President Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this afternoon, speaking directly about the challenges that face this new generation of graduates and the need to find common ground on even the issues that divide us:
This is the generation that must find a path back to prosperity and decide how we respond to a global economy that left millions behind even before this crisis hit – an economy where greed and short-term thinking were too often rewarded at the expense of fairness, and diligence, and an honest day’s work. We must decide how to save God’s creation from a changing climate that threatens to destroy it. We must seek peace at a time when there are those who will stop at nothing to do us harm, and when weapons in the hands of a few can destroy the many. And we must find a way to reconcile our ever-shrinking world with its ever-growing diversity – diversity of thought, of culture, and of belief. In short, we must find a way to live together as one human family.
In his speech, President Obama directly addressed the controversy that has emerged over the Catholic university's decision to invite a pro-choice president to deliver today's commencement address:
The question, then, is how do we work through these conflicts? Is it possible for us to join hands in common effort? As citizens of a vibrant and varied democracy, how do we engage in vigorous debate? How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?Nowhere do these questions come up more powerfully than on the issue of abortion.As I considered the controversy surrounding my visit here, I was reminded of an encounter I had during my Senate campaign, one that I describe in a book I wrote called The Audacity of Hope. A few days after I won the Democratic nomination, I received an email from a doctor who told me that while he voted for me in the primary, he had a serious concern that might prevent him from voting for me in the general election. He described himself as a Christian who was strongly pro-life, but that’s not what was preventing him from voting for me.What bothered the doctor was an entry that my campaign staff had posted on my website – an entry that said I would fight “right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose.” The doctor said that he had assumed I was a reasonable person, but that if I truly believed that every pro-life individual was simply an ideologue who wanted to inflict suffering on women, then I was not very reasonable. He wrote, “I do not ask at this point that you oppose abortion, only that you speak about this issue in fair-minded words.”Fair-minded words. After I read the doctor’s letter, I wrote back to him and thanked him. I didn’t change my position, but I did tell my staff to change the words on my website. And I said a prayer that night that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that the doctor had extended to me. Because when we do that – when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do – that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground. That’s when we begin to say, “Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions. So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.” Understand – I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it – indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory – the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words.
The question, then, is how do we work through these conflicts? Is it possible for us to join hands in common effort? As citizens of a vibrant and varied democracy, how do we engage in vigorous debate? How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?Nowhere do these questions come up more powerfully than on the issue of abortion.
As I considered the controversy surrounding my visit here, I was reminded of an encounter I had during my Senate campaign, one that I describe in a book I wrote called The Audacity of Hope. A few days after I won the Democratic nomination, I received an email from a doctor who told me that while he voted for me in the primary, he had a serious concern that might prevent him from voting for me in the general election. He described himself as a Christian who was strongly pro-life, but that’s not what was preventing him from voting for me.What bothered the doctor was an entry that my campaign staff had posted on my website – an entry that said I would fight “right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to choose.” The doctor said that he had assumed I was a reasonable person, but that if I truly believed that every pro-life individual was simply an ideologue who wanted to inflict suffering on women, then I was not very reasonable. He wrote, “I do not ask at this point that you oppose abortion, only that you speak about this issue in fair-minded words.”Fair-minded words. After I read the doctor’s letter, I wrote back to him and thanked him. I didn’t change my position, but I did tell my staff to change the words on my website. And I said a prayer that night that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that the doctor had extended to me. Because when we do that – when we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do – that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground. That’s when we begin to say, “Maybe we won’t agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions. So let’s work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.” Understand – I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it – indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory – the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature. Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words.
Read the President's full speech . . .
No that we have won, what will YOU do to help change the world?
I have contacted one of my parish priests, Fr. Avitus Kiguta, this week and told him that I wanted to get involved in his project to build and expand Sacred Heart Secondary School in his home village in Tanzania.
If we each re-directed our newly-acquired organizational skills and energy, there is no doubt this Obama community could change the world.
While we take this week to continue to savor our hard-fought victory, take a few minutes to reflect on what you can do. Then get moving.
Yes, we can.
www.barackobama.com
Sunday, 2nd November 2008
Chicago, Illinois
Poverty and the 2008 Elections
By John Carr
“Love of God and love of neighbor have become one: In the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God…. Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to her [the Church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel.” (Deus Caritas Est # 15, 21)
This priority for the poor also needs to be at the center of the national discussion in this election year. The facts about poverty in our land raise significant moral and policy issues.
Such statistics show the kind of nation we are becoming.
U.S. Catholics have a moral obligation to protect the lives and dignity of all God’s children, especially the poor and vulnerable. We can debate how best to pursue economic opportunity and justice, provide decent jobs for all who can work, and ensure adequate health care and housing. However, we cannot escape the moral duty to work actively to overcome the poverty and deprivation which diminishes the lives of so many children and families.
Unfortunately, debates about poverty often become polarized by ideological and partisan divisions. This political season, campaigns needs to move beyond false ideological choices that often paralyze national discussion. Catholic teaching and experience insist that reducing poverty will require personal responsibility and social responsibility, better choices and behaviors by individuals, and better policies and investments by government.
In their statement A Place at the Table, the U.S. bishops outline a four-part strategy to address poverty. It calls for:
Sadly, some advocates embrace just one element rather than all. Some insist individual responsibility is the real answer, or that just faith-based institutions can make the difference, or that the market by itself can solve the problems or that government action is the only effective response. A comprehensive national commitment that addresses the complicated causes and diverse steps to overcome poverty is needed.
Isolated efforts cannot promote integral human development that is the foundation of effective efforts to overcome poverty, deprivation and despair (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org and www.usccb.org/sdwp/placeatthetable/index.shtml). In the upcoming elections, U.S. Catholics ought not to focus on individual economic interests, but rather seek to lift up "the least of these." In Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops call for a new politics, focused more on:
How we treat “the least among us" (Mt. 25:40) is a moral measure of our lives, as individuals and as a nation. In Scripture, this is the question on judgment day. It should be a central question on election day.
- - -
John Carr is executive director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/media/article/carr
John Carr serves as Executive Director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the United States Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In this role, he assists the U.S. bishops in sharing Catholic social teaching, advocating on major issues of justice and peace and building the Catholic community’s capacity to act on its social mission. The Department he leads includes the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which is the Bishops’ anti-poverty program, and is guided by two Bishops’ Committees: Domestic Justice and Human Development and International Justice and Peace.
an important message from Hillary Clinton...
This election is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win. Remember what a presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you -- the American people, your lives, and your children's futures. I have been traveling across the country campaigning for Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and other Democrats. People ask, "What can I do to help?" My answer is, "What's the most you can do?" We all want to see Barack Obama stand before America as our President having led a powerful wave of Democratic victories up and down the ticket. That's why we've got to demand the most from ourselves over the final days of this campaign. People are counting on us. Let's work together in these final days to give Democrats the boost they need to win. Please make a donation to the Democratic National Committee. In so many ways, our families' futures and our children's aspirations are on the line in these elections. Getting Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the White House will mean getting relief and new hope to people bearing the brunt of the Bush administration's failures. And it will mean restoring America's reputation and standing in a risky world that's crying out for steady, principled leadership. November 4th is about giving every child the chance to reach his or her God-given potential and that is why we cannot afford to let up now. With only 8 days to go, we cannot afford to be lulled into a false sense of security and we must do everything we can. This election is about bringing jobs and opportunity to families who have been hit hard by the failed Bush economy. It's about securing retirement for people who've seen their nest egg shrink and about securing the American Dream for people who've seen their hopes of owning a home start to fade. It's about providing people with a health care system they can depend on when they're sick and a Supreme Court they can count on when their rights are at risk. Those are the things we're fighting for. That's why it's so important to do the most we can possibly do to secure victory in these final days. People are counting on us. Let's work together in these final days to give Democrats across the country the boost they need to win. Please make a donation to the Democratic National Committee. https://www.democrats.org/donatenow Events are moving fast. Our opponents' strategies are shifting by the moment. Our candidates have to be prepared for anything. And you and I have to do all we can to win the Democratic victory our country needs. Only you know what is the most you can do. But, all of us know this: Extraordinary commitment is what it's going to take to see our candidates through to victory and to see our country through to better days. Thanks so much for all you are doing -- and for intensifying your efforts in the coming days we have left to win. Sincerely, Hillary Clinton
This has been a long election. It is hard to believe we only have 2 weeks to go. We have donated, canvassed, made phone calls and had debate parties. There is only one thing left to do. Vote. If you are tired and need a break from election '08 vote early, vote now and then you can turn off the news and stop singing the blues.
Honestly vote now and bring a date or find a date in line. Vote today and bring a friend, a grandmother, a sister, a mother, grandpap, a brother, your special "buddy" or your cousin Joe.
I promise you can check out of the campaign after you vote, but only after you vote. Wouldn't it be fun to have a Halloween that is '08 free. Vote now. Vote Obama and clear your calender.
Check out this list of endorsements for Barack Obama:
http://theenlightenedpatriot.blogspot.com/2008/10/endorsements-for-barack-obama.html
I am trying to keep it updated as new ones roll in and I have included links so you can read the actual articles.
Please help Obama win South Bend Indiana. We need help getting out the vote. We need help canvassing. We need help. South Bend is key to winning the State of Indiana. Obama's supporters and volunteers in South Bend are being overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done. Calling all hands on deck. Please help. We will win the cities in Indiana, but we must also win the counties!!! If we win South Bend we win the State.
Ways to help:
1. Vote Early
2. Contact Joy (574) 514-5643 and ask how you can help in South Bend
PS We have 21 days before the election is over. Please help us help you.
This is a thorough list of reference material on life / reproductive rights issues
(I will continue to update this list as new info is released so you may want to bookmark it)
http://theenlightenedpatriot.blogspot.com/2008/10/are-you-concerned-about-issue-of.html
<img src=”http://www.barackobama.com/images/email/08/oct/debatewatch3_e.jpg”>
The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs. You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success. If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign. In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now: http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
**INDIANA RESIDENTS / STUDENTS**
The Obama Religious Affairs Office in Indiana is looking for help!
->If you are a person of faith and live or go to school in Indiana, please respond.
-> If someone you know is a person of faith and lives or goes to school in Indiana, please respond.
->If you have any contacts in the state of Indiana who support Barack Obama or support Barack’s positions on faith based issues, please respond.
The campaign office has asked me to assemble info on people who are willing to help.
Please, send me (ktraugot@nvrinc.com) the following info:
Name
E-mail address
Address (including city)
Phone #
Name of faith community (if applicable)
Name of school (if applicable)
Name of any other contacts or organizations that we should look into (including contact info, if available)
Any other info you feel may be helpful!
I will be sending the info to the campaign office at the end of the day Friday (10/3) so please respond by then!!Any help you can provide will be hugely beneficial to Barack’s campaign in Indiana!
YES WE CAN!!
Although we all know by now that the "Present" vote is common procedure in the Illinois State Senate, right-wing bloggers and activists still cite Senator Obama's "present" votes as evidence that he is somehow unwilling to take a stance on tough issues.
More than once I've heard the McCain campaign leeringly say that Senator McCain hasn't had the luxury of "present" votes. No he hasn't. "Present" is not a voting option in the US Senate like it is in Illinois. Instead McCain simply chose not to show up at all.
In the time that Senator Obama and Senator McCain have both been in the Senate (15 quarters worth of data since 2005) McCain has been absent for 37% of the votes, a remarkably high percentage. Of course presidential candidates are going to miss a lot of votes, but despite having a far more difficult and extended primary, Senator Obama has voted 164 more times than Senator McCain over the same time period.
When you actually compare apples to apples, who is really dodging the issues?
(Data Source: govtrack.us)
Given his temperament, track record, and life-long commitment to public service, the American people can trust that if elected President Barack Obama will run the Executive Office effectively, with the common good foremost in his mind. He will also use the “bully pulpit” of the Presidency to rally ordinary people to counter the power of the special interests and their lobbyists. He will continue to inspire us to care for each other and work together to improve ourselves and the larger community.
We know this because of how he has run his campaign.
The choice is clear.
Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to meet Michelle Obama. As a mother of a child with Autism, I wanted to give her something so that she could remember our kids. A friend and I put together a clip board (a symbol of action) that was decorated with pictures of our special needs kids in our community, their names, the names of the disorders and illnesses that they struggle with, and words of desires we have to help our kids. We then wrote, "Don't forget what's 'special' about Indiana."
I was able to hand this to Michelle in person. I'm going to attempt to post pictures. I really witnessed a truly sincere and compassionate person. Despite fifty fellow volunteers, security guards, and others fighting for her attention and pressuring her to leave since she was late, she took the time to look at the pictures then look me in the eyes and ask me questions from the heart. It was as if the two of us were alone and having a chat. At one point, while I was talking to her, I started crying. She reached out and hugged me to comfort me with tears in her eyes as well.
Later, during the round table. She took control but in a genuine, caregiving, and humorous way. At one point, the sound system went out. It was amazing how with a little joke, she took what could have been a devasting fiasco and made it no big deal. Later, I noticed, that when the speakers sat down for the round table discussion, it was Michelle who poured water for everyone. You can tell that this woman is someone who wants to serve the people and feels comfortable doing it. As the women told their stories about losing their job, worrying about obtaining health care, and concerns about education, Michelle's responses addressed these concerns with how Barack's plan will help them. Like Barack, it is obvious that she "gets it!"
This was one of the most memorable days of my life, and I'm very thankful that I was able to experience it.
All of us need to stop talking about Sarah Palin and start talking about the economy, George Bush, and John McCain.
I think the idea of Palin anywhere near the White House is a catastrophe and could have grave consequences for our nation. However, she is not going to win or lose this election for either side. In terms of the GOP ticket, she is a positive no matter how you look at it. We know that her selection was a political stunt, but its working! She’s brought huge attention to McCain, given him some youth, given him some energy, increased his exposure, etc. She’s been a net gain for his campaign.
On "Morning Joe" this morning, they made a similar point. Every time Palin gets mentioned, whether positive or negative, it gives her legitimacy and increases her exposure. Regardless of her negatives, she brings youth, energy, and excitement to the McCain campaign. They don’t care about her lack of experience because McCain has enough for the both of them. Overall, it’s a positive for McCain and a negative for us.
Bottom line:
FORGET PALIN – STOP TALKING ABOUT HER! SHE ISN”T GOING TO WIN OR LOSE THE ELECTION FOR EITHER SIDE!
START TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY!
START TALKING ABOUT ENERGY INDEPENDENCE!
START TALKING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT!
START HAMMERING MCCAIN FOR HIS LACK OF SUPPORT FOR VETERANS!
START HAMMERING MCCAIN FOR HIS PRO-WAR / ANTI-DIPLOMACY STANCE!
KEEP HAMMERING AWAY AT THE BUSH / MCCAIN CONNECTION!
Questions we (and the media) should be asking John McCain…but aren’t:
Use this tool to quickly and easily write letters to local papers:
http://www.democrats.org/page/content/partybuilderLT E/
TAX INFO:
The McCain campaign continues to lie about Obama’s tax plans. Use this info to FIGHT BACK!
Give people the FACTS. Write the media – why aren’t they addressing the lies?!
http://alchemytoday.com.nyud.net/obamataxcut/
http://mediamatters.org/items/200809050006?lid=577628&rid=13993006
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/mccains_small-business_bunk.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_32000_question.html
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/411693_CandidateTaxPlans.pdf
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/tax_tally_trickery.html
http://www.factcheck.org/elections2008/a_new_stitch_in_a_bad_pattern.html
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/taxes.asp
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Comparison_FINAL.pdf
HANDOUTS
http://www.votethecommongood.com/files/voters_guide_new.pdf
http://www.networklobby.org/NEP%20ElectionChart%20WEB.pdf
Compare the Candidates on Energy Independence:
http://ontheissues.org/International/Barack_Obama_Energy_+_Oil.htm#06n-CAF
http://ontheissues.org/International/John_McCain_Energy_+_Oil.htm#06n-CAF
ARTICLES
The facts about “Present” votes in the Illinois legislature:
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=274863
RNC Insults Troops and Veterans:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/how-did-the-rnc-insult-tr_b_124785.html
Science and Education:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-jacquot/obama-biden-a-science-and_b_122878.html
The twisted reality of John McCain:
http://www.truthout.org/article/running-from-reality?print
McCain cover-up of Palin’s political history
http://newsone.com/elections/article/mccain-camp-changes-akip-website-to-cover-up-for-palin
Dems to Force Equal Pay Vote:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0908/Senate_Dems_to_force_equal_pay_vote_on_McCain.html
McCain agrees that a draft would be necessary to get Bin Laden:
http://progressiveaccountability.org/2008/08/20/mccaindraft/
GOP Convention Spin
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin.html
GOP Convention Spin, Part II
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/campaign08/newsletter/la-na-earmarks3-2008sep03,0,1145230.story
McCain’s Energy Follies
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/opinion/07sun1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
VIDEO
Great Biden Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaUDKejZ_g
Iraq Veterans Against the War – Protests at RNC (Great Stuff!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T07fPVCvRHo&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGscsnUSBYQ
Call it what it is: Maddow calls McCain attacks Lies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOBIHtP3IbU
I've got links to new articles and a couple of informative new posts on my blog
http://theenlightenedpatriot.blogspot.com
Please check it out!
I thought some of you might enjoy this blog which addresses some of the issues surrounding the campaign and the candidates. It also has some good resources for political info and ways to get involved in helping others.
The Enlightened Patriot
The following information was pulled from a recent e-mail string on a BarackObama.com listserv group. The conversation developed into a discussion of what is patriotism. Some very interesting points were made (highlighted below), but the underlying theme of these ideas is really the basis for much of the Obama platform and campaign:
Care for your fellow man
Care for our planet
Interdependence
Cooperation
Compassion
Peace
Taking an active role in change …in other words, a real, true, evolved patriotism where all people are our countrymen and we care for all of our neighbors.
I am presenting this information here because those of us involved in the discussion would like to see more direct emphasis on the concepts in Obama’s speeches, ads, etc. It seems that it would appeal to many voters who might currently be on the fence if we could sum up these notions into a single unifying concept that people could rally behind. Obviously, there are some touchy subjects here because we have to avoid criticizing those who consider themselves patriots because they wear their flag pins or chant “USA…USA!” We’re not trying to get Barack in trouble by having him try to redefine patriotism entirely, but certainly harnessing and refining these ideas into one theme could be tremendously beneficial.
What we need to speak out against is the false/distorted patriotism that has been so prevalent recently (i.e. being pro-war, promoting America at the expense of other nations, calling oneself pro-life when policies and actions favor certain lives over others). We’ve already seen people seeking out this “evolved patriotism”, especially with the increasing numbers of veterans and military folks as well as religious, evangelical, and people of faith supporting Obama’s message of diplomacy and worldly consciousness. Please distribute this information and help it get to Senator Obama. It would be wonderful message to pursue and rally behind and could give huge boost to an already successful campaign!
Critical Examination of the Experience Question
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-vogels/a-critical-examination-of_b_118154.html
Hot-Button Issues:
Fight the Smear – Obama’s US birth certificate
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html
McCain attacks Obama on home sale:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/21/17305/0455/448/572117
….but this story has already been debunked:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0316edit1mar16,0,7855333.story
…and the Obama camp responds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpmFd25tRqo
Fact Check: McCain's Houses
http://progressiveaccountability.org/2008/08/21/media-fact-check-mccains-houses/
MORE EVIDENCE "CROSS IN THE DIRT" STORY ISN'T TRUE ~ Opinion
http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-evidence-that-mccains-cross-in.html
Corsi's Book Inspires New Dissidents on Right
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/21/corsis-obama-book-inspire_n_120321.html
Some scary things to think about when considering a McCain Presidency:
http://www.truthout.org/article/warrior-john-mccain-far-more-dangerous-than-bush
Feel free to share this stuff with friends and neighbors still making up their minds on who to vote for.
