentee ballot.

Voting early is simple and easy. Check out our interactive map to find out where you can cast your ballot tomorrow:

http://sc.barackobama.com/scearlyvote

Why vote with Iowans tomorrow?

Iowans are hungry for change, and just like South Carolinians, they're ready to stand up with Barack Obama and make history.

That's why, wherever you are in South Carolina, I'm asking you to visit your local county election commission.

Vote with Iowa tomorrow by casting your in-person absentee ballot:

http://sc.barackobama.com/scearlyvote

There are 23 days left until the South Carolina Democratic primary on January 26th. But by voting today, you can show your fellow Obama supporters in Iowa that South Carolina stands with them behind Barack.

The best part about voting absentee in-person today is that it's easy -- far easier than voting absentee by mail.

Just stop by your local county election commission office during business hours and tell the staff that you are interested in casting your absentee vote in person. It should only take a few minutes.

To find out where and how you can cast your vote for Barack today, visit:

http://sc.barackobama.com/scearlyvote

Voting today means you can make sure your voice is heard, and you can show your solidarity with Iowans who support Barack.

Thanks again for all you do,

Stacey

Stacey Brayboy
South Carolina State Director
Obama for America

Want more information about how you can vote with Iowa today? Visit our website on the program now.

Fmr. SC Governor Jim Hodges Endorses Barack Obama

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:50:08 EST

This afternoon Former South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges endorsed Barack Obama and become a national co-chair of his campaign. Hodges, who served from 1999 to 2003, is the only Democratic Governor the State of South Carolina has seen in last 25 years.

While in office, Gov. Hodges was a champion of public education, securing a $1 billion for new school construction in the state and establishing a statewide lottery which has sent hundresds of thousands of South Carolinians to college since 2000.

Gov. Hodges said that Barack Obama's strong commitment to public education and openness to working across party lines played a large role in his decision to endorse him.

"Barack Obama is not only a candidate that excites people all over the country, but I think he represents that spirit of working together across party lines... [of getting] Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to try to work together on common problems, like making education better or solving the problems in the middle east that we face right now, and moving America forward.

See Gov. Hodges full endorsement in the video below:

Border State Supporters Back Barack in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:50:04 EST

While thousands of South Carolinians have spent months building an unprecedented grassroots organization here, every week supporters from North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida are joining Palmetto Staters to do everything they can to help Barack win our crucial primary.

Over the weekend I had an opportunity to canvass in Spartanburg, SC with a group of folks from the Asheville, NC.

Saturday morning was Tom's fourth trip to South Carolina for Barack, so he was able to show Kathy, a first-time canvasser, the ins and outs of canvassing. Now a pro at knocking on doors and talking to potential supporters, Tom had never canvassed before this past October.

I really like talking to people and I really feel passionately about Barack, so I suppose it's kind of a natural fit.

Kathy, who's originally from Massachusetts and Nova Scotia but spends her winters in Asheville, said that although she'd only volunteered on a few campaigns in the past, when she saw a blurb about the Western North Carolina (WNC) for Obama in the newspaper up in Asheville, she knew she had to get involved.

Later in the day, I met up with Paul, also from the Asheville area, who was canvassing a few blocks away. The founder of WNC for Obama, Paul got behind Barack back in February because he realized he was someone that could actually fix the broken system in Washington.

For Paul, saying he was supporting Barack wasn't enough. He knew it was going to take action to secure the nomination for Barack, so he started organizing WNC for Obama to help our efforts here in South Carolina. He's canvassed in the state more than seven times since September.

"There's nothing more satisfying than canvassing. Walking around, getting exhausted, but having that will power and that motivation to keep talking to people... and, when you do finally meet and talk to somebody who shares the same visions and dreams you have for the country, it makes it all worth it."

Interested in joining the South Carolina team in the next few weeks before our January 26 primary? Sign up now to help Get Out The Vote in South Carolina and join thousands of South Carolinians and hundreds of supporters from around the country -- folks like Tom, Kathy, and Paul -- in winning the Palmetto State for Barack.

Campaign Manager David Plouffe on Barack in SC

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:16:53 EST

This morning, Campaign Manager David Plouffe held a conference call with a number of reporters and discussed the State of Barack Obama's movement around the country.

The whole presentation contains a lot of really interesting facts about Barack's electability and growing national support despite the millions outside groups are spending on behalf of other candidates, but it also contains information about just how strong our campaign is right here in South Carolina.

Check out these slides:

Take a look at the full presentation here.

Sunday: Learn More about Barack's Healthcare Policy with Sr. Advisor Gregg Bloche

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:31:10 EST

Interested in learning a little more about Barack Obama's health care policy?

Dr. Gregg Bloche, a senior adviser to Senator Obama on health law and policy, will be speaking in Columbia, SC later this evening. Here are the details:

An Evening with Dr. Gregg Bloche
Senior Advisor to Senator Barack Obama

Sunday, December 30, 2007
6:00-8:00 PM

212 S Edisto Ave
Columbia, SC 29205
(Map it!)

Dr. Bloche is an expert on health law and policy. His work includes issues of efficiency in health care, the dual loyalties of physicians in managed health plans, the role of for-profit institutions in medicine, and market-driven regulations to contain medical costs. Dr. Bloche is a professor of law at Georgetown University and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. He is also an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.

It should be an interesting evening for anyone seeking more information about Senat Obama's health care policies is encouraged to attend and RSVP with the event organizer at 803-381-4525.

Vote for Barack Today!

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:30:44 EST

You can cast your vote for Barack Obama right now!

Wherever you are in South Carolina, you can visit your local county election commission office and cast an in-person absentee ballot today.

Visit our new website on absentee in-person voting to learn more about the program and find your local election office.

http://sc.barackobama.com/scearlyvote

Perhaps you're planning on helping Barack by knocking on doors, making phone calls, or helping others get to the polls on South Carolina's January 26th Primary Day.

Or maybe you are afraid you might be out of town or have to work that Saturday and may miss your chance to cast your vote for Senator Obama.

The grassroots movement behind Barack is going to make history and change South Carolina politics on January 26th. By casting an in-person absentee ballot, you can make sure your vote counts and that Barack has your support when he needs it the most.

Video: Meet Mrs. Annie Bennett

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:37:28 EST

The best parts of the movement that's been growing behind Barack Obama here in South Carolina and across the country for the past ten months are the incredible individuals that power it, the regular people who are standing up with Barack and playing a part in transforming their country.

Mrs. Annie Bennett, who South Carolina Field Organizer Nicole Young introduced us to back in July and Sarah Ramey blogged about last week, was born in the segregated South and now, at the age of 85, is an Obama Team leader in Columbia, S.C.

Watch the video below to find out a little more about the life of this incredible woman and what inspired her to get behind Barack.

Video: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Gov. Tim Kaine in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:35:02 EST

Yesterday, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and Gov. Tim Kaine (D - Virginia) spoke together at a press event in Columbia, SC about why they support Barack.

While each message was a little different, both Jackson and Kaine gave phenomenal speeches that you don't want to miss. Check out the highlights in the video below:

Gov. Tim Kaine in SC: "Obama's the Most Electable"

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:30:42 EST

While a familial connection may have played a small roll in his early endorsement of Barack last February (both of their mothers come from the same small town of Eldorado, KS), Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine joked while he was in South Carolina today, it was really the Senator's ability to heal partisan divisions, pull people together, and win that convinced him.

Barack's ability to talk and find common ground with individuals who might not agree with him most of the time is, Kaine said early today in Columbia, a key skill we need in a President. Kaine explained his point by referring to his own experience as the Governor of a traditionally conservative state:

I'm a proud Democrat, but after election day I govern 100% of Virginians. I have to look for ways to sit around the table, even with folks who don't agree with me or I don't agree with 100%, and we've got to talk. I've got to say, "Here's what I believe..." and the other side has to say "Here's what I believe..." and we have to try and make them match up. America needs that right now. We're as divided as a nation as we've been in my fifty years and we've got to find someone who can pull us together.

Perhaps even more importantly, not only will Barack's ability to listen to the other side without demonizing them allow him to get things done once he's in the White House, as Kaine pointed out at a community meeting in Lancaster, SC later in the day, it is also attracting an unprecedented number of independents and moderate Republicans to his campaign.

knew when I endorsed Obama in February that that [Independents and moderate Republicans] would be excited about his campaign. I had a feeling in my gut that they would be excited and it's proven true... I've had fundraisers for him in Richmond and Charlottesville, rallies all around around Virginia, and I'm amazed who comes. Democrats come, people who don't traditionally get involved in politics -- young people or disenfranchised voters who typically think their vote doesn't matter -- come, and many of my Independent and moderate Republican friends come too. And they're not just out of curiosity; they're coming with excitement.

With the enthusiasm he's seeing the Senator generate amongst Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans, Kaine says he has little doubt that Barack is both the most electable Presidential candidate in the field and the one most likely to turn Virginia "blue" for the first time since 1964.

Virginia -- as tough state as it is, as Red state as it is -- I've got a great feeling about this, that if he's the nominee, we're going to get electoral votes in the Democratic column. We've gotta change the map electorally to win in November and I've got a really great feeling about Barack being able to do that.

Saturday: Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. & Gov. Tim Kaine in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:38:46 EST

Saturday is going to be another history making day here in South Carolina as Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. & Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia hold a series of events throughout the state to talk to South Carolinians and let them know why Barack Obama is the only candidate who can bring about change we can believe in.

Check out all these events and, if you can make it, let us know you're coming:

9:00 AM - Gov. Tim Kain at the Richland/Lexington County Democratic Party Annual Joint Breakfast (Columbia, SC)
12:00 PM - Canvassing with Jesse Jackson Jr. in Sumter
1:30 PM - Press Conference with Gov. Tim Kaine and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (Columbia, SC)
4:00 PM - Camden Town Hall with Gov. Tim Kaine
5:45 PM - Lancaster Community Meeting with Gov. Tim Kaine
6:00 PM - Darlington Town Hall Meeting with Jesse Jackson Jr.

Tomorrow is going to be another great day for our movement. I can't wait to catch you at one of these events.

Just Six Days...

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:34:59 EST

The deadline to register for the South Carolina Democratic Primary is December 26, so, if your planning on voting for Barack on Primary day, you have less than six days to make sure your able to cast your vote on January 26.

The South Carolina Headquarters here in Columbia was in a frenzy this afternoon making sure we got registration paperwork and reminders out to supporters who still need to register.

Think you might be one of those folks getting a letter from us? Don't wait to get it, register online here.

Even if you think you're already registered, it might not hurt to double check. If you moved or made any other big life changes since the last election, you may have to update your registration information.

Next week's deadline also means there's still time left for you to invite your friends and family to register to vote too.

In particular, you want to make sure you invite any young people you might have in your life to get registered before the deadline. As long they'll be eighteen by November 4, 2008 (the day of the General Election), even seventeen year-olds can vote in the upcoming primary.

Barack's Sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, in the Pee Dee

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:06:58 EST

Barack Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, visted the Pee Dee this evening to talk to folks in Dillon about her brother Barack and his plan to improve education for all children.

One of the subjects Soetoro-Ng stressed from the very beginning was Barack's commitment to public education.

Education is a fundamentally hopeful endeavor, and I think that's one of the reasons its improvement is a cause so close to Barack's heart... [For them to truly succeed], we have to stay positive and believe in our public schools, and I think that's why he's so positive on public education, because he believes in their success.

Her brother's belief in public education, Soetoro-Ng said, is apparent when you look at the education plan he proposed, which aims to expand early childhood education before kindergarten, improve elementary and secondary schools, and make it easier for everyone to go to college.

Soetoro-Ng also took some time to talk about her mother and the role she played in inspiring both of her children to dedicate themselves to lives of service. (Soetoro-Ng has been a teacher for the past fifteen years).

[Our mother] taught us that the world was a big, big palace, that it was too easy to live narrowly and forget how beautiful and enormous it is, and that people all over the world share their very common humanity. She also taught us that a life without service was not much of a life at all.... [Because of her] he is able to see that common humanity we all share and prompt others to see it and feel responsible for it too.

It's that ability to recognize our shared humanity, Soetoro-Ng told the group in Dillon, that makes Barack such an incredible person and transformational presidential candidate.

The moment that Barack Obama is elected, the rest of the world will see us and treat us differently. We'll have a different understanding of who we are, and we'll convey that understanding differently to the world. The image that we project of ourself to the world, the one that's been brutalized over the past eight years, will be repaired... and I think that comes in large part because [Barack] is a man of the world.

Former Gov. Mabus & Congressman Carson: Barack Wins in the Red States

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:22:15 EST

Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus (center) and former Oklahoma Congressman Brad Carson joined former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin, who endorsed Barack last week, spoke in the Upstate this morning about Senator Obama's "red state" appeal.

The former Governor of one of the reddest states in the country (one that hasn't voted for a Democratic nominee since 1956), Mabus is backing Barack Obama for President for more than a few reasons.

I'm for Barack Obama for a lot of reasons. One, I think he's got the vision, character, and leadership that can take America where America needs to go and help America live up to its continuing promise. But the second reason is just a pure practical political reason: I think Barack Obama has the best chance of winning in November. He has the best chance of beating whoever the Republican nominee is, and you see it in polling data. Barack Obama appeals to Independents and Republicans.

While Gov. Mabus' point about Independent and Republican interest in Barack Obama certainly plays out in the numbers, it also means, Mabus noted, that a Republican nominee would have to fight for "every single vote, in every single state," rather than just counting on more traditionally conservative states -- states like Mississippi and South Carolina -- to go his way without effort.

Former Congressman Carson backed up Gov. Mabus thoughts by noting the powerful, positive effect a nominee with the ability to win over Republican and Independent voters would have on Democrats running for down-ballot, state and local elected positions.

I've talked to people in the State legislature of my home state and I've talked to people that are hoping to run for office and they all agree on one thing: "That our best chance to win in difficult territories, like Oklahoma, is to have a candidate, like Barack Obama, who wants to turn the page of the past twenty years of divisive, polarizing, and gridlocked politics."

Barack Obama, Fmr. Congressman Carson concluded, is one of the few politicians who is able bridge an almost impossible range of racial, political, and geographic divides and get the support of people who thought they'd never vote for a Democrat.

I've talked to people and they haven't voted for a Democratic candidate in ten, twenty, sometimes thirty years, and they say to me, 'You know, if Obama is the nominee, I think I will vote Democratic this time'...I come from a place where Democrats find a tough going many times and Barack Obama is the person who can break through that wall of indifference that so many people show to Democratic party...So, I think when people in South Carolina look around and ask, "Who can win this race?" I believe that, in the places I come from [and places like South Carolina], Senator Barack Obama is the right candidate to do just that.

"Chances I Had"

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:48:32 EST

Today, we're excited to announce that the campaign is returning to the air tomorrow with an ad, "Chances I Had," that highlights Barack Obama's education plan-- an initiative that envisions a partnership between teachers, government and parents.

Barack & Oprah in SC: Video from Yesterday's Rally

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:11:33 EST

Ms. Oprah Winfrey in Columbia, SC

Barack Obama in Columbia, SC

Fired up and ready to help Barack win South Carolina on January 26? Join your local Obama Team.

Barack & Oprah in SC: Making News in South Carolina

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:31:54 EST

The State

In what Sen. Barack Obama described as the best-attended rally of the political season for any candidate, more than 29,000 attendees jammed Williams-Brice Stadium Sunday.

...[Winfrey] put the issue front and center during her introductory remarks, telling the crowd, "I'm not here to tell you what to think."

"I got some sense," she said. "I know the difference between a book club and this seminal moment in our history."

Charleston Post and Courier

A group of teenage girls walked down the aisle to a take a seat on one of the aluminum benches Sunday at Williams-Brice Stadium. Behind them, a man, maybe mid-30s, panned the crowd of white and black faces with a video camera as the audience grew to more than 29,000 for this one-of-a-kind rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

...Then, with the energy as high as a Carolina-Clemson game, Oprah Winfrey, wearing a yellow suit jacket and gray slacks, took the stage.

"I've never done this before," the television mogul said Sunday during her 18-minute speech. "I've never done it before because in the past I've been disappointed by politicians. In the past, I've been discouraged by politicians. ... For the first time, I am stepping out of my pew because I've been inspired."

The Charlotte Observer

[Winfrey & Obama] drew nearly 30,000 to Williams-Brice Stadium, a day after bringing about 18,000 to a similar event in Des Moines. It was the largest crowd of the presidential campaign and apparently the largest candidate rally in the Carolinas since Franklin Roosevelt drew 35,000 in Charlotte in 1936.

The Greenville News

"I've been inspired," [Winfrey] said. "I support him because he speaks to the potential inside each and every one of us."

She challenged those listening -- and the entire state -- to grab the opportunity as one of the first states in the nation to vote in the Democratic primary.

"It's your time to seize the opportunity to support a man who, as the Bible says, loves mercy and does justly," she said.

The Upstate Beat

...it was [Obama] who clearly held the spotlight with a powerful call for change that transcends any cults of personality with the suggestion that not only is there a need for dramatic change in the United States, but that it is possible to make it happen this time around.

"Our politics is up for grabs," proclaimed Obama, then laid out a broad agenda of change - not only in foreign and domestic policy, but in the very structure of 21st century politics.

... his words rang like a bell to the largest crowd at a campaign rally for any candidate this year. Make no mistake - Barack Obama has the power to inspire, but it is his core message of change that is the raison d'etre for this campaign.

Barack & Oprah in SC: Making News Around the Country

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:44:56 EST

The Associated Press

"South Carolina...January 26th is your moment," Winfrey said, referring to the state Democratic primary date during a campaign stop alongside the Illinois senator. "It's your time to seize the opportunity to support a man who, as the Bible says, loves mercy and does justly."

..."There are those who say it's not his time, that he should wait his turn. Think about where you'd be in your life if you'd waited when people told you to," she said.

"I'm sick of politics as usual," Winfrey said. "We need Barack Obama."

The Washington Post

"South Carolina, our moment is now," Obama said to an audience estimated by organizers as made up of 29,000 people at the University of South Carolina's football stadium. "Don't let them tell you we've got to wait. Our moment is now."

"Dr. King dreamed the dream," Winfrey said, referring to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "But we don't have to just dream the dream anymore. We get to vote that dream into reality."

Los Angeles Times

Katrina Franklin, a middle-age black woman from nearby St. Matthews, S.C., said she attended the rally to see Winfrey -- "and Obama as well," she quickly added.

"Oprah is the added attraction," Franklin said. She said she admired Winfrey and Obama because "they're both self-made, positive African Americans."

Franklin said she was leaning strongly toward Obama before the rally but was now certain she would vote for him.

CNN

"I'm sick of politics as usual," Winfrey told the crowd of 29,000 voters and 350 credentialed journalists at Williams-Brice Stadium, after an introduction from Obama's wife Michelle. "We need politicians who know how to tell the truth. But more importantly we need politicians who know how to be the truth."

MSNBC

"For the first time, I'm stepping out of my pew because I've been inspired. I've been inspired to believe that a new vision is possible for America. Dr King dreamed the dream. But we don't have to just dream the dream anymore. We get to vote that dream into reality," she told the crowd.

...Oprah's message was one of personal empowerment, similar to the stories she tells on her show everyday, telling the crowd that asking Obama to wait to run was the same as someone telling someone that they should wait to try and better their lives.

Barack & Oprah in SC: Live Blog II

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 13:20:07 EST

Live Stream

The stands of Williams-Brice are really starting to fill up... The energy and diversity of the crowd is nothing short of incredible.

Everyone is here to see Barack and Oprah, but each person I've spoken to thus far -- from Justin, who got here at 5 AM, to the volunteers, who are helping everyone get to their seats -- says they're really here to show their support for the movement we're building with Barack to change the country.

Barack & Oprah in SC: Live Blog I

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 12:51:54 EST

Live Stream

We're just a few minutes from the doors-open time (12:30pm) here in Columbia and the thousands of supporters wrapped two-times around the huge Williams-Brice Stadium are fired up & ready to go!

The first person in the epic line outside the doors, Justine O. from Gilbert, SC, got here around 5:15 AM and people have been lining up behind him ever since.

In addition to the thousands of attending supporters, we've got an amazing group of hundreds of volunteers helping us make sure everyone remains fired up while we wait for the doors to open. In fact, an active group of volunteers from Western North Carolina , who you might know from their Hugs for Obama video, drove all the way down to Columbia this morning to help out and hug their fellow Barack backers!

While folks are waiting in line, our volunteers are making sure that everyone who wants to has an opportunity to sign-up and join the campaign.

The best part of the huge line we're seeing outside Williams-Brice? Each person in line understands that just by coming they're helping the Barack Obama movement make history -- and that South Carolinians are really going to change the country when they nominate Barack Obama on January 26.

Barack & Oprah in SC: We're Live in South Carolina!

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 10:12:19 EST

While it is a little more than two hours before the Pre-Show kicks off a history-making event here in Columbia, SC , we're streaming events as they happen from now until Barack & Oprah leave the stage.

Keep your eyes here for the all the happenings from Williams-Brice as they occur.