Health Insurance Reform Meeting at the:
Pacoima, CA 91331
Mon. 8/31/09 4-8pm
Food 4 Less Parking Lot –
Glenoaks &Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima, Calif
for more informtion call 818 899-0406.
This is the first time in my life that I have volunteered my time for a political cause but after watching and reading about Gov Palin online I felt I had to do something. So I signed up to call voters.
I walked down to the Democratic Headquarters from my house, and it was a nice walk. Its so close and parking in that area is always limited on Saturday so that is why walking was a good plan.
After the short training we were given phones and information to call voters about. It was a lot easier than I had imagined. Everyone in the Van Nuys Democratic Party Headquarters was so very nice and knowledgable about the issues. How important it really is for us to not just vote for Barack, but to understand and vote the party ticket. Barack needs a congress that will support him when he is President. (note that I didn't say if, I said when).
Anyhow, when we were finished calling, I bought some signs to display and walked home carrying them.
This was when the magic occurred. I walked down Van Nuys Blvd, and then down side streets to my house, but no matter what street I was on, people smiled after seeing my Obama/Biden sign. I got waves, and honks, thumbs up and sooo many smiles. The Obama / Biden ticket is giving people hope. The smiles said it all.
A CALL TO CHRISTIANS
My fellow Americans and Christians,
This election is very important to us all. There are so many concerns on hand in this ever more dangerous world. In what direction are we to look? Jesus inspired us with his works and his deeds. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6
I write to you today as a Barack Obama supporter and hoping to earn your trust and your vote for this election. Whenever possible, I provide sourcing to support my claims from The Bible and respected daily newspapers.
My question is this, “What would Jesus do?”
Of course, it would be presumptuous of me to say I know the answer to that question. I believe, though, it is a helpful exercise to ask and debate this question. These are some of the things that mattered to Jesus and apply to Christians as well:
In a recent interview with the Alaska Business Monthly[iii], Palin made the following statements about Iraq:
Alaska Business Monthly: We've lost a lot of Alaska's military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?
Palin: I've been so focused on state government; I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place.
Now that she is on the McCain platform, she has changed her mind. The quotation also indicates a huge experience gap in awareness of international affairs. Joe Biden, on the other hand, may be the most well respected member in all of government in terms of International affairs. His knowledge has been deemed “encyclopedic[iv]” and praised by members of both parties. In the Senate, he is the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Senate committee. On the other hand, Barack Obama was always against this war which has cost 100s of thousands of lives. Biden voted with Congress to support the bill Bush sent to Congress which authorized war only after his own proposal which was not as aggressive was rejected.
3) Loving one’s brother as thyself. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.1 Thessalonians 4:8-10
This is the main command of the Lord. During her acceptance speech, Sarah Palin mocked community service. Jesus himself was the all time greatest server of humanity that ever lived. The words were insulting to me. As the days pass since the announcement of her nomination, numerous examples of deeds where she has not supported community have arisen. The Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister. The complaint alleges that the governor or her staff may have improperly disclosed information from Wooten's personnel records. The complaint also alleges "criminal penalties may apply." [v]
Barack had questions arise about the reverend of the church he faithfully attended. It is without doubt that he has gone through a spiritual journey in his lifetime and discovered his faith in Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, McCain isn’t exactly sure as to what faith he actually belongs.[vi] Joe Biden, like me, was raised a Roman Catholic and espouses the values advocated in this leaflet.
There is also no doubt that Sarah Palin is very religious. Sarah Palin’s church minister Brickner stated, while she attended just two weeks ago described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity. "Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It's very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can't miss it."[vii]
Prejudice is wrong. It begets more prejudice. There is no reason for it. In a pluralistic society, The United States of America being the best example so far in human history, we must embrace the contributions that we all have to give. Hate will get us nowhere.
4) Greed and avarice
Jesus instructed us to help the poor. Personally, I am an economic conservative and believe that free markets are the best rule of governance. However, I also believe that Government should step in when unbridled capitalism have lead to the deadly sins of greed and avarice.
We are living in an age when the gap between the rich and the poor has grown tremendously. Most of the money in the world is concentrated into very few hands. For a period, the very rich can afford a higher tax rate in order to stimulate a correction in the distribution of wealth in our great nation. This is what Barack Obama is proposing.
Sens. McCain and Obama differ sharply, starting with the Bush tax cuts due to expire in 2010. McCain would make them permanent, while Obama would eliminate them for families making more than $250,000. The cornerstone of Obama's tax plan is what he calls the "making work pay credit." It would give any worker making less than $150,000 a credit of $500 - up to $1,000 per family. That tax credit would be refundable, which means even if you owe no taxes, you could still get a check from the government. Obama would also create a similar college tax-credit for the first $4,000 of tuition. In return, a student would have to perform 100 hours of public service.[viii]
This sounds like the Christian moral of sharing and I advocate it. Most Americans will have more money after taxes under Obama’s plan than the current tax code (which McCain endorses).
5) Abortion and Education
In my younger years, I was foolish and could have accidentally impregnated a girlfriend. My life would be very different now had that occurred. My personal feeling, like those of Barack Obama, is that abortion is an abomination. However, in the hypothetical about my youth, it could have been the case that the girl would have decided differently and chosen abortion. Regardless if it is legal or not, I know in my heart that abortions WILL occur anyway and at great risk to often young and confused mothers. It is in our ability to CHOOSE that we sin.
Barack’s solution is more education for our children. We live in a culture today of information bombardment. Children can be exposed to bad information and good information. It is Barack’s belief and mine also that we should teach about sex and abstinence and other important topics like venereal disease so that they do not believe bad information when it is given to them. This is the way that there can be less abortions and more educated citizenry.
6) Caring for Mother Earth
10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Mathew 6:10
Drill! Drill! Drill! It is the mantra of the McCain/Palin ticket. One of the aspects of the Obama plan that the Republican quixotically rebuff is conservation. Conservation is good. We waste not, we want not. The meek are the salt of the earth and they shall inherit it.
Palin has also tried to make gunning down wolves (and even bears) from the air easier and financially rewarding. Last year, the state offered a $150 bounty as an incentive for pilots and aerial gunners to kill more wolves. And leading up to this week's statewide vote on Measure 2 to stop the aerial shooting of wolves and bears, Palin's Board of Game spent $400,000 of PUBLIC money on brochures and radio ads to influence the election. She not only took an inhumane and unsporting position at odds with the principles of wildlife management and fair chase, but did it in an undemocratic and underhanded way. *Palin doesn't believe global warming is man-made. At every campaign stop, McCain says that human activity is the driving force behind global climate change. For the first time in its history, the GOP caught up to the rest of the planet by accepting the reality of man-made climate change in its 2008 platform. It reads, "The same human activity that has brought freedom and opportunity to billions has also increased the amount of carbon in the atmosphere," and "increased atmospheric carbon has a warming effect on the earth."
But Palin is among the conservative fringe that rejects the scientific consensus. According to the Washington Post, "Sarah Palin told voters there she wasn't sure climate change wasn't simply part of a natural warming cycle." Palin told the conservative Web site NewsMax, "I'm not one ... who would attribute it to being man-made."
This may help explain why Palin announced this year that Alaska would sue the Department of the Interior over its decision to add the polar bear to its list of endangered species. If people are "over-reacting" to global warming, as Palin has said, then the polar bears' rapidly dwindling habitat should be FINE and those bears can FEND for themselves. As Palin explained in an op-ed in the New York Times, "I strongly believe that adding them to the list is the wrong move at this time... The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, has argued that global warming and the reduction of polar ice severely threatens the bears' habitat and their existence. In fact, there is insufficient evidence that polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct within the foreseeable future."[ix]
7) The Democratic Party should be the home of Christians.
Importantly, I believe the Party of the Christian is the Democratic Party. The Republicans have used and forsaken Christians and Evangelicals without receiving anything in return. Ralph Reed, Jack Abramoff and Tom Delay[x] cynically have betrayed your vote, only to increase their own monetary wealth. On the other hand, the Democrats believe in social programs to help the poor. The Democrats care about the Earth. The Democrats care about the community of nations. The Democrats are for the eventual destruction of all nuclear arms. Within the Democrat’s platform is a greater respect for state’s rights.
I propose that Christians should be in the Democratic Tent and be working from within for a party compromise. For example, South Dakota recently had on her ballot a measure defining the legality of abortion. Whereas the Republicans have consistently in their history frowned on state’s rights (different from Reagan’s state’s rights which were a wink and nod to prejudice[xi]), the Democrats are more liberal in their application of what rights belong to the federal versus local and state governments. This is a more conducive environment for staunch pro-life advocates as perhaps there can be a compromise which may eventually allow states to restrict abortion. This is the type of compromise our forefathers envisioned in the framework of our great Constitution.
One more thought for all of my friends. It is time to end this "culture war" which has been started and inflamed for political means. The good Christian who has been taught to love his brother is at cognitive dissonance within himself when he judges or shuns anyone. The two stances are irreconcilable. It is time to join hands in America and move forward again with joy in our hearts.
I encourage you to bring this debate to your churches. Blessings will certainly come if we look inwardly and contemplate walking in the footsteps of the Lord.
Peace be with you.
David Jerrard Givens
September 10, 2008
[ii]Edwards, David and Brynaert, Ron. Unplugged McCain sings 'bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran' The Raw Story.April 19, 2007. http://rawstory.com/news/2007/McCain_unplugged_Bomb_bomb_bomb_bomb_0419.html
Sunday, August 24th. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26376918/
[vi] FOX News.com. McCain identifies himself as Baptist. September 16, 2007http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296973,00.html
[vii] Sullivan, Andrew. The Atlantic.com. Sept. 2, 2008
[viii] CBS Evening News. September 10, 2008. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/09/eveningnews/main4433097.shtml
http://current.com/items/89263615_top_ten_most_disturbing_facts_and_impressions_of_sarah_palin
[x] Wikipedia entry, Jack Abramoff Indian Lobbying Scandal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff_Indian_lobbying_scandal
I finally made it back to L.A. on Monday after 5 long and hard years in the Big Apple. Hope to meet lots of great folks at events. Still looking for work and room rental if anyone has any leads.
Thanks,
Gina
Hi, my name is Leslie and this is my first blog entry. I've respected and admired Barack Obama since his 2004 Democratic convention speech. Early on in the primaries I was behind Edwards but switched to Obama in February casting my vote for him in the CA primary. I'm very excited about our candidate but also concerned for our future...on this planet, in the hearts and minds of people from other shores, respecting our Troops by bringing them home from a war I believe we never should have started. I'm a lifelong democrat so these topics are close to my heart, but the last eight years have sincerely been the most damaging I've seen since I could first vote back in the 80's (I had big hair and leg warmers, but I didn't miss an election!) I'm so excited to be part of this movement to elect a decent, intelligent and charming man.
I will be volunteering as much as possible and in fact will start with voter registration at the Castaic Ralph's on Aug. 9, please come by if you are in the area! I look forward to corresponding with as many fellow Obama supporters as possible.
Oh...and this is my 20 year old daughter's first Presidential election and she proudly cast her vote for Obama in the primary saying "Oh my gosh Mom, I just voted!" My 15 year old daughter joined my husband and I at an Obama meeting at a local pizza parlor here in Santa Clarita and she wore her "Hope" T-shirt. I'm so proud of my girls and that they want to be involved in the process.
I was disappointed in the registration drive this past weekend at the NOHO park in the Valley.
You show up,your handed a clipboard,and your sent to the local grocery store...alone. Well from now on I'm not going to registration signups alone,who wants to stand in front of Ralphs alone in 100 degree heat. Better yet may I suggest organization,let people pair up as they meet in the park.
And most of all make it clear that they will not be staying at the park .
PS:Who do I return the clipborad to?
In the next 19 weeks approx 132 days, Mr Obama should CAMPAIGN around 55 to 60 places! WHY? If he gives approx 2 days for those STRATEGIC AREAS he will NOT BE STRESSED OUT!
This is something THAT CAMPAIGN MANAGERS HAVE to look into/DISCUSSS: ASAP, on almost a WAR-FOOTING!
Just my opinion, AS USUAL!
Dear Campaign Managers for Mr Obama,
In the next 19 WEEKS or SO, please DO NOT IGNORE THE WEATHER! Yes, WEATHER!
Why? Because, MR OBAMA MAY END UP NOT CAMPAIGNING IN CERTAIN CITIES/STATES WHERE HE WILL LIKE TO BECAUSE OF WEATHER!
So WHAT TO DO & HOW TO PLAN? Well, SIMPLE: Look at 5yrs DATA for The cities/states where Mr Obama will be planning campaign tours. Then, mark them : RED, ORANGE, YELLOW & GREEN. He must start earliest with RED, then to Orange, then Yellow & finally GREEN!
What this ACHIEVES? By doing this Mr Obama will have Campaigned in those BAD WEATHER STATES and his presence will be known.
SMART CAMPAIGN MANAGERS will go ONE STEP AHEAD: Subdivide the RED, ORANGE, YELLOW & GREEN to STRATEGICALLY CRUCIAL/WEAK AREAS ie THE GOP FAVORING CITIES/STATES and finally to POSITIVE CITIES/STATES.
This is just my suggestion. I keep suggesting I do not know if someone NOTICES THEM or NOT?
But I will keep suggesting.
ALL THE BEST TO MR OBAMA!
Less than 20 weeks remain for the 2008 Presidential Elections! Every one of these weeks there should be SPECIAL MEETINGS, NEWS CONFERENCES, IN 20 DIFFERENT STATES OF PRIME IMPORTANCE by Mr Obama.
Concentrating on WEAK or so called "RED STATES" could be a good ides. However, we cannot NEGLECT/IGNORE the BLUE or POSITIVE STATES! Just my thoughts,...
Step 5. 'DIFFERENT': Being different is to be not part of the 'crowd'!
For example 'Crowd' can be the 'Washington DC crowd'!
Step 4. CONCENTRATING ON WEAKNESSES: One's strength should of 'chain' should not be determined by HOW STRONG THE STRONGEST 'LINK' OF THE CHAIN IS, BUT BY HOW WEAK IS THE WEAKEST 'LINK' IN THE CHAIN!
If we correct or get rid of our weaknesses what can be better than that! IN FACT EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS WEAKNESSES!
For EXAMPLE: CONCENTRATING ON THE SO CALLED 'RED STATES'! Therefore Concentrating on weak states, weak groups like Latinos/White voters/Jewish community etc
Step 3. HONESTY: honesty is the best policy. If and ever anything PROPS UP (which is very likely) and IF IT'S TRUE then IT SHOULD BE ADMITTED NOT CHALLENGED, Public WANTS HONESTY!
Public/People FINALLY WANT TO HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO THEY CAN BELIEVE IN, WHO THEY CAN TRUST and WHO THEY KNOW WILL IS & WILL ALWAYS BE HONEST, no matter what!
Step 2. CONSISTENCY: never to waiver, never go astray, THE TARGET IS ALWAYS IN FOCUS!
No matter what PRESSURE or SITUATION may be there should always be consistency!
Step 1: GET THE FACTS, Always stick by the facts, for the facts and with the facts!
I will suggest to Mr Obama's campaign manager '25' steps for SUCCESS of Mr Obama in November 2008 Presidential Elections! And it will be my style, which is: SIMPLE!
Mr Obama's reply to Mr McCain's Iraq policy & Terrorism was very strongly counter attacked. It ws done in a very dignified manner and most importantly AT THE RIGHT TIME!
People may say that Mr Obama ignore these issues! That will be calling for disaster. In fact, the public want's to know of Mr Obama's opinion.
THE BEST WAY TO SILENCE THE CRITICS/ENEMIES IS TO REPLY AT THE RIGHT TIME AND ASAP!
The dollar has lost in value, economy is in doldrums, 5000+ soldiers dead, US deficit is record high, unemployment is running high, price of commodities on rise,....
Is this USA WE WISHED FOR 8 YEARS BACK? SHAME ON US! We voted for same President twice, in 8 years WHAT HAS THAT ADMINISTRATION GIVEN US? WHY IS REGARDS FOR USA AT AN ALL TIME LOW?
The Economy is in so much mess that the new President will take time to have it fixed/corrected.
Our image of a NATION OF HOPE has been DASHED. The whole WORLD IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A CHANGE & DIFFERENCE IN November 2008!
