As we prepare to begin the Memorial Day weekend, it is important for each of us to pause for a moment and reflect on the meaning for the day.
While it can be viewed as the unofficial start of summer and a chance to enjoy a family picnic, we all should recognize Memorial Day is truly a day for remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to make our Nation free.
Our brave, selfless, and devoted men and women have fought and died to protect the rights and freedoms we all enjoy every day. This is our opportunity to honor them.
As a Americans and a Democrats, we should set an example and educate our children and grandchildren the true meaning of Memorial Day and remind them of the tremendous privileges we Americans enjoy thanks to the valiant service of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.
As you enjoy the long weekend with friends and family, I ask you to remember the ideals that make our country great and those who have sacrificed to protect those ideals.Attend one of the many memorial services across the state. Proudly display the Flag. If you see a veteran or person currently serving our Nation in the Armed Forces, tell them "thank you," because we owe a debt to them that can never fully be repaid. And say a prayer for all those currently serving our Nation in harm's way.
Happy Memorial Day and may God continue to bless Virginia and the United States!
Esam Omeish
Dr. Esam Omeish is running for the House of Delegates in Virginia's 35th District here in Fairfax County. He is also the Chief of Surgery at INOVA Alexandria Hospital, a first generation immigrant, a father of four, a community leader, and a long time advocate for quality healthcare and job creation. Please come help us get this amazing leader elected!
Call it a sign of the times. Despite his stellar record in the community as both a physician and activist for the needy, there is a vocal minority with extreme views in the blogosphere and media who want to distort and tarnish the good name of Dr. Esam Omeish. Read below a few direct comments made by a variety of well-respected community leaders and professionals about Dr. Esam Omeish as they defend his character: Virginia's Governor Tim Kaine: "Dr. Omeish is a respected physician and community leader." Father Jerry Creeden, : "Words of support from the Faith community, the Commonwealth (of Virginia) is for all of us." Rabbi J. Moline: "I am sorry that the juggernaut of prejudice" "I would welcome your defense. This is an extended hand from my community, let us do something together." Attorney Vic Glasberg: "You have handled with grace the indignity visited upon you. What you said was understandable and suitable for its context, and its misuse is regrettable and an injury to us all." Kate Hanley, Virginia Secretary of State: "Dr. Omeish is one of two elected from his peers from among more than 300 physicians, and he was the recipient of the "Outstanding Physician of the Year Award" for 2007 in Alexandria Hospital". Many doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, and patients who know Dr. Omeish personally also felt compelled to write their words of support for him. Below is just a couple of statements exemplifying how strongly his colleagues support him. Dr. L. Kerness: "I have known you (Dr. Omeish) as a caring and skilled surgeon, a gentleman, and a family man. It is hard to imagine you as anything other that a pacifist. Rest assured that I, and all those I have spoken to, have not waivered in our support of you as a person and a surgeon, and are not swayed by media hype and political propaganda. I wish you and your family peace during this stressful time, and remember that this too shall pass." E. Bushmiller, RN, CNOR, B. Engler, BSN, CNOR, C. Hortman, RN: "The one thing we would like to make clear is the commitment Dr. Omeish has to democracy and more importantly peace. He is a committed family man, hard working and capable surgeon, and a good person. He is knowledgeable in basic tenets of the three Abrahimic religions and points to areas where they intersect, always searching for common ground. We are upset and disheartened with what has happened to Dr. Omeish. We wish to speak up on his behalf." As the Chief of General Surgery at Alexandria Hospital, Dr. Esam Omeish has earned the highest praise from his colleagues and patients because of his tireless and unconditional advocacy for the highest quality patient care, regardless of a patient's financial status. With your assistance, Dr. Esam Omeish will represent Virginia's 35th District with the same passion as a healthcare advocate at it's General Assembly. He will bring to Richmond his same caring ethical standards and proven leadership skills that have led Dr. Omeish to winning the "Outstanding Physician of the Year Award" in 2007. We must be able to compete and deliver our winning message of building on the successes of Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The time to make a much-needed investment in our campaign is now.Even a small contribution of $10 or $20 makes a real difference.DonateOver the past few days, Esam has withstood attacks and has continued to focus on talking to voters about his fresh ideas, chairing his comprehensive plans for Accessible quality healthcare, improve NoVA transportaion, Conscientious environmental stewardship, and Continued excellence in education. With just less than one month to go, we need your help to make sure Esam can be heard over the chorus of attacks, and spread his positive message throughout the 35th District.To take a stand with Esam, please make a contribution today.Let's give Dr. Omeish the opportunity to be the same role model for Virginians for which he has already been awarded by his medical peers at Alexandria Hospital. Help Dr. Omeish to give excellence in healthcare to all Virginians.
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I realize that Virginians are facing the toughest economic times since The Great Depression. Because the nation's economic downturn has taken it's toll on Virginia's workers, I support President Barack Obama's recently passed Stimulus Package (Congress' American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). I support it because it provides Virginians with $4 billion to improve it's state infrastructure while it puts more Virginians back to work. The bill also allows for $125 million in assistance to extend insurance benefits and provide retraining assistance to unemployed Virginians. Given the opportunity to serve Virginia as the 35th District Delegate, I would not elect to send the Stimulus funds back to Washington. Instead I would support Gov. Tim Kaine's statement that an additional $4.50 per worker annually is manageable for Virginia's employers.This is particularly true since the additional $4.50 per worker would only be paid for those Virginians still unemployed 2 years after the Stimulus funds have taken their effect on Virginia's economy. This is a relatively small price to pay to avoid a worsening middle class economic meltdown that would otherwise translate into more suffering for our Virginia neighbors across the board. I would instead seek to provide immediate relief for unemployed Virginian workers to help them manage their financial affairs during what is the worst economic crisis they have suffered since The Great Depression.Looking ahead, I see Virginia's 35th District as a vibrant, diverse, and progressive community with much untapped economic potential. I would seek to help generate more "green" jobs to lead Virginia towards a renewable energy economy while we respect and protect Virginia's natural beauty and environment. I would also seek to invest more funds for providing greater internet access to further develop Virginia's electronic infrastructure. Additionally, I would support more research and development funding for Virginia's universities. This would encourage a Virginia economy based on "the best and the brightest" it has to offer it's citizens. Expanded funding for small business and entrepreneurship programs will also help Virginia continue as a national leader in job innovation.With your help, I will be able to help Virginia's citizens heal their economy as I represent it's 35th Delegate District. I will work to have Virginia's General Assembly consider policies that will encourage even greater opportunities and prosperity for Virginia's businesses and workers as we strive for a complete and full economic recovery. Help me be Virginia's next 35th District DelegateTo GET INVOLVED! To Contribute
Together, we can!Esam
When I came to the United States as an ESL student, I chose to apply myself academically in order to meet my personal goals in life. I realized that to make my dreams of being both a doctor and a public servant in America come true, I would need to work extra hard to learn English as well as all other required high school subjects. Despite the great language challenges that I faced, I was able to excel at school. I graduated from Fairfax County's J.E.B. Stuart High with honors and a perfect 4.0 grade point average.I have appreciated from an early age the opportunities that hard work combined with a quality education can provide to anyone living in America. I pursued my education with a double major in Biology and Government at Georgetown University, making the Dean's List each year. I then completed my schooling at The Georgetown School of Medicine. With the support of my nearby parents and siblings, I was proud to become the first doctor ever in the Omeish family.I am now raising the next Omeish generation as students of the same Fairfax County public school system that I attended. As the beneficiary of a system nurturing academic excellence, I would like my children to have the same quality education I was fortunate enough to have available growing up. I will work hard to preserve the same high standard of education I benefited from as a Fairfax County student for my own children as well as for all of the students of Virginia.With your help, I would like to represent Virginia's citizens on education issues as Virginia's 35th District Delegate. I will work to have Virginia's General Assembly consider policies that will encourage even greater opportunities for our next generation of students. I know that the brightest future possible for Virginians will only be through a Virginia education system that provides our youth with a solid foundation critical for it's success.
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Today, as Virginians and residents of the 35th District celebrate Earth Day, it’s a great opportunity to take this time and reflect where we are and where we are going in terms of responsible, renewable green energy that both protects our environment and provides jobs for the Commonwealth. As we look to the future of our families, community and Commonwealth, we can all agree that strengthening Virginia’s economy, protecting our precious natural resources and building an exciting, renewable energy future will be the key to ensuring a healthier community in which to live and work. The future of our environment is an issue which transcends politics. However, as delegate it would be my responsibility to fight for policies which protect our environment, strengthen our economy and compliments the efforts people make on a daily basis to make Virginia a better place. According to a recent poll, 76% of Virginians think that global warming is real and will adversely affect our environment. Capitalizing on alternative energy sources and investing in smart, green technology that taps into local talents and resources will help ensure Virginia becomes and remains a leader in the stewardship for a better community for us all.
The campaign could use your help so please sign up today to volunteer! Any amount of time will help us reach our goal. After all, TOGETHER WE CAN!
Esam
Click here to sign up with Esam Omeish For Delegate Click here to contribute.
Special political guests who came to congratulate Dr. Esam Omeish included Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova, State Senator of VA 39th District George Barker, Drainesville District Board of Supervisors John Foust, and Maryland State Delegate Saqib Ali.
Click here to see photo gallery
Helping the Post Maintain "Journalistic Integrity" in a Country Trending Towards Obama A couple of days back I read how the Ombudsman of the Washington Post tried to handle the endless cries of: "Your paper's in the tank" and "there's no attempt at fairness or independent thought." All the Post prints, according to detractors, are more and more articles and pictures about Obama. And these last few days the only good news they print is about Obama.... Then I read today's paper:
Obama Widens Lead in 4 States
Poll | Obama holds double-digit margins in three key battleground states, 9-point lead in one other.
Wow! Someone has to help the Post out. We've got to couple this with some McCain - Palin Good news. So, from the scores of discrete events to pick from, I propose we make amends for the Post’s past sins with balance from these uplifting pieces:
McCain’s Plane Lands Safely in Fargo
A hand-picked crowd of spirited white Evangelicals cheer with Senator John McCain while he explains in detail his economic theory behind why last week’s 13 point lead in North Dakota is more significant than this week’s only slightly less rosy poll results. "We are tied here now but as in Iraq we won't stop until we win and return home with dignity," McCain announced. (See: Obama Leads in ND, http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=218215§ion=news.)
McCain showed strength to counter the cross border incursions from Minnesota residents, some of whom he stated have been proven to have enhanced their careers in Chicago. Receiving a deafening applause from the crowd of 270, McCain declared confidently, "My friends, we know how to win North Dakota convincingly, and we will do it." As a sign of his commitment, McCain said he is diverting forces from South Florida to ensure the "Real Americans in Fargo are supported.” McCain empathized with the crowd weary of the influx of Obama supporters from the North. "My friends, I'm from Arizona. I know a thing or two about international terrorists seeking to gain entry to our great country, and if you elect me, this will stop."
Governor Palin Continues to Prepare for Final Debate
Morgantown, WV -- Alaska Governor Sara Palin doesn't blink before exclaiming "you betcha!" She'd be willing to step in at this week’s debate if John McCain felt she could help out. "I’m not one of those who would shy away from a tough situation,” Palin explained, “no follow-up questions guys.” “Ya’ see,” she continued, “someone has to stand up to those people who don't think about our country like we do" she told an ecstatic, largely homogeneous, crowd bussed in from down state past a student protest held "in her honor."
Palin dismissed rumors about copyright infringement charges from Mark Penn for her repeated use of the phrase: "We have two Americans who love our country" explaining that she has since amended the riff inserting the word "Mavericks."
Denying that she was resoundingly booed as she dropped the puck last weekend as the ceremonial "First Hockey Mom" in Philly, Palin explained, "No, that's just not true. Most of the people there probably had vacationed in places like Cancun or the neighboring France, so we know their position on matters like these, after all it's about health care, and who can really shake things up there in Washington."
Responding to a shouted question from a reporter who has since been uninvited to fly on Palin's plane, the Governor jointly dismissed recent state polling and the organized students across the street suffering from a tear gas exposure as "aberrant" and stated, "with all due respect to our current President, and we all know Texas is big" she said with a wink, "but I am the Governor of the Biggest State in the Union... that also, may I remind you, has a narrow maritime border with the Soviet Union." This last comment clearly shows that Palin has gained a commanding grasp of the rich history of international relations, evidenced by her correctly naming Alaska's neighbor in the 1980s. (See: American Research Group West Virginia Poll, http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres2008/WV08.html.)
--Walt Ellis, IV
Washington, DC
October 14, 2008
Fellow Obama Campaigners:
I've heard many of my fellow campaign volunteers say that their canvassing mission was to identify Obama, McCain, and Undecided voters in their nieghborhood and then focus on persuading the undecided voters to vote for Obama. This is the first step in Canvassing but there is much more that needs to be done to win the election for Obama. It is then important to not only persuade the undecided voters but it is even more important to firm up uncertain and waivering voters and then to turn out the vote on election day as we move closer to the election. The Obama campaign has been successful in our voter registration drive, but we can now bolster the Obama vote by getting voters to the polls or helping them get absentee ballots if it will be hard to get themselves to the Polls on November 4.
My last blog was an update on the most recent National and Virginia Polls. The good news is that Obama has made significant gains in the Polls putting him in the lead. The bad news is that the Obama vote is much softer than McCain vote with many more uncertain voters who could still change their mind prior to election day. As shown in the table below breaking down likely voters in Virgini, 47% of those voters leaning to Obama reported that they might still change their mind compared to 39% of McCain voters who might change their minds. Conversely, 55% of Obama voters said that their vote was firm with their minds made up, compared to 44% of McCain voters who were firm. So we still have work to do to convince Obama leaners to finally decide for Obama-Biden and progressive change in America. In the table below I estimated the combined undecided and uncertain (voters who could change their mind) for each segment of the voter population and highlighted in Red the largest blocks of votes we should be targeting for canvassing efforts.
An even bigger block of available votes is just turning out all or most of the Obama Voters on election day or absentee balloting. Usually only 60-70% of eligible registered voters actually vote in a Presidential Election year in Virginia. So I estimated the percentage of Obama voters in each voting group that would probably not show up at the polls to vote on election day even assuming a high turnout of 70% for this election. It is obvious that this is the largest pool of available Obama votes if we can just get out the registered non-voters on election day or even half of them. A historic turnout would work in favor of Obama and change it America. So be sure to canvas pro-Obama voters as we move down the road to election day. WE CAN DO IT!
I will look at the National Data as well if anyone out their is interested (Message Me). I will also point out some other trends in the data in future blogs so let me know if you have any questions.
The data I used in the table below is from SurveyUSA which interviewed 900 Virginia adults 10/04/08 and 10/05/08. Of the adults, 832 were registered to vote. Of the registered voters, 666 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely voters in the 11/04/08 general election. Virginia has 13 Electoral College votes. George W. Bush carried Virginia by 8 points in both 2004 and 2000. Virginia last cast its Electoral College votes for a Democratic Presidential candidate in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater. So we still have our work cut out to Win Virginia for Obama.
Regards,
Tom Kuehn
Virginia Voters Obama McCain Other Undecided* % of Voters Soft Votes Get Out All the in Play* Pro Obama Vote
All 53% 43% 3% 1% 100% 12% 16% Gender Men 54% 43% 2% 2% 48% 6.2% 8% Women 53% 43% 3% 1% 52% 6.2% 8% Age
18-34 67% 27% 6% 0% 23% 3% 6%
The latest National and Virginia Presidential Election Polls show Obama making significant gains based on concerns about the economy. There polls show the election is still volatile with a significant number of undecided and uncertain voters. So it is important to focus our canvassing efforts on persuading independent, undecided, and uncertain voters that a vote for Obama-Biden and Democratic legislators is a decisive vote for change and renewal in US economic and foreign policy.
Virginia Polls (10/1 – 10/6) For Obama For McCain Spread
Lowest Poll (Mason-Dixon) 45% 48% McCain +3
Poll Averages (RCP Poll Averages) 49.9% 45.1% Obama +4
CNN/Time 53% 44% Obama +9
Highest Poll (Suffolk Univ) 53% 39% Obama +12
National Polls (10/1 – 10/6) For Obama For McCain Spread
Lowest Poll (Hotline/FD Tracking) 46% 44% Obama +2%
Poll Averages (RCP Poll Averages) 49.6% 44.1% Obama +5.5%
NBC/Wall Street Journal 49% 43% Obama +6
Highest Poll (CNN) 53% 45% Obama +8
It seems to me that Virginia is tracking the National average which is strange for a former republican stronghold and battleground state. The question in my mind is which regions and segments of the voting population are voting for Obama and which are undecided and uncertain that we can focus on to persuade them to vote for Obama-Binden and Change. Can we do it in Virginia?
See Extended Post for Tracking Poll Links
GMU Students Campaign Get-Together with Kal Penn
Monday August 11th - 3:45pm
Fairfax City Obama Headquarters
11184 Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA
(Corner of Jermantown Rd. and Lee Highway)
The City of Fairfax Campaign headquarters is up and running and we want to invite George Mason University students to help get it rolling! On Monday, August 11th Kal Penn (Kumar from the "Harold and Kumar" movies) will be holding a get-together to talk about the importance of the youth vote in Fairfax. Come out to mingle with Kal and Obama Campaign Staff to help get things started right. After the get-together, we will be making phone calls to the local community to get more people involved.
Well we are 98 days away from election day and we have learned serveral things that we can not make light of or simply ignore.
First, we know that the media is not going to get it right. The media is going to continue to push the notions that the electorate believes. We know some are just not going to vote for Barack. But there are some who are thinking about it, but just don't see a black man as there commander in chief. But the media wants to give voters a word for it so they call it "risky" or say he is "exotic". I am sorry but that is code for black. Let's have an honest and open discussion about why they don't see a black man in that role. What we are witnessing is on a grand scale what black men go through often when applying for jobs. People just don't "see" them in certain positions. But on its face that is slightly fair because they HAVEN'T! That is ok. But then let's go to the notion that someone has to be first and someone has been first and they usually do well. First students to integrate schools, first student to be accepted to a white university, first major league baseball player, etc. I could go on an on. We do just fine! The bottom line is that Barack is qualified for the job he is applying for, the constitution says so! Don't put fake rules on him now. The biggest concern at one point was his foreign policy credibility. Didn't he blow that argument away last week? But oh, this week I heard he looked too presidential. Again, the media is funny. We can't depend on them to analyze this fairly. So let's continue to work and basically ignore the pundits.
The second thing we have learned is that polls can't measure the work we are doing on the ground. The newest USA Today/Gallop poll presented conflicting data based on likely and register voters. One poll had Barack up and one had McCain up. What the poll fails to consider, and we in the Obama camp have been saying it for a while, is that the likely voter is not the same as it was in 2004. How many of us know someone who is excited about voting and either they were not consistent in voting or have never voted in the past? That number of people is scary to the Republicans. If we continue to get our people registered and turned out to vote on election day, we will be happy on Nov. 5! People want to be a part of this historic event. Young people, African Americans, Latin Americans, and new people to the process, they are not being polled. That is what we said during the primary and we can say the same things now.
The third thing we learned is that the McCain camp is going to lie, distort, flip-flop you name it, just like they always do. The recent commercials from the Mccain camp, not 527's, but his own campaign prove that point. So Barack needs to decide what he is going to do. Will he attack or simply hope it goes away? I am torn, but sometimes an interview response is not as powerful as a commercial response that will loop. But I will not second guess the campaign. They have made all the right choices thus far so I know they are working on it. But the other side is playing dirty so now we know.
Last and most definitely not least I know I love Barack Obama! Seeing him last week with such poise, grace, confidence, and brilliance made me so proud of him. If I thought he could handle the world stage I now know for sure he can! As he has said before, with him as President, we can say, America is back and that was truer than ever last week.
Keep working, keep fighting and keep believing. We can do this! Yes We Can!
Sean at FiveThirtyEight.com has an excellent post up today on Voter files and how important field work is to building the data and knowledge about your voters that you need to win. He spends some time discussing Virginia's Democratic voter file in particular:
"But one of the reasons Virginia's elections are getting more and more competitive is that, from what I've heard from a number of firsthand sources who have worked cycles in Virginia, is that that voter file is as good a state voter file as Democrats have anywhere. It's more than just changing demographics in NoVa."
This is a direct testament to the outstanding work that Virginia Dems have done over the past few years on the doors and on the phones, building a voter file that is accurate and reliable enough that when the time comes to GOTV, we are hitting the right voters year in and year out. This year's enthusiasm is a great opportunity to double the quality and size of our voter file here in Virginia. If we can just commit to the work it will take to do it, it could be the thing that guarantees our victory in this year's Presidential, Senate and Congressional races, and sets us up for victory in 2009.
